Ubuntu Manpage: module - command interface to the Modules package

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Provided by: environment-modules_5.4.0-1_amd64

NAME

       module - command interface to the Modules package

SYNOPSIS

       module [switches] [sub-command [sub-command-args]]

DESCRIPTION

module is a user interface to the Modules package. The Modules package provides for the dynamic
modification of the user's environment via modulefiles.

Each modulefile contains the information needed to configure the shell for an application. Once the
Modules package is initialized, the environment can be modified on a per-module basis using the module
command which interprets modulefiles. Typically modulefiles instruct the module command to alter or set
shell environment variables such as PATH, MANPATH, etc. Modulefiles may be shared by many users on a
system and users may have their own set to supplement or replace the shared modulefiles.

The modulefiles are added to and removed from the current environment by the user. The environment
changes contained in a modulefile can be summarized through the module command as well. If no arguments
are given, a summary of the module usage and sub-commands are shown.

The action for the module command to take is described by the sub-command and its associated arguments.

Package Initialization
The Modules package and the module command are initialized when a shell-specific initialization script is
sourced into the shell. The script executes the autoinit sub-command of the modulecmd.tcl program located
in /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu for the corresponding shell. The output of this execution is evaluated by
shell which creates the module command as either an alias or function and creates Modules environment
variables.

During this initialization process, if the Modules environment is found undefined (when both MODULEPATH
and LOADEDMODULES are found either unset or empty), the modulespath and initrc configuration files
located in /etc/environment-modules are evaluated if present and following this order. modulespath file
contains the list of modulepaths to enable during initialization. In this file, the modulepaths are
separated by newline or colon characters. initrc is a modulefile that defines during initialization the
modulepaths to enable, the modules to load and the module configuration to apply.

During the initialization process, if the Modules environment is found defined a module refresh is
automatically applied to restore in the current environment all non-persistent components set by loaded
modules.

The module alias or function executes the modulecmd.tcl program and has the shell evaluate the command's
output. The first argument to modulecmd.tcl specifies the type of shell.

The initialization scripts are kept in /usr/share/modules/init/<shell> where <shell> is the name of the
sourcing shell. For example, a C Shell user sources the /usr/share/modules/init/csh script. The sh, csh,
tcsh, bash, ksh, zsh, fish and cmd shells are supported by modulecmd.tcl. In addition, python, perl,
ruby, tcl, cmake, r and lisp "shells" are supported which writes the environment changes to stdout as
python, perl, ruby, tcl, lisp, r or cmake code.

Initialization may also be performed by directly calling the autoinit sub-command of the modulecmd.tcl
program.

A ml alias or function may also be defined at initialization time if enabled (see MODULES_ML section). ml
is a handy frontend leveraging all module command capabilities with less character typed. See ml for
detailed information.

Examples of initialization
C Shell initialization (and derivatives):

source /usr/share/modules/init/csh
module load modulefile modulefile ...

Bourne Shell (sh) (and derivatives):

. /usr/share/modules/init/sh
module load modulefile modulefile ...

Perl:

require "/usr/share/modules/init/perl.pm";
&module('load', 'modulefile', 'modulefile', '...');

Python:

import os
exec(open("/usr/share/modules/init/python.py").read(), globals())
module("load", "modulefile", "modulefile", "...")

Bourne Shell (sh) (and derivatives) with autoinit sub-command:

eval "$(/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/modulecmd.tcl sh autoinit)"

Modulecmd startup
Upon invocation modulecmd.tcl sources a site-specific configuration script if it exists. Siteconfig
script is a Tcl script located at /etc/environment-modules/siteconfig.tcl. It enables to supersede any
global variable or procedure definition of modulecmd.tcl. See Site-specific configuration for detailed
information.

Afterward, modulecmd.tcl sources rc files which contain global, user and modulefile specific setups.
These files are interpreted as modulefiles. See modulefile for detailed information.

Upon invocation of modulecmd.tcl module run-command files are sourced in the following order:

1. Global RC file(s) as specified by MODULERCFILE variable or /etc/environment-modules/rc. If a path
element in MODULERCFILE points to a directory, the modulerc file in this directory is used as a global
RC file.

2. User specific module RC file $HOME/.modulerc

3. All .modulerc and .version files found during modulefile seeking.

These module run-command files must begins like modulefiles with the #%Module file signature, also called
the Modules magic cookie. A version number may be placed after this string. The version number reflects
the minimum version of modulecmd.tcl required to interpret the run-command file. If a version number
doesn't exist, then modulecmd.tcl will assume the run-command file is compatible. Files without the magic
cookie or with a version number greater than the current version of modulecmd.tcl will not be interpreted
and an error is reported. Such error does not abort the whole module evaluation. If the
mcookie_version_check configuration is disabled the version number set is not checked.

NOTE:
Run-command files are intended to set parameters for modulefiles, not to configure the module command
itself.

Command line switches
The module command accepts command line switches as its first parameter. These may be used to control
output format of all information displayed and the module behavior in case of locating and interpreting
modulefiles.

All switches may be entered either in short or long notation. The following switches are accepted:

--all, -a
Include hidden modules in search performed with avail, aliases, list, lint, savelist, search or
whatis sub-commands. Hard-hidden modules are not affected by this option.

--auto Enable automated module handling mode on sub-commands that load or unload modulefiles. See also
MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING section.

--color=<WHEN>
Colorize the output. WHEN defaults to always or can be never or auto. See also MODULES_COLOR
section.

--contains, -C
On avail, list and savelist sub-commands, return modules or collections whose fully qualified name
contains search query string.

--debug, -D, -DD
Debug mode. Causes module to print debugging messages about its progress. Multiple -D options
increase the debug verbosity. The maximum is 2.

--default, -d
On avail sub-command, display only the default version of each module name. Default version is the
explicitly set default version or also the implicit default version if the configuration option
implicit_default is enabled (see Locating Modulefiles section in the modulefile man page for
further details on implicit default version).

--force, -f
On load, unload, switch, load-any, try-load, mod-to-sh and source sub-commands by-pass any
unsatisfied modulefile constraint corresponding to the declared prereq and conflict. Which means
for instance that a modulefile will be loaded even if it comes in conflict with another loaded
modulefile or that a modulefile will be unloaded even if it is required as a prereq by another
modulefile.

