Files
rust-optimizer/src/sampler/mod.rs
T
Manuel Raimann cfa8426312 docs(sampler,pruner): add implementation guides for custom samplers and pruners
- Expand sampler module docs with available samplers tables, custom
  sampler walkthrough, stateless/stateful patterns, cold start handling,
  history reading, thread safety, and testing guidance
- Expand pruner module docs with stateful/stateless classification,
  warmup parameters, decorator composition, thread safety, and testing
- Add code examples to both trait docs (NoisySampler, StalePruner)
2026-02-12 16:31:25 +01:00

521 lines
18 KiB
Rust

//! Sampler trait and implementations for parameter sampling.
//!
//! A sampler generates parameter values for each trial. It receives a
//! [`Distribution`] describing the parameter space, a monotonically increasing
//! `trial_id`, and the list of all [`CompletedTrial`]s so far, and returns a
//! [`ParamValue`] that matches the distribution variant.
//!
//! # Available samplers
//!
//! ## Single-objective
//!
//! | Sampler | Algorithm | Best for |
//! |---------|-----------|----------|
//! | [`RandomSampler`] | Uniform independent sampling | Baselines, startup phases |
//! | [`TpeSampler`] | Tree-Parzen Estimator | General-purpose Bayesian optimization |
//! | [`TpeSampler`] (multivariate) | Multivariate TPE with tree-structured Parzen | Correlated parameters |
//! | [`GridSampler`] | Exhaustive grid evaluation | Small discrete spaces |
//! | [`SobolSampler`]\* | Quasi-random Sobol sequences | Uniform coverage without model |
//! | [`CmaEsSampler`]\* | Covariance Matrix Adaptation | Continuous, non-separable problems |
//! | [`GpSampler`]\* | Gaussian Process with EI | Expensive, low-dimensional functions |
//! | [`DESampler`] | Differential Evolution | Population-based, multi-modal landscapes |
//! | [`BohbSampler`] | Bayesian Optimization + `HyperBand` | Combined sampling and pruning |
//!
//! \*Requires a feature flag (`sobol`, `cma-es`, or `gp`).
//!
//! ## Multi-objective
//!
//! | Sampler | Algorithm | Best for |
//! |---------|-----------|----------|
//! | [`Nsga2Sampler`] | NSGA-II | General multi-objective with 2-3 objectives |
//! | [`Nsga3Sampler`] | NSGA-III | Many-objective (4+ objectives) |
//! | [`MoeadSampler`] | MOEA/D with decomposition | Structured Pareto front exploration |
//! | [`MotpeSampler`] | Multi-objective TPE | Bayesian multi-objective |
//!
//! # Implementing a custom sampler
//!
//! Implement the [`Sampler`] trait with its single method:
//!
//! ```rust
//! use optimizer::sampler::{Sampler, CompletedTrial};
//! use optimizer::distribution::Distribution;
//! use optimizer::param::ParamValue;
//!
//! /// A sampler that always picks the midpoint of each distribution.
//! struct MidpointSampler;
//!
//! impl Sampler for MidpointSampler {
//! fn sample(
//! &self,
//! distribution: &Distribution,
//! _trial_id: u64,
//! _history: &[CompletedTrial],
//! ) -> ParamValue {
//! match distribution {
//! Distribution::Float(fd) => {
//! ParamValue::Float((fd.low + fd.high) / 2.0)
//! }
//! Distribution::Int(id) => {
//! ParamValue::Int((id.low + id.high) / 2)
//! }
//! Distribution::Categorical(cd) => {
//! ParamValue::Categorical(cd.n_choices / 2)
//! }
//! }
//! }
//! }
//! ```
//!
//! The arguments to [`Sampler::sample`]:
//!
//! - **`distribution`** — a [`Distribution::Float`], [`Distribution::Int`], or
//! [`Distribution::Categorical`] that describes the parameter bounds,
//! log-scale flag, and optional step size.
//! - **`trial_id`** — a monotonically increasing identifier. Useful for
//! deterministic RNG seeding (see [Stateless vs stateful samplers]).
//! - **`history`** — all completed trials so far. May be empty on the first
//! trial. Model-based samplers use this to guide future sampling.
//! - **Return value** — the [`ParamValue`] variant *must* match the
//! distribution variant (`Float` → `ParamValue::Float`, etc.).
//!
//! [Stateless vs stateful samplers]: #stateless-vs-stateful-samplers
//!
//! # Stateless vs stateful samplers
//!
