PyTorch中的autocast：混合精度训练的实现原理

PyTorch中的`autocast`：混合精度训练的实现原理

在深度学习中，尤其是在训练大型模型时，计算资源和显存消耗往往是非常关键的因素。为了优化这些问题，混合精度训练（Mixed Precision Training）应运而生。autocast 是 PyTorch 提供的一个工具，用于自动处理混合精度训练中的数值类型选择，使得计算能在尽量减少精度损失的同时，提升性能。

1. 什么是`autocast`？

autocast 是 PyTorch 中用于启用自动混合精度的上下文管理器。它可以使代码中的指定部分自动选择合适的浮点数精度（例如 float16 或 bfloat16），以提高计算效率并节省显存，同时尽量保持模型的训练精度。

目的：优化性能，减少显存占用。
实现方式：在指定的代码区域内，自动选择使用较低精度（如 float16 或 bfloat16）进行计算。计算结束后，返回高精度（如 float32）以进行梯度更新。

2. `autocast`如何工作？

工作流程

autocast 基本上是一个上下文管理器（Context Manager），其工作原理如下：

进入autocast上下文：
- 当代码进入 autocast 上下文时，PyTorch 会自动将相关操作（如矩阵乘法、卷积等）切换到 低精度浮点数（通常为 float16 或 bfloat16），以提高计算速度和节省显存。
操作类型选择：
- autocast 会根据硬件和设备类型（例如 CUDA 或 CPU）自动选择合适的精度。对于 CUDA 设备，通常使用 float16；而对于 CPU 设备，使用 bfloat16。
返回到默认精度：
- 计算完成后，autocast 会退出上下文并将所有变量恢复到 默认精度（通常是 float32）。这对于梯度计算和权重更新至关重要，因为在低精度下进行梯度计算可能会导致数值不稳定或精度损失。
避免梯度和权重更新中的精度丢失：
- 在 autocast 内部进行的前向传播计算使用低精度（float16 或 bfloat16），但 梯度计算和权重更新 操作仍然在 float32 精度下进行，以保证数值稳定性。

具体代码解析

以下是 PyTorch 中 autocast 的基本使用示例：

import torch
from torch import nn, optim
from torch.cuda.amp import autocast, GradScaler# 创建一个模型和优化器
model = nn.Linear(10, 1).cuda()
optimizer = optim.Adam(model.parameters(), lr=1e-3)# GradScaler 用于 Loss Scaling
scaler = GradScaler()# 假设有一个训练循环
for epoch in range(10):optimizer.zero_grad()# 进入 autocast 上下文with autocast(device_type="cuda"):inputs = torch.randn(32, 10).cuda()  # 输入数据targets = torch.randn(32, 1).cuda()  # 目标数据outputs = model(inputs)loss = nn.MSELoss()(outputs, targets)# 使用 GradScaler 进行 Loss Scaling 和反向传播scaler.scale(loss).backward()scaler.step(optimizer)scaler.update()

3. `autocast` 代码解析

安装完torch之后，在类似于下面的路径下可以找到源码：[~/anaconda3/envs/xxx/lib/python3.10/site-packages/torch/amp/autocast_mode.py, 源码放到了文末。

我们深入分析autocast的实现代码，理解它是如何工作的：

`enter`方法：

当进入 autocast 上下文时，__enter__ 方法会被调用。此方法完成以下操作：

保存当前的设置：
- 保存设备的 autocast 状态、数据类型（dtype）以及缓存设置。
启用 autocast：
- 通过 torch.set_autocast_enabled() 启用指定设备的 autocast，并设置数据类型（如 float16 或 bfloat16）。
开启缓存：
- 启用或禁用 autocast 的缓存功能，优化计算性能。

def __enter__(self):self.prev_cache_enabled = torch.is_autocast_cache_enabled()self.prev = torch.is_autocast_enabled(self.device)self.prev_fastdtype = torch.get_autocast_dtype(self.device)torch.set_autocast_enabled(self.device, self._enabled)torch.set_autocast_dtype(self.device, self.fast_dtype)  # type: ignore[arg-type]torch.autocast_increment_nesting()torch.set_autocast_cache_enabled(self._cache_enabled)

如果读者对def __enter__(self)函数中的set_autocast_dtype这样的函数实现感兴趣，可以参考笔者的另一篇博客：PyTorch中的__init__.pyi文件：作用与C++实现关系解析

