Add MKLMemory class to expose MKL allocated memory via Python buffer protocol

meson.build

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ project(
     ).stdout().strip(),
     meson_version: '>=1.8.3',
     default_options: [
+        'c_std=c11',
         'buildtype=release',
     ]
 )
@@ -19,6 +20,13 @@ c_args = ['-DNDEBUG']
 thread_dep = dependency('threads')
 
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
+if cc.get_id() == 'msvc'
+    add_project_arguments(
+        '/experimental:c11atomics',
+        language: 'c'
+    )
+endif
+
 mkl_dep = dependency('MKL', method: 'cmake',
     modules: ['MKL::MKL'],
     cmake_args: [
@@ -53,7 +61,7 @@ py.extension_module(
     subdir: 'mkl'
 )
 
-# Cython extension
+# Cython extensions
 py.extension_module(
     '_py_mkl_service',
     sources: ['mkl/_py_mkl_service.pyx'],
@@ -64,6 +72,17 @@ py.extension_module(
     subdir: 'mkl'
 )
 
+py.extension_module(
+    '_mkl_memory',
+    sources: ['mkl/_mkl_memory.pyx'],
+    dependencies: [mkl_dep],
+    c_args: c_args,
+    link_args: rpath_link_args,
+    install: true,
+    subdir: 'mkl'
+)
+
+
 # Python sources
 py.install_sources(
     [
@@ -75,6 +94,9 @@ py.install_sources(
 )
 
 py.install_sources(
-    ['mkl/tests/test_mkl_service.py'],
+    [
+        'mkl/tests/test_mkl_memory.py',
+        'mkl/tests/test_mkl_service.py',
+    ],
     subdir: 'mkl/tests'
 )

mkl/__init__.py

@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ def __exit__(self, *args):
 
 del RTLD_for_MKL
 
+from ._mkl_memory import MKLMemory
 from ._py_mkl_service import (
     cbwr_get,
     cbwr_get_auto_branch,

