[pg22]

Dear OpenFOAM users,

I am pleased to announce that OpenFOAM has been successfully packaged for GNU Guix https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/.

A working prototype was presented at the recent OpenFOAM Workshop, OFW12, at Exeter University http://openfoamworkshop.org/. The package definition has been refined since then to fit more readily with the standard GNU build system that is used by GNU Guix.

There are a number of features of the GNU Guix package manager that make it attractive for OpenFOAM users. To identify a few:

1. the GNU Guix store, which contains all of the software manged by Guix, can be installed alongside any Linux operating system,
2. each installed package uses files only from the Guix store. There are no dependencies specific to the operating system,
3. multiple versions of a package can be installed and used simultaneously,
4. each user has their own independent profile, governing the choice of packages and package versions that they would like to use

The first OpenFOAM version to be packaged for GNU Guix is version 4.1. The package definition, written in a general-purpose language called Guile, can be viewed at https://www.gnu.org/software/guix/packages/o.html.


To make use of the package one needs to first install the GNU Guix package manager, then install the OpenFOAM package. Instructions are available on the website.


OpenFOAM users wishing to try out the system quickly or wishing to see a specific version packaged for GNU Guix are most welcome to be in touch. My contact details are on my company website at http://www.tourbillion-technology.com

Best regards,

Paul Garlick.