Revert Data fields to bytes and add get_data_as_view for zero-copy access

capnp/lib/capnp.pxd

@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ cdef class _DynamicStructReader:
     cpdef _which_str(self)
     cpdef _get_by_field(self, _StructSchemaField field)
     cpdef _has_by_field(self, _StructSchemaField field)
+    cpdef get_data_as_view(self, field)
 
     cpdef as_builder(self, num_first_segment_words=?, allocate_seg_callable=?)
 
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ cdef class _DynamicStructBuilder:
     cpdef _which_str(self)
     cpdef adopt(self, field, _DynamicOrphan orphan)
     cpdef disown(self, field)
+    cpdef get_data_as_view(self, field)
 
     cpdef as_reader(self)
     cpdef copy(self, num_first_segment_words=?, allocate_seg_callable=?)

capnp/lib/capnp.pyx

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ from capnp.includes.schema_cpp cimport (MessageReader,)
 
 from builtins import memoryview as BuiltinsMemoryview
 from cpython cimport array, Py_buffer, PyObject_CheckBuffer
-from cpython.buffer cimport PyBUF_SIMPLE, PyBUF_WRITABLE, PyBUF_WRITE, PyBUF_READ, PyBUF_CONTIG_RO
-from cpython.memoryview cimport PyMemoryView_FromMemory
+from cpython.buffer cimport PyBUF_SIMPLE, PyBUF_WRITABLE, PyBUF_WRITE, PyBUF_READ, PyBUF_CONTIG_RO, PyBuffer_FillInfo
+from cpython.memoryview cimport PyMemoryView_FromMemory, PyMemoryView_FromBuffer
 from cpython.bytes cimport PyBytes_FromStringAndSize
 from cpython.exc cimport PyErr_Clear
 from cython.operator cimport dereference as deref
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ cdef to_python_reader(C_DynamicValue.Reader self, object parent):
         return (<char*>temp_text.begin())[:temp_text.size()]
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_DATA:
         temp_data = self.asData()
-        return PyMemoryView_FromMemory(<char *> temp_data.begin(), temp_data.size(), PyBUF_READ)
+        return <bytes>((<char*>temp_data.begin())[:temp_data.size()])
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_LIST:
         return _DynamicListReader()._init(self.asList(), parent)
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_STRUCT:
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ cdef to_python_builder(C_DynamicValue.Builder self, object parent):
         return (<char*>temp_text.begin())[:temp_text.size()]
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_DATA:
         temp_data = self.asData()
-        return PyMemoryView_FromMemory(<char *> temp_data.begin(), temp_data.size(), PyBUF_WRITE)
+        return <bytes>((<char*>temp_data.begin())[:temp_data.size()])
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_LIST:
         return _DynamicListBuilder()._init(self.asList(), parent)
     elif type == capnp.TYPE_STRUCT:
@@ -1226,6 +1226,29 @@ cdef class _DynamicStructReader:
     cpdef _has_by_field(self, _StructSchemaField field):
         return self.thisptr.hasByField(field.thisptr)
 
+    cpdef get_data_as_view(self, field):
+        """
+        Efficiently get a read-only memoryview for a DATA field without copying.
+        """
+        cdef C_DynamicValue.Reader val
+        cdef capnp.Data.Reader temp_data
+
+        try:
+            val = self.thisptr.get(field)
+        except KjException as e:
+            raise e._to_python() from None
+
+        if val.getType() != capnp.TYPE_DATA:
+            raise TypeError("Field '{}' is not a DATA field".format(field))
+
+        temp_data = val.asData()
+
+        # Return read-only memoryview
+        cdef Py_buffer buf
+        if PyBuffer_FillInfo(&buf, self, <void*>temp_data.begin(), temp_data.size(), 1, PyBUF_CONTIG_RO) < 0:
+            raise KjException("Failed to create buffer info")
+        return PyMemoryView_FromBuffer(&buf)
+
     cpdef _which_str(self):
         try:
             return <char *>helpers.fixMaybe(self.thisptr.which()).getProto().getName().cStr()
@@ -1628,6 +1651,32 @@ cdef class _DynamicStructBuilder:
         """
         return _DynamicOrphan()._init(self.thisptr.disown(field), self._parent)
 
+    cpdef get_data_as_view(self, field):
+        """
+        Efficiently get a writable memoryview for a DATA field without copying.
+
+        This allows in-place modification of the underlying buffer:
+        msg.get_data_as_view('myField')[0] = 0xFF
+        """
+        cdef C_DynamicValue.Builder val
+        cdef capnp.Data.Builder temp_data
+
+        try:
+            val = self.thisptr.get(field)
+        except KjException as e:
+            raise e._to_python() from None
+
+        if val.getType() != capnp.TYPE_DATA:
+            raise TypeError("Field '{}' is not a DATA field".format(field))
+
+        temp_data = val.asData()
+
+        # Return writable memoryview
+        cdef Py_buffer buf
+        if PyBuffer_FillInfo(&buf, self, <void*>temp_data.begin(), temp_data.size(), 0, PyBUF_WRITABLE) < 0:
+            raise KjException("Failed to create buffer info")
+        return PyMemoryView_FromBuffer(&buf)
+
     cpdef as_reader(self):
         """A method for casting this Builder to a Reader
 

