| name | udales-detect |
| description | Use when users ask how to install, build, run, or test uDALES on this machine (Windows/WSL/Linux/HPC), what modules/toolchain to use, or how to detect the current environment before execution; gather environment fingerprints and route execution tasks to udales-exec. |
uDALES Detection Skill
This skill identifies the execution environment, gathers system fingerprints,
checks for site documentation, and determines which uDALES workflow is needed.
When to use
Use this skill when a user asks:
- "How do I run this here?"
- "What modules do I need?"
- "Which MPI/Python stack should I use on this system?"
- "How do I install preprocessing on my machine?"
- "Should I use Windows, WSL, local Linux, or cluster modules for this?"
- "Can you detect this environment first and then give run/build steps?"
Steps
- Run the local probe to capture a baseline fingerprint.
- Check known cluster profiles in
references/clusters.md.
- If no match, query online documentation for the host/cluster.
- Ask what the user needs:
- preprocessing and postprocessing
- solver execution
- both
- Based on the answer, direct execution work to the
udales-exec skill.
- Record new details in
references/clusters.md.
Local probe
Run:
.github/skills/udales-detect/scripts/detect_env.sh
This prints hostname, OS, module availability, mpiexec flavor, and Python paths.
Online lookup
If the cluster is unknown, search for:
- cluster name or hostname suffix (e.g.
*.imperial.ac.uk)
- module environment documentation
- MPI launcher guidance
- Python module guidance
Record any relevant links in references/sources.md.
Minimal checks
Only run lightweight checks during detection:
mpiexec --version
python3 --version
Leave build/run checks to udales-exec after the user confirms the intent.
Files to consult
docs/cluster_workflows.md
tools/build_executable.sh
tools/build_preprocessing.sh
tests/README.md
.github/skills/udales-exec/references/clusters.md