ComputationPraktiken

ComputationPraktiken is a concept used to describe systematic approaches to computational work across disciplines. It emphasizes how algorithms are designed, implemented, tested, debugged, and shared. The term is common in German-speaking academia and industry, where practitioners discuss best practices for producing reliable and reusable software for computational tasks.

Scope and components: It encompasses algorithm design, software engineering practices, data management, numerical reliability, benchmarking, and reproducibility. Core principles include reproducibility, transparency, modularity, documentation, and portability across hardware and software environments. Methods: literate programming, executable documentation, computational notebooks, workflow orchestration, version control, unit and integration testing, and peer review of code and data.

Impact and applications: Used in research to facilitate verification and collaboration; in education to teach proper computational methods; in industry to improve product reliability and auditability. Tools commonly associated: version control systems, containerization, workflow managers, and notebook environments. Challenges include managing dependencies, ensuring long-term availability of data and code, and balancing performance with accessibility.

Relation to other fields: Intersects with computer science, data science, scientific computing, software engineering, and numerical analysis. Related topics include reproducible research and software sustainability.

Origin and usage: The phrase is used variably and is not tied to a single organization; it functions as a descriptor for a set of practices rather than a formal discipline.