[python] fix for new dict API

- TDConvert returns a string
- various c_str fixes (make copies)
- cleanup .gitignore

9 files changed, 338 insertions, 262 deletions

diff --git a/python/setup.py.in b/python/setup.py.in
index 77c10b07..4d77fbc7 100644
--- a/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/python/setup.py.in
@@ -1,35 +1,16 @@
 from distutils.core import setup
 from distutils.extension import Extension
-import sys
 import re
 
-def fail(msg):
-    sys.stderr.write(msg)
-    sys.exit(1)
-
 INC = ['..', 'src/', '../decoder', '../utils', '../mteval']
 LIB = ['../decoder', '../utils', '../mteval', '../training', '../klm/lm', '../klm/util']
 
-# set automatically by configure
-raw_config_libs = '@LIBS@'
-
-try:
-    with open('../config.status') as config:
-        config = config.read()
-    subs = dict(re.findall('s,@(\w+)@,\|#_!!_#\|(.*),g', config)) # sed
-    if not subs:
-        subs = dict(re.findall('S\["(\w+)"\]="(.*)"', config)) # awk
-    if not subs:
-        fail('Cannot parse config.status\n'
-             'Please report this bug to the developers')
-    LIBS = re.findall('-l([^\s]+)', subs['LIBS'])
-    CPPFLAGS = re.findall('-[^R][^\s]+', subs['CPPFLAGS'])
-    LDFLAGS = re.findall('-[^\s]+', subs['LDFLAGS'])
-    LDFLAGS = [opt.replace('-R', '-Wl,-rpath,') for opt in LDFLAGS]
-except IOError:
-    fail('Did you run ./configure? Cannot find config.status')
-except KeyError as e:
-    fail('Cannot find option {0} in config.status'.format(e))
+# Set automatically by configure
+LIBS = re.findall('-l([^\s]+)', '@LIBS@')
+CPPFLAGS = re.findall('-[^\s]+', '@CPPFLAGS@')
+LDFLAGS = re.findall('-[^\s]+', '@LDFLAGS@')
+# Make sure linker flags go only to the linker
+LDFLAGS = [opt.replace('-R', '-Wl,-rpath,') for opt in LDFLAGS]
 
 ext_modules = [
     Extension(name='cdec._cdec',
diff --git a/python/src/_cdec.cpp b/python/src/_cdec.cpp
index 87b836f1..dd812b52 100644
--- a/python/src/_cdec.cpp
+++ b/python/src/_cdec.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Generated by Cython 0.17.beta1 on Wed Aug  8 18:52:57 2012 */
+/* Generated by Cython 0.17.beta1 on Sat Aug 11 23:26:15 2012 */
 
 #define PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN
 #include "Python.h"
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec___pyx_scope_struct_4___get__ {
 
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/lattice.pxi":52
- *         return hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str()
+ *         return str(hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str())
  * 
  *     def __iter__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         cdef unsigned i
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec___pyx_scope_struct_18___iter__ {
 
 
 /* "_cdec.pyx":42
- *             yield key, bytes(value)
+ *             yield key, str(value)
  * 
  * cdef class Decoder:             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *     cdef decoder.Decoder* dec
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec___pyx_scope_struct_7___iter__ {
 };
 
 
-/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":173
+/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":172
  *         out.fields[i] = ss[i]
  * 
  * cdef class Metric:             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
@@ -1824,7 +1824,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_12SparseVector_37__div__(PyObject *__pyx_v_x, P
 #endif
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7_phrase_genexpr(PyObject *__pyx_self); /* proto */
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec__phrase(CYTHON_UNUSED PyObject *__pyx_self, PyObject *__pyx_v_phrase); /* proto */
-static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self, char *__pyx_v_cat, unsigned int __pyx_v_ref); /* proto */
+static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx_v_cat, unsigned int __pyx_v_ref); /* proto */
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT_2__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self); /* proto */
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self); /* proto */
 static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT_3cat_2__set__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx_v_value); /* proto */
@@ -2824,7 +2824,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_11DenseVector_12generator(__pyx_GeneratorObject
  *     def __iter__(self):
  *         cdef unsigned fid
  *         for fid in range(1, self.vector.size()):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *             yield FDConvert(fid).c_str(), self.vector[0][fid]
+ *             yield str(FDConvert(fid).c_str()), self.vector[0][fid]
  * 
  */
   __pyx_t_1 = __pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_self->vector->size();
@@ -2834,18 +2834,26 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_11DenseVector_12generator(__pyx_GeneratorObject
     /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/vectors.pxi":34
  *         cdef unsigned fid
  *         for fid in range(1, self.vector.size()):
- *             yield FDConvert(fid).c_str(), self.vector[0][fid]             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *             yield str(FDConvert(fid).c_str()), self.vector[0][fid]             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *     def dot(self, SparseVector other):
  */
     __pyx_t_3 = PyBytes_FromString(FD::Convert(__pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_fid).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 34; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
     __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+    __pyx_t_4 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 34; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_4);
+    PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_4, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+    __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+    __pyx_t_3 = 0;
+    __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)(&PyString_Type))), ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_4), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 34; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_3);
+    __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_4)); __pyx_t_4 = 0;
     __pyx_t_4 = PyFloat_FromDouble(((__pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_self->vector[0])[__pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_fid])); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 34; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
     __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_4);
     __pyx_t_5 = PyTuple_New(2); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_5)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 34; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
     __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_5);
-    PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
-    __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+    PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 0, __pyx_t_3);
+    __Pyx_GIVEREF(__pyx_t_3);
     PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 1, __pyx_t_4);
     __Pyx_GIVEREF(__pyx_t_4);
     __pyx_t_3 = 0;
@@ -2896,7 +2904,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_11DenseVector_14dot(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyO
 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/vectors.pxi":36
- *             yield FDConvert(fid).c_str(), self.vector[0][fid]
+ *             yield str(FDConvert(fid).c_str()), self.vector[0][fid]
  * 
  *     def dot(self, SparseVector other):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         return other.dot(self)
@@ -3459,7 +3467,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_12SparseVector_12generator1(__pyx_GeneratorObje
  *         cdef unsigned i
  *         try:             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             for i in range(self.vector.size()):
- *                 yield (FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str(), it[0].ptr().second)
+ *                 yield (str(FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str()), it[0].ptr().second)
  */
   /*try:*/ {
 
