Discworld

Straight from the turtle’s mouth

We hold these truths to be self-evident 📜

  1. All users are created equal: There’s a single queue that handles job requests. The scheduler will keep an eye on usage to ensure everyone gets their fair share.
  2. You shall not try to subvert the scheduler: such actions are considered high treason, and being a poor sport. Incidents will be prosecuted by the judges of Discworld.

  3. /home is for your tools not your data: /home is optimised on fast networked flash storage. /home is appropriate for your software, environments, notes, and scripts. Particle data is not to be pulled to /home.

    🫷 You wouldn’t pull all your cat pics on your laptop’s boot drive and prevent it from starting up!
      In the same way, please don’t bring CryoEM data onto our shared /home toolshed space.

  4. There should always be at least one way of doing things: The common CryoEM tools are provided with first-class support (e.g. SbGrid), other frameworks (CryoSPARC, Scipion, Doppio) captures most of the rest. We try to provide a graphical interface when there is one available. The newest techniques from papers will likely be less complete as ‘products’ are require more support and command-line skills.

    🙋 Please let us know if you’re missing anything, don’t miss out in silence.

  5. Have a go: You can’t break things for other users! If you’re scared of accidental deletions use saferm.
    There will be many choices of software listed in the Codes of Discworld.

    📑👀 Most programs come with their own README documentation if you look them up, but feel free to email us for support 📧

  6. No users get access to the base system: Because then you very much could break things.
  7. Get the training you need: You only need to know what you need; but there are a wealth of online resources about Linux, CryoEM software, the command line. The university has talented staff and training courses in Electron Microscopy, Structural Biology, and Research Technology to help, please leverage them.
  8. Biomolecular research only: There’s enough going on in the cell to last you your scientific lifetime.
  9. Don’t be wasteful: Just ask for the resources you need with a little bit of overhead. Mostly the only person you’re hurting is yourself — the scheduler will reward fair players.