2015 GPU Hackathons – ORNL
We are excited to announce 2015 GPU Hackathons!
Background
General-purpose Graphics Processing Units (GPGPUs) potentially offer exceptionally high memory bandwidth and performance for a wide range of applications. The challenge in utilizing such accelerators has been the difficulty in programming them. The OpenACC Directives for Accelerators offers straightforward pragma extensions to C++ and Fortran to address this programming hurdle.
Hackthon goal
The goal of each hackathon is for current or prospective user groups of large hybrid CPU-GPU systems to send teams of 3-6 developers along with either (1) a (potentially) scalable application that needs to be ported to GPU accelerators, or (2) an application running on accelerators which needs optimization. There will be intensive mentoring during this 5-day hands-on workshop, with the goal that the teams leave with applications running on GPUs, or at least with a clear roadmap of how to get there. Our mentors come from national laboratories, universities and vendors, and besides having extensive experience in programming with OpenACC, many of them develop the OpenACC-capable compilers and help define the OpenACC standard.
Target audience and format
We are looking for teams of 3-6 developers with a scalable** application to port to or optimize on a GPU accelerator. Collectively the team should know the application intimately. (** by scalable we really mean node-to-node communication implemented, but don’t be discouraged to apply if your application is less than scalable. We are also looking for breadth of application areas.)
Ok, so how can I attend?
Entry period will stay open for only 2 weeks! The period is on Friday, June 5, 2015 and closes July 31st. Selected teams will be notified August 10th. Prior GPU experience is not required! See below how to apply.
What applications are you targeting?
No application specifically. We hope to have open-source community codes in need of porting individual modules. This is a great opportunity for grad students and post-docs.
Will there be prizes?
Besides your code running über fast on a machine like Blue Waters, Piz Daint and Titan? At the end of the event, you will divulge your amazing transformation into OpenACC Expert, in front of your admiring fans. We also are working to setup opportunities for your team to present your work at upcoming supercomputing related conferences such as SC, GTC, CUG, ISC. Oh and one more thing…there may be goodies too. Stay tuned! ;)
But what if I want to use something other than OpenACC?
We host a number of events on programming hybrid architectures. Please visit the OLCF training events page for more info.
But we don’t even know how to use OpenACC…
Programming experience with OpenACC is not a requirement. You will learn quickly in the intense 5-day schedule, working on your code 95% of the time with the mentors. In the weeks preceding the hackathon, you will have a chance to attend training to prepare you for the event.
Participation Costs
Participation in the workshop is free of charge. The meeting room and lunches, as well as access to the supercomputers throughout the event are offered by participating sites. Mentors and learning materials introduced by the instructors are sponsored by participating sites the following partner organizations: Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility(OLCF), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), Cray, NVIDIA, PGI, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Technische Universität Dresden, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Who can I contact for more information or questions?
Please contact Fernanda Foertter [email protected] for questions.
Where are these Hackathons being held?
We are proud to be partnering with centers at NCSA and CSCS to bring hackathons at more locations this year. Three have already been scheduled with more in the works. Please see tabs below for details.
[tab: NCSAHack, April 2015]
Dates: April 20-24, 2015
Venue: This hackathon will be hosted at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the UIUC Campus.
Lodging: Information will be available soon.
Dates: July 6-10, 2015
Venue: The First OpenACC EuroHack will be hosted at Hotel de la Paix located in Lugano, Switzerland.
Lodging: Information will be available soon.
Please see CSCS’s event page for more information.
[tab: OLCFHack, October 2015]Dates: October 19-23, 2015
Venue: This hackathon will be hosted at the Knoxville Marriott in Knoxville, TN.
Lodging:
Book your group rate for ORNL Hack-a-Thon
[tab: Registration]
Please register for the Hackathon below: