From: dave_at_[hidden]
Date: 2008-06-29 08:55:50
Author: dave
Date: 2008-06-29 08:55:50 EDT (Sun, 29 Jun 2008)
New Revision: 46845
URL: http://svn.boost.org/trac/boost/changeset/46845
Log:
merged valid HTML from trunk
Text files modified:
branches/release/libs/python/doc/v2/pickle.html | 457 +++++++++++++++++----------------------
1 files changed, 204 insertions(+), 253 deletions(-)
Modified: branches/release/libs/python/doc/v2/pickle.html
==============================================================================
--- branches/release/libs/python/doc/v2/pickle.html (original)
+++ branches/release/libs/python/doc/v2/pickle.html 2008-06-29 08:55:50 EDT (Sun, 29 Jun 2008)
@@ -1,112 +1,93 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"
-"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/strict.dtd">
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+ "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
-<title>Boost.Python Pickle Support</title>
-
-<div>
-
-<img src="../../../../boost.png"
- alt="boost.png (6897 bytes)"
- align="center"
- width="277" height="86">
-
-<hr>
-<h1>Boost.Python Pickle Support</h1>
-
-Pickle is a Python module for object serialization, also known
-as persistence, marshalling, or flattening.
-
-<p>
-It is often necessary to save and restore the contents of an object to
-a file. One approach to this problem is to write a pair of functions
-that read and write data from a file in a special format. A powerful
-alternative approach is to use Python's pickle module. Exploiting
-Python's ability for introspection, the pickle module recursively
-converts nearly arbitrary Python objects into a stream of bytes that
-can be written to a file.
-
-<p>
-The Boost Python Library supports the pickle module
-through the interface as described in detail in the
-<a href="http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-pickle.html"
->Python Library Reference for pickle.</a> This interface
-involves the special methods <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>,
-<tt>__getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt> as described
-in the following. Note that Boost.Python is also fully compatible
-with Python's cPickle module.
-
-<hr>
-<h2>The Boost.Python Pickle Interface</h2>
-
-At the user level, the Boost.Python pickle interface involves three special
-methods:
-
-<dl>
-<dt>
-<strong><tt>__getinitargs__</tt></strong>
-<dd>
- When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is pickled, the
- pickler tests if the instance has a <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> method.
- This method must return a Python tuple (it is most convenient to use
- a boost::python::tuple). When the instance is restored by the
- unpickler, the contents of this tuple are used as the arguments for
- the class constructor.
-
- <p>
- If <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> is not defined, <tt>pickle.load</tt>
- will call the constructor (<tt>__init__</tt>) without arguments;
- i.e., the object must be default-constructible.
-
-<p>
-<dt>
-<strong><tt>__getstate__</tt></strong>
-
-<dd>
- When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is pickled, the
- pickler tests if the instance has a <tt>__getstate__</tt> method.
- This method should return a Python object representing the state of
- the instance.
-
-<p>
-<dt>
-<strong><tt>__setstate__</tt></strong>
-
-<dd>
- When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is restored by the
- unpickler (<tt>pickle.load</tt>), it is first constructed using the
- result of <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> as arguments (see above). Subsequently
- the unpickler tests if the new instance has a <tt>__setstate__</tt>
- method. If so, this method is called with the result of
- <tt>__getstate__</tt> (a Python object) as the argument.
-
-</dl>
-
-The three special methods described above may be <tt>.def()</tt>'ed
-individually by the user. However, Boost.Python provides an easy to use
-high-level interface via the
-<strong><tt>boost::python::pickle_suite</tt></strong> class that also
-enforces consistency: <tt>__getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt>
-must be defined as pairs. Use of this interface is demonstrated by the
-following examples.
-
-<hr>
-<h2>Examples</h2>
-
-There are three files in
-<tt>boost/libs/python/test</tt> that show how to
-provide pickle support.
-
-<hr>
-<h3>pickle1.cpp</h3>
-
- The C++ class in this example can be fully restored by passing the
- appropriate argument to the constructor. Therefore it is sufficient
- to define the pickle interface method <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>.
- This is done in the following way:
-
-<ul>
-<li>1. Definition of the C++ pickle function:
-<pre>
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+<head>
+ <title>Boost.Python Pickle Support</title>
+</head>
+
+<body>
+ <div>
+ <img src="../../../../boost.png" alt="boost.png (6897 bytes)" align=
+ "center" width="277" height="86" />
+ <hr />
+
+ <h1>Boost.Python Pickle Support</h1>Pickle is a Python module for object
+ serialization, also known as persistence, marshalling, or flattening.
