Background:
Chainer is python based framework which provides a simple and intuitive and
highly flexible framework for deep learning ([Please
refer](https://chainer.org/)).
Motivation:
My motivation to bring this frontend draws from 2 parts of benefits
:slight_smile:
***Benefit from Chainer prospective:***
1. As we all know the Chainer framework has stopped future development.
Currently sits only on Maintenance phase. But that does not mean the existing
users has reduced to 0.
2. Chainer framework does not have wide variety of target deployment like
TVM. So definitely Chainer user can benefit from that.
3. Chainer does not have its own IR, so it can leverage TVM provided
benefits for that.
4. Existing Chainer model zoo or if someone has his own researched and
developed model, can be exported to TVM and provided in a production ready
environment(makes it more reliable).
5. As the development is stopped now, so if someone is blocked in Chainer in
terms of some runtime issue, can be solved through this new frontend bridge.
***Benefit from TVM prospective:***
1. Chainer has highly flexible training framework(as it support
define-by-run methodology), i am pretty sure there will many technical
challenges in implementing the Frontend. This will give us opportunity to test
the TVM Relay strength for express-ability (or in other terms versatility).
2. This will help fellow Opensource community member to migrate using
towards TVM(increasing TVM fan base :smiley: ).
***Alternatives:***
Currently Chainer framework supports ONNX exporting.
So if any Chainer user wants to port into TVM, the path can be
Chainer -> ONNX -> TVM.
However as earlier mentioned the development is already stopped, so if any
user faces any issue then above path is broken as there is no active support.
So one has to re-implement everything from scratch in another framework.
***Engineering Cost:***
I am not sure how to put it. May be we can discuss about it(as it is first
time i proposed in TVM community).
But for start i can say, it will take 2~3 weeks(may be sooner), to make the
frontend ready for one end-to-end model importing. Then forth it can be taken
forward to support all kinds.
Please correct me if any of above points are wrong. Its a learning always
:slightly_smiling_face:
I am excited to get expert opinions and advice from all TVM members.
Thanks
---
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