Multiple pointers in different objects pointing to same variable - pointers

I'm getting segmentation errors, when I define points in different objects which all point to the same variable. I also tried implementing it with shared pointers but so far it hasn't worked out. For example:
double var; //global var
int main(){
double *point_to_var = &var;
typeA A(point_to_var);
typeB B(point_to_var);
typeC C(point_to_var);
var = 10.;
B.sum(10.);
C.sum(10.);
}
struct typeA{
double *ptv;
A(double *ptvv): ptv(ptvv){}
}
struct typeB{
double *ptv;
B(double *ptvv): ptv(ptvv){}
double sum(double x);
}
struct typeC{
double *ptv;
C(double *ptvv): ptv(ptvv){}
double sum(double x);
}
double typeB::sum(double x){
return x + *ptv;
}
double typeC::sum(double x){
return x + *ptv;
}
I would have expected C.sum(10.) to return a value of 20 in this case, since *ptv points to the address of var which equals 10, however it crashes with a segmentation error. My code is more complicated than what I've shown here, but the idea is the same. It crashes when I try to use *ptv inside functions defined within objects. The code compiles on the command line, but on Xcode, inside of segmentation error I get exc_bad_access.
Using shared pointers (at least the way I did it) didn't seem to fix the problem. Is it possible to fix this without just using a global variable inside the objects?

Related

Why does thrust::device_vector not seem to have a chance to hold raw pointers to other device_vectors?

