Preface

This document will eventually be a complete reference manual for the Cactus Code. However, it is currently under development, so please be patient if you can’t find what you need. Please report omissions, errors, or suggestions to and of our contact addresses below, and we will try and fix them as soon as possible.

Overview of documentation

This guide covers the following topics

Part A: CCTK_* Function Reference.

Here all the CCTK_*() Cactus flesh functions which are available to thorn writers are described.

Part B: Util_* Function Reference.

Here all the Util_*() Cactus flesh functions which are available to thorn writers are described.

Part C: Appendices.

These contain a description of the Cactus Configuration Language, a glossary, and other odds and ends, such as how to use GNATS or TAGS.

Other topics to be discussed in separate documents include:

Users’ Guide

This gives a general overview of the Cactus Computational Tool Kit, including overall design/architecture, how to get/configure/compile/run it, and general discussions of the how to program in Cactus.

Relativity Thorn Guide

This will contain details about the arrangements and thorns making up the Cactus Relativity Tool Kit, one of the major motivators, and still the driving force, for the Cactus Code.

Flesh Maintainers Guide

This will contain all the gruesome details about the inner workings of Cactus, for all those who want or need to expand or maintain the core of Cactus.

Typographical Conventions

Typewriter

Is currently used for everything you type, for program names, and code extracts.

< ... >

Indicates a compulsory argument.

[ ... ]

Indicates an optional argument.

|

Indicates an exclusive or.

How to Contact Us

Please let us know of any errors or omissions in this guide, as well as suggestions for future editions. These can be reported via our bug tracking system at http://www.cactuscode.org, or via email to cactusmaint@cactuscode.org. Alternatively, write to us at

The Cactus Team
Center for Computation & Technology
216 Johnston Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
USA

Acknowledgements

Hearty thanks to all those who have helped with documentation for the Cactus Code. Special thanks to those who struggled with the earliest sparse versions of this guide and sent in mistakes and suggestions, in particular John Baker, Carsten Gundlach, Ginny Hudak-David, Sai Iyer, Paul Lamping, Nancy Tran and Ed Seidel.