//! **Stateless** samplers derive all randomness from a deterministic function
//! of `seed + trial_id + distribution`. They use an [`AtomicU64`] call-sequence
//! counter to disambiguate multiple calls within the same trial, but need no
//! `Mutex`. See [`RandomSampler`] and [`TpeSampler`] for this pattern.
//!
//! **Stateful** samplers maintain mutable state (e.g. a population pool)
//! across calls. Wrap mutable state in `parking_lot::Mutex<State>` and lock
//! for the duration of [`Sampler::sample`]. See [`DESampler`] and
//! [`GridSampler`] for this pattern.
//!
//! [`AtomicU64`]: core::sync::atomic::AtomicU64
//!
//! # Cold start handling
//!
//! Model-based samplers need completed trials before their surrogate model is
//! useful. The standard pattern is to check `history.len() < n_startup_trials`
//! and fall back to random sampling during the startup phase. Expose this as a
//! builder parameter so users can tune the trade-off between exploration and
//! exploitation. See [`TpeSampler`] for a reference implementation.
//!
//! # Reading trial history
//!
//! The `history` slice contains only completed trials (never pending ones).
//! Common operations:
//!
//! - **Extract a parameter value:**
//! `trial.params.get(&param_id)` returns `Option<&ParamValue>`.
//! - **Find the best trial:**
//! `history.iter().min_by(|a, b| a.value.partial_cmp(&b.value).unwrap())`.
//! - **Filter by state:**
//! `history.iter().filter(|t| t.state == TrialState::Complete)`.
//! - **Check feasibility:**
//! `trial.is_feasible()` returns `true` when all constraints are ≤ 0.
//!
//! # Thread safety
//!
//! The [`Sampler`] trait requires `Send + Sync`. [`Study`](crate::Study) stores
//! the sampler as `Arc<dyn Sampler>`, so multiple threads may call
//! [`Sampler::sample`] concurrently.
//!
//! - **Stateless:** `AtomicU64` counters satisfy `Send + Sync` without locking.
//! - **Stateful:** use `parking_lot::Mutex` (the crate convention) or
//! `std::sync::Mutex` to protect mutable state.
//!
//! # Testing custom samplers
//!
//! Recommended test categories:
//!
//! 1. **Bounds compliance** — sample many values and assert they fall within
//! the distribution range.
//! 2. **Step / log-scale correctness** — verify that discretized and
//! log-scaled distributions produce valid values.
//! 3. **Reproducibility** — the same seed must produce the same output.
//! 4. **History sensitivity** — model-based samplers should produce different
//! (better) samples as history grows.
//! 5. **Empty history** — `sample()` must not panic when `history` is empty.
//!
//! # Using a custom sampler with Study
//!
//! ```rust
//! use optimizer::{Direction, Study};
//! use optimizer::sampler::{Sampler, CompletedTrial};
//! use optimizer::distribution::Distribution;
//! use optimizer::param::ParamValue;
//!
//! struct MySampler;
//! impl Sampler for MySampler {
//! fn sample(
//! &self,
//! distribution: &Distribution,
//! _trial_id: u64,
//! _history: &[CompletedTrial],
//! ) -> ParamValue {
//! match distribution {
//! Distribution::Float(fd) => ParamValue::Float(fd.low),
//! Distribution::Int(id) => ParamValue::Int(id.low),
//! Distribution::Categorical(_) => ParamValue::Categorical(0),
//! }
//! }
//! }
//!
//! let study: Study<f64> = Study::with_sampler(Direction::Minimize, MySampler);
//! ```
//!
//! The sampler is wrapped in `Arc<dyn Sampler>` internally.
//!
//! # Reference implementations
//!
//! - [`RandomSampler`] — simplest sampler; stateless, ignores history.
//! - [`TpeSampler`] — model-based with cold start fallback.
//! - [`DESampler`] — stateful, population-based.
//! - [`GridSampler`] — deterministic, exhaustive search.
pub mod bohb;
#[cfg(feature = "cma-es")]
pub mod cma_es;
pub(crate) mod common;
pub mod de;
pub(crate) mod genetic;
#[cfg(feature = "gp")]
pub mod gp;
pub mod grid;
pub mod moead;
pub mod motpe;
pub mod nsga2;
pub mod nsga3;
pub mod random;
#[cfg(feature = "sobol")]
pub mod sobol;
pub mod tpe;
use std::collections::HashMap;
pub use bohb::BohbSampler;
#[cfg(feature = "cma-es")]
pub use cma_es::CmaEsSampler;
pub use de::{DESampler, DEStrategy};
#[cfg(feature = "gp")]
pub use gp::GpSampler;
pub use grid::GridSampler;
pub use moead::{Decomposition, MoeadSampler};
pub use motpe::MotpeSampler;
pub use nsga2::Nsga2Sampler;
pub use nsga3::Nsga3Sampler;
pub use random::RandomSampler;
#[cfg(feature = "sobol")]
pub use sobol::SobolSampler;
pub use tpe::TpeSampler;
use crate::distribution::Distribution;
use crate::param::ParamValue;
use crate::parameter::{ParamId, Parameter};
use crate::trial::AttrValue;
use crate::types::TrialState;
/// A completed trial with its parameters, distributions, and objective value.
