ISC26: update the basics section by alalazo · Pull Request #535 · spack/spack-tutorial

alalazo · 2026-06-16T22:55:34Z

This section has been reorganized, so that concepts are introduced in order rather than interleaved.

Structural changes:

Intro starts with a few fundamental ideas, that are illustrated in the rest of the tutorial
"The Spec Syntax" section consolidates all spec coverage into ordered subsections that build up one sigil at a time:
1. Compiler flags are treated as an aside, instead of a central piece of the tutorial
2. spack help --spec is the last subsection here
3. Doesn't show spack find to avoid back and forth
"Querying Installations" section gathers all spack find usage (including the former "Advanced spack find Usage") in one place.
"A Realistic Example" section frames the Trilinos install

Content changes:

The content has been updated for Spack v1.2 and Ubuntu 26.04.
Doesn't show cflags= but shows +ipo and build_type=Debug instead in the Variants subsection.
Doesn't show virtual versioning (no mention of mpi@3).
Removed excessively long output - in particular spack graph for trilinos.

The output was generated using:

docker pull ghcr.io/alalazo/tutorial-buildcache:isc26@sha256:366369319e0ddee78cf9c727ba8004e7aff4e38068ba4f2ee532c2bceec9168d

(see #536 for how that image was built) and editing the Makefile locally to point to that container image.

This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.).

Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find`

This follows from spack/spack-tutorial#535 Signed-off-by: Massimiliano Culpo <massimiliano.culpo@gmail.com>

kshea21

Overall I really like what you did with this section! I just left some comments on language preferences, but nothing stood out that needs to change conceptually.

kshea21 · 2026-06-19T01:03:43Z

+A Realistic Example
+-------------------
+
+Now that we know the spec syntax and how to query installations, let's put them to work on a realistic package.


Maybe knit-picking, but I don't think I like the term "realistic" here, all of the other examples were realistic installations someone could do as well

Let me know if this seems better:
8f70bdf

@kshea21 is on vacation today. Edits look good to me.

alalazo · 2026-06-19T06:36:13Z

Thanks for the review @kshea21 ! I addressed the comments and went ahead closing the ones I "just accepted".

Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov>

alecbcs

Changes look good to me. Thank you @alalazo for the in-depth review and rewrite.

