- when windows portable executables (.exe or .dll) files are loaded,
their dependent libraries not fully loaded. For OpenFOAM this means
that the static constructors which are responsible for populating
run-time selection tables are not triggered, and most of the run-time
selectable models will simply not be available.
Possible Solution
=================
Avoid this problem by defining an additional library symbol such as
the following:
extern "C" void libName_Load() {}
in the respective library, and tag this symbol as 'unresolved' for
the linker so that it will attempt to resolve it at run-time by
loading the known libraries until it finds it. The link line would
resemble the following:
-L/some/path -llibName -ulibName_Load
Pros:
- Allows precise control of forced library loading
Cons:
- Moderately verbose adjustment of some source files (even with macro
wrapping for the declaration).
- Adjustment of numerous Make/options files and somewhat ad hoc
in nature.
- Requires additional care when implementing future libraries and/or
applications.
- This is the solution taken by the symscape patches (Richard Smith)
Possible Solution
=================
Avoid this problem by simply force loading all linked libraries.
This is done by "scraping" the information out of the respective
Make/options file (after pre-processing) and using that to define
the library list that will be passed to Foam::dlOpen() at run-time.
Pros:
- One-time (very) minimal adjustment of the sources and wmake toolchain
- Automatically applies to future applications
Cons:
- Possibly larger memory footprint of application (since all dependent
libraries are loaded).
- Possible impact on startup time (while loading libraries)
- More sensitive to build failures. Since the options files are
read and modified based on the existence of the dependent
libraries as a preprocessor step, if the libraries are initially
unavailable for the first attempt at building the application,
the dependencies will be inaccurate for later (successful) builds.
- This is solution taken by the bluecape patches (Bruno Santos)
Adopted Solution
================
The approach taken by Bruno was adopted in a modified form since
this appears to be the most easily maintained.
Additional Notes
================
It is always possible to solve this problem by defining a corresponding
'libs (...)' entry in the case system/controlDict, which forces a dlOpen
of the listed libraries. This is obviously less than ideal for large-scale
changes, but can work to resolve an individual problem.
The peldd utility (https://github.com/gsauthof/pe-util), which is
also packaged as part of MXE could provide yet another alternative.
Like ldd it can be used to determine the library dependencies of
binaries or libraries. This information could be used to define an
additional load layer for Windows.
- Eg, with surface writers now in surfMesh, there are fewer libraries
depending on conversion and sampling.
COMP: regularize linkage ordering and avoid some implicit linkage (#1238)
- can now safely use labelList::null() instead of emptyLabelList for
return values. No special treatment required for lists.
Possible replacements:
if (notNull(list) && list.size()) -> if (list.size())
if (isNull(list) || list.empty()) -> if (list.empty())
The receiver may still wish to handle differently to distinguish
between a null list and an empty list, but no additional special
protection is required when obtaining sizes, traversing, outputting
etc.
- makes the intent clearer and avoids the need for additional
constructor casting. Eg,
labelList(10, Zero) vs. labelList(10, 0)
scalarField(10, Zero) vs. scalarField(10, scalar(0))
vectorField(10, Zero) vs. vectorField(10, vector::zero)
- nBoundaryFaces() is often used and is identical to
(nFaces() - nInternalFaces()).
- forward the mesh nInternalFaces() and nBoundaryFaces() to
polyBoundaryMesh as nFaces() and start() respectively,
for use when operating on a polyBoundaryMesh.
STYLE:
- use identity() function with starting offset when creating boundary maps.
labelList map
(
identity(mesh.nBoundaryFaces(), mesh.nInternalFaces())
);
vs.
labelList map(mesh.nBoundaryFaces());
forAll(map, i)
{
map[i] = mesh.nInternalFaces() + i;
}
- With argList::noFunctionObjects() we use the logic added in
4b93333292 (issue #352)
By removing the '-noFunctionObjects' option, we automatically
suppress the creation of function-objects via Time (with argList
as a parameter).
