The Changing Role of RSEs over the Lifetime of Parsl

TL;DR

This paper discusses the evolution of research software engineers' roles throughout the seven-year development of the Parsl project, highlighting four distinct types of RSEs crucial at different phases.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of four RSE roles over the project's lifecycle, offering insights applicable to other research software initiatives.

Findings

Identification of four RSE roles across project phases

Insights into RSE contributions over time

Framework applicable to other research projects

Abstract

This position paper describes the Parsl open source research software project and its various phases over seven years. It defines four types of research software engineers (RSEs) who have been important to the project in those phases; we believe this is also applicable to other research software projects.