News: 0001578204

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Intel's Latest Open-Source Project To End & Layoff Developers... But A New Home At NumPy

([Intel] 4 Hours Ago x86-simd-sort)


Beyond [1]shutting down the Clear Linux project , [2]various Linux driver maintainers let go that have even led to [3]some Intel drivers being "orphaned" in the Linux kernel , there is another open-source project that has ended at Intel with the developers departing the company. Though at least this project has found a new open-source home under the NumPy umbrella.

Two years ago [4]Intel published a blazing fast AVX-512 sorting library , x86-simd-sort. The x86-simd-sort library would go on to be added to NumPy for faster number sorting, [5]new algorithms added to it over time along with [6]even greater performance optimizations for [7]multiple times faster performance than alternatives. [8]PyTorch also has been making use of x86-simd-sort due to its speedy performance alongside the popular NumPy library as well as the GRAPE C++ library for parallel graph processing, and a modified version into OpenJDK.

The open-source x86-simd-sort library is used by notable projects and helps illustrate the importance of AVX-512 and even AVX2 for speeding up sorting. It's great for showcasing on the latest Intel processors as well as AMD. Unfortunately, it is the latest to run into trouble amid the ongoing restructuring at Intel.

The developers of x86-simd-sort were let go from Intel and apparently Intel has no appetite for maintaining such an open-source project anymore. But the good news is that x86-simd-sort will continue on as a community open-source project at NumPy.

Recently [9]this NumPy ticket was opened over needing a new home for x86-simd-sort. The request began with:

"Maintainers of x86-simd-sort no longer work for Intel and we are uncertain of Intel's support of this library going forward. There are two options:

- Transfer the repository to Numpy.

- Fork and vendor the library under NumPy namespace."

Fortunately, Intel agreed to transfer the existing x86-simd-sort repository from the Intel organization so it's now new de facto home is with NumPy.

The x86-simd-sort repository moving forward is now at [10]numpy/x86-simd-sort on GitHub . It's unfortunate that the developers behind it are no longer employed by Intel and that Intel will apparently not be investing in this notable open-source project any longer, but at least the open-source code can continue on now under the NumPy umbrella.



[1] https://www.phoronix.com/review/clear-linux-amd-epyc-9965

[2] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-Driver-Maintainers-6.17

[3] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-SLM-Driver-Orphaned

[4] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-AVX-512-Quicksort-Numpy

[5] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-x86-simd-sort-2.0

[6] https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-x86-simd-sort-4.0

[7] https://www.phoronix.com/news/x86-simd-sort-5.0

[8] https://www.phoronix.com/news/x86-simd-sort-6.0

[9] https://github.com/numpy/numpy/issues/29694

[10] https://github.com/numpy/x86-simd-sort



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Microsoft ActivePromo Campaign: "What Slogan Do You Want to See Tommorrow?"

Microsoft's PR masterminds are planning a massive marketing campaign,
code-named "ActivePromo 2000", to promote the upcoming release of Windows
2000 (scheduled for February 2001). This marketing campaign will include a
"What Slogan Do You Want to See Tommorrow?" promotion.

Children under age 16 will have to opportunity to create their own Microsoft
slogan to replace the aging "Where Do You Want to Go Today?"(R) motto.
Microsoft will set up a special email alias where children can submit their
entries along with detailed personal and demographic information (for
verification purposes, of course). A panel of Microsoft employees will
select a winning entry, which will become the official slogan. The winner
and his/her family will receive an all-expense paid week-long vacation to
Redmond, WA ("The Vacation Capital of East Central Washington State"),
including a guided tour of the Microsoft campus and a personal ten minute
photo-opportunity with Chairman Bill.

We personally believe that "Don't Think About Going Anywhere Else Today"
would make a perfect Microsoft slogan. "Crashes Are Normal" might also be a
good choice.