Preface

This document contains a quick-start guide to installing and running a Cactus application. In subsequent chapters, it provides more detailed information on advanced user’s topics, as well as an introduction to thorn writing. Please report omissions, errors, or suggestions to any of our contact addresses below.

Overview of documentation

Part A: Introduction to Cactus.

A guide through the process of obtaining and installing Cactus and running a simple example application with it.

Part B: Additional Notes.

A more in-depth description of required hardware and software, along with configuration, installation and running options. Describes how to check the installation with Cactus test suites.

Part C: Thorn Writing.

An introduction to thorn concepts and description of how to create, write and maintain application thorns. Explanation of use of the programming interface to take advantage of parallelism and modularity. This is followed by a more advanced discussion of user supplied infrastructure routines such as additional output routines, drivers, etc.

Part D: Appendices.

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

Related topics are discussed in separate documents including:

Reference Manual

Contains detailed descriptions of the functions provided by the Cactus flesh API, along with other reference material.

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, you can 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.