Multithreaded Python

[TwinSnakes007]

So, I'm writing this script to export particles from SI in Python, and its performing well using that ProjectItem.EvaluateAt() method to export the animation.

But, my tests where with < 1000 particles. Is there a way to multithread a python script so I can spread the work out across processors?

-TS-

[xsisupport]

So, I'm writing this script to export particles from SI in Python, and its performing well using that ProjectItem.EvaluateAt() method to export the animation.

But, my tests where with < 1000 particles. Is there a way to multithread a python script so I can spread the work out across processors?

-TS-

Well, if you end up with a multithreaded plugin, you should not be calling the Softimage SDK from your worker threads. The SDK isn't multithreaded.

[luceric]

Although python support threads, the interpreter only runs one at at time. So you can't even gain much with threads.

[TwinSnakes007]

C++ is not an option. Would I see some multithreaded gains if I script in C#?

-TS-

[luceric]

well you can't ask XSI to evaluate in multiple threads.
have you tried caching out the particles, but then writing a script that reads the cache file instead? there is a code on the web for reading ICEcache in python
http://bilzlee.blogspot.ca/
http://code.google.com/p/ice-cache-explorer

[TwinSnakes007]

have you tried caching out the particles, but then writing a script that reads the cache file instead?

Yeah, I knew about the python ICECache reader and that's still an option.

well you can't ask XSI to evaluate in multiple threads.

What does that mean? Does it mean this pseudo code would not work?

Code: Select all

Thread 1
Array = SIObject.ICEAttribute.GetDataArrayChunk(0, 1000);

Thead 2
Array = SIObject.ICEAttribute.GetDataArrayChunk(1001, 2000);

[xsisupport]

You cannot call the SDK from different worker threads.

[TwinSnakes007]

You cannot call the SDK from different worker threads.

Oh, okay, it finally clicked after reading some more docs.

....I found this is some example code

Calling Softimage operations from worker threads may put Softimage in an undefined state.

So, they recommend using an event callback in the main thread.

For anyone else that's learning like me...look at the XSIServer.cs and XSIServiceProvider.cs files in the SDK for a demo.

-TS-

[TwinSnakes007]

The C# SDK is faaaast. I really like the speed I'm seeing, I wrote about 5k particles in XML format out to the file system and it was instant. [position, scale, color, shape, rotation attributes].