///
/// This struct stores the results of a completed trial, including all sampled
/// parameter values, their distributions, and the objective value returned
/// by the objective function.
#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
pub struct CompletedTrial<V = f64> {
/// The unique identifier for this trial.
pub id: u64,
/// The sampled parameter values, keyed by parameter id.
pub params: HashMap<ParamId, ParamValue>,
/// The parameter distributions used, keyed by parameter id.
pub distributions: HashMap<ParamId, Distribution>,
/// Human-readable labels for parameters, keyed by parameter id.
pub param_labels: HashMap<ParamId, String>,
/// The objective value returned by the objective function.
pub value: V,
/// Intermediate objective values reported during the trial.
pub intermediate_values: Vec<(u64, f64)>,
/// The state of the trial (Complete, Pruned, or Failed).
pub state: TrialState,
/// User-defined attributes stored during the trial.
pub user_attrs: HashMap<String, AttrValue>,
/// Constraint values for this trial (<=0.0 means feasible).
#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(default))]
pub constraints: Vec<f64>,
}
impl<V> CompletedTrial<V> {
/// Creates a new completed trial.
pub fn new(
id: u64,
params: HashMap<ParamId, ParamValue>,
distributions: HashMap<ParamId, Distribution>,
param_labels: HashMap<ParamId, String>,
value: V,
) -> Self {
Self {
id,
params,
distributions,
param_labels,
value,
intermediate_values: Vec::new(),
state: TrialState::Complete,
user_attrs: HashMap::new(),
constraints: Vec::new(),
}
}
/// Creates a new completed trial with intermediate values and user attributes.
pub fn with_intermediate_values(
id: u64,
params: HashMap<ParamId, ParamValue>,
distributions: HashMap<ParamId, Distribution>,
param_labels: HashMap<ParamId, String>,
value: V,
intermediate_values: Vec<(u64, f64)>,
user_attrs: HashMap<String, AttrValue>,
) -> Self {
Self {
id,
params,
distributions,
param_labels,
value,
intermediate_values,
state: TrialState::Complete,
user_attrs,
constraints: Vec::new(),
}
}
/// Returns the typed value for the given parameter.
///
/// Looks up the parameter by its unique id and casts the stored
/// [`ParamValue`] to the parameter's typed value.
///
/// Returns `None` if the parameter was not used in this trial or if
/// the stored value is incompatible with the parameter type (e.g., a
/// `Float` value stored for an `IntParam`).
///
/// # Examples
///
/// ```
/// use optimizer::parameter::{FloatParam, Parameter};
/// use optimizer::{Direction, Study};
///
/// let study: Study<f64> = Study::new(Direction::Minimize);
/// let x = FloatParam::new(-10.0, 10.0);
///
/// study
/// .optimize(5, |trial: &mut optimizer::Trial| {
/// let val = x.suggest(trial)?;
/// Ok::<_, optimizer::Error>(val * val)
/// })
/// .unwrap();
///
/// let best = study.best_trial().unwrap();
/// let x_val: f64 = best.get(&x).unwrap();
/// assert!((-10.0..=10.0).contains(&x_val));
/// ```
pub fn get<P: Parameter>(&self, param: &P) -> Option<P::Value> {
self.params
.get(&param.id())
.and_then(|v| param.cast_param_value(v).ok())
}
/// Returns `true` if all constraints are satisfied (values <= 0.0).
///
/// A trial with no constraints is considered feasible.
#[must_use]
pub fn is_feasible(&self) -> bool {
self.constraints.iter().all(|&c| c <= 0.0)
}
/// Gets a user attribute by key.
#[must_use]
pub fn user_attr(&self, key: &str) -> Option<&AttrValue> {
self.user_attrs.get(key)
}
/// Returns all user attributes.
#[must_use]
pub fn user_attrs(&self) -> &HashMap<String, AttrValue> {
&self.user_attrs
}
/// Validates that all floating-point fields are finite (not NaN or
/// Infinity).
