Software Probability and Maintenance

Topics related to software portability and maintenance are often overlooked in favour of code optimisation and other shorter-term programming issues. However, in the long run these can be crucial in ensuring continuity of work, for example when personnel change or a new machine becomes available. We have gained some experience in working with HPCI consortia and on the HPC’97 procurement in these areas. This paper highlights some of the potential difficulties which have arisen, and describes techniques which may be used to minimise the amount of work required to port codes to different machines and maintain multi-developer projects.