pymc-devs / pymc-devs/pytensor
Proposal: Make compiler optional and fall-back to numba or JAX
Open
Nobody has claimed this yet.
backend compatibility
C-backend
installation
needs info
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 644
- Forks
- 208
- Avg merge
- 2d 14h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 16
Description
Description
Installing PyTensor with a full C++ compiler chain is very fragile and difficult to maintain. We have alternative backends that are much easier to maintain. While it seems we can't yet switch to them by default, how about:
- We make a working c-compiler optional in the installation
- If no working C-compiler is found, we fall back to use the JAX or numba backend.
That way, people that can't get their compilers installed, still get fast PyTensor.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
No files, tests, or entry points are named. Start by locating the compiler-detection and backend-selection entry points, then determine how installation behaves without a working C++ compiler. Done means compiler installation is optional and PyTensor can fall back to the JAX or numba backend.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python
- Domain
- backend, compilers
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100