Installation

Precompiled Binaries

Torch-TensorRT 2.x is centered primarily around Python. As such, precompiled releases can be found on pypi.org

Dependencies

You need to have CUDA, PyTorch, and TensorRT (python package is sufficient) installed to use Torch-TensorRT

• https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda

• https://pytorch.org

Installing Torch-TensorRT

You can install the python package using

python -m pip install torch torch-tensorrt tensorrt

Packages are uploaded for Linux on x86 and Windows

Installing Torch-TensorRT for a specific CUDA version

Similar to PyTorch, Torch-TensorRT has builds compiled for different versions of CUDA. These are distributed on PyTorch’s package index

For example CUDA 11.8

python -m pip install torch torch-tensorrt tensorrt --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118

Installing Nightly Builds

Torch-TensorRT distributed nightlies targeting the PyTorch nightly. These can be installed from the PyTorch nightly package index (separated by CUDA version)

python -m pip install --pre torch torch-tensorrt tensorrt --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124

C++ Precompiled Binaries (TorchScript Only)

Precompiled tarballs for releases are provided here: https://github.com/pytorch/TensorRT/releases

Compiling From Source

Building on Linux

Dependencies

• Torch-TensorRT is built with Bazel, so begin by installing it.

  • The easiest way is to install bazelisk using the method of your choosing https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazelisk

  • Otherwise you can use the following instructions to install binaries https://docs.bazel.build/versions/master/install.html

  • Finally if you need to compile from source (e.g. aarch64 until bazel distributes binaries for the architecture) you can use these instructions

  export BAZEL_VERSION=$(cat <PATH_TO_TORCHTRT_ROOT>/.bazelversion)
  mkdir bazel
  cd bazel
  curl -fSsL -O https://github.com/bazelbuild/bazel/releases/download/$BAZEL_VERSION/bazel-$BAZEL_VERSION-dist.zip
  unzip bazel-$BAZEL_VERSION-dist.zip
  bash ./compile.sh
  cp output/bazel /usr/local/bin/
  

• You will also need to have CUDA installed on the system (or if running in a container, the system must have the CUDA driver installed and the container must have CUDA)

  • Specify your CUDA version here if not the version used in the branch being built: https://github.com/pytorch/TensorRT/blob/4e5b0f6e860910eb510fa70a76ee3eb9825e7a4d/WORKSPACE#L46

• The correct LibTorch and TensorRT versions will be pulled down for you by bazel.

  NOTE: By default bazel will pull the latest nightly from pytorch.org. For building main, this is usually sufficient however if there is a specific PyTorch you are targeting, edit these locations with updated URLs/paths:

  • https://github.com/pytorch/TensorRT/blob/4e5b0f6e860910eb510fa70a76ee3eb9825e7a4d/WORKSPACE#L53C1-L53C1

• TensorRT is not required to be installed on the system to build Torch-TensorRT, in fact this is preferable to ensure reproducible builds. If versions other than the default are needed point the WORKSPACE file to the URL of the tarball or download the tarball for TensorRT from https://developer.nvidia.com and update the paths in the WORKSPACE file here https://github.com/pytorch/TensorRT/blob/4e5b0f6e860910eb510fa70a76ee3eb9825e7a4d/WORKSPACE#L71

  For example:

  http_archive(
      name = "tensorrt",
      build_file = "@//third_party/tensorrt/archive:BUILD",
      sha256 = "<TENSORRT SHA256>", # Optional but recommended
      strip_prefix = "TensorRT-<TENSORRT VERSION>",
      urls = [
          "https://developer.nvidia.com/downloads/compute/machine-learning/tensorrt/<TENSORRT DOWNLOAD PATH>",
          # OR
          "file:///<ABSOLUTE PATH TO FILE>/TensorRT-<TENSORRT VERSION>.Linux.x86_64-gnu.cuda-<CUDA VERSION>.tar.gz"
      ],
  )
  

  Remember at runtime, these libraries must be added to your LD_LIBRARY_PATH explicitly

If you have a local version of TensorRT installed, this can be used as well by commenting out the above lines and uncommenting the following lines https://github.com/pytorch/TensorRT/blob/4e5b0f6e860910eb510fa70a76ee3eb9825e7a4d/WORKSPACE#L114C1-L124C3

Building the Package

Once the WORKSPACE has been configured properly, all that is required to build torch-tensorrt is the following command

python -m pip install --pre . --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124

If you use the uv (https://docs.astral.sh/uv/) tool to manage python and your projects, the command is slightly simpler

uv pip install -e .

