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Decorators

Module defining decorators for evotorch.

on_aux_device(*args)

Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to receive its solutions on the auxiliary device of the problem.

According to its default (non-overriden) implementation, a problem object returns torch.device("cuda") as its auxiliary device if PyTorch's cuda backend is available and if there is a visible cuda device. Otherwise, the auxiliary device is returned as torch.device("cpu"). The auxiliary device is meant as a secondary device (in addition to the main device reported by the problem object's device attribute) used mainly for boosting the performance of fitness evaluations. This decorator, therefore, tells a problem object that the fitness function requests to receive its solutions on this secondary device.

What this decorator does is that it injects a new attribute named __evotorch_on_aux_device__ onto the decorated callable object, then sets that new attribute to True, and then return the decorated callable object itself. Upon seeing this new attribute with the value True, a Problem object will attempt to move the solutions to its auxiliary device before calling the decorated fitness function.

Let us imagine a fitness function f whose definition looks like:

import torch


def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)

In its not-yet-decorated form, the function f would be given x on the main device of the associated problem object. However, if one decorates f as follows:

from evotorch.decorators import on_aux_device


@on_aux_device
def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)

then the Problem object will first move x onto its auxiliary device, then will call f.

This decorator is useful on multi-GPU settings. For details, please see the following example:

from evotorch import Problem
from evotorch.decorators import on_aux_device


@on_aux_device
def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    ...


problem = Problem(
    "min",
    f,
    num_actors=4,
    num_gpus_per_actor=1,
    device="cpu",
)

In the example code above, we assume that there are 4 GPUs available. The main device of the problem is "cpu", which means the populations will be generated on the cpu. When evaluating a population, the population will be split into 4 subbatches (because we have 4 actors), and each subbatch will be sent to an actor. Thanks to the decorator @on_aux_device, the Problem instance on each actor will first move its SolutionBatch to its auxiliary device visible to the actor, and then the fitness function will perform its fitness evaluations on that device. In summary, the actors will use their associated auxiliary devices (most commonly "cuda") to evaluate the fitnesses of the solutions in parallel.

This decorator can also be used to decorate the method _evaluate or _evaluate_batch belonging to a custom subclass of Problem. Please see the example below:

from evotorch import Problem


class MyCustomProblem(Problem):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__(
            ...,
            device="cpu",  # populations will be created on the cpu
            ...,
        )

    @on_aux_device("cuda")  # evaluations will be on the auxiliary device
    def _evaluate_batch(self, solutions: SolutionBatch):
        fitnesses = ...
        solutions.set_evals(fitnesses)
Source code in evotorch/decorators.py
def on_aux_device(*args) -> Callable:
    """
    Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to
    receive its solutions on the auxiliary device of the problem.

    According to its default (non-overriden) implementation, a problem
    object returns `torch.device("cuda")` as its auxiliary device if
    PyTorch's cuda backend is available and if there is a visible cuda
    device. Otherwise, the auxiliary device is returned as
    `torch.device("cpu")`.
    The auxiliary device is meant as a secondary device (in addition
    to the main device reported by the problem object's `device`
    attribute) used mainly for boosting the performance of fitness
    evaluations.
    This decorator, therefore, tells a problem object that the fitness
    function requests to receive its solutions on this secondary device.

    What this decorator does is that it injects a new attribute named
    `__evotorch_on_aux_device__` onto the decorated callable object,
    then sets that new attribute to `True`, and then return the decorated
    callable object itself. Upon seeing this new attribute with the
    value `True`, a [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem] object will attempt
    to move the solutions to its auxiliary device before calling the
    decorated fitness function.

    Let us imagine a fitness function `f` whose definition looks like:

    ```python
    import torch


    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)
    ```

    In its not-yet-decorated form, the function `f` would be given `x` on the
    main device of the associated problem object. However, if one decorates
    `f` as follows:

    ```python
    from evotorch.decorators import on_aux_device


    @on_aux_device
    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)
    ```

    then the Problem object will first move `x` onto its auxiliary device,
    then will call `f`.

