Yes agreement and disagreement stay at  technical level only:)

Back to the problem, they are unnecessary but good in terms of,
1. Still not good for java users to write 3 nulls in a function call with 5
or 4 args
2. Every function call with a “tail” null for arg “out”. I would say, makes
it seems not a serious api design to our users
3. Users have uniformed experience, nothing surprising.

Given the reasons I listed before, I don’t see things bad for this.

I agree we can vote. I suggest to have two votes, one for builder, one for
separating java and scala objects.

On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 7:43 PM Naveen Swamy <mnnav...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Ah! we agree on something :) lets get more opinions, I am happy to go with
> it.
>
> On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 10:40 PM YiZhi Liu <eazhi....@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Also sometimes people may not be at the same page when talking about
> option
> > #2. What I insist is the builder classes for each operator. Otherwise I
> > actually more support Naveen’s approach - not to totally separate java
> and
> > scala objects.
> >
> > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 7:35 PM YiZhi Liu <eazhi....@gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > No you haven't answered my question "Since you agree to have 30+
> > > operators have Builder, what prevents from
> > > having all of them have Builder?"
> > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 7:30 PM Naveen Swamy <mnnav...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I think we have had enough of an debate between the two of us and I
> > have
> > > > already listed my reasons, I will stop here and see what others say
> > > given
> > > > my reasoning.
> > > >
> > > > -1 to #2)
> > > >
> > > > Also, by lecture I meant to say  "I don't want to list all the
> problems
> > > > with unnecessary complications and talk about how to design software"
> > > >
> > > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 10:15 PM YiZhi Liu <eazhi....@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > And if we find incorrect declaration, we fix it, not simply
> assuming
> > > > > many of them also has problem and we cannot rely on them -
> otherwise
> > > > > the type-safe APIs in Scala also does not make sense.
> > > > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 7:10 PM YiZhi Liu <eazhi....@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > It also makes sense to me if we have it under namespace NDArray,
> > not
> > > > > > creating new JavaNDArray. But again, uniform experience is
> > important.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What I responded is your comment "keep scala macros minimum", I
> > don't
> > > > > > think "scala macro" equals "cryptic code". Even though it does,
> > what
> > > > > > we need to do is to find an alternative way to do code
> generation,
> > > not
> > > > > > making code generation minimum.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Since you agree to have 30+ operators have Builder, what prevents
> > > from
> > > > > > having all of them have Builder?
> > > > > > - They're auto-generated, the auto-generation "cryptic" code is
> > > anyway
> > > > > > there. And "two different paths of code" (though I don't totally
> > > > > > agree) is anyway there.
> > > > > > - What else? 200+ classes is a very tiny increasing in file size
> > > > > > (~3MB) compare to current status. And won't have any performance
> > > issue
> > > > > > on modern JVM.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Just remind, technical discussion is not about who gives who a
> > > lecture.
> > > > > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 6:41 PM Naveen Swamy <mnnav...@gmail.com
> >
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Well, I am not sure(I don't think) we need Builder for every
> API
> > in
> > > > > > > NDArray. For APIs that take long list of parameters, I agree to
> > add
> > > > > Builder.
> > > > > > > Look at the API distribution based on number of arguments here:
> > > > > > >
> https://gist.github.com/nswamy/2dea72e514cc7bfc675f68aef9fe78bb
> > > > > > > about 30 APIs have 7 or more arguments.. I agree to add
> Builders
> > > for
> > > > > these
> > > > > > > APIs not separately but to the existing Scala APIs but not
> > > separately
> > > > > only
> > > > > > > for Java.
