Use structured arrays of simulations for run_batch calls

[gvnwst]

It would be awesome to give run_batch a structure of simulations, instead of just a list.
This could be as simple as "list of lists" or more featureful like "xarray with labeled coordinates". Right now I start from a multi-dimensional array of simulations (corresponding to parameters or variations of some sort) and populate a single list with all of them. Then I have to be careful that I reshape it correctly when I get the results back. It's annoying and error-prone.

I'm checking out the Design Space Explorer which Tom suggested may have an equivalent functionality. Having a generic array interface for users to customize could be useful too though!

[tylerflex]

hi Gavin, I agree, this would be nice to have. we implemented something similar in that tidy3d.plugins.design plugin that tom mentioned, but it would probably be nice if it was integrated directly into the web API.

@m-bone fyi

[tylerflex]

@yaugenst and I were just discussing this, so pinging him here :)

[gvnwst]

Welcome Yannick!

FWIW in the meantime I've just gone to generating pandas dataframes with all my simulations (with sim objects in one column for sorting and slicing to submit) and later grouping based on a given parameter in the table. This has nice features in terms of being able to print associated columns of results to spreadsheet-like formats... but it is still less streamlined and totally not standardized.