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# Writing Queue Adapters

FireWorks is intended to support multiple queueing systems. To support a new queueing system, a few functions need to be defined for that queue manager (e.g., what command is used to submit jobs?). In most cases, new queue managers can be supported with minimal effort.

## Modifying the template of the CommonAdapter

The FireWorks CommonAdapter supports several queueing engines such as PBS, SGE, and SLURM. If you want to use one of these queueing systems but make minor modifications to how the queue submission file looks, you only need to write a new template file and point your queue adapter to it.

1. Create a template file for job submission. Variables that you want to specify later should be written using the `$${var}` notation. Save this template file somewhere, e.g. as `PBS_template_custom.txt`. An example template file is given below:

       #!/bin/bash

       #PBS -l nodes=$${nnodes}:ppn=$${ppnode}
       #PBS -l walltime=$${walltime}
       #PBS -q $${queue}
       #PBS -A $${account}
       #PBS -G $${group_name}
       #PBS -N $${job_name}
       #PBS -o FW_job.out
       #PBS -e FW_job.error

       $${pre_rocket}
       cd $${launch_dir}
       $${rocket_launch}
       $${post_rocket}

       # CommonAdapter (PBS) completed writing Template

   Note

   Be sure to keep the lines involving `cd $${launch_dir}` and `$${rocket_launch}` intact. Your template file does not need to have any other variables, although the `$${queue}` variable helps FireWorks count how many jobs you have in a given queue. Also, not all variable names will need to specified in order to write a queue script, so feel free to add lines containing optional variables at this stage.

2. Find your Queue Adapter file from the queue tutorial - it should be named `my_qadapter.yaml`. Modify it so that there is an additional parameter called `_fw_template_file` that points to your new template file. In addition, add lines to set the values of variables from your template (if you leave a variable in the template undefined, the line containing it will be skipped). For example, your custom `my_qadapter.yaml` file might look like this:

       _fw_name: CommonAdapter
       _fw_q_type: PBS
       _fw_template_file: /path/to/PBS_template_custom.txt
       rocket_launch: rlaunch -w path/to/my_fworker.yaml -l path/to/my_launchpad.yaml singleshot
       nnodes: 1
       ppnode: 1
       walltime: '00:02:00'
       queue: debug
       account: null
       job_name: null
       logdir: path/to/logging
       pre_rocket: null
       post_rocket: null

3. Use this new `my_qadapter.yaml` file (with the `_fw_template_file` key specified) when using the queue launcher. The queue launcher will write scripts according to your custom template, with variables substituted according to your `my_qadapter.yaml` file.

## Writing a new queue adapter

If you need to support a new queueing system, you will change the Python code by either (i) modifying the CommonAdapter or (ii) writing a new qadapter from scratch. In either case, we suggest you contact us for help (see Contributing / Contact / Bug Reports) so that the process is as smooth and painless as possible.

### Modifying the CommonAdapter

The CommonAdapter, which supports several queueing systems, is located in `<INSTALL_DIR>/fireworks/user_objects/queue_adapters/common_adapter.py` (you can find out `<INSTALL_DIR` by typing `lpad version`). Review the code and make changes as necessary for your queue type to `commonadapter.py`. In particular, make sure to:

- Add your queue type to `supported_q_types`
- Ensure the `submit_cmd` parameter is set correctly
- Add a default template file for your queue in the same directory as `common_adapter.py`, e.g. `QUEUETYPE_template.txt`. Some examples are present in the FireWorks codebase.
- Review the remaining methods for consistency with your queue.

If all methods are implemented correctly, your new adapter should be functional and you can use it by modifying `my_launchapd.yaml`:

- Set the `_fw_name` to CommonAdapter
- Set the _fw_q_type` to your new queue type

### Writing a new adapter from scratch

If your queue is a complex entity that is different than typical queue managers (maybe a web-based submission framework), you’ll need to write a new class from scratch that extends `QueueAdapterBase` and:

- implement the `submit_to_queue()` method
- implement the `get_njobs_in_queue()` method
- set the `_fw_name` parameter to some unique String.
- set the `template_file` variable to a template file for your queue scripts
- implement the `get_script_str()` method (only in rare instances where your queue submission doesn’t involve writing a templated script, otherwise do not implement this method)

You might look at the CommonAdapter class or PBSAdapterNEWT for examples. After writing your new code, decide on a location for your queue adapter Python code and template file. The built-in queue adapters are located in `<INSTALL_DIR>/fireworks/user_objects/queue_adapters`, and FireWorks will discover your code there automatically (you can find out `<INSTALL_DIR` by typing `lpad version`). However, you can also place your queue adapter in a different Python package if you set the `ADD_USER_PACKAGES` option as in the FW config.

Again, we suggest that you contact us for help (see Contributing / Contact / Bug Reports) if you run into any problems during the process.

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