USE1.5 Software Environment

HPC systems have generally installed multiple versions of several essential software tools and software environments. Package management tools provide access to this wide variety of software. A user has to load the software for the current shell session to make commands available.

Some widely available software tools include:

• Environment modules
• SPACK
• Conda
• EasyBuild
• European Environment for Scientific Software Installations (EESSI)

• Query available software using the package manager and select the appropriate versions for deployment in the session environment.
• Describe the MODULEPATH variable and understand shell variables relevant for executing and building software
• Query information about packages using SPACK and install as well as load and unload software modules
• Understand what conda environments are for and how a user can install their own environments
• Understand how EasyBuild is used to automate the building, installation, and management of scientific software stacks on HPC systems.
• Describe the purpose of EESSI and use its software stack to access portable, optimised scientific applications across different HPC infrastructures.

• USE1.5.1 Environment Modules
• USE1.5.2 Spack
• USE1.5.3 Conda environments
• USE1.5.4 EasyBuild
• USE1.5.5 European Environment for Scientific Software Installations (EESSI)