@@ -3467,7 +3475,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_12SparseVector_12generator1(__pyx_GeneratorObje
  *         cdef unsigned i
  *         try:
  *             for i in range(self.vector.size()):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *                 yield (FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str(), it[0].ptr().second)
+ *                 yield (str(FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str()), it[0].ptr().second)
  *                 pinc(it[0]) # ++it
  */
     __pyx_t_1 = __pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_self->vector->size();
@@ -3477,18 +3485,26 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_12SparseVector_12generator1(__pyx_GeneratorObje
       /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/vectors.pxi":72
  *         try:
  *             for i in range(self.vector.size()):
- *                 yield (FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str(), it[0].ptr().second)             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *                 yield (str(FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str()), it[0].ptr().second)             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *                 pinc(it[0]) # ++it
  *         finally:
  */
       __pyx_t_3 = PyBytes_FromString(FD::Convert((__pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_it[0]).operator->()->first).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 72; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L5;}
       __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+      __pyx_t_4 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 72; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L5;}
+      __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_4);
+      PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_4, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+      __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+      __pyx_t_3 = 0;
+      __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)(&PyString_Type))), ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_4), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 72; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L5;}
+      __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_3);
+      __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_4)); __pyx_t_4 = 0;
       __pyx_t_4 = PyFloat_FromDouble((__pyx_cur_scope->__pyx_v_it[0]).operator->()->second); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 72; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L5;}
       __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_4);
       __pyx_t_5 = PyTuple_New(2); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_5)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[1]; __pyx_lineno = 72; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L5;}
       __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_5);
-      PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
-      __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_3));
+      PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 0, __pyx_t_3);
+      __Pyx_GIVEREF(__pyx_t_3);
       PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_5, 1, __pyx_t_4);
       __Pyx_GIVEREF(__pyx_t_4);
       __pyx_t_3 = 0;
@@ -3509,7 +3525,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_gb_5_cdec_12SparseVector_12generator1(__pyx_GeneratorObje
 
       /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/vectors.pxi":73
  *             for i in range(self.vector.size()):
- *                 yield (FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str(), it[0].ptr().second)
+ *                 yield (str(FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str()), it[0].ptr().second)
  *                 pinc(it[0]) # ++it             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         finally:
  *             del it
@@ -4888,7 +4904,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec__phrase(CYTHON_UNUSED PyObject *__pyx_self, PyO
 /* Python wrapper */
 static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_1__init__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx_args, PyObject *__pyx_kwds); /*proto*/
 static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_1__init__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx_args, PyObject *__pyx_kwds) {
-  char *__pyx_v_cat;
+  PyObject *__pyx_v_cat = 0;
   unsigned int __pyx_v_ref;
   int __pyx_r;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
@@ -4927,7 +4943,7 @@ static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_1__init__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx
         default: goto __pyx_L5_argtuple_error;
       }
     }
-    __pyx_v_cat = PyBytes_AsString(values[0]); if (unlikely((!__pyx_v_cat) && PyErr_Occurred())) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 11; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L3_error;}
+    __pyx_v_cat = ((PyObject*)values[0]);
     if (values[1]) {
       __pyx_v_ref = __Pyx_PyInt_AsUnsignedInt(values[1]); if (unlikely((__pyx_v_ref == (unsigned int)-1) && PyErr_Occurred())) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 11; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L3_error;}
     } else {
@@ -4942,7 +4958,12 @@ static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_1__init__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx
   __Pyx_RefNannyFinishContext();
   return -1;
   __pyx_L4_argument_unpacking_done:;
+  if (unlikely(!__Pyx_ArgTypeTest(((PyObject *)__pyx_v_cat), (&PyBytes_Type), 1, "cat", 1))) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 11; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __pyx_r = __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(((struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *)__pyx_v_self), __pyx_v_cat, __pyx_v_ref);
+  goto __pyx_L0;
+  __pyx_L1_error:;
+  __pyx_r = -1;
+  __pyx_L0:;
   __Pyx_RefNannyFinishContext();
   return __pyx_r;
 }
@@ -4950,37 +4971,31 @@ static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_1__init__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":11
  *     cdef public bytes cat
  *     cdef public unsigned ref
- *     def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *     def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         self.cat = cat
  *         self.ref = ref
  */
 