I have a question that I found many threads in, but none did explicitly answer my question.
I am trying to have a multidimensional array inside the kernel of the GPU using thrust. Flattening would be difficult, as all the dimensions are non-homogeneous and I go up to 4D. Now I know I cannot have device_vectors of device_vectors, for whichever underlying reason (explanation would be welcome), so I tried going the way over raw-pointers.
My reasoning is, a raw pointer points onto memory on the GPU, why else would I be able to access it from within the kernel. So I should technically be able to have a device_vector, which holds raw pointers, all pointers that should be accessible from within the GPU. This way I constructed the following code:
thrust::device_vector<Vector3r*> d_fluidmodelParticlePositions(nModels);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int***> d_allFluidNeighborParticles(nModels);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int**> d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids(nModels);
for(unsigned int fluidModelIndex = 0; fluidModelIndex < nModels; fluidModelIndex++)
{
FluidModel *model = sim->getFluidModelFromPointSet(fluidModelIndex);
const unsigned int numParticles = model->numActiveParticles();
thrust::device_vector<Vector3r> d_neighborPositions(model->getPositions().begin(), model->getPositions().end());
d_fluidmodelParticlePositions[fluidModelIndex] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_neighborPositions);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int**> d_fluidNeighborIndexes(nModels);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int*> d_nNeighborsFluid(nModels);
for(unsigned int pid = 0; pid < nModels; pid++)
{
FluidModel *fm_neighbor = sim->getFluidModelFromPointSet(pid);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int> d_nNeighbors(numParticles);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int*> d_neighborIndexesArray(numParticles);
for(unsigned int i = 0; i < numParticles; i++)
{
const unsigned int nNeighbors = sim->numberOfNeighbors(fluidModelIndex, pid, i);
d_nNeighbors[i] = nNeighbors;
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int> d_neighborIndexes(nNeighbors);
for(unsigned int j = 0; j < nNeighbors; j++)
{
d_neighborIndexes[j] = sim->getNeighbor(fluidModelIndex, pid, i, j);
}
d_neighborIndexesArray[i] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_neighborIndexes);
}
d_fluidNeighborIndexes[pid] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_neighborIndexesArray);
d_nNeighborsFluid[pid] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_nNeighbors);
}
d_allFluidNeighborParticles[fluidModelIndex] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_fluidNeighborIndexes);
d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[fluidModelIndex] = CudaHelper::GetPointer(d_nNeighborsFluid);
}
Now the compiler won't complain, but accessing for example d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids from within the kernel will work, but return wrong values. I access it like this (again, from within a kernel):
d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[iterator1][iterator2][iterator3];
// Note: out of bounds indexing guaranteed to not happen, indexing is definitely right
The question is, why does it return wrong values? The logic behind it should work in my opinion, since my indexing is correct and the pointers should be valid addresses from within the kernel.
Thank you already for your time and have a great day.
EDIT:
Here is a minimal reproducable example. For some reason the values appear right despite of having the same structure as my code, but cuda-memcheck reveals some errors. Uncommenting the two commented lines leads me to my main problem I am trying to solve. What does the cuda-memcheck here tell me?
/* Part of this example has been taken from code of Robert Crovella
in a comment below */
#include <thrust/device_vector.h>
#include <stdio.h>
template<typename T>
static T* GetPointer(thrust::device_vector<T> &vector)
{
return thrust::raw_pointer_cast(vector.data());
}
__global__
void k(unsigned int ***nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids, unsigned int ****allFluidNeighborParticles){
const unsigned int i = blockIdx.x*blockDim.x + threadIdx.x;
if(i > 49)
return;
printf("i: %d nNeighbors: %d\n", i, nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[0][0][i]);
//for(int j = 0; j < nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[0][0][i]; j++)
// printf("i: %d j: %d neighbors: %d\n", i, j, allFluidNeighborParticles[0][0][i][j]);
}
int main(){
const unsigned int nModels = 2;
const int numParticles = 50;
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int**> d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids(nModels);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int***> d_allFluidNeighborParticles(nModels);
for(unsigned int fluidModelIndex = 0; fluidModelIndex < nModels; fluidModelIndex++)
{
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int*> d_nNeighborsFluid(nModels);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int**> d_fluidNeighborIndexes(nModels);
for(unsigned int pid = 0; pid < nModels; pid++)
{
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int> d_nNeighbors(numParticles);
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int*> d_neighborIndexesArray(numParticles);
for(unsigned int i = 0; i < numParticles; i++)
{
const unsigned int nNeighbors = i;
d_nNeighbors[i] = nNeighbors;
thrust::device_vector<unsigned int> d_neighborIndexes(nNeighbors);
for(unsigned int j = 0; j < nNeighbors; j++)
{
d_neighborIndexes[j] = i + j;
}
d_neighborIndexesArray[i] = GetPointer(d_neighborIndexes);
}
d_nNeighborsFluid[pid] = GetPointer(d_nNeighbors);
d_fluidNeighborIndexes[pid] = GetPointer(d_neighborIndexesArray);
}
d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[fluidModelIndex] = GetPointer(d_nNeighborsFluid);
d_allFluidNeighborParticles[fluidModelIndex] = GetPointer(d_fluidNeighborIndexes);
}
k<<<256, 256>>>(GetPointer(d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids), GetPointer(d_allFluidNeighborParticles));
if (cudaGetLastError() != cudaSuccess)
printf("Sync kernel error: %s\n", cudaGetErrorString(cudaGetLastError()));
cudaDeviceSynchronize();
}
A device_vector is a class definition. That class has various methods and operators associated with it. The thing that allows you to do this:
d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids[...]...;
is a square-bracket operator. That operator is a host operator (only). It is not usable in device code. Issues like this give rise to the general statements that "thrust::device_vector is not usable in device code." The device_vector object itself is generally not usable. However the data it contains is usable in device code, if you attempt to access it via a raw pointer.
Here is an example of a thrust device vector that contains an array of pointers to the data contained in other device vectors. That data is usable in device code, as long as you don't attempt to make use of the thrust::device_vector object itself:
$ cat t1509.cu
#include <thrust/device_vector.h>
#include <stdio.h>
template <typename T>
__global__ void k(T **data){
printf("the first element of vector 1 is: %d\n", (int)(data[0][0]));
printf("the first element of vector 2 is: %d\n", (int)(data[1][0]));
printf("the first element of vector 3 is: %d\n", (int)(data[2][0]));
}
int main(){
thrust::device_vector<int> vector_1(1,1);
thrust::device_vector<int> vector_2(1,2);
thrust::device_vector<int> vector_3(1,3);
thrust::device_vector<int *> pointer_vector(3);
pointer_vector[0] = thrust::raw_pointer_cast(vector_1.data());
pointer_vector[1] = thrust::raw_pointer_cast(vector_2.data());
pointer_vector[2] = thrust::raw_pointer_cast(vector_3.data());
k<<<1,1>>>(thrust::raw_pointer_cast(pointer_vector.data()));
cudaDeviceSynchronize();
}
$ nvcc -o t1509 t1509.cu
$ cuda-memcheck ./t1509
========= CUDA-MEMCHECK
the first element of vector 1 is: 1
the first element of vector 2 is: 2
the first element of vector 3 is: 3
========= ERROR SUMMARY: 0 errors
$
EDIT: In the mcve you have now posted, you point out that an ordinary run of the code appears to give correct results, but when you use cuda-memcheck, errors are reported. You have a general design problem that will cause this.
In C++, when an object is defined within a curly-braces region:
{
{
Object A;
// object A is in-scope here
}
// object A is out-of-scope here
}
// object A is out of scope here
k<<<...>>>(anything that points to something in object A); // is illegal
and you exit that region, the object defined within the region is now out of scope. For objects with constructors/destructors, this usually means the destructor of the object will be called when it goes out-of-scope. For a thrust::device_vector (or std::vector) this will deallocate any underlying storage associated with that vector. That does not necessarily "erase" any data, but attempts to use that data are illegal and would be considered UB (undefined behavior) in C++.
When you establish pointers to such data inside an in-scope region, and then go out-of-scope, those pointers no longer point to anything that would be legal to access, so attempts to dereference the pointer would be illegal/UB. Your code is doing this. Yes, it does appear to give the correct answer, because nothing is actually erased on deallocation, but the code design is illegal, and cuda-memcheck will highlight that.
I suppose one fix would be to pull all this stuff out of the inner curly-braces, and put it at main scope, just like the d_nFluidNeighborsCrossFluids device_vector is. But you might also want to rethink your general data organization strategy and flatten your data.
You should really provide a minimal, complete, verifiable/reproducible example; yours is neither minimal, nor complete, nor verifiable.
I will, however, answer your side-question:
I know I cannot have device_vectors of device_vectors, for whichever underlying reason (explanation would be welcome)
While a device_vector regards a bunch of data on the GPU, it's a host-side data structure - otherwise you would not have been able to use it in host-side code. On the host side, what it holds should be something like: The capacity, the size in elements, the device-side pointer to the actual data, and maybe more information. This is similar to how an std::vector variable may refer to data that's on the heap, but if you create the variable locally the fields I mentioned above will exist on the stack.
Now, those fields of the device vector that are located in host memory are not generally accessible from the device-side. In device-side code you would typically use the raw pointer to the device-side data the device_vector manages.
Also, note that if you have a thrust::device_vector<T> v, each use of operator[] means a bunch of separate CUDA calls to copy data to or from the device (unless there's some caching going on under the hoold). So you really want to avoid using square-brackets with this structure.
Finally, remember that pointer-chasing can be a performance killer, especially on a GPU. You might want to consider massaging your data structure somewhat in order to make it amenable to flattening.

