ax.core¶

Core Classes¶

Arm¶

class ax.core.arm.Arm(parameters, name=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for defining arms.

Randomization in experiments assigns units to a given arm. Thus, the arm encapsulates the parametrization needed by the unit.

clone(clear_name=False)[source]¶

Create a copy of this arm.

Parameters: clear_name (bool) – whether this cloned copy should set its name to None instead of the name of the arm being cloned. Defaults to False.
Return type: Arm

property has_name¶

Return true if arm’s name is not None.

Return type: bool

static md5hash(parameters)[source]¶

Return unique identifier for arm’s parameters.

Parameters: parameters (Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]]) – Parameterization; mapping of param name to value.
Return type: str
Returns: Hash of arm’s parameters.

property name¶

Get arm name. Throws if name is None.

Return type: str

property name_or_short_signature¶

Returns arm name if exists; else last 4 characters of the hash.

Used for presentation of candidates (e.g. plotting and tables), where the candidates do not yet have names (since names are automatically set upon addition to a trial).

Return type: str

property parameters¶

Get mapping from parameter names to values.

Return type: Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]]

property signature¶

Get unique representation of a arm.

Return type: str

Base¶

class ax.core.base.Base[source]¶

Bases: object

Metaclass for core Ax classes.

BaseTrial¶

class ax.core.base_trial.BaseTrial(experiment, trial_type=None)[source]¶

Bases: abc.ABC, ax.core.base.Base

Base class for representing trials.

Trials are containers for arms that are deployed together. There are two types of trials: regular Trial, which only contains a single arm, and BatchTrial, which contains an arbitrary number of arms.

abstract property abandoned_arms¶

All abandoned arms, associated with this trial.

Return type: List[Arm]

property abandoned_reason¶

Return type: Optional[str]

abstract property arms¶

Return type: List[Arm]

abstract property arms_by_name¶

Return type: Dict[str, Arm]

assign_runner()[source]¶

Assigns default experiment runner if trial doesn’t already have one.

Return type: BaseTrial

complete()[source]¶

Stops the trial if functionality is defined on runner: and marks trial completed.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

property deployed_name¶

Name of the experiment created in external framework.

This property is derived from the name field in run_metadata.

Return type: Optional[str]

property experiment¶

The experiment this trial belongs to.

Return type: Experiment

fetch_data(metrics=None, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetch data for this trial for all metrics on experiment.

Parameters

trial_index – The index of the trial to fetch data for.
metrics (Optional[List[Metric]]) – If provided, fetch data for these metrics instead of the ones defined on the experiment.
kwargs (Any) – keyword args to pass to underlying metrics’ fetch data functions.

Return type

Data

Returns

Data for this trial.

property index¶

The index of this trial within the experiment’s trial list.

Return type: int

property is_abandoned¶

Whether this trial is abandoned.

Return type: bool

mark_abandoned(reason=None)[source]¶

Mark trial as abandoned.

Parameters: abandoned_reason – The reason the trial was abandoned.
Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

mark_completed(allow_repeat_completion=False)[source]¶

Mark trial as completed.

Parameters: allow_repeat_completion (bool) – If set to True, this function will not raise an error is a trial that has already been marked as completed is being marked as completed again.
Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

mark_dispatched()[source]¶

Mark trial as dispatched through the service API to await completion.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

mark_failed()[source]¶

Mark trial as failed.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

mark_running()[source]¶

Mark trial has started running.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

mark_staged()[source]¶

Mark the trial as being staged for running.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

run()[source]¶

Deploys the trial according to the behavior on the runner.

The runner returns a run_metadata dict containining metadata of the deployment process. It also returns a deployed_name of the trial within the system to which it was deployed. Both these fields are set on the trial.

Return type: BaseTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

property run_metadata¶

Dict containing metadata from the deployment process.

This is set implicitly during trial.run().

Return type: Dict[str, Any]

property runner¶

The runner object defining how to deploy the trial.

Return type: Optional[Runner]

property status¶

The status of the trial in the experimentation lifecycle.

Return type: TrialStatus

property time_completed¶

Completion time of the trial.

Return type: Optional[datetime]

property time_created¶

Creation time of the trial.

Return type: datetime

property time_run_started¶

Time the trial was started running (i.e. collecting data).

Return type: Optional[datetime]

property time_staged¶

Staged time of the trial.

Return type: Optional[datetime]

property trial_type¶

The type of the trial.

Relevant for experiments containing different kinds of trials (e.g. different deployment types).

Return type: Optional[str]

class ax.core.base_trial.TrialStatus[source]¶

Bases: enum.Enum

Enum of trial status.

General lifecycle of a trial is::

CANDIDATE --> STAGED --> RUNNING --> COMPLETED
          ------------->         --> FAILED (machine failure)
          -------------------------> ABANDONED (human-initiated action)
          --> DISPATCHED ---------->

Trials may be abandoned at any time prior to completion or failure via human intervention. The difference between abandonment and failure is that the former is human-directed, while the latter is an internal failure state.

Additionally, when trials are deployed, they may be in an intermediate staged state (e.g. scheduled but waiting for resources) or immediately transition to running.

When used though the service API, Ax proposes trials and expects the client application to compelete them with evaluation data when available. In this case, a trial is set to ‘dispatched’ right after the trial is created, and when user completes the trial with data, its status is set to ‘completed’.

ABANDONED = 5¶

CANDIDATE = 0¶

COMPLETED = 3¶

DISPATCHED = 6¶

FAILED = 2¶

RUNNING = 4¶

STAGED = 1¶

property expecting_data¶

True if trial is expecting data.

