v0.2.4

Changes since 0.2.3

New functionality:

• Added the option to compute tanh using sigmoid or Chebyshev approximation (#3113 by @gmuraru)
• Added model parameters as a default optimizer parameter in FederatedClient (#3117 by @gconst02)
• Added an Optims class to track remote optimizers in federated learning (#3179 by @rimijoker)
• Added the ability to use a Plan input as an output (#3199 by @tudorcebere)
• Added the ability to send and get Datasets (#2960 by @abogaziah)

Refactoring:

• Extensive improvements Plan, Placeholder, and the Torch hook (#3080 by @LaRiffle)
• Split Operation class into separate message and action classes (#3132 and #3168 by @Jasopaum and @karlhigley)
• Added a new message for executing non-tensor operations on remote workers (#3048 by @midokura-silvia)
• Reworked BaseWorker's message router to use message classes in handler functions (#3175 by @Jasopaum and @karlhigley)
• Standardized the names of command message to TensorCommandMessage, PlanCommandMessage, and WorkerCommandMessage (#3198 by @karlhigley)
• Moved the Placeholder class to the execution package (#3211 by @karlhigley)
• Converted existing formatted strings to f-strings for consistency and performance (#3186 by @TTitcombe
• Replaced zstd compression library with zlib (#3150 and #3164 by @refactormyself)

Bug fixes:

• Fixed VirtualWorker message sending test (#3139 by @gmuraru)
• Fixed event loop error when starting a WebsocketServerWorker in a notebook (#3196 by @imskr and #3204 by @gmuraru)
• Stopped creating grad tensors for frozen layers (#3200 by @tudorcebere)

Documentation:

• Added homomorphic encryption to the Introduction section (#3135 by @LaRiffle)
• Updated supported PyTorch version to 1.4 (#3140 by @codeboy5)
• Added a note about support Python versions (#3154 by @J-Yash)
• Added a note about using Python 3.7 with conda (#3162 by @teddykoker)
• Added docstrings to callable pointer tests (#3130 by @steph-en-m)
• Added instructions for installing TF Encrypted (#3197 by @rimijoker)

Tutorials:

• Fixed FL training plan tutorials and added a PyGrid FL hosting example (#3185 by @vvmnnnkv)
• Cleaned up the tutorials directory structure (#3159 by @bicycleman15)
• Removed a stray cell from Part 5 - Welcome to the Sandbox (#3155 by @bicycleman15)
• Removed unnecessary requires_grad in Part 2 (#3216 by @bicycleman15)

Translations:

• Bengali:
  • Part 3 (#3133 by @adventuroussrv), Parts 4 and 5 (#3121 by @jabertuhin)
• German:
  • Part 1 (#3178 by @vineetjai)

Builds:

• Set up code owners to automatically request reviews from the relevant OpenMined teams for various parts of the PySyft codebase (#3192 and #3215 by @karlhigley, @LaRiffle, and @AlanAboudib)