petsc

What this repository is for

This GitHub repository is described in its README as a place to host the PETSc numerical library package, with the project's home page given as petsc.org. The description field in the repository metadata states plainly that it is a mirror of the main development repository at gitlab.com/petsc/petsc. The README itself is very short and does not describe the internals of the library or list its routines. Instead it acts as a signpost: it tells a visitor where to download the software, where to find install instructions, and where to go for contribution guidelines and community contact. The download link points to the release page on petsc.org, and the install link points to the install page on the same site. Because this is a mirror, the day to day source history lives on the GitLab side, and the GitHub copy exists so that GitHub-based discovery and cloning still reach the project. The README mentions a CONTRIBUTING file for contribution guidelines and a CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md for expected behavior. For direct contact it lists the GitLab issues page, a maintenance email at petsc-maint@mcs.anl.gov, and a community mailing list page. The tone of the README is administrative rather than technical, which matches its role as a redirect to the canonical project resources. A visitor who arrives through GitHub therefore gets oriented quickly: the three links for download, install, and community are the practical next steps, and the mirror does not pretend to be a substitute for the project's own documentation and release process.

How to get set up

The setup instructions in the README are minimal by design. It tells the reader to use the download link for obtaining PETSc and the install link for setup steps, both on petsc.org. There is no build command or dependency list in the README body, because the detailed instructions are maintained on the project website rather than in this mirror's README. The contribution guidelines point to a CONTRIBUTING file in the repository, and the community contact section points to the GitLab issues tracker, the maintenance email, and the mailing list page on petsc.org. The README also references a CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md file so contributors know the expected standards of behavior. A visitor who clones this GitHub mirror gets the repository structure and these pointers, but the actual source and the full build documentation are reached through the links the README provides. This arrangement is typical of a mirror: the GitHub side keeps the project discoverable and lets GitHub users file issues or browse, while the authoritative development, releases, and documentation remain on the project's own sites. The README's job is to route the user correctly rather than to duplicate the website content. Because the text stays short, a new visitor should not expect build instructions or a feature list here, and should follow the install link for those details, treating this repository as a pointer rather than the source of truth for how PETSc is built and used.

Community and conduct

The README's remaining content is about how to engage with the PETSc project and its community. It lists three contact routes: the GitLab issues page for bug reports and discussions, the petsc-maint@mcs.anl.gov email for direct maintenance contact, and the community mailing list page linked from petsc.org. These give a user several ways to reach the maintainers depending on whether the matter is a code issue, a direct question, or a general community topic. The README also points to a CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md file, signaling that participation in the project is expected to follow a stated set of behavioral standards. Contribution guidelines are referenced through a CONTRIBUTING file rather than spelled out inline, which keeps the README short and pushes detailed process to a dedicated document. Because this repository is a mirror of gitlab.com/petsc/petsc, the community touchpoints named in the README are the same ones used by the main project, and the GitHub mirror does not introduce a separate governance path. The overall impression from the README is that the repository is a lightweight GitHub presence for a mature scientific computing library whose real home is the PETSc website and GitLab, and the text exists mainly to hand visitors the right links. The README references a CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md file so participants know the expected standards, and it points to a CONTRIBUTING file for those who want to help with the library. Because this is a mirror, the authoritative source history and releases remain on the GitLab side, and the GitHub copy is best used for discovery and issue filing rather than as the system of record for the code.

Editorial conclusion

The repository is a mirror of the PETSc project and carries no SPDX license field in the metadata, with its most recent commit on 2026-08-26. The mirror is hosted at github.com/petsc/petsc.