Combination of Dynamic and Static Graphs

The Concept of Static and Dynamic Graphs

There are two execution modes of the mainstream deep learning frameworks, namely static graph mode and dynamic graph mode.

In static graph mode, the program firstly generates the graph structure of the neural network, then executes the computational operations involved in the graph during compilation execution. Therefore, in static graph mode, the compiler uses techniques such as graph optimization to optimize the execution graph to a greater extent, resulting in better execution performance that helps scale deployment and cross-platform operation.

In dynamic graph mode, the program is executed in the order in which the code is written, and the reverse execution graph is dynamically generated during the execution of the forward process based on the principle of backward propagation. In this mode, the compiler sends down the individual operators in the neural network for execution one by one, making it easy for the user to write and debug the neural network model.

MindSpore Static Graph

In MindSpore, the static graph mode, also known as Graph mode, can be set to static graph mode by set_context(mode=GRAPH_MODE). Static graph mode is more suitable for scenarios where the network is fixed and high performance is required. In static graph mode, the compiler can perform global optimization for the graph based on techniques such as graph optimization, whole graph offloading of computational graph. Therefore, better performance can be obtained under static graph, but the execution graph is converted from the source code. Not all Python syntax is supported under static graphs.

Graph Mode Execution Principle

In Graph mode, MindSpore converts Python source code into IR by means of source code conversion, then performs relevant graph optimization based on this, and finally executes the optimized graph on hardware devices. MindSpore uses a functional IR based on graph representation, i.e. MindIR, by using a semantics close to the ANF functional style. The Graph mode is compiled and optimized based on MindIR. To use the Graph mode, you need to use the nn.Cell class and write the execution code in the construct function or call the @jit decorator.

An code example for the Graph model is shown below:

import numpy as np
import mindspore.nn as nn
import mindspore.ops as ops
import mindspore as ms

ms.set_context(mode=ms.GRAPH_MODE, device_target="CPU")

class Net(nn.Cell):
    def __init__(self):
        super(Net, self).__init__()
        self.mul = ops.Mul()

    def construct(self, x, y):
        return self.mul(x, y)

x = ms.Tensor(np.array([1.0, 2.0, 3.0]).astype(np.float32))
y = ms.Tensor(np.array([4.0, 5.0, 6.0]).astype(np.float32))

net = Net()
print(net(x, y))

[ 4. 10. 18.]

Graph Mode Auto-differentiation Principle

In MindSpore, the principle of auto-differentiation in Graph mode can be found in Auto-differentiation.

MindSpore Dynamic Graph

In MindSpore, dynamic graph mode is also known as PyNative mode, which can be set to dynamic graph mode by set_context(mode=PYNATIVE_MODE). In script development and network flow debugging, it is recommended to use dynamic graph mode for debugging, which supports the execution of single operators, common functions and networks, and separate gradient solving operations.

PyNative Mode Execution Principle

In PyNative mode, users can use the full Python API. In addition, for using the API provided by MindSpore, the framework will execute the operations of the operator API on the corresponding hardware platform according to the hardware platform (Ascend, GPU, CPU) selected by the user and return the corresponding results. The overall execution process of the framework is as follows:

process

Through the front-end Python API, call to the framework layer, and finally to the corresponding hardware devices to perform calculations. For example, to complete an addition

import numpy as np
import mindspore.nn as nn
import mindspore as ms
import mindspore.ops as ops

ms.set_context(mode=ms.PYNATIVE_MODE, device_target="CPU")
x = ms.Tensor(np.ones([1, 3, 3, 4]).astype(np.float32))
y = ms.Tensor(np.ones([1, 3, 3, 4]).astype(np.float32))
output = ops.add(x, y)
print(output.asnumpy())

[[[[2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]]

  [[2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]]

  [[2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]
   [2. 2. 2. 2.]]]]

In this example, when the Python interface ops.add(x, y) is called, the Python interface call is called to the C++ layer of the framework via Pybind11, and converted to C++ call. Then the framework will select the corresponding hardware device according to the device_target set by the users, and execute the add operation on that hardware device.