On load, ml, mod-to-sh, purge, reload, switch, try-load and unload sub-commands applies continue
on error behavior when an error occurs even if abort_on_error option is enabled.

On ml, purge, reload, reset, restore, stash, stashpop, switch and unload sub-commands, unloads
modulefile anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

On clear sub-command, skip the confirmation dialog and proceed.

On purge sub-command also unload sticky modules and modulefiles that are depended by
non-unloadable modules.

--help, -h
Give some helpful usage information, and terminates the command.

--icase, -i
Match module specification arguments in a case insensitive manner.

--ignore-cache
Ignore module cache.

--ignore-user-rc
Skip evaluation of user-specific module rc file ($HOME/.modulerc).

--indepth
On avail sub-command, include in search results the matching modulefiles and directories and
recursively the modulefiles and directories contained in these matching directories.

--json, -j
Display avail, list, savelist, stashlist, whatis and search output in JSON format.

--latest, -L
On avail sub-command, display only the highest numerically sorted version of each module name (see
Locating Modulefiles section in the modulefile man page).

--long, -l
Display avail, list, savelist and stashlist output in long format.

--no-auto
Disable automated module handling mode on sub-commands that load or unload modulefiles. See also
MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING section.

--no-indepth
On avail sub-command, limit search results to the matching modulefiles and directories found at
the depth level expressed by the search query. Thus modulefiles contained in directories part of
the result are excluded.

--no-pager
Do not pipe message output into a pager.

--no-redirect
Do not send message output to stdout. Keep it on stderr.

--output=LIST, -o LIST
Define the content to report in addition to module names. This option is supported by avail and
list sub-commands on their regular or terse output modes. Accepted values are a LIST of elements
to report separated by colon character (:). The order of the elements in LIST does not matter.

Accepted elements in LIST for avail sub-command are: modulepath, alias, dirwsym, indesym, sym,
tag, key, variant and variantifspec.

Accepted elements in LIST for list sub-command are: header, idx, variant, alias, indesym, sym, tag
and key.

The order of the elements in LIST does not matter. Module names are the only content reported when
LIST is set to an empty value.

LIST may be prefixed by + or - character to indicate respectively to append it to or subtract it
from current configuration option value.

See also MODULES_AVAIL_OUTPUT and MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT.

--paginate
Pipe all message output into less (or if set, to the command referred in MODULES_PAGER variable)
if error output stream is a terminal. See also MODULES_PAGER section.

--redirect
Send message output to stdout instead of stderr. Only supported on sh, bash, ksh, zsh and fish
shells.

--silent, -s
Turn off error, warning and informational messages. module command output result is not affected
by silent mode.

--starts-with, -S
On avail, list and savelist sub-commands, return modules or collections whose name starts with
search query string.

--tag=LIST
On load, load-any, switch and try-load sub-commands, apply LIST of module tags to the loading
modulefile. LIST corresponds to the concatenation of multiple tags separated by colon character
(:). LIST should not contain tags inherited from modulefile state or from other modulefile
commands. If module is already loaded, tags from LIST are added to the list of tags already
applied to this module.

--terse, -t
Display avail, list, savelist and stashlist output in short format.

--timer
Prints at the end of the output an evaluation of the total execution time of the module command.
When mixed with a single or multiple --debug options, replaces regular debug messages by reports
of the execution time of every internal procedure calls.

--trace, -T
Trace mode. Report details on module searches, resolutions, selections and evaluations in addition
to printing verbose messages.

--verbose, -v, -vv
Enable verbose messages during module command execution. Multiple -v options increase the
verbosity level. The maximum is 2.

--version, -V
Lists the current version of the module command. The command then terminates without further
processing.

--width=COLS, -w COLS
Set the width of the output to COLS columns. See also MODULES_TERM_WIDTH section.

Module Sub-Commands
add [options] modulefile...
See load.

add-any [options] modulefile...
See load-any.

aliases [-a]
List all available symbolic version-names and aliases in the current MODULEPATH. All directories
in the MODULEPATH are recursively searched in the same manner than for the avail sub-command. Only
the symbolic version-names and aliases found in the search are displayed.

append-path [options] variable value...
Append value to environment variable. The variable is a colon, or delimiter, separated list. See
append-path in the modulefile man page for options description and further explanation.

When append-path is called as a module sub-command, the reference counter variable, which denotes
the number of times value has been added to environment variable, is not updated unless if the
--duplicates option is set.

apropos [-a] [-j] string
See search.

avail [-d|-L] [-t|-l|-j] [-a] [-o LIST] [-S|-C] [--indepth|--no-indepth] [pattern...]
List all available modulefiles in the current MODULEPATH. All directories in the MODULEPATH are
recursively searched for files containing the Modules magic cookie. If a pattern argument is
given, then each directory in the MODULEPATH is searched for modulefiles whose pathname, symbolic
version-name or alias match pattern in a case insensitive manner by default. pattern may contain
wildcard characters. Multiple versions of an application can be supported by creating a
subdirectory for the application containing modulefiles for each version.

Symbolic version-names and aliases found in the search are displayed in the result of this
sub-command. Symbolic version-names are displayed next to the modulefile they are assigned to
within parenthesis. Aliases are listed in the MODULEPATH section where they have been defined. To
distinguish aliases from modulefiles a @ symbol is added within parenthesis next to their name.
Aliases defined through a global or user specific module RC file are listed under the global/user
modulerc section.

When colored output is enabled and a specific graphical rendition is defined for module default
version, the default symbol is omitted and instead the defined graphical rendition is applied to
the relative modulefile. When colored output is enabled and a specific graphical rendition is
defined for module alias, the @ symbol is omitted. The defined graphical rendition applies to the
module alias name. See MODULES_COLOR and MODULES_COLORS sections for details on colored output.

Module tags applying to the available modulefiles returned by the avail sub-command are reported
along the module name they are associated to (see Module tags section).

Module variants and their available values may be reported along the module name they belong to
(see Module variants section) if defined in avail output configuration option (see --output/-o
option). The Extra match search process is triggered to collect variant information.

A Key section is added at the end of the output in case some elements are reported in parentheses
or chevrons along module name or if some graphical rendition is made over some output elements.
This Key section gives hints on the meaning of such elements.

The parameter pattern may also refer to a symbolic modulefile name or a modulefile alias. It may
also leverage a specific syntax to finely select module version (see Advanced module version
specifiers section below).

