Model debugging toolboxes

This page lists all the debugging and model adding tools used by the library, as well as the utility functions it provides for it.

Most of those are only useful if you are adding new models in the library.

Model addition debuggers

Model addition debugger - context manager for model adders

This context manager is a power user tool intended for model adders. It tracks all forward calls within a model forward and logs a slice of each input and output on a nested JSON. To note, this context manager enforces torch.no_grad().

Rationale

When porting models to transformers, even from python to python, model adders often have to do a lot of manual operations, involving saving and loading tensors, comparing dtypes, etc. This small tool can hopefully shave off some time.

Usage

Add this context manager as follows to debug a model:

import torch
from PIL import Image
import requests
from transformers import LlavaProcessor, LlavaForConditionalGeneration
from transformers.model_debugging_utils import model_addition_debugger_context
torch.random.manual_seed(673)

# load pretrained model and processor
model_id = "llava-hf/llava-1.5-7b-hf"
processor = LlavaProcessor.from_pretrained(model_id)
model = LlavaForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(model_id)

# create random image input
random_image = Image.fromarray(torch.randint(0, 256, (224, 224, 3), dtype=torch.uint8).numpy())

# prompt
prompt = "<image>Describe this image."

# process inputs
inputs = processor(text=prompt, images=random_image, return_tensors="pt")

# call forward method (not .generate!)
with model_addition_debugger_context(
    model,
    debug_path="optional_path_to_your_directory",
    do_prune_layers=False # This will output ALL the layers of a model.
):
    output = model.forward(**inputs)

Reading results

The debugger generates two files from the forward call, both with the same base name, but ending either with _SUMMARY.json or with _FULL_TENSORS.json.

The first one will contain a summary of each module’s input and output tensor values and shapes.

{
  "module_path": "MolmoForConditionalGeneration",
  "inputs": {
    "args": [],
    "kwargs": {
      "input_ids": {
        "shape": "torch.Size([1, 589])",
        "dtype": "torch.int64"
      },
      "attention_mask": {
        "shape": "torch.Size([1, 589])",
        "dtype": "torch.int64"
      },
      "pixel_values": {
        "shape": "torch.Size([1, 5, 576, 588])",
        "dtype": "torch.float32",
        "mean": "tensor(-8.9514e-01, device='cuda:0')",
        "std": "tensor(9.2586e-01, device='cuda:0')",
        "min": "tensor(-1.7923e+00, device='cuda:0')",
        "max": "tensor(1.8899e+00, device='cuda:0')"
    }
  },
  "children": [
    {
      "module_path": "MolmoForConditionalGeneration.language_model.model.embed_tokens",
      "inputs": {
        "args": [
          {
            "shape": "torch.Size([1, 589])",
            "dtype": "torch.int64"
          }
        ]
      },
      "outputs": {
        "shape": "torch.Size([1, 589, 3584])",
        "dtype": "torch.float32",
        "mean": "tensor(6.5460e-06, device='cuda:0')",
        "std": "tensor(2.3807e-02, device='cuda:0')",
        "min": "tensor(-3.3398e-01, device='cuda:0')",
        "max": "tensor(3.9453e-01, device='cuda:0')"
      }
    },
    {
      "module_path": "MolmoForConditionalGeneration.vision_tower",
      "inputs": {
        "args": [
          {
            "shape": "torch.Size([5, 1, 576, 588])",
            "dtype": "torch.float32",
            "mean": "tensor(-8.9514e-01, device='cuda:0')",
            "std": "tensor(9.2586e-01, device='cuda:0')",
            "min": "tensor(-1.7923e+00, device='cuda:0')",
            "max": "tensor(1.8899e+00, device='cuda:0')"
          }
        ],
        "kwargs": {
          "output_hidden_states": "True"
        }
      },
      "children": [
        { ... and so on

The _FULL_TENSORS.json file will display a full view of all tensors, which is useful for comparing two files.