To build the wheel file

python -m pip wheel --no-deps --pre . --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124 -w dist

Additional Build Options

Some features in the library are optional and allow builds to be lighter or more portable.

Python Only Distribution

There are multiple features of the library which require C++ components to be enabled. This includes both the TorchScript frontend which accepts TorchScript modules for compilation and the Torch-TensorRT runtime, the default executor for modules compiled with Torch-TensorRT, be it with the TorchScript or Dynamo frontend.

In the case you may want a build which does not require C++ you can disable these features and avoid building these components. As a result, the only available runtime will be the Python based on which has implications for features like serialization.

PYTHON_ONLY=1 python -m pip install --pre . --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124

No TorchScript Frontend

The TorchScript frontend is a legacy feature of Torch-TensorRT which is now in maintenance as TorchDynamo has become the preferred compiler technology for this project. It contains quite a bit of C++ code that is no longer necessary for most users. Therefore you can exclude this component from your build to speed up build times. The C++ based runtime will still be available to use.

NO_TORCHSCRIPT=1 python -m pip install --pre . --extra-index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124

Building the C++ Library Standalone (TorchScript Only)

Release Build

bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt

A tarball with the include files and library can then be found in bazel-bin

Debug Build

To build with debug symbols use the following command

bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c dbg

A tarball with the include files and library can then be found in bazel-bin

Pre CXX11 ABI Build

To build using the pre-CXX11 ABI use the pre_cxx11_abi config

bazel build //:libtorchtrt --config pre_cxx11_abi -c [dbg/opt]

A tarball with the include files and library can then be found in bazel-bin

Choosing the Right ABI

Likely the most complicated thing about compiling Torch-TensorRT is selecting the correct ABI. There are two options which are incompatible with each other, pre-cxx11-abi and the cxx11-abi. The complexity comes from the fact that while the most popular distribution of PyTorch (wheels downloaded from pytorch.org/pypi directly) use the pre-cxx11-abi, most other distributions you might encounter (e.g. ones from NVIDIA - NGC containers, and builds for Jetson as well as certain libtorch builds and likely if you build PyTorch from source) use the cxx11-abi. It is important you compile Torch-TensorRT using the correct ABI to function properly. Below is a table with general pairings of PyTorch distribution sources and the recommended commands:

PyTorch Source	Recommended Python Compilation Command	Recommended C++ Compilation Command
PyTorch whl file from PyTorch.org	python -m pip install .	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt --config pre_cxx11_abi
libtorch-shared-with-deps-*.zip from PyTorch.org	python -m pip install .	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt --config pre_cxx11_abi
libtorch-cxx11-abi-shared-with-deps-*.zip from PyTorch.org	python setup.py bdist_wheel –use-cxx11-abi	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt
PyTorch preinstalled in an NGC container	python setup.py bdist_wheel –use-cxx11-abi	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt
PyTorch from the NVIDIA Forums for Jetson	python setup.py bdist_wheel –use-cxx11-abi	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt
PyTorch built from Source	python setup.py bdist_wheel –use-cxx11-abi	bazel build //:libtorchtrt -c opt

NOTE: For all of the above cases you must correctly declare the source of PyTorch you intend to use in your WORKSPACE file for both Python and C++ builds. See below for more information

Building on Windows

• Microsoft VS 2022 Tools

• Bazelisk

• CUDA

Build steps

• Open the app “x64 Native Tools Command Prompt for VS 2022” - note that Admin privileges may be necessary

• Ensure Bazelisk (Bazel launcher) is installed on your machine and available from the command line. Package installers such as Chocolatey can be used to install Bazelisk

• Install latest version of Torch (i.e. with pip install --pre torch --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/nightly/cu124)

• Clone the Torch-TensorRT repository and navigate to its root directory

• Run pip install ninja wheel setuptools

• Run pip install --pre -r py/requirements.txt

• Run set DISTUTILS_USE_SDK=1

• Run python setup.py bdist_wheel

• Run pip install dist/*.whl

Advanced setup and Troubleshooting

In the WORKSPACE file, the cuda_win, libtorch_win, and tensorrt_win are Windows-specific modules which can be customized. For instance, if you would like to build with a different version of CUDA, or your CUDA installation is in a non-standard location, update the path in the cuda_win module.