If pattern contains variant specification or Extra specifier, the Extra match search process is
triggered to collect command information used in modulefiles. Modules are included in results only
if they match pattern variant specification and extra specifier. pattern may be a bare variant
specification or extra specifier without mention of a module name.

cachebuild [modulepath...]
Build module cache file for designated modulepaths. If no argument is provided cache file is built
for every modulepath currently enabled. Cache file creation is skipped for modulepaths where user
cannot write in.

The name and content of every readable modulefiles and rc files are recorded into cache file. Also
last modification time of modulefiles and invalid modulefile error messages are recorded. With all
these information, the sole cache file is evaluated to know what is available within modulepath.

See Module cache section for more details on module cache mechanism.

cacheclear
Delete module cache file in every modulepath currently enabled. If user cannot write in a
modulepath directory, cache file deletion is skipped for this modulepath.

See Module cache section for more details on module cache mechanism.

clear [-f]
Force the Modules package to believe that no modules are currently loaded. A confirmation is
requested if command-line switch -f (or --force) is not passed. Typed confirmation should equal to
yes or y in order to proceed.

config [--dump-state|name [value]|--reset name]
Gets or sets modulecmd.tcl options. Reports the currently set value of passed option name or all
existing options if no name passed. If a name and a value are provided, the value of option name
is set to value. If command-line switch --reset is passed in addition to a name, overridden value
for option name is cleared.

When a reported option value differs from default value a mention is added to indicate whether the
overridden value is coming from a command-line switch (cmd-line) or from an environment variable
(env-var). When a reported option value is locked and cannot be altered a (locked) mention is
added.

If no value is currently set for an option name, the mention <undef> is reported.

For options whose value is a colon-separated list, value may be prefixed by + or - character. It
indicates respectively to append it to or subtract it from current option value.

When command-line switch --dump-state is passed, current modulecmd.tcl state and Modules-related
environment variables are reported in addition to currently set modulecmd.tcl options.

Existing option names are:

abort_on_error
List of module sub-commands that abort evaluation sequence when an error is raised by an
evaluated module. Evaluations already performed are withdrawn and remaining modules to
evaluate are skipped.

This configuration option can be changed at installation time with --with-abort-on-error
option. The MODULES_ABORT_ON_ERROR environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_ABORT_ON_ERROR
description for details.

advanced_version_spec
Advanced module version specification to finely select modulefiles.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with
--disable-advanced-version-spec option. The MODULES_ADVANCED_VERSION_SPEC environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_ADVANCED_VERSION_SPEC description for details.

auto_handling
Automated module handling mode.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-auto-handling
option. The MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. The --auto and --no-auto
command line switches change the value of this configuration option. See
MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING description for details.

avail_indepth
avail sub-command in depth search mode.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-avail-indepth
option. The MODULES_AVAIL_INDEPTH environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. The --indepth and
--no-indepth command line switches change the value of this configuration option. See
MODULES_AVAIL_INDEPTH description for details.

avail_output
Content to report in addition to module names on avail sub-command regular output mode.

Default value is modulepath:alias:dirwsym:sym:tag:key. It can be changed at installation
time with --with-avail-output option. The MODULES_AVAIL_OUTPUT environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. The --output/-o command line switches change the value of this configuration option.
See MODULES_AVAIL_OUTPUT description for details.

avail_terse_output
Content to report in addition to module names on avail sub-command terse output mode.

Default value is modulepath:alias:dirwsym:sym:tag. It can be changed at installation time
with --with-avail-terse-output option. The MODULES_AVAIL_TERSE_OUTPUT environment variable
is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. The --output/-o command line switches change the value of this configuration option.
See MODULES_AVAIL_TERSE_OUTPUT description for details.

cache_buffer_bytes
Size of the buffer used when reading or writing cache files.

Default value is 32768. Values between 4096 and 1000000 are accepted. The
MODULES_CACHE_BUFFER_BYTES environment variable is defined by config sub-command when
changing this configuration option from its default value.

cache_expiry_secs
Number of seconds a cache file is considered valid after being generated.

Default value is 0. Values between 0 and 31536000 are accepted. The
MODULES_CACHE_EXPIRY_SECS environment variable is defined by config sub-command when
changing this configuration option from its default value.

collection_pin_version
Register exact modulefile version in collection.

Default value is 0. The MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_VERSION environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_VERSION description for details.

collection_pin_tag
Register full tag list applying to modulefiles in collection.

Default value is 0. The MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_TAG environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_TAG description for details.

collection_target
Collection target which is valid for current system.

This configuration option is unset by default. The MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET description for details.

color Colored output mode.

Default value is auto. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-color option.
The MODULES_COLOR environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. The --color command line switches changes the
value of this configuration option. See MODULES_COLOR description for details.

colors Chosen colors to highlight output items.

Default value is
hi=1:db=2:tr=2:se=2:er=91:wa=93:me=95:in=94:mp=1;94:di=94:al=96:va=93:sy=95:de=4:cm=92:aL=100:L=90;47:H=2:F=41:nF=43:S=46:sS=44:kL=30;48;5;109.
It can be changed at installation time with --with-dark-background-colors or
--with-light-background-colors options in conjunction with --with-terminal-background. The
MODULES_COLORS environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_COLORS description for details.

contact
Modulefile contact address.

Default value is root@localhost. The MODULECONTACT environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULECONTACT description for details.

extended_default
Allow partial module version specification.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-extended-default
option. The MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT description for details.

editor Text editor command to open modulefile with through edit sub-command.

Default value is vi. It can be changed at installation time with --with-editor option. The
MODULES_EDITOR environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_EDITOR description for details.

extra_siteconfig
Additional site-specific configuration script location. See Site-specific configuration
section for details.

This configuration option is unset by default. The MODULES_SITECONFIG environment variable
is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULES_SITECONFIG description for details.

home Location of Modules package main directory.

Default value is /usr/share/modules. It can be changed at installation time with --prefix
or --with-moduleshome options. The MODULESHOME environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULESHOME description for details.

icase Enable case insensitive match.

Default value is search. It can be changed at installation time with --with-icase option.
The MODULES_ICASE environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. The --icase/-i command line switches change
the value of this configuration option. See MODULES_ICASE description for details.

ignore_cache
Ignore module cache.