> > > > > > > APIs sorted by number of arguments is here, take a look :
> > > > > > >
> https://gist.github.com/nswamy/e941cb94658b3960eec40bf00b970ac5
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Many of the arguments i think are actually mandatory but
> > > incorrectly
> > > > > > > declared optional on the backend, for example look at SwapAxis
> > > > > > > "def SwapAxis (data : NDArray, dim1 : Option[Int] = None, dim2
> :
> > > > > > > Option[Int] = None, out : Option[NDArray] = None) :
> > > NDArrayFuncReturn"
> > > > > > > Why is dim1 and dim2 Optional, this is an error in the
> > declaration
> > > on
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > backend, I think there might be many of these?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > My answers to your other responses are below inline:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 3:37 PM YiZhi Liu <eazhi....@gmail.com
> >
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Some of my comments inline:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Why can we not create the builder just for these APIs(
> which
> > we
> > > > > > > > discussed), why is it necessary to add 200 Apis
> > > > > > > > It is about unified user-experience. And we get rid of
> annoying
> > > extra
> > > > > > > > "out=null" in every operator.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Are you suggesting to create builder for each and every
> API?
> > > > > > > > Only for those are necessary. For NDArray.XXX, yes.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I think this is a ridiculous list of Builders, I think we can
> > keep
> > > the
> > > > > > > 'out' parameter
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > 1) The NDArray APIs in question are not following functional
> > > style of
> > > > > > > > programming, in fact they are just static methods defined on
> an
> > > > > > > > NDArray object - so Scala users are not losing much by using
> > > null in
> > > > > > > > place of None.
> > > > > > > > You can create a implicit to maintain backward compatibility
> > > > > > > > - I doubt implicit can work in such case from None -> null.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It is just writing getOrElse in your implicit, so it will work.
> > > > > > > scala> implicit def optionStringToString(a: Option[String]):
> > > String = {
> > > > > > >      | a.getOrElse(null)
> > > > > > >      | }
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 2) It is adding 220+ APIs(I understand it is generated) for
> > NDArray
> > > > > alone
> > > > > > > > - As I explained how it can improve user experiences
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I don't think we need to write builders for 221 APIs we have,
> may
> > > be
> > > > > for 30
> > > > > > > or so. Uniform experience is good goal but it also has to be
> > > practical
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > make sense.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 3) this is adding another 100s of APIs unnecessarily, we are
> > > starting
> > > > > with
> > > > > > > > NDArray but we can't stop there, we will have to do this for
> > > Symbol,
> > > > > > > > Executor, Iterators, etc., .
> > > > > > > > - This is a good point, actually I prefer not to make
> > > JavaExecutor,
> > > > > > > > JavaIterators
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > What I was aiming is also users have the same experience across
> > > > > Interfaces
> > > > > > > - now you are forgoing uniform experience, so like you said its
> > all
> > > > > > > trade-off and a good trade-off doesn't cause too much overhead/
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > 4) I don't want to be fixing bugs and maintaining code in 2
> > > places.
> > > > > > > > - Type-safe parsing is shared. I think Qing is more qualified
> > to
> > > > > comment.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > It creates two different paths of code for Scala and Java - how
> > is
> > > it
> > > > > going
> > > > > > > to be shared. I am afraid we are going to make it more
> > complicated
> > > than
> > > > > > > necessary by duplicating code.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 5) I want the cryptic code(# scala macros) to a minimum.
> > > > > > > > - MXNet decides to do operator generation in frontend
> bindings.
> > > It's
> > > > > > > > the developers' responsibility to understand the techniques
> > they
> > > are
> > > > > > > > using. Maybe not a so proper analogy - "I don't know RL / RL
> is
> > > hard
> > > > > > > > to tune / ..." is not a reason for "I want to keep RL
> > > implementation
> > > > > > > > in MXNet as a small part as possible"
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Now, this is a response I don't like. I don't know where you
> > were
> > > > > going
> > > > > > > with your analogy but know that it sounds condescending - I am
> > > going to
> > > > > > > ignore(assuming good intentions) that and explain what I mean.
> > > > > > > I here is I the developer/user who deploys MXNet code in
> > > production and
> > > > > > > have to deal with the aftermath myself not you(MXNet
> developers).
> > > > > > > From your comment it occurs to me you probably have never been
> on
> > > > > > > pager-duty. I have been on pager-duty both for the code I wrote
> > and
> > > > > those
> > > > > > > that was written by others and thrown over the fence.
> > > > > > > If you get woken up by a beep at the middle of the night, that
> is
> > > not
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > time to prove your intelligence. Its time to mitigate the issue
> > > asap
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > that your code needs to be easy to follow, should follow well
> > > defined
> > > > > > > patterns, etc., -- i don't need to give you a lecture.
