In the field of computational science and engineering, workflows often entail the application of various software, for instance, for simulation or pre- and postprocessing. Typically, these components have to be combined in arbitrarily complex workflows to address a specific research question. In order for peer researchers to understand, reproduce and (re)use the findings of a scientific publication, several challenges have to be addressed. For instance, the employed workflow has to be automated and information on all used software must be available for a reproduction of the results. Moreover, the results must be traceable and the workflow documented and readable to allow for external verification and greater trust. In this paper, existing workflow management systems (WfMSs) are discussed regarding their suitability for describing, reproducing and reusing scientific workflows. To this end, a set of general requirements for WfMSswere deduced from user stories that we deem relevant in the domain of computational science and engineering. On the basis of an exemplary workflow implementation, publicly hosted at GitHub (https:// this http URL), a selection of different WfMSs is compared with respect to these requirements, to support fellow scientists in identifying the WfMSs that best suit their requirements.
Research software has become a central asset in academic research. It optimizes existing and enables new research methods, implements and embeds research knowledge, and constitutes an essential research product in itself. Research software must be sustainable in order to understand, replicate, reproduce, and build upon existing research or conduct new research effectively. In other words, software must be available, discoverable, usable, and adaptable to new needs, both now and in the future. Research software therefore requires an environment that supports sustainability.
Hence, a change is needed in the way research software development and maintenance are currently motivated, incentivized, funded, structurally and infrastructurally supported, and legally treated. Failing to do so will threaten the quality and validity of research. In this paper, we identify challenges for research software sustainability in Germany and beyond, in terms of motivation, selection, research software engineering personnel, funding, infrastructure, and legal aspects. Besides researchers, we specifically address political and academic decision-makers to increase awareness of the importance and needs of sustainable research software practices. In particular, we recommend strategies and measures to create an environment for sustainable research software, with the ultimate goal to ensure that software-driven research is valid, reproducible and sustainable, and that software is recognized as a first class citizen in research. This paper is the outcome of two workshops run in Germany in 2019, at deRSE19 - the first International Conference of Research Software Engineers in Germany - and a dedicated DFG-supported follow-up workshop in Berlin.