Default is 0. The MODULES_IGNORE_CACHE environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The
--ignore-cache command line switch changes the value of this configuration option.

ignore_user_rc
Skip evaluation of user-specific module rc file ($HOME/.modulerc).

Default is 0. The MODULES_IGNORE_USER_RC environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The
--ignore-user-rc command line switch changes the value of this configuration option.

ignored_dirs
Directories ignored when looking for modulefiles.

Default value is CVS RCS SCCS .svn .git .SYNC .sos. The value of this option cannot be
altered.

implicit_default
Set an implicit default version for modules.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-implicit-default
option. The MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT description for details.

implicit_requirement
Implicitly define a requirement onto modules specified on module commands in modulefile.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with
--disable-implicit-requirement option. The MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT description for details.

list_output
Content to report in addition to module names on list sub-command regular output mode.

Default value is header:idx:variant:sym:tag:key. It can be changed at installation time
with --with-list-output option. The MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The
--output/-o command line switches change the value of this configuration option. See
MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT description for details.

list_terse_output
Content to report in addition to module names on list sub-command terse output mode.

Default value is header. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-list-terse-output option. The MODULES_LIST_TERSE_OUTPUT environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. The --output/-o command line switches change the value of this configuration option.
See MODULES_LIST_TERSE_OUTPUT description for details.

locked_configs
Configuration options that cannot be superseded. All options referred in locked_configs
value are locked, thus their value cannot be altered.

This configuration option is set to an empty value by default. It can be changed at
installation time with --with-locked-configs option. The value of this option cannot be
altered.

mcookie_check
Defines if the Modules magic cookie (i.e., #%Module file signature) should be checked to
determine if a file is a modulefile.

Default value is always. The MODULES_MCOOKIE_CHECK environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_MCOOKIE_CHECK description for details.

mcookie_version_check
Defines if the version set in the Modules magic cookie used in modulefile should be checked
against the version of modulecmd.tcl to determine if the modulefile could be evaluated or
not.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with
--disable-mcookie-version-check option. The MODULES_MCOOKIE_VERSION_CHECK environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_MCOOKIE_VERSION_CHECK description for details.

ml Define ml command at initialization time.

Default value is 1. It can be changed at installation time with --disable-ml option. The
MODULES_ML environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_ML description for details.

nearly_forbidden_days
Set the number of days a module should be considered nearly forbidden prior reaching its
expiry date.

Default value is 14. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-nearly-forbidden-days option. The MODULES_NEARLY_FORBIDDEN_DAYS environment variable
is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULES_NEARLY_FORBIDDEN_DAYS description for details.

pager Text viewer to paginate message output.

Default value is less -eFKRX. It can be changed at installation time with --with-pager and
--with-pager-opts options. The MODULES_PAGER environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_PAGER description for details.

protected_envvars
Prevents any modification of listed environment variables (colon : separator).

This configuration option is unset by default. The MODULES_PROTECTED_ENVVARS environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_PROTECTED_ENVVARS description for details.

quarantine_support
Defines if code for quarantine mechanism support should be generated in module shell
function definition.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with --enable-quarantine-support
option. The MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT description for details.

rcfile Location of global run-command file(s).

This configuration option is unset by default. The MODULERCFILE environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULERCFILE description for details.

redirect_output
Control whether or not the output of module command should be redirected from stderr to
stdout.

Default value is 1. The MODULES_REDIRECT_OUTPUT environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The --redirect
and --no-redirect command line switches change the value of this configuration option. See
MODULES_REDIRECT_OUTPUT description for details.

reset_target_state
Control behavior of reset sub-command. Whether environment should be purged (__purge__),
initial environment (__init__) or a named collection (any other value) should restored.

Default value is __init__. The MODULES_RESET_TARGET_STATE environment variable is defined
by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_RESET_TARGET_STATE description for details.

run_quarantine
Environment variables to indirectly pass to modulecmd.tcl.

This configuration option is set to an empty value by default. It can be changed at
installation time with --with-quarantine-vars option that sets MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE. This
environment variable is also defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration
option. See MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE description for details.

search_match
Module search match style.

Default value is starts_with. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-search-match option. The MODULES_SEARCH_MATCH environment variable is defined by
config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The
--contains and --starts-with command line switches change the value of this configuration
option. See MODULES_SEARCH_MATCH description for details.

set_shell_startup
Ensure module command definition by setting shell startup file.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with --enable-set-shell-startup
option. The MODULES_SET_SHELL_STARTUP environment variable is defined by config sub-command
when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_SET_SHELL_STARTUP description for details.

shells_with_ksh_fpath
Ensure module command is defined in ksh when it is started as a sub-shell from the listed
shells.

This configuration option is set to an empty value by default. The
MODULES_SHELLS_WITH_KSH_FPATH environment variable is defined by config sub-command when
changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_SHELLS_WITH_KSH_FPATH description for details.

silent_shell_debug
Disablement of shell debugging property for the module command. Also defines if code to
silence shell debugging property should be generated in module shell function definition.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with
--enable-silent-shell-debug-support option. The MODULES_SILENT_SHELL_DEBUG environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_SILENT_SHELL_DEBUG description for details.

siteconfig
Primary site-specific configuration script location. See Site-specific configuration
section for details.

Default value is /etc/environment-modules/siteconfig.tcl. It can be changed at installation
time with --prefix or --etcdir options. The value of this option cannot be altered.

source_cache
Cache content of files evaluated in modulefile through source(n) Tcl command.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with --enable-source-cache
option. The MODULES_SOURCE_CACHE environment variable is defined by config sub-command when
changing this configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_SOURCE_CACHE
description for details.

sticky_purge
Error behavior when unloading sticky or super-sticky module during a module purge.

Raise an error (default) or emit a warning or be silent. It can be changed at installation
time with --with-sticky-purge option. The MODULES_STICKY_PURGE environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULES_STICKY_PURGE description for details.

tag_abbrev
Abbreviations to use to report module tags.

Default value is
auto-loaded=aL:loaded=L:hidden=H:hidden-loaded=H:forbidden=F:nearly-forbidden=nF:sticky=S:super-sticky=sS:keep-loaded=kL.
It can be changed at installation time with --with-tag-abbrev option. The
MODULES_TAG_ABBREV environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_TAG_ABBREV description for
details.

tag_color_name
Tags whose name should be colored instead of module name.