Adding a System::String^ as key in VC++ Dictionary

I am completely new to C++, so I'm stuck on something which I'm sure is trivial.
I have a dictionary:
Dictionary<String^, Room^>^ roomList = gcnew Dictionary<String^, Room^>();
I'm trying to add a new Room to the dictionary:
Room r("Room 1", x, y);
roomList->Add(r.getName, %r);
Room is defined as follows:
ref class Room
{
private:
String^ mName;
double mX; //scaled X-coordinate of top left corner (meters)
double mY; //scaled Y-coordinate of top left corner (meters)
public:
Room(String^ name, double x, double y);
String ^ const getName() { return mName; }
double const getX() { return mX; }
double const getY() { return mY; }
};
When I try to compile the code I get the following error:
'Room::getName': non-standard syntax; use '&' to create a pointer to member"
What am I doing wrong? For some reason I can't use the object's name (a System::String^) as the key, but I'm not sure why.
roomList->Add(r.getName, %r);
You declared getName as a function, not a property. So it needs to be r.GetName(), note the added () parentheses. Declaring a Name property would be wise, it is the .NET way.
Room r("Room 1", x, y);
This declaration is technically wrong. You are using stack semantics, the r object will automatically be disposed when code execution leaves the scope block. You never want to add a disposed object to a collection. You'll get away with it in this case since you did not actually implement a destructor. Woe be you if you ever do. And woe the reader of your code. Just do it correctly:
Room^ r = gcnew Room("Room 1", x, y);
roomList->Add(r=>getName(), r);
Last but not least, this looks like a student assignment. You cannot get a passing grade for this code, it is not C++. The language you are using is called C++/CLI, it is an extension language that helps writing interop code for .NET programs.

