Update the docs and examples for the new Sized implementation

examples/functions_and_traits.rs

@@ -7,136 +7,182 @@
 //!     2. [`ArrayRef`], which represents a read-safe, uniquely-owned look at an array.
 //!     3. [`RawRef`], which represents a read-unsafe, possibly-shared look at an array.
 //!     4. [`LayoutRef`], which represents a look at an array's underlying structure,
-//!         but does not allow data reading of any kind.
+//!         but does not allow reading data of any kind.
 //!
 //! Below, we illustrate how to write functions and traits for most variants of these types.
 
-use ndarray::{ArrayBase, ArrayRef, Data, DataMut, Dimension, LayoutRef, RawData, RawDataMut, RawRef};
+use ndarray::{ArrayBase, ArrayRef, Data, DataMut, Dimension, LayoutRef, RawRef};
 
-/// Take an array with the most basic requirements.
+/// First, the newest pattern: this function accepts arrays whose data are safe to
+/// dereference and uniquely held.
 ///
-/// This function takes its data as owning. It is very rare that a user will need to specifically
-/// take a reference to an `ArrayBase`, rather than to one of the other four types.
-#[rustfmt::skip]
-fn takes_base_raw<S: RawData, D>(arr: ArrayBase<S, D>) -> ArrayBase<S, D>
+/// This is probably the most common pattern for users.
+/// Once we have an array reference, we can go to [`RawRef`] and [`LayoutRef`] very easily.
+fn takes_arrref<A, D>(arr: &ArrayRef<A, D>)
 {
-    // These skip from a possibly-raw array to `RawRef` and `LayoutRef`, and so must go through `AsRef`
-    takes_rawref(arr.as_ref()); // Caller uses `.as_ref`
-    takes_rawref_asref(&arr);   // Implementor uses `.as_ref`
-    takes_layout(arr.as_ref()); // Caller uses `.as_ref`
-    takes_layout_asref(&arr);   // Implementor uses `.as_ref`
-
-    arr
+    // Since `ArrayRef` implements `Deref` to `RawRef`, we can pass `arr` directly to a function
+    // that takes `RawRef`. Similarly, since `RawRef` implements `Deref` to `LayoutRef`, we can pass
+    // `arr` directly to a function that takes `LayoutRef`.
+    takes_rawref(arr); // &ArrayRef -> &RawRef
+    takes_layout(arr); // &ArrayRef -> &RawRef -> &LayoutRef
+
+    // We can also pass `arr` to functions that accept `RawRef` and `LayoutRef` via `AsRef`.
+    // These alternative function signatures are important for other types, but we see that when
+    // we have an `ArrayRef`, we can call them very simply.
+    takes_rawref_asref(arr); // &ArrayRef -> &RawRef
+    takes_layout_asref(arr); // &ArrayRef -> &LayoutRef
 }
 
-/// Similar to above, but allow us to read the underlying data.
-#[rustfmt::skip]
-fn takes_base_raw_mut<S: RawDataMut, D>(mut arr: ArrayBase<S, D>) -> ArrayBase<S, D>
+/// Now we want any array whose data is safe to mutate.
+///
+/// Importantly, any array passed to this function is guaranteed to uniquely point to its data.
+/// As a result, passing a shared array to this function will silently un-share the array.
+/// So, ***users should only accept `&mut ArrayRef` when they want to mutate data***.
+/// If they just want to mutate shape and strides, use `&mut LayoutRef` or `&AsMut<LayoutRef>`.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn takes_arrref_mut<A, D>(arr: &mut ArrayRef<A, D>)
 {
-    // These skip from a possibly-raw array to `RawRef` and `LayoutRef`, and so must go through `AsMut`
-    takes_rawref_mut(arr.as_mut()); // Caller uses `.as_mut`
-    takes_rawref_asmut(&mut arr);   // Implementor uses `.as_mut`
-    takes_layout_mut(arr.as_mut()); // Caller uses `.as_mut`
-    takes_layout_asmut(&mut arr);   // Implementor uses `.as_mut`
+    // We can do everything we did with a `&ArrayRef`
+    takes_arrref(arr);
 
