David,
Since mdsd:array is a generic multi-dimensional container it is not bound to algebraic operations. I expect that with proper aligned memory allocation and SSE aglorithms (It is easy to add a custom storage container that supports that) it will be as fast as MKL, GotoBLAS, Eigen or armadillo. I believe that within that context, a GSOC project will need to include both the matrix container and the SSE algorithms tasks, or even AVX. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Vector_Extensions)

In any case I would like to emphasize that although I would like to see uBlas to compete at the vector-operation level, I think it should not lock itself out from high performance computing interfaces.

A nice project that I have in mind for the latter is  the tpetra package of trillinos: http://trilinos.sandia.gov/packages/docs/r11.0/packages/tpetra/doc/html/index.html.  Altough Sandia is doing some impressive job putting together  modern C++ computational packages I feel that a more refined version can provide a more consisent C++ interface.

Best,
Nasos



On 03/23/2013 10:44 AM, David Bellot wrote:
Wow it looks indeed very interesting. Yes, I know what you mean by "rare free time". Same thing here :-)
Let me have a more thorough look at it and why not start using it too.
Have you compared it to what is done with Eigen and Armadillo. It seems these 2 libraries are quite popular these days.

Best,
David

On Sat, Mar 23, 2013 at 1:39 PM, Nasos Iliopoulos <nasos_i@hotmail.com> wrote:
David,
I have been working on a generic stato-dynamic multi-dimensional array that can enable something like what you propose. It uses C++11 functionality (variadic templates and functions mainly). Please take a look at: https://github.com/nasosi/mdsdarray and https://github.com/nasosi/mdsdarray/wiki/Interface-examples.  The developement is slow-paced because I am working on it at the rare free time I have on weekends.
I am currently thinking of how to implement an appropriate iterator that would be SIMD friendly. In that context I am considering something across the lines of the interface of OpenCL and CUDA. This would work nicely with the C+11 new for loops as well.

If you think your proposal can build on top or even contribute to mdsdarray,  I can provide a version under a Boost or  MIT license.

Best,
-Nasos



On 03/23/2013 08:47 AM, David Bellot wrote:
Hi guys,

I proposed a Google Summer of Code project for uBLAS.
It's based on the wish list that has been done some time ago a long time ago.

The main idea is to refactor vector into matrix to have only one internal and external representation, one set of algorithm. As a convenience, the class vector<> will still exist and will, for example, be by default a row-vector (like a simple C-array would be). Or a column-vector if we prefer but I think matlab is row-oriented by default (and I hate R which is column oriented, even if I use it every single day at work !!! :-D :-D ah ah ah ah ! Let the flame war begin).

OK, the idea behind this is to have a clean framework to enable optimization based on SSE, Neon, multi-core, ... you name it.
I'm sure the student who will work on that will take inspiration from boost::bindings, Eigen, Armadillo, etc...
The project is very open, so suggestions are most welcome.

Best,
David



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