`exit`方法：

当退出 autocast 上下文时，__exit__ 方法会被调用：

恢复原来的设置：
- 恢复原先的 autocast 状态、数据类型以及缓存设置。
清理缓存：
- 在嵌套层级降至 0 时，调用 torch.clear_autocast_cache() 清理缓存，以释放内存。

def __exit__(self, exc_type: Any, exc_val: Any, exc_tb: Any):if torch.autocast_decrement_nesting() == 0:torch.clear_autocast_cache()torch.set_autocast_enabled(self.device, self.prev)torch.set_autocast_dtype(self.device, self.prev_fastdtype)torch.set_autocast_cache_enabled(self.prev_cache_enabled)return False

`call`方法：

此外，autocast 还可以作为装饰器使用：

def __call__(self, func):return autocast_decorator(self, func)

这个方法允许你将 autocast 直接应用到函数上，简化代码结构。

4. 使用 `autocast` 进行混合精度训练

在训练过程中，autocast 会自动选择适当的精度，以确保高效训练：

前向传播（Forward Pass）：大部分操作使用低精度（float16 或 bfloat16）进行加速计算。
反向传播（Backward Pass）：梯度计算仍使用 float32 精度，避免由于精度不足引起的数值不稳定。
梯度更新：权重更新在 float32 精度下进行，确保模型稳定收敛。

5. `autocast`与`GradScaler`的结合

为了进一步提高混合精度训练的稳定性，PyTorch 还提供了 GradScaler，用来进行 Loss Scaling。其目的是防止低精度计算中的梯度溢出或下溢：

GradScaler 将损失放大，然后进行反向传播，确保梯度数值保持在合理范围内。
通过 scaler.scale(loss).backward() 和 scaler.step(optimizer) 来执行带有缩放的反向传播和优化器步骤。

总结

autocast 是 PyTorch 提供的一种自动混合精度工具，可以在训练过程中自动选择适当的数据类型，从而加速计算和减少显存使用。
autocast 在前向传播时使用低精度（如 float16 或 bfloat16），但梯度计算和权重更新始终保持 float32 精度，以保证数值稳定性。
通过与 GradScaler 配合使用，能够确保混合精度训练在节省资源的同时，避免精度丢失或梯度下溢问题。