///
/// Checks distribution bounds, parameter values, constraints, and
/// intermediate values. Returns a description of the first invalid
/// field found, or `Ok(())` if everything is valid.
///
/// # Errors
///
/// Returns a `String` describing the first non-finite value found.
pub fn validate(&self) -> core::result::Result<(), String> {
for (id, dist) in &self.distributions {
if let Distribution::Float(fd) = dist {
if !fd.low.is_finite() {
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: float distribution for param {id} has non-finite low bound ({})",
self.id, fd.low
));
}
if !fd.high.is_finite() {
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: float distribution for param {id} has non-finite high bound ({})",
self.id, fd.high
));
}
if let Some(step) = fd.step
&& !step.is_finite()
{
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: float distribution for param {id} has non-finite step ({step})",
self.id
));
}
}
}
for (id, pv) in &self.params {
if let ParamValue::Float(v) = pv
&& !v.is_finite()
{
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: param {id} has non-finite float value ({v})",
self.id
));
}
}
for (i, &c) in self.constraints.iter().enumerate() {
if !c.is_finite() {
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: constraint[{i}] is non-finite ({c})",
self.id
));
}
}
for &(step, v) in &self.intermediate_values {
if !v.is_finite() {
return Err(format!(
"trial {}: intermediate value at step {step} is non-finite ({v})",
self.id
));
}
}
Ok(())
}
}
/// A pending (running) trial with its parameters and distributions, but no objective value yet.
///
/// This struct represents a trial that has been started and has sampled parameters,
/// but is still running and hasn't returned an objective value. It is used with the
/// constant liar strategy for parallel optimization.
#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
pub struct PendingTrial {
/// The unique identifier for this trial.
pub id: u64,
/// The sampled parameter values, keyed by parameter id.
pub params: HashMap<ParamId, ParamValue>,
/// The parameter distributions used, keyed by parameter id.
pub distributions: HashMap<ParamId, Distribution>,
/// Human-readable labels for parameters, keyed by parameter id.
pub param_labels: HashMap<ParamId, String>,
}
impl PendingTrial {
/// Creates a new pending trial.
#[must_use]
pub fn new(
id: u64,
params: HashMap<ParamId, ParamValue>,
distributions: HashMap<ParamId, Distribution>,
param_labels: HashMap<ParamId, String>,
) -> Self {
Self {
id,
params,
distributions,
param_labels,
}
}
}
/// Trait for pluggable parameter sampling strategies.
///
/// Samplers are responsible for generating parameter values based on
/// the distribution and historical trial data. The trait requires
/// `Send + Sync` to support concurrent and async optimization.
///
/// # Implementing a custom sampler
///
/// ```
/// use optimizer::sampler::{Sampler, CompletedTrial};
/// use optimizer::distribution::Distribution;
/// use optimizer::param::ParamValue;
///
/// struct NoisySampler {
/// noise_scale: f64,
/// seed: u64,
/// }
///
/// impl Sampler for NoisySampler {
/// fn sample(
/// &self,
/// distribution: &Distribution,
/// trial_id: u64,
/// history: &[CompletedTrial],
/// ) -> ParamValue {
/// // Find the best value seen so far, or fall back to the midpoint
/// match distribution {
/// Distribution::Float(fd) => {
/// let center = if history.is_empty() {
/// (fd.low + fd.high) / 2.0
/// } else {
/// history.iter()
/// .filter_map(|t| t.params.values().next())
/// .filter_map(|v| if let ParamValue::Float(f) = v { Some(*f) } else { None })
/// .next()
/// .unwrap_or((fd.low + fd.high) / 2.0)
/// };
/// let noise = (trial_id as f64 * 0.1).sin() * self.noise_scale;
/// ParamValue::Float(center + noise)
/// }
/// Distribution::Int(id) => ParamValue::Int((id.low + id.high) / 2),
/// Distribution::Categorical(cd) => ParamValue::Categorical(trial_id as usize % cd.n_choices),
/// }
/// }
/// }
/// ```
///
/// See the [module-level documentation](self) for a comprehensive guide
/// covering cold start handling, thread safety patterns, and testing.
pub trait Sampler: Send + Sync {
/// Samples a parameter value from the given distribution.
///
/// # Arguments
///
/// * `distribution` - The parameter distribution to sample from.
/// * `trial_id` - The unique ID of the trial being sampled for.
/// * `history` - Historical completed trials for informed sampling.
///
/// # Returns
///
/// A `ParamValue` sampled from the distribution.
fn sample(
&self,
distribution: &Distribution,
trial_id: u64,
history: &[CompletedTrial],
) -> ParamValue;
}