mkl/_mkl_memory.pyx

@@ -0,0 +1,285 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2026, Intel Corporation
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice,
+#       this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+#       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+#       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Intel Corporation nor the names of its contributors
+#       may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
+#       without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+# DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+# SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+# CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+# OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+# distutils: language = c
+# cython: language_level=3
+# cython: freethreading_compatible=True
+
+import numbers
+
+from cpython cimport Py_buffer
+from libc.limits cimport INT_MAX
+from libc.string cimport memcpy
+
+from mkl._mkl_service cimport mkl_calloc, mkl_free, mkl_malloc, mkl_realloc
+
+
+cdef extern from "stdatomic.h" nogil:
+    ctypedef int atomic_int "_Atomic int"
+    void atomic_init(atomic_int *obj, int value)
+    int atomic_fetch_add(atomic_int *obj, int value)
+    int atomic_fetch_sub(atomic_int *obj, int value)
+    int atomic_load(atomic_int *obj)
+
+
+cdef extern from *:
+    """
+    // Check whether a MKLMemory object may be safely reallocated.
+    // Mirrors NumPy's PyArray_Resize_int logic.
+    static int _MKLMemory_MayBeShared(PyObject *op) {
+    #if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x030e00b0
+        if (PyUnstable_Object_IsUniquelyReferenced(op)) {
+            return 0; // not shared
+        }
+        if (Py_REFCNT(op) == 2) {
+            return 1;  // may be shared
+        }
+        return 2;  // definitely shared
+    #else
+        return (Py_REFCNT(op) > 2) ? 2 : 0;
+    #endif
+    }
+    """
+    int _MKLMemory_MayBeShared(object obj)
+
+
+cdef int _check_alignment(Py_ssize_t alignment) except -1:
+    if alignment <= 0:
+        raise ValueError("Alignment of requested allocation must be positive.")
+    if alignment > <Py_ssize_t>INT_MAX:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Alignment of requested allocation must not exceed {INT_MAX}."
+        )
+    return <int>alignment
+
+
+def _mkl_memory_from_bytes(bytes data, Py_ssize_t alignment):
+    cdef Py_ssize_t nbytes = len(data)
+    cdef MKLMemory mem = MKLMemory(nbytes, alignment=alignment)
+
+    cdef void *dst = mem._memory_ptr
+    cdef char *src = data
+
+    with nogil:
+        memcpy(dst, src, nbytes)
+
+    return mem
+
+
+cdef class MKLMemory:
+    """MKL-backed memory object that exposes Python buffer protocol."""
+    cdef void *_memory_ptr
+    cdef Py_ssize_t _nbytes
+    cdef Py_ssize_t _alignment
+    cdef atomic_int exported_buffers
+
+    cdef _cinit_empty(self):
+        self._memory_ptr = NULL
+        self._nbytes = 0
+        self._alignment = 0
+        atomic_init(&self.exported_buffers, 0)
+
+    cdef _cinit_malloc(self, Py_ssize_t nbytes, Py_ssize_t alignment):
+        cdef int c_alignment = _check_alignment(alignment)
+        cdef void *p
+
+        self._cinit_empty()
+
+        if (nbytes > 0):
+            with nogil:
+                p = mkl_malloc(nbytes, c_alignment)
+
+            if (p):
+                self._memory_ptr = p
+                self._nbytes = nbytes
+                self._alignment = alignment
+            else:
+                raise MemoryError(
+                    "MKL memory allocation failed."
+                )
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Number of bytes of requested allocation must be positive."
+            )
+
+    cdef _cinit_calloc(self, Py_ssize_t num, Py_ssize_t size, Py_ssize_t alignment):
+        cdef int c_alignment = _check_alignment(alignment)
+        cdef void *p
+
+        self._cinit_empty()
+
+        if (num > 0 and size > 0):
+            with nogil:
+                p = mkl_calloc(num, size, c_alignment)
+
+            if (p):
+                self._memory_ptr = p
+                self._nbytes = num * size
+                self._alignment = alignment
+            else:
+                raise MemoryError(
+                    "MKL memory allocation failed."
+                )
+        else:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Number of elements and size of requested allocation must be "
+                "positive."
+            )
+
+    cdef _cinit_mklmemory(self, object other, Py_ssize_t alignment):
+        cdef MKLMemory other_mem = <MKLMemory> other
+
+        self._cinit_malloc(other_mem._nbytes, alignment)
+        with nogil:
+            memcpy(self._memory_ptr, other_mem._memory_ptr, self._nbytes)
+
+    def __cinit__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        cdef Py_ssize_t alignment
+
+        n_args = len(args)
+        if not (0 < n_args < 3):
+            raise TypeError(
+                "MKLMemory constructor takes 1 or 2 arguments, but "
+                f"{n_args} were given"
+            )
+        if n_args == 1:
+            arg = args[0]
+            if isinstance(arg, numbers.Integral):
+                alignment = kwargs.get("alignment", 64)
+                self._cinit_malloc(arg, alignment)
+            elif isinstance(arg, MKLMemory):
+                alignment = kwargs.get("alignment", (<MKLMemory>arg)._alignment)
+                self._cinit_mklmemory(arg, alignment)
+            else:
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "MKLMemory single argument constructor expects an integer "
+                    f"or MKLMemory instance, but got {type(arg)}"
+                )
+
+        elif n_args == 2:
+            arg0, arg1 = args[0], args[1]
+            alignment = kwargs.get("alignment", 64)
+            if not isinstance(arg0, numbers.Integral):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "MKLMemory constructor expects first argument "
+                    f"to be an integer, but got {type(arg0)}"
+                )
+            if not isinstance(arg1, numbers.Integral):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "MKLMemory constructor expects second argument "
+                    f"to be an integer, but got {type(arg1)}"
+                )
+            self._cinit_calloc(arg0, arg1, alignment)
+
+    def __dealloc__(self):
+        if not (self._memory_ptr is NULL):
+            mkl_free(self._memory_ptr)
+        self._cinit_empty()
+
+    cdef void *get_data_ptr(self):
+        return self._memory_ptr
+
+    def __getbuffer__(self, Py_buffer *buffer, int flags):
+        buffer.buf = <void *>self._memory_ptr
+        buffer.format = "B"
+        buffer.internal = NULL
+        buffer.itemsize = 1
+        buffer.len = self._nbytes
+        buffer.ndim = 1
+        buffer.obj = self
+        buffer.readonly = 0
+        buffer.shape = &self._nbytes
+        buffer.strides = &buffer.itemsize
+        buffer.suboffsets = NULL
+
+        atomic_fetch_add(&self.exported_buffers, 1)
+
+    def __releasebuffer__(self, Py_buffer *buffer):
+        atomic_fetch_sub(&self.exported_buffers, 1)
+
+    def realloc(self, Py_ssize_t new_nbytes):
+        cdef void *p
+        cdef int shared
+
+        if atomic_load(&self.exported_buffers) > 0:
+            raise BufferError(
+                "Cannot realloc memory while there are exported buffers."
+            )
+        shared = _MKLMemory_MayBeShared(self)
+        if shared == 1:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Cannot realloc MKLMemory that may be referenced by another "
+                "object. It is possible that this is a false positive."
+            )
+        elif shared == 2:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Cannot realloc MKLMemory that is referenced by other objects."
+            )
+        if new_nbytes <= 0:
+            raise ValueError("New number of bytes must be positive.")
+
+        with nogil:
+            p = mkl_realloc(self._memory_ptr, new_nbytes)
+
+        if not p:
+            raise MemoryError("MKL memory reallocation failed.")
+
+        self._memory_ptr = p
+        self._nbytes = new_nbytes
+
+    def tobytes(self):
+        cdef char* data_ptr = <char*>self._memory_ptr
+        return data_ptr[:self._nbytes]
+
+    @property
+    def nbytes(self):
+        return self._nbytes
+
+    @property
+    def size(self):
+        return self._nbytes
+
+    @property
+    def alignment(self):
+        return self._alignment
+
+    @property
+    def _pointer(self):
+        return <size_t>(self._memory_ptr)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return (
+            f"<MKL memory allocation of {self._nbytes} bytes at "
+            f"{hex(<object>(<size_t>self._memory_ptr))}>"
+        )
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        return self._nbytes
+
+    def __sizeof__(self):
+        return self._nbytes
+
+    def __reduce__(self):
+        return (_mkl_memory_from_bytes, (self.tobytes(), self._alignment))

