Browser-based access streamlines interactive workflows across diverse systems and user communities
Open OnDemand is expanding access to high‑performance computing (HPC) at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) by offering researchers a simple, browser‑based way to tap into powerful computational resources. Instead of navigating complex command‑line tools, users can launch interactive applications—such as Jupyter, TensorFlow, and VS Code—directly through their web browser. This intuitive experience makes advanced computing more approachable for researchers across disciplines and institutions. Today, Open OnDemand supports thousands of users across multiple NCSA systems, helping accelerate discovery, streamline workflows, and broaden participation in computational research nationwide.
The Center for Artificial Intelligence Innovation (CAII) at NCSA played a foundational role in demonstrating the impact of Open OnDemand by pioneering its early deployment on HAL, an NSF‑funded machine‑learning–focused computing system. HAL was designed to support researchers who needed access to GPU‑accelerated computing but who might not have extensive command‑line experience. By introducing Open OnDemand on HAL in 2019, CAII showed how a web‑based interface could empower scholars in fields ranging from biology to the digital humanities. This successful early adoption provided a model for expansion across NCSA’s broader computing ecosystem and helped establish Open OnDemand as a core gateway for modern, accessible HPC.
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