Re: Matrix or array operations library

[Matt Wette <matt.wette@gmail.com>]

On 12/24/18 2:01 PM, Zelphir Kaltstahl wrote:

> Hello Guile Users,
>
> Is there some library, that enables high performance matrix operations
> or even n-dimensional array operations? I am thinking of something like
> NumPy in the Python ecosystem. I think NumPy in turn also uses some
> lower level thing to do what it does. I think OpenBLAS or MKL, depending
> on the architecture. I wonder if there is any wrapper around OpenBLAS
> for Guile or something similar.
>
> I am writing a little code for matrix operations and currently I am
> using Guile arrays, as they are made of vectors and have constant access
> time, which is already great. My guess is, that this would be the right
> choice if using pure Guile. I am writing data abstraction procedures, so
> that later on I could exchange what is used to represent the data.
>
> Maybe, if there is something like NumPy or lower level, I should use
> that instead? (Would I have to learn how to use FFI first?)
>
> Or maybe Guile's implementation is already so fast, that it would not
> make that much difference to use a lower level thing?
>
> Currently I have only a little experimental program, started today, so
> no huge plan. OK, one can fantasize about stuff like Pandas data frames
> in Guile, but I have no illusion, that it is a work of a few days or
> even weeks. It would be nice to learn, how to use a low level thing or
> maybe even Pandas, if there are any such bindings for Guile. I could
> make the implementation use different representations, depending on a
> parameter or something like that.
>
> Regards,
>
> Zelphir
>
IMO, Guile probably needs something like ndarray, the base for numpy,
if matrix operations are going to go anywhere.

As far as using blas or others, I have developed a package for helping
to use the FFI API for C libraries.  It may be of interest to you.

ffi-helper: https://www.nongnu.org/nyacc/ffi-help.html

Matt