Plans for solvers

For any optimisation performed in Manopt.jl information is required about both the optimisation task or “problem” at hand as well as the solver and all its parameters. This together is called a plan in Manopt.jl and it consists of two data structures:

  • The Manopt Problem describes all static data of a task, most prominently the manifold and the objective.
  • The Solver State describes all varying data and parameters for the solver that is used. This also means that each solver has its own data structure for the state.

By splitting these two parts, one problem can be define an then be solved using different solvers.

Still there might be the need to set certain parameters within any of these structures. For that there is

Manopt.set_manopt_parameter!Function
set_manopt_parameter!(f, element::Symbol , args...)

For any f and a Symbol e, dispatch on its value so by default, to set some args... in f or one of uts sub elements.

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set_manopt_parameter!(element::Symbol, value::Union{String,Bool,<:Number})

Set global Manopt parameters addressed by a symbol element. W This first dispatches on the value of element.

The parameters are stored to the global settings using Preferences.jl.

Passing a value of "" deletes the corresponding entry from the preferences. Whenever the LocalPreferences.toml is modified, this is also issued as an @info.

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set_manopt_parameter!(amo::AbstractManifoldObjective, element::Symbol, args...)

Set a certain args... from the AbstractManifoldObjective amo to value. This function should dispatch onVal(element)`.

Currently supported

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::AbstractManoptProblem, element::Symbol, field::Symbol , value)

Set a certain field/element from the AbstractManoptProblem ams to value. This function usually dispatches on Val(element). Instead of a single field, also a chain of elements can be provided, allowing to access encapsulated parts of the problem.

Main values for element are :Manifold and :Objective.

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::DebugSolverState, ::Val{:Debug}, args...)

Set certain values specified by args... into the elements of the debugDictionary

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::RecordSolverState, ::Val{:Record}, args...)

Set certain values specified by args... into the elements of the recordDictionary

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::AbstractManoptSolverState, element::Symbol, args...)

Set a certain field or semantic element from the AbstractManoptSolverState ams to value. This function passes to Val(element) and specific setters should dispatch on Val{element}.

By default, this function just does nothing.

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::DebugSolverState, ::Val{:SubProblem}, args...)

Set certain values specified by args... to the sub problem.

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set_manopt_parameter!(ams::DebugSolverState, ::Val{:SubState}, args...)

Set certain values specified by args... to the sub state.

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Manopt.get_manopt_parameterFunction
get_manopt_parameter(f, element::Symbol, args...)

Access arbitrary parameters from f addressed by a symbol element.

For any f and a Symbol e dispatch on its value by default, to get some element from f potentially further qualified by args....

This functions returns nothing if f does not have the property element

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get_manopt_parameter(element::Symbol; default=nothing)

Access global Manopt parameters addressed by a symbol element. This first dispatches on the value of element.

If the value is not set, default is returned.

The parameters are queried from the global settings using Preferences.jl, so they are persistent within your activated Environment.

Currently used settings

:Mode the mode can be set to "Tutorial" to get several hints especially in scenarios, where the optimisation on manifolds is different from the usual “experience” in (classical, Euclidean) optimization. Any other value has the same effect as not setting it.

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Manopt.status_summaryFunction
status_summary(e)

Return a string reporting about the current status of e, where e is a type from Manopt.

This method is similar to show but just returns a string. It might also be more verbose in explaining, or hide internal information.

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The following symbols are used.

SymbolUsed inDescription
:ActivityDebugWhenActiveactivity of the debug action stored within
:BasepointTangentSpacethe point the tangent space is at
:Costgenericthe cost function (within an objective, as pass down)
:DebugDebugSolverStatethe stored debugDictionary
:Gradientgenericthe gradient function (within an objective, as pass down)
:Iterategenericthe (current) iterate, similar to set_iterate!, within a state
:Manifoldgenericthe manifold (within a problem, as pass down)
:Objectivegenericthe objective (within a problem, as pass down)
:SubProblemgenericthe sub problem (within a state, as pass down)
:SubStategenericthe sub state (within a state, as pass down)
ProximalDCCost, ProximalDCGradset the proximal parameter within the proximal sub objective elements
:PopulationParticleSwarmStatea certain population of points, for example particle_swarms swarm
:RecordRecordSolverState
:TrustRegionRadiusTrustRegionsStatethe trust region radius, equivalent to
, :uExactPenaltyCost, ExactPenaltyGradParameters within the exact penalty objective
, , AugmentedLagrangianCost, AugmentedLagrangianGradParameters of the Lagrangian function
:p, :XLinearizedDCCost, LinearizedDCGradParameters withing the linearized functional used for the sub problem of the difference of convex algorithm

Any other lower case name or letter as well as single upper case letters access fields of the corresponding first argument. for example :p could be used to access the field s.p of a state. This is often, where the iterate is stored, so the recommended way is to use :Iterate from above-

Since the iterate is often stored in the states fields s.p one could access the iterate often also with :p and similarly the gradient with :X. This is discouraged for both readability as well as to stay more generic, and it is recommended to use :Iterate and :Gradient instead in generic settings.

You can further activate a “Tutorial” mode by set_manopt_parameter!(:Mode, "Tutorial"). Internally, the following convenience function is available.

Manopt.is_tutorial_modeFunction
is_tutorial_mode()

A small internal helper to indicate whether tutorial mode is active.

You can set the mode by calling set_manopt_parameter!(:Mode, "Tutorial") or deactivate it by set_manopt_parameter!(:Mode, "").

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