There is generally no need in these cases for an additional
runTime.functionObjects().off() statement
Use the argList::noFunctionObjects() for more direct configuration
and reduce unnecessary clutter in the -help information.
In previous versions, the -noFunctionObjects would have been redundant
anyhow, so we can also just ignore it now instead.
General:
* -roots, -hostRoots, -fileHandler
Specific:
* -to <coordinateSystem> -from <coordinateSystem>
- Display -help-compat when compatibility or ignored options are available
STYLE: capitalization of options text
- simplifies usage.
Support syncPar check on names() to detect inconsistencies.
- simplify readFields, ReadFields and other routines by using these
new methods.
- what was previously termed 'setLargeCellSubset()' is now simply
'setCellSubset()' and supports memory efficient interfaces.
The new parameter ordering avoids ambiguities caused by default
parameters.
Old parameter order:
setLargeCellSubset
(
const labelList& region,
const label currentRegion,
const label patchID = -1,
const bool syncCouples = true
);
New parameter order:
setCellSubset
(
const label regioni,
const labelUList& regions,
const label patchID = -1,
const bool syncCouples = true
);
And without ambiguity:
setCellSubset
(
const labelUList& selectedCells,
const label patchID = -1,
const bool syncCouples = true
);
- support bitSet directly for specifying the selectedCells for
memory efficiency and ease of use.
- Additional constructors to perform setCellSubset() immediately,
which simplifies coding.
For example,
meshParts.set
(
zonei,
new fvMeshSubset(mesh, selectedCells)
);
Or even
return autoPtr<fvMeshSubset>::New(mesh, selectedCells);
- relocate some standard functionality to TimePaths to allow a lighter
means of managing time directories without using the entire Time
mechanism.
- optional enableLibs for Time construction (default is on)
and a corresponding argList::noLibs() and "-no-libs" option
STYLE:
- mark Time::outputTime() as deprecated MAY-2016
- use pre-increment for runTime, although there is no difference in
behaviour or performance.
This class is largely a pre-C++11 holdover. It is now possible to
simply use move construct/assignment directly.
In a few rare cases (eg, polyMesh::resetPrimitives) it has been
replaced by an autoPtr.
Improve alignment of its behaviour with std::unique_ptr
- element_type typedef
- release() method - identical to ptr() method
- get() method to get the pointer without checking and without releasing it.
- operator*() for dereferencing
Method name changes
- renamed rawPtr() to get()
- renamed rawRef() to ref(), removed unused const version.
Removed methods/operators
- assignment from a raw pointer was deleted (was rarely used).
Can be convenient, but uncontrolled and potentially unsafe.
Do allow assignment from a literal nullptr though, since this
can never leak (and also corresponds to the unique_ptr API).
Additional methods
- clone() method: forwards to the clone() method of the underlying
data object with argument forwarding.
- reset(autoPtr&&) as an alternative to operator=(autoPtr&&)
STYLE: avoid implicit conversion from autoPtr to object type in many places
- existing implementation has the following:
operator const T&() const { return operator*(); }
which means that the following code works:
autoPtr<mapPolyMesh> map = ...;
updateMesh(*map); // OK: explicit dereferencing
updateMesh(map()); // OK: explicit dereferencing
updateMesh(map); // OK: implicit dereferencing
for clarity it may preferable to avoid the implicit dereferencing
- prefer operator* to operator() when deferenced a return value
so it is clearer that a pointer is involve and not a function call
etc Eg, return *meshPtr_; vs. return meshPtr_();
- relocated ListAppendEqOp and ListUniqueEqOp to ListOps::appendEqOp
and ListOps::UniqueEqOp, respectively for better code isolation and
documentation of purpose.
- relocated setValues to ListOps::setValue() with many more
alternative selectors possible
- relocated createWithValues to ListOps::createWithValue
for better code isolation. The default initialization value is itself
now a default parameter, which allow for less typing.
