Tensorboard with profiler installed spawns hundereds of python tasks and crashes machine
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Description
I'm attempting to run the profiler and on multiple machines now when I run Tensorboard after installing the profiler from PyPi, the machines crash due to an excessive amount of python tasks spawining. If I run Tensorboard prior to installing the profiler it runs fine, so I'm pretty sure this is a problem with my installation of the profiler.
Machine 1: Docker
base Docker Image: nvidia/cuda:11.6.2-devel-ubuntu20.04 CUDA 11.6.2, Ubuntu 20.04
Python 3.8
Torch 1.12
This Docker image does training and inference with torch and CUDA fine so I'm confident in the image and the underlying system.
Machine 2: Desktop PC
Arch Linux
Anaconda Environment created just to test this
CUDA 11.7
Python 3.10
PyTorch 1.12
On both of these machines I can run Tensorbarod fine, but if I run pip install torch_tb_profiler
The next time I load Tensorboard it crashes the system. Running 'top' in another terminal shows a flood of "python" tasks that utilize the full processor resources available.
If I 'CTR-C' on the tensorboard command the machine will eventually kill all these processes and recover, but it's unusable.

I can't find any other instances of this on the web
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Research direction
Start by reproducing the issue with pip install torch_tb_profiler followed by launching TensorBoard in the reported Docker and Anaconda environments. Compare process creation and resource use before and after installation; done means TensorBoard runs without spawning excessive Python tasks or crashing the machine.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- anaconda, docker, python, pytorch
- Domain
- devtools, performance
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100