Sustainability of the Merlin++ particle tracking code

Scott Rowan; Sam Tygier; Yuanfang Cai; Colin C. Venters; Richard Appleby; Roger Barlow

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201921405028

Sustainability of the Merlin++ particle tracking code

Scott Rowan, Sam Tygier, Yuanfang Cai, Colin C. Venters, Richard Appleby, Roger Barlow

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

Merlin++ is a C++ particle accelerator and particle tracking library originally developed at DESY for use in International Linear Collider (ILC) simulations. Merlin++ has more recently been adapted for High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) collimation studies, utilizing advanced scattering physics. However, as is all too common in long-standing high-energy physics software, recent developments have focused on functional additions rather than code design and maintainability. This has resulted in usability issues for users and developers alike. The following presents recent improvements in adhering to modern software sustainability practices to address these issues. Quantifiable improvements in code complexity and maintainability are presented via appropriate test metrics and the evolution of the software architecture
is analyzed. Experiences and conclusions of applying modern sustainability methodology to longstanding scientific software are discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	05028
Number of pages	8
Journal	EPJ Web of Conferences
Volume	214
Early online date	17 Sept 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201921405028
Publication status	Published - 2019
Event	23rd International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics - National Palace of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria Duration: 9 Jul 2018 → 13 Jul 2018 http://chep2018.org

Access to Document

10.1051/epjconf/201921405028Licence: CC BY

Merlin++
Appleby, R. B. (Developer), Barlow, R. (Developer), Bungau, A. (Developer), Fallon, J. (Developer), Krücker, D. (Developer), Molson, J. (Developer), Rafique, H. (Developer), Rowan, S. (Developer), Serluca, M. (Developer), Sjøbæk, K. N. (Developer), Toader, A. (Developer), Tygier, S. (Developer), Walker, N. (Developer) & Wolski, A. (Developer), 6 Mar 2020
Research output: Non-textual form › Software

Open Access

Software Architecting the Future: Challenges, Opportunities and Threats
Venters, C. (Speaker)
28 Oct 2021
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk
Retroactive Sustainability Improvements in the Merlin++ Particle Tracking Code
Rowan, S. (Speaker), Tygier, S. (Speaker), Cai, Y. (Speaker), Venters, C. C. (Speaker), Appleby, R. (Speaker) & Barlow, R. (Speaker)
12 Jul 2018
Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Cite this

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title = "Sustainability of the Merlin++ particle tracking code",

abstract = "Merlin++ is a C++ particle accelerator and particle tracking library originally developed at DESY for use in International Linear Collider (ILC) simulations. Merlin++ has more recently been adapted for High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) collimation studies, utilizing advanced scattering physics. However, as is all too common in long-standing high-energy physics software, recent developments have focused on functional additions rather than code design and maintainability. This has resulted in usability issues for users and developers alike. The following presents recent improvements in adhering to modern software sustainability practices to address these issues. Quantifiable improvements in code complexity and maintainability are presented via appropriate test metrics and the evolution of the software architecture is analyzed. Experiences and conclusions of applying modern sustainability methodology to longstanding scientific software are discussed.",

author = "Scott Rowan and Sam Tygier and Yuanfang Cai and Venters, \{Colin C.\} and Richard Appleby and Roger Barlow",

year = "2019",

doi = "10.1051/epjconf/201921405028",

language = "English",

volume = "214",

journal = "EPJ Web of Conferences",

issn = "2101-6275",

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note = "23rd International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics, CHEP 2018 ; Conference date: 09-07-2018 Through 13-07-2018",

url = "http://chep2018.org",

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T1 - Sustainability of the Merlin++ particle tracking code

AU - Rowan, Scott

AU - Tygier, Sam

AU - Cai, Yuanfang

AU - Venters, Colin C.

AU - Appleby, Richard

AU - Barlow, Roger

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Merlin++ is a C++ particle accelerator and particle tracking library originally developed at DESY for use in International Linear Collider (ILC) simulations. Merlin++ has more recently been adapted for High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) collimation studies, utilizing advanced scattering physics. However, as is all too common in long-standing high-energy physics software, recent developments have focused on functional additions rather than code design and maintainability. This has resulted in usability issues for users and developers alike. The following presents recent improvements in adhering to modern software sustainability practices to address these issues. Quantifiable improvements in code complexity and maintainability are presented via appropriate test metrics and the evolution of the software architecture is analyzed. Experiences and conclusions of applying modern sustainability methodology to longstanding scientific software are discussed.

AB - Merlin++ is a C++ particle accelerator and particle tracking library originally developed at DESY for use in International Linear Collider (ILC) simulations. Merlin++ has more recently been adapted for High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) collimation studies, utilizing advanced scattering physics. However, as is all too common in long-standing high-energy physics software, recent developments have focused on functional additions rather than code design and maintainability. This has resulted in usability issues for users and developers alike. The following presents recent improvements in adhering to modern software sustainability practices to address these issues. Quantifiable improvements in code complexity and maintainability are presented via appropriate test metrics and the evolution of the software architecture is analyzed. Experiences and conclusions of applying modern sustainability methodology to longstanding scientific software are discussed.

U2 - 10.1051/epjconf/201921405028

DO - 10.1051/epjconf/201921405028

M3 - Conference article

SN - 2101-6275

VL - 214

JO - EPJ Web of Conferences

JF - EPJ Web of Conferences

M1 - 05028

T2 - 23rd International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics

Y2 - 9 July 2018 through 13 July 2018

ER -

Sustainability of the Merlin++ particle tracking code

Abstract

Access to Document

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Research output

Merlin++

Activities

Software Architecting the Future: Challenges, Opportunities and Threats

Retroactive Sustainability Improvements in the Merlin++ Particle Tracking Code

Cite this