Replace SharpLearning.Containers.Matrices.F64Matrix with multidimensional array

[mdabros]

Replace SharpLearning.Containers.Matrices.F64Matrix with multidimensional array

[diegoful]

Another idea, is to let the Learn methods take a SharpLearning.Containers.Matrices.IMatrix, instead of an F64Matrix, so that one can use their own custom class (as long as it the implements IMatrix). This allows creating a wrapper for one of the Math.Net implementations.

BTW, congrats on creating the first .NET ML library that actually makes sense through-and-through.

[mdabros]

Hi @diegoful,

Thanks for joining and adding to the discussion. Also, thanks for the kind words! I am glad that you find SharpLearning useful and that the design makes sense.

Using the IMatrix interface in the learners is also something I have considered, since as you suggest, it would make it possible to create custom implementations, and thereby make the learners more open to other containers.
In the current state, the F64Matrix has some view extensions, using pointers to avoid copying memory. These are not a part of the IMatrix interface, and is used in some of the learners. But it might be possible to cleanup a bit to avoid using views, without decreasing the efficiency of the learners too much. So it is definitely a valid option.

Currently I am also considering to use the tensor type Microsoft is introducing. If this becomes a standard part of .net, i think it would make sense to use that implementation. This would also be useful when dealing with higher dimensional data for deep learning algorithms. My hope is that other libraries, like Math.net, would also adapt some interfacing to this type, if it becomes standard.
Using the tensor type, it would probably still make sense to hide the concrete implementation behind an interface, to still have the option of custom implementations.

best regards
Mads