FirecREST Hackathon: Automating Your Workflow with FirecREST

Description

Modern computational research increasingly relies on automated workflows to manage complex simulations, data movement and analysis pipelines. In HPC environments, automation can help improve reproducibility, reduce manual intervention, and simplify the coordination of tasks across computing and storage resources. At the same time, integrating HPC systems into external services, workflow managers, and research platforms often remains challenging due to the complexity of traditional HPC interfaces.

FirecREST addresses these challenges by providing a RESTful API for accessing HPC systems and services. Developed at CSCS, FirecREST enables users to interact programmatically with computing and storage resources using standard web technologies. Through the API, users can submit and monitor jobs, transfer and manage files, query system information, and integrate HPC resources into automated workflows and external applications.

This hackathon will provide participants with an opportunity to explore how FirecREST can be applied to their own computational workflows and research use cases. Participants are encouraged to bring a workflow, tool, or automation challenge they are interested in developing further during the event.

Attendees will work in small teams, supported by tutors and developers familiar with FirecREST and HPC workflow design. The event will combine short introductory sessions with collaborative hands-on work, allowing participants to exchange ideas, experiment with solutions, and receive direct technical support throughout the hackathon.

Target Audience

The hackathon is open to researchers, developers, data scientists, and HPC users with an interest in workflow automation, infrastructure integration, and reproducible computing. Familiarity with Python, APIs, or workflow tools is welcome, but not strictly required.

Schedule

The event will take place in Central European Summer Time. The Hackathon will be held  from 10:30 to 17:00, with 1 hour lunch break. The afternoon session will have a 30-minutes break.

Tutors

Ivano Bonesana (Software Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)
Juan Pablo Dorsch (Senior Software Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)
Eirini Koutsaniti (Software Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)
Francesco Pagnamenta (Software Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)
Elia Palme (Senior Software Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)
Rafael Sarmiento (HPC Application Engineer, CSCS / ETH Zurich)

Application Process

If you are interested in attending the hackathon, please complete this survey by August 31, 2026  (Anywhere on Earth). Your answers will help us understand the project or workflow you would like to work on during the hackathon so that the tutors can prepare in advance.

Applicants will be notified about acceptance or rejection of their application by October 5, 2026.

Please do not make any travel arrangements before receiving confirmation of your participation.

Registration Fee

Course Fee: CHF 80

The registration fee includes lunch and coffee breaks.

Directions

The hackathon will take place at the OAT ETH Zürich building (Andreasstrasse 5, 8050 Zürich) in meeting rooms S15 and S16 on the 14th floor.

From Oerlikon railway station, you can reach the Andreasturm on foot (see route on map).

Inquiries

Please contact Juan Dorsch (jdorsch@cscs.ch) for questions related to the course content and info@cscs.ch for questions related to the event logistics.

We look forward to receiving your application!