NVIDIA / NVIDIA/cccl

Rename `cuda::experimental::managed_memory_resource` to `cuda::experimental::unified_memory_resource`

Open
#4,094 8 comments 0 reactions 1 assignee Claimed by @miscco View on GitHub
Dominant language
C++
Stars
2.5k
Forks
486
Avg merge
2d 6h
Merged PRs (30d)
295

Description

"Managed memory" is a terrible and unclear name for the CUDA Unified Memory feature, and it may be particularly confusing to C++ users, as there is an [existing, deprecated, and terrible thing called "Managed C++"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Managed_Extensions_for_C%2B%2B).

C++ people don't like things that are "managed"; people write C++ because they want control. This name makes Unified Memory sound like a scary black box with perf issues. Couple that with the fact that historically Unified Memory has had perf issues, and the name sounds the wrong sort of message.

We can't rename `cudaMallocManaged`, but we don't have to repeat the mistake. Please call it `cudax::experimental::unified_memory_resource` not `cudax::experimental::managed_memory_resource`.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Assessment

This issue has not been assessed yet.

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.