    This decorator is useful on multi-GPU settings. For details, please see
    the following example:

    ```python
    from evotorch import Problem
    from evotorch.decorators import on_aux_device


    @on_aux_device
    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        ...


    problem = Problem(
        "min",
        f,
        num_actors=4,
        num_gpus_per_actor=1,
        device="cpu",
    )
    ```

    In the example code above, we assume that there are 4 GPUs available.
    The main device of the problem is "cpu", which means the populations
    will be generated on the cpu. When evaluating a population, the population
    will be split into 4 subbatches (because we have 4 actors), and each
    subbatch will be sent to an actor. Thanks to the decorator `@on_aux_device`,
    the [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem] instance on each actor will first move
    its [SolutionBatch][evotorch.core.SolutionBatch] to its auxiliary device
    visible to the actor, and then the fitness function will perform its
    fitness evaluations on that device. In summary, the actors will use their
    associated auxiliary devices (most commonly "cuda") to evaluate the
    fitnesses of the solutions in parallel.

    This decorator can also be used to decorate the method `_evaluate` or
    `_evaluate_batch` belonging to a custom subclass of
    [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem]. Please see the example below:

    ```python
    from evotorch import Problem


    class MyCustomProblem(Problem):
        def __init__(self):
            super().__init__(
                ...,
                device="cpu",  # populations will be created on the cpu
                ...,
            )

        @on_aux_device("cuda")  # evaluations will be on the auxiliary device
        def _evaluate_batch(self, solutions: SolutionBatch):
            fitnesses = ...
            solutions.set_evals(fitnesses)
    ```
    """
    return _simple_decorator("__evotorch_on_aux_device__", args, decorator_name="on_aux_device")

on_cuda(*args)

Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to receive its solutions on a cuda device (optionally of the specified cuda index).

Decorating a fitness function like this:

@on_cuda
def f(...):
    ...

is equivalent to:

@on_device("cuda")
def f(...):
    ...

Decorating a fitness function like this:

@on_cuda(0)
def f(...):
    ...

is equivalent to:

@on_device("cuda:0")
def f(...):
    ...

Please see the documentation of on_device for further details.

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
args

An optional positional arguments using which one can specify the index of the cuda device to use.

()
Source code in evotorch/decorators.py
def on_cuda(*args) -> Callable:
    """
    Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to
    receive its solutions on a cuda device (optionally of the specified
    cuda index).

    Decorating a fitness function like this:

    ```
    @on_cuda
    def f(...):
        ...
    ```

    is equivalent to:

    ```
    @on_device("cuda")
    def f(...):
        ...
    ```

    Decorating a fitness function like this:

    ```
    @on_cuda(0)
    def f(...):
        ...
    ```

    is equivalent to:

    ```
    @on_device("cuda:0")
    def f(...):
        ...
    ```

    Please see the documentation of [on_device][evotorch.decorators.on_device]
    for further details.

    Args:
        args: An optional positional arguments using which one can specify
            the index of the cuda device to use.
    """

    # Get the number of arguments
    nargs = len(args)

    if nargs == 0:
        # If the number of arguments is 0, then we assume that we are in this situation:
        #
        #     @on_cuda()
        #     def f(...):
        #         ...
        #
        # There is no specified index, and we are not yet given which object to decorate.
        # Therefore, we set both of them as None.
        index = None
        fn = None
    elif nargs == 1:
        # The number of arguments is 1. We begin by storing that single argument using a variable named `arg`.
        arg = args[0]

        if isinstance(arg, Callable):
            # If the argument is a callable object, we assume that we are in this situation:
            #
            #     @on_cuda
            #     def f(...):
            #         ...

            # We are not given a cuda index
            index = None

            # We are given our function to decorate. We store that function using a variable named `fn`.
            fn = arg
        else:
            # If the argument is not a callable object, we assume that it is a cuda index, and that we are in the
            # following situation:
            #
            #     @on_cuda(index)
            #     def f(...):
            #         ...

