03/11/2025: Getting Scientific Software Installed#

For the first time ever, we’re organizing a 2-day training session in collaboration with the all other VSC hubs about installing software on your own on the VSC clusters.

Getting the software required to run your scientific workloads installed on a supercomputer can be a daunting task. There is a wide variety of tools and techniques to consider, and the best option depends on various factors such as which software you need, which system(s) you want to use, and which programming language(s) the software is implemented in.

Presentations and demos on day 1#

In the first day of this 2-day training you will learn what are the most well-established tools and techniques for getting scientific software installed, how to use them and what are the recommended best practices from VSC.

Getting Scientific Software Installed (day 1)

  • date: Monday 03 November 2025

  • time: 9:00-17:00

  • topic: Intro and best practices on various well-established tools and techniques for getting scientific software installed

  • organizer: VSC

  • location:

    • 32 places in-person: Room 03.Z.02 in Marie-Elisabeth Belpaire building (Brussels)

    • online: MS Teams (registration required)

Registration

Agenda for day 1#

  • [09:00] Informal welcome (incl. coffee)

  • [10:00] Introduction

  • [10:15] Using environment modules

  • [10:30] European Environment for Scientific Software Installations (EESSI)

  • [11:00] Using container images (with Singularity/Apptainer)

  • [11:30] Conda + mamba + pixi

  • [12:00] (lunch break)

  • [13:00] Language package managers: Python, pip, venv

  • [13:30] Language package managers: R, Julia, Rust, Java

  • [14:00] Manual building & installation of software

  • [14:30] (coffee break)

  • [15:00] Building container images (with Singularity/Apptainer)

  • [15:30] EasyBuild & Spack

  • [16:00] Creating and using patch files

  • [16:15] Conclusions

  • [16:30] Q&A

  • [17:00] End

Hands-on session on day 2#

On the second day of the training you will participate in a workshop with the VSC team of your own institute where we will help you tackle any software installation of your choice.

VUB Hands-on Getting Scientific Software Installed (day 2)

  • date: Thursday 06 November 2025

  • time: 9:00-16:00

  • topic: Hands-on session on getting scientific software installed

  • organizer: VUB

  • location: Sablon room, Pleinlaan 9, 5th floor, Main Campus Etterbeek

Registration (to be announced)

Helpdesk In case of problems or questions, please contact the HPC team.

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