Sufficient Unix skills are essential for working efficiently with a computing server. Abilities to use a command-line terminal, to access resources remotely, and to compile and run your applications as well as knowledge of useful commands and tools, batch job systems etc. are all necessary to take the full advantage of the available computing resources. For efficient data processing, it is often necessary to write shell scripts and/or use more advanced tools such as Sed and Awk. To understand and modify the automatic build process of complex programs, one needs to be familiar with makefiles and the tools that modify or generate them. This course is an introduction to efficient use of CSC's supercomputing environment covering all the topics mentioned above.

The course is divided into two days with rather independent contents and participation is possible for either both or one of the days. The first day covers Unix basics, CSC's supercomputing environment (data storage, batch job systems), the Scientist's User Interface, and how to compile and run your applications. The second day introduces shell scripting, data processing using Sed and Awk, and the automation of an application build process using Make.

You are encouraged to bring your own program to be compiled and run in CSC's supercomputers during the course. You can use either your own laptop or classroom's workstations.