RF set_parameter_copy_behavior_ctx, allows to share params

returnn/frontend/parameter.py

@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 from typing import Optional, Union, TypeVar, Sequence
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 from returnn.tensor import Tensor, Dim
 import returnn.frontend as rf
 from ._backend import global_backend as _global_backend
 
 
-__all__ = ["Parameter"]
+__all__ = ["Parameter", "set_parameter_copy_behavior_ctx"]
 
 
 T = TypeVar("T")
@@ -97,8 +98,11 @@ def __init__(
         self.initial = initial  # use setter
 
     def __copy__(self):
+        if _copy_behavior == "share":
+            return self
         # Should return new copy. https://github.com/rwth-i6/returnn_common/pull/215#issuecomment-1269651064
         # Note that the values are *not* copied, but rather it will use the same param init scheme.
+        assert _copy_behavior == "copy_init"
         res = type(self)(
             dims=self.dims,
             dtype=self.dtype,
@@ -111,10 +115,14 @@ def __copy__(self):
         return res
 
     def __deepcopy__(self, memo=None):
+        if _copy_behavior == "share":
+            return self
+
         # Should return new copy. https://github.com/rwth-i6/returnn_common/pull/215#issuecomment-1269651064
         # Note that the values are *not* copied, but rather it will use the same param init scheme.
         from copy import deepcopy
 
+        assert _copy_behavior == "copy_init"
         res = self.__copy__()
         if isinstance(self.initial, rf.init.ParamInit):
             res.initial = deepcopy(self.initial, memo=memo)  # noqa
@@ -241,3 +249,27 @@ def non_critical_for_restore(self) -> bool:
     @non_critical_for_restore.setter
     def non_critical_for_restore(self, value: bool):
         self._non_critical_for_restore = value
+
+
+_copy_behavior = "copy_init"
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def set_parameter_copy_behavior_ctx(mode: str):
+    """
+    Set the copy behavior for parameters.
+
+    :param mode: "copy_init" or "share".
+        "copy_init" (default when not set): When copying a parameter, a new parameter will be created.
+            It is not a shared parameter.
+            It does not copy the values, but it just copies the param init scheme.
+        "share": The parameter will not be copied, it will just return itself.
+    """
+    global _copy_behavior
+    assert mode in ("copy_init", "share")
+    old = _copy_behavior
+    try:
+        _copy_behavior = mode
+        yield
+    finally:
+        _copy_behavior = old