EasyBuild is a framework used to automatically build software and make it available as modules. Many of our modules are provided via EasyBuild, but it can also be used to create new modules for personal (or group) use.

• https://easybuild.readthedocs.org/en/latest/

Activate the EasyBuild module

• module load EasyBuild

Search for available “easyconfigs” (basically recipes to build a software package)

• eb -S matplotlib

Build matplotlib and all dependencies, with Python 2.7 and using the “goolf-1.4.10” compiler toolchain:

• eb matplotlib-1.2.1-goolf-1.4.10-Python-2.7.3.eb -r

By default, Easybuild will install new software and modules in your home directory under:

• software install path: $HOME/.local/easybuild/software
• modules install path: $HOME/.local/easybuild/modules/all

after which you can make the new modules available using module use $HOME/.local/easybuild/modules/all

To make an alternative configuration for EasyBuild, start by getting it to write out the standard config:

• eb –confighelp > $HOME/.config/easybuild/config.cfg

Then edit any new values, for example:

• installpath=/data/mygroup/easybuild (to create a shared group area)
• buildpath=/dev/shm will help greatly with build speeds, on a machine with sufficient memory.