Support sccache to speed up compilation on Windows (#34019)

* Support sccache to speed up compilation on Windows

* Support sccache to speed up compilation on Windows

CMakeLists.txt

@@ -97,10 +97,6 @@ if(WIN32)
 
     if (MSVC_STATIC_CRT)
         message(STATUS "Use static C runtime time, refer to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/c-runtime-library/crt-library-features?view=vs-2019")
-        set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG   "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS_DEBUG} /MTd")
-        set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE  "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS_RELEASE} /MT")
-        set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG  "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG} /MTd")
-        set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE   "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE} /MT")
         foreach(flag_var
             CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_DEBUG CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELEASE
             CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO

cmake/ccache.cmake

 # Use ccache if found ccache program
 
-find_program(CCACHE_PATH ccache)
+if(NOT WIN32)
+    find_program(CCACHE_PATH ccache)
+    if(CCACHE_PATH)
+        execute_process(COMMAND ccache -V OUTPUT_VARIABLE ccache_output)
+        execute_process(COMMAND ccache -s cache directory OUTPUT_VARIABLE cache_directory)
+        string(REGEX MATCH "[0-9]+.[0-9]+" ccache_version ${ccache_output})
+        message(STATUS "ccache is founded, use ccache to speed up compile on Unix.")
+        # show statistics summary of ccache
+        message("ccache version\t\t\t    " ${ccache_version} "\n" ${cache_directory})
+        set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE ${CCACHE_PATH})
+        set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_LINK ${CCACHE_PATH})
+    endif(CCACHE_PATH)
+elseif("${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" STREQUAL "Ninja")
+    # (Note:zhouwei25) Only Ninja Generator can support sccache now
+    find_program(SCCACHE_PATH sccache)
 
-if(CCACHE_PATH)
-    execute_process(COMMAND ccache -V OUTPUT_VARIABLE ccache_output)
-    execute_process(COMMAND ccache -s cache directory OUTPUT_VARIABLE cache_directory)
-    string(REGEX MATCH "[0-9]+.[0-9]+" ccache_version ${ccache_output})
-    message(STATUS "Ccache is founded, use ccache to speed up compile.")
-    # show statistics summary of ccache
-    message("ccache version\t\t\t    " ${ccache_version} "\n" ${cache_directory})
-    set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_COMPILE ${CCACHE_PATH})
-    set_property(GLOBAL PROPERTY RULE_LAUNCH_LINK ${CCACHE_PATH})
-endif(CCACHE_PATH)
+    if(SCCACHE_PATH)
+        execute_process(COMMAND sccache -V OUTPUT_VARIABLE sccache_version)
+        message(STATUS "${sccache_version} is founded, use [${SCCACHE_PATH}] to speed up compile on Windows.")
+
+        set(CMAKE_C_COMPILER_LAUNCHER ${SCCACHE_PATH})
+        set(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER ${SCCACHE_PATH})
+        # (Note:zhouwei25) sccache for cuda compiler has bug so that it can't be hit
+        # refer to https://github.com/mozilla/sccache/issues/1017, so we fix it
+        set(CMAKE_CUDA_COMPILER_LAUNCHER ${SCCACHE_PATH})
+    endif(SCCACHE_PATH)
+endif()

cmake/cuda.cmake

@@ -218,8 +218,6 @@ if(WIN32)
   set(CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS} -Xcompiler \"/wd4244 /wd4267 /wd4819 \"")
   set(CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS} -Xcompiler /bigobj")
   if(MSVC_STATIC_CRT)
-    set(CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_DEBUG   "${CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_DEBUG} -Xcompiler /MTd")
-    set(CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_RELEASE  "${CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_RELEASE} -Xcompiler /MT")
     foreach(flag_var
         CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_DEBUG CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_RELEASE
         CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_MINSIZEREL CMAKE_CUDA_FLAGS_RELWITHDEBINFO)

cmake/external/cub.cmake

@@ -14,27 +14,27 @@
 
 include(ExternalProject)
 
