Using Custom Software

Installing from source

Roar Collab offers a broad range of installed open-source applications, but sometimes you need an application that is not already available

Users are allowed and encouraged to compile and install their own software in their storage directories. Depending on how well documented the software is, installation may be straightforward or may require modification to the instructions to accomodate user permission levels.

No root access

If you have worked with a laptop running Linux, one important difference between installing software on your laptop and on Collab is no root access. This means you cannot:

• use RPM package installers like yum
• install executables in the standard places

For installations that require root or administrative access, please complete a Software Request.

Where to install

The question of where to install software depends heavily on who are the target users of the software. For items such as R or python packages or software only used by a single user, a user's home or work directory would be the best choice.

For software used by an entire research group, software can be placed in group storage directories. Care must be taken to ensure File Permissions are set so the files are executable by the entire group.

If a software package would be used by more than a single research group, global installation is possible. To request this, please complete a Software Request.