Build Systems Course and Hackathon

The development of modern computer hardware towards heterogeneous architectures that combine the compute capabilities of multicore central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), non-uniform memory access (NUMA), and high speed network interconnect, offers, on the one hand, the prospect of extreme computing power, and on the other hand, a challenge for developers and users of scientific software.

In this Build Systems Course and Hackathon you will learn how to make use of tools and frameworks for building and installing programs and libraries on modern personal computers and on supercomputers.

The event has two parts: an online course part and an in-person or online support session. You can join both parts or only the course / only the support session. Please note that there are two separate registration pages for part 1 and 2.

This event is a collaboration of PDC (main organizer), CodeRefinery, ENCCS, Aalto Scientific Computing and CSC.

Part I: Course

The course part of this event will be held online over four half days, Tuesday 8 October – Friday 11 October 2024. The following will be included in the curriculum.

• Introduction to compilers, linkers, and libraries
• The GNU make and autotools
• The CMake build system
• The Spack build system
• The EasyBuild build system
• SingularityCE / Apptainer

In the exercise sessions of the course you will get hands-on experience of using these tools for a variety of open-source scientific programs.

Schedule for Online Course

All times in Helsinki timezone (EEST)

8 October

• 09:50 – 10:00 Soft start
• 10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and introduction
• 10:10 – 10:50 Compilers/Linkers/Libraries
• 10:50 – 11:00 Break
• 11:00 – 11:50 make
• 11:50 – 12:00 Break
• 12:00 – 13:00 autotools

9 October

• 09:50 – 10:00 Soft start
• 10:00 – 10:50 CMake
• 10:50 – 11:00 Break
• 11:00 – 11:50 CMake
• 11:50 – 12:00 Break
• 12:00 – 13:00 CMake

10 October

• 09:50 – 10:00 Soft start
• 10:00 – 10:50 Spack
• 10:50 – 11:00 Break
• 11:00 – 11:50 Spack
• 11:50 – 12:00 Break
• 12:00 – 13:00 EasyBuild

11 October

• 09:50 – 10:00 Soft start
• 10:00 – 10:50 SingularityCE/Apptainer
• 10:50 – 11:00 Break
• 11:00 – 11:50 SingularityCE/Apptainer
• 11:50 – 12:00 Break
• 12:00 – 12:30 SingularityCE/Apptainer
• 12:30 – 13:00 Wrap up of lesson & concluding remarks

Please register for the course via the registration form provided by our partner KTH.

Part II: Hackathon / Support / Exercise session

We will offer a drop in hackthon / support / exercise session for build systems on October 22 (in-person on Aalto campus in Otaniemi, Espoo) or 23 (online) between 10-13 EEST.

If you are interested in attending either of the hackathon / support / exercise sessions, please register via our registration portal.