Recommencing computation_eac3

EACirc is able to save complete computation state to disk and recommence computation from such state later.

Computation determinism

The entire run can be repeated bit-to-bit, providing these criteria are met:

• seeding
  Program is set to run from fixed seed and the same main seed as in previous run is provided.
• quantum random data
  If pre-generated random number data is used (e.g., obtained from Quantum Random Number Generator Service), the same data is provided now as was provided in the previous run.

An alternative bit-to-bit computation is recommencing the initial state of previous computation (that is, loading state and initial population and providing same configuration file and random number data files).

Loading and saving computation

To recommence computation from saved state, use directive in configuration file. To preserve determinism and reproducibility, the following files are needed:

• configuration file ( config.xml)
  Most of the configuration settings must be same as in original computation (e.g. circuit settings), some may be changed intentionally (e.g. mutation probability). Best practice is to provide the original config file with settings in <MAIN> changed appropriately.
• state file ( state.xml)
  This file stores basic run attributes, seeds and state of all random generators. Current generation number is saved for cases when computation is interrupted (so that user knows what fraction of computation succeeded and can continue).
• population file ( population.xml)
  Current population of circuits prefixed by basic information about individuals (size and amount).
• quantum random data files ( qrng-0.bin, ...) - optional
  In order to provide fully deterministic and repeatable run, the same pre-generated random number data should be used (otherwise the (quantum) random generator state loaded is useless). Important only if pre-generated random number data are used.
• score files ( scores.log, avgfitgraph.txt, ...) - optional
  If score and fitness files are provided, new scores are added to existing files.

Further notes on saving

When saving coputation state, only state file and population file is created automatically. Configuration file and other files if needed (namely quantum random data files and score files) should be archived as well. For details see section Loading state.