+
+ <p>It is often necessary to save and restore the contents of an object to
+ a file. One approach to this problem is to write a pair of functions that
+ read and write data from a file in a special format. A powerful
+ alternative approach is to use Python's pickle module. Exploiting
+ Python's ability for introspection, the pickle module recursively
+ converts nearly arbitrary Python objects into a stream of bytes that can
+ be written to a file.</p>
+
+ <p>The Boost Python Library supports the pickle module through the
+ interface as described in detail in the <a href=
+ "http://www.python.org/doc/current/lib/module-pickle.html">Python Library
+ Reference for pickle.</a> This interface involves the special methods
+ <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>, <tt>__getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt>
+ as described in the following. Note that Boost.Python is also fully
+ compatible with Python's cPickle module.</p>
+ <hr />
+
+ <h2>The Boost.Python Pickle Interface</h2>At the user level, the
+ Boost.Python pickle interface involves three special methods:
+
+ <dl>
+ <dt><strong><tt>__getinitargs__</tt></strong></dt>
+
+ <dd>
+ When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is pickled, the
+ pickler tests if the instance has a <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> method.
+ This method must return a Python tuple (it is most convenient to use
+ a boost::python::tuple). When the instance is restored by the
+ unpickler, the contents of this tuple are used as the arguments for
+ the class constructor.
+
+ <p>If <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> is not defined, <tt>pickle.load</tt>
+ will call the constructor (<tt>__init__</tt>) without arguments;
+ i.e., the object must be default-constructible.</p>
+ </dd>
+
+ <dt><strong><tt>__getstate__</tt></strong></dt>
+
+ <dd>When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is pickled, the
+ pickler tests if the instance has a <tt>__getstate__</tt> method. This
+ method should return a Python object representing the state of the
+ instance.</dd>
+
+ <dt><strong><tt>__setstate__</tt></strong></dt>
+
+ <dd>When an instance of a Boost.Python extension class is restored by
+ the unpickler (<tt>pickle.load</tt>), it is first constructed using the
+ result of <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> as arguments (see above).
+ Subsequently the unpickler tests if the new instance has a
+ <tt>__setstate__</tt> method. If so, this method is called with the
+ result of <tt>__getstate__</tt> (a Python object) as the argument.</dd>
+ </dl>The three special methods described above may be <tt>.def()</tt>'ed
+ individually by the user. However, Boost.Python provides an easy to use
+ high-level interface via the
+ <strong><tt>boost::python::pickle_suite</tt></strong> class that also
+ enforces consistency: <tt>__getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt>
+ must be defined as pairs. Use of this interface is demonstrated by the
+ following examples.
+ <hr />
+
+ <h2>Examples</h2>There are three files in <tt>boost/libs/python/test</tt>
+ that show how to provide pickle support.
+ <hr />
+
+ <h3>pickle1.cpp</h3>The C++
+ class in this example can be fully restored by passing the appropriate
+ argument to the constructor. Therefore it is sufficient to define the
+ pickle interface method <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>. This is done in the
+ following way:
+
+ <ul>
+ <li>1. Definition of the C++ pickle function:
+ <pre>
struct world_pickle_suite : boost::python::pickle_suite
{
static
@@ -117,26 +98,28 @@
}
};
</pre>
-<li>2. Establishing the Python binding:
-<pre>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>2. Establishing the Python binding:
+ <pre>
class_<world>("world", args<const std::string&>())
// ...
.def_pickle(world_pickle_suite())
// ...
</pre>
-</ul>
-
-<hr>
-<h3>pickle2.cpp</h3>
-
- The C++ class in this example contains member data that cannot be
- restored by any of the constructors. Therefore it is necessary to
- provide the <tt>__getstate__</tt>/<tt>__setstate__</tt> pair of
- pickle interface methods:
-
-<ul>
-<li>1. Definition of the C++ pickle functions:
-<pre>
+ </li>
+ </ul>
+ <hr />
+
+ <h3>pickle2.cpp</h3>The C++
+ class in this example contains member data that cannot be restored by any
+ of the constructors. Therefore it is necessary to provide the
+ <tt>__getstate__</tt>/<tt>__setstate__</tt> pair of pickle interface
+ methods:
+
+ <ul>
+ <li>1. Definition of the C++ pickle functions:
+ <pre>
struct world_pickle_suite : boost::python::pickle_suite
{
static
@@ -161,92 +144,76 @@
}
};
</pre>
-<li>2. Establishing the Python bindings for the entire suite:
-<pre>
+ </li>
+
+ <li>2. Establishing the Python bindings for the entire suite:
+ <pre>
class_<world>("world", args<const std::string&>())
// ...
