Software¶
The CoSTAR cluster supports multiple software workflows. Whether you need a modern containerised pipeline, a quick Python environment, or a graphical interface, you have total control over your software stack.
Choose your preferred workflow below to learn more:
The recommended HPC standard. Build once, run anywhere, and ensure perfect reproducibility.
Apptainer: The natively supported platform on CoSTAR.
Docker: Easily convert Docker workflows to Apptainer.
Registries: Pull directly from Docker Hub or University registries.
Graphical user interfaces and real-time interactivity directly in your web browser.
Launch interactive desktop sessions and graphical tools including JupyterLab, VS Code, and MATLAB without any command-line setup.
Manage Python and R dependencies locally within your home directory.
Read our full guide on setting up Miniconda, which is our recommended tool for handling complex scientific packages and GPU dependencies.
Note: Standard tools like Python’s built-in venv or high-speed managers like uv also work well on the cluster.
Requesting New Software¶
CoSTAR is designed for users to manage their own software stacks using Containers or virtual environments such as Conda.
If you are unable to install a tool yourself, or if you need a shared interactive application added to Open OnDemand, please refer to our Software Request Guide on the Support page.