> > > > > > > IMHO It is extremely important for frameworks like Apache MXNet
> > > which
> > > > > are
> > > > > > > used by others for their production to keep code simple and
> > > *cryptic
> > > > > code
> > > > > > > to a minimum* and yes you(we - MXNet developers) are not
> > answering
> > > the
> > > > > > > beepers when your(MXNet) users deploy their code in their
> > > production so
> > > > > > > make their life simple.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 6) increased compilation time & bad developer experience - the
> > > time to
> > > > > > > > compile has gone up quite a bit since we added the APIs last
> > > release
> > > > > on my
> > > > > > > > 3 year old laptop already.. I think adding 400+ APIs
> > > unnecessarily
> > > > > would
> > > > > > > > significantly increase build time and bad developer
> experience
> > > > > > > > - I don't think increasing such a bit compilation time is a
> > > problem
> > > > > > > > compared to bad user experience.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I am not suggesting bad user experience but to take a practical
> > > > > approach -
> > > > > > > having a bad developer experience is not great either.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 7) I want to keep the core of the framework to be in Scala -
> > > because it
> > > > > > > > allows you to write concise code - Yes it has a bit of
> learning
> > > > > curve, not
> > > > > > > > everyone needs to know. I would rather invest in solidifying
> > the
> > > > > Scala APIs
> > > > > > > > and add more features in Scala(RNN, Support
> > > > > GluonHybridizedBlock...there is
> > > > > > > > quite bit of work ) - do you want to rewrite everything in
> > Scala
> > > and
> > > > > Java.
> > > > > > > > - I agree with "don't rewrite everything in Scala and Java",
> > IMO
> > > > > > > > JavaNDArray is the only one good to have. JShape, JContext,
> > etc.
> > > are
> > > > > > > > not so necessary.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Either you go all Java or make accommodation in Scala code to
> > > work
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > APIs so your users know what to expect(uniform experience
> > across).
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > 8) Also, the discussion is not creating NDArray class for
> Java,
> > > just
> > > > > > > > generate certain APIs to cater for Java incompatibility.
> > > > > > > > - Yes I agree it's about "generate certain APIs to cater for
> > Java
> > > > > > > > incompatibility", though I think NDArray.api.XXX does not
> meet
> > > Java
> > > > > > > > users' demands.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 12:05 PM Naveen Swamy <
> > mnnav...@gmail.com>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I know it is about trade-off.  I am suggesting a trade-off
> ,
> > > how
> > > > > many
> > > > > > > > apis do we have that takes too many parameters ?
> > > > > > > > > From what I recall its around 20. Why can we not create the
> > > > > builder just
> > > > > > > > for these APIs( which we discussed), why is it necessary to
> add
> > > 200
> > > > > Apis ?
> > > > > > > > > Are you suggesting to create builder for each and every
> API?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I disagree with your opinion that they are not important
> and
> > > would
> > > > > like
> > > > > > > > to hear from others.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I am curious to see how the #2 looks like compared to #1
> > > > > > > > > Andrew/Qing, can you paste the generated Apis that you have
> > for
> > > > > both
> > > > > > > > Scala and Java in a gist please.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > On Sep 29, 2018, at 2:41 PM, YiZhi Liu <
> > eazhi....@gmail.com>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Naveen, software designing is all about tradeoff, every
> > > feature
> > > > > we
> > > > > > > > > > introduce causes more compiling time, more efforts to
> > > maintain,
> > > > > etc.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > The main difference is.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Option #1: Java users do
> > > > > > > > > > NDArray.BatchNorm(data, gamma, beta, null, null, null,
> > null,
> > > > > null,
> > > > > > > > > > null, null, null, null, null, null);
> > > > > > > > > > (and because every operator has an argument "out", users
> > > need to
> > > > > add
> > > > > > > > > > an extra "null" to the function call almost every time.)
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Option #2, Java users do
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > JavaNDArray.BatchNorm(data).setGamma(gamma).setBeta(beta).invoke();
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > I don't think any of the reasons you listed is so
> important
> > > as
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > benefit above we got from option #2.
