The Analysis Tutorial week is a set of extended, intense tutorials primarily intended for young members, aimed at getting them ready to start as efficiently as possible.
For the first time we are organizing this week in conjunction with LHCb: the first two days will feature mixed classes with common basic topics, whereas the remaining three days will be dedicated to ALICE-specific topics.
Topics covered
- Use Bash as Linux shell (with LHCb)
- Understand and use Git as version control tool (with LHCb)
- Write basic Python code (with LHCb)
- Install and develop ALICE software on your laptop with aliBuild
- Write and run your analysis from the grounds up
- Use GitHub Pull Requests to contribute to ALICE software
- Debug and profile C++ code using popular tools
- Manage memory efficiently in your C++ code with smart pointers
- Improve your control over analysis runs with nittygriddy
- Understand the ALICE data flow from raw data to analysis objects
All topics are covered in the form of classes with hands-on sessions. On Thursday evening we will have a social event.
Remote participation
The event will be broadcast on Vidyo, but due to the hands-on nature of the event, remote participants will not be able to interact with the classes. We really encourage you to come in person. A public Mattermost chatroom will be used to collect questions, and if they are of general interest they will get an answer from the teachers in the classroom.
Prerequisites - Read This!
Our tutorials are organized in the form of hands-on sessions. Therefore we expect you to bring your own laptop. We have enough outlets, so bring your power adapter too, but just in case it's better if your laptop is fully charged.
Operating system
We do not support the Windows operating system, so make sure you have:
- Linux (an updated and recent version of, e.g., Ubuntu or Fedora)
- macOS (we only support El Capitan, Sierra and High Sierra)
If you have Windows, notice that you can use Linux in a virtual machine, if you don't want to install it alongside.
CERN account and ALICE membership
Make sure you have a CERN account too that you can use to access lxplus.cern.ch via SSH. Try logging in by doing:
ssh yourcernaccount@lxplus.cern.ch
using your CERN password and see if it works. Try also to access the following Web page:
You'll be asked for your CERN username and password and the page will display if you are correctly registered as ALICE member. If you are not, please contact the organization.
Grid certificate
A so-called "Grid certificate" is also required for our analysis and Grid tutorials. You must obtain this certificate and register it to ALICE, see here for the instructions.
The fastest way to obtain a certificate is from CERN, the procedure is automated if you have a CERN account (more details on the instructions page).
CERN GitLab
If you are correctly registered as an ALICE member (see above!), you should connect with your Web browser to the following page:
It is sufficient you click on the link, and provide your CERN username and password if requested. You don't need to do anything else: the first time you navigate to the CERN GitLab Web pages you will be added to a list of GitLab ALICE users we use to restrict access to certain software components. Since this process may take up to 24 hours it is essential you do it before coming to the Analysis Tutorial.
ALICE software installation
Software installation will be covered as one of the Tutorial topics on Wednesday. If you don't have any ALICE software installation on your computer, worry not: we will perform the software installation together on Wednesday and we will make sure that everybody has our software stack installed by the end of the day.
Reception and payment
Reception will take place at 6-2-024 (for those not accustomed to CERN numbering, this is building number 6, 2nd floor, room 24). If you click on the room link you will find exactly where it is.
- Event will start at 10am
- We will collect payments from 9am
Registration fee is 25 CHF. We only accept Swiss Francs.
You can withdraw Swiss Francs at the UBS ATMs located at the main buildings inside the campus. Please try to come with the exact amount :-)
A receipt will be provided upon payment.