Negative indices in the locations to set are now silently ignored,
which makes it possible to use an oldToNew mapping that includes
negative indices.
- additional ListOps::createWithValue taking a single position to set,
available both in copy assign and move assign versions.
Since a negative index is ignored, it is possible to combine with
the output of List::find() etc.
STYLE: changes for PackedList
- code simplication in the PackedList iterators, including dropping
the unused operator() on iterators, which is not available in plain
list versions either.
- improved sizing for PackedBoolList creation from a labelUList.
ENH: additional List constructors, for handling single element list.
- can assist in reducing constructor ambiguity, but can also helps
memory optimization when creating a single element list.
For example,
labelListList labels(one(), identity(mesh.nFaces()));
- use succincter method names that more closely resemble dictionary
and HashTable method names. This improves method name consistency
between classes and also requires less typing effort:
args.found(optName) vs. args.optionFound(optName)
args.readIfPresent(..) vs. args.optionReadIfPresent(..)
...
args.opt<scalar>(optName) vs. args.optionRead<scalar>(optName)
args.read<scalar>(index) vs. args.argRead<scalar>(index)
- the older method names forms have been retained for code compatibility,
but are now deprecated
- constructor for empty cell/face/point Zones, with contents to be
transferred in later.
- ZoneMesh::operator(const word&) to return existing zone or a new empty one.
old "positions" file form
The change to barycentric-based tracking changed the contents of the
cloud "positions" file to a new format comprising the barycentric
co-ordinates and other cell position-based info. This broke
backwards compatibility, providing no option to restart old cases
(v1706 and earlier), and caused difficulties for dependent code, e.g.
for post-processing utilities that could only infer the contents only
after reading.
The barycentric position info is now written to a file called
"coordinates" with provision to restart old cases for which only the
"positions" file is available. Related utilities, e.g. for parallel
running and data conversion have been updated to be able to support both
file types.
To write the "positions" file by default, use set the following option
in the InfoSwitches section of the controlDict:
writeLagrangianPositions 1;
Original commit message:
------------------------
Parallel IO: New collated file format
When an OpenFOAM simulation runs in parallel, the data for decomposed fields and
mesh(es) has historically been stored in multiple files within separate
directories for each processor. Processor directories are named 'processorN',
where N is the processor number.
This commit introduces an alternative "collated" file format where the data for
each decomposed field (and mesh) is collated into a single file, which is
written and read on the master processor. The files are stored in a single
directory named 'processors'.
The new format produces significantly fewer files - one per field, instead of N
per field. For large parallel cases, this avoids the restriction on the number
of open files imposed by the operating system limits.
The file writing can be threaded allowing the simulation to continue running
while the data is being written to file. NFS (Network File System) is not
needed when using the the collated format and additionally, there is an option
to run without NFS with the original uncollated approach, known as
"masterUncollated".
The controls for the file handling are in the OptimisationSwitches of
etc/controlDict:
OptimisationSwitches
{
...
//- Parallel IO file handler
// uncollated (default), collated or masterUncollated
fileHandler uncollated;
//- collated: thread buffer size for queued file writes.
// If set to 0 or not sufficient for the file size threading is not used.
// Default: 2e9
maxThreadFileBufferSize 2e9;
//- masterUncollated: non-blocking buffer size.
// If the file exceeds this buffer size scheduled transfer is used.
// Default: 2e9
maxMasterFileBufferSize 2e9;
}
When using the collated file handling, memory is allocated for the data in the
thread. maxThreadFileBufferSize sets the maximum size of memory in bytes that
is allocated. If the data exceeds this size, the write does not use threading.
When using the masterUncollated file handling, non-blocking MPI communication
requires a sufficiently large memory buffer on the master node.
maxMasterFileBufferSize sets the maximum size in bytes of the buffer. If the
data exceeds this size, the system uses scheduled communication.
