Discover High-Performance Computing

High-Performance Computing (HPC) is the use of supercomputers and computer clusters to solve

computational problems that are too large or complex for traditional laptops and desktop

computers. HPC is widely used in fields such as finance, earth observation, materials science, and

data science/machine learning. This beginner-friendly course introduces the fundamentals of HPC

through practical examples and hands-on exercises. Participants will learn what HPC systems are,

how they are used in different fields, and gain their first experience running simple programs on a

supercomputer.

The course is designed for first-time HPC users, including data analysts, engineers, researchers, IT

professionals, STEM students, and anyone interested in exploring HPC capabilities and applications.

No prior experience with HPC or programming is required, although participants should be

comfortable with basic computer tasks, following technical instructions, and reasoning logically

about simple problems. By the end of the course, participants will be able to connect to a

supercomputer, navigate its environment, execute simple programs, and identify how HPC can be

applied to their own work, as well as plan next steps in their HPC learning journey.

 Linux command-line essentials

 Serial vs. parallel computing

 Basics of HPC architecture

 HPC applications and use cases

 Accessing and navigating an HPC system

 Introduction to HPC job schedulers

 Interactive vs. batch jobs

 Environment modules

 Running your first programs on an HPC system

On completion of this course, participants will be able to:

 Identify problems that can benefit from HPC

 Log in to an HPC system using the Linux command line

 Navigate the HPC environment, including job scheduling and environment modules

 Execute simple programs on an HPC system

The course combines theoretical inputs with real-world examples and hands-on exercises.

Participants work on a real supercomputer, navigating its environment, exploring job scheduling

and environment modules, and executing simple programs.

Course materials include step-by-step exercise instructions and templates, curated HPC use cases,

and cheat sheets summarizing Linux commands, job scheduler syntax, and environment modules.

Participants leave with practical experience using an HPC system, a clear understanding of HPC

applications, and a foundation to continue their HPC learning journey through follow-up courses or

self-study.