Return type: bool

property is_deployed¶

True if trial has been deployed but not completed.

Return type: bool

property is_failed¶

True if this trial is a failed one.

Return type: bool

property is_terminal¶

True if trial is completed.

Return type: bool

ax.core.base_trial.immutable_once_run(func)[source]¶

Decorator for methods that should throw Error when trial is running or has ever run and immutable.

Return type: Callable

BatchTrial¶

class ax.core.batch_trial.AbandonedArm[source]¶

Bases: tuple

Tuple storing metadata of arm that has been abandoned within a BatchTrial.

property name¶: Alias for field number 0

property reason¶: Alias for field number 2

property time¶: Alias for field number 1

class ax.core.batch_trial.BatchTrial(experiment, generator_run=None, trial_type=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base_trial.BaseTrial

property abandoned_arms¶

List of arms that have been abandoned within this trial

Return type: List[Arm]

property abandoned_arms_metadata¶

Return type: List[AbandonedArm]

add_arm(*args, **kwargs)¶

add_arms_and_weights(*args, **kwargs)¶

add_generator_run(*args, **kwargs)¶

property arm_weights¶

The set of arms and associated weights for the trial.

These are constructed by merging the arms and weights from each generator run that is attached to the trial.

Return type: Optional[MutableMapping[Arm, float]]

property arms¶

All arms contained in the trial.

Return type: List[Arm]

property arms_by_name¶

Map from arm name to object for all arms in trial.

Return type: Dict[str, Arm]

clone()[source]¶

Clone the trial.

Return type: BatchTrial
Returns: A new instance of the trial.

property experiment¶

The experiment this batch belongs to.

Return type: Experiment

property generator_run_structs¶

List of generator run structs attached to this trial.

Struct holds generator_run object and the weight with which it was added.

Return type: List[GeneratorRunStruct]

property index¶

The index of this batch within the experiment’s batch list.

Return type: int

property is_factorial¶

Return true if the trial’s arms are a factorial design with no linked factors.

Return type: bool

mark_arm_abandoned(arm_name, reason=None)[source]¶

Mark a arm abandoned.

Usually done after deployment when one arm causes issues but user wants to continue running other arms in the batch.

Parameters

arm_name (str) – The name of the arm to abandon.
reason (Optional[str]) – The reason for abandoning the arm.

Return type

BatchTrial

Returns

The batch instance.

normalized_arm_weights(total=1, trunc_digits=None)[source]¶

Returns arms with a new set of weights normalized to the given total.

This method is useful for many runners where we need to normalize weights to a certain total without mutating the weights attached to a trial.

Parameters

total (float) – The total weight to which to normalize. Default is 1, in which case arm weights can be interpreted as probabilities.
trunc_digits (Optional[int]) – The number of digits to keep. If the resulting total weight is not equal to total, re-allocate weight in such a way to maintain relative weights as best as possible.

Return type

MutableMapping[Arm, float]

Returns

Mapping from arms to the new set of weights.

reweight_status_quo(*args, **kwargs)¶

run()[source]¶

Deploys the trial according to the behavior on the runner.

The runner returns a run_metadata dict containining metadata of the deployment process. It also returns a deployed_name of the trial within the system to which it was deployed. Both these fields are set on the trial.

Return type: BatchTrial
Returns: The trial instance.

set_status_quo_and_optimize_power(*args, **kwargs)¶

set_status_quo_with_weight(*args, **kwargs)¶

property status_quo¶

The control arm for this batch.

Return type: Optional[Arm]

property weights¶

Weights corresponding to arms contained in the trial.

Return type: List[float]

class ax.core.batch_trial.GeneratorRunStruct[source]¶

Bases: tuple

Stores GeneratorRun object as well as the weight with which it was added.

property generator_run¶: Alias for field number 0

property weight¶: Alias for field number 1

Data¶

class ax.core.data.Data(df=None, description=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Class storing data for an experiment.

The dataframe is retrieved via the df property. The data can be stored to gluster for future use by attaching it to an experiment using experiment.add_data() (this requires a description to be set.)

df¶: DataFrame with underlying data, and required columns.

description¶: Human-readable description of data.

static column_data_types()[source]¶

Type specification for all supported columns.

Return type: Dict[str, Type[+CT_co]]

property df

Return type: DataFrame

property df_hash¶

Compute hash of pandas DataFrame.

This first serializes the DataFrame and computes the md5 hash on the resulting string. Note that this may cause performance issue for very large DataFrames.

Parameters: df – The DataFrame for which to compute the hash.

Returns: str: The hash of the DataFrame.

Return type: str

static from_evaluations(evaluations, trial_index, sample_sizes=None)[source]¶

Convert dict of evaluations to Ax data object.

Parameters

evaluations (Dict[str, Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]]) – Map from arm name to metric outcomes (itself a mapping of metric names to tuples of mean and optionally a SEM).
trial_index (int) – Trial index to which this data belongs.
sample_sizes (Optional[Dict[str, int]]) – Number of samples collected for each arm.

Return type

Data

Returns

Ax Data object.

static from_fidelity_evaluations(evaluations, trial_index, sample_sizes=None)[source]¶

Convert dict of fidelity evaluations to Ax data object.

Parameters

evaluations (Dict[str, List[Tuple[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]]]]) – Map from arm name to list of (fidelity, metric outcomes) (where metric outcomes is itself a mapping of metric names to tuples of mean and SEM).
trial_index (int) – Trial index to which this data belongs.
sample_sizes (Optional[Dict[str, int]]) – Number of samples collected for each arm.

