For an ML model to learn and generalize, there is a need for a large and high-quality dataset. Therefore, we created the ManyTypes4Py dataset which contains 5.2K Python projects and 4.2M type annotations. To avoid data leakage from the training set to the test set, we used our CD4Py tool to perform code de-duplication in the dataset. To know more about how we created the dataset, check out its paper .

As with most ML tasks, we need to find a set of relevant features in order to predict type annotations. Here, we consider features as type hints. Specifically, we extract three kinds of type hints, namely, identifiers, code context, and visible type hints (VTHs).

To learn from the extracted sequences, first, we apply common NL pre-processing techniques tokenization (by snake case ), stop word removal and lemmatization. Then, we employ the famous Word2Vec model to generate word embeddings of the extracted sequences in order to train the Type4Py model, which is described next.

The basic idea is that two RNN captures different aspects of input sequences from both identifiers and code context.

Next, the output of two RNNs is concatenated into a single vector, which is passed through a fully-connected linear layer.

The final linear layer maps the learned type annotation into a high-dimensional feature space, called Type Clusters. In order to create Type Clusters, we need to formulate the type prediction task as a similarity learning problem, rather than a classification problem.

To extract type hints, we first extract Abstract Syntax Trees (ASTs) and perform light-weight static analysis using our LibSA4Py package. NLP tasks are applied using NLTK. To train the Word2Vec model, we use the gensim package.

For the Type4Py model, we use bidirectional LSTMs in PyTorch to implement the two RNNs. To avoid overfitting, we apply the Dropout regularization to the input sequences. To minimize the value of the Triplet loss function, we employ the Adam optimizer. Also, to speed up the training process, we use the data parallelism feature of PyTorch. For fast KNN search, we use Annoy

To deploy the Type4Py model for the production environment, we convert the pre-trained PyTorch model to an ONNX model which allows us to query the model on both GPUs and CPUs with very fast inference speed and lower VRAM consumption. Thanks to Annoy, Type Clusters are memory-mapped into RAM from disk, which consumes less memory.

To handle concurrent type prediction requests from users, we employ Gunicorn ‘s HTTP server with Nginx as a proxy. This allows us to have quite a number of asynchronous workers that have an instance of Type4Py’s ONNX model plus Type Clusters each.

The Type4Py’s VSCode extension is small and simple.

Type slots are functions parameters, return types, and variables, which are located based on the line and column numbers. Currently, type prediction can be triggered via Command Pallete or by enabling the AutoInfer setting, which predicts types whenever a Python source file is opened or selected. Finally, the extension gathers telemetry data from users based on their consent. The Type4Py’s VSCode extension can be installed from the VS Marketplace here .

We have two different environments for development and production as it is common in software development. In the development env., we test, debug, and profile Type4Py’s server-side components before releasing new features/fixes into the production code.

Also, whenever we train a new Type4Py neural model, we test it against its evaluation metrics (see its paper ) and run integration tests to ensure that it produces expected predctions for given Python source files. Finally, the VSCode extension uses the development env. when testing new featues/fixes before releasing a new extension version.

So far, I have described the current state of Type4Py. For future work, here is our roadmap:

• Enabling the type-checking process for the Type4Py’s predictions using mypy , preferably at the client-side.
• Releasing a local version of the Type4Py model and its pipeline that can be queried on users’ machines.
• Fine-tuning the (pre-trained) Type4Py model on users’ projects to learn project-specific types.
• Releasing a plugin for JetBrains PyCharm and a GitHub action or bot for adding type annotations to Python projects