> > > > > > > > > >> On Sat, Sep 29, 2018 at 8:24 AM Naveen Swamy <
> > > > > mnnav...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> Java APIs are not like Clojure - The current proposal is
> > > only to
> > > > > > > > build a
> > > > > > > > > >> few thin wrappers for Inference.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> To better represent the two cases and this discussion in
> > > > > particular,
> > > > > > > > here
> > > > > > > > > >> is an example API
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> 1) def Activation (data : org.apache.mxnet.NDArray,
> > > act_type :
> > > > > > > > String, out
> > > > > > > > > >> : Option[NDArray] = None) :
> > > org.apache.mxnet.NDArrayFuncReturn
> > > > > > > > > >> or
> > > > > > > > > >> 2) def Activation (data : org.apache.mxnet.NDArray,
> > > act_type :
> > > > > > > > String, out
> > > > > > > > > >> : NDArray) : org.apache.mxnet.NDArrayFuncReturn
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> The discussion is should we add(generate) 200+ APIs to
> > make
> > > it
> > > > > Java
> > > > > > > > > >> compatible, ie., remove the Option class and the None
> > > default
> > > > > value
> > > > > > > > which
> > > > > > > > > >> Java does not understand from Option 1)
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> my suggestion was to remove the Option class and create
> a
> > > > > implicit for
> > > > > > > > > >> backward compatibility and use null instead of None,
> > Andrew
> > > and
> > > > > I
> > > > > > > > disagreed
> > > > > > > > > >> on this, so I suggested to raise a discussion on dev@
> to
> > > get
> > > > > more
> > > > > > > > opinions
> > > > > > > > > >> and one of us will disagree and commit. Thanks for
> raising
> > > it :)
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> | * def Activation (data : org.apache.mxnet.NDArray,
> > > act_type :
> > > > > > > > String, out
> > > > > > > > > >> : NDArray = null) : org.apache.mxnet.NDArrayFuncReturn |
> > > > > > > > > >> --
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> 1) It is not true that Scala users will lose
> > > *default/optional*
> > > > > > > > arguments -
> > > > > > > > > >> if we followed the above, they will use null or None,
> > > though I
> > > > > do not
> > > > > > > > like
> > > > > > > > > >> using nulls, this is a fine compromise.
> > > > > > > > > >> To keep backward compatibility we can create a implicit
> to
> > > > > convert
> > > > > > > > > >> Option.None to nulls and Option.Some-> Option.get(), so
> > you
> > > are
> > > > > not
> > > > > > > > going
> > > > > > > > > >> to break users who might have been using the APIs that
> > were
> > > > > released
> > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > >> 1.3. The current incompatibility is only this w.r.t.
> > > NDArrays.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> 2) Now about the Scala Macros - they are not simple to
> > read
> > > or
> > > > > use,
> > > > > > > > When I
> > > > > > > > > >> and Qing started working on the #Scala Macros to improve
> > the
> > > > > APIs, it
> > > > > > > > took
> > > > > > > > > >> us a good amount of time to get a hang of it. I don't
> want
> > > to
> > > > > add
> > > > > > > > > >> additional code when not necessary.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> My suggestion and vote is to modify existing Macro(i.e.,
> > #1
> > > > > from the
> > > > > > > > > >> original email with the necessary clarification above)
> and
> > > make
> > > > > it
> > > > > > > > > >> compatible with Java
> > > > > > > > > >> Here are my reasons
> > > > > > > > > >> 1) The NDArray APIs in question are not following
> > functional
> > > > > style of
> > > > > > > > > >> programming, in fact they are just static methods
> defined
> > > on an
> > > > > > > > NDArray
> > > > > > > > > >> object - so Scala users are not losing much by using
> null
> > in
> > > > > place of
> > > > > > > > None.
> > > > > > > > > >> You can create a implicit to maintain backward
> > compatibility
> > > > > > > > > >> 2) It is adding 220+ APIs(I understand it is generated)
> > for
> > > > > NDArray
> > > > > > > > alone
> > > > > > > > > >> 3) this is adding another 100s of APIs unnecessarily, we
> > are
> > > > > starting
> > > > > > > > with
> > > > > > > > > >> NDArray but we can't stop there, we will have to do this
> > for
> > > > > Symbol,
> > > > > > > > > >> Executor, Iterators, etc., .