Return type

Data

Returns

Ax Data object.

static from_multiple_data(data)[source]¶

Return type: Data

static required_columns()[source]¶

Names of required columns.

Return type: Set[str]

ax.core.data.custom_data_class(column_data_types=None, required_columns=None, time_columns=None)[source]¶

Creates a custom data class with additional columns.

All columns and their designations on the base data class are preserved, the inputs here are appended to the definitions on the base class.

Parameters

column_data_types (Optional[Dict[str, Type[+CT_co]]]) – Dict from column name to column type.
required_columns (Optional[Set[str]]) – Set of additional columns required for this data object.
time_columns (Optional[Set[str]]) – Set of additional columns to cast to timestamp.

Return type

Type[Data]

Returns

New data subclass with amended column definitions.

ax.core.data.set_single_trial(data)[source]¶

Returns a new Data object where we set all rows to have the same trial index (i.e. 0). This is meant to be used with our IVW transform, which will combine multiple observations of the same metric.

Return type: Data

Experiment¶

class ax.core.experiment.Experiment(search_space, name=None, optimization_config=None, tracking_metrics=None, runner=None, status_quo=None, description=None, is_test=False, experiment_type=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for defining an experiment.

add_tracking_metric(metric)[source]¶

Add a new metric to the experiment.

Parameters: metric (Metric) – Metric to be added.
Return type: Experiment

property arms_by_name¶

The arms belonging to this experiment, by their name.

Return type: Dict[str, Arm]

property arms_by_signature¶

The arms belonging to this experiment, by their signature.

Return type: Dict[str, Arm]

attach_data(data)[source]¶

Attach data to experiment.

Parameters: data (Data) – Data object to store.
Return type: int
Returns: Timestamp of storage in millis.

property data_by_trial¶

Data stored on the experiment, indexed by trial index and storage time.

First key is trial index and second key is storage time in milliseconds. For a given trial, data is ordered by storage time, so first added data will appear first in the list.

Return type: Dict[int, OrderedDict]

property default_trial_type¶

Default trial type assigned to trials in this experiment.

In the base experiment class this is always None. For experiments with multiple trial types, use the MultiTypeExperiment class.

Return type: Optional[str]

property experiment_type¶

The type of the experiment.

Return type: Optional[str]

fetch_data(metrics=None, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetches data for all metrics and trials on this experiment.

Parameters

metrics (Optional[List[Metric]]) – If provided, fetch data for these metrics instead of the ones defined on the experiment.
kwargs (Any) – keyword args to pass to underlying metrics’ fetch data functions.

Return type

Data

Returns

Data for the experiment.

property has_name¶

Return true if experiment’s name is not None.

Return type: bool

property is_simple_experiment¶: Whether this experiment is a regular Experiment or the subclassing SimpleExperiment.

lookup_data_for_trial(trial_index)[source]¶

Lookup stored data for a specific trial.

Returns latest data object present for this trial. Returns empty data if no data present.

Parameters: trial_index (int) – The index of the trial to lookup data for.
Return type: Data
Returns: Requested data object.

lookup_data_for_ts(timestamp)[source]¶

Collect data for all trials stored at this timestamp.

Useful when many trials’ data was fetched and stored simultaneously and user wants to retrieve same collection of data later.

Can also be used to lookup specific data for a single trial when storage time is known.

Parameters: timestamp (int) – Timestamp in millis at which data was stored.
Return type: Data
Returns: Data object with all data stored at the timestamp.

property metrics¶

The metrics attached to the experiment.

Return type: Dict[str, Metric]

property name¶

Get experiment name. Throws if name is None.

Return type: str

new_batch_trial(generator_run=None, trial_type=None)[source]¶

Create a new batch trial associated with this experiment.

Return type: BatchTrial

new_trial(generator_run=None, trial_type=None)[source]¶

Create a new trial associated with this experiment.

Return type: Trial

property num_abandoned_arms¶

How many arms attached to this experiment are abandoned.

Return type: int

property num_trials¶

How many trials are associated with this experiment.

Return type: int

property optimization_config¶

The experiment’s optimization config.

Return type: Optional[OptimizationConfig]

property parameters¶

The parameters in the experiment’s search space.

Return type: Dict[str, Parameter]

remove_tracking_metric(metric_name)[source]¶

Remove a metric that already exists on the experiment.

Parameters: metric_name (str) – Unique name of metric to remove.
Return type: Experiment

runner_for_trial(trial)[source]¶

The default runner to use for a given trial.

In the base experiment class, this is always the default experiment runner. For experiments with multiple trial types, use the MultiTypeExperiment class.

Return type: Optional[Runner]

property search_space¶

The search space for this experiment.

When setting a new search space, all parameter names and types must be preserved. However, if no trials have been created, all modifications are allowed.

Return type: SearchSpace

property status_quo¶

The existing arm that new arms will be compared against.

Return type: Optional[Arm]

property sum_trial_sizes¶

Sum of numbers of arms attached to each trial in this experiment.

Return type: int

supports_trial_type(trial_type)[source]¶

Whether this experiment allows trials of the given type.

The base experiment class only supports None. For experiments with multiple trial types, use the MultiTypeExperiment class.

Return type: bool

property time_created¶

Creation time of the experiment.

Return type: datetime

property trials¶

The trials associated with the experiment.