      "pixel_values": {
        "shape": "torch.Size([1, 5, 576, 588])",
        "dtype": "torch.float32",
        "value": [
          "tensor([[[[-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          ...,",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00]],",
          "",
          "         [[-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          ...,",
          "          [-1.4857e+00, -1.4820e+00, -1.2100e+00,  ..., -6.0979e-01, -5.9650e-01, -3.8527e-01],",
          "          [-1.6755e+00, -1.7221e+00, -1.4518e+00,  ..., -7.5577e-01, -7.4658e-01, -5.5592e-01],",
          "          [-7.9957e-01, -8.2162e-01, -5.7014e-01,  ..., -1.3689e+00, -1.3169e+00, -1.0678e+00]],",
          "",
          "         [[-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          ...,",
          "          [-3.0322e-01, -5.0645e-01, -5.8436e-01,  ..., -6.2439e-01, -7.9160e-01, -8.1188e-01],",
          "          [-4.4921e-01, -6.5653e-01, -7.2656e-01,  ..., -3.4702e-01, -5.2146e-01, -5.1326e-01],",
          "          [-3.4702e-01, -5.3647e-01, -5.4170e-01,  ..., -1.0915e+00, -1.1968e+00, -1.0252e+00]],",
          "",
          "         [[-1.1207e+00, -1.2718e+00, -1.0678e+00,  ..., 1.2013e-01, -1.3126e-01, -1.7197e-01],",
          "          [-6.9738e-01, -9.1166e-01, -8.5454e-01,  ..., -5.5050e-02, -2.8134e-01, -4.2793e-01],",
          "          [-3.4702e-01, -5.5148e-01, -5.8436e-01,  ..., 1.9312e-01, -8.6235e-02, -2.1463e-01],",
          "          ...,",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00]],",
          "",
          "         [[-1.0039e+00, -9.5669e-01, -6.5546e-01,  ..., -1.4711e+00, -1.4219e+00, -1.1389e+00],",
          "          [-1.0039e+00, -9.5669e-01, -6.5546e-01,  ..., -1.7193e+00, -1.6771e+00, -1.4091e+00],",
          "          [-1.6317e+00, -1.6020e+00, -1.2669e+00,  ..., -1.2667e+00, -1.2268e+00, -8.9720e-01],",
          "          ...,",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00],",
          "          [-1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00,  ..., -1.7923e+00, -1.7521e+00, -1.4802e+00]]]], device='cuda:0')"
        ],
        "mean": "tensor(-8.9514e-01, device='cuda:0')",
        "std": "tensor(9.2586e-01, device='cuda:0')",
        "min": "tensor(-1.7923e+00, device='cuda:0')",
        "max": "tensor(1.8899e+00, device='cuda:0')"
      },

Saving tensors to disk

Some model adders may benefit from logging full tensor values to disk to support, for example, numerical analysis across implementations.

Set use_repr=False to write tensors to disk using SafeTensors.

with model_addition_debugger_context(
    model,
    debug_path="optional_path_to_your_directory",
    do_prune_layers=False,
    use_repr=False,   # Defaults to True
):
    output = model.forward(**inputs)

When using use_repr=False, tensors are written to the same disk location as the _SUMMARY.json and _FULL_TENSORS.json files. The value property of entries in the _FULL_TENSORS.json file will contain a relative path reference to the associated .safetensors file. Each tensor is written to its own file as the data property of the state dictionary. File names are constructed using the module_path as a prefix with a few possible postfixes that are built recursively.

Module inputs are denoted with the _inputs and outputs by _outputs.
list and tuple instances, such as args or function return values, will be postfixed with _{index}.
dict instances will be postfixed with _{key}.

Comparing between implementations

Once the forward passes of two models have been traced by the debugger, one can compare the json output files. See below: we can see slight differences between these two implementations’ key projection layer. Inputs are mostly identical, but not quite. Looking through the file differences makes it easier to pinpoint which layer is wrong.

download-icon

Limitations and scope

This feature will only work for torch-based models, and would require more work and case-by-case approach for say jax-based models that are usually compiled. Models relying heavily on external kernel calls may work, but trace will probably miss some things. Regardless, any python implementation that aims at mimicking another implementation can be traced once instead of reran N times with breakpoints.

If you pass do_prune_layers=False to your model debugger, ALL the layers will be outputted to json. Else, only the first and last layer will be shown. This is useful when some layers (typically cross-attention) appear only after N layers.

transformers.model_addition_debugger_context

< source >

( model debug_path: typing.Optional[str] = None do_prune_layers: typing.Optional[bool] = True use_repr: typing.Optional[bool] = True )

Model addition debugger - context manager for model adders

This context manager is a power user tool intended for model adders.

It tracks all forward calls within a model forward and logs a slice of each input and output on a nested JSON file. If use_repr=True (the default), the JSON file will record a repr()-ized version of the tensors as a list of strings. If use_repr=False, the full tensors will be stored in spearate SafeTensors files and the JSON file will provide a relative path to that file.

To note, this context manager enforces torch.no_grad().

