OPEN-SOURCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ANALYSIS OF

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DATA

22 MAY 2015

Yohan LIVET

juin 29, 2015 | PAGE 1 CEA | 10 AVRIL 2012

Overview

Context

Methodology

Feedbacks & future works

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CONTEXT

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CEA | 10 AVRIL 2012

CEA – FRENCH ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

Created in 1945 by the Général De GAULLE !   Its goal is to master the atom:

!  Energy !  Defence

French government-founded technological research organization

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Technology for health and information

Defence EnergyLow

Carbon

Research

Technology for health and information

Defence EnergyLow

Carbon

ResearchResearch

CEA/CESTA

CEA/CESTA is an actor of the French Nuclear deterrence Guaranty the performances of complex systems using simulation Challenges : !   Many physics to study

!  Mechanics !  Aerodynamics !  Electromagnetism ! …

!   Many users !   Many different data and data types !   Comparison tests - computations/simulations

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DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

We used several software !   Internal development !   Well-known publishers (in scientific domains) !   And, more and more, Open-source Approach Why the Open-source? !   “It’s the best choice” Roberto Di Cosmo !   Master the entire sources of our computing codes !   Sustainability !   Taking part of open-source software

development roadmap

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OPEN SOURCE EXEMPLES AT CEA/CESTA

!   Most of GUI and simulation environment designed and developed from (and with) eclipse

[Paprika: Rapid UI Development of Scientific Dataset Editors for High Performance Computing – D.Nassiet, Y.Livet, M. Palyart and D.

Lugato, SDL Forum 2011: Springer, ISBN 978-3-642-25264-8 p 69-78]

!   Scientific visualization !   but still missing Scilab ! J juin 29, 2015 CEA | 22 MAY 2015 | PAGE 7

METHODOLOGY

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METHODOLOGY

CEA/CESTA in collaboration with Scilab Enterprises conducted a study to assess the appropriateness of Scilab software besides the use of Matlab ® by the users.

!   This study has been divided into several tasks:

!  Analysis of the current Matlab use (audit and interviews) !  Training !  Development of a prototype from an existing Matlab application (CASDEM)

!   6 months project !   50+ engineers implicated !   Several domains addressed:

!  Data processing !  Simulation !  Specific applications

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AUDIT & INTERVIEWS

3-months project schedule

!   Presentation of Scilab and Scilab Enterprises !   Questionnaire sent to the 50 Matlab users !   Meetings & Interviews (by group or individually) !   Feedback reports

Objectives

!   Understand the use of numerical computation and the applications at CEA/CESTA !   Evaluation of Matlab and the uses of Matlab toolboxes !   Check and evaluate the needs !   Check the possibilities given by Scilab to replace Matlab !   Identify the potential lacks of specific features

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AUDIT & INTERVIEWS

Feedbacks (1/2) !   Noted differences between Matlab and Scilab:

!  Scilab interesting capabilities (e.g. processing strings) !  Some missing functions and functionalities in Scilab for CEA/CESTA uses

●  object-oriented programming ●  2.1 GB memory limitation ●  no GUI modeler / builder ●  no debugger

!   A significant workload, if we choose to migrate the amount of small users-codes

!   Positive feedback from engineers on using Scilab in response to their need of development and migration

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AUDIT & INTERVIEWS

Feedbacks (2/2)

!   Migration issues rely on: !  Change of habit more than a real difficulty !  Knowledge of the differences between Matlab and Scilab

!   Differences between Matlab and Scilab can be reduced by: !  Using equivalent function in Scilab !  Developing new features for Scilab (development costs to estimate) !  Customized training

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TRAININGS

On-site trainings 40 trainees 2 trainers 8 training sessions

!   Scilab Enterprises has conducted training sessions at CEA/CESTA for Matlab users to: !  Discover Scilab software environment and capabilities !  Discover Xcos modeling and simulation capabilities !  Develop Scilab and Xcos ATOMS modules

!   Trainings have been customized to suit CEA/CESTA needs and have been oriented to highlight best Scilab practices regarding former Matlab user’s habits

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AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Support to Scilab installation & deployment

!   Support to package automatic Scilab deployment !   Support to install Scilab MPI (parallelization)

ATOMS Server !   Deployment of a private CEA/CESTA ATOMS server:

!  Mirror of Scilab public ATOMS server, !  Making ATOMS modules available on the intranet CEA/CESTA networks, !  Possibility to upload and deploy private internal ATOMS modules.

!   Support and assistance to network administrators.

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PROOF OF CONCEPT

Migrating CASDEM application !   Application developed in Matlab for test data processing field in thermomechanical

environments.

Work !   The differences in programming implied to:

!  Redesign GUI !  Adapt graphical interactions

Results !   Scilab application with same functionalities !   Same numerical results up to 10 -13 !   Scilab CASDEM module that can be published in ATOMS private network (not possible

with Matlab)

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CASDEM BEFORE (MATLAB)

Insérer Capture CASDEM / Matlab anti-dommages

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CASDEM UNDER SCILAB

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BALANCE SHEET

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BALANCE SHEET

Thanks to Scilab Enterprises and the proximity and reactivity of their development team! CEA/CESTA gains:

!   A best knowledge of the different uses and user’s needs !   An effective skills transfer !   The migration of a comprehensive application conducted in a couple of months !   And last but not least: Scilab core evolutions!!! (new graphics interactions for example)

What could come next?

!   Support !   Trainings !   Functions, functionalities and additional modules developments !   Other applications migrations

And what next next?

!   Scilab 6.x with no memory limitation… … and debugger ?!? J juin 29, 2015 CEA | 22 MAY 2015 | PAGE 19

Direction Département Service

Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives Centre de Saclay | 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex T. +33 (0)1 XX XX XX XX | F. +33 (0)1 XX XX XX XX

Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | RCS Paris B 775 685 019 juin 29, 2015

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Thank You!