Arrays

prik exposes Fortran arrays as NumPy arrays. Each generated contract defines the accepted dtype, shape, layout, writeability, and strides. prik validates these rules before native code runs.

This page starts with normal Fortran-order arrays. It then covers C-order arrays, COPY_F, Flat storage, and strided views.

Small intent note for this page: intent(in) reads an array, intent(inout) mutates it, and intent(out) fills caller-provided storage. Without intent, prik conservatively uses the intent(inout) rule. The subroutines page covers the full return rules.

Complete Example

The page uses one module throughout. Its routines cover:

  • scale_matrix: a 2D array mutated in place
  • shift: lower bounds with normal Python indexing
  • sum_columns: the effect of storage order
  • sum_flat: values(*) assumed-size storage
  • sum_flat_columns: a checked prefix and flat final axis
  • scale_visible_rows: stride-aware assumed-shape arrays
  • automatic_vector: an array function result

Create arrays.f90:

module array_ops
  implicit none
contains

  subroutine scale_matrix(rows, columns, values)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: rows, columns
    real(8), intent(inout) :: values(rows, columns)
    values = 2.0_8 * values
  end subroutine scale_matrix

  subroutine shift(size, values)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: size
    real(8), intent(inout) :: values(0:size-1)
    values = values + 1.0_8
  end subroutine shift

  subroutine sum_columns(size, values, result)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: size
    real(8), intent(in) :: values(size, size)
    real(8), intent(out) :: result(size)
    integer(4) :: column

    do column = 1, size
      result(column) = sum(values(:, column))
    end do
  end subroutine sum_columns

  function sum_flat(count, values) result(total)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: count
    real(8), intent(in) :: values(*)
    real(8) :: total
    integer(4) :: index

    total = 0.0_8
    do index = 1, count
      total = total + values(index)
    end do
  end function sum_flat

  function sum_flat_columns(rows, columns, values) result(total)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: rows, columns
    real(8), intent(in) :: values(rows, *)
    real(8) :: total
    integer(4) :: row, column

    total = 0.0_8
    do column = 1, columns
      do row = 1, rows
        total = total + values(row, column)
      end do
    end do
  end function sum_flat_columns

  subroutine scale_visible_rows(values, out)
    real(8), intent(in) :: values(:, :)
    real(8), intent(out) :: out(:, :)

    out = 3.0_8 * values
  end subroutine scale_visible_rows

  function automatic_vector(count) result(values)
    integer(4), intent(in) :: count
    real(8) :: values(count)
    integer(4) :: i

    values = [(2.0_8 * i, i = 1, count)]
  end function automatic_vector

end module array_ops

Build:

python3 -m prik arrays.f90 --out-dir build/arrays

Python Usage

import sys
import numpy as np

sys.path.insert(0, "build/arrays")
from arrays.array_ops import *

# Fortran-order matrix, mutated in place.
matrix = np.ones((2, 3), dtype=np.float64, order="F")
scale_matrix(np.int32(2), np.int32(3), matrix)
print(matrix)
# [[2. 2. 2.]
#  [2. 2. 2.]]

# The Fortran routine uses a lower bound, but Python sees an ordinary ndarray.
shifted = np.zeros(4, dtype=np.float64)
shift(np.int32(4), shifted)
print(shifted)  # [1. 1. 1. 1.]

# A flat argument can read any contiguous rank.
flat_matrix = np.array(
    [
        [1.0, 2.0, 3.0],
        [10.0, 20.0, 30.0],
    ],
    dtype=np.float64,
    order="F",
)
total = sum_flat(np.int32(flat_matrix.size), flat_matrix)
print(total)  # 66.0

# A flat final axis keeps the prefix and flattens the rest.
panels = np.asfortranarray(
    np.arange(1, 25, dtype=np.float64).reshape((2, 3, 4), order="F")
)
panel_total = sum_flat_columns(np.int32(2), np.int32(12), panels)
print(panel_total)  # 300.0

# Array function results come back as NumPy arrays.
vec = automatic_vector(np.int32(4))
print(vec)  # [2. 4. 6. 8.]

What prik Validates

  • Exact NumPy dtype (np.float64, np.int32, ...)
  • Correct rank and shape (including expressions such as rows, columns)
  • Required layout and contiguity
  • Writeability for intent(out) or intent(inout) arrays
  • Declared stride pattern for stride-aware contracts

prik does not silently cast, copy, transpose, or convert layouts. A mismatch raises TypeError before native code runs.

Contiguous elements have no gaps between them in the required layout. Two arrays can print the same values but use different memory orders.

Layout: Fortran First

Use Fortran (column-major) order for normal multidimensional arrays:

values = np.asfortranarray(data, dtype=np.float64)
# or
values = np.ones(shape, dtype=np.float64, order="F")

prik rejects C-contiguous matrices for a Fortran-contiguous contract. This gives the native routine the layout it expects.

C-order Arrays

Start with the generated Fortran-oriented contract for sum_columns:

from prik.contracts import Float64, Int32

def sum_columns(
    size: Int32,
    values: Float64[size, size],
    result: Float64[size],
) -> None: ...

With that contract, pass a Fortran-order matrix. The routine sums columns:

values = np.array(
    [
        [1.0, 2.0, 3.0],
        [10.0, 20.0, 30.0],
        [100.0, 200.0, 300.0],
    ],
    dtype=np.float64,
    order="F",
)
result = np.empty(values.shape[0], dtype=np.float64)

sum_columns(np.int32(values.shape[0]), values, result)
print(result)  # [111. 222. 333.]

Option 1: Accept C-order Without Copy

Edit the semantic .pyi and add ORDER_C:

from prik.contracts import Annotated, Float64, Int32, ORDER_C

def sum_columns(
    size: Int32,
    values: Annotated[Float64[size, size], ORDER_C],
    result: Float64[size],
) -> None: ...

