A Python HPC Framework: PyTrilinos, ODIN, and Seamless

Abstract

We present three Python software projects: PyTrilinos, for calling Trilinos distributed memory HPC solvers from Python; Optimized Distributed NumPy (ODIN), for distributed array computing; and Seamless, for automatic, Just-in-time compilation of Python source code. We argue that these three projects in combination provide a framework for high-performance computing in Python. They provide this framework by supplying necessary features (in the case of ODIN and Seamless) and algorithms (in the case of ODIN and PyTrilinos) for a user to develop HPC applications. Together they address the principal limitations (real or imagined) ascribed to Python when applied to high-performance computing. A high-level overview of each project is given, including brief explanations as to how these projects work in conjunction to the benefit of end users.