Make Linker.backend a classmethod#1910
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Thanks, Phillip! Implementation-wise LGTM. Left a few suggestions.
Allows querying the linking backend without constructing a Linker instance — useful for dispatching on input format (PTX vs. LTOIR) before linking. Updates existing call sites (Program init, test_linker) to use the new invocation form Linker.backend().
Covers classmethod invocation (Linker.backend() without an instance), memoisation flag handling, probe-on-first-use, and non-property attribute semantics.
Breaking change: Linker.backend is now a classmethod, so call sites must use parens: Linker.backend().
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Given that we just recently went to the opposite direction (converting some methods to properties, #1945 & #1986), it'd be better to have @mdboom or @Andy-Jost to chime in from the design consistency perspective. It might be possible that we need to re-evaluate if #714 is really necessary.
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Summary
Linker.backendfrom an instance property to a classmethod so callers can query the linking backend without constructing aLinker_decide_nvjitlink_or_driver()(existing memoised probe) and maps the return value to"nvJitLink"or"driver"_program.pyxand existing test assertion to use parensDevice()/cuInitrequired)0.8.0-notes.rstdocumenting the breaking changeBreaking change:
linker.backend(attribute access) now returns a bound method, not a string. All call sites must useLinker.backend(). Only 2 in-repo call sites affected; numba-cuda (the requester) will adoptLinker.backend()from day one.Test plan
test_linker_initpasses with updated paren callCloses #714
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