> > > > > > > > > >> 3) I don't want to be fixing bugs and maintaining code
> in
> > 2
> > > > > places.
> > > > > > > > > >> 4) I want the cryptic code(# scala macros) to a minimum.
> > > > > > > > > >> 5) increased compilation time & bad developer
> experience -
> > > the
> > > > > time to
> > > > > > > > > >> compile has gone up quite a bit since we added the APIs
> > last
> > > > > release
> > > > > > > > on my
> > > > > > > > > >> 3 year old laptop already.. I think adding 400+ APIs
> > > > > unnecessarily
> > > > > > > > would
> > > > > > > > > >> significantly increase build time and bad developer
> > > experience
> > > > > > > > > >> 6) I want to keep the core of the framework to be in
> > Scala -
> > > > > because
> > > > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > > >> allows you to write concise code - Yes it has a bit of
> > > learning
> > > > > > > > curve, not
> > > > > > > > > >> everyone needs to know. I would rather invest in
> > > solidifying the
> > > > > > > > Scala APIs
> > > > > > > > > >> and add more features in Scala(RNN, Support
> > > > > > > > GluonHybridizedBlock...there is
> > > > > > > > > >> quite bit of work ) - do you want to rewrite everything
> in
> > > > > Scala and
> > > > > > > > Java.
> > > > > > > > > >> 7) Also, the discussion is not creating NDArray class
> for
> > > Java,
> > > > > just
> > > > > > > > > >> generate certain APIs to cater for Java incompatibility.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> @Andrew: To your response to Qing's comments - you
> cannot
> > > just
> > > > > > > > consider it
> > > > > > > > > >> as just generating NDArray's APIs and instead I suggest
> to
> > > take
> > > > > a
> > > > > > > > wholistic
> > > > > > > > > >> view of all the various implications.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> @Chris: Yes, Scala has a bit of learning curve - the
> goal
> > > is not
> > > > > > > > having
> > > > > > > > > >> every developer to deal with how these APIs are
> generated,
> > > > > > > > > >> the problem exists either ways with the above proposal.
> I
> > > might
> > > > > agree
> > > > > > > > if we
> > > > > > > > > >> were to move away completely(with a thorough discussion
> > and
> > > > > valid
> > > > > > > > reasons)
> > > > > > > > > >> and instead use AspectJ or similar to write these APIs,
> > the
> > > > > > > > discussion is
> > > > > > > > > >> about using Scala Macros to generate 2 different types
> of
> > > APIs
> > > > > which
> > > > > > > > are
> > > > > > > > > >> functionally not different and usability wise are very
> > very
> > > > > similar,
> > > > > > > > look
> > > > > > > > > >> at the example.
> > > > > > > > > >> Thanks for your input, I will deposit your 0.02$ in our
> > JIRA
> > > > > bank :)
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> @Carin: It requires more effort to use AspectJ or
> similar
> > to
> > > > > generate
> > > > > > > > APIs
> > > > > > > > > >> using reflection or at compile time, here we need to
> > > generate at
> > > > > > > > compile
> > > > > > > > > >> time so Java users have the API signature on their IDEs.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> Thanks, Naveen
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >> P.S: I am traveling and my responses will be delayed.