From the above principle, we can see that in PyNative mode, Python script code will be executed according to Python syntax, and the execution process involves MindSpore’s API, which will be accelerated by executing on different hardware according to user settings. Therefore, in PyNative mode, users can use Python syntax and debugging methods at will, for example, you can use common IDEs such as PyCharm and VS Code to debug code.

PyNative Mode Auto-differentiation Principle

In the previous introduction, we can see that the execution of the forward procedure under PyNative is performed exactly according to Python syntax. Under PyNative, backward propagation is implemented based on Tensor. We record all the operations applied to Tensor during the execution of the forward process, and for each operation find its reverse, and string all the reverse processes together to form the overall backward propagation graph (reverse graph for short). Eventually, the reverse graph is executed on the device to calculate the gradient.

The following code is an example of the reverse composition process: multiply the matrix x with a fixed parameter z, then perform matrix multiplication with y, and finally derives x.

import numpy as np
import mindspore.nn as nn
import mindspore.ops as ops
import mindspore as ms

ms.set_context(mode=ms.PYNATIVE_MODE, device_target="CPU")

class Net(nn.Cell):
    def __init__(self):
        super(Net, self).__init__()
        self.matmul = ops.MatMul()
        self.z = ms.Parameter(ms.Tensor(np.array([2.0], np.float32)), name='z')

    def construct(self, x, y):
        x = x * self.z
        out = self.matmul(x, y)
        return out

class GradNetWrtX(nn.Cell):
    def __init__(self, net):
        super(GradNetWrtX, self).__init__()
        self.net = net

    def construct(self, x, y):
        gradient_function = ms.grad(self.net)
        return gradient_function(x, y)

x = ms.Tensor([[0.8, 0.6, 0.2], [1.8, 1.3, 1.1]], dtype=ms.float32)
y = ms.Tensor([[0.11, 3.3, 1.1], [1.1, 0.2, 1.4], [1.1, 2.2, 0.3]], dtype=ms.float32)
output = GradNetWrtX(Net())(x, y)
print(output)

[[9.02      5.4       7.2000003]
 [9.02      5.4       7.2000003]]

According to the above composition principle under PyNative, it can be seen that in the forward propagation process, we record the calculation process of Mul. According to the definition of reverse bprop corresponding to the Mul, we get the reverse MulGrad operator. According to the definition of Mul operator’s bprop, as follows:

from mindspore.ops._grad.grad_base import bprop_getters

@bprop_getters.register(ops.Mul)
def get_bprop_mul(self):
    """Grad definition for `Mul` operation."""
    mul_func = P.Mul()

    def bprop(x, y, out, dout):
        bc_dx = mul_func(y, dout)
        bc_dy = mul_func(x, dout)
        return binop_grad_common(x, y, bc_dx, bc_dy)

    return bprop

It can be seen that reversing the input to Mul requires backward propagation gradient values of two input and output, at which point z can be connected to MulGrad based on the actual input values. And so on, for the next operator Matmul, the MatmulGrad information is obtained accordingly, and then the contextual gradient propagation is connected according to the input and output of bprop.

Similarly for the input y derivation, the same procedure can be used for the derivation.

Control flow in PyNative Mode

In the PyNative mode, scripts are executed according to the Python syntax, so in MindSpore, there is no special treatment for the control flow syntax, which is directly expanded and executed according to the Python syntax, and automatic differentiation is performed on the expanded execution operator. For example, for a for loop, the statements in the for loop are continuously executed under PyNative and automatic differentiation is performed on the operators according to the specific number of loops.

Dynamic and Static Unification

Overview

The industry currently supports both dynamic and static graph modes. Dynamic graphs are executed by interpretation, with dynamic syntax affinity and flexible expression, and static graphs are executed by using jit compilation optimization, more inclined to static syntax and more restrictions in syntax. For dynamic and static graph modes, firstly MindSpore unifies the API expression, uses the same API in both modes, secondly, unifies the underlying differential mechanism of dynamic and static graphs.

Interconversion of Dynamic and Static Graphs

In MindSpore, we can switch the execution between using dynamic or static graphs by controlling the mode input parameters. For example:

ms.set_context(mode=ms.PYNATIVE_MODE)

Since there are restrictions on Python syntax under static graphs, switching from dynamic to static graphs requires compliance with the syntax restrictions of static graphs in order to execute correctly by using static graphs. For more syntax restrictions for static graphs, refer to Static Graph Syntax Restrictions.

