arXiv subjects

David R. C. Hill

Publications and source records attributed to David R. C. Hill.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

ASSESSING THE STOCHASTIC PROPERTIES OF MODERN PSEUDO-RANDOM GENERATORS FOR PARALLEL COMPUTING

Pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are widely used in modern computing and are expected to exhibit excellent statistical performance and repeatability. This study evaluates and compares modern PRNGs used in high performance computing and artificial intelligence. Our selections comes from different families, including Xoshiro, Philox, PCG, and MRG32k3a. We systematically assess the quality of these generators; instead of testing a single stream for each generator, we test more than 10 3 streams with the BigCrush battery form the TestU01 library. The results, involving more than 4.5 years of cumulative computing time, are analyzed against the claims made by the generators' creators. The highest success rate is 72%, and all tests have been failed by almost every generator, the failed tests are documented. To ensure fairness, all tests are conducted under consistent conditions and are designed to closely simulate real-world usage. The results of each test are available, usable and reproducible with a git repository.

cs.DC↗

arXiv2024

Reproducibility, Replicability, and Repeatability: A survey of reproducible research with a focus on high performance computing

Reproducibility is widely acknowledged as a fundamental principle in scientific research. Currently, the scientific community grapples with numerous challenges associated with reproducibility, often referred to as the ''reproducibility crisis.'' This crisis permeated numerous scientific disciplines. In this study, we examined the factors in scientific practices that might contribute to this lack of reproducibility. Significant focus is placed on the prevalent integration of computation in research, which can sometimes function as a black box in published papers. Our study primarily focuses on highperformance computing (HPC), which presents unique reproducibility challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive review of these concerns and potential solutions. Furthermore, we discuss the critical role of reproducible research in advancing science and identifying persisting issues within the field of HPC.

cs.SE↗