PocketSphinx Decoder in Multi-threading environment (Python)

[G10DRAS]

In my application, I want to create multiple Pocketsphinx decoder instances (Pocketsphinx wrappers with SWIG for Puthon) with various hmm (different languages), dict, lm and alltogether diffrent config parameters.

I have few queries :

1. Is there any limitation on number of pocketsphinx decoder instances created in a python application ? or it is limited by Memory available on Machine ?

2. If a decoder is created in a thread, will it be releasing resources associated with the decoder automatically when thread done with processing ? or do we need to call ps_free() explicitly ?

3. Can we re-use a decoder again if ps_free() is already called on it ?

4. Which model is better for python application, create multiple decoder instances at starting of application or create them dynamically on the fly ?

5. Any mem usage analysis is available for native pocketsphinx decoder ?

Thanks

[Nickolay V. Shmyrev]

Is there any limitation on number of pocketsphinx decoder instances created in a python application ?

No

or it is limited by Memory available on Machine ?

Yes

If a decoder is created in a thread, will it be releasing resources associated with the decoder automatically when thread done with processing ? or do we need to call ps_free() explicitly ?

You need to call ps_free in C code

Python object will automatically release the decoder

Can we re-use a decoder again if ps_free() is already called on it ?

No

Which model is better for python application, create multiple decoder instances at starting of application or create them dynamically on the fly ?

It depends on the purpose of your application, usually worker pattern is better

Any mem usage analysis is available for native pocketsphinx decoder ?

You have to do it yourself, it depends on the model size mostly

[G10DRAS]

Thank you Nickolay !! Got it.

[Daniel Wolf]

Is is okay to use a single decoder from multiple threads, as long as I take care of synchronization? That is, can I create a decoder on thread A, then do some decoding with it on thread B, then do some more decoding on thread C?

[Nickolay V. Shmyrev]

It is ok. You can protect decoder with a mutex.

[Daniel Wolf]

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for!