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >>
> > > > > > > > > >>> On Fri, Sep 28, 2018 at 10:25 AM Carin Meier <
> > > > > carinme...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>
> > > > > > > > > >>> Sorry bad paste on the gist - here is the good one
> > > > > > > > > >>>
> > > > > https://gist.github.com/gigasquid/01cd48f563db4739910592dd9ac9db20
> > > > > > > > > >>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> On Fri, Sep 28, 2018 at 10:24 AM Carin Meier <
> > > > > carinme...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> +1 on option #2
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> In the case of minimizing the the overhead for code
> > > > > maintenance, I
> > > > > > > > wanted
> > > > > > > > > >>>> to suggest the option of investigating generating code
> > > from
> > > > > the Java
> > > > > > > > > >>>> Reflection for the Java APIs.  I did a quick gist from
> > > > > Clojure of
> > > > > > > > what
> > > > > > > > > >>> the
> > > > > > > > > >>>> generated classes look like from the current Scala
> > > Symbol.api
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > >>>> FullyConnected here
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > https://gist.github.com/gigasquid/01cd48f563db4739910592
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> I looks like that there is always a base Java class
> > > generated
> > > > > will
> > > > > > > > all
> > > > > > > > > >>> the
> > > > > > > > > >>>> arguments. If this is the case, then there is a
> > > possibility to
> > > > > > > > generate a
> > > > > > > > > >>>> Java api based on this Java method automatically with
> > > just a
> > > > > > > > conversion
> > > > > > > > > >>> for
> > > > > > > > > >>>> the Scala option and it might be reusable for all the
> > > > > packages.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> Not sure if it will work for this use case, but
> thought
> > I
> > > > > would
> > > > > > > > bring it
> > > > > > > > > >>>> up in case it's helpful.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> - Carin
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> On Fri, Sep 28, 2018 at 7:05 AM Davydenko, Denis
> > > > > > > > <d...@amazon.com.invalid
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> +1 on option #2. Having clear Java interface for
> > NDArray,
> > > > > from my
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> perspective, would be a better experience for Java
> > users
> > > as
> > > > > it
> > > > > > > > won't
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> require them to deal with Scala code in any capacity.
> > > > > Overhead of
> > > > > > > > extra
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> code for additional macros is justified, in my mind,
> as
> > > it
> > > > > will be
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> introduced with option #1 either way, just in a
> > different
> > > > > place.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> --
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> Denis
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> On 9/27/18, 6:14 PM, "YiZhi Liu" <
> eazhi....@gmail.com
> > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  I vote for "2.) Leave the existing macro in place
> and
> > > add
> > > > > another
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  which generates a Java friendly version"
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  @Qing @Andrew, could you give some examples, so that
> > > people
> > > > > can
> > > > > > > > > >>> better
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  understand how it provides "best possible
> experience"
> > to
> > > > > Java
> > > > > > > > users.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  I have no strong preference between having
> JavaShape &
> > > > > JavaContext
> > > > > > > > > >>> or
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> not.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  On Thu, Sep 27, 2018 at 5:56 PM Andrew Ayres <
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> andrew.f.ay...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> That's not really the conversation I'm wanting to
> > have.
> > > I
> > > > > want a
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> discussion
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> about the macros with respect to NDArray so that we
> > can
> > > get
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> agreement on
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> our path forward with respect to implementing the
> > > NDArray
> > > > > wrapper.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> The design that was put forth and agreed to was for
> a
> > a
> > > Java
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> wrapper around
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> the Scala API. Adding a bunch of Java friendly
> methods
> > > > > inside the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> Scala
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> code would create a mess for users. Maintenance
> would
> > be
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> essentially the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> same for both because either way you're going to be
> > > > > updating Java
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> methods
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> when you make Scala changes.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> Let's please stick with the issue in the original
> > email.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> Andrew
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> On Thu, Sep 27, 2018 at 5:22 PM Qing Lan <
> > > > > lanking...@live.com>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> I would like to loop this back a layer. Current,
> > there
> > > is a
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> discussion in
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> the MXNet Scala community on the ways to implement
> > the
> > > Java
> > > > > > > > > >>> APIs.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> Currently
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> there are two thoughts:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> 1. Make Scala Java Friendly (Create Java compatible
> > > > > methods in
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> the Scala
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Class. such as NDArray with Java compatible
> > > constructor)
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> 2. Make Java friendly wrappers in Scala (Andrew's
> > > > > explanation
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> below)
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> The first approach require minimum input from our
> > side
> > > to
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> implement
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> however bring user a bunch of useless api they may
> > not
> > > > > want to
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> use. It also
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> makes Scala package heavier. The good thing is
> these
> > > two
> > > > > > > > > >>> packages
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> require
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> minimum maintenance cost. As a tradeoff, if any
> time
> > > in the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> future we want
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> to make Java big (make Java as the primary language
> > > > > supported by
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> MXNet),
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> then the migration from Scala to Java will be
> > harmful.