            # We are given a cuda index. After making sure that it is an integer, we store it by a variable named
            # `index`.
            index = int(arg)

            # At this moment, we do not know the function that is being decorated. So, we set `fn` as None.
            fn = None
    else:
        # If the number of arguments is neither 0 nor 1, then this is an unexpected case.
        # We raise an error to inform the user.
        raise TypeError("`on_cuda(...)` received invalid number of arguments")

    # Prepare the device as "cuda"
    device_str = "cuda"

    if index is not None:
        # If a cuda index is given, then we add ":N" (where N is the index) to the end of `device_str`.
        device_str += ":" + str(index)

    # Prepare the decorator function which, upon being called with a function argument, wraps that function.
    decorator = on_device(device_str)

    # If the function that is being decorated is not known yet (i.e. if `fn` is None), then we return the
    # decorator function. If the function is known, then we decorate and return it.
    return decorator if fn is None else decorator(fn)

on_device(device)

Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to receive its solutions on the specified device.

What this decorator does is that it injects a device attribute onto the decorated callable object. Then, this callable object itself is returned. Upon seeing the device attribute, the evaluate(...) method of the Problem object will attempt to move the solutions to that device.

Let us imagine a fitness function f whose definition looks like:

import torch


def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)

In its not-yet-decorated form, the function f would be given x on the default device of the associated problem object. However, if one decorates f as follows:

from evotorch.decorators import on_device


@on_device("cuda:0")
def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)

then the Problem object will first move x onto the device cuda:0, and then will call f.

This decorator is useful on multi-GPU settings. For details, please see the following example:

from evotorch import Problem
from evotorch.decorators import on_device


@on_device("cuda")
def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    ...


problem = Problem(
    "min",
    f,
    num_actors=4,
    num_gpus_per_actor=1,
    device="cpu",
)

In the example code above, we assume that there are 4 GPUs available. The main device of the problem is "cpu", which means the populations will be generated on the cpu. When evaluating a population, the population will be split into 4 subbatches (because we have 4 actors), and each subbatch will be sent to an actor. Thanks to the decorator @on_device, the Problem instance on each actor will first move its SolutionBatch to the cuda device visible to its actor, and then the fitness function f will perform its evaluation operations on that SolutionBatch on the the visible cuda. In summary, the actors will use their associated cuda devices to evaluate the fitnesses of the solutions in parallel.

This decorator can also be used to decorate the method _evaluate or _evaluate_batch belonging to a custom subclass of Problem. Please see the example below:

from evotorch import Problem


class MyCustomProblem(Problem):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__(
            ...,
            device="cpu",  # populations will be created on the cpu
            ...,
        )

    @on_device("cuda")  # fitness evaluations will happen on cuda
    def _evaluate_batch(self, solutions: SolutionBatch):
        fitnesses = ...
        solutions.set_evals(fitnesses)

The attribute device that is added by this decorator can be used to query the fitness device, and also to modify/update it:

@on_device("cpu")
def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    ...


print(f.device)  # Prints: torch.device("cpu")
f.device = "cuda:0"  # Evaluations will be done on cuda:0 from now on

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
device Union[str, torch.device]

The device on which the decorated fitness function will work.

required
Source code in evotorch/decorators.py
def on_device(device: Device) -> Callable:
    """
    Decorator that informs a problem object that this function wants to
    receive its solutions on the specified device.

    What this decorator does is that it injects a `device` attribute onto
    the decorated callable object. Then, this callable object itself is
    returned. Upon seeing the `device` attribute, the `evaluate(...)` method
    of the [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem] object will attempt to move the
    solutions to that device.

    Let us imagine a fitness function `f` whose definition looks like:

    ```python
    import torch


    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)
    ```

    In its not-yet-decorated form, the function `f` would be given `x` on the
    default device of the associated problem object. However, if one decorates
    `f` as follows:

    ```python
    from evotorch.decorators import on_device


    @on_device("cuda:0")
    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x, dim=-1)
    ```

    then the Problem object will first move `x` onto the device cuda:0, and
    then will call `f`.