-set(CUB_PREFIX_DIR ${THIRD_PARTY_PATH}/cub)
-set(CUB_SOURCE_DIR ${THIRD_PARTY_PATH}/cub/src/extern_cub)
-set(CUB_REPOSITORY ${GIT_URL}/NVlabs/cub.git)
-set(CUB_TAG        1.8.0)
+# Note(zhouwei): extern_cub  has code __FILE_, If the path of extern_cub is changed, 
+# it will effect about 30+ cu files sccache hit and slow compile speed  on windows. 
+# Therefore, a fixed CUB_PATH will be input to increase the sccache hit rate.
+set(CUB_PATH        "${THIRD_PARTY_PATH}/cub" CACHE STRING "A path setting for external_cub path.")
+set(CUB_PREFIX_DIR  ${CUB_PATH})
 
-cache_third_party(extern_cub
-    REPOSITORY    ${CUB_REPOSITORY}
-    TAG           ${CUB_TAG}
-    DIR           CUB_SOURCE_DIR)
+set(CUB_REPOSITORY  ${GIT_URL}/NVlabs/cub.git)
+set(CUB_TAG         1.8.0)
 
-SET(CUB_INCLUDE_DIR   ${CUB_SOURCE_DIR})
+SET(CUB_INCLUDE_DIR  ${CUB_PREFIX_DIR}/src/extern_cub)
+message("CUB_INCLUDE_DIR is ${CUB_INCLUDE_DIR}")
 include_directories(${CUB_INCLUDE_DIR})
 
 ExternalProject_Add(
   extern_cub
   ${EXTERNAL_PROJECT_LOG_ARGS}
   ${SHALLOW_CLONE}
-  "${CUB_DOWNLOAD_CMD}"
+  GIT_REPOSITORY  ${CUB_REPOSITORY}
+  GIT_TAG         ${CUB_TAG}
   PREFIX          ${CUB_PREFIX_DIR}
-  SOURCE_DIR      ${CUB_SOURCE_DIR}
-  UPDATE_COMMAND ""
+  UPDATE_COMMAND    ""
   CONFIGURE_COMMAND ""
   BUILD_COMMAND     ""
   INSTALL_COMMAND   ""

paddle/fluid/framework/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ add_subdirectory(io)
 #ddim lib
 proto_library(framework_proto SRCS framework.proto)
 
-proto_library(op_def_proto SRCS op_def.proto)
+proto_library(op_def_proto SRCS op_def.proto DEPS framework_proto)
 cc_library(op_def_api SRCS op_def_api.cc DEPS op_def_proto boost)
 
 FILE(GLOB OP_DEF_FILES ${PADDLE_SOURCE_DIR}/paddle/fluid/operators/compat/*.pbtxt)

paddle/fluid/operators/compat/elementwise_add.pbtxt

@@ -26,12 +26,10 @@ extra {
   attrs {
     name: "x_data_format"
     type: STRING
-    # no longer to use
   }
   attrs {
     name: "y_data_format"
     type: STRING
-    # no longer to use
   }
   attrs {
     name: "Scale_x"

paddle/scripts/paddle_build.bat

@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ if not defined WITH_STATIC_LIB set WITH_STATIC_LIB=ON
 if not defined WITH_TPCACHE set WITH_TPCACHE=OFF
 if not defined WITH_CLCACHE set WITH_CLCACHE=OFF
 if not defined WITH_CACHE set WITH_CACHE=OFF
+if not defined WITH_SCCACHE set WITH_SCCACHE=OFF
 if not defined WITH_UNITY_BUILD set WITH_UNITY_BUILD=OFF
 if not defined INFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR set INFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR=%cache_dir:\=/%/inference_demo
 if not defined LOG_LEVEL set LOG_LEVEL=normal
@@ -75,7 +76,21 @@ if not defined NIGHTLY_MODE set PRECISION_TEST=OFF
 if not defined retry_times set retry_times=3
 if not defined PYTHON_ROOT set PYTHON_ROOT=C:\Python37
 
-rem -------set cache build directory-----------
+rem ------initialize the python environment------
+set PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%PYTHON_ROOT%\python.exe
+set PATH=%PYTHON_ROOT%\Scripts;%PYTHON_ROOT%;%PATH%
+if "%WITH_PYTHON%" == "ON" (
+    where python
+    where pip
+    pip install wheel --user
+    pip install -r %work_dir%\python\requirements.txt --user
+    if !ERRORLEVEL! NEQ 0 (
+        echo pip install requirements.txt failed!
+        exit /b 7
+    )
+)
+
+rem -------Caching strategy 1: keep build directory for incremental compilation-----------
 rmdir build\python /s/q
 rmdir build\paddle\third_party\externalError /s/q
 rem rmdir build\paddle\fluid\pybind /s/q
@@ -123,12 +138,6 @@ if %day_now% NEQ %day_before% (
     goto :mkbuild
 )
 