QMap Memory Error

I am doing one project in which I define a data types like below
typedef QVector<double> QFilterDataMap1D;
typedef QMap<double, QFilterDataMap1D> QFilterDataMap2D;
Then there is one class with the name of mono_data in which i have define this variable
QFilterMap2D valid_filters;
mono_data Scan_data // Class
Now i am reading one variable from a .mat file and trying to save it in to above "valid_filters" QMap.
Qt Code: Switch view
for(int i=0;i<1;i++)
{
for(int j=0;j<1;j++)
{
Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]=valid_filters[i][j];
printf("\nValid_filters=%f",Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]);
}
}
The transferring is done successfully but then it gives run-time error
Windows has triggered a breakpoint in SpectralDataCollector.exe.
This may be due to a corruption of the heap, and indicates a bug in
SpectralDataCollector.exe or any of the DLLs it has loaded.
The output window may have more diagnostic information
Can anyone help in solving this problem. It will be of great help to me.
Thanks
Different issues here:
1. Using double as key type for a QMap
Using a QMap<double, Foo> is a very bad idea. the reason is that this is a container that let you access a Foo given a double. For instance:
map[0.45] = foo1;
map[15.74] = foo2;
This is problematic, because then, to retrieve the data contained in map[key], you have to test if key is either equal, smaller or greater than other keys in the maps. In your case, the key is a double, and testing if two doubles are equals is not a "safe" operation.
2. Using an int as key while you defined it was double
Here:
Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]=valid_filters[i][j];
i is an integer, and you said it should be a double.
3. Your loop only test for (i,j) = (0,0)
Are you aware that
for(int i=0;i<1;i++)
{
for(int j=0;j<1;j++)
{
Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]=valid_filters[i][j];
printf("\nValid_filters=%f",Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]);
}
}
is equivalent to:
Scan_Data.valid_filters[0][0]=valid_filters[0][0];
printf("\nValid_filters=%f",Scan_Data.valid_filters[0][0]);
?
4. Accessing a vector with operator[] is not safe
When you do:
Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]
You in fact do:
QFilterDataMap1D & v = Scan_Data.valid_filters[i]; // call QMap::operator[](double)
double d = v[j]; // call QVector::operator[](int)
The first one is safe, and create the entry if it doesn't exist. The second one is not safe, the jth element in you vector must already exist otherwise it would crash.
Solution
It seems you in fact want a 2D array of double (i.e., a matrix). To do this, use:
typedef QVector<double> QFilterDataMap1D;
typedef QVector<QFilterDataMap1D> QFilterDataMap2D;
Then, when you want to transfer one in another, simply use:
Scan_Data.valid_filters = valid_filters;
Or if you want to do it yourself:
Scan_Data.valid_filters.clear();
for(int i=0;i<n;i++)
{
Scan_Data.valid_filters << QFilterDataMap1D();
for(int j=0;j<m;j++)
{
Scan_Data.valid_filters[i] << valid_filters[i][j];
printf("\nValid_filters=%f",Scan_Data.valid_filters[i][j]);
}
}
If you want a 3D matrix, you would use:
typedef QVector<QFilterDataMap2D> QFilterDataMap3D;

How can I store function pointer in vector?