Return type: Dict[int, BaseTrial]

property trials_expecting_data¶

the list of all trials for which data has arrived or is expected to arrive.

Type: List[BaseTrial]
Return type: List[BaseTrial]

update_tracking_metric(metric)[source]¶

Redefine a metric that already exists on the experiment.

Parameters: metric (Metric) – New metric definition.
Return type: Experiment

GeneratorRun¶

class ax.core.generator_run.ArmWeight[source]¶

Bases: tuple

NamedTuple for tying together arms and weights.

property arm¶: Alias for field number 0

property weight¶: Alias for field number 1

class ax.core.generator_run.GeneratorRun(arms, weights=None, optimization_config=None, search_space=None, model_predictions=None, best_arm_predictions=None, type=None, fit_time=None, gen_time=None, model_key=None, model_kwargs=None, bridge_kwargs=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

An object that represents a single run of a generator.

This object is created each time the gen method of a generator is called. It stores the arms and (optionally) weights that were generated by the run. When we add a generator run to a trial, its arms and weights will be merged with those from previous generator runs that were already attached to the trial.

property arm_weights¶

Mapping from arms to weights (order matches order in arms property).

Return type: MutableMapping[Arm, float]

property arms¶

Returns arms generated by this run.

Return type: List[Arm]

property best_arm_predictions¶

Return type: Optional[Tuple[Arm, Optional[Tuple[Dict[str, float], Optional[Dict[str, Dict[str, float]]]]]]]

clone()[source]¶

Return a deep copy of a GeneratorRun.

Return type: GeneratorRun

property fit_time¶

Return type: Optional[float]

property gen_time¶

Return type: Optional[float]

property generator_run_type¶

The type of the generator run.

Return type: Optional[str]

property index¶

The index of this generator run within a trial’s list of generator run structs. This field is set when the generator run is added to a trial.

Return type: Optional[int]

property model_predictions¶

Return type: Optional[Tuple[Dict[str, List[float]], Dict[str, Dict[str, List[float]]]]]

property model_predictions_by_arm¶

Return type: Optional[Dict[str, Tuple[Dict[str, float], Optional[Dict[str, Dict[str, float]]]]]]

property optimization_config¶

The optimization config used during generation of this run.

Return type: Optional[OptimizationConfig]

property param_df¶

Constructs a Pandas dataframe with the parameter values for each arm.

Useful for inspecting the contents of a generator run.

Returns: a dataframe with the generator run’s arms.
Return type: pd.DataFrame

property search_space¶

The search used during generation of this run.

Return type: Optional[SearchSpace]

property time_created¶

Creation time of the batch.

Return type: datetime

property weights¶

Returns weights associated with arms generated by this run.

Return type: List[float]

class ax.core.generator_run.GeneratorRunType[source]¶

Bases: enum.Enum

Class for enumerating generator run types.

MANUAL = 1¶

STATUS_QUO = 0¶

ax.core.generator_run.extract_arm_predictions(model_predictions, arm_idx)[source]¶

Extract a particular arm from model_predictions.

Parameters

model_predictions (Tuple[Dict[str, List[float]], Dict[str, Dict[str, List[float]]]]) – Mean and Cov for all arms.
arm_idx (int) – Index of arm in prediction list.

Return type

Tuple[Dict[str, float], Optional[Dict[str, Dict[str, float]]]]

Returns

(mean, cov) for specified arm.

Metric¶

class ax.core.metric.Metric(name, lower_is_better=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for representing metrics.

lower_is_better¶: Flag for metrics which should be minimized.

clone()[source]¶

Create a copy of this Metric.

Return type: Metric

fetch_experiment_data(experiment, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetch this metric’s data for an experiment.

Default behavior is to fetch data from all trials expecting data and concatenate the results.

Return type: Data

classmethod fetch_experiment_data_multi(experiment, metrics, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetch multiple metrics data for an experiment.

Default behavior calls fetch_trial_data_multi for each trial. Subclasses should override to batch data computation across trials + metrics.

Return type: Data

fetch_trial_data(trial, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetch data for one trial.

Return type: Data

classmethod fetch_trial_data_multi(trial, metrics, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetch multiple metrics data for one trial.

Default behavior calls fetch_trial_data for each metric. Subclasses should override this to trial data computation for multiple metrics.

Return type: Data

property name¶

Get name of metric.

Return type: str

MultiTypeExperiment¶

class ax.core.multi_type_experiment.MultiTypeExperiment(name, search_space, default_trial_type, default_runner, optimization_config=None, status_quo=None, description=None, is_test=False, experiment_type=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.experiment.Experiment

Class for experiment with multiple trial types.

A canonical use case for this is tuning a large production system with limited evaluation budget and a simulator which approximates evaluations on the main system. Trial deployment and data fetching is separate for the two systems, but the final data is combined and fed into multi-task models.

See the Multi-Task Modeling tutorial for more details.

name¶: Name of the experiment.

description¶: Description of the experiment.

add_tracking_metric(metric, trial_type, canonical_name=None)[source]¶

Add a new metric to the experiment.

Parameters

metric (Metric) – The metric to add.
trial_type (str) – The trial type for which this metric is used.
canonical_name (Optional[str]) – The default metric for which this metric is a proxy.

Return type

MultiTypeExperiment

add_trial_type(trial_type, runner)[source]¶

Add a new trial_type to be supported by this experiment.

Parameters

trial_type (str) – The new trial_type to be added.
runner (Runner) – The default runner for trials of this type.

