Thursday 10 April 2025
The computing landscape for high-energy physics is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for faster, more efficient, and more sustainable processing of vast amounts of data. The JENA Computing Initiative has published a comprehensive white paper outlining the challenges and opportunities facing researchers in this field.
One of the primary concerns is the growing complexity of software development, which is becoming increasingly difficult to manage as experiments generate ever-larger datasets. The white paper highlights the need for better software management practices, including version control systems and automated testing frameworks, to ensure that complex codebases can be maintained and updated efficiently.
Another key issue is the increasing importance of heterogeneous architectures in high-energy physics computing. As processing power continues to outstrip traditional CPU-based systems, researchers are turning to GPUs, FPGAs, and other specialized hardware to accelerate their simulations and analyses. The white paper emphasizes the need for software that can adapt seamlessly to these diverse environments, without requiring significant rewrites or optimizations.
The JENA Computing Initiative is also advocating for a greater focus on open-source software development, citing the benefits of community-driven projects in terms of speed, flexibility, and sustainability. This approach is particularly well-suited to high-energy physics research, where collaborations often involve multiple institutions and countries.
To support these efforts, the white paper proposes a range of initiatives, including the development of standardized software frameworks, improved training programs for researchers, and increased investment in research software engineering. The authors also emphasize the importance of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles in data management, advocating for more robust and sustainable approaches to data sharing and preservation.
The white paper is a call to action, urging the high-energy physics community to come together and address these pressing challenges. It highlights the need for collaboration between researchers, software developers, and computing experts to create more effective and efficient workflows, and to ensure that the field can continue to thrive in the face of increasingly complex and demanding computational requirements.
The JENA Computing Initiative is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives in addressing these challenges. By bringing together experts from across the high-energy physics community, the initiative aims to drive innovation and progress, and to create a more sustainable future for research computing.
Cite this article: “Unlocking the Power of Open Science: A Call to Action for HEP Computing and Software Communities”, The Science Archive, 2025.
High-Energy Physics, Computing, Data Management, Software Development, Heterogeneous Architectures, Gpus, Fpgas, Open-Source, Research Software Engineering, Fair Principles
