-#data: matrix of double or connection
-serialize = function(data_ascii, data_bin_file, nb_per_chunk,
+#' (De)Serialization of a [big]matrix or data stream
+#'
+#' \code{binarize()} serializes a matrix or CSV file with minimal overhead, into a
+#' binary file. \code{getDataInFile()} achieves the inverse task: she retrieves (ASCII)
+#' data rows from indices in the binary file. Finally, \code{binarizeTransform()}
+#' serialize transformations of all data chunks. To use it a data-retrieval function
+#' must be provided -- thus \code{binarize} will most likely be used first
+#' (and then a function defined to seek in generated binary file)
+#'
+#' @param data_ascii Either a matrix (by columns) or CSV file or connection (by rows)
+#' @param data_bin_file Name of binary file on output of (\code{binarize})
+#' or input of (\code{getDataInFile})
+#' @param nb_per_chunk Number of lines to process in one batch (big.matrix or connection)
+#' @param getData Function to retrieve data chunks
+#' @param transform Transformation function to apply on data chunks
+#' @param indices Indices of the lines to retrieve
+#' @inheritParams claws
+#'
+#' @return For \code{getDataInFile()}, the matrix with rows corresponding to the
+#' requested indices. \code{binarizeTransform} returns the number of processed lines.
+#' \code{binarize} is designed to serialize in several calls, thus returns nothing.
+#'
+#' @name de_serialize
+#' @rdname de_serialize
+#' @aliases binarize binarizeTransform getDataInFile
+NULL
+
+#' @rdname de_serialize
+#' @export
+binarize = function(data_ascii, data_bin_file, nb_per_chunk,