Choosing model component versions

[aekiss]

We should put some thought into how we choose component versions.

I suggest for initial testing we should match what @dougiesquire's CIME-built executables used, to see if we can resolve all issues like #21. When that is all working we should consider upgrading to newer versions.

Any comments/objections?

[micaeljtoliveira]

I suggest for initial testing we should match what @dougiesquire's CIME-built executables used, to see if we can resolve all issues like #21. When that is all working we should consider upgrading to newer versions.

After bumping into a similar issue (see #31), I would strongly support the suggestion of starting with exactly the same versions as @dougiesquire's CIME-built executables. This is straightforward to do, except for the CDEPS component, as recent changes to support JRA55-do introduce some conflicts.

Regarding the strategy to update, I suggest that we keep following CESM for while, at least until we need to incorporate new features that are not available yet in CESM.

@aekiss @dougiesquire What do you think?

[aekiss]

By "following CESM" do you mean keeping up to date with the latest CESM, i.e. a strategy like this?

1. build exes (MOM6-CICE6, then MOM6-CICE6-WW3 and CICE6-WW3) with exactly the same component versions as @dougiesquire's CIME-built executables, and working configs with the same CESM inputs
2. configs (MOM6-CICE6, then MOM6-CICE6-WW3 and CICE6-WW3) with exes from step 1, but inputs from ACCESS-OM2
3. set up CI
4. upgrade to components used in latest CESM; get exes and configs working again
5. upgrade to more recent model components if needed for new features

@ezhilsabareesh8 - sounds like you may need to modify your JRA55-do support to be compatible with step 2.

[micaeljtoliveira]

Sorry for not been entirely clear. What I meant be "following CESM" was only regarding step 4. That would be assuming we agree on the starting point (steps 1-2).

Regarding the starting point, we could also create a version that is identical to the CESM version used by @dougiesquire and tag it in the repo, but only use it for reference. Then, immediately update CDEPS, leaving everything else unchanged.
That way the JRA55-do support would not need to be changed.