###############################################################################
# The communication module (communication.py)
###############################################################################
import cPickle
import socket
import struct

marshall = cPickle.dumps
unmarshall = cPickle.loads

def send(channel, args):
    #print "will send: ", args
    args+="\n"
    buf = args #marshall(args)
    #value = socket.htonl(len(buf))
    value = str(len(buf))
    #size = struct.pack("i",value)
    print "length: ",len(buf)
    #print "SIZE: ",repr(size)
    #channel.send(value)
    buf+="\0"
    channel.send(buf)
    #print 'sending: ',buf
    #print 'sent'
def receive(channel):

    size = struct.calcsize("L")
    size = channel.recv(size)
    print "rec size: ",size
    try:
        size = socket.ntohl(struct.unpack("i", size)[0])
        #print "unpacked: ",size
    except struct.error, e:
        return ''
    
    buf = ""

    while len(buf) < size:
        buf = channel.recv(size - len(buf))

    return unmarshall(buf)[0]