When BOINC turn off about a week, and after turn on it, then end date for much tasks will be overdue. But it continues calculates overdue tasks. This is waste of time and resources.
Please make option for autodelete of obsolete tasks.

BOINC will auto delete obsolete tasks that have not started yet (no checkpoints made). It has done this, ever since 6.6.12: client: abort jobs that are unstarted and past deadline.
Tasks that have been started will be tried to finish ASAP.
Remember that some projects do not mind overdue work, projects like ClimatePrediction.Net where models can run for months, if not more than a year. They accept any tasks returned, even those over the deadline. As to them the data is more important than a deadline.

So if you're not running CPDNs in the mix, why do you have a (big) cache when you know you turn the computer off for so long? Why don't you set a smaller cache, to be more responsible? BOINC can't see that you're going to turn off the computer for a week, but you should be able to determine that way up front.

And even then, it hangs on which project(s) you've added. There are some that run a 3 days deadline, 7 day deadline, but enough that run 14 days and longer.

---

Strictly speaking, I don't turn off the computer for a week ... I turn off only BOINC, because I play games every evening that require much computer resources. Then I turn off the computer using hibernation, but not shutdown. Therefore, at next start the computer only wakes up and no autorun BOINC.
Incidentally, as far as I know, in new Windows 8 is turn off computer doing only to hibernation by default.

Now I turned on the BOINC, and see that have 3 overdue tasks which will be calculated for another ~15 hours. Given that today I again will turn off BOINC, and may include tomorrow (or in a few days), all these days will be spent at nobody needs calculation.

I use BOINC for about 2 years. And tired checked daily manually its launch and delete overdue tasks. This should be doing automatically, I think.

My cache (if i right read you message, sorry my bad English): "minimal buffer" = 0.10 days, max.add buffer = 0.5 days.

No matter how small you set the cache it is still possible that you will have expired tasks in the cache. Turning off for several days is one reason it can happen and there are other reasons, all valid, all very common.

I cannot think of a single reason why there should not be a "delete if started and expired" option except that one might still credit on account of the period of grace. But it is equally likely that you'll finish the task and not get credit because the resend returns before your result returns.

The excuse 5 years ago was that climateprediction tasks commonly ran past the deadline but were still welcome and always with full credit. They don't issue tasks like that anymore. And even if they did there are very simple ways they or any other such project could be exempted.

There could be 2 options:

1) abort if expired and not started (don't know why anyone would not want this so maybe the default should be on/yes)
2) abort if expired ans started (make the default off/no, popup a warning if the value changes to on/yes, if they screw up it's their fault, it's not rocket science)

Yah, I know if you don't like it go make your own BOINC.

This should be doing automatically, I think.

It can't do that, for the reason I edited into my previous post, there are projects that allow work to come in way after the deadline, such as ClimatePreditcion.net. They really do not want a model that has been running for 6 months to be thrown away just because it's over the deadline. That would be a waste of time and resources.

So set your cache to 0 plus 0. That's really minimum, should give you only work to fill the processor cores, perhaps the GPU as well if you use that.


By the way, I game on the system I run BOINC on as well. With the <exclusive_app/> and <exclusive_gpu_app/> options in cc_config.xml, BOINC suspends calculations automatically when one of my games starts. It'll continue afterwards. My computer normally runs BOINC calculations only between 9pm and 7am, BOINC suspending due to time-of-day at 7am, while at 7.05am the computer goes into hibernation and normally --when I am not sick home, just as I am now-- I will leave it in hibernation until ~6pm. All to save on electricity.

To run a cc_config.xml file with these 'auto-suspend' options, you can add game executables through the BOINC Manager Advanced Preferences window, although these are for the CPU only. To add exclusions for the GPU, you'll need to hand-edit the cc_config.xml file and add them.

Then you get things like:
<cc_config>
<options>
<exclusive_app>Speed.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>Crysis.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>FarCry.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>NFSHP2.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>FarCry2.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>Fallout3.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>RA3.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_gpu_app>Crysis2.exe</exclusive_gpu_app>
<exclusive_gpu_app>FarCry3.exe</exclusive_gpu_app>
</options>
</cc_config>

---

About project Climateprediction. I abandoned it project for this reason.

There could be 2 options:
1) abort if expired and not started (don't know why anyone would not want this so maybe the default should be on/yes)
2) abort if expired ans started (make the default off/no, popup a warning if the value changes to on/yes, if they screw up it's their fault, it's not rocket science)

I agree with kdsjsdj.

'auto-suspend' options

Thanks you. I have enabled it.
But i don't enable 'GPU use', because tasks remain in memory and still use the CPU/GPU, even if use <exclusive_gpu_app> in cc_config.xml. (I checked it now.) It look as test option.