-    arr
+    // Similarly, we can pass this to functions that accept mutable references
+    // to our other array reference types. These first two happen via `Deref`...
+    takes_rawref_mut(arr);
+    takes_layout_mut(arr);
+
+    // ... and these two happen via `AsRef`.
+    takes_rawref_asmut(arr);
+    takes_rawref_asmut(arr);
 }
 
-/// Now take an array whose data is safe to read.
+/// Now let's go back and look at the way to write functions prior to 0.17: using `ArrayBase`.
+///
+/// This function signature says three things:
+/// 1. Let me take a read only reference (that's the `&`)
+/// 2. Of an array whose data is safe to dereference (that's the `S: Data`)
+/// 3. And whose data is read-only (also `S: Data`)
+///
+/// Let's see what we can do with this array:
 #[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_base<S: Data, D>(mut arr: ArrayBase<S, D>) -> ArrayBase<S, D>
+fn takes_base<S: Data, D>(arr: &ArrayBase<S, D>)
 {
-    // Raw call
-    arr = takes_base_raw(arr);
+    // First off: we can pass it to functions that accept `&ArrayRef`.
+    //
+    // This is always "cheap", in the sense that even if `arr` is an
+    // `ArcArray` that shares its data, using this call will not un-share that data.
+    takes_arrref(arr);
 
-    // No need for AsRef, since data is safe
-    takes_arrref(&arr);
+    // We can also pass it to functions that accept `RawRef` and `LayoutRef`
+    // in the usual two ways:
     takes_rawref(&arr);
-    takes_rawref_asref(&arr);
     takes_layout(&arr);
+    //
+    takes_rawref_asref(&arr);
     takes_layout_asref(&arr);
+}
 
-    arr
+/// Now, let's take a mutable reference to an `ArrayBase` - but let's keep `S: Data`, such
+/// that we are allowed to change the _layout_ of the array, but not its data.
+fn takes_base_mut<S: Data, D>(arr: &mut ArrayBase<S, D>)
+{
+    // Of course we can call everything we did with a immutable reference:
+    takes_base(arr);
+
+    // However, we _can't_ call a function that takes `&mut ArrayRef`:
+    // this would require mutable data access, which `S: Data` does not provide.
+    //
+    // takes_arrref_mut(arr);
+    // rustc: cannot borrow data in dereference of `ArrayBase<S, D>` as mutable
+    //
+    // Nor can we call a function that takes `&mut RawRef`
+    // takes_rawref_mut(arr);
+
+    // We can, however, call functions that take `AsMut<LayoutRef>`,
+    // since `LayoutRef` does not provide read access to the data:
+    takes_layout_mut(arr.as_layout_ref_mut());
+    //
+    takes_layout_asmut(arr);
 }
 
-/// Now, an array whose data is safe to read and that we can mutate.
+/// Finally, let's look at a mutable reference to an `ArrayBase` with `S: DataMut`.
 ///
-/// Notice that we include now a trait bound on `D: Dimension`; this is necessary in order
-/// for the `ArrayBase` to dereference to an `ArrayRef` (or to any of the other types).
+/// Note that we require a constraint of `D: Dimension` to dereference to `&mut ArrayRef`.
 #[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_base_mut<S: DataMut, D: Dimension>(mut arr: ArrayBase<S, D>) -> ArrayBase<S, D>
+fn takes_base_data_mut<S: DataMut, D: Dimension>(arr: &mut ArrayBase<S, D>)
 {
-    // Raw call
-    arr = takes_base_raw_mut(arr);
+    // Of course, everything we can do with just `S: Data`:
+    takes_base_mut(arr);
+
+    // But also, we can now call functions that take `&mut ArrayRef`.
+    //
+    // NOTE: If `arr` is actually an `ArcArray` with shared data, this
+    // will un-share the data. This can be a potentially costly operation.
+    takes_arrref_mut(arr);
+}
 
