scikit-learn / scikit-learn/scikit-learn

Importing sklearn messes with CPU affinity, causing n_jobs=-1 to become useless

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Python
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Description

Description

Please see a PoC notebook.

tl:dr: import sklearn causes CPU affinity to be set to {0}. Resetting it causes RandomizedSearchCV to freeze.

Expected Results

n_jobs=-1 uses all cores and does not freeze.

Actual Results

Only one core is loaded at 100% and nothing happens for 30+ minutes. Not resetting CPU affinity or not specifying n_jobs=-1 causes the freeze to go away.

Versions
Linux-4.14.36-1-MANJARO-x86_64-with-arch-Manjaro-Linux
Python 3.6.5 (default, Apr 12 2018, 22:45:43) 
[GCC 7.3.1 20180312]
NumPy 1.14.2
SciPy 1.0.1
Scikit-Learn 0.19.1

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

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  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the linked PoC notebook and reproduce the issue using RandomizedSearchCV with n_jobs=-1 on the reported Linux and Python setup. Trace the import-time CPU-affinity change and the resulting parallel execution behavior; done means importing sklearn no longer leaves only one core available and the search completes while using all cores.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
numpy, python
Domain
machine-learning, performance
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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