Request: Add Linux-aarch64 (ARM) Support For HiGHS

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Introduction

As the demand for high-performance computing continues to grow, the need for efficient and scalable optimization tools has become increasingly important. HiGHS, a high-performance solver for mixed-integer linear programs, has been a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners alike. However, a recent discovery within the PyPSA-Eur project has highlighted a limitation in HiGHS's current implementation: the lack of support for ARM-based Linux systems (linux-aarch64) on conda-forge. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this limitation and discuss the possibility of adding support for ARM Linux in a future release.

Background

PyPSA-Eur, a Python package for power system analysis, relies on HiGHS as a solver for optimization problems. The recent pull request #1660 in the PyPSA-Eur repository revealed that HiGHS does not have conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems, despite having support via PyPI. This limitation poses a significant challenge for users who rely on ARM-based systems, such as those using Raspberry Pi or other ARM-based devices.

Why No Support for ARM Linux?

There are several reasons why HiGHS may not have support for ARM Linux on conda-forge. One possible reason is that the development team may not have prioritized support for ARM-based systems, focusing instead on more widely used architectures such as x86-64. Another reason could be that the HiGHS team may not have access to ARM-based hardware for testing and development, making it difficult to ensure compatibility and performance.

Adding Support for ARM Linux

Adding support for ARM Linux in a future release of HiGHS is definitely possible. The HiGHS team can work with the conda-forge community to create packages for ARM-based Linux systems. This would involve:

  • Building HiGHS from source: The HiGHS team would need to build the solver from source code, ensuring that it is compatible with ARM-based Linux systems.
  • Creating conda-forge packages: The team would then need to create conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems, which would involve creating a new package recipe and building the package.
  • Testing and validation: The team would need to test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.

Benefits of Adding Support for ARM Linux

Adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS would have several benefits, including:

  • Increased accessibility: Users who rely on ARM-based systems would be able to use HiGHS, increasing the accessibility of the solver.
  • Improved performance: ARM-based systems can offer improved performance and energy efficiency, making them an attractive option for high-performance computing.
  • Enhanced flexibility: Supporting multiple architectures would allow users to choose the best platform for their specific needs, enhancing flexibility and choice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS is a feasible and beneficial goal. The HiGHS team can work with the conda-forge community to create packages for ARM-based Linux systems, increasing accessibility, improving performance, and enhancing flexibility. We hope that this article has highlighted the of adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS and look forward to seeing this feature implemented in a future release.

Future Work

To move forward with adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS, the following steps can be taken:

  • Establish a development plan: The HiGHS team can establish a development plan to create conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems.
  • Collaborate with conda-forge: The team can collaborate with the conda-forge community to create packages and ensure compatibility.
  • Test and validate: The team can test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the possibility of adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS, a high-performance solver for mixed-integer linear programs. In this article, we will address some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this topic.

Q: Why is ARM Linux support important?

A: ARM Linux support is important because it would allow users who rely on ARM-based systems, such as those using Raspberry Pi or other ARM-based devices, to use HiGHS. This would increase the accessibility of the solver and provide users with more flexibility in their choice of platform.

Q: What are the benefits of adding ARM Linux support?

A: The benefits of adding ARM Linux support include:

  • Increased accessibility: Users who rely on ARM-based systems would be able to use HiGHS.
  • Improved performance: ARM-based systems can offer improved performance and energy efficiency, making them an attractive option for high-performance computing.
  • Enhanced flexibility: Supporting multiple architectures would allow users to choose the best platform for their specific needs.

Q: How would adding ARM Linux support affect the development process?

A: Adding ARM Linux support would require the HiGHS team to build the solver from source code, create conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems, and test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.

Q: What are the technical requirements for adding ARM Linux support?

A: The technical requirements for adding ARM Linux support include:

  • Building HiGHS from source: The HiGHS team would need to build the solver from source code, ensuring that it is compatible with ARM-based Linux systems.
  • Creating conda-forge packages: The team would need to create conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems, which would involve creating a new package recipe and building the package.
  • Testing and validation: The team would need to test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.

Q: How long would it take to add ARM Linux support?

A: The time it would take to add ARM Linux support would depend on the complexity of the task and the resources available to the HiGHS team. However, with a dedicated team and sufficient resources, it is possible to add ARM Linux support in a relatively short period of time.

Q: What are the next steps for adding ARM Linux support?

A: The next steps for adding ARM Linux support would include:

  • Establishing a development plan: The HiGHS team can establish a development plan to create conda-forge packages for ARM-based Linux systems.
  • Collaborating with conda-forge: The team can collaborate with the conda-forge community to create packages and ensure compatibility.
  • Testing and validation: The team can test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.

Q: How can users contribute to adding ARM Linux support?

A: Users can contribute to adding ARM Linux support by:

Providing feedback: Users can provide feedback on the development process and suggest improvements.

  • Testing and validating: Users can test and validate the package to ensure that it works correctly and efficiently on ARM-based Linux systems.
  • Contributing code: Users can contribute code to the HiGHS project, helping to improve the solver and add new features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding support for ARM Linux in HiGHS is a feasible and beneficial goal. By addressing the FAQs related to this topic, we hope to provide users with a better understanding of the process and the benefits of adding ARM Linux support. We encourage users to contribute to the development process and provide feedback to help improve the solver.