Return type

MultiTypeExperiment

property default_trial_type¶

Default trial type assigned to trials in this experiment.

Return type: Optional[str]

property default_trials¶

Return the indicies for trials of the default type.

Return type: Set[int]

fetch_data(metrics=None, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetches data for all metrics and trials on this experiment.

Parameters

metrics (Optional[List[Metric]]) – If provided, fetch data for these metrics instead of the ones defined on the experiment.
kwargs (Any) – keyword args to pass to underlying metrics’ fetch data functions.

Return type

Data

Returns

Data for the experiment.

property metric_to_trial_type¶

Map metrics to trial types.

Adds in default trial type for OC metrics to custom defined trial types..

Return type: Dict[str, str]

remove_tracking_metric(metric_name)[source]¶

Remove a metric that already exists on the experiment.

Parameters: metric_name (str) – Unique name of metric to remove.
Return type: MultiTypeExperiment

runner_for_trial(trial)[source]¶

The default runner to use for a given trial.

Looks up the appropriate runner for this trial type in the trial_type_to_runner.

Return type: Optional[Runner]

supports_trial_type(trial_type)[source]¶

Whether this experiment allows trials of the given type.

Only trial types defined in the trial_type_to_runner are allowed.

Return type: bool

update_runner(trial_type, runner)[source]¶

Update the default runner for an existing trial_type.

Parameters

trial_type (str) – The new trial_type to be added.
runner (Runner) – The new runner for trials of this type.

Return type

MultiTypeExperiment

update_tracking_metric(metric, trial_type, canonical_name=None)[source]¶

Update an existing metric on the experiment.

Parameters

metric (Metric) – The metric to add.
trial_type (str) – The trial type for which this metric is used.
canonical_name (Optional[str]) – The default metric for which this metric is a proxy.

Return type

MultiTypeExperiment

Objective¶

class ax.core.objective.Objective(metric, minimize=False)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for representing an objective.

minimize¶: If True, minimize metric.

clone()[source]¶

Create a copy of the objective.

Return type: Objective

property metric¶

Get the objective metric.

Return type: Metric

property metrics¶

Get a list of objective metrics.

Return type: List[Metric]

class ax.core.objective.ScalarizedObjective(metrics, weights=None, minimize=False)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.objective.Objective

Class for an objective composed of a linear scalarization of metrics.

metrics¶: List of metrics.

weights¶: Weights for scalarization; default to 1.

clone()[source]¶

Create a copy of the objective.

Return type: Objective

property metric¶

Override base method to error.

Return type: Metric

property metric_weights¶

Get the objective metrics and weights.

Return type: Iterable[Tuple[Metric, float]]

property metrics

Get the objective metrics.

Return type: List[Metric]

Observation¶

class ax.core.observation.Observation(features, data, arm_name=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Represents an observation.

A set of features (ObservationFeatures) and corresponding measurements (ObservationData). Optionally, a arm name associated with the features.

features¶

Type: ObservationFeatures

data¶

Type: ObservationData

arm_name¶

Type: Optional[str]

class ax.core.observation.ObservationData(metric_names, means, covariance)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Outcomes observed at a point.

The “point” corresponding to this ObservationData would be an ObservationFeatures object.

metric_names¶: A list of k metric names that were observed

means¶: a k-array of observed means

covariance¶: a (k x k) array of observed covariances

class ax.core.observation.ObservationFeatures(parameters, trial_index=None, start_time=None, end_time=None, random_split=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

The features of an observation.

These include both the arm parameters and the features of the observation found in the Data object: trial index, times, and random split. This object is meant to contain everything needed to represent this observation in a model feature space. It is essentially a row of Data joined with the arm parameters.

An ObservationFeatures object would typically have a corresponding ObservationData object that provides the observed outcomes.

parameters¶: arm parameters

trial_index¶: trial index

start_time¶: batch start time

end_time¶: batch end time

random_split¶: random split

static from_arm(arm, trial_index=None, start_time=None, end_time=None, random_split=None)[source]¶

Convert a Arm to an ObservationFeatures, including additional data as specified.

Return type: ObservationFeatures

update_features(new_features)[source]¶

Updates the existing ObservationFeatures with the fields of the the input.

Adds all of the new parameters to the existing parameters and overwrites any other fields that are not None on the new input features.

Return type: ObservationFeatures

ax.core.observation.observations_from_data(experiment, data)[source]¶

Convert Data to observations.

Converts a Data object to a list of Observation objects. Pulls arm parameters from experiment. Overrides fidelity parameters in the arm with those found in the Data object.

Uses a diagonal covariance matrix across metric_names.

Parameters

experiment (Experiment) – Experiment with arm parameters.
data (Data) – Data of observations

Returns: List of Observation objects.

Return type: List[Observation]

ax.core.observation.separate_observations(observations, copy=False)[source]¶

Split out observations into features+data.

Parameters: observations (List[Observation]) – input observations
Returns: ObservationFeatures observation_data: ObservationData
Return type: observation_features

OptimizationConfig¶

class ax.core.optimization_config.OptimizationConfig(objective, outcome_constraints=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

An optimization configuration, which comprises an objective and outcome constraints.

There is no minimum or maximum number of outcome constraints, but an individual metric can have at most two constraints–which is how we represent metrics with both upper and lower bounds.

clone()[source]¶

Make a copy of this optimization config.

Return type: OptimizationConfig

property metrics¶

Return type: Dict[str, Metric]

property objective¶

Get objective.

Return type: Objective

property outcome_constraints¶

Get outcome constraints.