-:: git diff HEAD origin/develop --stat --name-only
-:: git diff HEAD origin/develop --stat --name-only | findstr ".cmake CMakeLists.txt paddle_build.bat"
-:: if %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 (
-::     rmdir build /s/q
-:: )
-
 :mkbuild
 if not exist build (
     echo Windows build cache FALSE
@@ -143,8 +152,33 @@ cd /d build
 dir .
 dir %cache_dir%
 dir paddle\fluid\pybind\Release
+rem -------Caching strategy 1: End --------------------------------
+
+rem -------Caching strategy 2: sccache decorate compiler-----------
+if "%WITH_SCCACHE%"=="ON" (
+    rem cmd /C sccache -V || call :install_sccache
+    sccache --stop-server 2> NUL
+    if not exist D:\sccache mkdir D:\sccache
+    set SCCACHE_DIR=D:\sccache\.cache
+    set SCCACHE_CACHE_SIZE=30G
+    set SCCACHE_ERROR_LOG=D:\sccache\sccache_log.txt
+    set SCCACHE_LOG=quiet
+    sccache --start-server
+    if !errorlevel! NEQ 0 exit /b 1
+    sccache -z
+    goto :CASE_%1
+) else (
+    del %PYTHON_ROOT%\sccache.exe
+    goto :CASE_%1
+)
 
-goto :CASE_%1
+:install_sccache
+echo There is not sccache in this PC, will install sccache.
+echo Download package from https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/sccache.exe
+%PYTHON_ROOT%\python.exe -c "import wget;wget.download('https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/sccache.exe')"
+xcopy sccache.exe %PYTHON_ROOT%\Scripts\ /Y
+goto:eof
+rem -------Caching strategy 2: End --------------------------------
 
 echo "Usage: paddle_build.bat [OPTION]"
 echo "OPTION:"
@@ -266,22 +300,7 @@ rem ------show summary of current GPU environment----------
 cmake --version
 if "%WITH_GPU%"=="ON" (
     nvcc --version
-    nvidia-smi
-)
-
-rem ------initialize the python environment------
-@ECHO OFF
-set PYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%PYTHON_ROOT%\python.exe
-set PATH=%PYTHON_ROOT%;%PYTHON_ROOT%\Scripts;%PATH%
-if "%WITH_PYTHON%" == "ON" (
-    where python
-    where pip
-    pip install wheel --user
-    pip install -r %work_dir%\python\requirements.txt --user
-    if !ERRORLEVEL! NEQ 0 (
-        echo pip install requirements.txt failed!
-        exit /b 7
-    )
+    nvidia-smi 2>NUL
 )
 
 rem ------pre install clcache and init config----------
@@ -333,10 +352,11 @@ echo echo ${md5_content}^>md5.txt >> cache.sh
 
 set /p md5=< md5.txt
 if "%WITH_GPU%"=="ON" (
-    set THIRD_PARTY_PATH=%cache_dir:\=/%/third_party_GPU/%md5%
+    set THIRD_PARTY_HOME=%cache_dir:\=/%/third_party_GPU
 ) else (
-    set THIRD_PARTY_PATH=%cache_dir:\=/%/third_party/%md5%
+    set THIRD_PARTY_HOME=%cache_dir:\=/%/third_party
 )
+set THIRD_PARTY_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_HOME%/%md5%
 
 :cmake_impl
 echo cmake .. -G %GENERATOR% -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DWITH_AVX=%WITH_AVX% -DWITH_GPU=%WITH_GPU% -DWITH_MKL=%WITH_MKL% ^
@@ -344,14 +364,14 @@ echo cmake .. -G %GENERATOR% -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DWITH_AVX=%WITH_AVX% -D
 -DWITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST=%WITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST% -DTHIRD_PARTY_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_PATH% ^
 -DINFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR=%INFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR% -DWITH_STATIC_LIB=%WITH_STATIC_LIB% ^
 -DWITH_TENSORRT=%WITH_TENSORRT% -DTENSORRT_ROOT="%TENSORRT_ROOT%" -DMSVC_STATIC_CRT=%MSVC_STATIC_CRT% ^
--DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME%
+-DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME% -DCUB_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_HOME%/cub
 
