Prerequisites

Prerequisites#

Prerequisites & Recommended Background

You do not need to be an HPC expert to start this module.

This module assumes a basic level of computational literacy, but it is designed to support users who are new to DesignSafe and large-scale computing environments.

Required background:

  • Comfort running analyses or scripts using at least one of the following:

    • Python

    • Shell / command-line tools

    • A domain-specific scientific or engineering application

  • Familiarity with basic file concepts such as directories, file paths, and input/output files.

Helpful (but not required):

  • Prior experience using Jupyter notebooks for exploratory analysis or data processing.

  • Basic understanding of scripting concepts such as loops, variables, or configuration files.

  • Some exposure to remote computing environments (e.g., SSH, cloud VMs, or shared servers).

Not required:

  • Prior experience with HPC systems, SLURM, or TACC.

  • Knowledge of Tapis, APIs, or batch job submission.

  • Application-specific expertise (examples are provided to illustrate concepts).

Where unfamiliar concepts appear, the module introduces them gradually and focuses on practical understanding rather than low-level system details.