.def_pickle(world_pickle_suite())
// ...
</pre>
-</ul>
-
- <p>
- For simplicity, the <tt>__dict__</tt> is not included in the result
- of <tt>__getstate__</tt>. This is not generally recommended, but a
- valid approach if it is anticipated that the object's
- <tt>__dict__</tt> will always be empty. Note that the safety guard
- described below will catch the cases where this assumption is violated.
-
-<hr>
-<h3>pickle3.cpp</h3>
-
- This example is similar to <a
- href="../../test/pickle2.cpp"><tt>pickle2.cpp</tt></a>. However, the
- object's <tt>__dict__</tt> is included in the result of
- <tt>__getstate__</tt>. This requires a little more code but is
- unavoidable if the object's <tt>__dict__</tt> is not always empty.
-
-<hr>
-<h2>Pitfall and Safety Guard</h2>
-
-The pickle protocol described above has an important pitfall that the
-end user of a Boost.Python extension module might not be aware of:
-<p>
-<strong>
-<tt>__getstate__</tt> is defined and the instance's <tt>__dict__</tt>
-is not empty.
-</strong>
-<p>
-
- The author of a Boost.Python extension class might provide a
- <tt>__getstate__</tt> method without considering the possibilities
- that:
-
- <p>
- <ul>
- <li>
- his class is used in Python as a base class. Most likely the
- <tt>__dict__</tt> of instances of the derived class needs to be
- pickled in order to restore the instances correctly.
-
- <p>
- <li>
- the user adds items to the instance's <tt>__dict__</tt> directly.
- Again, the <tt>__dict__</tt> of the instance then needs to be
- pickled.
-
- </ul>
- <p>
-
- To alert the user to this highly unobvious problem, a safety guard is
- provided. If <tt>__getstate__</tt> is defined and the instance's
- <tt>__dict__</tt> is not empty, Boost.Python tests if the class has
- an attribute <tt>__getstate_manages_dict__</tt>. An exception is
- raised if this attribute is not defined:
+ </li>
+ </ul>
-<pre>
+ <p>For simplicity, the <tt>__dict__</tt> is not included in the result of
+ <tt>__getstate__</tt>. This is not generally recommended, but a valid
+ approach if it is anticipated that the object's <tt>__dict__</tt> will
+ always be empty. Note that the safety guard described below will catch
+ the cases where this assumption is violated.</p>
+ <hr />
+
+ <h3>pickle3.cpp</h3>This
+ example is similar to <a href=
+ "../../test/pickle2.cpp"><tt>pickle2.cpp</tt></a>. However, the object's
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> is included in the result of <tt>__getstate__</tt>.
+ This requires a little more code but is unavoidable if the object's
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> is not always empty.
+ <hr />
+
+ <h2>Pitfall and Safety Guard</h2>The pickle protocol described above has
+ an important pitfall that the end user of a Boost.Python extension module
+ might not be aware of:
+
+ <p><strong><tt>__getstate__</tt> is defined and the instance's
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> is not empty.</strong></p>
+
+ <p>The author of a Boost.Python extension class might provide a
+ <tt>__getstate__</tt> method without considering the possibilities
+ that:</p>
+
+ <ul>
+ <li>his class is used in Python as a base class. Most likely the
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> of instances of the derived class needs to be pickled
+ in order to restore the instances correctly.</li>
+
+ <li>the user adds items to the instance's <tt>__dict__</tt> directly.
+ Again, the <tt>__dict__</tt> of the instance then needs to be
+ pickled.</li>
+ </ul>
+
+ <p>To alert the user to this highly unobvious problem, a safety guard is
+ provided. If <tt>__getstate__</tt> is defined and the instance's
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> is not empty, Boost.Python tests if the class has an
+ attribute <tt>__getstate_manages_dict__</tt>. An exception is raised if
+ this attribute is not defined:</p>
+ <pre>
RuntimeError: Incomplete pickle support (__getstate_manages_dict__ not set)
-</pre>
-
- To resolve this problem, it should first be established that the
- <tt>__getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt> methods manage the
- instances's <tt>__dict__</tt> correctly. Note that this can be done
- either at the C++ or the Python level. Finally, the safety guard
- should intentionally be overridden. E.g. in C++ (from
- pickle3.cpp):
-
-<pre>
+</pre>To resolve this problem, it should first be established that the <tt>
+ __getstate__</tt> and <tt>__setstate__</tt> methods manage the
+ instances's <tt>__dict__</tt> correctly. Note that this can be done
+ either at the C++ or the Python level. Finally, the safety guard should
+ intentionally be overridden. E.g. in C++ (from <a href=
+ "../../test/pickle3.cpp"><tt>pickle3.cpp</tt></a>):
+ <pre>
struct world_pickle_suite : boost::python::pickle_suite
{
// ...