-static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self, char *__pyx_v_cat, unsigned int __pyx_v_ref) {
+static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self, PyObject *__pyx_v_cat, unsigned int __pyx_v_ref) {
   int __pyx_r;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
-  PyObject *__pyx_t_1 = NULL;
-  int __pyx_lineno = 0;
-  const char *__pyx_filename = NULL;
-  int __pyx_clineno = 0;
   __Pyx_RefNannySetupContext("__init__", 0);
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":12
  *     cdef public unsigned ref
- *     def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):
+ *     def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):
  *         self.cat = cat             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         self.ref = ref
  * 
  */
-  __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(__pyx_v_cat); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 12; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
-  __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
-  __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __Pyx_INCREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_v_cat));
+  __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_v_cat));
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_v_self->cat);
   __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_v_self->cat));
-  __pyx_v_self->cat = __pyx_t_1;
-  __pyx_t_1 = 0;
+  __pyx_v_self->cat = __pyx_v_cat;
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":13
- *     def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):
+ *     def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):
  *         self.cat = cat
  *         self.ref = ref             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
@@ -4989,12 +5004,6 @@ static int __pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT___init__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self
   __pyx_v_self->ref = __pyx_v_ref;
 
   __pyx_r = 0;
-  goto __pyx_L0;
-  __pyx_L1_error:;
-  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_1);
-  __Pyx_AddTraceback("_cdec.NT.__init__", __pyx_clineno, __pyx_lineno, __pyx_filename);
-  __pyx_r = -1;
-  __pyx_L0:;
   __Pyx_RefNannyFinishContext();
   return __pyx_r;
 }
@@ -5110,7 +5119,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_3cat_1__get__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self) {
  * cdef class NT:
  *     cdef public bytes cat             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *     cdef public unsigned ref
- *     def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):
+ *     def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):
  */
 
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_2NT_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_NT *__pyx_v_self) {
@@ -5205,7 +5214,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_2NT_3ref_1__get__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self) {
  * cdef class NT:
  *     cdef public bytes cat
  *     cdef public unsigned ref             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *     def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):
+ *     def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):
  *         self.cat = cat
  */
 
@@ -6220,7 +6229,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1f___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
  *                 w = f_[0][i]
  *                 if w < 0:             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *                     idx += 1
- *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w), idx))
+ *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w).c_str(), idx))
  */
     __pyx_t_4 = (__pyx_v_w < 0);
     if (__pyx_t_4) {
@@ -6229,7 +6238,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1f___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
  *                 w = f_[0][i]
  *                 if w < 0:
  *                     idx += 1             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w), idx))
+ *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w).c_str(), idx))
  *                 else:
  */
       __pyx_v_idx = (__pyx_v_idx + 1);
@@ -6237,11 +6246,11 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1f___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
       /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":81
  *                 if w < 0:
  *                     idx += 1
- *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w), idx))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w).c_str(), idx))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *                 else:
- *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+ *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
  */
-      __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_w))); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 81; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+      __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_w)).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 81; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
       __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
       __pyx_t_5 = PyInt_FromLong(__pyx_v_idx); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_5)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 81; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
       __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_5);
@@ -6265,13 +6274,13 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1f___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
     /*else*/ {
 
       /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":83
- *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w), idx))
+ *                     f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w).c_str(), idx))
  *                 else:
- *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             return f
  * 
  */
-      __pyx_t_6 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_w)); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_6)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 83; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+      __pyx_t_6 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_w).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_6)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 83; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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@@ -6295,7 +6304,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1f___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":84
  *                 else:
- *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+ *                     f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
  *             return f             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, f):
@@ -6569,7 +6578,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1e___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
  *                     idx += 1
  *                     e.append(NTRef(1-w))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *                 else:
- *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+ *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
  */
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@@ -6592,11 +6601,11 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1e___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
       /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":110
  *                     e.append(NTRef(1-w))
  *                 else:
- *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             return e
  * 
  */
-      __pyx_t_5 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_w)); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_5)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 110; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+      __pyx_t_5 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_w).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_5)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 110; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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@@ -6620,7 +6629,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_1e___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRule
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":111
  *                 else:
- *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+ *                     e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
  *             return e             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, e):
@@ -7392,7 +7401,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_5TRule_3lhs_1__get__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self) {
  * 
  *     property lhs:
  *         def __get__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_))
+ *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_).c_str())
  * 
  */
 
@@ -7409,12 +7418,12 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_5TRule_3lhs___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_TRu
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":157
  *     property lhs:
  *         def __get__(self):
- *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_).c_str())             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, lhs):
  */
   __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_r);
-  __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_self->rule->get()->lhs_))); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 157; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_self->rule->get()->lhs_)).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 157; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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@@ -7453,7 +7462,7 @@ static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_5TRule_3lhs_3__set__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObject
 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":159
- *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_))
+ *             return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_).c_str())
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, lhs):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             if not isinstance(lhs, NT):
@@ -8325,25 +8334,47 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_7Grammar_4name_1__get__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self)
  * 
  *     property name:
  *         def __get__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *             self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str()
+ *             str(self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str())
  * 
  */
 
