[Python-Dev] PEP: Extending the buffer protocol to share array information.

[Travis E. Oliphant]

Fredrik Lundh wrote:
> Terry Reedy wrote:
> 
>> I believe that at present PyGame can only work with external images that it 
>> is programmed to know how to import.  My guess is that if image source 
>> program X (such as PIL) described its data layout in a way that NumPy could 
>> read and act on, the import/copy step could be eliminated.
> 
> I wish you all stopped using PIL as an example in this discussion;
> for PIL 2, I'm moving towards an entirely opaque data model, with a 
> "data view"-style client API.

That's an un-reasonable request.  The point of the buffer protocol 
allows people to represent their data in whatever way they like 
internally but still share it in a standard way.  The extended buffer 
protocol allows sharing of the shape of the data and its format in a 
standard way as well.

We just want to be able to convert the data in PIL objects to other 
Python objects without having to write special "converter" functions. 
It's not important how PIL or PIL 2 stores the data as long as it 
participates in the buffer protocol.

Of course if the memory layout were compatible with the model of NumPy, 
then data-copies would not be required, but that is really secondary.

-Travis