GenApp is a framework for rapidly building and deploying graphical front ends for underlying computational modules. GenApp builds full featured applications on an extensible variety of web and local GUI-based targets. GenApp works by reading a collection of definition files which guide the assembly of code fragments to output the application. In particular, GenApp can build fully functioning science gateways with a rich set of features. Science gateways built with GenApp can utilize OAuth2 for users to register and log on with XSEDE, Google or other credentials. Underlying jobs can run on a variety of resources including direct execution via ssh, elastically via OpenStack, on queue-managed resources via Apache Airavata, and newly in Containers locally and via Abaco. GenApp is currently being successfully used as the generator of multiple production science gateways. Abaco is an NSF-funded web service and distributed computing platform providing functions-as-a-service (FaaS) to the research computing community. Abaco implements functions using the Actor Model of concurrent computation. This tutorial will be presented in two 90 minutes segments. The first will cover practical usage of advanced user interface methods. The second will cover GenApp execution methods, in particular building containers from GenApp modules and running jobs in containers locally and via Abaco.
Skill level: Although this tutorial’s skill level is listed as “Intermediate," beginners should consider taking advantage of our on-line GenApp basics tutorial and available interactive training described under prerequisites.
Prerequisites: Participants should bring a laptop with an SSH client and modern web browser installed. Working knowledge of some text editor under Linux is required, such as nano, vi or emacs. The instructors will arrange for students to have access to cloud based training accounts. It is expected for attendees to familiarize themselves with the material covered in the GenApp basics tutorial available at http://genapp.rocks/learn. On-line training will be available beforehand to assist attendees with the GenApp basics, if requested. For more information on additional training or to ask any questions, please subscribe to the users’ mailing list at http://genapp.rocks/join. For the second session, participants are requested to additionally setup a Docker account. You can do this at https://docker.com and clicking “Sign in” near the top right. Second session participants are also requested to setup a TACC account. You can do this at https://portal.tacc.utexas.edu and clicking “Sign in” at the top right. Follow the instructions under “Don’t have a TACC Account?”.
History: This tutorial builds upon the Gateways 2016 and Gateways 2018 tutorials. (The Gateways 2016 tutorial is available on-line, http://genapp.rocks/learn). The first 90-minute session is a repeat of that provided in the Gateways 2018 tutorial. The second 90 minute session contains all new material.