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Grammar_4name___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Grammar *__pyx_v_self) {
   PyObject *__pyx_r = NULL;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
+  PyObject *__pyx_t_1 = NULL;
+  PyObject *__pyx_t_2 = NULL;
+  int __pyx_lineno = 0;
+  const char *__pyx_filename = NULL;
+  int __pyx_clineno = 0;
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   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":199
  *     property name:
  *         def __get__(self):
- *             self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *             str(self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str())             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, name):
  */
-  __pyx_v_self->grammar->get()->GetGrammarName().c_str();
+  __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(__pyx_v_self->grammar->get()->GetGrammarName().c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 199; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __pyx_t_2 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_2)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 199; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_2);
+  PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_2, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __pyx_t_1 = 0;
+  __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)(&PyString_Type))), ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 199; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2)); __pyx_t_2 = 0;
+  __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_1); __pyx_t_1 = 0;
 
   __pyx_r = Py_None; __Pyx_INCREF(Py_None);
+  goto __pyx_L0;
+  __pyx_L1_error:;
+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_2);
+  __Pyx_AddTraceback("_cdec.Grammar.name.__get__", __pyx_clineno, __pyx_lineno, __pyx_filename);
+  __pyx_r = NULL;
+  __pyx_L0:;
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@@ -8361,7 +8392,7 @@ static int __pyx_pw_5_cdec_7Grammar_4name_3__set__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self, PyObj
 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/grammar.pxi":201
- *             self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str()
+ *             str(self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str())
  * 
  *         def __set__(self, name):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             self.grammar.get().SetGrammarName(string(<char *>name))
@@ -10474,7 +10505,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_10Hypergraph_30lattice(PyObject *__pyx_v_self,
  *             del preserve_mask
  * 
  *     def lattice(self): # TODO direct hg -> lattice conversion in cdec             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *         cdef str plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
+ *         cdef bytes plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
  *         return Lattice(eval(plf))
  */
 
@@ -10493,19 +10524,18 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_10Hypergraph_29lattice(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/hypergraph.pxi":114
  * 
  *     def lattice(self): # TODO direct hg -> lattice conversion in cdec
- *         cdef str plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *         cdef bytes plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         return Lattice(eval(plf))
  * 
  */
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   __Pyx_GOTREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
-  if (!(likely(PyString_CheckExact(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1)))||(PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "Expected str, got %.200s", Py_TYPE(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1))->tp_name), 0))) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[3]; __pyx_lineno = 114; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
-  __pyx_v_plf = ((PyObject*)__pyx_t_1);
+  __pyx_v_plf = __pyx_t_1;
   __pyx_t_1 = 0;
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/hypergraph.pxi":115
  *     def lattice(self): # TODO direct hg -> lattice conversion in cdec
- *         cdef str plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
+ *         cdef bytes plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
  *         return Lattice(eval(plf))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *     def reweight(self, weights):
@@ -12318,13 +12348,14 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_3cat_1__get__(PyObject *__pyx_
  *     property cat:
  *         def __get__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             if self.node.cat_:
- *                 return TDConvert(-self.node.cat_)
+ *                 return str(TDConvert(-self.node.cat_).c_str())
  */
 
