diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
index 70d1e93..685f526 100644
--- a/.gitmodules
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 [submodule "extern/pybind11"]
 	path = pysv/extern/pybind11
 	url = https://github.com/pybind/pybind11
+[submodule "pysv/extern/vlstd"]
+	path = pysv/extern/vlstd
+	url = https://github.com/Kuree/vlstd
diff --git a/pysv/CMakeLists.txt b/pysv/CMakeLists.txt
index f7855a8..8c29aad 100644
--- a/pysv/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/pysv/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ endif()
 
 target_link_libraries(${TARGET} PRIVATE pybind11::embed)
 
+# include the sv lib directory
+target_include_directories(${TARGET} PRIVATE ${DPI_HEADER_DIR})
+
 set(SHARED_LIB_EXT ".so")
 
 add_definitions(-DPYTHON_LIBRARY="${PYTHON_LIBRARY}")
diff --git a/pysv/codegen.py b/pysv/codegen.py
index e6b0652..0785145 100644
--- a/pysv/codegen.py
+++ b/pysv/codegen.py
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ def __should_include_local_object(func_defs):
     return False
 
 
+def __should_include_buffer_impl(func_defs):
+    func_defs = __get_func_defs(func_defs)
+    for func_def in func_defs:
+        func_def = __get_func_def(func_def)
+        for input_type in func_def.arg_types.values():
+            if input_type == DataType.IntArray:
+                return True
+    return False
+
+
 def __get_conda_path():
     result = ""
     if is_conda():
@@ -58,6 +68,45 @@ def __get_conda_path():
     return result
 
 
+def __is_array(t: DataType):
+    return t == DataType.IntArray
+
+def __get_dpi_data_type(t: DataType):
+    if t == DataType.Bit:
+        return "bit"
+    elif t == DataType.Byte:
+        return "byte"
+    elif t == DataType.ShortInt:
+        return "shortint"
+    elif t == DataType.Int:
+        return "int"
+    elif t == DataType.LongInt:
+        return "longint"
+    elif t == DataType.UByte:
+        return "byte unsigned"
+    elif t == DataType.UShortInt:
+        return "shortint unsigned"
+    elif t == DataType.UInt:
+        return "int unsigned"
+    elif t == DataType.ULongInt:
+        return "longint unsigned"
+    elif t == DataType.Object:
+        return "chandle"
+    elif t == DataType.String:
+        return "string"
+    elif t == DataType.Float:
+        return "shortreal"
+    elif t == DataType.Double:
+        return "real"
+    # only for return type
+    elif t == DataType.Void:
+        return "void"
+    # the only array type supported
+    elif t == DataType.IntArray:
+        return "int"
+    raise ValueError("Unknown type")
+
+
 def generate_dpi_signature(func_def: Union[Function, DPIFunctionCall],
                            pretty_print=True, is_class=False, is_function_class_wrapper=False,
                            ref_ctor_name=""):
@@ -78,14 +127,14 @@ def generate_dpi_signature(func_def: Union[Function, DPIFunctionCall],
             else:
                 arg_type_str = __PYSV_OBJECT_BASE
         else:
-            arg_type_str = arg_type.value
-        args.append("input {0} {1}".format(arg_type_str, arg_name))
+            arg_type_str = __get_dpi_data_type(arg_type)
+        args.append("input {0} {1}{2}".format(arg_type_str, arg_name, "[]" if __is_array(arg_type) else ""))
     # notice that we generate output at the end
     for arg_name in func_def.output_names:
         # we only allow primitive data types for return reference type
         arg_type = func_def.arg_types[arg_name]
-        arg_type_str = arg_type.value
-        args.append("output {0} {1}".format(arg_type_str, arg_name))
+        arg_type_str = __get_dpi_data_type(arg_type)
+        args.append("output {0} {1}{2}".format(arg_type_str, arg_name, "[]" if __is_array(arg_type) else ""))
 
     # additional signature for ref ctor
     if is_class and len(ref_ctor_name) > 0 and func_def.is_init:
@@ -104,7 +153,7 @@ def generate_dpi_signature(func_def: Union[Function, DPIFunctionCall],
         else:
             return_type_str = __PYSV_OBJECT_BASE
     else:
-        return_type_str = func_def.return_type.value
+        return_type_str = __get_dpi_data_type(func_def.return_type)
 
     if is_class:
         if func_def.is_init:
@@ -268,6 +317,9 @@ def get_c_type_str(data_type: DataType):  # pragma: no cover
         return "double"
     elif data_type == DataType.Void:
         return "void"
+    elif data_type == DataType.IntArray:
+        # dpi open aray type
+        return "svOpenArrayHandle"
     else:
         raise ValueError(data_type)
 