This configuration option is set to an empty value by default. It can be changed at
installation time with --with-tag-color-name option. The MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME
environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration
option from its default value. See MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME description for details.

tcl_ext_lib
Modules Tcl extension library location.

Default value is @libdir@/libtclenvmodules.so. It can be changed at installation time with
--prefix or --libdir options. The value of this option cannot be altered.

tcl_linter
Command to check syntax of modulefiles with through lint sub-command.

Default value is nagelfar.tcl. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-tcl-linter and --with-tcl-linter-opts options. The MODULES_TCL_LINTER environment
variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its
default value. See MODULES_TCL_LINTER description for details.

term_background
Terminal background color kind.

Default value is dark. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-terminal-background option. The MODULES_TERM_BACKGROUND environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULES_TERM_BACKGROUND description for details.

term_width
Set the width of the output.

Default value is 0. The MODULES_TERM_WIDTH environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. The --width/-w
command line switches change the value of this configuration option. See MODULES_TERM_WIDTH
description for details.

unique_name_loaded
Only one module loaded per module name.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with --enable-unique-name-loaded
option. The MODULES_UNIQUE_NAME_LOADED environment variable is defined by config
sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default value. See
MODULES_UNIQUE_NAME_LOADED description for details.

unload_match_order
Unload firstly loaded or lastly loaded module matching request.

Default value is returnlast. It can be changed at installation time with
--with-unload-match-order option. The MODULES_UNLOAD_MATCH_ORDER environment variable is
defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration option from its default
value. See MODULES_UNLOAD_MATCH_ORDER description for details.

variant_shortcut
Shortcut characters that could be used to specify or report module variants.

This configuration option is set to an empty value by default. It can be changed at
installation time with --with-variant-shortcut option. The MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT
environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this configuration
option from its default value. See MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT description for details.

verbosity
Module command verbosity level.

Default value is normal. It can be changed at installation time with --with-verbosity
option. The MODULES_VERBOSITY environment variable is defined by config sub-command when
changing this configuration option from its default value. The --debug/-D, --silent/-s,
--trace/-T and --verbose/-v command line switches change the value of this configuration
option. See MODULES_VERBOSITY description for details.

wa_277 Workaround for Tcsh history issue.

Default value is 0. It can be changed at installation time with --enable-wa-277 option. The
MODULES_WA_277 environment variable is defined by config sub-command when changing this
configuration option from its default value. See MODULES_WA_277 description for details.

display modulefile...
Display information about one or more modulefiles. The display sub-command will list the full path
of the modulefile and the environment changes the modulefile will make if loaded. (Note: It will
not display any environment changes found within conditional statements.)

The parameter modulefile may also be a symbolic modulefile name or a modulefile alias. It may also
leverage a specific syntax to finely select module version (see Advanced module version specifiers
section below).

When several modulefiles are passed, they are evaluated sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, display sequence continues.

edit modulefile
Open modulefile for edition with text editor command designated by the editor configuration
option.

help [modulefile...]
Print the usage of each sub-command. If an argument is given, print the Module-specific help
information for the modulefile.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are evaluated sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, help sequence continues.

info-loaded modulefile
Returns the names of currently loaded modules matching passed modulefile. Returns an empty string
if passed modulefile does not match any loaded modules. See module-info loaded in the modulefile
man page for further explanation.

initadd modulefile...
Add modulefile to the shell's initialization file in the user's home directory. The startup files
checked (in order) are:

C Shell
.modules, .cshrc, .csh_variables and .login

TENEX C Shell
.modules, .tcshrc, .cshrc, .csh_variables and .login

Bourne and Korn Shells
.modules, .profile

GNU Bourne Again Shell
.modules, .bash_profile, .bash_login, .profile and .bashrc

Z Shell
.modules, .zshrc, .zshenv and .zlogin

Friendly Interactive Shell
.modules, .config/fish/config.fish

If a module load line is found in any of these files, the modulefiles are appended to any existing
list of modulefiles. The module load line must be located in at least one of the files listed
above for any of the init sub-commands to work properly. If the module load line is found in
multiple shell initialization files, all of the lines are changed.

initclear
Clear all of the modulefiles from the shell's initialization files.

initlist
List all of the modulefiles loaded from the shell's initialization file.

initprepend modulefile...
Does the same as initadd but prepends the given modules to the beginning of the list.

initrm modulefile...
Remove modulefile from the shell's initialization files.

initswitch modulefile1 modulefile2
Switch modulefile1 with modulefile2 in the shell's initialization files.

is-avail modulefile...
Returns a true value if any of the listed modulefiles exists in enabled MODULEPATH. Returns a
false value otherwise. See is-avail in the modulefile man page for further explanation.

is-loaded [modulefile...]
Returns a true value if any of the listed modulefiles has been loaded or if any modulefile is
loaded in case no argument is provided. Returns a false value otherwise. See is-loaded in the
modulefile man page for further explanation.

is-saved [collection...]
Returns a true value if any of the listed collections exists or if any collection exists in case
no argument is provided. Returns a false value otherwise. See is-saved in the modulefile man page
for further explanation.

is-used [directory...]
Returns a true value if any of the listed directories has been enabled in MODULEPATH or if any
directory is enabled in case no argument is provided. Returns a false value otherwise. See is-used
in the modulefile man page for further explanation.

keyword [-a] [-j] string
See search.

lint [-a] [modulefile...]
Analyze syntax of one or more modulefiles with the linter command designated by the tcl_linter
configuration option.

If no modulefile is specified, all the modulefiles and modulerc available in enabled modulepaths
are analyzed as well as global and user rc files. Hidden modulefiles are also analyzed when
--all/-a option is set.

When nagelfar.tcl is the selected linter command, a static Tcl syntax analysis is performed. In
addition, syntax of modulefile commands are checked in these files based on their kind
(global/user rc, modulerc or modulefile).

list [-t|-l|-j] [-a] [-o LIST] [-S|-C] [pattern...]
List loaded modules. If a pattern is given, then the loaded modules are filtered to only list
those whose name matches this pattern. It may contain wildcard characters. pattern is matched in a
case insensitive manner by default. If multiple patterns are given, loaded module has to match at
least one of them to be listed.

Module tags applying to the loaded modules are reported along the module name they are associated
to (see Module tags section).