    This decorator is useful on multi-GPU settings. For details, please see
    the following example:

    ```python
    from evotorch import Problem
    from evotorch.decorators import on_device


    @on_device("cuda")
    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        ...


    problem = Problem(
        "min",
        f,
        num_actors=4,
        num_gpus_per_actor=1,
        device="cpu",
    )
    ```

    In the example code above, we assume that there are 4 GPUs available.
    The main device of the problem is "cpu", which means the populations
    will be generated on the cpu. When evaluating a population, the population
    will be split into 4 subbatches (because we have 4 actors), and each
    subbatch will be sent to an actor. Thanks to the decorator `@on_device`,
    the [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem] instance on each actor will first move
    its [SolutionBatch][evotorch.core.SolutionBatch] to the cuda device visible
    to its actor, and then the fitness function `f` will perform its evaluation
    operations on that [SolutionBatch][evotorch.core.SolutionBatch] on the
    the visible cuda. In summary, the actors will use their associated cuda
    devices to evaluate the fitnesses of the solutions in parallel.

    This decorator can also be used to decorate the method `_evaluate` or
    `_evaluate_batch` belonging to a custom subclass of
    [Problem][evotorch.core.Problem]. Please see the example below:

    ```python
    from evotorch import Problem


    class MyCustomProblem(Problem):
        def __init__(self):
            super().__init__(
                ...,
                device="cpu",  # populations will be created on the cpu
                ...,
            )

        @on_device("cuda")  # fitness evaluations will happen on cuda
        def _evaluate_batch(self, solutions: SolutionBatch):
            fitnesses = ...
            solutions.set_evals(fitnesses)
    ```

    The attribute `device` that is added by this decorator can be used to
    query the fitness device, and also to modify/update it:

    ```python
    @on_device("cpu")
    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        ...


    print(f.device)  # Prints: torch.device("cpu")
    f.device = "cuda:0"  # Evaluations will be done on cuda:0 from now on
    ```

    Args:
        device: The device on which the decorated fitness function will work.
    """

    # Take the `torch.device` counterpart of `device`
    device = torch.device(device)

    def decorator(fn: Callable) -> Callable:
        setattr(fn, "__evotorch_on_device__", True)
        setattr(fn, "device", device)
        return fn

    return decorator

pass_info(*args)

Decorates a callable so that the neuroevolution problem class (e.g. GymNE) will pass information regarding the task at hand, in the form of keyword arguments.

This decorator adds a new attribute named __evotorch_pass_info__ to the decorated callable object, sets this new attribute to True, and then returns the callable object itself. Upon seeing this attribute with the value True, a neuroevolution problem class sends extra information as keyword arguments.

For example, in the case of GymNE or VecGymNE, the passed information would include dimensions of the observation and action spaces.

Examples:

@pass_info
class MyModule(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self, obs_length: int, act_length: int, **kwargs):
        # Because MyModule is decorated with @pass_info, it receives
        # keyword arguments related to the environment "CartPole-v0",
        # including obs_length and act_length.
        ...


problem = GymNE(
    "CartPole-v0",
    network=MyModule,
    ...,
)

Parameters:

Name Type Description Default
fn_or_class Callable

Function or class to decorate

required

Returns:

Type Description
Callable

Decorated function or class

Source code in evotorch/decorators.py
def pass_info(*args) -> Callable:
    """
    Decorates a callable so that the neuroevolution problem class (e.g. GymNE) will
    pass information regarding the task at hand, in the form of keyword arguments.

    This decorator adds a new attribute named `__evotorch_pass_info__` to the
    decorated callable object, sets this new attribute to True, and then returns
    the callable object itself. Upon seeing this attribute with the value `True`,
    a neuroevolution problem class sends extra information as keyword arguments.

    For example, in the case of [GymNE][evotorch.neuroevolution.GymNE] or
    [VecGymNE][evotorch.neuroevolution.VecGymNE], the passed information would
    include dimensions of the observation and action spaces.

    Example:
        ```python
        @pass_info
        class MyModule(nn.Module):
            def __init__(self, obs_length: int, act_length: int, **kwargs):
                # Because MyModule is decorated with @pass_info, it receives
                # keyword arguments related to the environment "CartPole-v0",
                # including obs_length and act_length.
                ...


        problem = GymNE(
            "CartPole-v0",
            network=MyModule,
            ...,
        )
        ```

    Args:
        fn_or_class (Callable): Function or class to decorate

    Returns:
        Callable: Decorated function or class
    """
    return _simple_decorator("__evotorch_pass_info__", args, decorator_name="pass_info")

vectorized(*args)

Decorates a fitness function so that the problem object (which can be an instance of evotorch.Problem) will send the fitness function a 2D tensor containing all the solutions, instead of a 1D tensor containing a single solution.