 static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_HypergraphNode *__pyx_v_self) {
   PyObject *__pyx_r = NULL;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
   PyObject *__pyx_t_1 = NULL;
+  PyObject *__pyx_t_2 = NULL;
   int __pyx_lineno = 0;
   const char *__pyx_filename = NULL;
   int __pyx_clineno = 0;
@@ -12334,7 +12365,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_
  *     property cat:
  *         def __get__(self):
  *             if self.node.cat_:             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *                 return TDConvert(-self.node.cat_)
+ *                 return str(TDConvert(-self.node.cat_).c_str())
  * 
  */
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@@ -12342,14 +12373,22 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_
     /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/hypergraph.pxi":234
  *         def __get__(self):
  *             if self.node.cat_:
- *                 return TDConvert(-self.node.cat_)             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *                 return str(TDConvert(-self.node.cat_).c_str())             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
  *     def __richcmp__(HypergraphNode x, HypergraphNode y, int op):
  */
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-    __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_self->node->cat_))); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[3]; __pyx_lineno = 234; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __pyx_t_1 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert((-__pyx_v_self->node->cat_)).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[3]; __pyx_lineno = 234; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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-    __pyx_r = ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1);
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+    PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_2, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+    __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+    __pyx_t_1 = 0;
+    __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)(&PyString_Type))), ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[3]; __pyx_lineno = 234; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_1);
+    __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2)); __pyx_t_2 = 0;
+    __pyx_r = __pyx_t_1;
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     goto __pyx_L0;
     goto __pyx_L3;
@@ -12360,6 +12399,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_3cat___get__(struct __pyx_obj_
   goto __pyx_L0;
   __pyx_L1_error:;
   __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_2);
   __Pyx_AddTraceback("_cdec.HypergraphNode.cat.__get__", __pyx_clineno, __pyx_lineno, __pyx_filename);
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@@ -12386,7 +12426,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_14HypergraphNode_1__richcmp__(PyObject *__pyx_v
 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/hypergraph.pxi":236
- *                 return TDConvert(-self.node.cat_)
+ *                 return str(TDConvert(-self.node.cat_).c_str())
  * 
  *     def __richcmp__(HypergraphNode x, HypergraphNode y, int op):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         if op == 2: # ==
@@ -12902,7 +12942,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_4__getitem__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_L
  *         cdef unsigned i
  *         for i in range(arc_vector.size()):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             arc = &arc_vector[i]
- *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')
+ *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')
  */
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  *         for i in range(arc_vector.size()):
  *             arc = &arc_vector[i]             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')
+ *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')
  *             arcs.append((label, arc.cost, arc.dist2next))
  */
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@@ -12920,11 +12960,11 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_4__getitem__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_L
     /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/lattice.pxi":31
  *         for i in range(arc_vector.size()):
  *             arc = &arc_vector[i]
- *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *             arcs.append((label, arc.cost, arc.dist2next))
  *         return tuple(arcs)
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-    __pyx_t_4 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_arc->label)); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[4]; __pyx_lineno = 31; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __pyx_t_4 = PyBytes_FromString(TD::Convert(__pyx_v_arc->label).c_str()); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_4)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[4]; __pyx_lineno = 31; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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@@ -12943,7 +12983,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_4__getitem__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_L
 
     /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/lattice.pxi":32
  *             arc = &arc_vector[i]
- *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')
+ *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')
  *             arcs.append((label, arc.cost, arc.dist2next))             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         return tuple(arcs)
  * 
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   }
 
   /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/lattice.pxi":33
- *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')
+ *             label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')
  *             arcs.append((label, arc.cost, arc.dist2next))
  *         return tuple(arcs)             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * 
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  * 
  *     def __str__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *         return hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str()
+ *         return str(hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str())
  * 
  */
 
@@ -13317,6 +13357,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_10__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Latt
   PyObject *__pyx_r = NULL;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
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+  PyObject *__pyx_t_2 = NULL;
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   const char *__pyx_filename = NULL;
   int __pyx_clineno = 0;
@@ -13325,14 +13366,22 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_10__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Latt
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  * 
  *     def __str__(self):
- *         return hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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+  __pyx_r = __pyx_t_1;
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@@ -13340,6 +13389,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_7Lattice_10__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Latt
   goto __pyx_L0;
   __pyx_L1_error:;
   __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_2);
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@@ -13361,7 +13411,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_7Lattice_13__iter__(PyObject *__pyx_v_self) {
 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/lattice.pxi":52
- *         return hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str()
+ *         return str(hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str())
  * 
  *     def __iter__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         cdef unsigned i
@@ -14462,7 +14512,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pw_5_cdec_15SufficientStats_6detail_1__get__(PyObject *__
  * 
  *     property detail:
  *         def __get__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *             return self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str()
+ *             return str(self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str())
  * 
  */
 
@@ -14470,6 +14520,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_15SufficientStats_6detail___get__(struct __pyx_
   PyObject *__pyx_r = NULL;
   __Pyx_RefNannyDeclarations
   PyObject *__pyx_t_1 = NULL;
+  PyObject *__pyx_t_2 = NULL;
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   int __pyx_clineno = 0;
@@ -14478,14 +14529,22 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_15SufficientStats_6detail___get__(struct __pyx_
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  *     property detail:
  *         def __get__(self):
- *             return self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *             return str(self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str())             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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  *     def __len__(self):
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-  __pyx_r = ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1);
+  __pyx_t_2 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_2)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 39; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_2);
+  PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_t_2, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1));
+  __pyx_t_1 = 0;
+  __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)(&PyString_Type))), ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 39; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_DECREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_t_2)); __pyx_t_2 = 0;
+  __pyx_r = __pyx_t_1;
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@@ -14493,6 +14552,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_15SufficientStats_6detail___get__(struct __pyx_
   goto __pyx_L0;
   __pyx_L1_error:;
   __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_1);
+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_2);
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 }
 
 /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":41
- *             return self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str()
+ *             return str(self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str())
  * 
  *     def __len__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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@@ -15980,13 +16040,13 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
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  *         cdef vector[vector[WordID]]* refsv = new vector[vector[WordID]]()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         cdef vector[WordID]* refv
- *         cdef bytes ref_str
+ *         for ref in refs:
  */
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":135
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":134
+ *         cdef vector[vector[WordID]]* refsv = new vector[vector[WordID]]()
  *         cdef vector[WordID]* refv
- *         cdef bytes ref_str
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@@ -15995,7 +16055,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
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-    __pyx_t_5 = -1; __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_GetIter(__pyx_v_refs); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 135; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __pyx_t_5 = -1; __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_GetIter(__pyx_v_refs); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 134; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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       __pyx_t_7 = PyList_GET_ITEM(__pyx_t_1, __pyx_t_5); __Pyx_INCREF(__pyx_t_7); __pyx_t_5++;
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-      __pyx_t_7 = PySequence_ITEM(__pyx_t_1, __pyx_t_5); __pyx_t_5++; if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_7)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 135; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;};
+      __pyx_t_7 = PySequence_ITEM(__pyx_t_1, __pyx_t_5); __pyx_t_5++; if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_7)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 134; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;};
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+      __pyx_t_7 = PySequence_ITEM(__pyx_t_1, __pyx_t_5); __pyx_t_5++; if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_7)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 134; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;};
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-          else {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 135; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+          else {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 134; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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@@ -16029,8 +16089,8 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
     __pyx_v_ref = __pyx_t_7;
     __pyx_t_7 = 0;
 