 cmake .. -G %GENERATOR% -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DWITH_AVX=%WITH_AVX% -DWITH_GPU=%WITH_GPU% -DWITH_MKL=%WITH_MKL% ^
 -DWITH_TESTING=%WITH_TESTING% -DWITH_PYTHON=%WITH_PYTHON% -DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=%PYTHON_EXECUTABLE% -DON_INFER=%ON_INFER% ^
 -DWITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST=%WITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST% -DTHIRD_PARTY_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_PATH% ^
 -DINFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR=%INFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR% -DWITH_STATIC_LIB=%WITH_STATIC_LIB% ^
 -DWITH_TENSORRT=%WITH_TENSORRT% -DTENSORRT_ROOT="%TENSORRT_ROOT%" -DMSVC_STATIC_CRT=%MSVC_STATIC_CRT% ^
--DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME%
+-DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME% -DCUB_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_HOME%/cub
 goto:eof
 
 :cmake_error
@@ -454,7 +474,9 @@ echo 0 > %cache_dir%\error_code.txt
 type %cache_dir%\error_code.txt
 
 :: ci will collect clcache hit rate
-rem goto :collect_clcache_hits
+if "%WITH_SCCACHE%"=="ON" (
+    call :collect_sccache_hits
+)
 
 goto:eof
 
@@ -666,7 +688,7 @@ echo cmake .. -G %GENERATOR% -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DWITH_AVX=%WITH_AVX% -D
 -DWITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST=%WITH_INFERENCE_API_TEST% -DTHIRD_PARTY_PATH=%THIRD_PARTY_PATH% ^
 -DINFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR=%INFERENCE_DEMO_INSTALL_DIR% -DWITH_STATIC_LIB=%WITH_STATIC_LIB% ^
 -DWITH_TENSORRT=%WITH_TENSORRT% -DTENSORRT_ROOT="%TENSORRT_ROOT%" -DMSVC_STATIC_CRT=%MSVC_STATIC_CRT% ^
--DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME% >>  check_change_of_unittest.sh
+-DWITH_UNITY_BUILD=%WITH_UNITY_BUILD% -DCUDA_ARCH_NAME=%CUDA_ARCH_NAME%  >>  check_change_of_unittest.sh
 echo cat ^<^<EOF>>  check_change_of_unittest.sh
 echo     ============================================       >>  check_change_of_unittest.sh
 echo     Generate unit tests.spec of develop.               >>  check_change_of_unittest.sh
@@ -778,16 +800,22 @@ echo ipipe_log_param_Windows_%tempTaskName: =_%_Time: %cost_secs%s
 goto:eof
 
 
-:collect_clcache_hits
-for /f "tokens=2,4" %%i in ('clcache.exe -s ^| findstr "entries hits"') do set %%i=%%j
-if %hits% EQU 0 (
-    echo "clcache hit rate: 0%%"
-    echo ipipe_log_param_Clcache_Hit_Rate: 0%%
+:collect_sccache_hits
+sccache -s > sccache_summary.txt
+echo    ========================================
+echo    sccache statistical summary ...
+echo    ========================================
+type sccache_summary.txt
+for /f "tokens=2,3" %%i in ('type sccache_summary.txt ^| findstr "requests hits" ^| findstr /V "executed C/C++ CUDA"') do set %%i=%%j
+if %requests% EQU 0 (
+    echo "sccache hit rate: 0%"
+    echo ipipe_log_param_Clcache_Hit_Hate: 0%
 ) else (
-    set /a rate=%hits%*10000/%entries%
-    echo "clcache hit rate: %rate:~0,-2%.%rate:~-2%%%"
-    echo ipipe_log_param_Clcache_Hit_Hate: %rate:~0,-2%.%rate:~-2%%%
+    set /a rate=!hits!*10000/!requests!
+    echo "sccache hit rate: !rate:~0,-2!.!rate:~-2!%%"
+    echo ipipe_log_param_Clcache_Hit_Hate: !rate:~0,2!.!rate:~2,2!%%
 )
+
 goto:eof
 
 

python/paddle/fluid/tests/unittests/asp/CMakeLists.txt

 file(GLOB TEST_OPS RELATIVE "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}" "test_*.py")
 string(REPLACE ".py" "" TEST_OPS "${TEST_OPS}")
 
