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Configure Executioncourse

  • Course summary


    Configure Execution is a hands-on introduction to adapting Nextflow pipeline execution to different compute environments.

    Working through goal-oriented exercises, you will learn how to switch software packaging technology, select an execution platform, control compute resource allocations and retries, and bundle configuration into switchable profiles.

    You will take away the skills and confidence to configure Nextflow pipeline execution like a pro.

  • Additional information


    Technical requirements

    You will need a GitHub account OR a local installation of Nextflow. Our training courses are compatible with Nextflow version 25.10.2 or later and require the use of the v2 parser. See Environment options for more details.

    Learning objectives
    • Switch software packaging technology between Docker and Conda
    • Select an execution platform and understand how Nextflow adapts task execution to it
    • Control compute resource allocations, and automatically retry tasks that fail
    • Define and combine profiles to switch between preset configurations
    Audience & prerequisites
    • Audience: This course is designed for learners who already know how to launch local Nextflow pipelines and want to configure execution in more depth.
    • Skills: Some familiarity with the command line is assumed.
    • Courses: Must have completed Nextflow Run or otherwise be comfortable running a local pipeline with nextflow run.

Course overview

This course is hands-on, and builds on the skills covered in Nextflow Run.

You will take the same multi-step pipeline from that course and progressively adapt its configuration to different compute environments, then bundle everything into profiles you can switch between at runtime.

Lesson plan

Course chapter Summary Estimated duration
Part 1: Adapt to your compute environment Switch software packaging technology and select an execution platform 20 mins
Part 2: Manage compute resources and failures Control resource allocations, and automatically retry tasks that fail 15 mins
Part 3: Use profiles to switch configurations Define and combine profiles, and inspect the fully resolved configuration 15 mins

By the end of this course, you will be comfortable configuring Nextflow pipelines for a range of compute environments, and switching between them with minimal hassle.

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