Return type: List[OutcomeConstraint]

OutcomeConstraint¶

class ax.core.outcome_constraint.OutcomeConstraint(metric, op, bound, relative=True)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for representing outcome constraints.

Outcome constraints may of the form metric >= bound or metric <= bound, where the bound can be expressed as an absolute measurement or relative to the status quo (if applicable).

metric¶: Metric to constrain.

op¶: Specifies whether metric should be greater or equal to, or less than or equal to, some bound.

bound¶: The bound in the constraint.

relative¶: Whether you want to bound on an absolute or relative scale. If relative, bound is the acceptable percent change.

clone()[source]¶

Create a copy of this OutcomeConstraint.

Return type: OutcomeConstraint

property metric

Return type: Metric

property op

Return type: ComparisonOp

Parameter¶

class ax.core.parameter.ChoiceParameter(name, parameter_type, values, is_ordered=False, is_task=False, is_fidelity=False, target_value=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.parameter.Parameter

Parameter object that specifies a discrete set of values.

add_values(values)[source]¶

Add input list to the set of allowed values for parameter.

Cast all input values to the parameter type.

Parameters: values (List[Union[str, float, int, None]]) – Values being added to the allowed list.
Return type: ChoiceParameter

clone()[source]¶

Return type: ChoiceParameter

property is_ordered¶

Return type: bool

property is_task¶

Return type: bool

property name¶

Return type: str

property parameter_type¶

Return type: ParameterType

set_values(values)[source]¶

Set the list of allowed values for parameter.

Cast all input values to the parameter type.

Parameters: values (List[Union[str, float, int, None]]) – New list of allowed values.
Return type: ChoiceParameter

validate(value)[source]¶

Checks that the input is in the list of allowed values.

Parameters: value (Union[str, float, int, None]) – Value being checked.
Return type: bool
Returns: True if valid, False otherwise.

property values¶

Return type: List[Union[str, float, int, None]]

class ax.core.parameter.FixedParameter(name, parameter_type, value, is_fidelity=False, target_value=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.parameter.Parameter

Parameter object that specifies a single fixed value.

clone()[source]¶

Return type: FixedParameter

property name¶

Return type: str

property parameter_type¶

Return type: ParameterType

set_value(value)[source]¶

Return type: FixedParameter

validate(value)[source]¶

Checks that the input is equal to the fixed value.

Parameters: value (Union[str, float, int, None]) – Value being checked.
Return type: bool
Returns: True if valid, False otherwise.

property value¶

Return type: Union[str, float, int, None]

class ax.core.parameter.Parameter[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

clone()[source]¶

Return type: Parameter

property is_fidelity¶

Return type: bool

property is_numeric¶

Return type: bool

is_valid_type(value)[source]¶

Whether a given value’s type is allowed by this parameter.

Return type: bool

abstract property name¶

Return type: str

abstract property parameter_type¶

Return type: ParameterType

property python_type¶

The python type for the corresponding ParameterType enum.

Used primarily for casting values of unknown type to conform to that of the parameter.

Return type: Union[Type[int], Type[float], Type[str], Type[bool]]

property target_value¶

Return type: Union[str, float, int, None]

abstract validate(value)[source]¶

Return type: bool

class ax.core.parameter.ParameterType[source]¶

Bases: enum.Enum

An enumeration.

BOOL = 0¶

FLOAT = 2¶

INT = 1¶

STRING = 3¶

property is_numeric¶

Return type: bool

class ax.core.parameter.RangeParameter(name, parameter_type, lower, upper, log_scale=False, digits=None, is_fidelity=False, target_value=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.parameter.Parameter

Parameter object that specifies a continuous numerical range of values.

clone()[source]¶

Return type: RangeParameter

property digits¶

Number of digits to round values to for float type.

Upper and lower bound are re-cast after this property is changed.

Return type: Optional[int]

is_valid_type(value)[source]¶

Same as default except allows floats whose value is an int for Int parameters.

Return type: bool

property log_scale¶

Whether to sample in log space when drawing random values of the parameter.

Return type: bool

property lower¶

Lower bound of the parameter range.

Value is cast to parameter type upon set and also validated to ensure the bound is strictly less than upper bound.

Return type: float

property name¶

Return type: str

property parameter_type¶

Return type: ParameterType

set_digits(digits)[source]¶

Return type: RangeParameter

set_log_scale(log_scale)[source]¶

Return type: RangeParameter

update_range(lower=None, upper=None)[source]¶

Set the range to the given values.

If lower or upper is not provided, it will be left at its current value.

Parameters

lower (Optional[float]) – New value for the lower bound.
upper (Optional[float]) – New value for the upper bound.

Return type

RangeParameter

property upper¶

Upper bound of the parameter range.

Value is cast to parameter type upon set and also validated to ensure the bound is strictly greater than lower bound.

Return type: float

validate(value)[source]¶

Returns True if input is a valid value for the parameter.

Checks that value is of the right type and within the valid range for the parameter. Returns False if value is None.

Parameters: value (Union[str, float, int, None]) – Value being checked.
Return type: bool
Returns: True if valid, False otherwise.

ParameterConstraint¶

class ax.core.parameter_constraint.OrderConstraint(lower_parameter, upper_parameter)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.parameter_constraint.ParameterConstraint

Constraint object for specifying one parameter to be smaller than another.

clone()[source]¶

Clone.

Return type: OrderConstraint

clone_with_transformed_parameters(transformed_parameters)[source]¶

Clone, but replace parameters with transformed versions.