For the complete dtype, shape, layout, and optionality rules, see Edit Types, Shapes, Layout, and Optionality.

The call does not change. Pass a C-order array instead. The same values now produce row sums:

values = np.array(
    [
        [1.0, 2.0, 3.0],
        [10.0, 20.0, 30.0],
        [100.0, 200.0, 300.0],
    ],
    dtype=np.float64,
    order="C",
)
result = np.empty(values.shape[0], dtype=np.float64)

sum_columns(np.int32(values.shape[0]), values, result)
print(result)  # [  6.  60. 600.]

No transposition happens. Native code reads the existing storage directly.

Python layout Native grouping Result
Fortran order Python columns [111.0, 222.0, 333.0]
C-order Python rows [6.0, 60.0, 600.0]

Option 2: Copy C-order to Fortran Order

Keep ORDER_C and add COPY_F:

from prik.contracts import Annotated, COPY_F, Float64, Int32, ORDER_C

def sum_columns(
    size: Int32,
    values: Annotated[Float64[size, size], ORDER_C, COPY_F],
    result: Float64[size],
) -> None: ...

prik copies the input to Fortran order before the native call. The routine returns the original column sums:

values = np.array(
    [
        [1.0, 2.0, 3.0],
        [10.0, 20.0, 30.0],
        [100.0, 200.0, 300.0],
    ],
    dtype=np.float64,
    order="C",
)
result = np.empty(values.shape[0], dtype=np.float64)

sum_columns(np.int32(values.shape[0]), values, result)
print(result)  # [111. 222. 333.]

ORDER_C validates the caller's layout. COPY_F creates the Fortran-order temporary while preserving logical axes. For output arrays, prik copies the result back to the caller's C-order storage.

Flat Storage

An assumed-size dummy such as values(*) does not declare its extent. A companion argument such as count tells the routine how much storage to read.

The generated contract for sum_flat uses Flat:

from prik.contracts import Flat, Float64, Int32

def sum_flat(
    count: Int32,
    values: Float64[Flat],
) -> Float64: ...

Float64[Flat] accepts a contiguous array with rank 1-15. Native code sees its storage as rank one:

values = np.array(
    [
        [1.0, 2.0, 3.0],
        [10.0, 20.0, 30.0],
    ],
    dtype=np.float64,
)
total = sum_flat(np.int32(values.size), values)
print(total)  # 66.0

Storage order controls flattening:

  • Fortran-contiguous: column-major order
  • C-contiguous: row-major order

Flat rejects strided slices; dtype and contiguity rules still apply.

Flat can appear at one edge of a multidimensional contract. Other axes remain visible. prik collapses the remaining Python axes into one native extent.

For real(8) :: values(rows, *), the generated contract is:

from prik.contracts import Flat, Float64, Int32

def sum_flat_columns(
    rows: Int32,
    columns: Int32,
    values: Float64[rows, Flat],
) -> Float64: ...

This accepts a Fortran-contiguous array of rank 2 or higher. Shape (2, 3, 4) becomes the native shape (2, 12):

panels = np.asfortranarray(
    np.arange(1, 25, dtype=np.float64).reshape((2, 3, 4), order="F")
)

total = sum_flat_columns(np.int32(2), np.int32(12), panels)
print(total)  # 300.0

Float64[:, Flat] reads the leading extent from the array itself.

For C-order buffers, put Flat first: Annotated[Float64[Flat, columns], ORDER_C]. This checks the final Python axis and flattens the leading axes.

Strided Views

Use :: for an assumed-shape axis that accepts F-contiguous arrays and positive-stride views without copying:

from prik.contracts import Float64, Returns

def scale_visible_rows(
    values: Float64[::, ::],
    out: Float64[::, ::],
) -> Returns["out", Float64[::, ::]]: ...

Here, only the first Python axis is sliced:

base = np.asfortranarray(
    np.arange(1, 25, dtype=np.float64).reshape((8, 3), order="F")
)

visible_rows = base[::2, :]  # shape (4, 3)
out_storage = np.zeros((8, 3), dtype=np.float64, order="F")
out = out_storage[::2, :]  # matching strided output

scale_visible_rows(visible_rows, out)
print(out)
# [[ 3. 27. 51.]
#  [ 9. 33. 57.]
#  [15. 39. 63.]
#  [21. 45. 69.]]

prik passes the base address, extents, and positive element strides. Reversed slices, broadcasted views, and C-order strided matrices are rejected for this Fortran-oriented contract. Strides are not an order workaround.

Mutation and Results

Fortran intent / result Python behavior
intent(in) array NumPy array read by native code
intent(inout) array Mutated in place; no Python return
intent(out) array Filled in place; no Python return
Array without intent Mutated in place; no Python return
Function returning array New NumPy array result

Common Array Contracts

T means a concrete primitive contract such as Float64, Int32, or Complex128. The examples above use Float64 because arrays.f90 declares real(8).

Use this list when reading or editing a generated .pyi contract:

  • T[:]: 1D contiguous
  • T[:, :]: 2D Fortran-contiguous
  • Annotated[T[:, :], ORDER_C]: 2D C-contiguous
  • Annotated[T[:, :], ORDER_C, COPY_F]: C-order input, Fortran temporary
  • T[::]: 1D strided
  • T[::, ::]: 2D stride-aware
  • T[rows, columns]: shape depends on other arguments
  • T[Flat]: any contiguous rank, flattened to native rank one
  • T[rows, Flat]: Fortran-contiguous; checked prefix, remaining axes flattened
  • Annotated[T[Flat, columns], ORDER_C]: C-contiguous; checked suffix, leading axes flattened
  • T[...]: assumed-rank, currently rank 1-15

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