Module variants selected on the loaded modules are reported along the module name they belong to
(see Module variants section).

If pattern contains variant specification, loaded modules are included in results only if they
match it. pattern may be a bare variant specification without mention of a module name.

load [options] modulefile...
Load modulefile into the shell environment.

load command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

• --tag=taglist

Once loaded, the loaded module tag is associated to the loaded module. If module has been
automatically loaded by another module, the auto-loaded tag is associated instead (see Module tags
section).

When several modulefiles are passed, they are loaded sequentially in the specified order. If one
modulefile evaluation raises an error, load sequence continues: loaded modules prior the
evaluation error are kept loaded and sequence is resumed with the load of remaining modulefile in
list. Conversely, load sequence is aborted and already loaded modulefiles are withdrawn if load
sub-command is defined in abort_on_error configuration option and --force option is not set.

The --tag option accepts a list of module tags to apply to modulefile once loaded. If module is
already loaded, tags from taglist are added to the list of tags already applied to this module.

load-any [options] modulefile...
Load into the shell environment one of the modulefile specified. Try to load each modulefile
specified in list from the left to the right until one got loaded or is found already loaded. Do
not complain if modulefile cannot be found. But if its evaluation fails, an error is reported and
next modulefile in list is evaluated.

load-any command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

• --tag=taglist

Once loaded, the loaded module tag is associated to the loaded module. If module has been
automatically loaded by another module, the auto-loaded tag is associated instead (see Module tags
section).

The --tag option accepts a list of module tags to apply to modulefile once loaded. If module is
already loaded, tags from taglist are added to the list of tags already applied to this module.

mod-to-sh [options] shell modulefile...
Evaluate modulefile and report resulting environment changes as code for shell.

mod-to-sh command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

An attempt to load modulefile is made to get its environment changes. This evaluation does not
change the current shell environment. Like for load sub-command, no evaluation occurs if
modulefile is found loaded in current environment.

Changes made on environment variable intended for Modules private use (e.g., LOADEDMODULES,
_LMFILES_, __MODULES_*) are ignored.

Shell could be any shell name supported by modulecmd.tcl.

Produced shell code is returned on the message output channel by modulecmd.tcl. Thus it is not
rendered in current environment by the module shell function.

mod-to-sh automatically set verbosity to the silent mode, to avoid messages to mix with the
produced shell code. Verbosity is not changed if set to the trace mode or any higher debugging
level.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are evaluated sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, mod-to-sh sequence continues: environment change from
modules evaluated prior the error are preserved and sequence is resumed with the evaluation of
remaining modulefile in list. Conversely, mod-to-sh sequence is aborted and changes from already
evaluated modules are withdrawn if mod-to-sh sub-command is defined in abort_on_error
configuration option and --force option is not set.

path modulefile
Print path to modulefile.

paths pattern
Print path of available modulefiles matching pattern.

The parameter pattern may also be a symbolic modulefile name or a modulefile alias. It may also
leverage a specific syntax to finely select module version (see Advanced module version specifiers
section below).

prepend-path [options] variable value...
Prepend value to environment variable. The variable is a colon, or delimiter, separated list. See
prepend-path in the modulefile man page for options description and further explanation.

When prepend-path is called as a module sub-command, the reference counter variable, which denotes
the number of times value has been added to environment variable, is not updated unless if the
--duplicates option is set.

purge [-f]
Unload all loaded modulefiles.

When the --force option is set, also unload sticky modules, modulefiles that are depended by
non-unloadable modules and modulefiles raising an evaluation error.

If one modulefile unload evaluation raises an error, purge sequence continues: unloaded modules
prior the evaluation error are kept unloaded and sequence is resumed with the unload of remaining
modulefiles. Conversely, purge sequence is aborted and already unloaded modulefiles are restored
if purge sub-command is defined in abort_on_error configuration option and --force option is not
set.

refresh
Force a refresh of all non-persistent components of currently loaded modules. This should be used
on derived shells where shell completions, shell aliases or shell functions need to be
reinitialized but the environment variables have already been set by the currently loaded modules.

Loaded modules are evaluated in refresh mode following their load order. In this evaluation mode
only the complete, set-alias, set-function and puts modulefile commands will produce environment
changes. Other modulefile commands that produce environment changes (like setenv or append-path)
are ignored during a refresh evaluation as their changes should already be applied.

Only the loaded modules defining non-persistent environment changes are evaluated in refresh mode.
Such loaded modules are listed in the __MODULES_LMREFRESH environment variable.

If one modulefile evaluation raises an error, refresh sequence continues: environment changes from
refreshed modules prior the evaluation error are preserved and sequence is resumed with the
refresh of remaining modulefiles.

reload [-f]
Unload then load all loaded modulefiles.

No unload then load is performed and an error is returned if the loaded modulefiles have
unsatisfied constraint corresponding to the prereq and conflict they declare.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

If one modulefile load or unload evaluation raises an error, reload sequence aborts: environment
changes coming from already evaluated modulefiles are withdrawn and remaining modulefile
evaluations are skipped. Conversely, if reload is removed from abort_on_error configuration option
list or if --force option is set, reload sequence continues: already achieved module evaluations
are kept and reload sequence is resumed with the remaining modulefiles.

remove-path [options] variable value...
Remove value from the colon, or delimiter, separated list in environment variable. See remove-path
in the modulefile man page for options description and further explanation.

When remove-path is called as a module sub-command, the reference counter variable, which denotes
the number of times value has been added to environment variable, is ignored and value is removed
whatever the reference counter value set.

reset [-f]
Restore initial environment, which corresponds to the loaded state after Modules initialization.

reset sub-command restores the environment definition found in __MODULES_LMINIT environment
variable.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

reset behavior can be changed with reset_target_state. This configuration option is set by
default to __init__, which corresponds to the above behavior description. When set to __purge__,
reset performs a purge of the environment. When set to any other value, reset performs a restore
of corresponding name collection.

restore [-f] [collection]
Restore the environment state as defined in collection. If collection name is not specified, then
it is assumed to be the default collection if it exists, __init__ special collection otherwise. If
collection is a fully qualified path, it is restored from this location rather than from a file
under the user's collection directory. If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to
the value of this variable is appended to the collection file name to restore.

If collection name is __init__, initial environment state defined in __MODULES_LMINIT environment
variable is restored.

