Data management idea for simulations
Hi @DrunkEnergy, I made some notes, and also tried some ChatGPT to check if the ideas we discussed made any sense. Also explored other ideas related to object storage, which can be interesting, but more complicated. You can read about object storage and its difference compared to file-system based storage here
This would be a kind of little guide that pretty much reflects the same things I shared but even more organized: Given your use case, where each simulation run generates a unique folder identified by a UUID and contains both metadata and simulation artifacts, an object storage solution could indeed work well, especially if you're looking for simplicity, scalability, and the ability to access these simulations from different environments or share them.
However, if the primary goal is simplicity and keeping everything locally without the setup of an object storage server, you might consider organizing your simulation data on the filesystem with a structured approach. Here's a simplified strategy to manage your data locally, while still maintaining some of the benefits of object storage:
Structured Filesystem Storage
-
Folder Structure: Use the UUID as the folder name for each simulation. This keeps every simulation's data isolated and easily identifiable.
-
Metadata Storage: Within each UUID-named folder, store a metadata file (e.g.,
metadata.json
ormetadata.yaml
) that contains all relevant information about the simulation. This can include the simulation parameters, timestamps, author information, and a summary of the results. -
Artifact Storage: Alongside the metadata file, store the simulation artifacts (e.g., output files, logs, graphs) within the same folder. This centralized approach makes it easier to understand the context and results of each simulation.
-
Indexing (Optional): Maintain an index or catalog file at a higher level that maps UUIDs to more descriptive information about each simulation. This could help in quickly finding simulations of interest without needing to read each folder's metadata individually.
-
Backup and Share (Optional): Although local storage is simple, consider periodic backups to a cloud storage solution or a network-attached storage (NAS) to prevent data loss. Tools like
rsync
, cloud storage clients (e.g.,aws s3 sync
,rclone
), or version control systems (for smaller datasets) can automate this process. -
Access Utility: Develop a small utility script or tool in Python that helps in querying, accessing, and managing these simulation folders based on metadata criteria, enhancing the usability of this storage approach.
Why This Works
- Simplicity: This method keeps everything on the local filesystem, making it straightforward to implement and manage without additional infrastructure.
- Flexibility: You can easily adapt the folder structure and metadata format as your project evolves.
- Portability: Data stored in this manner can be easily moved, backed up, or shared using standard file transfer tools.
Example Python Code for Generating Simulation Folder
import os
import uuid
import json
def create_simulation_folder(simulation_data, metadata):
# Generate a unique UUID for the new simulation
sim_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
sim_folder = os.path.join('simulations', sim_id)
os.makedirs(sim_folder, exist_ok=True)
# Save metadata
metadata_path = os.path.join(sim_folder, 'metadata.json')
with open(metadata_path, 'w') as f:
json.dump(metadata, f, indent=4)
# Placeholder for saving simulation data
# For instance, saving simulation output files in the sim_folder
# ...
return sim_folder
# Example usage
metadata = {
'simulation_name': 'Quantum Dot Simulation',
'parameters': {...},
'created_at': '2024-04-04'
}
simulation_data = {...} # Your simulation data here
sim_folder = create_simulation_folder(simulation_data, metadata)
print(f"Simulation data saved in: {sim_folder}")
This approach combines the convenience of local filesystem storage with structured organization, making it an effective way to manage simulation data without needing a full-fledged object storage server.