Combination of Static and Dynamic

MindSpore supports mixed execution by using static compilation under dynamic graphs. The function objects that need to be executed with static graphs by using jit modification, and in this way you can achieve mixed execution of dynamic and static graphs. For more use of jit, refer to jit documentation.

For example:

import numpy as np
import mindspore as ms
import mindspore.nn as nn

class AddMulMul(nn.Cell):
    def __init__(self):
        super(AddMulMul, self).__init__()
        self.param = ms.Parameter(ms.Tensor(0.5, ms.float32))

    @ms.jit
    def construct(self, x):
        x = x + x
        x = x * self.param
        x = x * x
        return x

class CellCallSingleCell(nn.Cell):
    def __init__(self):
        super(CellCallSingleCell, self).__init__()
        self.conv = nn.Conv2d(1, 2, kernel_size=2, stride=1, padding=0, weight_init="ones", pad_mode="valid")
        self.bn = nn.BatchNorm2d(2, momentum=0.99, eps=0.00001, gamma_init="ones")
        self.relu = nn.ReLU()
        self.add_mul_mul = AddMulMul()

    def construct(self, x):
        x = self.conv(x)
        x = self.bn(x)
        x = self.add_mul_mul(x)
        x = self.relu(x)
        return x

ms.set_context(mode=ms.PYNATIVE_MODE, device_target="CPU")
inputs = ms.Tensor(np.ones([1, 1, 2, 2]).astype(np.float32))
net = CellCallSingleCell()
out = net(inputs)
print(out)

[[[[15.99984]]

  [[15.99984]]]]

Static Graph Syntax Enhancement

In the MindSpore static graph mode, users need to follow MindSpore Static Graph Syntax Support when writing programs, and there are constraints on the use of syntax. In dynamic graph mode, Python script code will be executed according to Python syntax, and users can use any Python syntax. It can be seen that the syntax constraints of static and dynamic graphs are different.

JIT Fallback considers the unification of static and dynamic graphs from the perspective of static graphs. When an unsupported syntax is found during compilation, the syntax is Fallback to the Python interpreter for interpretation execution. Through the JIT Fallback feature, static graphs can support as much dynamic graph syntax as possible, so that static graphs provide a syntax experience close to dynamic graphs, so as to achieve dynamic and static unity.

In the graph mode scenario, the MindSpore framework will report an error when it encounters unsupported syntax or symbols during graph compilation, mostly in the type inference stage. In the graph compilation stage, the Python source code written by the user is parsed, and then subsequent static analysis, type derivation, optimization and other steps are performed. Therefore, the JIT Fallback feature needs to be pre-detected for unsupported syntax. Common unsupported syntax mainly includes: calling methods of third-party libraries, calling class names to create objects, calling unsupported Python built-in functions, etc. Interpret execution of unsupported syntax Fallback to the Python interpreter. Since the graph mode uses MindSpore IR (MindIR), it is necessary to convert the statement executed by the interpretation to the intermediate representation and record the information required by the interpreter.

The following mainly introduces the static graph syntax supported using the JIT Fallback extension. The default value of the JIT syntax support level option jit_syntax_level is ‘LAX’, extending the static graph syntax with the ability of JIT Fallback.

Calling the Third-party Libraries

Complete support for third-party libraries such as NumPy and SciPy. The static graph mode supports many third-party library data types such as np.ndarray and their operation operations, supports obtaining properties and methods that call third-party libraries, and supports interacting with third-party libraries such as NumPy through methods such as Tensor’s asnumpy(). In other words, users can call MindSpore’s own interface and operator in static graph mode, or directly call the interface of the three-party library, or use them together.

Supporting data types of third-party libraries (such as NumPy and SciPy), allowing calling and returning objects of third-party libraries.
Supporting calling methods of third-party libraries.
Supporting creating Tensor instances by using the data types of the third-party library NumPy.
The assignment of subscripts for data types in third-party libraries is not currently supported.

For more usage, please refer to the Calling the Third-party Libraries section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Supporting the Use of Custom Classes

Custom classes that do not use ‘@ms_class’ decorations and do not inherit ‘nn. Cell`。 Through the JIT Fallback technical solution, static graph mode allows creating and referencing instances of custom classes, can directly obtain and call properties and methods of custom class instances, and allows modifying properties(Inplace operations).