When restoring a collection, the currently set MODULEPATH directory list and the currently loaded
modulefiles are unused and unloaded then used and loaded to exactly match the MODULEPATH and
loaded modulefiles lists saved in this collection file. The order of the paths and modulefiles set
in collection is preserved when restoring. It means that currently loaded modules are unloaded to
get the same LOADEDMODULES root than collection and currently used module paths are unused to get
the same MODULEPATH root. Then missing module paths are used and missing modulefiles are loaded.

If a module, without a default version explicitly defined, is recorded in a collection by its bare
name: loading this module when restoring the collection will fail if the configuration option
implicit_default is disabled.

If one modulefile load or unload evaluation raises an error, restore sequence continues:
environment changes from modules unloaded or loaded prior the evaluation error are preserved and
sequence is resumed with the unload or load of remaining modulefiles.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

rm [--auto|--no-auto] [-f] modulefile...
See unload.

save [collection]
Record the currently set MODULEPATH directory list and the currently loaded modulefiles in a
collection file under the user's collection directory $HOME/.module. If collection name is not
specified, then it is assumed to be the default collection. If collection is a fully qualified
path, it is saved at this location rather than under the user's collection directory.

If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be
appended to the collection file name.

By default, if a loaded modulefile corresponds to the explicitly defined default module version,
the bare module name is recorded. If the configuration option implicit_default is enabled, the
bare module name is also recorded for the implicit default module version. If
MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_VERSION is set to 1, module version is always recorded even if it is the
default version.

By default, only the module tags specifically set with the --tag option or resulting from a
specific module state (like auto-loaded and keep-loaded tags) are recorded in collection. If
MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_TAG is set to 1, all tags are recorded in collection except
nearly-forbidden tag.

No collection is recorded and an error is returned if the loaded modulefiles have unsatisfied
constraint corresponding to the prereq and conflict they declare.

savelist [-t|-l|-j] [-a] [-S|-C] [pattern...]
List collections that are currently saved under the user's collection directory. If
MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, only collections matching the target suffix will be displayed
unless if the --all/-a option is set.

If a pattern is given, then the collections are filtered to only list those whose name matches
this pattern. It may contain wildcard characters. pattern is matched in a case insensitive manner
by default. If multiple patterns are given, collection has to match at least one of them to be
listed.

Stash collections are not listed unless if the --all/-a option is set. Stash collections can be
listed with stashlist sub-command.

saverm [collection]
Delete the collection file under the user's collection directory. If collection name is not
specified, then it is assumed to be the default collection. If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a
suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be appended to the collection file name.

saveshow [collection]
Display the content of collection. If collection name is not specified, then it is assumed to be
the default collection if it exists, __init__ special collection otherwise. If collection is a
fully qualified path, this location is displayed rather than a collection file under the user's
collection directory. If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of
this variable will be appended to the collection file name.

If collection name is __init__, initial environment content defined in __MODULES_LMINIT
environment variable is displayed.

search [-a] [-j] string
Seeks through the module-whatis information of all modulefiles for the specified string. All
module-whatis information matching the string in a case insensitive manner will be displayed.
string may contain wildcard characters.

sh-to-mod shell script [arg...]
Evaluate with shell the designated script with defined arguments to find out the environment
changes it does. Environment prior and after script evaluation are compared to determine these
changes. They are translated into modulefile commands to output the modulefile content equivalent
to the evaluation of shell script.

Changes on environment variables, shell aliases, shell functions, shell completions and current
working directory are tracked.

Changes made on environment variable intended for Modules private use (e.g., LOADEDMODULES,
_LMFILES_, __MODULES_*) are ignored.

Shell could be specified as a command name or a fully qualified pathname. The following shells
are supported: sh, dash, csh, tcsh, bash, ksh, ksh93, zsh and fish.

Shell could also be set to bash-eval. In this mode, bash shell script is not sourced but the
output resulting from its execution is evaluated to determine the environment changes it does.

show modulefile...
See display.

source [options] modulefile...
Execute modulefile into the shell environment. Once executed modulefile is not marked loaded in
shell environment which differ from load sub-command.

source command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

If modulefile corresponds to a fully qualified path, this file is executed. Otherwise modulefile
is searched among the available modulefiles.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are evaluated sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, source sequence continues: environment changes from
modules sourced prior the evaluation error are preserved and sequence is resumed with the source
of remaining modulefile in list.

stash [-f]
Save current environment in a stash collection then reset to initial environment.

A collection is created only if current environment state differs from initial environment. Stash
collection is named stash-<unix_millis_timestamp> where <unix_millis_timestamp> is the number of
milliseconds between Unix Epoch and when this command is run.

If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be
appended to the stash collection file name.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

stashclear
Remove all stash collection files of current collection_target. If no collection target is
currently set, remove stash collection files without a target suffix.

stashlist [-t|-l|-j]
List all stash collection files of current collection_target. If no collection target is currently
set, list stash collection files without a target suffix.

stashpop [-f] [stash]
Restore stash collection then delete corresponding collection file.

stash is either a full stash collection name (i.e., stash-<unix_millis_timestamp>) or a stash
index. Most recent stash collection has index 0, 1 is the one before it. When no stash is given
the latest stash collection is assumed (that is stash index 0).

If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be
appended to the stash collection file name to restore.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

stashrm [stash]
Remove stash collection file.

If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be
appended to the stash collection file name to delete.

stashshow [stash]
Display the content of stash collection file.

If MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET is set, a suffix equivalent to the value of this variable will be
appended to the stash collection file name to display.

state [name]
Gets modulecmd.tcl states. Reports the currently set value of passed state name or all existing
states if no name passed.

swap [options] [modulefile1] modulefile2
See switch.

switch [options] [modulefile1] modulefile2
Switch loaded modulefile1 with modulefile2. If modulefile1 is not specified, then it is assumed to
be the currently loaded module with the same root name as modulefile2.

switch command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

• --tag=taglist

The --tag option accepts a list of module tags to apply to modulefile once loaded. If module is
already loaded, tags from taglist are added to the list of tags already applied to this module.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

If unload evaluation of modulefile1 raises an error, switch sequence aborts: no environment change
from modulefile1 unload is applied and load of modulefile2 is skipped. Conversely, if
switch_unload value is removed from abort_on_error configuration option list (and switch value is
not set there) or if --force option is set, switch sequence continues. If modulefile1 is tagged
super-sticky, switch sequence aborts in any case.

