Improving Unrelated Clustering Feature in VPR

doc/src/vpr/command_line_usage.rst

@@ -471,16 +471,30 @@ For people not working on CAD, you can probably leave all the options to their d
 
     **Default**: ``on``
 
-.. option:: --allow_unrelated_clustering {on | off | auto}
+.. option:: --allow_unrelated_clustering {on | off | auto | <string>:{on|off|auto}}
 
     Controls whether primitives with no attraction to a cluster may be packed into it.
 
     Unrelated clustering can increase packing density (decreasing the number of blocks required to implement the circuit), but can significantly impact routability.
+
+    * ``auto`` Dynamically enabled/disabled (based on density).
+
+    * ``on`` Unrelated clustering enabled.
+
+    * ``off`` Unrelated clustering disabled.
 
-    When set to ``auto`` VPR automatically decides whether to enable unrelated clustring based on the targetted device and achieved packing density.
+    * ``<string>:{on|off|auto}`` Specify the unrelated clustering status for a specific block type.
 
     **Default**:  ``auto``
 
+    This option can also take multiple space-separated values.
+
+    For example::
+
+        --allow_unrelated_clustering auto io:on
+
+    would turn on unrelated clustering for io blocks and dynamically determine enable/disable unrelated clustering for all other blocks.
+
 .. option:: --alpha_clustering <float>
 
     A parameter that weights the optimization of timing vs area.

vpr/src/base/ShowSetup.cpp

@@ -730,16 +730,7 @@ static void ShowAnalysisOpts(const t_analysis_opts& AnalysisOpts) {
 }
 
 static void ShowPackerOpts(const t_packer_opts& PackerOpts) {
-    VTR_LOG("PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering: ");
-    if (PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering == e_unrelated_clustering::ON) {
-        VTR_LOG("true\n");
-    } else if (PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering == e_unrelated_clustering::OFF) {
-        VTR_LOG("false\n");
-    } else if (PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering == e_unrelated_clustering::AUTO) {
-        VTR_LOG("auto\n");
-    } else {
-        VPR_FATAL_ERROR(VPR_ERROR_UNKNOWN, "Unknown packer allow_unrelated_clustering\n");
-    }
+    VTR_LOG("PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering: %s\n", vtr::join(PackerOpts.allow_unrelated_clustering, " ").c_str());
     VTR_LOG("PackerOpts.alpha_clustering: %f\n", PackerOpts.alpha);
     VTR_LOG("PackerOpts.beta_clustering: %f\n", PackerOpts.beta);
     VTR_LOG("PackerOpts.cluster_seed_type: ");

vpr/src/base/read_options.cpp

@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include "vtr_log.h"
 #include "vtr_util.h"
 #include "vtr_path.h"
-#include <string>
 
 using argparse::ConvertedValue;
 using argparse::Provenance;
@@ -648,44 +647,6 @@ struct ParseClockModeling {
     }
 };
 
-struct ParseUnrelatedClustering {
-    ConvertedValue<e_unrelated_clustering> from_str(std::string str) {
-        ConvertedValue<e_unrelated_clustering> conv_value;
-        if (str == "on")
-            conv_value.set_value(e_unrelated_clustering::ON);
-        else if (str == "off")
-            conv_value.set_value(e_unrelated_clustering::OFF);
-        else if (str == "auto")
-            conv_value.set_value(e_unrelated_clustering::AUTO);
-        else {
-            std::stringstream msg;
-            msg << "Invalid conversion from '"
-                << str
-                << "' to e_unrelated_clustering (expected one of: "
-                << argparse::join(default_choices(), ", ") << ")";
-            conv_value.set_error(msg.str());
-        }
-        return conv_value;
-    }
-
-    ConvertedValue<std::string> to_str(e_unrelated_clustering val) {
-        ConvertedValue<std::string> conv_value;
-        if (val == e_unrelated_clustering::ON)
-            conv_value.set_value("on");
-        else if (val == e_unrelated_clustering::OFF)
-            conv_value.set_value("off");
-        else {
-            VTR_ASSERT(val == e_unrelated_clustering::AUTO);
-            conv_value.set_value("auto");
-        }
-        return conv_value;
-    }
-
-    std::vector<std::string> default_choices() {
-        return {"on", "off", "auto"};
-    }
-};
-
 struct ParseBalanceBlockTypeUtil {
     ConvertedValue<e_balance_block_type_util> from_str(std::string str) {
         ConvertedValue<e_balance_block_type_util> conv_value;
@@ -1629,14 +1590,24 @@ argparse::ArgumentParser create_arg_parser(std::string prog_name, t_options& arg
         .default_value("on")
         .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
 