-    // No need for AsMut, since data is safe
-    takes_arrref_mut(&mut arr);
-    takes_rawref_mut(&mut arr);
-    takes_rawref_asmut(&mut arr);
-    takes_layout_mut(&mut arr);
-    takes_layout_asmut(&mut arr);
+/// Let's now look at writing functions for the new `LayoutRef` type. We'll do this for both
+/// immutable and mutable references, and we'll see how there are two different ways to accept
+/// these types.
+///
+/// These functions can only read/modify an array's shape or strides,
+/// such as checking dimensionality or slicing, should take `LayoutRef`.
+///
+/// Our first way is to accept an immutable reference to `LayoutRef`:
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn takes_layout<A, D>(_arr: &LayoutRef<A, D>) {}
 
-    arr
-}
+/// We can also directly take a mutable reference to `LayoutRef`.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn takes_layout_mut<A, D>(_arr: &mut LayoutRef<A, D>) {}
 
-/// Now for new stuff: we want to read (but not alter) any array whose data is safe to read.
+/// However, the preferred way to write these functions is by accepting
+/// generics using `AsRef`.
 ///
-/// This is probably the most common functionality that one would want to write.
-/// As we'll see below, calling this function is very simple for `ArrayBase<S: Data, D>`.
-fn takes_arrref<A, D>(arr: &ArrayRef<A, D>)
+/// For immutable access, writing with `AsRef` has the same benefit as usual:
+/// callers have nicer ergonomics, since they can just pass any type
+/// without having to call `.as_ref` or `.as_layout_ref`.
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+fn takes_layout_asref<T, A, D>(_arr: &T)
+where T: AsRef<LayoutRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
 {
-    // No need for AsRef, since data is safe
-    takes_rawref(arr);
-    takes_rawref_asref(arr);
-    takes_layout(arr);
-    takes_layout_asref(arr);
 }
 
-/// Now we want any array whose data is safe to mutate.
-///
-/// **Importantly**, any array passed to this function is guaranteed to uniquely point to its data.
-/// As a result, passing a shared array to this function will **silently** un-share the array.
+/// For mutable access, there is an additional reason to write with `AsMut`:
+/// it prevents callers who are passing in `ArcArray` or other shared array types
+/// from accidentally unsharing the data through a deref chain:
+/// `&mut ArcArray --(unshare)--> &mut ArrayRef -> &mut RawRef -> &mut LayoutRef`.
 #[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_arrref_mut<A, D>(arr: &mut ArrayRef<A, D>)
+fn takes_layout_asmut<T, A, D>(_arr: &mut T)
+where T: AsMut<LayoutRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
 {
-    // Immutable call
-    takes_arrref(arr);
-
-    // No need for AsMut, since data is safe
-    takes_rawref_mut(arr);
-    takes_rawref_asmut(arr);
-    takes_layout_mut(arr);
-    takes_rawref_asmut(arr);
 }
 
-/// Now, we no longer care about whether we can safely read data.
+/// Finally, we have `RawRef`, where we can access and mutate the array's data, but only unsafely.
+/// This is important for, e.g., dealing with [`std::mem::MaybeUninit`].
 ///
 /// This is probably the rarest type to deal with, since `LayoutRef` can access and modify an array's
 /// shape and strides, and even do in-place slicing. As a result, `RawRef` is only for functionality
 /// that requires unsafe data access, something that `LayoutRef` can't do.
 ///
-/// Writing functions and traits that deal with `RawRef`s and `LayoutRef`s can be done two ways:
-///     1. Directly on the types; calling these functions on arrays whose data are not known to be safe
-///         to dereference (i.e., raw array views or `ArrayBase<S: RawData, D>`) must explicitly call `.as_ref()`.
-///     2. Via a generic with `: AsRef<RawRef<A, D>>`; doing this will allow direct calling for all `ArrayBase` and
-///         `ArrayRef` instances.
-/// We'll demonstrate #1 here for both immutable and mutable references, then #2 directly below.
+/// Like `LayoutRef`, writing functions with `RawRef` can be done in a few ways.
+/// We start with a direct, immutable reference
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 fn takes_rawref<A, D>(arr: &RawRef<A, D>)
 {
     takes_layout(arr);
     takes_layout_asref(arr);
 }
 