* ISC26: update the basics section (#535) * Extend gitignore * basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections * Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.). * Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2 * Move high-level highlights to introduction * Minor fixes * Shorten and improve "Installing Packages" * Demote Compiler flags * Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections * Move "Querying Installations" into its own section Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find` * Add intro to "Spec Syntax" * Update output * Fix "Installing Packages" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Virtual Dependencies" * First draft * Add missing output * Polish the section * Polish the section * Temporarily disable output generation * Minor style fixes * Minor style fixes * Address review * Don't use "realistic" * Remove old output files after merge with main Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> --------- Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * ISC26: update the environments section (#542) * Extend gitignore * basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections * Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.). * Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2 * Move high-level highlights to introduction * Minor fixes * Shorten and improve "Installing Packages" * Demote Compiler flags * Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections * Move "Querying Installations" into its own section Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find` * Add intro to "Spec Syntax" * Update output * Fix "Installing Packages" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Virtual Dependencies" * First draft * Add missing output * Polish the section * Polish the section * Temporarily disable output generation * Mechanical update of the environment section * Minor fixes * Don't use a non-matching temporary environment * Shorten introduction, but maintain the same content * Improved "Working with environments" section * Improved "Working with environments" section * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added a "Configuring environments" section * Trimmed redundant section * First complete draft of the "Environments" tutorial * Minor fixes * Minor fixes * Less notes in the initial section --------- Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * ISC26: update the stacks section (#544) * Extend gitignore * basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections * Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.). * Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2 * Move high-level highlights to introduction * Minor fixes * Shorten and improve "Installing Packages" * Demote Compiler flags * Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections * Move "Querying Installations" into its own section Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find` * Add intro to "Spec Syntax" * Update output * Fix "Installing Packages" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Virtual Dependencies" * First draft * Add missing output * Polish the section * Polish the section * Temporarily disable output generation * Mechanical update of the environment section * Minor fixes * Don't use a non-matching temporary environment * Shorten introduction, but maintain the same content * Improved "Working with environments" section * Improved "Working with environments" section * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added an "Environment on disk" section This section introduces manifest and lockfile early. * Added a "Configuring environments" section * Trimmed redundant section * First complete draft of the "Environments" tutorial * Minor fixes * Minor fixes * Less notes in the initial section * Update Stacks to Ubuntu 26.04 * Add spec groups * Fix last nits * Fix last nits --------- Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * ISC26: update the packaging section (#547) * Extend gitignore * basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections * Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.). * Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2 * Move high-level highlights to introduction * Minor fixes * Shorten and improve "Installing Packages" * Demote Compiler flags * Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections * Move "Querying Installations" into its own section Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find` * Add intro to "Spec Syntax" * Update output * Fix "Installing Packages" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Virtual Dependencies" * First draft * Add missing output * Polish the section * Polish the section * Temporarily disable output generation * Minor style fixes * Minor style fixes * Address review * Don't use "realistic" * ISC26: update the Packaging section --------- Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * ISC26: update index and setup header (#548) * Extend gitignore * basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections * Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.). * Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2 * Move high-level highlights to introduction * Minor fixes * Shorten and improve "Installing Packages" * Demote Compiler flags * Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections * Move "Querying Installations" into its own section Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find` * Add intro to "Spec Syntax" * Update output * Fix "Installing Packages" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Transitive Dependencies" * Fix "Virtual Dependencies" * First draft * Add missing output * Polish the section * Polish the section * Temporarily disable output generation * Minor style fixes * Minor style fixes * Address review * Don't use "realistic" * ISC26: update index and setup --------- Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * Re-enable Output Generation CI/CD on PRs (#543) I've tested the CI in this PR fully and rebased off of the latest commits to main. It adds back the CI/CD check to ensure that future edits must pass the checks before being able to be merged so that we don't accidentally break the tutorial this weekend before giving it on Monday. --------- Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> Co-authored-by: Massimiliano Culpo <massimiliano.culpo@gmail.com> * build(deps): bump actions/checkout from 4.1.7 to 7.0.0 (#551) Bumps [actions/checkout](https://github.com/actions/checkout) from 4.1.7 to 7.0.0. - [Release notes](https://github.com/actions/checkout/releases) - [Changelog](https://github.com/actions/checkout/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) - [Commits](actions/checkout@v4.1.7...9c091bb) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: actions/checkout dependency-version: 7.0.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump pytest from 9.1.0 to 9.1.1 (#558) Bumps [pytest](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest) from 9.1.0 to 9.1.1. - [Release notes](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/releases) - [Changelog](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/blob/main/CHANGELOG.rst) - [Commits](pytest-dev/pytest@9.1.0...9.1.1) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: pytest dependency-version: 9.1.1 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-patch ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump actions/download-artifact from 4.1.8 to 8.0.1 (#556) Bumps [actions/download-artifact](https://github.com/actions/download-artifact) from 4.1.8 to 8.0.1. - [Release notes](https://github.com/actions/download-artifact/releases) - [Commits](actions/download-artifact@fa0a91b...3e5f45b) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: actions/download-artifact dependency-version: 8.0.1 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump docker/setup-qemu-action from 3.2.0 to 4.1.0 (#554) Bumps [docker/setup-qemu-action](https://github.com/docker/setup-qemu-action) from 3.2.0 to 4.1.0. - [Release notes](https://github.com/docker/setup-qemu-action/releases) - [Commits](docker/setup-qemu-action@49b3bc8...0611638) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: docker/setup-qemu-action dependency-version: 4.1.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump docker/build-push-action from 6.9.0 to 7.2.0 (#553) Bumps [docker/build-push-action](https://github.com/docker/build-push-action) from 6.9.0 to 7.2.0. - [Release notes](https://github.com/docker/build-push-action/releases) - [Commits](docker/build-push-action@4f58ea7...f9f3042) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: docker/build-push-action dependency-version: 7.2.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump docker/login-action from 3.3.0 to 4.2.0 (#552) Bumps [docker/login-action](https://github.com/docker/login-action) from 3.3.0 to 4.2.0. - [Release notes](https://github.com/docker/login-action/releases) - [Commits](docker/login-action@9780b0c...650006c) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: docker/login-action dependency-version: 4.2.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump ruamel-yaml from 0.18.15 to 0.19.1 (#555) Bumps ruamel-yaml from 0.18.15 to 0.19.1. --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: ruamel-yaml dependency-version: 0.19.1 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-minor ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * ISC26: small typo and grammar fixes in env and stacks sections (#559) Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> * build(deps): bump isort from 7.0.0 to 8.0.1 (#557) Bumps [isort](https://github.com/PyCQA/isort) from 7.0.0 to 8.0.1. - [Release notes](https://github.com/PyCQA/isort/releases) - [Changelog](https://github.com/PyCQA/isort/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md) - [Commits](PyCQA/isort@7.0.0...8.0.1) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: isort dependency-version: 8.0.1 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-major ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com> * build(deps): bump docutils from 0.21.2 to 0.23 Bumps [docutils](https://github.com/rtfd/recommonmark) from 0.21.2 to 0.23. - [Changelog](https://github.com/readthedocs/recommonmark/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md) - [Commits](https://github.com/rtfd/recommonmark/commits) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: docutils dependency-version: '0.23' dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-minor ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> --------- Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com> Co-authored-by: Massimiliano Culpo <massimiliano.culpo@gmail.com> Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov> Co-authored-by: Alec Scott <hi@alecbcs.com> Co-authored-by: dependabot[bot] <49699333+dependabot[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