-    pack_grp.add_argument<e_unrelated_clustering, ParseUnrelatedClustering>(args.allow_unrelated_clustering, "--allow_unrelated_clustering")
+    pack_grp.add_argument(args.allow_unrelated_clustering, "--allow_unrelated_clustering")
         .help(
             "Controls whether primitives with no attraction to a cluster can be packed into it.\n"
             "Turning unrelated clustering on can increase packing density (fewer blocks are used), but at the cost of worse routability.\n"
-            " * on  : Unrelated clustering enabled\n"
-            " * off : Unrelated clustering disabled\n"
-            " * auto: Dynamically enabled/disabled (based on density)\n")
-        .default_value("auto")
+            "This option can take multiple specifications in several\n"
+            "formats:\n"
+            "* auto (i.e. 'auto'): Dynamically enabled/disabled (based on density)\n"
+            "* on  : Unrelated clustering enabled\n"
+            "* off : Unrelated clustering disabled\n"
+            "* Specified for a certain block type: (e.g. 'clb:on')\n"
+            "These can be used in combination. For example:\n"
+            "   '--allow_unrelated_clustering auto io:on'\n"
+            "would turn on unrelated clustering for io blocks and\n"
+            "dynamically determine enable/disable unrelated clustering,\n"
+            "for all other blocks.\n")
+
+        .nargs('+')
+        .default_value({"auto"})
         .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
 
     pack_grp.add_argument(args.alpha_clustering, "--alpha_clustering")
@@ -1773,19 +1744,6 @@ argparse::ArgumentParser create_arg_parser(std::string prog_name, t_options& arg
         .default_value("on")
         .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
 
-    pack_grp.add_argument(args.pack_num_moves, "--pack_num_moves")
-        .help(
-            "The number of moves that can be tried in packing stage")
-        .default_value("100000")
-        .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
-
-    pack_grp.add_argument(args.pack_move_type, "--pack_move_type")
-        .help(
-            "The move type used in packing."
-            "The available values are: randomSwap, semiDirectedSwap, semiDirectedSameTypeSwap")
-        .default_value("semiDirectedSwap")
-        .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
-
     auto& place_grp = parser.add_argument_group("placement options");
 
     place_grp.add_argument(args.Seed, "--seed")
@@ -2014,8 +1972,7 @@ argparse::ArgumentParser create_arg_parser(std::string prog_name, t_options& arg
     place_grp.add_argument(args.place_reward_fun, "--place_reward_fun")
         .help(
             "The reward function used by placement RL agent."
-            "The available values are: basic, nonPenalizing_basic, runtime_aware, WLbiased_runtime_aware"
-            "The latter two are only available for timing-driven placement.")
+            "The available values are: basic, nonPenalizing_basic, runtime_aware, WLbiased_runtime_aware")
         .default_value("WLbiased_runtime_aware")
         .show_in(argparse::ShowIn::HELP_ONLY);
 
@@ -2764,19 +2721,6 @@ void set_conditional_defaults(t_options& args) {
         }
     }
 
