Channels Last

A Callback which converts a fastai Learner and input to channels_last format.

Using Mixed Precision, image models trained in channels last format on Nvidia Tensor Cores can achieve 8%-35% increased performance over contiguous format.

Channels last memory format is only implemented for NCHW Tensors. Not all PyTorch operators have been converted to support channels last. See (Beta) Channels Last Memory Format in PyTorch for more details.

Channels Last format can error out if torch.backends.cudnn.benchmark = False, e.g. via fastai’s no_random context manager. If this occurs use the less_random context manager instead. This will allow reproducable training on the same GPU, PyTorch, and CUDA setup at the expense of less reproducablity should any of those change.

source

ChannelsLast

 ChannelsLast (after_create=None, before_fit=None, before_epoch=None,
               before_train=None, before_batch=None, after_pred=None,
               after_loss=None, before_backward=None,
               after_cancel_backward=None, after_backward=None,
               before_step=None, after_cancel_step=None, after_step=None,
               after_cancel_batch=None, after_batch=None,
               after_cancel_train=None, after_train=None,
               before_validate=None, after_cancel_validate=None,
               after_validate=None, after_cancel_epoch=None,
               after_epoch=None, after_cancel_fit=None, after_fit=None)

Channels last training using PyTorch’s Channels Last Memory Format (beta)

When a PyTorch model is set to channels last format, PyTorch will automatically convert any compatible NCHW input tensors to NHWC format. ChannelsLast casts the model to channels-last format, so no changes to dataloaders or inputs are required.

Convenience Methods

fastxtend adds two convenience methods to Learner to easily activate and disable channels last format

source

Learner.to_channelslast

 Learner.to_channelslast (to_fp16:bool=True, init_scale=65536.0,
                          growth_factor=2.0, backoff_factor=0.5,
                          growth_interval=2000, enabled=True)

Set Learner and inputs to channels_last format and Mixed Precision by default

	Type	Default	Details
to_fp16	bool	True	Add `MixedPrecision` callback. Required for full channels last performance
init_scale	float	65536.0
growth_factor	float	2.0
backoff_factor	float	0.5
growth_interval	int	2000
enabled	bool	True

source

Learner.to_contiguous

 Learner.to_contiguous (to_fp32=False)

Set Learner and inputs to contiguous_format (default format), optionally to single precision