String import/export

README.md

@@ -56,6 +56,22 @@ Load the model from a file
 model.load_model("model.bin")
 ```
 
+Export the model to string
+
+```ruby
+require 'base64'
+binary_string = model.export_model_to_binary_string
+safe_encoded_string = Base64.encode64(binary_string) #BETTER, BUT OPTIONAL
+```
+
+Import the model from string
+
+```ruby
+require 'base64'
+binary_string = Base64.decode64(safe_encoded_string) #BETTER, BUT OPTIONAL
+model = model.import_model_from_binary_string(binary_string)
+```
+
 Train online
 
 ```ruby

lib/vowpalwabbit/model.rb

@@ -36,25 +36,35 @@ def coefs
       coefs
     end
 
-    def save_model(filename)
+    def export_model_to_binary_string
       buffer_handle = ::FFI::MemoryPointer.new(:pointer)
       output_data = ::FFI::MemoryPointer.new(:pointer)
       output_size = ::FFI::MemoryPointer.new(:size_t)
       FFI.VW_CopyModelData(handle, buffer_handle, output_data, output_size)
       bin_str = output_data.read_pointer.read_string(output_size.read(:size_t))
       FFI.VW_FreeIOBuf(buffer_handle.read_pointer)
+
+      bin_str
+    end
+
+    def save_model(filename)
+      bin_str = export_model_to_binary_string
       File.binwrite(filename, bin_str)
       nil
     end
 
-    def load_model(filename)
-      bin_str = File.binread(filename)
+    def import_model_from_binary_string(bin_str)
       model_data = ::FFI::MemoryPointer.new(:char, bin_str.bytesize)
       model_data.put_bytes(0, bin_str)
       @handle = FFI.VW_InitializeWithModel(param_str(@params), model_data, bin_str.bytesize)
       nil
     end
 
+    def load_model(filename)
+      bin_str = File.binread(filename)
+      import_model_from_binary_string(bin_str)
+    end
+
     private
 
     # TODO clean-up handle

lib/vowpalwabbit/version.rb

@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 module VowpalWabbit
-  VERSION = "0.1.1"
+  VERSION = "0.1.2"
 end