| Intel oneAPI Math Kernel Library | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Intel |
| Initial release | November 1994; 31 years ago (1994-11) |
| Stable release | |
| Written in | C/C++,DPC++,Fortran |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows,Linux |
| Platform | CPU[2] GPU
|
| Type | Library andframework |
| License | freeware under ISSL[3][4] |
| Website | www |
InteloneAPI Math Kernel Library (InteloneMKL), formerly known as Intel Math Kernel Library, is alibrary of optimized math routines for science, engineering, and financial applications. Core math functions includeBLAS,LAPACK,ScaLAPACK, sparse solvers,fast Fourier transforms, and vector math.[5][6]
The library supports x86 CPUs and Intel GPUs[2] and is available forWindows andLinuxoperating systems.[5][6][7]
Intel oneAPI Math Kernel Library is not to be confused with theoneAPI Math Library (oneMath), formerly known as oneMKL Interfaces, which is an open-sourcewrapper library that allows DPC++ applications to call oneMKL routines that can be offloaded to multiple hardware architectures and vendors defined during runtime.[8]
Intel launched the oneAPI Math Kernel Library in November 1994, and called it Intel BLAS Library.[9] In 1996, the library was renamed to Intel Math Kernel Library until April 2020, when intel oneMKL has become part of oneAPI initiative to support multiple hardware architectures, holding the current name Intel oneAPI Math Kernel Library.
The library is available as part of oneAPI Toolkits and in a standalone form, free of charge under the terms of Intel Simplified Software License[3] which allow redistribution.[10] Commercial support for Intel oneMKL is available when purchased as part ofoneAPI Base Toolkit.
Following Apple’s transition away from x86 CPUs, Intel oneMKL last release available formacOS is the version 2023.2.2 and it is scheduled for removal by the end of 2024.
MKL and other programs generated by theIntel C++ Compiler and theIntel DPC++ Compiler improve performance with a technique called function multi-versioning: a function is compiled or written for many of the x86instruction set extensions, and at run-time a "master function" uses theCPUID instruction to select a version most appropriate for the current CPU. However, as long as the master function detects a non-Intel CPU, it almost always chooses the most basic (and slowest) function to use, regardless of what instruction sets the CPU claims to support. This has netted the system a nickname of"cripple AMD" routine since 2009.[11] As of 2020[update], Intel's MKL remains the numeric library installed by default along with many pre-compiled mathematical applications on Windows (such asNumPy,SymPy).[12][13] Although relying on the MKL,MATLAB implemented a workaround starting with Release 2020a which ensures full support for AVX2 by the MKL also for non Intel (AMD) CPUs.[14]
Intel oneMKL has the following functional categories:[15]
Once, oneMKL includedDeep Neural Network functions, but they were removed in version 2020 as a spin-off that originated the open-source Intel oneAPI Deep Neural Network Library.[16]
oneMKL interfaces are an open-source implementation of the oneMKL Data Parallel C++ (DPC++) interface according to the oneMKL specification. It works with multiple devices (backends) using device-specific libraries underneath.