static bool getstate_manages_dict() { return true; }
};
-</pre>
-
- Alternatively in Python:
-
-<pre>
+</pre>Alternatively in Python:
+ <pre>
import your_bpl_module
class your_class(your_bpl_module.your_class):
__getstate_manages_dict__ = 1
@@ -255,54 +222,41 @@
def __setstate__(self, state):
# your code here
</pre>
+ <hr />
-<hr>
-<h2>Practical Advice</h2>
+ <h2>Practical Advice</h2>
-<ul>
-<li>
- In Boost.Python extension modules with many extension classes,
- providing complete pickle support for all classes would be a
- significant overhead. In general complete pickle support should
- only be implemented for extension classes that will eventually
- be pickled.
-
-<p>
-<li>
- Avoid using <tt>__getstate__</tt> if the instance can also be
- reconstructed by way of <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>. This automatically
- avoids the pitfall described above.
-
-<p>
-<li>
- If <tt>__getstate__</tt> is required, include the instance's
- <tt>__dict__</tt> in the Python object that is returned.
-
-</ul>
-
-<hr>
-<h2>Light-weight alternative: pickle support implemented in Python</h2>
-
-<h3>pickle4.cpp</h3>
-
-The <tt>pickle4.cpp</tt> example demonstrates an alternative technique
-for implementing pickle support. First we direct Boost.Python via
-the <tt>class_::enable_pickling()</tt> member function to define only
-the basic attributes required for pickling:
-
-<pre>
+ <ul>
+ <li>In Boost.Python extension modules with many extension classes,
+ providing complete pickle support for all classes would be a
+ significant overhead. In general complete pickle support should only be
+ implemented for extension classes that will eventually be pickled.</li>
+
+ <li>Avoid using <tt>__getstate__</tt> if the instance can also be
+ reconstructed by way of <tt>__getinitargs__</tt>. This automatically
+ avoids the pitfall described above.</li>
+
+ <li>If <tt>__getstate__</tt> is required, include the instance's
+ <tt>__dict__</tt> in the Python object that is returned.</li>
+ </ul>
+ <hr />
+
+ <h2>Light-weight alternative: pickle support implemented in Python</h2>
+
+ <h3>pickle4.cpp</h3>The
+ <tt>pickle4.cpp</tt> example demonstrates an alternative technique for
+ implementing pickle support. First we direct Boost.Python via the
+ <tt>class_::enable_pickling()</tt> member function to define only the
+ basic attributes required for pickling:
+ <pre>
class_<world>("world", args<const std::string&>())
// ...
.enable_pickling()
// ...
-</pre>
-
-This enables the standard Python pickle interface as described
-in the Python documentation. By "injecting" a
-<tt>__getinitargs__</tt> method into the definition of the wrapped
-class we make all instances pickleable:
-
-<pre>
+</pre>This enables the standard Python pickle interface as described in the
+Python documentation. By "injecting" a <tt>__getinitargs__</tt> method into
+the definition of the wrapped class we make all instances pickleable:
+ <pre>
# import the wrapped world class
from pickle4_ext import world
@@ -312,18 +266,15 @@
# now inject __getinitargs__ (Python is a dynamic language!)
world.__getinitargs__ = world_getinitargs
-</pre>
-
-See also the
-<a href="../tutorial/doc/html/python/techniques.html#python.extending_wrapped_objects_in_python"
->tutorial section</a> on injecting additional methods from Python.
-
-<hr>
-
-© Copyright Ralf W. Grosse-Kunstleve 2001-2004. Distributed under
- the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file
- LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
-
-<p>
-Updated: Feb 2004.
-</div>
+</pre>See also the <a href=
+"../tutorial/doc/html/python/techniques.html#python.extending_wrapped_objects_in_python">
+ tutorial section</a> on injecting additional methods from Python.
+ <hr />
+ © Copyright Ralf W. Grosse-Kunstleve 2001-2004. Distributed under the
+ Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See accompanying file
+ LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
+
+ <p>Updated: Feb 2004.</p>
+ </div>
+</body>
+</html>