But i don't enable 'GPU use', because tasks remain in memory and still use the CPU/GPU, even if use <exclusive_gpu_app> in cc_config.xml. (I checked it now.) It look as test option.

GPU tasks will always be unloaded from memory (both GPU memory and main memory) when the application suspends. To be able to use the <exclusive_app/> and <exclusive_gpu_app/> options, you will need to use the "Run .. based on preferences" options in the Activity menu, for the CPU and GPU.

It's not a test option, it's real and has been since BOINC 6.6.something, entered into source code 11/18/09.

And that it works?

30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [---] Suspending computation - an exclusive app is running
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Preempting 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.165_1 (left in memory)
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=SUSPENDED for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.165_1 from suspend
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Preempting 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.159_1 (left in memory)
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=SUSPENDED for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.159_1 from suspend
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [Einstein@Home] [cpu_sched] Preempting p2030.20120107.G177.78-02.46.C.b2s0g0.00000_1704_1 (removed from memory)
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [Einstein@Home] [task] task_state=QUIT_PENDING for p2030.20120107.G177.78-02.46.C.b2s0g0.00000_1704_1 from request_exit()
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Preempting 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.194_0 (left in memory)
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=SUSPENDED for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.194_0 from suspend
30-Dec-2012 19:26:04 [---] Suspending network activity - an exclusive app is running
30-Dec-2012 19:26:05 [Einstein@Home] [task] Process for p2030.20120107.G177.78-02.46.C.b2s0g0.00000_1704_1 exited, exit code 0, task state 8
30-Dec-2012 19:26:05 [Einstein@Home] [task] task_state=UNINITIALIZED for p2030.20120107.G177.78-02.46.C.b2s0g0.00000_1704_1 from handle_exited_app
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [---] Resuming computation
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Resuming 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.165_1
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=EXECUTING for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.165_1 from unsuspend
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Resuming 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.159_1
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=EXECUTING for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.159_1 from unsuspend
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [Einstein@Home] [task] task_state=EXECUTING for p2030.20120107.G177.78-02.46.C.b2s0g0.00000_1704_1 from start
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [cpu_sched] Resuming 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.194_0
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [SETI@home] [task] task_state=EXECUTING for 08oc12ab.18332.10701.9.10.194_0 from unsuspend
30-Dec-2012 20:08:35 [---] Resuming network activity

That's 3 Seti tasks running on 3 CPU cores, one Einstein task running on one GPU plus the left-over CPU core. I've got "leave applications in memory upon suspend" on, and as you can see, the Einstein task running on the GPU is unloaded from memory at suspension!

As for the deleting of tasks over the deadline, just because you and Dagorath don't run CPDN or other projects that may allow tasks going over the deadline (think Non-CPU Intensive projects as well), does not justify that BOINC should unconditionally delete any already started tasks gone over the deadline.

Pop-ups? Really? The single most annoying feature in Windows and you want pop-ups, Dagorath? So you can complain about it when you see such a thing in Linux? Yes, in that case, you can go make your own BOINC. :-D

---

As for the deleting of tasks over the deadline, just because you and Dagorath don't run CPDN or other projects that may allow tasks going over the deadline (think Non-CPU Intensive projects as well), does not justify that BOINC should unconditionally delete any already started tasks gone over the deadline.

If you would read what was said you would not say what you just said. Nobody asked for unconditional aborts. Reads what I said. I asked for it to be optional.

And there are other fail-safe mechanisms that can be built in such as allowing projects to designate tasks as "no auto abort" which would have the effect of telling the client to never auto abort the task even if the user turns the auto-abort option on. It would require another element in the task properties and a few lines of code, that's all.

Pop-ups? Really? The single most annoying feature in Windows and you want pop-ups, Dagorath?

That's not the most annoying feature of Windows. The most annoying feature is that you have to pay more than $1 for it.

Not all popups are annoying and you know it and you know I know it so why do you pretend like they are? Ads popping up in my browser trying to sell me stuff are annoying. Popups that warn me I might be about to make a mistake are helpful and not annoying. And if you would read you would see I asked for the popup only when user is about to change the "abort expired tasks even if started" option from the default off to on. So it's not like the popup would be popping up in the middle of one's other activities. It would popup just once, in the right context and at the right time.

So you can complain about it when you see such a thing in Linux?

You would appear more sane to the readers here if you would refrain from reacting to things I didn't say and deal with the stuff I did say.

Yes, in that case, you can go make your own BOINC. :-D

That day is fast approaching. The BOINC devs should be glad someone else hasn't already done just that because if they did the majority of volunteers would be running the forked version instead of Berkeley's version.

Are you gonna deal with that or are you gonna just delete it and banish and prove once again you can't take what you dish out. I have a copy. I'll just spawn yet another sockpuppet and repost it, from a different IP address if I have to. (:-D)*2@u

Pop-ups? Really? The single most annoying feature in Windows and you want pop-ups, Dagorath?