使用 autocast 使得大规模深度学习模型的训练更高效，同时保持较高的精度和稳定性，特别适用于高性能计算环境中的训练任务。

附录：pytorch源码

class autocast:r"""Instances of :class:`autocast` serve as context managers or decorators thatallow regions of your script to run in mixed precision.In these regions, ops run in an op-specific dtype chosen by autocastto improve performance while maintaining accuracy.See the :ref:`Autocast Op Reference<autocast-op-reference>` for details.When entering an autocast-enabled region, Tensors may be any type.You should not call ``half()`` or ``bfloat16()`` on your model(s) or inputs when using autocasting.:class:`autocast` should wrap only the forward pass(es) of your network, including the losscomputation(s).  Backward passes under autocast are not recommended.Backward ops run in the same type that autocast used for corresponding forward ops.Example for CUDA Devices::# Creates model and optimizer in default precisionmodel = Net().cuda()optimizer = optim.SGD(model.parameters(), ...)for input, target in data:optimizer.zero_grad()# Enables autocasting for the forward pass (model + loss)with torch.autocast(device_type="cuda"):output = model(input)loss = loss_fn(output, target)# Exits the context manager before backward()loss.backward()optimizer.step()See the :ref:`Automatic Mixed Precision examples<amp-examples>` for usage (along with gradient scaling)in more complex scenarios (e.g., gradient penalty, multiple models/losses, custom autograd functions).:class:`autocast` can also be used as a decorator, e.g., on the ``forward`` method of your model::class AutocastModel(nn.Module):...@torch.autocast(device_type="cuda")def forward(self, input):...Floating-point Tensors produced in an autocast-enabled region may be ``float16``.After returning to an autocast-disabled region, using them with floating-pointTensors of different dtypes may cause type mismatch errors.  If so, cast the Tensor(s)produced in the autocast region back to ``float32`` (or other dtype if desired).If a Tensor from the autocast region is already ``float32``, the cast is a no-op,and incurs no additional overhead.CUDA Example::# Creates some tensors in default dtype (here assumed to be float32)a_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")b_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")c_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")d_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")with torch.autocast(device_type="cuda"):# torch.mm is on autocast's list of ops that should run in float16.# Inputs are float32, but the op runs in float16 and produces float16 output.# No manual casts are required.e_float16 = torch.mm(a_float32, b_float32)# Also handles mixed input typesf_float16 = torch.mm(d_float32, e_float16)# After exiting autocast, calls f_float16.float() to use with d_float32g_float32 = torch.mm(d_float32, f_float16.float())CPU Training Example::# Creates model and optimizer in default precisionmodel = Net()optimizer = optim.SGD(model.parameters(), ...)for epoch in epochs:for input, target in data:optimizer.zero_grad()# Runs the forward pass with autocasting.with torch.autocast(device_type="cpu", dtype=torch.bfloat16):output = model(input)loss = loss_fn(output, target)loss.backward()optimizer.step()CPU Inference Example::# Creates model in default precisionmodel = Net().eval()with torch.autocast(device_type="cpu", dtype=torch.bfloat16):for input in data:# Runs the forward pass with autocasting.output = model(input)CPU Inference Example with Jit Trace::class TestModel(nn.Module):def __init__(self, input_size, num_classes):super().__init__()self.fc1 = nn.Linear(input_size, num_classes)def forward(self, x):return self.fc1(x)input_size = 2num_classes = 2model = TestModel(input_size, num_classes).eval()# For now, we suggest to disable the Jit Autocast Pass,# As the issue: https://github.com/pytorch/pytorch/issues/75956torch._C._jit_set_autocast_mode(False)with torch.cpu.amp.autocast(cache_enabled=False):model = torch.jit.trace(model, torch.randn(1, input_size))model = torch.jit.freeze(model)# Models Runfor _ in range(3):model(torch.randn(1, input_size))Type mismatch errors *in* an autocast-enabled region are a bug; if this is what you observe,please file an issue.``autocast(enabled=False)`` subregions can be nested in autocast-enabled regions.Locally disabling autocast can be useful, for example, if you want to force a subregionto run in a particular ``dtype``.  Disabling autocast gives you explicit control overthe execution type.  In the subregion, inputs from the surrounding regionshould be cast to ``dtype`` before use::# Creates some tensors in default dtype (here assumed to be float32)a_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")b_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")c_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")d_float32 = torch.rand((8, 8), device="cuda")with torch.autocast(device_type="cuda"):e_float16 = torch.mm(a_float32, b_float32)with torch.autocast(device_type="cuda", enabled=False):# Calls e_float16.float() to ensure float32 execution# (necessary because e_float16 was created in an autocasted region)f_float32 = torch.mm(c_float32, e_float16.float())# No manual casts are required when re-entering the autocast-enabled region.# torch.mm again runs in float16 and produces float16 output, regardless of input types.g_float16 = torch.mm(d_float32, f_float32)The autocast state is thread-local.  If you want it enabled in a new thread, the context manager or decoratormust be invoked in that thread.  