-    // Check for correct options combinations
-    // If you are running WLdriven placement, the RL reward function should be
-    // either basic or nonPenalizing basic
-    if (args.RL_agent_placement && (args.PlaceAlgorithm == BOUNDING_BOX_PLACE || !args.timing_analysis)) {
-        if (args.place_reward_fun.value() != "basic" && args.place_reward_fun.value() != "nonPenalizing_basic") {
-            VTR_LOG_WARN(
-                "To use RLPlace for WLdriven placements, the reward function should be basic or nonPenalizing_basic.\n"
-                "you can specify the reward function using --place_reward_fun.\n"
-                "Setting the placement reward function to \"basic\"\n");
-            args.place_reward_fun.set("basic", Provenance::INFERRED);
-        }
-    }
-
     //Which placement algorithm to use during placement quench?
     if (args.PlaceQuenchAlgorithm.provenance() != Provenance::SPECIFIED) {
         args.PlaceQuenchAlgorithm.set(args.PlaceAlgorithm, Provenance::INFERRED);

vpr/src/base/read_options.h

@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ struct t_options {
 
     /* Clustering options */
     argparse::ArgValue<bool> connection_driven_clustering;
-    argparse::ArgValue<e_unrelated_clustering> allow_unrelated_clustering;
+    argparse::ArgValue<std::vector<std::string>> allow_unrelated_clustering;
     argparse::ArgValue<float> alpha_clustering;
     argparse::ArgValue<float> beta_clustering;
     argparse::ArgValue<bool> timing_driven_clustering;

vpr/src/base/vpr_types.cpp

@@ -23,6 +23,35 @@ void t_ext_pin_util_targets::set_default_pin_util(t_ext_pin_util default_target)
     defaults_ = default_target;
 }
 
+t_allow_unrelated_clustering::t_allow_unrelated_clustering(enum e_unrel_clust_stat default_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode default_mode) {
+    default_.first = default_stat;
+    default_.second = default_mode;
+}
+enum e_unrel_clust_stat t_allow_unrelated_clustering::get_block_status(std::string block_type_name) const {
+    auto itr = overrides_.find(block_type_name);
+    if (itr != overrides_.end()) {
+        std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status = itr->second;
+        return status.first;
+    }
+    return default_.first;
+}
+
+enum e_unrel_clust_mode t_allow_unrelated_clustering::get_block_mode(std::string block_type_name) const {
+    auto itr = overrides_.find(block_type_name);
+    if (itr != overrides_.end()) {
+        std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status = itr->second;
+        return status.second;
+    }
+    return default_.second;
+}
+
+void t_allow_unrelated_clustering::set_block_status(std::string block_type_name, std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status) {
+    overrides_[block_type_name] = status;
+}
+void t_allow_unrelated_clustering::set_default_status(std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status) {
+    default_ = status;
+}
+
 t_pack_high_fanout_thresholds::t_pack_high_fanout_thresholds(int threshold)
     : default_(threshold) {}
 

vpr/src/base/vpr_types.h

@@ -133,10 +133,14 @@ enum class e_const_gen_inference {
     COMB_SEQ ///<Both combinational and sequential constant generator inference
 };
 
-enum class e_unrelated_clustering {
+enum class e_unrel_clust_stat {
     OFF,
-    ON,
-    AUTO
+    ON
+};
+
+enum class e_unrel_clust_mode {
+    FIXED, ///<Unrelated clustering status is given by the user and cannot be updated
+    AUTO   ///<Unrelated clustering status can be updated by VPR throughout the packing flow
 };
 
 enum class e_balance_block_type_util {
@@ -208,6 +212,42 @@ class t_ext_pin_util_targets {
     std::map<std::string, t_ext_pin_util> overrides_;
 };
 
