[petsc-dev] DMplex reader / viewers

[Gorman, Gerard J]

On 22 Jan 2014, at 22:07, Jed Brown <jed at jedbrown.org> wrote:

> Brad Aagaard <baagaard at usgs.gov> writes:
>> I agree that one would probably not visualize "checkpoint" files nor 
>> restart from "visualization" files. I wasn't able to follow where the 
>> discussion separated these issues. Is the DMPlex I/O targeting 
>> checkpointing and ExodusII/HDF5/etc targeting viz?
> 
> All the existing formats are targeting viz.  I think it's cleaner to
> have only one IO mechanism that needs to be optimized, but viz plugins
> are inconvenient at present and support for mock-in-situ (viz
> application uses application to load and compute derived quantities) is
> sorely lacking.  There is a relevant DOE call out now with preproposals
> due next week.  If this is important and we can organize a plan of
> action, it may be worth submitting a preproposal.

Indeed, I am pushing for having a single data product which should be “complete”. I think keeping them separate is only perpetuating the problem. 
1. If this means extending format X (as the world does not need yet another file format), then as a community lets push for that extension.
2. If a viz package does not support higher order, then lets focus on writing a  filter that does a Galerkin projection to a lower order (VTK already does effectively have this concept with the P0 to P1, cell to point data, projection).
This is more sustainable and efficient. Submitting a proposal to the DOE sounds like a great idea - please go for it. This has been a thorn in everyones side for years. 

Cheers
Gerard