Return type: OrderConstraint

property constraint_dict¶

Weights on parameters for linear constraint representation.

Return type: Dict[str, float]

property lower_parameter¶

Parameter with lower value.

Return type: Parameter

property parameters¶

Parameters.

Return type: List[Parameter]

property upper_parameter¶

Parameter with higher value.

Return type: Parameter

class ax.core.parameter_constraint.ParameterConstraint(constraint_dict, bound)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base class for linear parameter constraints.

Constraints are expressed using a map from parameter name to weight followed by a bound.

The constraint is satisfied if w * v <= b where:: w is the vector of parameter weights. v is a vector of parameter values. b is the specified bound. * is the dot product operator.

property bound¶

Get bound of the inequality of the constraint.

Return type: float

check(parameter_dict)[source]¶

Whether or not the set of parameter values satisfies the constraint.

Does a weighted sum of the parameter values based on the constraint_dict and checks that the sum is less than the bound.

Parameters: parameter_dict (Dict[str, Union[float, int]]) – Map from parameter name to parameter value.
Return type: bool
Returns: Whether the constraint is satisfied.

clone()[source]¶

Clone.

Return type: ParameterConstraint

clone_with_transformed_parameters(transformed_parameters)[source]¶

Clone, but replaced parameters with transformed versions.

Return type: ParameterConstraint

property constraint_dict¶

Get mapping from parameter names to weights.

Return type: Dict[str, float]

class ax.core.parameter_constraint.SumConstraint(parameters, is_upper_bound, bound)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.parameter_constraint.ParameterConstraint

Constraint on the sum of parameters being greater or less than a bound.

clone()[source]¶

Clone.

Return type: SumConstraint

clone_with_transformed_parameters(transformed_parameters)[source]¶

Clone, but replace parameters with transformed versions.

Return type: SumConstraint

property constraint_dict¶

Weights on parameters for linear constraint representation.

Return type: Dict[str, float]

property op¶

Whether the sum is constrained by a <= or >= inequality.

Return type: ComparisonOp

property parameters¶

Parameters.

Return type: List[Parameter]

ax.core.parameter_constraint.validate_constraint_parameters(parameters)[source]¶

Basic validation of parameters used in a constraint.

Parameters: parameters (List[Parameter]) – Parameters used in constraint.
Raises: ValueError if the parameters are not valid for use. –
Return type: None

Runner¶

class ax.core.runner.Runner[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base, abc.ABC

Abstract base class for custom runner classes

abstract run(trial)[source]¶

Deploys a trial based on custom runner subclass implementation.

Parameters: trial (BaseTrial) – The trial to deploy.
Return type: Dict[str, Any]
Returns: Dict of run metadata from the deployment process.

property staging_required¶

Whether the trial goes to staged or running state once deployed.

Return type: bool

stop(trial)[source]¶

Stop a trial based on custom runner subclass implementation.

Optional to implement

Parameters: trial (BaseTrial) – The trial to deploy.
Return type: None

SearchSpace¶

class ax.core.search_space.SearchSpace(parameters, parameter_constraints=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base.Base

Base object for SearchSpace object.

Contains a set of Parameter objects, each of which have a name, type, and set of valid values. The search space also contains a set of ParameterConstraint objects, which can be used to define restrictions across parameters (e.g. p_a < p_b).

add_parameter(parameter)[source]¶

Return type: None

add_parameter_constraints(parameter_constraints)[source]¶

Return type: None

cast_arm(arm)[source]¶

Cast parameterization of given arm to the types in this SearchSpace.

For each parameter in given arm, cast it to the proper type specified in this search space. Throws if there is a mismatch in parameter names. This is mostly useful for int/float, which user can be sloppy with when hand written.

Parameters: arm (Arm) – Arm to cast.
Return type: Arm
Returns: New casted arm.

check_membership(parameterization, raise_error=False)[source]¶

Whether the given parameterization belongs in the search space.

Checks that the given parameter values have the same name/type as search space parameters, are contained in the search space domain, and satisfy the parameter constraints.

Parameters

parameterization (Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]]) – Dict from parameter name to value to validate.
raise_error (bool) – If true parameterization does not belong, raises an error with detailed explanation of why.

Return type

bool

Returns

Whether the parameterization is contained in the search space.

check_types(parameterization, allow_none=True, raise_error=False)[source]¶

Checks that the given parameterization’s types match the search space.

Checks that the names of the parameterization match those specified in the search space, and the given values are of the correct type.

Parameters

parameterization (Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]]) – Dict from parameter name to value to validate.
allow_none (bool) – Whether None is a valid parameter value.
raise_error (bool) – If true and parameterization does not belong, raises an error with detailed explanation of why.

Return type

bool

Returns

Whether the parameterization has valid types.

clone()[source]¶

Return type: SearchSpace

out_of_design_arm()[source]¶

Create a default out-of-design arm.

An out of design arm contains values for some parameters which are outside of the search space. In the modeling conversion, these parameters are all stripped down to an empty dictionary, since the point is already outside of the modeled space.

Return type: Arm
Returns: New arm w/ null parameter values.

property parameter_constraints¶

Return type: List[ParameterConstraint]

property parameters¶

Return type: Dict[str, Parameter]

set_parameter_constraints(parameter_constraints)[source]¶

Return type: None

property tunable_parameters¶

Return type: Dict[str, Parameter]

update_parameter(parameter)[source]¶

Return type: None

SimpleExperiment¶

class ax.core.simple_experiment.SimpleExperiment(search_space, name=None, objective_name=None, evaluation_function=<function unimplemented_evaluation_function>, minimize=False, outcome_constraints=None, status_quo=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.experiment.Experiment

Simplified experiment class with defaults.