> > > > > Spark
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> consider this
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> carefully and decide not to change much on their
> > Scala
> > > > > code base
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> to make it
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> more Java.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> The second approach will make unique NDArray,
> Shape,
> > > > > Context and
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> more. The
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> good thing about this is we can always holds a
> > version
> > > > > control
> > > > > > > > > >>> on
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> Java.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Some breaking changes on Scala may not influence
> much
> > > on
> > > > > Java.
> > > > > > > > > >>> It
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> did the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> best way to decouple the module and good for us to
> > > build
> > > > > unique
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> pipeline
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> for Java. The bad thing with this design is the
> > > > > maintenance cost
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> as we need
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> to keep two code bases, but it also make Java side
> > > easy to
> > > > > > > > > >>> change
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> to make
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> it better compatible with users.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Qing
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> On 9/27/18, 3:25 PM, "Andrew Ayres" <
> > > > > andrew.f.ay...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Hi,
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Currently, we're working to implement a new Java
> API
> > > and
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> would like
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> some
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  feedback from the community on an implementation
> > > detail.
> > > > > In
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> short, the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> new
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Java API will use the existing Scala API (in a
> > manner
> > > > > > > > > >>> similar
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> to how
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  current Clojure API works). This basically means
> > that
> > > > > we're
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> making Java
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  friendly wrappers to call the existing Scala API.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  The feedback we're looking for is on the
> > > implementation of
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> NDArray.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Scala's
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  NDArray has a significant amount of code which is
> > > > > generated
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> via macros
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> and
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  we've got two viable paths to move forward:
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  1.) Change the macro to generate Java friendly
> > > methods  -
> > > > > To
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> do this
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> we'll
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  modify the macro so that the generated methods
> won't
> > > have
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> default/optional
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  arguments. There may also have to be some changes
> to
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> parameter types to
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  make them Java friendly. The big advantage here is
> > > that
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> ongoing
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> maintenance
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  will easier. The disadvantages are that we'll be
> > > changing
> > > > > > > > > >>> the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> existing
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Scala NDArray Infer API (it's marked experimental)
> > and
> > > > > Scala
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> users will
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  lose the ability to use the default and optional
> > > > > arguments.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  2.) Leave the existing macro in place and add
> > another
> > > > > which
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> generates a
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Java friendly version - The biggest issue here is
> > that
> > > > > we'll
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> be
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> doubling
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  the number of macros that we've got to maintain.
> > It'll
> > > > > > > > > >>> become
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> even more
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  overhead once we start expanding the Java API with
> > > more
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> classes that
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> use
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  generated code like this. The advantages are that
> > the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> existing Scala
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  NDArray Infer API would remain unchanged for Scala
> > > users
> > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> that the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> new
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  macro could be optimized to give the best possible
> > > > > > > > > >>> experience
> > > > > > > > > >>>>> to the
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>> Java
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  API.
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>>>  Andrew
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  --
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  Yizhi Liu
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  DMLC member
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  Amazon Web Services
> > > > > > > > > >>>>>  Vancouver, Canada
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > > > Yizhi Liu
> > > > > > > > > > DMLC member
> > > > > > > > > > Amazon Web Services
> > > > > > > > > > Vancouver, Canada
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > Yizhi Liu
> > > > > > > > DMLC member
> > > > > > > > Amazon Web Services
> > > > > > > > Vancouver, Canada
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Yizhi Liu
> > > > > > DMLC member
> > > > > > Amazon Web Services
> > > > > > Vancouver, Canada
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Yizhi Liu
> > > > > DMLC member
> > > > > Amazon Web Services
> > > > > Vancouver, Canada
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Yizhi Liu
> > > DMLC member
> > > Amazon Web Services
> > > Vancouver, Canada
> > >
> > --
> > Yizhi Liu
> > DMLC member
> > Amazon Web Services
> > Vancouver, Canada
> >
>
-- 
Yizhi Liu
DMLC member
Amazon Web Services
Vancouver, Canada

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