mkl/_mkl_service.pxd

@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ ctypedef unsigned long long MKL_UINT64
 ctypedef int MKL_INT
 
 
-cdef extern from "mkl.h":
+cdef extern from "mkl.h" nogil:
     # MKL Function Domains Constants
     int MKL_DOMAIN_BLAS
     int MKL_DOMAIN_FFT
@@ -148,6 +148,10 @@ cdef extern from "mkl.h":
     MKL_INT64 mkl_mem_stat(int* buf)
     MKL_INT64 mkl_peak_mem_usage(int mode)
     int mkl_set_memory_limit(int mem_type, size_t limit)
+    void *mkl_malloc(size_t size, int alignment)
+    void *mkl_realloc(void *ptr, size_t size)
+    void *mkl_calloc(size_t num, size_t size, int alignment)
+    void mkl_free(void *ptr)
 
     # Conditional Numerical Reproducibility
     int mkl_cbwr_set(int settings)

mkl/_py_mkl_service.pyx

@@ -602,7 +602,8 @@ cdef inline void __free_buffers() noexcept:
     """
     Frees unused memory allocated by the Intel(R) MKL Memory Allocator.
     """
-    mkl.mkl_free_buffers()
+    with nogil:
+        mkl.mkl_free_buffers()
     return
 
 
@@ -611,7 +612,8 @@ cdef inline void __thread_free_buffers() noexcept:
     Frees unused memory allocated by the Intel(R) MKL Memory Allocator in the current
     thread.
     """
-    mkl.mkl_thread_free_buffers()
+    with nogil:
+        mkl.mkl_thread_free_buffers()
     return