Add Unsigned Integer (uint) Support to Operators

This skill helps add support for unsigned integer types (uint16, uint32, uint64) to PyTorch operators by updating their AT_DISPATCH macros.

When to use this skill

Use this skill when:

• Adding uint16, uint32, or uint64 support to an operator
• User mentions "unsigned types", "uint support", "barebones unsigned types"
• Enabling support for kUInt16, kUInt32, kUInt64 in kernels
• Working with operator implementations that need expanded type coverage

Quick reference

Add unsigned types to existing dispatch:

// Before
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES));

// After (method 1: add unsigned types explicitly)
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES));

// After (method 2: use V2 integral types if AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES present)
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES));

Type group reference

Unsigned type groups:

• AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES: kUInt16, kUInt32, kUInt64
• AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2: AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES + AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES

Relationship:

AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES          // kByte, kChar, kInt, kLong, kShort
AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES  // kUInt16, kUInt32, kUInt64
AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2       // INTEGRAL_TYPES + BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES

Instructions

Step 1: Determine if conversion to V2 is needed

Check if the file uses AT_DISPATCH_V2:

If using old AT_DISPATCH:

• First convert to AT_DISPATCH_V2 using the at-dispatch-v2 skill
• Then proceed with adding uint support

If already using AT_DISPATCH_V2:

• Proceed directly to Step 2

Step 2: Analyze the current dispatch macro

Identify what type groups are currently in use:

AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  // body
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), kHalf, kBFloat16);
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    Current type coverage

Common patterns:

• AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES) → includes AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES + AT_FLOATING_TYPES
• AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES) → signed integers only
• AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES) → floating point types

Step 3: Choose the uint addition method

Two approaches:

Method 1: Add AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES explicitly

• Use when: You want to be explicit about adding uint support
• Add AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES) to the type list

Method 2: Substitute AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES with AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2

• Use when: The dispatch already uses AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES)
• More concise: replaces one type group with its superset
• Only applicable if AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES is present

Step 4: Apply the transformation

Method 1 example:

// Before
AT_DISPATCH_V2(
    dtype,
    "min_values_cuda",
    AT_WRAP([&]() {
      kernel_impl<scalar_t>(iter);
    }),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES),
    kBFloat16, kHalf, kBool
);

// After (add unsigned types)
AT_DISPATCH_V2(
    dtype,
    "min_values_cuda",
    AT_WRAP([&]() {
      kernel_impl<scalar_t>(iter);
    }),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES),
    kBFloat16, kHalf, kBool
);

Method 2 example:

// Before
AT_DISPATCH_V2(
    dtype,
    "integral_op",
    AT_WRAP([&]() {
      kernel<scalar_t>();
    }),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES)
);

// After (substitute with V2)
AT_DISPATCH_V2(
    dtype,
    "integral_op",
    AT_WRAP([&]() {
      kernel<scalar_t>();
    }),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2)
);

Step 5: Handle AT_ALL_TYPES vs individual type groups

If the dispatch uses AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES):

• AT_ALL_TYPES = AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES + AT_FLOATING_TYPES
• To add uint: add AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES) to the list

If the dispatch separately lists INTEGRAL and FLOATING:

// Before
AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES)

// After (Method 2 preferred)
AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES)

Step 6: Verify all dispatch sites

Check the file for ALL dispatch macros that need uint support:

• Some operators have multiple dispatch sites (CPU, CUDA, different functions)
• Apply the transformation consistently across all sites
• Ensure each gets the same type coverage updates

Step 7: Validate the changes

Check that:

• AT_DISPATCH_V2 format is used (not old AT_DISPATCH)
• Unsigned types are added via one of the two methods
• All relevant dispatch sites in the file are updated
• Type groups use AT_EXPAND()
• Arguments are properly formatted and comma-separated

Common patterns

Pattern 1: AT_ALL_TYPES + extras

// Before
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), kHalf, kBFloat16);

// After
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES), kHalf, kBFloat16);

Pattern 2: Separate INTEGRAL + FLOATING

// Before
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES));

// After
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES));

Pattern 3: Old dispatch needs conversion first

// Before (needs v2 conversion first)
AT_DISPATCH_ALL_TYPES_AND2(kHalf, kBFloat16, dtype, "op", [&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
});

// After v2 conversion
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), kHalf, kBFloat16);

// After adding uint support
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES), kHalf, kBFloat16);

Multiple dispatch sites example

For a file with multiple functions:

void min_values_kernel_cuda(TensorIterator& iter) {
  AT_DISPATCH_V2(iter.dtype(), "min_values_cuda", AT_WRAP([&]() {
    impl<scalar_t>(iter);
  }), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES), kBFloat16, kHalf);
  //                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  //                           Added uint support
}

void min_launch_kernel(TensorIterator &iter) {
  AT_DISPATCH_V2(iter.input_dtype(), "min_cuda", AT_WRAP([&]() {
    gpu_reduce_kernel<scalar_t>(iter);
  }), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES), AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES), kBFloat16, kHalf);
  //                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  //                           Added uint support here too
}

Decision tree

Use this decision tree to determine the approach:

Is the file using AT_DISPATCH_V2?
├─ No → Use at-dispatch-v2 skill first, then continue
└─ Yes
   └─ Does it use AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES)?
      ├─ Yes → Replace with AT_EXPAND(AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2)
      └─ No → Add AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES) to type list

Edge cases

Case 1: Dispatch with only floating types

If the operator only supports floating point types, don't add uint support:

// Leave as-is - floating point only operator
AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "float_op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_FLOATING_TYPES), kHalf);

Case 2: Complex types present

Unsigned types work alongside complex types:

AT_DISPATCH_V2(dtype, "op", AT_WRAP([&]() {
  kernel<scalar_t>();
}), AT_EXPAND(AT_ALL_TYPES),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES),
    AT_EXPAND(AT_COMPLEX_TYPES),
    kHalf, kBFloat16);

Case 3: Already has uint support

Check if uint types are already present:

• If AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2 is used → already has uint support
• If AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES is already in list → already has uint support
• Skip the file if uint support is already present

Workflow

When asked to add uint support:

1. Read the target file
2. Check if using AT_DISPATCH_V2:
   • If not → use at-dispatch-v2 skill first
3. Identify all dispatch macro sites
4. For each dispatch:
   • Analyze current type groups
   • Choose method (add BAREBONES_UNSIGNED or upgrade to V2)
   • Apply transformation with Edit tool
5. Show the user the changes
6. Explain what was modified

Important notes

• Always check if v2 conversion is needed first
• Apply changes consistently across all dispatch sites in the file
• Method 2 (AT_INTEGRAL_TYPES_V2) is cleaner when applicable
• Method 1 (explicit AT_BAREBONES_UNSIGNED_TYPES) is more explicit
• Unsigned types are: kUInt16, kUInt32, kUInt64 (not kByte which is uint8)
• Some operators may not semantically support unsigned types - use judgment

Testing

After adding uint support, the operator should accept uint16, uint32, and uint64 tensors. The user is responsible for functional testing.