On Tue, Dec 01, 2009 at 08:08:54PM +0000, Garth N. Wells wrote: > > > Anders Logg wrote: > > On Tue, Dec 01, 2009 at 07:58:12PM +0000, Garth N. Wells wrote: > >> > >> Anders Logg wrote: > >>> On Tue, Dec 01, 2009 at 07:21:00PM +0000, Garth N. Wells wrote: > >>>> Johan Hake wrote: > >>>>> On Tuesday 01 December 2009 11:06:43 you wrote: > >>>>>> Anders Logg wrote: > >>>>>>> On Tue, Dec 01, 2009 at 09:59:18AM -0800, Johan Hake wrote: > >>>>>>>> On Tuesday 01 December 2009 00:45:50 Anders Logg wrote: > >>>>>>>>> Would it help to add a new class on the C++ side that is used only > >>>>>>>>> for > >>>>>>>>> passing array data back and forth between C++ and Python? We have > >>>>>>>>> had > >>>>>>>>> this before (SimpleArray) and it would be fairly easy to extend the > >>>>>>>>> C++ with extra functions in the interface that use SimpleArray > >>>>>>>>> instead > >>>>>>>>> of std::vector. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Then perhaps we can have one single typemap that hits SimpleArray > >>>>>>>>> everywhere and converts it to a NumPy array. > >>>>>>>> Yes, something in that direction is what I had in mind. In addition > >>>>>>>> we > >>>>>>>> could also add a foo.array() function to get a NumPy view from this > >>>>>>>> class. This would be nice when we do not want to have all the > >>>>>>>> communication through typemaps, but actually using the SimpleArray in > >>>>>>>> Python as return argument from some function that wants to resize the > >>>>>>>> array. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> We would also need some stuff to handle memory management. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> I see two fundamental ways such a class could be used: > >>>>>>>> 1) A replacement for the previous use of double/uint/int*, now > >>>>>>>> std::vector 2) A replacement for communication using std::vector > >>>>>>>> where > >>>>>>>> resize flexibility is needed. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> I think 1, speaks for it self. 2 is where we need to resize any > >>>>>>>> passed > >>>>>>>> vector. This goes for GenericMatrix.getrow, foo.intersection, > >>>>>>>> GenericFunction.comput_vertex_values. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> And the work would be to add the extra stuff on the C++ side. The > >>>>>>>>> advantage would be less complex wrapper code and that Garth and I > >>>>>>>>> are capable of handling the complexities on the C++ side. > >>>>>>>> Yes this must be a goal. I agree that the present SWIG situation has > >>>>>>>> grown out of hands. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> But what I don't understand is why it would be easier to write a > >>>>>>>>> typemap for SimpleArray than for std::vector. Both of them use > >>>>>>>>> contiguous memory. > >>>>>>>> Yes, but in std::vector it is now way, I suppose, to prevent a > >>>>>>>> vector to > >>>>>>>> delete its data when it goes out of scope. This is necessary in a > >>>>>>>> typical in typemap. > >>>>>>> ok, let's create a very flexible array class that is targeted at > >>>>>>> simple communication between C++ and Python/NumPy. We had a class > >>>>>>> before named SimpleArray. We might call it NumPyArray or PythonArray. > >>>>>> Can we just call it Array? It will be visible in the C++ interface > >>>>>> (e.g. > >>>>>> in eval) so it would be good to have a nice name. > >>>>> Agree. > >>>>> > >>>>>>> I have created a blueprint: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> https://blueprints.launchpad.net/dolfin/+spec/array-typemaps > >>>>>> I'll add something. I was thinking already about this. With a smart > >>>>>> pointer to the underlying data we should be to devise an elegant memory > >>>>>> model and be able to tell an Array object when it does and doesn't own > >>>>>> the data upon construction, and be able to change during execution. > >>>>> Sounds fancy. > >>>>> > >>>>>>> We can fill out the details together. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> I will fix the interface of getrow this evening. I was about to do it > >>>>>>>> yesterday, but instead I got grumpy :) But a good night sleep makes > >>>>>>>> wonders! > >>>>>>> Good! :-) > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Will you make a fast/temporary fix so that we can get ready for a > >>>>>>> release of 0.9.5 and then we can move the PythonArray implementation > >>>>>>> to a future release? > >>>>>> The fast fix would be revert back to the > >>>>>> > >>>>>> eval(double*, std::vector<double>&) > >>>>>> > >>>>>> interface. No point wasting time on typemaps for std::vector if we're > >>>>>> not going to use them. > >>>>> Fell free to make this change, I have a fool proof plan for the other > >>>>> temporary fix though. No new typemaps, just reusing old ones. > >>>>> > >>>> OK, we need to make a decision. > >>>> > >>>> Option 1: Revert changes to eval. > >>>> > >>>> Option 2: Get SWIG working with the eval(std::vector<double>&, const > >>>> std::vector<double>&) interface. > >>>> > >>>> What's it going to be? I'm inclined to Option 1 since it requires no > >>>> work and it's been well tested. > >>> I'm warming up to the Array class option in which case we don't need > >>> to spend more time on fixing typemaps which will be removed anyway. > >>> > >>> So should the plan then be to use Array as much as possible in the > >>> C++ interface, instead of std::vector? We will still use std::vector > >>> and other STL types in the implementation but less of it in the user > >>> interface. > >>> > >> Perhaps, as long as we don't end up re-implementing all the std::vector > >> functionality in Array. > >> > >> Garth > > > > I assume we will make it fixed-size which will simplify the > > implementation a great deal and differentiate it from std::vector > > which has push_back. > > > > Fixed on the C++ side.
What do you mean? Did you implement this already? -- Anders > It should have a function to indicate a change in > size. That way, we can have this process > > 1. An Array is received and turned into a NumPy > 2. Length of NumPy array changes on the Python side > 3. Array is 'informed' of the new length when sent back to C++ > > This change in length on the Python side is something we can't handle at > the moment as far as I understand. > > Garth > > > ok, so let's wait for you to revert the changes to eval() and then see > > where we stand. > > > >
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