Hepsoft - an approach for up to date multi-platform deployment of HEP specific software

Abstract

LHC experiments are depending on a rich palette of software components to build their specific applications. These underlying software components include the ROOT analysis framework, the Geant4 simulation toolkit, monte carlo generators, grid middle-ware, graphics libraries, scripting languages, databases, tools, etc. which are provided centrally in up to date versions on multiple platforms (Linux, Mac, Windows). Until recently this set of packages has been tested and released in a tree like structure as a consistent set of versions across operating systems, architectures and compilers for LHC experiments only. Because of the tree like deployment these releases were only usable in connection with a configuration management tool which provided the proper build and run-time environments and was hindering other parties outside LHC from easily using this palette of packages.In a new approach the releases will be grouped in "flat structure" such that interested parties can start using it without configuration management, retaining all the above mentioned advantages. In addition to an increased usability the software shall also be distributed via system provided package deployment systems (rpm, apt, etc.). The approach of software deployment is following the ideas of providing a wide range of HEP specific software packages and tools in a coherent, up to date and modular way on multiple platforms. The target audience for such software deployments are individual developers or smaller development groups / experiments who don't have the resources to maintain this kind of infrastructure. This new software deployment strategy has already been successfully implemented for groups at CERN.