Kernel Loop

kernel-loop

Run a measured kernel optimization loop. The loop is valid only when every version is correct, profiled, evidence-backed, and accepted by the gate script before the next version is created.

This is an orchestration skill. It does not own profiling, KBS search, or benchmarking scripts. It owns only the loop rules, output layout, local report templates, and the iteration gate.

Skill Ownership

Use the existing skills below for their own responsibilities. Paths in this table are relative to that skill's root directory. Do not assume a fixed install location.

The file names under <output_dir> are artifacts produced or written during the loop. They are not skill source paths.

Inputs

Required: <kernel>, <ref.py>, <implementation>, <dims>.

Defaults: <gpu>=0, <N>=3.

Keep these fixed for the whole run: implementation, dimensions, seed, tolerances, GPU, pointer sizing, warmups, and timing trials.

Version Model

v0 is the baseline. v1..vN are optimization attempts. There are N transitions:

v0 -> v1 -> ... -> vN

Each version directory must contain measured artifacts:

<output_dir>/
+-- ref.py
+-- env_check.md
+-- current_iteration.txt        (managed only by the gate)
+-- v0/
|   +-- correctness.md
|   +-- ncu_summary.md
|   +-- ncu_details.md
|   +-- kbs_evidence.md
|   +-- hypothesis.txt           (required only when creating v1)
|   +-- kernel.py | kernel.cu | <single .py/.cu kernel>
+-- v1/
+-- ...
+-- vN/                          (final version: no next-change hypothesis required)
+-- benchmark.md
+-- final_report.md

Do not pre-populate future version directories. Empty placeholders are allowed but unnecessary. A future vK+1 kernel, correctness file, NCU file, KBS file, or hypothesis before vK passes the gate invalidates the loop.

Non-Negotiable Rules

1. Work on exactly one current version: the version named in <output_dir>/current_iteration.txt. If the file does not exist, the first valid gate run must be v0.
2. Correctness must pass before NCU profiling. Do not profile or optimize a failing kernel.
3. Write kbs_evidence.md after NCU profiling and before hypothesis.txt.
4. Write hypothesis.txt before creating the next kernel version. It belongs to the source version, for example v1/hypothesis.txt explains v1 -> v2.
5. Each transition changes exactly one independent performance variable. Mechanical edits that support that one change are allowed; do not bundle a second tactic.
6. Never parallelize or batch-create future iterations. Do not create vK+1 artifacts while current_iteration.txt still says vK.
7. After any context compaction, resume, or long interruption, first read current_iteration.txt and continue only from that version. If later version artifacts already exist, stop and treat the loop state as drifted.
8. The gate script is the only accepted proof that an iteration is complete. If it exits non-zero, stop, fix the current version, and rerun it. Do not continue by reasoning around the failure.

Loop

For v0:

1. Use kernel-profile to run environment check and write <output_dir>/env_check.md; copy ref.py.
2. Place the baseline kernel in v0.
3. Use kernel-profile correctness tooling to write <output_dir>/v0/correctness.md.
4. Use kernel-profile NCU tooling to write <output_dir>/v0/ncu_summary.md and <output_dir>/v0/ncu_details.md.
5. Use kernel-KBS to query measured NCU symptoms. Minimum: one kernel-specific query and one bottleneck-pattern query.
6. Write kbs_evidence.md, then hypothesis.txt.
7. Run the transition gate on v0. Only after it passes, create v1.

For each vK where 0 < K < N, repeat steps 3-7. Preserve regressions; never overwrite an older version.

For final vN, use kernel-profile for correctness and NCU artifacts, use kernel-KBS for evidence, then run the final gate. Do not write a next-change hypothesis unless the user extends N.

Gate Commands

Transition gate, before creating vK+1:

bash <kernel-loop-skill>/scripts/check_iteration_gate.sh <output_dir>/v<K> --verbose

Final pre-completion audit, before benchmarking and reporting:

bash <kernel-loop-skill>/scripts/check_iteration_gate.sh <output_dir>/v<N> --final --verbose

<kernel-loop-skill> means the resolved root directory of this skill, not a hard-coded repository path.

The gate enforces:

• required files are present and non-empty; their contents are not parsed
• NCU files exist; their content is generated by profiling scripts and is not re-parsed by this gate
• KBS and hypothesis files use the expected title hierarchy; body text, tables, metrics, query counts, and evidence values are not parsed
• kernel file exists, is non-empty, is unambiguous, and differs from the previous version when K > 0
• current_iteration.txt matches the checked version
• future versions are not pre-populated before the current gate passes

KBS Evidence

Use references/kbs_evidence.md from this skill as a suggested output format. Query evidence through kernel-KBS; do not treat this template as a KBS retrieval script. The gate checks only that <output_dir>/vK/kbs_evidence.md exists, is non-empty, and has the expected H1/H2 title order.

Hypothesis

Use references/hypothesis.md from this skill as a suggested output format. The hypothesis should describe the next one-variable change. The gate checks only that <output_dir>/vK/hypothesis.txt exists, is non-empty, and has the expected top-level section order before the next version is created.

Final Report

Use kernel-benchmark only after the final gate passes. Write final_report.md from measured artifacts only, using references/report_template.md from this skill.

The report must compare every version, summarize every transition hypothesis, list KBS evidence actually used, identify the best correct version, and cite benchmark.md for final speedups. Use N/A for uncollected metrics and unknown only when an expected value cannot be located in artifacts.