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Skillsar-gpu-preflight

ar-gpu-preflight

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Updated 10-15 21:39

About this skill

AR GPU Preflight

Single source of truth for two questions before any code runs:

  1. Does this run need GPU, and if so, how much?
  2. Is the system in a state where running it now is safe (RED/YELLOW/GREEN)?

This skill is independent. Do not skip it because some other orchestrator "should" handle preflight.

When To Run

Always, before:

  • python <script> or bash run.sh if the script may take > 30s
  • anything importing torch, jax, tensorflow
  • anything containing cuda, .cuda(), .to("cuda"), device="cuda"
  • training or inference of any model
  • large downloads or checkpoint writes

Skip only if the user explicitly says "skip preflight".

Decision 1 — GPU Need

Read the code or command first. Classify:

GPU-needed signals:

  • torch.cuda, .cuda(), .to("cuda"), device="cuda"
  • JAX/TF GPU use
  • training / inference of a non-trivial model
  • explicit user request for GPU

CPU-only signals:

  • numpy / pandas / sklearn without GPU backends
  • small smoke tests, file processing, plotting

Never silently downgrade GPU code to CPU because torch.cuda.is_available() is False — surface the problem, do not paper over it.

Decision 2 — GPU Sizing

If GPU is needed, estimate before running:

  • Tensors: num_elements * bytes_per_element. float32 = 4 B, float16/bfloat16 = 2 B.
  • For a @ b, count at least inputs + output.
  • Add framework overhead (PyTorch ~0.5–1 GiB minimum).
  • If unsure, mark estimate as YELLOW and pick a card with generous free memory.

Worked example: two 8000×8000 float32 inputs + one output:

3 * 8000 * 8000 * 4 bytes ≈ 0.72 GiB  → single-card smoke test

Decision 3 — Live GPU State

Always run these probes (locally — do NOT wrap in SSH):

nvidia-smi -L
nvidia-smi
nvidia-smi --query-gpu=index,name,memory.free,memory.total,utilization.gpu --format=csv
nvidia-smi --query-compute-apps=pid,process_name,used_memory --format=csv

If nvidia-smi itself fails, stop. Report the driver/CUDA issue. Do not attempt to install drivers.

Then verify CUDA from inside the profile env (NOT system Python):

source "$DATA_DISK/workspace/envs/.miniconda/etc/profile.d/conda.sh" && \
conda activate "$DATA_DISK/workspace/envs/<env_name>" && \
python -c 'import torch; print(torch.cuda.is_available(), torch.cuda.device_count())'

Decision 4 — Card Allocation

Always pick CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES explicitly. On a shared box, never let a job see all GPUs by default.

CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES=0 python train.py            # single-card
CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES=0,1 python train.py          # multi-card, only after proving the code uses them
CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES="" python run_cpu.py         # explicit CPU-only

For multi-GPU, justify in writing why the code can use multiple cards (DDP, model parallel, etc.) before selecting more than one.

Preflight Output Format

Always emit this exact table (any column may be N/A for CPU-only):

Preflight: <project>/<script>
Profile:    <profile>
Workspace:  $DATA_DISK/workspace/projects/<workspace_name>
Env:        $DATA_DISK/workspace/envs/<env_name>
Artifacts:  $DATA_DISK/workspace/artifacts/<workspace_name>/<run_id>

GPU need:                 required / optional / none / unknown
Estimated cards:          <N or unknown>
Estimated memory/card:    <GB or unknown>
Available cards:          <id:free GiB list>
Chosen CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES: <ids or "">

A1 env activates           GREEN/YELLOW/RED
A2 imports resolve         GREEN/YELLOW/RED
B0 GPU need classified     GREEN/YELLOW/RED/N/A
B1 CUDA reachable          GREEN/YELLOW/RED/N/A
B2 GPU free enough         GREEN/YELLOW/RED/N/A
B3 card allocation plan    GREEN/YELLOW/RED/N/A
C1 CPU/RAM state           GREEN/YELLOW/RED
C2 disk space              GREEN/YELLOW/RED
D1 output paths            GREEN/YELLOW/RED
D2 destructive ops         GREEN/YELLOW/RED
D3 seed/reproducibility    GREEN/YELLOW/RED
E1 runtime command         GREEN/YELLOW/RED

VERDICT: GREEN / YELLOW / RED — <short reason>

Recommended command:
  <full command, env-activated, with CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES, log redirected>

Probes for C1/C2:

nproc
uptime
free -h
df -h "$DATA_DISK"

Disk thresholds: GREEN > 10 GB free, YELLOW 2–10 GB, RED < 2 GB.

Verdict Rules

  • Any RED → stop and ask. Do not run.
  • Any YELLOW (no RED) → explain the risk and ask, unless the user already said to proceed on YELLOW.
  • All GREEN/N/A → run is allowed after you show the table.

For GPU-needed code, ANY of the following is automatic RED:

  • nvidia-smi not run
  • no memory/card estimate
  • no CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES
  • chosen cards are visibly busy with insufficient free memory

Hard Rules (Defense In Depth)

  1. NEVER run a CUDA script without first checking nvidia-smi free memory and processes.
  2. NEVER let a GPU job grab every GPU by default.
  3. NEVER fix torch.cuda.is_available() == False by installing CUDA drivers as a first response.
  4. NEVER run the CUDA check with bare python -c — always activate the profile env first.
  5. NEVER report GREEN without actually running the probes.
  6. NEVER silently substitute CPU for a GPU job.

Anti-Patterns

  • "It's a small script, skip preflight." — That's how OOMs happen on a shared GPU.
  • Reporting B2 GREEN without nvidia-smi --query-compute-apps.
  • Multi-GPU launch with no justification.
  • Using python -c 'import torch...' without activating the env (hits system Python).
  • Putting the run command inline in chat without log redirection to artifacts.