PETSc: Features

# PETSc

# Features

PETSc is intended for use in large-scale application projects, many ongoing computational science projects are built around the PETSc libraries. PETSc is easy to use for beginners. Moreover, its careful design allows advanced users to have detailed control over the solution process. PETSc includes a large suite of parallel linear, nonlinear equation solvers and ODE integrators that are easily used in application codes written in C, C++, Fortran and now Python. PETSc provides many of the mechanisms needed within parallel application codes, such as simple parallel matrix and vector assembly routines that allow the overlap of communication and computation. In addition, PETSc includes support for parallel distributed arrays useful for finite difference methods.

Features include:

- Parallel vectors
  - includes code for communicating ghost points
- Parallel matrices
  - several sparse storage formats
  - easy, efficient assembly
- Scalable parallel preconditioners
- Krylov subspace methods
- Parallel Newton-based nonlinear solvers
- Parallel timestepping (ODE) solvers
- Support for Nvidia GPU cards
- Complete documentation
- Automatic profiling of floating point and memory usage
- Consistent user interface
- Intensive error checking
- Portable to UNIX and Windows
- Over one hundred examples
- PETSc is supported and will be actively enhanced for many years