Use multi-dimensional Python package arrays in C# app

This article provides an introduction to cross-technology handling of multidimensional arrays. Data structures are one of the essential aspects of every piece of software. Any application constantly process various information, that very often require specific grouping and access strategies. This aspect is addressed by arrays and more advanced collection types. By using the Javonet framework, users gain ability to easily and effectively work with data structures originating from Python package. Every array from Python package is treated as reference.

Javonet allows you to reference and use modules or packages written in (Java/Kotlin/Groovy/Clojure, C#/VB.NET, Ruby, Perl, Python, JavaScript/TypeScript) like they were created in your technology. If have not yet created your first project check Javonet overview and quick start guides for your technology.
ith Javonet you can interact with arrays from Python package like they were available in C# but invocation must be performed through Javonet SDK API.

Custom Python package with arrays handling

With Javonet it is possible to reference any custom Python package and interact with arrays declared on types defined within that module almost the same as with any other C# library.

Snippet below represents the sample code from Python package that has methods which return or process the arrays:

def get_1d_array(self):
    return ["one", "two", "three", "four", "five"]

def get_2d_array(self):
    return [["S00", "S01"], ["S10", "S11"]]

def add_array_elements_and_multiply(self, my_array, my_value):
    return sum(my_array) * my_value

Javonet SDK contains various methods to interact with arrays and consume the results in C#:

Get element from Python package 2D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Python();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory;
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance(0, 1).Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("get_2d_array").Execute();

// three ways to get elements from array
var response1 = array[1, 1].Execute();
var response2 = array.GetIndex(1, 0).Execute();
var response3 = array.GetIndex(new int[] { 0, 1 }).Execute();


// get value from response
var result1 = response1.GetValue();
var result2 = response2.GetValue();
var result3 = response3.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result1);
System.Console.WriteLine(result2);
System.Console.WriteLine(result3);

In the snippet above, get2DArray method is used to get reference to 2D array from Python package. Method getIndex is used to get element from the array. Depending on calling technology there is one or more ways to get element from array.

Set element from Python package 2D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Python();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory;
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance(0, 1).Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("get_2d_array").Execute();

// set element of array
array.SetIndex(new int[] { 0, 1 }, "new value").Execute();

// get element from array
var response = array[0, 1].Execute();

// get value from response
var result = response.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result);

In the snippet above, get2DArray method is used to get reference to 2D array from Python package. Method setIndex is used to set element of the array.

Get size and rank of Python package 2D array in C# application

I code in:
// use Activate only once in your app
Javonet.Activate("your-license-key");

// create called runtime context
var calledRuntime = Javonet.InMemory().Python();

// set up variables
string libraryPath = resourcesDirectory;
string className = "TestClass.TestClass";

// load custom library
calledRuntime.LoadLibrary(libraryPath);

// get type from the runtime
var calledRuntimeType = calledRuntime.GetType(className).Execute();

// create type's instance
var instance = calledRuntimeType.CreateInstance(0, 1).Execute();

// invoke instance's method
var array = instance.InvokeInstanceMethod("get_2d_array").Execute();

// three ways to get elements from array
var response1 = array.GetSize().Execute();
var response2 = array.GetRank().Execute();

// get value from response
var result1 = response1.GetValue();
var result2 = response2.GetValue();

// write result to console
System.Console.WriteLine(result1);
System.Console.WriteLine(result2);

In the snippet above, get2DArray method is used to get reference to 2D array from Python package. Method getSize is used to get number of elements of the array.
Method getRank is used to get number of dimensions of the array.

The same operation can be performed remotely by just changing the new Runtime Context invocation from in memory to tcp that will create and interact with your Python package objects on any remote node, container or service that hosts Javonet Code Gateway. This way you can preserve the same logic in your application and instantly switch between monolithic and microservices architecture without the need to implement the integration layer based on web services or other remote invocation methods.

Read more about use cases and software architecture scenarios where Javonet runtime bridging technology can support your development process.

Additional references