-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":136
- *         cdef bytes ref_str
+    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":135
+ *         cdef vector[WordID]* refv
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@@ -16038,22 +16098,22 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
  */
     __pyx_v_refv = new std::vector<WordID>();
 
-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":137
+    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":136
  *         for ref in refs:
  *             refv = new vector[WordID]()
  *             ConvertSentence(string(as_str(ref.strip())), refv)             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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  *             del refv
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-    __pyx_t_7 = PyObject_GetAttr(__pyx_v_ref, __pyx_n_s__strip); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_7)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 137; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __pyx_t_7 = PyObject_GetAttr(__pyx_v_ref, __pyx_n_s__strip); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_7)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 136; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
     __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_7);
-    __pyx_t_8 = PyObject_Call(__pyx_t_7, ((PyObject *)__pyx_empty_tuple), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_8)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 137; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+    __pyx_t_8 = PyObject_Call(__pyx_t_7, ((PyObject *)__pyx_empty_tuple), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_8)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 136; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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     __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_8); __pyx_t_8 = 0;
 
-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":138
+    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":137
  *             refv = new vector[WordID]()
  *             ConvertSentence(string(as_str(ref.strip())), refv)
  *             refsv.push_back(refv[0])             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
@@ -16062,7 +16122,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
  */
     __pyx_v_refsv->push_back((__pyx_v_refv[0]));
 
-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":139
+    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":138
  *             ConvertSentence(string(as_str(ref.strip())), refv)
  *             refsv.push_back(refv[0])
  *             del refv             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
@@ -16073,19 +16133,19 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_4__call__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Score
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":141
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":140
  *             del refv
  *         cdef unsigned i
  *         cdef SegmentEvaluator evaluator = SegmentEvaluator()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  *         evaluator.metric = self.metric
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-  __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_SegmentEvaluator)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_empty_tuple), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 141; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_t_1 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_SegmentEvaluator)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_empty_tuple), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_1)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 140; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":142
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":141
  *         cdef unsigned i
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  *         evaluator.metric = self.metric             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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   __pyx_v_evaluator->metric = __pyx_v_self->metric;
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":143
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":142
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":145
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":144
  *         evaluator.scorer = new shared_ptr[mteval.SegmentEvaluator](
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  */
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":146
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":145
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   return __pyx_r;
 }
 
-/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":148
+/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":147
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  * 
  *     def __str__(self):             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
- *         return self.name.c_str()
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@@ -16164,22 +16224,31 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_6__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Scorer
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":149
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":148
  * 
  *     def __str__(self):
- *         return self.name.c_str()             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
+ *         return str(self.name.c_str())             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
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-  __pyx_r = ((PyObject *)__pyx_t_1);
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@@ -16187,6 +16256,7 @@ static PyObject *__pyx_pf_5_cdec_6Scorer_6__str__(struct __pyx_obj_5_cdec_Scorer
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+  __Pyx_XDECREF(__pyx_t_2);
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 }
 
-/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":151
- *         return self.name.c_str()
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":152
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  * cdef float _compute_score(void* metric_, mteval.SufficientStats* stats):
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":153
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":152
  * cdef float _compute_score(void* metric_, mteval.SufficientStats* stats):
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":155
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-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":156
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":157
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 }
 