The installation defaults for the fileHandler choice, maxThreadFileBufferSize
and maxMasterFileBufferSize (set in etc/controlDict) can be over-ridden within
the case controlDict file, like other parameters. Additionally the fileHandler
can be set by:
- the "-fileHandler" command line argument;
- a FOAM_FILEHANDLER environment variable.
A foamFormatConvert utility allows users to convert files between the collated
and uncollated formats, e.g.
mpirun -np 2 foamFormatConvert -parallel -fileHandler uncollated
An example case demonstrating the file handling methods is provided in:
$FOAM_TUTORIALS/IO/fileHandling
The work was undertaken by Mattijs Janssens, in collaboration with Henry Weller.
- allows configuration without an environment variable.
For compatibility still respect FOAM_SIGFPE and FOAM_SETNAN
env-variables
- The env-variables are now treated as true/false switch values.
Previously there was just a check for env exists or not, but this
can be fairly fragile for a user's environment.
- Cleanup/centralize handling of -decomposeParDict by relocating
common code into argList. Ensures that all processes receive
identical information about the -decomposeParDict opton.
- Only use alternative decomposeParDict for simpleFoam/motorBike
tutorial so that this will be included in the test loop for snappy.
- Added Mattijs' fix for surfaceRedistributePar.
splitMeshRegions: handle flipping of faces for surface fields
subsetMesh: subset dimensionedFields
decomposePar: use run-time selection of decomposition constraints. Used to
keep cells on particular processors. See the decomposeParDict in
$FOAM_UTILITIES/parallel/decomposePar:
- preserveBaffles: keep baffle faces on same processor
- preserveFaceZones: keep faceZones owner and neighbour on same processor
- preservePatches: keep owner and neighbour on same processor. Note: not
suitable for cyclicAMI since these are not coupled on the patch level
- singleProcessorFaceSets: keep complete faceSet on a single processor
- refinementHistory: keep cells originating from a single cell on the
same processor.
decomposePar: clean up decomposition of refinement data from snappyHexMesh
reconstructPar: reconstruct refinement data (refineHexMesh, snappyHexMesh)
reconstructParMesh: reconstruct refinement data (refineHexMesh, snappyHexMesh)
redistributePar:
- corrected mapping surfaceFields
- adding processor patches in order consistent with decomposePar
argList: check that slaves are running same version as master
fvMeshSubset: move to dynamicMesh library
fvMeshDistribute:
- support for mapping dimensionedFields
- corrected mapping of surfaceFields
parallel routines: allow parallel running on single processor
Field: support for
- distributed mapping
- mapping with flipping
mapDistribute: support for flipping
AMIInterpolation: avoid constructing localPoints
To be used instead of zeroGradientFvPatchField for temporary fields for
which zero-gradient extrapolation is use to evaluate the boundary field
but avoiding fields derived from temporary field using field algebra
inheriting the zeroGradient boundary condition by the reuse of the
temporary field storage.
zeroGradientFvPatchField should not be used as the default patch field
for any temporary fields and should be avoided for non-temporary fields
except where it is clearly appropriate;
extrapolatedCalculatedFvPatchField and calculatedFvPatchField are
generally more suitable defaults depending on the manner in which the
boundary values are specified or evaluated.
The entire OpenFOAM-dev code-base has been updated following the above
recommendations.
Henry G. Weller
CFD Direct
Moved file path handling to regIOobject and made it type specific so
now every object can have its own rules. Examples:
- faceZones are now processor local (and don't search up anymore)
- timeStampMaster is now no longer hardcoded inside IOdictionary
(e.g. uniformDimensionedFields support it as well)
- the distributedTriSurfaceMesh is properly processor-local; no need
for fileModificationChecking manipulation.
- redistributePar to have almost (complete) functionality of decomposePar+reconstructPar
- low-level distributed Field mapping
- support for mapping surfaceFields (including flipping faces)
- support for decomposing/reconstructing refinement data