For more usage, please refer to the Supporting the Use of Custom Classes section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Basic Operators Support More Data Type

In the syntax of graph mode, the following basic operators in the list is overloaded: [‘+’, ‘-’, ‘*’, ‘/’, ‘//’, ‘%’, ‘**’, ‘<<’, ‘>>’, ‘&’, ‘|’, ‘^’, ‘not’, ‘==’, ‘!=’, ‘<’, ‘>’, ‘<=’, ‘>=’, ‘in’, ‘not in’, ‘y=x[0]’]. For more details, please refer to Operators. When getting unsupported input type, those operators need to use extended static graph syntax to support, and make the output consistent with the output in the pynative mode.

For more usage, please refer to the Basic Operators Support More Data Type section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Base Type

Use the JIT Fallback feature to extend support for Python’s native data types ‘List’, ‘Dictionary’, ‘None’. For more usage, please refer to the Base Type section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Supporting List Inplace Modification Operations

Support for getting the original ‘List’ object from a global variable.
Inplace operations on input ‘List’ objects are not supported.
Support for in-place modification of some ‘List’ built-in functions.

Supporting the High-Level Usage of Dictionary

Supporting Top Graph Return Dictionary
Supporting Dictionary Index Value Retrieval and Assignment

Supporting the Usage of None

‘None’ is a special value in Python that represents null and can be assigned to any variable. Functions that do not have a return value statement are considered to return ‘None’. At the same time, ‘None’ is also supported as the input parameter or return value of the top graph or subgraph. Support ‘None’ as a subscript of a slice as input to ‘List’, ‘Tuple’, ‘Dictionary’.

Built-in Functions Support More Data Types

Extend the support for built-in functions. Python built-in functions perfectly support more input types, such as third-party library data types. More support for built-in functions can be found in the Python built-in functions section.

Supporting Control Flow

In order to improve the support of Python standard syntax, realize dynamic and static unification, and extend the support for more data types in the use of control flow statements. Control flow statements refer to flow control statements such as ‘if’, ‘for’, and ‘while’. Theoretically, by extending the supported syntax, it is also supported in control flow scenarios. For more usage, please refer to the Supports Control Flow section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Support Property Setting and Modification

More types of inplace operations are supported. The previous version only supported value modification of the Parameter type through the Inplace operator, and in the static graph mode of MindSpore version 2.1, the properties of custom classes, Cell subclasses, and jit_class classes were supported. In addition to supporting changing the properties of class self and global variables, it also supports inplace operations such as extend(), reverse(), insert(), pop() of the List type. For more usage, please refer to the Supporting Property Setting and Modification section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Set and modify properties of custom class objects and third-party types.
Make changes to the Cell’s self object.
Set and modify Cell objects and jit_class objects in the static graph.

Supporting Derivation

The static graph syntax supported by JIT Fallback also supports its use in derivation. For more usage, please refer to the Supporting Derivation section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Annotation Type

For the syntax supported by the runtime extensions, nodes are generated that cannot be derived by type and are called ‘Any’ types. Since the type cannot derive the correct type at compile time, this ‘Any’ will be operated with a default maximum precision ‘Float64’ to prevent loss of precision. To optimize performance, it is recommended to minimize the generation of ‘Any’ types. When the user knows exactly what type of statement will be generated through the extension, it is recommended to use Annotation @jit.typing: to specify the corresponding Python statement type, thereby determining the type of the interpretation node and avoiding the generation of ‘Any’ types. For more usage, please refer to the Annotation Type section in Static Graph Syntax Support.

Instructions for Use

When using the static graph extension support syntax, note the following points:

In order to match the support capability of the dynamic graph. That is, it must be within the scope of dynamic graph syntax, including but not limited to data types.
When extending the static graph syntax, more syntax is supported, but the execution performance may be affected and is not optimal.
When extending the static graph syntax, more syntax is supported, and the ability to import and export cannot be used with MindIR due to use Python.
It is not currently supported that the repeated definition of global variables with the same name across Python files, and these global variables are used in the network.