| | 251 | === 4. Boost.uBLAS === |
| | 252 | Potential mentors: David Bellot |
| | 253 | |
| | 254 | All projects with Boost.uBLAS requires knowledge of C++11. |
| | 255 | |
| | 256 | ==== Background ==== |
| | 257 | uBLAS is a library for linear algebra and matrix computations. Using recursive templates, it allows the compiler to optimize any complex linear algebra expressions as if it were written by hand by the programmer. Basic classes are matrix and vector. The library has all the basic functionalities and a few standard algorithms. We would like to improve the functionality of this library by adding new algorithms and functionality especially in the field of data analysis and machine learning. |
| | 258 | |
| | 259 | ==== Project 1: Data Frame and Statistics ==== |
| | 260 | |
| | 261 | Languages like R or Python (with Pandas) uses the notion of Data Frame and have many aggregation or grouping algorithm to generate all sorts of statistics on huge matrices. As it became a very important topic we would like to have similar functions in uBLAS. For example you can see libraries like Pandas ( http://pandas.pydata.org/pandas-docs/dev/generated/pandas.DataFrame.html) or a very powerful R package name data.table ( http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/data.table/index.html). Having similar functionalities in ublas would be a must ! |
| | 262 | |
| | 263 | The project will require to understand the basics of R data.frame and see what kind of limitations arise when it has to be implemented with a template meta-program in C++. However, the project will require the student to also identify all the possible optimizations than can't be done with generic purpose data.frame in R and Python because of missing information (like column types), etc... |
| | 264 | Finally, the student is expected to implement algorithms on the data.frame that can potentially be re-used on matrices too like subset selection with generic operators, statistics and summaries. Understanding memory management, alignment, optimizations, vector processing is not mandatory but most welcome. |
| | 265 | Understanding expression template and meta-programming in C++ is required. |
| | 266 | |
| | 267 | The student will start by studying existing implementations and propose a design. Then he or she will implement a prototype with tests and benchmarks. The final stage will be a thorough integration into ublas, and especially writing examples and documentation. |
| | 268 | |
| | 269 | ==== Project 2: Statistics and data analysis ==== |
| | 270 | |
| | 271 | This project is about adding statistical capabilities to Boost.uBLAS. It requires a deep understanding of C++ and of basics and if possible advanced statistics. In term of work, it will require to add many functions to compute mean, variance, covariance, histogram, several types of running statistics on long vector or matrices. |
| | 272 | This project requires a lot of attention to the detail as all the functions must be thoroughly tested for all types of data. They have to be as generic as possible and works on most of the types. |
| | 273 | If time permits, but it is almost a second requirement, we would like to see implementation of simple machine learning algorithm like k-means clustering, Gaussian mixtures, PCA, ICA and possible other types of simple mixtures. The student will need to understand those techniques beforehand. |
| | 274 | |
| | 275 | If time permits, the student will be allowed to work on more advanced machine learning algorithms. |
| | 276 | |
| | 277 | The other requirements are the same as project 1. |
| | 278 | |
| | 279 | ==== Programming competency test ==== |
| | 280 | |
| | 281 | A programming competency test is required. |
| | 282 | It is asked to the candidates to implement a Toeplitz matrix in uBLAS. You can get your inspiration from how the banded matrices are implemented, like here: https://github.com/uBLAS/ublas/blob/master/include/boost/numeric/ublas/banded.hpp |
| | 283 | If you are selected as a student and if your implementation is good enough, as a bonus we will integrate your programming competency test into the code of uBLAS. |
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