4. C API Reference

A Futhark program futlib.fut compiled to a C library with the --library command line option produces two files: futlib.c and futlib.h. The API provided in the .h file is documented in the following.

Using the API requires creating a configuration object, which is then used to obtain a context object, which is then used to perform most other operations, such as calling Futhark functions.

Most functions that can fail return an integer: 0 on success and a non-zero value on error. Others return a NULL pointer. Use futhark_context_get_error() to get a (possibly) more precise error message.

FUTHARK_BACKEND_foo

A preprocessor macro identifying that the backend foo was used to generate the code; e.g. c, opencl, or cuda. This can be used for conditional compilation of code that only works with specific backends.

4.1. Configuration

Context creation is parameterised by a configuration object. Any changes to the configuration must be made before calling futhark_context_new(). A configuration object must not be freed before any context objects for which it is used. The same configuration may be used for multiple concurrent contexts.

struct futhark_context_config

An opaque struct representing a Futhark configuration.

struct futhark_context_config *futhark_context_config_new(void)

Produce a new configuration object. You must call futhark_context_config_free() when you are done with it.

void futhark_context_config_free(struct futhark_context_config *cfg)

Free the configuration object.

void futhark_context_config_set_debugging(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int flag)

With a nonzero flag, enable various debugging information, with the details specific to the backend. This may involve spewing copious amounts of information to the standard error stream. It is also likely to make the program run much slower.

void futhark_context_config_set_profiling(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int flag)

With a nonzero flag, enable the capture of profiling information. This should not significantly impact program performance. Use futhark_context_report() to retrieve captured information, the details of which are backend-specific.

void futhark_context_config_set_logging(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int flag)

With a nonzero flag, print a running log to standard error of what the program is doing.

4.2. Context

struct futhark_context

An opaque struct representing a Futhark context.

struct futhark_context *futhark_context_new(struct futhark_context_config *cfg)

Create a new context object. You must call futhark_context_free() when you are done with it. It is fine for multiple contexts to co-exist within the same process, but you must not pass values between them. They have the same C type, so this is an easy mistake to make.

void futhark_context_free(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Free the context object. It must not be used again. The configuration must be freed separately with futhark_context_config_free().

int futhark_context_sync(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Block until all outstanding operations, including copies, have finished executing. Many API functions are asynchronous on their own.

void futhark_context_pause_profiling(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Temporarily suspend the collection of profiling information. Has no effect if profiling was not enabled in the configuration.

void futhark_context_unpause_profiling(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Resume the collection of profiling information. Has no effect if profiling was not enabled in the configuration.

char *futhark_context_get_error(struct futhark_context *ctx)

A human-readable string describing the last error, if any. It is the caller’s responsibility to free() the returned string. Any subsequent call to the function returns NULL, until a new error occurs.

char *futhark_context_report(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Produce a human-readable C string with debug and profiling information collected during program runtime. It is the caller’s responsibility to free the returned string. It is likely to only contain interesting information if futhark_context_config_set_debugging() or futhark_context_config_set_profiling() has been called previously.

int futhark_context_clear_caches(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Release any context-internal caches and buffers that may otherwise use computer resources. This is useful for freeing up those resources when no Futhark entry points are expected to run for some time. Particularly relevant when using a GPU backend, due to the relative scarcity of GPU memory.

4.3. Values

Primitive types (i32, bool, etc) are mapped directly to their corresponding C type. For each distinct array type (without sizes), an opaque C struct is defined. Complex types (records, nested tuples) are also assigned an opaque C struct. In the general case, these types will be named with a random hash. However, if you insert an explicit type annotation (and the type name contains only characters valid for C identifiers), the indicated name will be used. Note that arrays contain brackets, which are usually not valid in identifiers. Defining a simple type alias is the best way around this.