+class t_allow_unrelated_clustering {
+  public:
+    t_allow_unrelated_clustering() = default;
+    t_allow_unrelated_clustering(enum e_unrel_clust_stat status, enum e_unrel_clust_mode mode);
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the unrelated clustering status for the specified block type
+     */
+    enum e_unrel_clust_stat get_block_status(std::string block_type_name) const;
+    /**
+     * @brief Returns the unrelated clustering mode for the specified block type
+     */
+    enum e_unrel_clust_mode get_block_mode(std::string block_type_name) const;
+
+  public:
+    /**
+     * @brief Sets the unrelated clustering status for the specified block type
+     * 
+     * The unrelated clustering status is represented as a pair of booleans. 
+     * The first boolean incidcates whether unrelated clustering is turned on or off. 
+     * The second variable indicates whether the status of the variable is provided
+     * by the user(bool = false) or user let it to be automatically determined by VPR(bool = ture). 
+     * If provided by the user, the status cannot be overriden later, otherwise
+     * it can be adjusted by VPR throughout the flow as necessary.
+     */
+    void set_block_status(std::string block_type_name, std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status);
+    /**
+     * @brief Sets the default value for unrelated clustering status
+     * 
+     */
+    void set_default_status(std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> status);
+
+  private:
+    std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode> default_;
+    std::map<std::string, std::pair<enum e_unrel_clust_stat, enum e_unrel_clust_mode>> overrides_;
+};
+
 class t_pack_high_fanout_thresholds {
   public:
     t_pack_high_fanout_thresholds() = default;
@@ -840,7 +880,7 @@ struct t_packer_opts {
     float inter_cluster_net_delay;
     float target_device_utilization;
     bool auto_compute_inter_cluster_net_delay;
-    e_unrelated_clustering allow_unrelated_clustering;
+    std::vector<std::string> allow_unrelated_clustering;
     bool connection_driven;
     int pack_verbosity;
     bool enable_pin_feasibility_filter;

vpr/src/pack/cluster.cpp

@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ std::map<t_logical_block_type_ptr, size_t> do_clustering(const t_packer_opts& pa
                                                          int num_models,
                                                          const std::unordered_set<AtomNetId>& is_clock,
                                                          const std::unordered_map<AtomBlockId, t_pb_graph_node*>& expected_lowest_cost_pb_gnode,
-                                                         bool allow_unrelated_clustering,
+                                                         t_allow_unrelated_clustering allow_unrelated_clustering,
                                                          bool balance_block_type_utilization,
                                                          std::vector<t_lb_type_rr_node>* lb_type_rr_graphs,
                                                          const t_ext_pin_util_targets& ext_pin_util_targets,
@@ -300,11 +300,16 @@ std::map<t_logical_block_type_ptr, size_t> do_clustering(const t_packer_opts& pa
                 /*it doesn't make sense to do a timing analysis here since there*
                  *is only one atom block clustered it would not change anything      */
             }
+            bool allow_unrel_clust_cur_blk = false;
+            if (allow_unrelated_clustering.get_block_status(cluster_ctx.clb_nlist.block_type(clb_index)->name) == e_unrel_clust_stat::ON) {
+                allow_unrel_clust_cur_blk = true;
+            }
+
             cur_cluster_placement_stats_ptr = &(helper_ctx.cluster_placement_stats[cluster_ctx.clb_nlist.block_type(clb_index)->index]);
             cluster_stats.num_unrelated_clustering_attempts = 0;
             next_molecule = get_molecule_for_cluster(cluster_ctx.clb_nlist.block_pb(clb_index),
                                                      attraction_groups,
-                                                     allow_unrelated_clustering,
+                                                     allow_unrel_clust_cur_blk,
                                                      packer_opts.prioritize_transitive_connectivity,
                                                      packer_opts.transitive_fanout_threshold,
                                                      packer_opts.feasible_block_array_size,
@@ -351,7 +356,7 @@ std::map<t_logical_block_type_ptr, size_t> do_clustering(const t_packer_opts& pa
                                  detailed_routing_stage,
                                  attraction_groups,
                                  clb_inter_blk_nets,
-                                 allow_unrelated_clustering,
+                                 allow_unrel_clust_cur_blk,
                                  high_fanout_threshold,
                                  is_clock,
                                  timing_info,

vpr/src/pack/cluster.h

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ std::map<t_logical_block_type_ptr, size_t> do_clustering(const t_packer_opts& pa
                                                          int num_models,
                                                          const std::unordered_set<AtomNetId>& is_clock,
                                                          const std::unordered_map<AtomBlockId, t_pb_graph_node*>& expected_lowest_cost_pb_gnode,
-                                                         bool allow_unrelated_clustering,
+                                                         t_allow_unrelated_clustering allow_unrelated_clustering,
                                                          bool balance_block_type_utilization,
                                                          std::vector<t_lb_type_rr_node>* lb_type_rr_graphs,
                                                          const t_ext_pin_util_targets& ext_pin_util_targets,