R: LaplacesDemon RAM Estimate

LaplacesDemon.RAM {LaplacesDemon}

R Documentation

LaplacesDemon RAM Estimate

Description

This function estimates the random-access memory (RAM) required to update a given model and data with the LaplacesDemon function.

Warning: Unwise use of this function may crash a computer, so please read the details below.

Usage

LaplacesDemon.RAM(Model, Data, Iterations, Thinning, Algorithm="RWM")

Arguments

`Model`	This is a model specification function. For more information, see `LaplacesDemon`.
`Data`	This is a list of Data. For more information, see `LaplacesDemon`.
`Iterations`	This is the number of iterations for which `LaplacesDemon` would update. For more information, see `LaplacesDemon`.
`Thinning`	This is the amount of thinning applied to the chains in `LaplacesDemon`.For more information, see `LaplacesDemon`.
`Algorithm`	This argument accepts the name of the algorithm as a string, as entered in `LaplacesDemon`.For more information, see `LaplacesDemon`.

Details

The LaplacesDemon.RAM function uses the object.size function to estimate the size in MB of RAM required to update one chain in LaplacesDemon for a given model and data, and for a number of iterations and specified thinning. When RAM is exceeded, the computer will crash. This function can be useful when trying to estimate how many iterations to update a model without crashing the computer. However, when estimating the required RAM, LaplacesDemon.RAM actually creates several large objects, such as post (see below). If too many iterations are given as an argument to LaplacesDemon.RAM, for example, then it will crash the computer while trying to estimate the required RAM.

The best way to use this function is as follows. First, prepare the model specification and list of data. Second, observe how much RAM the computer is using at the moment, as well as the maximum available RAM. The majority of the difference of these two is the amount of RAM the computer may dedicate to updating the model. Next, use this function with a small number of iterations (important in some algorithms), and with few thinned samples (important in all algorithms). Note the estimated RAM. Increase the number of iterations and thinned samples, and again note the RAM. Continue to increase the number of iterations and thinned samples until, say, arbitrarily within 90% of the above-mentioned difference in RAM.

The computer operating system uses RAM, as does any other software running at the moment. R is currently using RAM, and other functions in the LaplacesDemon package, and any other package that is currently activated, are using RAM. There are numerous small objects that are not included in the returned list, that use RAM. For example, there may be a scalar called alpha for the acceptance probability, etc.

One potentially larger object that is not included, and depends on the algorithm, is a matrix used for estimating LML. Its use occurs with non-adaptive MCMC algorithms, only with enough globally stationary samples, and only when the ratio of parameters to samples is not excessive. If used, then the user should create a matrix of the appropriate dimensions and use the object.size function to estimate the RAM.

If the data is too large for RAM, then consider using either the BigData function or the SGLD algorithm in LaplacesDemon.

Value

LaplacesDemon.RAM returns a list with several components. Each component is an estimate in MB for an object. The list has the following components:

`Covar`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the covariance matrix, variance vector, or both (some algorithms store both internally, creating one from the other). Blocked covariance matrices are not considered at this time.
`Data`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the list of data.
`Deviance`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the deviance vector.
`Initial.Values`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the vector of initial values.
`Model`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the model specification function.
`Monitor`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the `N \times J` matrix `Monitor`, where `N` is the number of thinned samples and J is the number of monitored variables.
`post`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for a matrix of posterior samples. This matrix is used in some algorithms, and is not returned by `LaplacesDemon`.
`Posterior1`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the `N \times J` matrix `Posterior1`, where `N` is the number of thinned samples and `J` is the number of initial values or parameters.
`Posterior2`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the `N \times J` matrix `Posterior2`, where `N` is the number of globally stationary thinned samples and `J` is the number of initial values or parameters. Maximum RAM use is assumed here, so the same `N` is used, as in `Posterior1`.
`Summary1`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the summary table of all thinned posterior samples of parameters, deviance, and monitored variables.
`Summary2`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required for the summary table of all globally stationary thinned posterior samples of parameters, deviance, and monitored variables.
`Total`	This is the estimated size in MB of RAM required in total to update one chain in `LaplacesDemon` for a given model and data, and for a number of iterations and specified thinning.

Author(s)

Statisticat, LLC software@bayesian-inference.com