Similarly, if you would like to use a different version of pytorch or tensorrt, customize the urls in the libtorch_win and tensorrt_win modules, respectively.

Local versions of these packages can also be used on Windows. See toolchains\\ci_workspaces\\WORKSPACE.win.release.tmpl for an example of using a local version of TensorRT on Windows.

Alternative Build Systems

Building with CMake (TorchScript Only)

It is possible to build the API libraries (in cpp/) and the torchtrtc executable using CMake instead of Bazel. Currently, the python API and the tests cannot be built with CMake. Begin by installing CMake.

• Latest releases of CMake and instructions on how to install are available for different platforms [on their website](https://cmake.org/download/).

A few useful CMake options include:

• CMake finders for TensorRT are provided in cmake/Modules. In order for CMake to use them, pass -DCMAKE_MODULE_PATH=cmake/Modules when configuring the project with CMake.

• Libtorch provides its own CMake finder. In case CMake doesn’t find it, pass the path to your install of libtorch with -DTorch_DIR=<path to libtorch>/share/cmake/Torch

• If TensorRT is not found with the provided cmake finder, specify -DTensorRT_ROOT=<path to TensorRT>

• Finally, configure and build the project in a build directory of your choice with the following command from the root of Torch-TensorRT project:

cmake -S. -B<build directory> \
    [-DCMAKE_MODULE_PATH=cmake/Module] \
    [-DTorch_DIR=<path to libtorch>/share/cmake/Torch] \
    [-DTensorRT_ROOT=<path to TensorRT>] \
    [-DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug|Release]
cmake --build <build directory>

Building Natively on aarch64 (Jetson)

Prerequisites

Install or compile a build of PyTorch/LibTorch for aarch64

NVIDIA hosts builds the latest release branch for Jetson here:

https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/pytorch-for-jetson-version-1-10-now-available/72048

Environment Setup

To build natively on aarch64-linux-gnu platform, configure the WORKSPACE with local available dependencies.

1. Replace WORKSPACE with the corresponding WORKSPACE file in //toolchains/jp_workspaces

2. Configure the correct paths to directory roots containing local dependencies in the new_local_repository rules:

   NOTE: If you installed PyTorch using a pip package, the correct path is the path to the root of the python torch package. In the case that you installed with sudo pip install this will be /usr/local/lib/python3.8/dist-packages/torch. In the case you installed with pip install --user this will be $HOME/.local/lib/python3.8/site-packages/torch.

In the case you are using NVIDIA compiled pip packages, set the path for both libtorch sources to the same path. This is because unlike PyTorch on x86_64, NVIDIA aarch64 PyTorch uses the CXX11-ABI. If you compiled for source using the pre_cxx11_abi and only would like to use that library, set the paths to the same path but when you compile make sure to add the flag --config=pre_cxx11_abi

new_local_repository(
    name = "libtorch",
    path = "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/dist-packages/torch",
    build_file = "third_party/libtorch/BUILD"
)

new_local_repository(
    name = "libtorch_pre_cxx11_abi",
    path = "/usr/local/lib/python3.8/dist-packages/torch",
    build_file = "third_party/libtorch/BUILD"
)

Compile C++ Library and Compiler CLI

NOTE: Due to shifting dependency locations between Jetpack 4.5 and 4.6 there is a now a flag to inform bazel of the Jetpack version

--platforms //toolchains:jetpack_x.x

Compile Torch-TensorRT library using bazel command:

bazel build //:libtorchtrt --platforms //toolchains:jetpack_5.0

Compile Python API

NOTE: Due to shifting dependencies locations between Jetpack 4.5 and newer Jetpack versions there is now a flag for setup.py which sets the jetpack version (default: 5.0)

Compile the Python API using the following command from the //py directory:

python3 setup.py install --use-cxx11-abi

If you have a build of PyTorch that uses Pre-CXX11 ABI drop the --use-cxx11-abi flag

If you are building for Jetpack 4.5 add the --jetpack-version 5.0 flag