SciML / SciML/SparseWithDenseRowColMatrices.jl

Adjoint/transpose matvec allocates per call (forward path is alloc-free) — hurts the `:iterative` lstsq loop

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Description

WHAT: _adjoint_matvec! allocates a fresh length-r scratch w = Vector{...}(undef, r) on every call (src/matvec.jl:152). Confirmed by reading the source. Measured 96-128 B/call vs 0 B for the forward mul!. Likewise the cached LS solve _structured_apply! (src/lstsq.jl:247-263) allocates the temporaries F.W'*b, F.QL'*b, F.Msp*Wtc (256 B/solve) despite the struct carrying a length-n cbuf — every other ldiv! (Woodbury/augmented/QR) measures exactly 0. WHY IT MATTERS: The adjoint matvec is what the :iterative (LSQR/LSMR) engine drives every iteration, so an iterative solve allocates O(iterations); the cached LS solve is sold for hot Newton loops. Both break the API's allocation-free contract. FIX: (a) Hoist the length-r adjoint scratch into a reusable/size-guarded buffer (for SelectorMatrix U the common case, w is just u[1:r] and needs no allocation at all). (b) Add s-length and r-length scratch fields to the LS struct and mul! into them, mirroring the Woodbury buffer approach. EFFORT: S (selector matvec) / M (general + LS struct).


Priority: medium. Filed from an automated next-steps audit of the QR/lstsq work (see PR #6).

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Research direction

Read src/matvec.jl:152 and src/lst​​sq.jl:247-263, then trace the iterative matvec and cached solve callers to understand the existing buffer patterns. Confirm allocation counts for both paths; done means adjoint matvec and cached LS solves meet the zero-allocation contract without changing results.

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Assessment

Tech stack
julia
Domain
performance
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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