Code Bandit

Do you need to write Java code that calls our inference library API (inflib.jar)? Code Bandit will get you started quickly! It's a tool that writes smart sample code for you, based on settings you configure in SamIam. For example, if you need use our library to build Bayesian network models, Code Bandit can write a sample program that shows you what methods to call. Code Bandit can also write programs that demonstrate how to execute queries, like Pr(e) and MAP, on existing models. Code Bandit is intended to make it easy and fun for Java programmers to learn how to write code based on our inference library.

Since Code Bandit can write several different kinds of example programs, there are several places in SamIam from which you can run it. To invoke Code Bandit for the purposes of a specific query, like MAP, you can run it directly from the associated tool. Right now, the Sensitivity, MAP, MPE and EM Learning tools support Code Bandit, and we will add Code Bandit support to the other tools soon. To invoke Code Bandit to write other kinds of example programs, select one of the options from the menu at Tools->Code Bandit. You have three options:

1. encode the open network
2. encode a probability query, which includes marginal probabilities and the probability of evidence, Pr(e)
3. write a program that demonstrates creating and editing conditional probability tables

When Code Bandit opens, it will show a brief description of the output code. It will also suggest a name for the output file, but you can change it. Code Bandit will also present you with options specific to the kind of example program you chose to write. Configuring these options gives you greater control over exactly what Java code you want as output. For example, if you are a novice to our inference library, you probably want to select the option that includes descriptive comments in the code, which will help you understand what each line accomplishes. But if you are a veteran user, you may want to leave the comments out and simply output the required Java code uncommented. If you are unsure about the meaning of a particular code option, you can click its name to see a helpful explanation in the right-hand panel.

Code Bandit can also provide you with a list of SamIam features that influence the output code. To see it, click on "Actions->Describe Dependencies". For example, if you invoked Code Bandit from the MAP Tool, the output code will depend on all the MAP Tool settings.

For your convenience, Code Bandit organizes the programming process into four steps:

1. Write
2. View
3. Compile
4. Run

When you are ready to generate the example Java code, click on step 1, "Write Code". Writing code is Code Bandit's main job, and it is the only task Code Bandit can accomplish without interacting with your operating system. Once you write the code, you probably want to view it in your favorite text editor, which is step 2. The first time you click "View Code", you will need to browse for the editor program you want Code Bandit to invoke. Step 3 is to compile the code using the Java compiler "javac". You must have javac installed on your system for this to work. If you are in doubt, download and install the Java Development Kit (JDK) from Sun's web site. When you click "Compile Java Class", SamIam will search for javac. Code Bandit directs javac's output to the SamIam console window, and a popup window will appear when the compilation is finished. Step 4 is to run the compiled java class using the java runtime "java". If you are running SamIam, you have java installed! Code Bandit directs the example program's output to the SamIam console window. If compilation or execution fails because SamIam cannot find "javac" or "java", you can manually enter their locations by selecting "Tools->Compile Settings" or "Tools->Run Settings", respectively.

But that's not all the help Code Bandit can give you. Although Code Bandit gives you the convenience of viewing, compiling and running example programs from within SamIam, you may prefer to perform those operations from a command shell, like the MS-DOS command shell on Windows or the Bash shell on Linux. This may prove especially useful once you start tinkering with the examples, extending them and adding your own functionality. To help you work with code in the command shell context, Code Bandit's script writing wizard will create scripts that handle compiling and running java programs. To use the script writing wizard, select "Tools->Create Scripts" from the Code Bandit menu.

Using Code Bandit to encode a model