like: vector<void *(*func)(void *)>...
You can declare a vector of pointers to functions taking a single void * argument and returning void * like this:
#include <vector>
std::vector<void *(*)(void *)> v;
If you want to store pointers to functions with varying prototypes, it becomes more difficult/dangerous. Then you must cast the functions to the right type when adding them to the vector and cast them back to the original prototype when calling. Just an example how ugly this gets:
#include <vector>
int mult(int a) { return 2*a; }
int main()
{
int b;
std::vector<void *(*)(void *)> v;
v.push_back((void *(*)(void *))mult);
b = ((int (*)(int)) v[0])(2); // The value of b is 4.
return 0;
}
You can use typedef's to partially hide the function casting syntax, but there is still the danger of calling a function as the wrong type, leading to crashes or other undefined behaviour. So don't do this.
// shorter
std::vector<int (*)(int)> v;
v.push_back(mult);
b = v[0](2); // The value of b is 4.
Storing a function in vector might be a difficult task as illustrated above. In that case if u want to dynamically use a function u can also store a function in pointer which is much easier. Main advantage of this is u can store any type of function either it is a normal function or a paramatrized one(having some input as parametrs). Complete process is described in the link given below with examples...just have a look...!!!
how can we store Function in pointer

Pointer won't return with assigned address

I'm using Qt Creator 4.5 with GCC 4.3 and I'm having the following problem that I am not sure is Qt or C++ related: I call a function with a char * as an input parameter. Inside that function I make a dynamic allocation and I assign the address to the char *. The problem is when the function returns it does not point to this address anymore.
bool FPSengine::putData (char CommandByte , int Index)
{
char *msgByte;
structSize=putDatagrams(CommandByte, Index, msgByte);
}
int FPSengine::putDatagrams (char CommandByte, int Index, char *msgByte)
{
int theSize;
switch ( CommandByte ) {
case (CHANGE_CONFIGURATION): {
theSize=sizeof(MsnConfigType);
msgByte=new char[theSize];
union MConfigUnion {
char cByte[sizeof(MsnConfigType)];
MsnConfigType m;
};
MConfigUnion * msnConfig=(MConfigUnion*)msgByte;
...Do some assignments. I verify and everything is OK.
}
}
return theSize;
}
When I return the pointer it contains a completely different address than the one assigned in putDatagrams(). Why?
...
Ok thx I understand my mistake(rookie mistake :( ). When sending a pointer as an input parameter to the function you send the address of your data but not the address of your pointer so you cant make the pointer point somewhere else...it is actually a local copy like Index. The only case the data would of been returned succesfully with the use of a char * is by allocating the memory before the function call:
bool FPSengine::putData (char CommandByte , int Index)
{
char *msgByte;
msgByte=new char[sizeof(MsnConfigType)];
structSize=putDatagrams(CommandByte, Index, msgByte);
}
int FPSengine::putDatagrams (char CommandByte, int Index, char *msgByte)
{
int theSize;
switch ( CommandByte ) {
case (CHANGE_CONFIGURATION): {
theSize=sizeof(MsnConfigType);
union MConfigUnion {
char cByte[sizeof(MsnConfigType)];
MsnConfigType m;
};
MConfigUnion * msnConfig=(MConfigUnion*)msgByte;
...Do some assignments. I verify and everything is OK.
}
}
return theSize;
}
There are two ways. The pass-by-value way (C style):
int FPSengine::putDatagrams (char CommandByte, int Index, char **msgByte)
Note the second * for msgByte. Then inside of putDatagrams(), do:
*msgByte = new char[theSize];
In fact, anywhere in that function where you currently have msgByte, use *msgByte. When calling putDatagrams(), do:
structSize=putDatagrams(CommandByte, Index, &msgByte);
And the second way, since you're in C++, you could use pass-by-reference. Just change the signature of putDatagrams() to:
int FPSengine::putDatagrams (char CommandByte, int Index, char * &msgByte)
And you should be good. In this case, you shouldn't need to modify the caller or anything inside of your putDatagrams() routine.
Well, yes. Everything in C++ is, by default, passed by value. Parameters in the call putDatagrams(a, b, c) are sent by value - you wouldn't expect assigning to index in the code to change the value of b at the call site. Your msgByte=new char[theSize]; is just assigning to the local variable msgByte, overwriting the value passed in.
If you want to change a passed parameter such that the call site variable changes, you'll need to either pass by reference, or (in this case) pass a "pointer to a pointer` (and deference away the first pointer, assigning to the actual pointer).

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