All values share a similar API, which is illustrated here for the case of the type []i32. The creation/retrieval functions are all asynchronous, so make sure to call futhark_context_sync() when appropriate. Memory management is entirely manual. All values that are created with a new function, or returned from an entry point, must at some point be freed manually. Values are internally reference counted, so even for entry points that return their input unchanged, you should still free both the input and the output - this will not result in a double free.

struct futhark_i32_1d

An opaque struct representing a Futhark value of type []i32.

struct futhark_i32_1d *futhark_new_i32_1d(struct futhark_context *ctx, int32_t *data, int64_t dim0)

Asynchronously create a new array based on the given data. The dimensions express the number of elements. The data is copied into the new value. It is the caller’s responsibility to eventually call futhark_free_i32_1d(). Multi-dimensional arrays are assumed to be in row-major form.

struct futhark_i32_1d *futhark_new_raw_i32_1d(struct futhark_context *ctx, char *data, int offset, int64_t dim0)

Create an array based on raw data, as well as an offset into it. This differs little from futhark_i32_1d() when using the c backend, but when using e.g. the opencl backend, the data parameter will be a cl_mem. It is the caller’s responsibility to eventually call futhark_free_i32_1d().

int futhark_free_i32_1d(struct futhark_context *ctx, struct futhark_i32_1d *arr)

Free the value. In practice, this merely decrements the reference count by one. The value (or at least this reference) may not be used again after this function returns.

int futhark_values_i32_1d(struct futhark_context *ctx, struct futhark_i32_1d *arr, int32_t *data)

Asynchronously copy data from the value into data, which must be of sufficient size. Multi-dimensional arrays are written in row-major form.

const int64_t *futhark_shape_i32_1d(struct futhark_context *ctx, struct futhark_i32_1d *arr)

Return a pointer to the shape of the array, with one element per dimension. The lifetime of the shape is the same as arr, and should not be manually freed.

4.4. Entry points

Entry points are mapped 1:1 to C functions. Return values are handled with out-parameters.

For example, this Futhark entry point:

entry sum = i32.sum

Results in the following C function:

int futhark_entry_main(struct futhark_context *ctx, int32_t *out0, const struct futhark_i32_1d *in0)

Asynchronously call the entry point with the given arguments. Make sure to call futhark_context_sync() before using the value of out0.

4.5. GPU

The following API functions are available when using the opencl or cuda backends.

void futhark_context_config_set_device(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *s)

Use the first device whose name contains the given string. The special string #k, where k is an integer, can be used to pick the k-th device, numbered from zero. If used in conjunction with futhark_context_config_set_platform(), only the devices from matching platforms are considered.

4.5.1. Exotic

The following functions are not interesting to most users.

void futhark_context_config_set_default_group_size(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int size)

Set the default number of work-items in a work-group.

void futhark_context_config_set_default_num_groups(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int num)

Set the default number of work-groups used for kernels.

void futhark_context_config_set_default_tile_size(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, int num)

Set the default tile size used when executing kernels that have been block tiled.

void futhark_context_config_dump_program_to(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), dump the OpenCL or CUDA program source to the given file.

void futhark_context_config_load_program_from(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), read OpenCL or CUDA program source from the given file instead of using the embedded program.

4.6. OpenCL

The following API functions are available only when using the opencl backend.

void futhark_context_config_set_platform(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *s)

Use the first OpenCL platform whose name contains the given string. The special string #k, where k is an integer, can be used to pick the k-th platform, numbered from zero.

void futhark_context_config_select_device_interactively(struct futhark_context_config *cfg)

Immediately conduct an interactive dialogue on standard output to select the platform and device from a list.

struct futhark_context *futhark_context_new_with_command_queue(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, cl_command_queue queue)

Construct a context that uses a pre-existing command queue. This allows the caller to directly customise which device and platform is used.

cl_command_queue futhark_context_get_command_queue(struct futhark_context *ctx)

Retrieve the command queue used by the Futhark context. Be very careful with it - enqueueing your own work is unlikely to go well.

4.6.1. Exotic

The following functions are used for debugging generated code or advanced usage.

void futhark_context_config_add_build_option(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *opt)

Add a build option to the OpenCL kernel compiler. See the OpenCL specification for clBuildProgram for available options.

void futhark_context_config_dump_binary_to(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), dump the compiled OpenCL binary to the given file.

void futhark_context_config_load_binary_from(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), read a compiled OpenCL binary from the given file instead of using the embedded program.

4.7. CUDA

The following API functions are available when using the cuda backend.

4.7.1. Exotic

The following functions are used for debugging generated code or advanced usage.

void futhark_context_config_add_nvrtc_option(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *opt)

Add a build option to the NVRTC compiler. See the CUDA documentation for nvrtcCompileProgram for available options.

void futhark_context_config_dump_ptx_to(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), dump the generated PTX code to the given file.

void futhark_context_config_load_ptx_from(struct futhark_context_config *cfg, const char *path)

During futhark_context_new(), read PTX code from the given file instead of using the embedded program.