Parameters

search_space (SearchSpace) – parameter space
name (Optional[str]) – name of this experiment
objective_name (Optional[str]) – which of the metrics computed by the evaluation function is the objective
evaluation_function (Callable[[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Optional[float]], Union[Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]], Tuple[float, Optional[float]], float, List[Tuple[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]]]]]) – function that evaluates mean and standard error for a parameter configuration. This function should accept a dictionary of parameter names to parameter values (TParametrization) and optionally a weight, and return a dictionary of metric names to a tuple of means and standard errors (TEvaluationOutcome). The function can also return a single tuple, in which case we assume the metric is the objective.
minimize (bool) – whether the objective should be minimized, defaults to False
outcome_constraints (Optional[List[OutcomeConstraint]]) – constraints on the outcome, if any
status_quo (Optional[Arm]) – Arm representing existing “control” arm

add_tracking_metric(metric)[source]¶

Add a new metric to the experiment.

Parameters: metric (Metric) – Metric to be added.
Return type: SimpleExperiment

eval()[source]¶

Evaluate all arms in the experiment with the evaluation function passed as argument to this SimpleExperiment.

Return type: Data

eval_trial(trial)[source]¶

Evaluate trial arms with the evaluation function of this experiment.

Parameters: trial (BaseTrial) – trial, whose arms to evaluate.
Return type: Data

property evaluation_function¶

Get the evaluation function.

Return type: Callable[[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Optional[float]], Union[Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]], Tuple[float, Optional[float]], float, List[Tuple[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]]]]]

evaluation_function_outer(parameterization, weight=None)[source]¶

Return type: Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]

fetch_data(metrics=None, **kwargs)[source]¶

Fetches data for all metrics and trials on this experiment.

Parameters

metrics (Optional[List[Metric]]) – If provided, fetch data for these metrics instead of the ones defined on the experiment.
kwargs (Any) – keyword args to pass to underlying metrics’ fetch data functions.

Return type

Data

Returns

Data for the experiment.

property has_evaluation_function¶

Whether this SimpleExperiment has a valid evaluation function attached.

Return type: bool

property is_simple_experiment¶: Whether this experiment is a regular Experiment or the subclassing SimpleExperiment.

update_tracking_metric(metric)[source]¶

Redefine a metric that already exists on the experiment.

Parameters: metric (Metric) – New metric definition.
Return type: SimpleExperiment

ax.core.simple_experiment.unimplemented_evaluation_function(parameterization, weight=None)[source]¶

Default evaluation function used if none is provided during initialization. The evaluation function must be manually set before use.

Return type: Union[Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]], Tuple[float, Optional[float]], float, List[Tuple[Dict[str, Union[str, float, int, None]], Dict[str, Tuple[float, Optional[float]]]]]]

Trial¶

class ax.core.trial.Trial(experiment, generator_run=None, trial_type=None)[source]¶

Bases: ax.core.base_trial.BaseTrial

Trial that only has one attached arm and no arm weights.

Parameters

experiment (Experiment) – experiment, to which this trial is attached
generator_run (Optional[GeneratorRun]) – generator_run associated with this trial. Trial has only one generator run (and thus arm) attached to it. This can also be set later through add_arm or add_generator_run, but a trial’s associated genetor run is immutable once set.

property abandoned_arms¶

Abandoned arms attached to this trial.

Return type: List[Arm]

add_arm(*args, **kwargs)¶

add_generator_run(*args, **kwargs)¶

property arm¶

The arm associated with this batch.

Return type: Optional[Arm]

property arms¶

All arms attached to this trial.

Returns

list of a single arm: attached to this trial if there is one, else None.

Return type

arms

property arms_by_name¶

Dictionary of all arms attached to this trial with their names as keys.

Returns

dictionary of a single: arm name to arm if one is attached to this trial, else None.

Return type

arms

property generator_run¶

Generator run attached to this trial.

Return type: Optional[GeneratorRun]

property objective_mean¶

Objective mean for the arm attached to this trial.

Return type: Optional[float]

Core Types¶

class ax.core.types.ComparisonOp[source]¶

Bases: enum.Enum

Class for enumerating comparison operations.

GEQ = 0¶

LEQ = 1¶

ax.core.types.merge_model_predict(predict, predict_append)[source]¶

Append model predictions to an existing set of model predictions.

TModelPredict is of the form:: {metric_name: [mean1, mean2, …], {metric_name: {metric_name: [var1, var2, …]}})

This will append the predictions

Parameters

predict (Tuple[Dict[str, List[float]], Dict[str, Dict[str, List[float]]]]) – Initial set of predictions.
other_predict – Predictions to be appended.

Return type

Tuple[Dict[str, List[float]], Dict[str, Dict[str, List[float]]]]

Returns

TModelPredict with the new predictions appended.

Ax

0.1.6

ax.core¶

Core Classes¶

Arm¶

Base¶

BaseTrial¶

BatchTrial¶

Data¶

Experiment¶

GeneratorRun¶

Metric¶

MultiTypeExperiment¶

Objective¶

Observation¶

OptimizationConfig¶

OutcomeConstraint¶

Parameter¶

ParameterConstraint¶

Runner¶

SearchSpace¶

SimpleExperiment¶

Trial¶

Core Types¶

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