Framework and Methodology for Verification of a Complex Scientific Simulation Software, Flash-X

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Dhruv, Akash, Jain, Rajeev, O'Neal, Jared, Weide, Klaus, Dubey, Anshu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Dhruv, Akash
Jain, Rajeev
O'Neal, Jared
Weide, Klaus
Dubey, Anshu
author_facet Dhruv, Akash
Jain, Rajeev
O'Neal, Jared
Weide, Klaus
Dubey, Anshu
contents Computational science relies on scientific software as its primary instrument for scientific discovery. Therefore, similar to the use of other types of scientific instruments, correct software and the correct operation of the software is necessary for executing rigorous scientific investigations. Scientific software verification can be especially difficult, as users typically need to modify the software as part of a scientific study. Systematic methodologies for building test suites for scientific software are rare in the literature. Here, we describe a methodology that we have developed for Flash-X, a community simulation software for multiple scientific domains, that has composable components that can be permuted and combined in a multitude of ways to generate a wide range of applications. Ensuring sufficient code coverage by a test suite is particularly challenging due to this composability. Our methodology includes a consideration of trade-offs between meeting software quality goals, developer productivity, and meeting the scientific goals of the Flash-X user community.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2308_16180
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Framework and Methodology for Verification of a Complex Scientific Simulation Software, Flash-X
Dhruv, Akash
Jain, Rajeev
O'Neal, Jared
Weide, Klaus
Dubey, Anshu
Software Engineering
Computational science relies on scientific software as its primary instrument for scientific discovery. Therefore, similar to the use of other types of scientific instruments, correct software and the correct operation of the software is necessary for executing rigorous scientific investigations. Scientific software verification can be especially difficult, as users typically need to modify the software as part of a scientific study. Systematic methodologies for building test suites for scientific software are rare in the literature. Here, we describe a methodology that we have developed for Flash-X, a community simulation software for multiple scientific domains, that has composable components that can be permuted and combined in a multitude of ways to generate a wide range of applications. Ensuring sufficient code coverage by a test suite is particularly challenging due to this composability. Our methodology includes a consideration of trade-offs between meeting software quality goals, developer productivity, and meeting the scientific goals of the Flash-X user community.
title Framework and Methodology for Verification of a Complex Scientific Simulation Software, Flash-X
topic Software Engineering
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2308.16180