Setup
GPU Setup
Local GPU auto-detect, engine installation, and cloud fallback.
Local GPU Auto-Detect
blast simulate --engine openmm --detect-gpu
Supported backends:
- NVIDIA CUDA —
nvidia-smidetection, cuDNN auto-check - Apple Metal / MPS —
torch.backends.mps.is_available() - AMD ROCm — experimental, via
HIP_VISIBLE_DEVICES
If not detected, the engine prints exact install commands:
# conda install -c conda-forge openmm
# pip install openmm
Engine Categories
| Category | Engines | Typical Install |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular Dynamics | GROMACS, LAMMPS, OpenMM, MDAnalysis | conda install -c conda-forge gromacs |
| Quantum Chemistry | PySCF, Psi4, Quantum ESPRESSO | pip install pyscf |
| CFD | OpenFOAM, FEniCSx | conda install -c conda-forge fenics |
| Neuroscience | NEURON, Brian2, Jaxley | pip install neuron |
| Systems Biology | COPASI, Tellurium | pip install tellurium |
| Multi-physics | MuJoCo, PyBullet, Taichi | pip install mujoco |
| Astrophysics | Rebound, AMUSE | pip install rebound |
| ML/MD | JAX MD, JAX-LaB | pip install jax-md |
Cloud GPU (vast.ai)
For engines too large for local hardware:
blast simulate --engine gromacs --estimate-cost
Example output:
Local: 8h on RTX 4090 ($0)
vast.ai: 1h on A100 ($0.80)
vast.ai: 2h on RTX 3090 ($0.40)
Workflow:
blast simulate --engine <name> --dry-run— shows exact conda/pip commands- Install locally OR rent on vast.ai
- Re-run without
--dry-run
Honest Fallback
If an engine is not installed, c4reqber automatically falls back to:
- Toy analytical model (same physics equations, coarse grid)
- Clear labeling:
[FALLBACK: toy model — install <engine> for full simulation] - No fake data — equations are real, just lower resolution