.. _ doc.environment:

**MARS Environment**
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**MARS is used through a working environment based on C-shell scripts** in order to resolved frequently observed problems like :

  * Difficulty in following MARS evolutions which led to different MARS codes  
  * Numerical developments and configurations which must be performed following a few usual rules, otherwise they get lost


**Goals of MARS environment**
  * Management of MARS versions
  * Easier tracking of configuration changes
  * Easier keeping up to date of configurations
  * Direct visualization of user's modifications
  * Sharing of configurations
  * Saving of disk space

**The complete MARS code** (sources, namelist, environment, documentation and netcdf libraries) is located in a directory defined by the environment variable **$HOMEMARS**

**Users**
  * Run the code for personal configuration or use test cases
  * Improve the code (numerical developments…) 
  * Report encountered problems or needs
  * Follow code improvements, keep configurations up to date

**Reference**
  * MARS environment is originally derived from utility named Drakkar Config Manager and developped by J. M. Molines and S. Theetten.
  * Similar environments are used with MARS code, NEMO code (DRAKKAR projects and followings) and SYMPHONIE code (soon).

.. toctree::
    :maxdepth: 2
    
    doc.environment.why
    doc.environment.setup
    doc.envir_summary
    doc.envir_commands
    doc.envir_newconfig
    doc.envir_recovconfig
    doc.envir_updateconfig