Not all popups are annoying and you know it..

No, I find all pop-ups quite annoying. Want to go crash the game I am playing to desktop without giving me the option to even reach the Cancel button? Want to crash the BOINC client and display a pop-up about it for hours upon hours? Where I can, I turn these things off.

Yes, in that case, you can go make your own BOINC. :-D

That day is fast approaching. The BOINC devs should be glad someone else hasn't already done just that because if they did the majority of volunteers would be running the forked version instead of Berkeley's version.

Someone already did and abandoned it: http://code.google.com/p/synecdoche/

==and off-topic for this thread, but since I am answering the previous user who put the threat down in the previous post, can only answer here==

..just delete it and banish

Why the veiled threats? And why can't you post with the other kdsjsdj account? Or with the dfbv account? Or the old doggybob account? Or heck, why can't you just be civilized and apologize to Rom (in email to him) about your wrong-doings as a moderator here and get your Dagorath account back? Yes... it is that simple.

But trolling is as well, isn't it?

---

Pop-ups? Really? The single most annoying feature in Windows and you want pop-ups, Dagorath?

Not all popups are annoying and you know it..

No, I find all pop-ups quite annoying. Want to go crash the game I am playing to desktop without giving me the option to even reach the Cancel button?

Read my post and *think*. The popup I propose will never popup in the middle of your game. The only time it can possibly popup is when you toggle the proposed "abort expired tasks even if they have started" option from off to on. At that point you get the popup, you read it, you dismiss it and you don't see it again until the next time you toggle the option from off to on.

Did you think I proposed to have the popup appear, in blocking mode, every time the client was about to abort an expired but overdue task? Well that *would* be annoying and stupid and that is exactly why I did not propose that. And you could have avoided that misunderstanding had you looked at the proposal with a positive kind of "hmmm, can we find something positive in this?" attitude instead of your usual "gasp, a change in the status quo?!!! I must smash that immediately" attitude.

Want to crash the BOINC client and display a pop-up about it for hours upon hours? Where I can, I turn these things off.

Popups that do that are programmed to be blocking popups. That's just bad programming practice, unless it's a warning the system is about to meltdown unless corrective action is taken and then it doesn't rally matter if it blocks everything else. Anyway, the only time you would see the popup I propose is when you toggle the new option I propose so your rant/protest/troll-bait is irrelevant.

Yes, in that case, you can go make your own BOINC. :-D

That day is fast approaching. The BOINC devs should be glad someone else hasn't already done just that because if they did the majority of volunteers would be running the forked version instead of Berkeley's version.

Someone already did and abandoned it: http://code.google.com/p/synecdoche/

He gave up too easy.
Or David saw the threat and quickly incorporated all of the fork's good features into the mainstream
Or his fork was just the same crap rewarmed and served on a different looking plate which of course is not going to sell. As you well know, I am more tenacious. As well as more loquacious and sagacious. Better looking too. OK, ok, ok, humble too.

==and off-topic for this thread, but since I am answering the previous user who put the threat down in the previous post, can only answer here==

I have no idea what that means. Don't bother explaining unless it's vital that I understand its meaning, I have a hunch it's not vital but whatever...

..just delete it and banish

Why the veiled threats?

I don't see a threat in the words you quoted. Do I miss the point or did you accidentally crop too much text and inadvertently misquote?

And why can't you post with the other kdsjsdj account? Or with the dfbv account? Or the old doggybob account?

3 reasons: ((account is banished) or (I just don't like the account anymore)) and (I want to motivate the devs to add code to make it easy to delete dead accounts from the database)

Or heck, why can't you just be civilized and apologize to Rom (in email to him) about your wrong-doings as a moderator here

But I didn't do anything wrong, IMHO.

and get your Dagorath account back? Yes... it is that simple.

OIC, you want me back here to help moderate again. Because I know the difference between then and than and use them properly. No, thanks. Keeping that job requires butt kissing and I don't kiss butt just to keep a job I don't need in the first place.

== BTW, Do you know what makes the difference between butt kissing and brown nosing? It's depth perception. Have you visited your optometrist lately? ==

Besides, I don't like that account anymore. I don't want it back. You can have it. I'll PM the password to you.

But trolling is as well, isn't it?

Troll (and its derivatives) is a word that has been so overly used and mis-used that it no longer has any real meaning. All it means is "a person I don't like". Why should I care if you don't like me? Being liked is OK but it's not my primary purpose for being here.

Anyway your name calling breaks the rules. If I were still moderator I would give you a 14 day timeout for it but since I'm not and since you're the only mod left who comes around regularly you're going to have to do it yourself. Can I send you links to some cool games to play while you're gone?