snakemake

Automate creation and debugging of Snakemake workflows for SLURM-based HPC.

Updated Jun 13, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/sahuno/llm_configs --skill snakemake
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: snakemake
Source: https://github.com/sahuno/llm_configs/tree/main/claude/skills/snakemake
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/sahuno/llm_configs --skill snakemake

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Snakemake on HPC often requires careful configuration to achieve reproducible, scalable workflows under SLURM with proper container usage, resource management, and error handling. It provides a standardized approach to building, debugging, and running per-sample, DAG-driven bioinformatics pipelines with SLURM executor plugins.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Snakemake 9+ workflow templates with SLURM integration and container support
  • Per-sample DAGs, reproducible outputs, run metadata
  • Debugging patterns for common Snakemake/SLURM pitfalls, profiling, and dry-run validation

Quick Start

Run Snakemake with a config.yaml and Snakefile on a SLURM cluster to deploy a per-sample DAG with containers and a dry-run.

Frequently Asked Questions about snakemake

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I build reproducible Snakemake workflows for SLURM HPC?

You can build reproducible Snakemake workflows for SLURM HPC by using Snakemake 9+ with slurm executor plugins. This involves creating per-sample DAGs, pinning container images, and using run_snakemake.sh templates to organize multi-sample bioinformatics pipeline runs.

What is the best way to integrate containers in a Snakemake pipeline on SLURM?

Integrating containers in a Snakemake pipeline on SLURM requires pinning container images within the workflow definition. This ensures reproducible execution across the HPC cluster by enforcing consistent software environments for every step of the DAG.

Why does my Snakemake workflow fail when submitting jobs to a SLURM cluster?

Snakemake workflow failures on SLURM clusters often stem from missing slurm executor plugins or improper resource management. You can resolve these by applying debugging patterns for common pitfalls, validating resource requests, and performing dry-run checks before submission.

Do I need Snakemake 9+ to run bioinformatics pipelines with SLURM executor plugins?

Yes, Snakemake 9+ is required to properly utilize slurm executor plugins for HPC execution. This version ensures compatibility with the standardized approach for building per-sample DAGs and managing reproducible containerized runs on SLURM.

Can I use a dry-run to validate a per-sample DAG before executing on HPC?

Yes, you can use Snakemake dry-run checks to validate a per-sample DAG before executing it on HPC. This process verifies the workflow structure, ensures run metadata is correct, and identifies potential errors without submitting jobs to the SLURM cluster.

How do I organize multi-sample bioinformatics pipelines in Snakemake?

You organize multi-sample bioinformatics pipelines in Snakemake by building per-sample DAGs and utilizing run_snakemake.sh templates. This method enforces run metadata and reproducible outputs, ensuring scalable workflow execution on SLURM-based HPC systems.