Introduction to Software Deployment in Virtualized Research Environments

A workshop on Virtualized Research Environments for neuroscientists and other interested party held at the computer center of the University of Freiburg was organized by the ViCE team of the eScience group. Tools such as Conda, Docker and Singularity were used to create and test NEST software in the cloud, HPC and PC pools.

Hard at work creating and testing VREs

With visitors primarily from the Bernstein Center, discussion and exercises focused mainly on:

Creating, using, maintaining and sharing virtual research environments (VRE) on NEMO or bwCloud.
Clarify distinction between the ability to distribute/reconstruct a VRE (ViCE) versus the ability to reference/archive/re-execute of VRE (CiTAR)
Usage of "conda" for software package management in user space (i.e. no admin required)
Create and run singularity containers on HPC for maximum independence from given HPC node operating system and software environment
Handle particular or conflicting Python requirements in separate VREs
Share VRE images or VRE recipes between users

A follow up course will be organized by the ViCE team beginning of next year.