-/* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":159
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-  int __pyx_t_4;
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+  int __pyx_t_5;
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":163
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":164
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-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":167
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-  __pyx_v_ss = ((PyObject*)__pyx_t_5);
-  __pyx_t_5 = 0;
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":169
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+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":168
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-    {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 169; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
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-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":170
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+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":169
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-    /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":171
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-  __pyx_k_tuple_59 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_59)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_k_tuple_59 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_59)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 189; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_k_tuple_59);
   __Pyx_INCREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__IBM_BLEU));
   PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_k_tuple_59, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__IBM_BLEU));
   __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__IBM_BLEU));
   __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_59));
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":191
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":190
  * 
  * BLEU = Scorer('IBM_BLEU')
  * TER = Scorer('TER')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * CER = Scorer('CER')
  */
-  __pyx_k_tuple_60 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_60)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_k_tuple_60 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_60)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_k_tuple_60);
   __Pyx_INCREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__TER));
   PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_k_tuple_60, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__TER));
   __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__TER));
   __Pyx_GIVEREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_60));
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":192
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":191
  * BLEU = Scorer('IBM_BLEU')
  * TER = Scorer('TER')
  * CER = Scorer('CER')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  */
-  __pyx_k_tuple_61 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_61)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 192; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_k_tuple_61 = PyTuple_New(1); if (unlikely(!__pyx_k_tuple_61)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_k_tuple_61);
   __Pyx_INCREF(((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__CER));
   PyTuple_SET_ITEM(__pyx_k_tuple_61, 0, ((PyObject *)__pyx_n_s__CER));
@@ -28643,8 +28739,8 @@ PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit__cdec(void)
   if (PyType_Ready(&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Scorer) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 117; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   if (__Pyx_SetAttrString(__pyx_m, "Scorer", (PyObject *)&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Scorer) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 117; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer = &__pyx_type_5_cdec_Scorer;
-  if (PyType_Ready(&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Metric) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 173; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
-  if (__Pyx_SetAttrString(__pyx_m, "Metric", (PyObject *)&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Metric) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 173; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  if (PyType_Ready(&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Metric) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 172; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  if (__Pyx_SetAttrString(__pyx_m, "Metric", (PyObject *)&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Metric) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 172; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Metric = &__pyx_type_5_cdec_Metric;
   if (PyType_Ready(&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Decoder) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 42; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   if (__Pyx_SetAttrString(__pyx_m, "Decoder", (PyObject *)&__pyx_type_5_cdec_Decoder) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[0]; __pyx_lineno = 42; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
@@ -28745,37 +28841,37 @@ PyMODINIT_FUNC PyInit__cdec(void)
   if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s___phrase, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[2]; __pyx_lineno = 5; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_3); __pyx_t_3 = 0;
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":190
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":189
  *         return []
  * 
  * BLEU = Scorer('IBM_BLEU')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * TER = Scorer('TER')
  * CER = Scorer('CER')
  */
-  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_59), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_59), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 189; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_3);
-  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__BLEU, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__BLEU, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 189; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_3); __pyx_t_3 = 0;
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":191
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":190
  * 
  * BLEU = Scorer('IBM_BLEU')
  * TER = Scorer('TER')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  * CER = Scorer('CER')
  */
-  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_60), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_60), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_3);
-  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__TER, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__TER, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 190; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_3); __pyx_t_3 = 0;
 
-  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":192
+  /* "/Users/vchahun/Sandbox/cdec/python/src/mteval.pxi":191
  * BLEU = Scorer('IBM_BLEU')
  * TER = Scorer('TER')
  * CER = Scorer('CER')             # <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
  */
-  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_61), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 192; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  __pyx_t_3 = PyObject_Call(((PyObject *)((PyObject*)__pyx_ptype_5_cdec_Scorer)), ((PyObject *)__pyx_k_tuple_61), NULL); if (unlikely(!__pyx_t_3)) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_GOTREF(__pyx_t_3);
-  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__CER, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 192; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
+  if (PyObject_SetAttr(__pyx_m, __pyx_n_s__CER, __pyx_t_3) < 0) {__pyx_filename = __pyx_f[5]; __pyx_lineno = 191; __pyx_clineno = __LINE__; goto __pyx_L1_error;}
   __Pyx_DECREF(__pyx_t_3); __pyx_t_3 = 0;
 
   /* "_cdec.pyx":22
diff --git a/python/src/_cdec.pyx b/python/src/_cdec.pyx
index af4e5f2f..5cdf8eb3 100644
--- a/python/src/_cdec.pyx
+++ b/python/src/_cdec.pyx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def _make_config(config):
             for name in value:
                 yield key, name
         else:
-            yield key, bytes(value)
+            yield key, str(value)
 
 cdef class Decoder:
     cdef decoder.Decoder* dec
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ cdef class Decoder:
     property formalism:
         def __get__(self):
             cdef variables_map* conf = &self.dec.GetConf()
-            return conf[0]['formalism'].as_str().c_str()
+            return str(conf[0]['formalism'].as_str().c_str())
 
     def read_weights(self, weights):
         with open(weights) as fp:
diff --git a/python/src/grammar.pxi b/python/src/grammar.pxi
index a9a5ea14..05351290 100644
--- a/python/src/grammar.pxi
+++ b/python/src/grammar.pxi
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ def _phrase(phrase):
 cdef class NT:
     cdef public bytes cat
     cdef public unsigned ref
-    def __init__(self, char* cat, unsigned ref=0):
+    def __init__(self, bytes cat, unsigned ref=0):
         self.cat = cat
         self.ref = ref
 
