Send an object via MPI using serialization

tl;dr: Let us discuss about MPI and serialization.

To send an object instance with MPI, there are three main options:

• Serialize the object into a byte string and send that. This involves converting the object into a binary format that can be reconstructed elsewhere.
• Send each attribute of the object separately and reassemble it at the receiving end.
• Register the object as an MPI data type. This defines how the object should be laid out in memory so MPI knows how to send its constituent parts.

Serialization

Let us discuss here about serialization. One uses the Boost.Serialization library to convert the object into a byte stream. Then MPI_Send can be used to send the stream, and MPI_Recv used to receive it. Finally, arrived at its destination, one deserialize the stream into an object again.

(In progress)

Present simple exemple of serialization → send → deserialization

Ressources

• How to send a set object in MPI_Send

• Can't get C++ Boost Pointer Serialization to work

• boost serialization of dynamic arrays

• Serialization/Deserialization of a Vector of Integers in C++

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