Software (self-)Installation

Requesting an Installation

We provide a number of applications on Baskerville. If an application or specific application version is not available on Baskerville, please first consider requesting an install. Self-installation is recommended for users who may be developing or compiling their own code, or who require software unlikely to be used by anyone else.

This section provides information on self-installing Python, C/C++ and Fortran software. All installations should be done on a compute node; avoid installing software on login nodes. You can use a compute node by either submitting a job script which installs the software, or by starting an interactive job.

Installation on Login Nodes

Login nodes do not have GPUs or CUDA available. Also, we may kill, without warning, any long-running or CPU intensive process running on a login node.

Self-installing Python software

We provide some Python software. To install your own Python software on top of these we recommend using a virtual environment. To create this:

1. Load the required modules

2. In a suitable directory, create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv --system-site-packages _venvname_
   

3. Activate the virtual environment

   source _venvname_/bin/activate
   

4. Install your Python software, for example using pip install _packagename_

To use the Python software installed in the virtual environment:

1. Load the same modules as used when creating the virtual environment

2. Activate the virtual environment

   source _venvname_/bin/activate
   

3. Use your Python software

Self-installing C/C++/Fortran software

We provide a number of tools to help you with your software development needs.

On Baskerville we provide several families of compilers. In addition, the installed applications include include standard libraries and build tools, which may prove useful building blocks for your own installations.