alalazo added 20 commits June 16, 2026 09:11

Extend gitignore

56c58e3

basics: split "Installing Packages" into subsections

c428650

Add a paragraph explaining the overall spack architecture

11a3bbb

This is so that audience is already aware of where we are headin into, when we introduce the various pieces (hash, store, etc.).

Update releases/v1.1 -> releases/v1.2

3bbae8f

Move high-level highlights to introduction

9468048

Minor fixes

0497b30

Shorten and improve "Installing Packages"

e2cb0da

Demote Compiler flags

074848a

Reorder "Spec Syntax" subsections

d2bff02

Move "Querying Installations" into its own section

5b6f960

Also, consolidate all the use of `spack find`

Add intro to "Spec Syntax"

d047d4b

Update output

ebc16a3

Fix "Installing Packages"

87c3593

Fix "Transitive Dependencies"

31d6044

Fix "Transitive Dependencies"

d0dd491

Fix "Virtual Dependencies"

7f90404

First draft

6242ad4

Add missing output

8bb5b6e

Polish the section

1586d86

Polish the section

dba308b

alalazo mentioned this pull request Jun 17, 2026

Update the specs used in the tutorial spack/spack-packages#5242

Merged

Temporarily disable output generation

54b8a19

alalazo marked this pull request as ready for review June 17, 2026 13:11

haampie pushed a commit to spack/spack-packages that referenced this pull request Jun 17, 2026

Update the specs used in the tutorial (#5242)

2985050

This follows from spack/spack-tutorial#535 Signed-off-by: Massimiliano Culpo <massimiliano.culpo@gmail.com>

alalazo mentioned this pull request Jun 18, 2026

ISC26: update the environments section #542

Merged

alalazo added 2 commits June 18, 2026 16:11

Minor style fixes

261b30a

Minor style fixes

96dd1d2

alalazo mentioned this pull request Jun 18, 2026

ISC26: update the stacks section #544

Merged

kshea21 reviewed Jun 19, 2026

View reviewed changes

Address review

0fac538

Don't use "realistic"

8f70bdf

alalazo requested a review from kshea21 June 19, 2026 06:58

This was referenced Jun 19, 2026

ISC26: update the packaging section #547

Merged

ISC26: update index and setup header #548

Merged

alalazo and others added 2 commits June 19, 2026 11:40

Merge branch 'main' into isc26/basics-update

6bfba6d

Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov>

Remove old output files after merge with main

5ab18b8

Signed-off-by: Alec Scott <alec@llnl.gov>

alecbcs approved these changes Jun 19, 2026

View reviewed changes

alecbcs merged commit 94b0d95 into main Jun 19, 2026
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alecbcs deleted the isc26/basics-update branch June 19, 2026 18:48

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alalazo commented Jun 16, 2026 •

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alalazo commented Jun 16, 2026 •

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