1.
OPEN-SOURCE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THE ANALYSIS OF
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DATA
22 MAY 2015
Yohan LIVET
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2.
Overview
Context
Methodology
Feedbacks & future works
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3.
CONTEXT
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CEA | 10 AVRIL 2012

4.
CEA – FRENCH ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AND ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION
Created in 1945 by the Général De GAULLE
! Its goal is to master the atom:
! Energy
! Defence
French government-founded technological research organization
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Technology for
health and
information
DefenceEnergy
Low
Carbon
Research
Technology for
health and
information
DefenceEnergy
Low
Carbon
ResearchResearch

5.
CEA/CESTA
CEA/CESTA is an actor of the French Nuclear deterrence
Guaranty the performances of complex systems using simulation
Challenges :
! Many physics to study
! Mechanics
! Aerodynamics
! Electromagnetism
! …
! Many users
! Many different data and data types
! Comparison tests - computations/simulations
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6.
DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES
We used several software
! Internal development
! Well-known publishers (in scientific domains)
! And, more and more, Open-source Approach
Why the Open-source?
! “It’s the best choice” Roberto Di Cosmo
! Master the entire sources of our computing codes
! Sustainability
! Taking part of open-source software
development roadmap
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7.
OPEN SOURCE EXEMPLES AT CEA/CESTA
! Most of GUI and simulation environment designed and developed from (and with) eclipse
[Paprika: Rapid UI Development of Scientific Dataset Editors for High Performance Computing – D.Nassiet, Y.Livet, M. Palyart and D.
Lugato, SDL Forum 2011: Springer, ISBN 978-3-642-25264-8 p 69-78]
! Scientific visualization
! but still missing Scilab ! J
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8.
METHODOLOGY
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9.
METHODOLOGY
CEA/CESTA in collaboration with Scilab Enterprises
conducted a study to assess the appropriateness of Scilab
software besides the use of Matlab ® by the users.
! This study has been divided into several tasks:
! Analysis of the current Matlab use (audit and interviews)
! Training
! Development of a prototype from an existing Matlab application (CASDEM)
! 6 months project
! 50+ engineers implicated
! Several domains addressed:
! Data processing
! Simulation
! Specific applications
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10.
AUDIT & INTERVIEWS
3-months project schedule
! Presentation of Scilab and Scilab Enterprises
! Questionnaire sent to the 50 Matlab users
! Meetings & Interviews (by group or individually)
! Feedback reports
Objectives
! Understand the use of numerical computation and the applications at CEA/CESTA
! Evaluation of Matlab and the uses of Matlab toolboxes
! Check and evaluate the needs
! Check the possibilities given by Scilab to replace Matlab
! Identify the potential lacks of specific features
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11.
AUDIT & INTERVIEWS
Feedbacks (1/2)
! Noted differences between Matlab and Scilab:
! Scilab interesting capabilities (e.g. processing strings)
! Some missing functions and functionalities in Scilab for CEA/CESTA uses
● object-oriented programming
● 2.1 GB memory limitation
● no GUI modeler / builder
● no debugger
! A significant workload, if we choose to migrate the amount of small users-codes
! Positive feedback from engineers on using Scilab in response to their need of
development and migration
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12.
AUDIT & INTERVIEWS
Feedbacks (2/2)
! Migration issues rely on:
! Change of habit more than a real difficulty
! Knowledge of the differences between Matlab and Scilab
! Differences between Matlab and Scilab can be reduced by:
! Using equivalent function in Scilab
! Developing new features for Scilab (development costs to estimate)
! Customized training
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13.
TRAININGS
On-site trainings
40 trainees
2 trainers
8 training sessions
! Scilab Enterprises has conducted training sessions at CEA/CESTA for Matlab users to:
! Discover Scilab software environment and capabilities
! Discover Xcos modeling and simulation capabilities
! Develop Scilab and Xcos ATOMS modules
! Trainings have been customized to suit CEA/CESTA needs and have been oriented to
highlight best Scilab practices regarding former Matlab user’s habits
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14.
AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Support to Scilab installation & deployment
! Support to package automatic Scilab deployment
! Support to install Scilab MPI (parallelization)
ATOMS Server
! Deployment of a private CEA/CESTA ATOMS server:
! Mirror of Scilab public ATOMS server,
! Making ATOMS modules available on the intranet CEA/CESTA networks,
! Possibility to upload and deploy private internal ATOMS modules.
! Support and assistance to network administrators.
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15.
PROOF OF CONCEPT
Migrating CASDEM application
! Application developed in Matlab for test data processing field in thermomechanical
environments.
Work
! The differences in programming implied to:
! Redesign GUI
! Adapt graphical interactions
Results
! Scilab application with same functionalities
! Same numerical results up to 10 -13
! Scilab CASDEM module that can be published in ATOMS private network (not possible
with Matlab)
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16.
CASDEM BEFORE (MATLAB)
Insérer Capture CASDEM / Matlab anti-dommages
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17.
CASDEM UNDER SCILAB
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18.
BALANCE SHEET
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CEA | 10 AVRIL 2012

19.
BALANCE SHEET
Thanks to Scilab Enterprises and the proximity and
reactivity of their development team!
CEA/CESTA gains:
! A best knowledge of the different uses and user’s needs
! An effective skills transfer
! The migration of a comprehensive application conducted in a couple of months
! And last but not least: Scilab core evolutions!!! (new graphics interactions for example)
What could come next?
! Support
! Trainings
! Functions, functionalities and additional modules developments
! Other applications migrations
And what next next?
! Scilab 6.x with no memory limitation… … and debugger ?!? J
juin 29, 2015 CEA | 22 MAY 2015 | PAGE 19

20.
Direction
Département
Service
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
Centre de Saclay | 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex
T. +33 (0)1 XX XX XX XX | F. +33 (0)1 XX XX XX XX
Etablissement public à caractère industriel et commercial | RCS Paris B 775 685 019
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CEA | 10 AVRIL 2012
Thank You!