What this decorator does is that it adds the decorated fitness function a new attribute named __evotorch_vectorized__, the value of this new attribute being True. Upon seeing this new attribute, the problem object will send this function multiple solutions so that vectorized operations on multiple solutions can be performed by this fitness function.

Let us imagine that we have the following fitness function which works on a single solution x, and returns a single fitness value:

import torch


def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x**2)

...and let us now define the optimization problem associated with this fitness function:

p1 = Problem("min", f, initial_bounds=(-10.0, 10.0), solution_length=5)

While the fitness function f and the definition p1 form a valid problem description, it does not use PyTorch to its full potential in terms of performance. If we were to request the evaluation results on a population of solutions via p1.evaluate(population), p1 would use a classic for loop to evaluate every single solution within population one by one. We could greatly increase our performance by: (i) re-defining our fitness function in a vectorized manner, i.e. in such a way that it will operate on many solutions and compute all of their fitnesses at once; (ii) label our fitness function via @vectorized, so that the problem object will be aware that this new fitness function expects n solutions and returns n fitnesses. The re-designed and labeled fitness function looks like this:

from evotorch.decorators import vectorized


@vectorized
def f2(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
    return torch.sum(x**2, dim=-1)

The problem description for f2 is:

p2 = Problem("min", f2, initial_bounds=(-10.0, 10.0), solution_length=5)

In this last example, p2 will realize that f2 is decorated via @vectorized, and will send it n solutions, and will receive and process n fitnesses.

Source code in evotorch/decorators.py
def vectorized(*args) -> Callable:
    """
    Decorates a fitness function so that the problem object (which can be an instance
    of [evotorch.Problem][evotorch.core.Problem]) will send the fitness function a 2D
    tensor containing all the solutions, instead of a 1D tensor containing a single
    solution.

    What this decorator does is that it adds the decorated fitness function a new
    attribute named `__evotorch_vectorized__`, the value of this new attribute being
    True. Upon seeing this new attribute, the problem object will send this function
    multiple solutions so that vectorized operations on multiple solutions can be
    performed by this fitness function.

    Let us imagine that we have the following fitness function which works on a
    single solution `x`, and returns a single fitness value:

    ```python
    import torch


    def f(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x**2)
    ```

    ...and let us now define the optimization problem associated with this fitness
    function:

    ```python
    p1 = Problem("min", f, initial_bounds=(-10.0, 10.0), solution_length=5)
    ```

    While the fitness function `f` and the definition `p1` form a valid problem
    description, it does not use PyTorch to its full potential in terms of performance.
    If we were to request the evaluation results on a population of solutions via
    `p1.evaluate(population)`, `p1` would use a classic `for` loop to evaluate every
    single solution within `population` one by one.
    We could greatly increase our performance by:
    (i) re-defining our fitness function in a vectorized manner, i.e. in such a way
    that it will operate on many solutions and compute all of their fitnesses at once;
    (ii) label our fitness function via `@vectorized`, so that the problem object
    will be aware that this new fitness function expects `n` solutions and returns
    `n` fitnesses. The re-designed and labeled fitness function looks like this:

    ```python
    from evotorch.decorators import vectorized


    @vectorized
    def f2(x: torch.Tensor) -> torch.Tensor:
        return torch.sum(x**2, dim=-1)
    ```

    The problem description for `f2` is:

    ```python
    p2 = Problem("min", f2, initial_bounds=(-10.0, 10.0), solution_length=5)
    ```

    In this last example, `p2` will realize that `f2` is decorated via `@vectorized`,
    and will send it `n` solutions, and will receive and process `n` fitnesses.
    """
    return _simple_decorator("__evotorch_vectorized__", args, decorator_name="vectorized")