There are currently three automatic differentiation techniques in mainstream deep learning frameworks:
- **Conversion based on static compute graph**: Convert the network into a static data flow graph at compile time, then turn the chain rule into a data flow graph to implement automatic differentiation.
- **Conversion based on dynamic compute graph**: Record the operation trajectory of the network during forward execution in an operator overloaded manner, then apply the chain rule to the dynamically generated data flow graph to implement automatic differentiation.
- **Conversion based on source code**: This technology is evolving from the functional programming framework and performs automatic differential transformation on the intermediate expression (the expression form of the program during the compilation process) in the form of just-in-time compilation (JIT), supporting complex control flow scenarios, higher-order functions and closures.
TensorFlow adopted static calculation diagrams in the early days, whereas PyTorch used dynamic calculation diagrams. Static maps can utilize static compilation technology to optimize network performance, however, building a network or debugging it is very complicated. The use of dynamic graphics is very convenient, but it is difficult to achieve extreme optimization in performance.
But MindSpore finds another way, automatic differentiation based on source code conversion. On the one hand, it supports automatic differentiation of automatic control flow, so it is quite convenient to build models like PyTorch. On the other hand, MindSpore can perform static compilation optimization on neural networks to achieve great performance.
The implementation of MindSpore automatic differentiation can be understood as the symbolic differentiation of the program itself. Because MindSpore IR is a functional intermediate expression, it has an intuitive correspondence with the composite function in basic algebra. The derivation formula of the composite function composed of arbitrary basic functions can be derived. Each primitive operation in MindSpore IR can correspond to the basic functions in basic algebra, which can build more complex flow control.
### Automatic Parallel
The goal of MindSpore automatic parallel is to build a training method that combines data parallelism, model parallelism, and hybrid parallelism. It can automatically select a least cost model splitting strategy to achieve automatic distributed parallel training.
At present, MindSpore uses a fine-grained parallel strategy of splitting operators, that is, each operator in the figure is splitted into a cluster to complete parallel operations. The splitting strategy during this period may be very complicated, but as a developer advocating Pythonic, you don't need to care about the underlying implementation, as long as the top-level API compute is efficient.
Use pip mode method to install MindSpore in different environments. Refer to the following documents.
- [Using pip mode method to install MindSpore in Ascend environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_ascend_install_pip_en.md)
- [Using pip mode method to install MindSpore in GPU environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_gpu_install_pip_en.md)
- [Using pip mode method to install MindSpore in CPU environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_cpu_install_pip_en.md)
### Source code compilation installation
Use the source code compilation method to install MindSpore in different environments. Refer to the following documents.
- [Using the source code compilation method to install MindSpore in Ascend environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_ascend_install_source_en.md)
- [Using the source code compilation method to install MindSpore in GPU environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_gpu_install_source_en.md)
- [Using the source code compilation method to install MindSpore in CPU environment](https://gitee.com/mindspore/docs/blob/master/install/mindspore_cpu_install_source_en.md)
| | | `devel` | Development environment provided to build MindSpore (with `CPU` backend) from the source, refer to <https://www.mindspore.cn/install/en> for installation details. |
| | | `devel` | Development environment provided to build MindSpore (with `GPU CUDA10.1` backend) from the source, refer to <https://www.mindspore.cn/install/en> for installation details. |
> **NOTICE:** For GPU `devel` docker image, it's NOT suggested to directly install the whl package after building from the source, instead we strongly RECOMMEND you transfer and install the whl package inside GPU `runtime` docker image.
