The Creation of Puffin, the Automatic Uncertainty Compiler

TL;DR

This paper introduces Puffin, an automatic uncertainty compiler that transforms source code into uncertainty-aware code using a dedicated language and Python library, enabling flexible uncertainty propagation.

Contribution

It presents the development of Puffin, a novel tool that automatically incorporates uncertainty analysis into existing code through an object-oriented language and Python library.

Findings

Successfully translates code into uncertainty-aware code

Supports comprehensive epistemic and aleatory uncertainty analysis

Demonstrates flexible application of intrusive uncertainty propagation

Abstract

An uncertainty compiler is a tool that automatically translates original computer source code lacking explicit uncertainty analysis into code containing appropriate uncertainty representations and uncertainty propagation algorithms. We have developed an prototype uncertainty compiler along with an associated object-oriented uncertainty language in the form of a stand-alone Python library. It handles the specifications of input uncertainties and inserts calls to intrusive uncertainty quantification algorithms in the library. The uncertainty compiler can apply intrusive uncertainty propagation methods to codes or parts of codes and therefore more comprehensively and flexibly address both epistemic and aleatory uncertainties.