@@ -359,6 +411,8 @@ def generate_local_variables(func_def: Union[Function, DPIFunctionCall]):
         arg_type = func_def.arg_types[n]
         if arg_type == DataType.Object and not (idx == 0 and func_def.parent_class is not None):
             s = __INDENTATION + __GET_LOCAL_OBJECT + '("{0}", {1}, locals);\n'.format(str_name, n)
+        elif __is_array(arg_type):
+            s = __INDENTATION + 'locals["{0}"] = to_buffer({1});\n'.format(str_name, n)
         else:
             s = __INDENTATION + 'locals["{0}"] = {1};\n'.format(str_name, n)
         result += s
@@ -486,7 +540,7 @@ def generate_sys_path_values(pretty_print=True):
 
 
 def generate_bootstrap_code(pretty_print=True, add_sys_path=True, add_class=True, add_imports=True,
-                            add_local_object=True):
+                            add_local_object=True, add_buffer_impl=False):
     result = __get_code_snippet("include_header.hh")
     result += __get_code_snippet("runtime_values.cc")
 
@@ -505,6 +559,8 @@ def generate_bootstrap_code(pretty_print=True, add_sys_path=True, add_class=True
         result += __get_code_snippet("import_global.cc")
     if add_local_object:
         result += __get_code_snippet("get_local_object.cc")
+    if add_buffer_impl:
+        result += __get_code_snippet("buffer_impl.cc")
 
     return result
 
@@ -544,8 +600,10 @@ def generate_pybind_code(func_defs: List[Union[type, DPIFunctionCall]], pretty_p
         add_sys_path = should_add_sys_path(func_defs)
     add_imports = __has_imports(func_defs)
     add_local_object = __should_include_local_object(func_defs)
+    add_buffer_impl = __should_include_buffer_impl(func_defs)
     result = generate_bootstrap_code(pretty_print, add_sys_path=add_sys_path, add_class=add_class,
-                                     add_imports=add_imports, add_local_object=add_local_object) + "\n"
+                                     add_imports=add_imports, add_local_object=add_local_object,
+                                     add_buffer_impl=add_buffer_impl) + "\n"
     # generate extern C block
     result += 'extern "C" {\n'
     code_blocks = []
diff --git a/pysv/compile.py b/pysv/compile.py
index 3f49b11..d76f424 100644
--- a/pysv/compile.py
+++ b/pysv/compile.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ def compile_lib(func_defs, cwd, lib_name="pysv", pretty_print=True, release_buil
     # need to copy stuff over
     root_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
     pybind_path = os.path.join(root_dir, "extern", "pybind11")
+    vlstd_path = os.path.join(root_dir, "extern", "vlstd")
     assert os.path.isdir(pybind_path)
     # copy that to cwd if it doesn't exist
     pybind_path_dst = os.path.join(cwd, "pybind11")
@@ -58,6 +59,8 @@ def compile_lib(func_defs, cwd, lib_name="pysv", pretty_print=True, release_buil
         else:
             build_type = "Debug"
         cmake_args.append("-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=" + build_type)
+    # add header definition
+    cmake_args.append("-DDPI_HEADER_DIR=" + vlstd_path)
     subprocess.check_call(["cmake"] + cmake_args + [".."],
                           cwd=build_dir)
     # built it!
diff --git a/pysv/extern/vlstd b/pysv/extern/vlstd
new file mode 160000
index 0000000..c15fc09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pysv/extern/vlstd
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit c15fc091f5120704f4f7eccb19a78300eb663da0
diff --git a/pysv/function.py b/pysv/function.py
index b78ccff..8649ed1 100644
--- a/pysv/function.py
+++ b/pysv/function.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def __init__(self, return_type: Union[DataType, type, Reference] = DataType.Int,
                     self.output_names.append(arg_name)
                     self.arg_types[arg_name] = arg_type
             assert isinstance(self.return_type, DataType), "Return type has to be of " + DataType.__name__
+            assert self.return_type != DataType.IntArray, "Returning an array is not supported"
         if imports is None:
             self.imports = _inspect_frame()
         else:
diff --git a/pysv/snippets/buffer_impl.cc b/pysv/snippets/buffer_impl.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fa67163
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pysv/snippets/buffer_impl.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+#include "svdpi.h"
+
+py::memoryview to_buffer(const svOpenArrayHandle array_handle) {
+    ssize_t element_size = sizeof(int32_t);
+    void *base_ptr = nullptr;
+    std::vector<ssize_t> sizes = {};
+    std::vector<ssize_t> strides = {};
+
+    // we try to query the underlying representation
+    base_ptr = svGetArrayPtr(array_handle);
+    if (!base_ptr) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Array type does not have native C representation");
+    }
+    auto dim = svDimensions(array_handle);
+    for (auto i = 0; i < dim; i++) {
+        auto s = svSize(array_handle, i);
+        sizes.emplace_back(s);
+    }
+    // assumes row major ordering
+    ssize_t stride = element_size;
+    strides = std::vector<ssize_t>(dim, element_size);
+    for (int i = 0; i < dim - 1; i++) {
+        stride *= sizes[i];
+        strides[i] = stride;
+    }
+
+    return py::memoryview::from_buffer(
+        base_ptr,                                 /* Pointer to buffer */
+        element_size,                             /* Size of one scalar */
+        py::format_descriptor<int32_t>::value, /* Python struct-style format descriptor */
+        sizes,                                    /* Buffer dimensions */
+        strides                                   /* Strides (in bytes) for each index */
+    );
+}
diff --git a/pysv/types.py b/pysv/types.py
index 036d995..b859c62 100644
--- a/pysv/types.py
+++ b/pysv/types.py
@@ -2,21 +2,23 @@
 