-/// Mutable, directly take `RawRef`
+/// We can also directly take a mutable reference.
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 fn takes_rawref_mut<A, D>(arr: &mut RawRef<A, D>)
 {
     takes_layout(arr);
     takes_layout_asmut(arr);
 }
 
-/// Immutable, take a generic that implements `AsRef` to `RawRef`
+/// However, like before, the preferred way is to write with `AsRef`,
+/// for the same reasons as for `LayoutRef`:
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 fn takes_rawref_asref<T, A, D>(_arr: &T)
 where T: AsRef<RawRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
@@ -145,7 +191,7 @@ where T: AsRef<RawRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
     takes_layout_asref(_arr.as_ref());
 }
 
-/// Mutable, take a generic that implements `AsMut` to `RawRef`
+/// Finally, mutably:
 #[allow(dead_code)]
 fn takes_rawref_asmut<T, A, D>(_arr: &mut T)
 where T: AsMut<RawRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
@@ -154,31 +200,4 @@ where T: AsMut<RawRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
     takes_layout_asmut(_arr.as_mut());
 }
 
-/// Finally, there's `LayoutRef`: this type provides read and write access to an array's *structure*, but not its *data*.
-///
-/// Practically, this means that functions that only read/modify an array's shape or strides,
-/// such as checking dimensionality or slicing, should take `LayoutRef`.
-///
-/// Like `RawRef`, functions can be written either directly on `LayoutRef` or as generics with `: AsRef<LayoutRef<A, D>>>`.
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_layout<A, D>(_arr: &LayoutRef<A, D>) {}
-
-/// Mutable, directly take `LayoutRef`
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_layout_mut<A, D>(_arr: &mut LayoutRef<A, D>) {}
-
-/// Immutable, take a generic that implements `AsRef` to `LayoutRef`
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_layout_asref<T, A, D>(_arr: &T)
-where T: AsRef<LayoutRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
-{
-}
-
-/// Mutable, take a generic that implements `AsMut` to `LayoutRef`
-#[allow(dead_code)]
-fn takes_layout_asmut<T, A, D>(_arr: &mut T)
-where T: AsMut<LayoutRef<A, D>> + ?Sized
-{
-}
-
 fn main() {}

src/lib.rs

@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ impl<A, D> ArrayPartsSized<A, D>
 /// use ndarray::{LayoutRef2, array};
 ///
 /// fn aspect_ratio<T, A>(layout: &T) -> (usize, usize)
-/// where T: AsRef<LayoutRef2<A>>
+/// where T: AsRef<LayoutRef2<A>> + ?Sized
 /// {
 ///     let layout = layout.as_ref();
 ///     (layout.ncols(), layout.nrows())
@@ -1380,7 +1380,7 @@ impl<A, D> ArrayPartsSized<A, D>
 /// }
 ///
 /// impl<T, A> Ratioable<A> for T
-/// where T: AsRef<LayoutRef2<A>> + AsMut<LayoutRef2<A>>
+/// where T: AsRef<LayoutRef2<A>> + AsMut<LayoutRef2<A>> + ?Sized
 /// {
 ///     fn aspect_ratio(&self) -> (usize, usize)
 ///     {
@@ -1420,7 +1420,7 @@ impl<A, D> ArrayPartsSized<A, D>
 /// expensive) guarantee that the data is uniquely held (see [`ArrayRef`]
 /// for more information).
 ///
-/// To help users avoid this error cost, functions that operate on `LayoutRef`s
+/// To help users avoid this cost, functions that operate on `LayoutRef`s
 /// should take their parameters as a generic type `T: AsRef<LayoutRef<A, D>>`,
 /// as the above examples show. This aids the caller in two ways: they can pass
 /// their arrays by reference (`&arr`) instead of explicitly calling `as_ref`,