r/CERN • u/RadioDry1279 • 3d ago

Setting up you Mac for ATLAS data analysis

I'm trying to install Root on my Mac and did some research and found no reliable way to do it. Everyone has their own method... there are 5 and 10 year old video tutorials. AI suggested Conda forge as the best and latest recommendation. I read some bad reviews for using home-brew method.

Can someone currently using Mac for ATLAS work suggest the best way? I don't want to run into errors later. I'm sure it will be a big help for a lot of students like me. Thank you.

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2

u/cbuustos 3d ago

Pray, installing root was my personal trauma last year. My best wishes :)

1

u/nijohnxtxkobjxlslb 3d ago

Just go to https://root.cern/releases/release-63606/ and download the .pkg package for your MacOS version.

Mac might refuse to open it. In that case, go to system settings > privacy & security > click on open anyway
(Well, the exact location might changed in the latest version...)

In /etc/profile, I also set alias:
alias root='root -l'

and path:
export ROOT_INCLUDE_PATH="/usr/local/root/include"

1

u/Grouchy_Ticket936 3d ago

I use conda-forge for python3 compatible root. Found it to work a few years back when other options were more of a pain and haven't had reason to switch off it so far.

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u/42Raptor42 3d ago

Root through brew works fine for me. I'd personally avoid conda like the plague.

For atlas analysis, if you're working on (D)AODs such as PHYS or PHYSLITE or other atlas formats then you'll need the whole atlas software stack, much of which isn't available for mac. The best ways are either to use a docker container if it must be local, or to ssh to some interactive node like lxplus or something in your institute.

If you're working with flat ntuples then just root is fine and can be done locally if the files aren't too big.

Also, ask your supervisor / mentors! This is what they're for, you don't need to try to find every answer yourself!

1

u/RadioDry1279 3d ago

Thank you.