@@ -78,9 +78,9 @@ cdef class TRule:
                 w = f_[0][i]
                 if w < 0:
                     idx += 1
-                    f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w), idx))
+                    f.append(NT(TDConvert(-w).c_str(), idx))
                 else:
-                    f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+                    f.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
             return f
 
         def __set__(self, f):
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ cdef class TRule:
                     idx += 1
                     e.append(NTRef(1-w))
                 else:
-                    e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w), encoding='utf8'))
+                    e.append(unicode(TDConvert(w).c_str(), encoding='utf8'))
             return e
 
         def __set__(self, e):
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ cdef class TRule:
 
     property lhs:
         def __get__(self):
-            return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_))
+            return NT(TDConvert(-self.rule.get().lhs_).c_str())
 
         def __set__(self, lhs):
             if not isinstance(lhs, NT):
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ cdef class Grammar:
 
     property name:
         def __get__(self):
-            self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str()
+            str(self.grammar.get().GetGrammarName().c_str())
 
         def __set__(self, name):
             self.grammar.get().SetGrammarName(string(<char *>name))
diff --git a/python/src/hypergraph.pxi b/python/src/hypergraph.pxi
index f0312a12..1edff3cb 100644
--- a/python/src/hypergraph.pxi
+++ b/python/src/hypergraph.pxi
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ cdef class Hypergraph:
             del preserve_mask
 
     def lattice(self): # TODO direct hg -> lattice conversion in cdec
-        cdef str plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
+        cdef bytes plf = hypergraph.AsPLF(self.hg[0], True).c_str()
         return Lattice(eval(plf))
 
     def reweight(self, weights):
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ cdef class HypergraphNode:
     property cat:
         def __get__(self):
             if self.node.cat_:
-                return TDConvert(-self.node.cat_)
+                return str(TDConvert(-self.node.cat_).c_str())
 
     def __richcmp__(HypergraphNode x, HypergraphNode y, int op):
         if op == 2: # ==
diff --git a/python/src/lattice.pxi b/python/src/lattice.pxi
index 14864549..385a40be 100644
--- a/python/src/lattice.pxi
+++ b/python/src/lattice.pxi
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ cdef class Lattice:
         cdef unsigned i
         for i in range(arc_vector.size()):
             arc = &arc_vector[i]
-            label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label), 'utf8')
+            label = unicode(TDConvert(arc.label).c_str(), 'utf8')
             arcs.append((label, arc.cost, arc.dist2next))
         return tuple(arcs)
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ cdef class Lattice:
         return self.lattice.size()
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str()
+        return str(hypergraph.AsPLF(self.lattice[0], True).c_str())
 
     def __iter__(self):
         cdef unsigned i
diff --git a/python/src/mteval.pxi b/python/src/mteval.pxi
index cd1c3c81..f1b6b5d1 100644
--- a/python/src/mteval.pxi
+++ b/python/src/mteval.pxi
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ cdef class SufficientStats:
 
     property detail:
         def __get__(self):
-            return self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str()
+            return str(self.metric.DetailedScore(self.stats[0]).c_str())
 
     def __len__(self):
         return self.stats.size()
@@ -131,7 +131,6 @@ cdef class Scorer:
             refs = [refs]
         cdef vector[vector[WordID]]* refsv = new vector[vector[WordID]]()
         cdef vector[WordID]* refv
-        cdef bytes ref_str
         for ref in refs:
             refv = new vector[WordID]()
             ConvertSentence(string(as_str(ref.strip())), refv)
@@ -146,7 +145,7 @@ cdef class Scorer:
         return evaluator
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return self.name.c_str()
+        return str(self.name.c_str())
 
 cdef float _compute_score(void* metric_, mteval.SufficientStats* stats):
     cdef Metric metric = <Metric> metric_
@@ -164,8 +163,8 @@ cdef void _compute_sufficient_stats(void* metric_,
     cdef list refs_ = []
     cdef unsigned i
     for i in range(refs.size()):
-        refs_.append(refs[0][i].c_str())
-    cdef list ss = metric.evaluate(hyp.c_str(), refs_)
+        refs_.append(str(refs[0][i].c_str()))
+    cdef list ss = metric.evaluate(str(hyp.c_str()), refs_)
     out.fields.resize(len(ss))
     for i in range(len(ss)):
         out.fields[i] = ss[i]
diff --git a/python/src/utils.pxd b/python/src/utils.pxd
index a1a4799b..687d3ac0 100644
--- a/python/src/utils.pxd
+++ b/python/src/utils.pxd
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ cdef extern from "utils/tdict.h" namespace "TD":
     string GetString(vector[WordID]& st)
     unsigned NumWords()
     WordID TDConvert "TD::Convert" (char*)
-    char* TDConvert "TD::Convert" (WordID)
+    string& TDConvert "TD::Convert" (WordID)
     void ConvertSentence(string& sent, vector[WordID]* ids)
 
 cdef extern from "utils/verbose.h":
diff --git a/python/src/vectors.pxi b/python/src/vectors.pxi
index 989a6a7c..87780556 100644
--- a/python/src/vectors.pxi
+++ b/python/src/vectors.pxi
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ cdef class DenseVector:
     def __iter__(self):
         cdef unsigned fid
         for fid in range(1, self.vector.size()):
-            yield FDConvert(fid).c_str(), self.vector[0][fid]
+            yield str(FDConvert(fid).c_str()), self.vector[0][fid]
 
     def dot(self, SparseVector other):
         return other.dot(self)
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ cdef class SparseVector:
         cdef unsigned i
         try:
             for i in range(self.vector.size()):
-                yield (FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str(), it[0].ptr().second)
+                yield (str(FDConvert(it[0].ptr().first).c_str()), it[0].ptr().second)
                 pinc(it[0]) # ++it
         finally:
             del it