test/test_get_data_view.py

@@ -0,0 +1,210 @@
+import os
+import pytest
+import capnp
+import sys
+import gc
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def all_types():
+    """Load the standard all_types.capnp schema."""
+    directory = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+    return capnp.load(os.path.join(directory, "all_types.capnp"))
+
+
+def test_set_bytes_get_bytes(all_types):
+    """
+    Scenario 1: Set Byte -> Get Byte
+    Verify standard behavior: writing bytes results in reading bytes.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+    input_data = b"hello_world"
+
+    # Set
+    msg.dataField = input_data
+
+    # Get
+    output_data = msg.dataField
+
+    # Verify
+    assert isinstance(output_data, bytes)
+    assert output_data == input_data
+
+
+def test_set_view_get_bytes(all_types):
+    """
+    Scenario 2: Set View -> Get Byte
+    Verify compatibility: Passing a memoryview sets the data,
+    but standard attribute access returns a bytes copy.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+
+    # Create a memoryview source
+    raw_source = bytearray(b"view_source")
+    view = memoryview(raw_source)
+
+    # Set via memoryview
+    msg.dataField = view
+
+    # Get via standard attribute
+    output_data = msg.dataField
+
+    # Verify
+    assert isinstance(output_data, bytes)
+    assert output_data == b"view_source"
+
+
+def test_set_bytes_get_view_and_modify(all_types):
+    """
+    Scenario 3: Set Byte -> Get View
+    Verify the high-performance API get_data_as_view.
+    The view must be writable and modifications must reflect in the message.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+
+    # Initial write
+    msg.dataField = b"ABCDE"
+
+    # Get view via new API
+    view = msg.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+
+    # Verify view properties
+    assert isinstance(view, memoryview)
+    assert view.readonly is False
+    assert view.tobytes() == b"ABCDE"
+
+    # Verify in-place modification
+    view[0] = ord("Z")  # Change 'A' to 'Z'
+
+    # Verify modification is reflected in standard access
+    assert msg.dataField == b"ZBCDE"
+
+
+def test_reader_vs_builder_view(all_types):
+    """
+    Verify that Builder views are writable, but Reader views are read-only.
+    """
+    # 1. Builder phase
+    builder = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+    builder.dataField = b"test_rw"
+
+    builder_view = builder.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+    assert builder_view.readonly is False
+    builder_view[0] = ord("T")  # Modification allowed
+
+    # 2. Reader phase
+    reader = builder.as_reader()
+
+    # Standard Get
+    assert reader.dataField == b"Test_rw"
+
+    # Reader get_data_as_view
+    reader_view = reader.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+    assert isinstance(reader_view, memoryview)
+    assert reader_view.readonly is True
+
+    # Attempting to modify Reader view should raise TypeError
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        reader_view[0] = ord("X")
+
+
+def test_nested_struct_data(all_types):
+    """
+    Verify that get_data_as_view works correctly on nested structs.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+
+    # Initialize nested struct
+    inner = msg.init("structField")
+    inner.int32Field = 100
+    inner.dataField = b"nested_data"
+
+    # 1. Verify standard access
+    assert msg.structField.dataField == b"nested_data"
+
+    # 2. Verify nested get_data_as_view
+    view = msg.structField.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+
+    assert isinstance(view, memoryview)
+    assert view.tobytes() == b"nested_data"
+
+    # Modify nested data
+    view[0] = ord("N")
+    assert msg.structField.dataField == b"Nested_data"
+
+
+def test_corner_cases_values(all_types):
+    """
+    Test edge cases: Empty bytes and binary data with nulls.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+
+    # Case A: Empty Bytes
+    msg.dataField = b""
+    assert msg.dataField == b""
+    view = msg.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+    assert len(view) == 0
+
+    # Case B: Binary data containing null bytes
+    binary_data = b"\x00\xff\x00\x01"
+    msg.dataField = binary_data
+    assert msg.dataField == binary_data
+    assert msg.get_data_as_view("dataField").tobytes() == binary_data
+
+
+def test_error_wrong_type(all_types):
+    """
+    Test error handling: Calling get_data_as_view on non-Data fields.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+    msg.int32Field = 123
+    msg.textField = "I am text"
+
+    # Attempt on Int field
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError) as excinfo:
+        msg.get_data_as_view("int32Field")
+    assert "not a DATA field" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+    # Attempt on Text field
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError) as excinfo:
+        msg.get_data_as_view("textField")
+    assert "not a DATA field" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_error_missing_field(all_types):
+    """
+    Test error handling: Accessing a non-existent field name.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+
+    # Accessing a missing field should raise AttributeError (standard Python behavior)
+    with pytest.raises(AttributeError) as excinfo:
+        msg.get_data_as_view("non_existent_field")
+
+    # Optional: Verify the error message contains the field name
+    assert "non_existent_field" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+
+def test_view_keeps_message_alive(all_types):
+    """
+    Verify that a View keeps messages alive.
+    """
+    msg = all_types.TestAllTypes.new_message()
+    expected_data = b"persistence_check"
+    msg.dataField = expected_data
+
+    initial_ref_count = sys.getrefcount(msg)
+    view = msg.get_data_as_view("dataField")
+    new_ref_count = sys.getrefcount(msg)
+
+    assert (
+        new_ref_count > initial_ref_count
+    ), f"View failed to hold reference to Message! (Old: {initial_ref_count}, New: {new_ref_count})"
+    print(
+        f"\n[Ref Check] Success: Ref count increased from {initial_ref_count} to {new_ref_count}"
+    )
+
+    del msg
+    gc.collect()
+
+    assert view.tobytes() == expected_data

test/test_py_custom_message_builder.py

@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ def __call__(self, minimum_size: int) -> bytearray:
     struct_builder.init("dataField", 5)
     assert struct_builder._get("dataField") == b"\x00\x00\x00\x00\x00"
 
-    struct_builder._get("dataField")[1] = 0xFF
-    assert struct_builder._get("dataField") == b"\x00\xff\x00\x00\x00"
-
     struct_builder.dataField = b"hello"
     assert struct_builder._get("dataField") == b"hello"