HPC developers build software from source code and optimize it for the targeted computer’s architecture. LLNL-developed Spack handles the process of downloading a tool and all the necessary dependencies – which can be tens or hundreds of other packages – and assembles those components and ensures they are properly linked and optimized for the machine. Todd Gamblin, Spack’s lead developer, talks with the Exascale Computing Project’s Exascale podcast. Both audio and video versions are available. Total runtime is 13:54.

Outline:

• Spack: a US Department of Energy lab-developed app store for supercomputers (1:24)
• Spack’s role in ECP (2:26)
• The origins and evolution of Spack (5:23)
• Spack’s benefits and advantages (7:42)
• The use of Spack on Mac laptops and Linux machines (10:53)
• The plans for Spack (11:18)