如何看待 TensorFlow 高级API TensorLayer 1.2版发布?

16年9月初TensorLayer 1.2 版本发布，接着微信群里很多人在问到底更新了什么，姜哥收集了一些资料，在此总结了一下，希望有帮助。

首先关于之前网络上提到的 “为什么要开发一个新的库”，TensorLayer 在Github上做出了回复：

A frequent question regarding TensorLayer is that why do we develop a new library instead of leveraging existing ones like Keras and Tflearn. TensorLayer differentiates with those with its pursuits for flexibility and performance. A DL user may find it comfortable to bootstrap with Keras and Tflearn. These libraries provide high-level abstractions and hide engine implementation details from users. Though good for using, it becomes hard to tune and modify from the bottom, which is necessary when addressing domain-specific problems (i.e., one model does not fit all). Nevertheless, flexibility does not always come with the loss of performance. TensorLayer allows seamless distributed and heterogeneous deployment with its first-class support for thr TensorFlow runtime.

大概意思就是说TensorLayer 强调高效率和灵活性，它的设计哲学是希望打造一个从入门到精通，都可以用同一个库。

主要的更新有2个：

• Add the support for creating a dynamic neural network. Example is here
• Add the support of using namespaces to control the variable scope in TensorFlow.

第一个更新，提供流控制的类，目的是提供一种方便的交叉学习手段～
第二个更新充分利用了 TensorFlow variable scope 来控制 parameters sharing，在构建复杂网络时非常方便。

另外从TensorLayer 的设计哲学上讲，这两个更新主要面向中级用户：
beginner：Mass tutorial / Easy to use
Intermediate user: Flexibility / Transparency
Advanced user: Performance / Cross-platform

此外，1.2版本对可视化做了优化，无论是 TensorBoard 还是 Terminal 中，都更好地显示了模型信息。