 
 class DataType(enum.Enum):
-    Bit = "bit"
-    Byte = "byte"
-    ShortInt = "shortint"
-    Int = "int"
-    LongInt = "longint"
-    UByte = "byte unsigned"
-    UShortInt = "shortint unsigned"
-    UInt = "int unsigned"
-    ULongInt = "longint unsigned"
-    Object = "chandle"
-    String = "string"
-    Float = "shortreal"
-    Double = "real"
+    Bit = enum.auto()
+    Byte = enum.auto()
+    ShortInt = enum.auto()
+    Int = enum.auto()
+    LongInt = enum.auto()
+    UByte = enum.auto()
+    UShortInt = enum.auto()
+    UInt = enum.auto()
+    ULongInt = enum.auto()
+    Object = enum.auto()
+    String = enum.auto()
+    Float = enum.auto()
+    Double = enum.auto()
     # only for return type
-    Void = "void"
+    Void = enum.auto()
+    # the only array type supported
+    IntArray = enum.auto()
 
 
 class Reference:
diff --git a/pysv/util.py b/pysv/util.py
index 0373791..069e6a5 100644
--- a/pysv/util.py
+++ b/pysv/util.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def _set_lib_env(self):
 
     def _run(self, args, cwd, env, blocking):
         if blocking:
-            subprocess.check_call(args, cwd=cwd, env=env)
+            return subprocess.check_output(args, cwd=cwd, env=env)
         else:
             p = subprocess.Popen(args, cwd=cwd, env=env)
             self.__process.append(p)
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def run(self, blocking=True):
                               cwd=self.cwd, env=env)
         # run the application
         name = os.path.join("obj_dir", mk_file.replace(".mk", ""))
-        self._run([name], self.cwd, env, blocking)
+        return self._run([name], self.cwd, env, blocking)
 
 
 class CadenceTester(Tester):
diff --git a/tests/test_compile.py b/tests/test_compile.py
index 8a7d57e..b3b15fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_compile.py
+++ b/tests/test_compile.py
@@ -218,5 +218,16 @@ def func_output():
     assert values[0] == 42 and values[1] == 43;
 
 
+def test_buffer_int(temp):
+    @sv(return_type=DataType.Void, a=DataType.IntArray)
+    def foo(a):
+        a[0] = 2
+
+    # because we lack of dpi implementaiotn, we only test out
+    # and see if we can compile it
+    lib_file = compile_lib([foo], cwd=temp)
+    assert os.path.exists(lib_file)
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    test_float("temp")
+    test_buffer_int("temp")
diff --git a/tests/test_sim.py b/tests/test_sim.py
index 954e87f..8d20528 100644
--- a/tests/test_sim.py
+++ b/tests/test_sim.py
@@ -189,7 +189,30 @@ def set_value():
     tester.run()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not pysv.util.is_verilator_available(), reason="Verilator not available")
+def test_verilator_array(get_vector_filename, temp):
+    @sv(a=DataType.IntArray)
+    def set_value(a):
+        print(a[2])
+        a[2] = 42
+
+    lib_path = compile_lib([set_value], cwd=temp)
+    header_file = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(temp), "test_verilator_array.hh")
+    generate_cxx_binding([set_value], filename=header_file)
+    sv_pkg = os.path.join(os.path.abspath(temp), "pysv_pkg.sv")
+    generate_sv_binding([set_value], filename=sv_pkg)
+
+    # we have three files
+    # the sv file, the driver file, and the header
+    sv_file = get_vector_filename("test_verilator_array.sv")
+    driver = get_vector_filename("test_verilator_array.cc")
+    # just run the verilator
+    tester = pysv.util.VerilatorTester(lib_path, sv_file, header_file, driver, cwd=temp)
+    out = tester.run().decode("ascii")
+    assert out == "2\n42\n"
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from conftest import get_vector_filename_fn
-    test_verilator_return_reference(get_vector_filename_fn, "temp")
+    test_verilator_array(get_vector_filename_fn, "temp")
 
diff --git a/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.cc b/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b605203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#include "Vtest_verilator_array.h"
+#include "test_verilator_array.hh"
+#include <exception>
+#include <random>
+#include <iostream>
+
+int main () {
+    Vtest_verilator_array vtop;
+    vtop.eval();
+
+    // tear down the runtime
+    pysv_finalize();
+}
diff --git a/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.sv b/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.sv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36c0cef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/vectors/test_verilator_array.sv
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+`include "pysv_pkg.sv"
+
+module test_verilator_array();
+
+import pysv::*;
+
+int a[3:0];
+
+initial begin
+  for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) begin
+    a[i] = 2;
+  end
+  set_value(a);
+  $display("%0d", a[2]);
+end
+
+endmodule