Passing Variable Name Handles

Oct 13, 2025 by pinkandtrash.com 107 views

Introduction

PyKernel is a powerful tool for translating Python code into C++ kernels. However, the current output of PyKernel is in SSA (Static Single Assignment) form, with no variable names. This can make it difficult to understand and debug the generated C++ code. In this article, we will explore ways to improve the output of PyKernel, making it more readable and debuggable.

Current Output

The current output of PyKernel is a C++ file in SSA form, without variable names. This can be seen in the example output file eltwise_sfpu.cpp. As shown in the image below, the output is a dense, hard-to-read block of code.

Improving Output: Pretty Printing

To improve the output of PyKernel, we need to find a way to pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC, and then display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. This will make the output more readable and easier to understand.

Passing Variable Name Handles

One potential starting point for this is the emitc.verbatim dialect, which allows us to emit C++ code verbatim from Python. We can use this dialect to pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC.

Displaying Translated Python Line

To display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line, we can use a debug functionality. This will allow us to see the original Python code that was translated into C++.

Implementation

To implement this, we will need to modify the PyKernel code to pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC. We will also need to add a debug functionality to display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line.

Here is an example of how we can implement this:

import emitc

# Define a function to translate Python code into C++ code
def translate_python_code(python_code):
    # Use emitc to translate the Python code into C++ code
    c_code = emitc.translate(python_code)

    # Pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC
    variable_names = emitc.get_variable_names(c_code)

    # Display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line
    print(f"Translated Python code:")
    print(python_code)
    print(f"\nResulting C++ code:")
    print(c_code)

# Test the function
python_code = """
x = 5
y = 10
z = x + y
"""
translate_python_code(python_code)

Conclusion

In this article, we explored ways to improve the output of PyKernel, making it more readable and debuggable. We discussed passing variable name handles down from Python to EmitC and displaying the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. We also provided an example implementation of how to achieve this.

Future Work

There are several potential areas for future work on this project. Some possible ideas include:

Improving the pretty printing of C++ code: Currently, the C++ code is printed in a dense, hard-to-read format. We could improve this by adding more whitespace and using a more readable formatting style.
Adding more debug functionality: Currently, we only display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. We could add more debug functionality, such as displaying the SSA form of the C++ code or highlighting specific variables or operations.
Integrating with other tools: We could integrate PyKernel with other tools, such as debuggers or profilers, to provide a more comprehensive debugging experience.

References

EmitC dialect
PyKernel documentation
[PyKernel] Pretty/Debug Printing for Outputted C++ Kernels: Q&A ===========================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored ways to improve the output of PyKernel, making it more readable and debuggable. We discussed passing variable name handles down from Python to EmitC and displaying the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about this topic.

Q: What is the current state of PyKernel's output?

A: The current output of PyKernel is a C++ file in SSA (Static Single Assignment) form, with no variable names. This can make it difficult to understand and debug the generated C++ code.

Q: Why is it important to improve the output of PyKernel?

A: Improving the output of PyKernel is important because it makes the generated C++ code more readable and debuggable. This can help developers understand and fix issues in the code more quickly, which can lead to faster development and deployment of applications.

Q: How can I pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC?

A: To pass variable name handles down from Python to EmitC, you can use the emitc.verbatim dialect. This dialect allows you to emit C++ code verbatim from Python, which can be used to pass variable name handles down to EmitC.

Q: How can I display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line?

A: To display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line, you can use a debug functionality. This can be implemented by printing the translated Python code before printing the resulting C++ code.

Q: What are some potential areas for future work on this project?

A: Some potential areas for future work on this project include:

Improving the pretty printing of C++ code: Currently, the C++ code is printed in a dense, hard-to-read format. We could improve this by adding more whitespace and using a more readable formatting style.
Adding more debug functionality: Currently, we only display the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. We could add more debug functionality, such as displaying the SSA form of the C++ code or highlighting specific variables or operations.
Integrating with other tools: We could integrate PyKernel with other tools, such as debuggers or profilers, to provide a more comprehensive debugging experience.

Q: How can I get started with implementing these improvements?

A: To get started with implementing these improvements, you can follow these steps:

Familiarize yourself with the PyKernel codebase: Take some time to read through the PyKernel codebase and understand how it works.
Identify the areas that need improvement: Look for areas where the output of PyKernel could be improved, such as the pretty printing of C++ code or the addition of debug functionality.
Implement the improvements: Once you have identified the areas that need improvement, start implementing the changes. This may involve modifying the PyKernel code or adding new functionality.
Test and debug the changes: Once you have implemented the changes, test and debug them to ensure that they are working correctly.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions about improving the output of PyKernel. We discussed passing variable name handles down from Python to EmitC and displaying the translated Python line above the resulting C++ line. We also provided some potential areas for future work on this project and some steps for getting started with implementing these improvements.