Usage

add the context manager to a model to debug

import torch

from PIL import Image
from transformers import LlavaProcessor, LlavaForConditionalGeneration, model_addition_debugger_context

torch.random.manual_seed(673)

# load pretrained model and processor
model_id = "llava-hf/llava-1.5-7b-hf"
processor = LlavaProcessor.from_pretrained(model_id)
model = LlavaForConditionalGeneration.from_pretrained(model_id)

# create random image input
random_image = Image.fromarray(torch.randint(0, 256, (224, 224, 3), dtype=torch.uint8).numpy())

# prompt
prompt = "<image>Describe this image."

# process inputs
inputs = processor(text=prompt, images=random_image, return_tensors="pt")

# call forward method (not .generate!)
with model_addition_debugger_context(model, debug_path="Your_debug_path", do_prune_layers=False):
    output = model.forward(**inputs)

Analyzer of skipped tests

Scan skipped tests - for model adders and maintainers

This small util is a power user tool intended for model adders and maintainers. It lists all test methods existing in test_modeling_common.py, inherited by all model tester classes, and scans the repository to measure how many tests are being skipped and for which models.

Rationale

When porting models to transformers, tests fail as they should, and sometimes test_modeling_common feels irreconcilable with the peculiarities of our brand new model. But how can we be sure we’re not breaking everything by adding a seemingly innocent skip?

This utility:

scans all test_modeling_common methods
looks for times where a method is skipped
returns a summary json you can load as a DataFrame/inspect

For instance test_inputs_embeds is skipped in a whooping 39% proportion at the time of writing this util.

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Usage

You can run the skipped test analyzer in two ways:

Full scan (default)

From the root of transformers repo, scans all common test methods and outputs the results to a JSON file (default: all_tests_scan_result.json).

python utils/scan_skipped_tests.py --output_dir path/to/output

--output_dir (optional): Directory where the JSON results will be saved. Defaults to the current directory.

Example output:

🔬 Parsing 331 model test files once each...
📝 Aggregating 224 tests...
  (224/224) test_update_candidate_strategy_with_matches_1es_3d_is_nonecodet_schedule_fa_kwargs
✅ Scan complete.

📄 JSON saved to /home/pablo/git/transformers/all_tests_scan_result.json

And it will generate all_tests_scan_result.json file that you can inspect. The JSON is indexed by method name, and each entry follows this schema, indicating the origin as well (from commonor GenerationMixin.)

{
  "<method_name>": {
    "origin": "<test suite>"
    "models_ran": ["<model_name>", ...],
    "models_skipped": ["<model_name>", ...],
    "skipped_proportion": <float>,
    "reasons_skipped": ["<model_name>: <reason>",
      ...
    ]
  },
  ...
}

Which you can visualise as above with e.g. pandas

df = pd.read_json('all_tests_scan_result.json').T
df.sort_values(by=['skipped_proportion'], ascending=False)

Scan a single test method

You can focus on a specific test method using --test_method_name:

$ python utils/scan_skipped_tests.py --test_method_name test_inputs_embeds --output_dir path/to/output

--test_method_name: Name of the test method to scan (e.g., test_inputs_embeds).
--output_dir (optional): Directory where the JSON result will be saved.

Example output:

$ python utils/scan_skipped_tests.py --test_method_name test_inputs_embeds

🔬 Parsing 331 model test files once each...

== test_inputs_embeds ==

Ran    : 199/323
Skipped : 124/323 (38.4%)
 - aimv2: Aimv2 does not use inputs_embeds
 - align: Inputs_embeds is tested in individual model tests
 - altclip: Inputs_embeds is tested in individual model tests
 - audio_spectrogram_transformer: AST does not use inputs_embeds
 - beit: BEiT does not use inputs_embeds
 - bit: Bit does not use inputs_embeds
 - blip: Blip does not use inputs_embeds
 - blip_2: Inputs_embeds is tested in individual model tests
 - bridgetower: 
 - canine: CANINE does not have a get_input_embeddings() method.
 - ...

📄 JSON saved to /home/pablo/git/transformers/scan_test_inputs_embeds.json

< > Update on GitHub

Transformers

Model debugging toolboxes

Model addition debuggers

Model addition debugger - context manager for model adders

Rationale

Usage

Reading results

Saving tensors to disk

Comparing between implementations

Limitations and scope

transformers.model_addition_debugger_context

Model addition debugger - context manager for model adders

Usage

Analyzer of skipped tests

Scan skipped tests - for model adders and maintainers

Rationale

Usage

Full scan (default)

Scan a single test method