-list(REMOVE_ITEM TEST_OPS "test_fleet_with_asp"})
-list(REMOVE_ITEM TEST_OPS "test_fleet_with_asp_amp"})
+list(REMOVE_ITEM TEST_OPS "test_fleet_with_asp")
+list(REMOVE_ITEM TEST_OPS "test_fleet_with_asp_amp")
 
 foreach(TEST_OP ${TEST_OPS})
     py_test_modules(${TEST_OP} MODULES ${TEST_OP})

tools/windows/build_compile_environment.bat

@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@
 ::     4. Visual Studio 2017 Community
 ::     5. CUDA 11.2
 ::     6. java jre
-::     7. xly agent
+::     7. sccache
+::     8. xly agent
 
 :: Echo command is not required.
 @echo off
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ cd /d %~dp0%
 
 :: ===== start step 0: wget tool =====
 :: Download wget for windows when there is not wget tool.
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [0/7]: wget tool"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [0/8]: wget tool"
 wget --help > nul 2> nul || call:install_wget
 goto cmake
 
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ goto :eof
 :: Download CMake-3.17.0 and add in PATH when it not installed.
 :: TODO: limit version >= 3.17.0
 :cmake
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [1/7]: CMake 3.17.0"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [1/8]: CMake 3.17.0"
 cmake --help > nul 2> nul || call :install_cmake
 goto git
 
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ goto :eof
 :: Download Python-3.8.3 and add in PATH when it not installed.
 :: TODO: limit version >= 3.8.3
 :python
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [3/7]: Python 3.8.3"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [3/8]: Python 3.8.3"
 python -V 2>&1 | findstr /C:"Python 3.8.3" > nul 2> nul || call :install_python
 goto vs
 
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ goto :eof
 :: ===== start step 4: Visual Studio 2017 Community =====
 :: Download Visual Studio 2017 when it not installed.
 :vs
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [4/7]: Visual Studio 2017 "
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [4/8]: Visual Studio 2017 "
 cmd /C "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\2017\Community\VC\Auxiliary\Build\vcvars64.bat"  > nul 2> nul || call :install_visual_studio
 goto :cuda
 
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ goto :eof
 
 :: ===== start step 5: CUDA 11 =====
 :cuda
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [5/7]: CUDA 11.2"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [5/8]: CUDA 11.2"
 cmd /C nvcc --version 2> nul | findstr /C:"11.2" > nul 2> nul || call :install_cuda
 goto java-jre
 
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ if %errorlevel% == 0 (
   goto :eof
 )
 del cuda_installer.exe
+
 echo Download cudnn from "https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/cudnn-11.2-windows-x64-v8.1.0.77.zip"
 wget -O cudnn-11.2-windows-x64-v8.1.0.77.zip "https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/cudnn-11.2-windows-x64-v8.1.0.77.zip"
 tar xf cudnn-11.2-windows-x64-v8.1.0.77.zip
@@ -184,9 +186,9 @@ goto :eof
 
 :: ===== start step 6: java jre =====
 :java-jre
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [6/7]: java jre"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [6/8]: java jre"
 cmd /C java -version > nul 2> nul || call :install_java
-goto xly-agent
+goto sccache
 
 :install_java
 echo There is not java-jre in this PC, will install java-jre.
@@ -204,9 +206,22 @@ del jre-8u261-windows-x64.exe
 goto :eof
 :: ===== end step 6: java jre =====
 
-:: ===== start step 7: xly agent =====
+:: ===== start step 7: sccache on windowss =====
+:sccache
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [7/8]: sccache"
+cmd /C sccache -V > nul 2> nul || call :download_sccache
+goto xly-agent
+
+:download_sccache
+echo There is not sccache in this PC, will install sccache.
+echo Download package from https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/sccache.exe
+wget -O sccache.exe "https://paddle-ci.gz.bcebos.com/window_requirement/sccache.exe"
+copy sccache.exe C:\Python38 /Y 
+:: ===== end step 7: sccache on windows =====
+
+:: ===== start step 8: xly agent =====
 :xly-agent
-echo ">>>>>>>> step [7/7]: xly agent"
+echo ">>>>>>>> step [8/8]: xly agent"
 wget -O agent.jar "https://xly.bce.baidu.com/sa_server/agent/v1/download?version=1.2.8"
 :: ===== end step 8: xly agent =====