This affects :class:`torch.nn.DataParallel` and:class:`torch.nn.parallel.DistributedDataParallel` when used with more than one GPU per process(see :ref:`Working with Multiple GPUs<amp-multigpu>`).Args:device_type(str, required):  Device type to use. Possible values are: 'cuda', 'cpu', 'xpu' and 'hpu'.The type is the same as the `type` attribute of a :class:`torch.device`.Thus, you may obtain the device type of a tensor using `Tensor.device.type`.enabled(bool, optional):  Whether autocasting should be enabled in the region.Default: ``True``dtype(torch_dtype, optional):  Data type for ops run in autocast. It uses the default value(``torch.float16`` for CUDA and ``torch.bfloat16`` for CPU), given by:func:`~torch.get_autocast_dtype`, if :attr:`dtype` is ``None``.Default: ``None``cache_enabled(bool, optional):  Whether the weight cache inside autocast should be enabled.Default: ``True``"""def __init__(self,device_type: str,dtype: Optional[_dtype] = None,enabled: bool = True,cache_enabled: Optional[bool] = None,):if not isinstance(device_type, str):raise ValueError(f"Expected `device_type` of type `str`, got: `{type(device_type)}`")if dtype is None:dtype = torch.get_autocast_dtype(device_type)if torch._jit_internal.is_scripting():self._enabled = enabledself.device = device_typeself.fast_dtype = dtypeassert dtype is not Nonereturnself.device = device_typeif not is_autocast_available(self.device):raise RuntimeError(f"User specified an unsupported autocast device_type '{self.device}'")self.custom_backend_name = torch._C._get_privateuse1_backend_name()self.fast_dtype = torch.get_autocast_dtype(self.device)if self.device == self.custom_backend_name:necessary_funcs = ["get_amp_supported_dtype",]message = f"Tried to use AMP with the `{self.custom_backend_name}` backend, but the backend has not "message += "registered a module or  the module miss some necessary funcs. The backend should register "message += "a module by `torch._register_device_module`, and the module must have these funcs: \n"message += "`get_amp_supported_dtype() -> List[torch.dtype]`. \n"assert hasattr(torch, self.custom_backend_name), messageself.custom_device_mod = getattr(torch, self.custom_backend_name)for func in necessary_funcs:assert hasattr(self.custom_device_mod, func), (message + f"But the func `{func}` is missing. \n")self._cache_enabled = torch.is_autocast_cache_enabled()if (enabledand torch.cuda.amp.common.amp_definitely_not_available()and self.device == "cuda"):warnings.warn("User provided device_type of 'cuda', but CUDA is not available. Disabling")enabled = Falseif dtype is not None:self.fast_dtype = dtypeif cache_enabled is not None:self._cache_enabled = cache_enabledif self.device == "cpu":supported_dtype = [torch.bfloat16, torch.float16]if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtype and enabled:error_message = "In CPU autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. Disabling autocast.\n"error_message += "CPU Autocast only supports dtype of "error_message += (", ".join(str(dtype) for dtype in supported_dtype) + " currently.")warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseelif self.device == "xpu":supported_dtype = [torch.bfloat16, torch.float16]if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtype:error_message = "In XPU autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. Disabling autocast.\n"error_message += "XPU Autocast only supports dtypes of torch.bfloat16 and torch.float16 currently."warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseelif self.device == "ipu":supported_dtypes = [torch.bfloat16, torch.float16]if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtypes:error_message = "In IPU autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. Disabling autocast.\n"error_message += "IPU Autocast only supports dtypes of torch.bfloat16 and torch.float16 currently."warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseelif self.device == "hpu":supported_dtype = [torch.bfloat16, torch.float16]if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtype:error_message = "In HPU autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. Disabling autocast.\n"error_message += "HPU Autocast only supports dtypes of torch.bfloat16 and torch.float16 currently."warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseelif self.device == self.custom_backend_name:supported_dtype = self.custom_device_mod.get_amp_supported_dtype()if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtype:error_message = f"In {self.custom_backend_name} autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. "error_message += f"Disabling autocast.\n {self.custom_backend_name} Autocast only supports dtypes of "error_message += (", ".join(str(dtype) for dtype in supported_dtype) + " currently.")warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseelif self.device == "cuda":if (enabledand self.fast_dtype == torch.bfloat16and not torch.cuda.is_bf16_supported()):raise RuntimeError("Current CUDA Device does not support bfloat16. Please switch dtype to float16.")elif self.device == "xla":supported_dtype = [torch.float16, torch.bfloat16]if self.fast_dtype not in supported_dtype:error_message = "In XLA autocast, but the target dtype is not supported. Disabling autocast.\n"error_message += ("XLA Autocast only supports dtype of torch.bfloat16 currently.")warnings.warn(error_message)enabled = Falseself._enabled = enableddef __enter__(self):if torch._jit_internal.is_scripting():assert self.fast_dtype is not Nonereturn selfself.prev_cache_enabled = torch.is_autocast_cache_enabled()self.prev = torch.is_autocast_enabled(self.device)self.prev_fastdtype = torch.get_autocast_dtype(self.device)torch.set_autocast_enabled(self.device, self._enabled)torch.set_autocast_dtype(self.device, self.fast_dtype)  # type: ignore[arg-type]torch.autocast_increment_nesting()torch.set_autocast_cache_enabled(self._cache_enabled)def __exit__(self, exc_type: Any, exc_val: Any, exc_tb: Any):  # type: ignore[override]if torch._jit_internal.is_scripting():return# Drop the cache when we exit to a nesting level that's outside any instance of autocast.if torch.autocast_decrement_nesting() == 0:torch.clear_autocast_cache()torch.set_autocast_enabled(self.device, self.prev)torch.set_autocast_dtype(self.device, self.prev_fastdtype)torch.set_autocast_cache_enabled(self.prev_cache_enabled)return Falsedef __call__(self, func):if torch._jit_internal.is_scripting():return funcreturn autocast_decorator(self, func)