If load evaluation of modulefile2 raises an error, switch sequence continues: environment changes
from modulefile1 unload are applied but not those from failed modulefile2 load. Conversely, whole
switch sequence is aborted and unloaded modulefile1 is restored if switch sub-command is defined
in abort_on_error configuration option and --force option is not set.

test modulefile...
Execute and display results of the Module-specific tests for the modulefile.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are evaluated sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, test sequence continues.

try-add [options] modulefile...
See try-load.

try-load [options] modulefile...
Like load sub-command, load modulefile into the shell environment, but do not complain if
modulefile cannot be found. If modulefile is found but its evaluation fails, error is still
reported.

try-load command accepts the following options:

• --auto|--no-auto

• -f|--force

• --tag=taglist

Once loaded, the loaded module tag is associated to the loaded module. If module has been
automatically loaded by another module, the auto-loaded tag is associated instead (see Module tags
section).

The --tag option accepts a list of module tags to apply to modulefile once loaded. If module is
already loaded, tags from taglist are added to the list of tags already applied to this module.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are try-loaded sequentially in the specified order. If
one modulefile evaluation raises an error, try-load sequence continues: loaded modules prior the
evaluation error are kept loaded and sequence is resumed with the load of remaining modulefile in
list. Conversely, try-load sequence is aborted and already loaded modulefiles are withdrawn if
try-load sub-command is defined in abort_on_error configuration option and --force option is not
set.

unload [--auto|--no-auto] [-f] modulefile...
Remove modulefile from the shell environment.

When the --force option is set, unload modulefiles anyway even if an evaluation error occurs.

When several modulefiles are passed, they are unloaded sequentially in the specified order. If one
modulefile evaluation raises an error, unload sequence continues: unloaded modules prior the
evaluation error are kept unloaded and sequence is resumed with the unload of remaining modulefile
in list. Conversely, unload sequence is aborted and already unloaded modulefiles are restored if
unload sub-command is defined in abort_on_error configuration option and --force option is not
set.

unuse directory...
Remove one or more directories from the MODULEPATH environment variable.

If module unuse is called during a modulefile evaluation, the reference counter environment
variable __MODULES_SHARE_MODULEPATH, which denotes the number of times directory has been enabled,
is checked and directory is removed only if its relative counter is equal to 1 or not defined.
Otherwise directory is kept and reference counter is decreased by 1. When module unuse is called
from the command-line or within an initialization modulefile script directory is removed whatever
the reference counter value set.

If directory corresponds to the concatenation of multiple paths separated by colon character, each
path is treated separately.

use [-a|--append] directory...
Prepend one or more directories to the MODULEPATH environment variable. The --append flag will
append the directory to MODULEPATH.

When directory is already defined in MODULEPATH, it is not added again or moved at the end or at
the beginning of the environment variable.

If module use is called during a modulefile evaluation, the reference counter environment variable
__MODULES_SHARE_MODULEPATH is also set to increase the number of times directory has been added to
MODULEPATH. Reference counter is not updated when module use is called from the command-line or
within an initialization modulefile script.

A directory that does not exist yet can be specified as argument and then be added to MODULEPATH.

whatis [-a] [-j] [pattern...]
Display the information set up by the module-whatis commands inside modulefiles matching pattern.
pattern may contain wildcard characters. If no pattern is specified, all module-whatis lines will
be shown.

Modulefiles
modulefiles are written in the Tool Command Language (Tcl) and are interpreted by modulecmd.tcl.
modulefiles can use conditional statements. Thus the effect a modulefile will have on the environment may
change depending upon the current state of the environment.

Environment variables are unset when unloading a modulefile. Thus, it is possible to load a modulefile
and then unload it without having the environment variables return to their prior state.

Advanced module version specifiers
When the advanced module version specifiers mechanism is enabled (see MODULES_ADVANCED_VERSION_SPEC), the
specification of modulefile passed on Modules sub-commands changes. After the module name a version
constraint and variants may be added.

Version specifiers
After the module name a version constraint prefixed by the @ character may be added. It could be directly
appended to the module name or separated from it with a space character.

Constraints can be expressed to refine the selection of module version to:

• a single version with the @version syntax, for instance foo@1.2.3 syntax will select module foo/1.2.3

• a list of versions with the @version1,version2,... syntax, for instance foo@1.2.3,1.10 will match
modules foo/1.2.3 and foo/1.10

• a range of versions with the @version1:, @:version2 and @version1:version2 syntaxes, for instance
foo@1.2: will select all versions of module foo greater than or equal to 1.2, foo@:1.3 will select all
versions less than or equal to 1.3 and foo@1.2:1.3 matches all versions between 1.2 and 1.3 including
1.2 and 1.3 versions

Advanced specification of single version or list of versions may benefit from the activation of the
extended default mechanism (see MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT) to use an abbreviated notation like @1 to refer
to more precise version numbers like 1.2.3. Range of versions on its side natively handles abbreviated
versions.

In order to be specified in a range of versions or compared to a range of versions, the version major
element should corresponds to a number. For instance 10a, 1.2.3, 1.foo are versions valid for range
comparison whereas default or foo.2 versions are invalid for range comparison.

Range of versions can be specified in version list, for instance foo@:1.2,1.4:1.6,1.8:. Such
specification helps to exclude specific versions, like versions 1.3 and 1.7 in previous example.

If the implicit default mechanism is also enabled (see MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT), a default and latest
symbolic versions are automatically defined for each module name (also at each directory level for deep
modulefiles). These automatic version symbols are defined unless a symbolic version, alias, or regular
module version already exists for these default or latest version names. Using the mod@latest (or
mod/latest) syntax ensures highest available version will be selected.

The symbolic version loaded may be used over loaded module name to designate the loaded version of the
module with associated selected variants. This version symbol should be specified using the @ prefix
notation (e.g., foo@loaded). An error is returned if no version of designated module is currently loaded.

Variants
After the module name, variants can be specified. Module variants are alternative evaluation of the same
modulefile. A variant is specified by associating a value to its name. This specification is then
transmitted to the evaluating modulefile which instantiates the variant in the ModuleVariant array
variable when reaching the variant modulefile command declaring this variant.

Variant can be specified with the name=value syntax where name is the declared variant name and value,
the value this variant is set to when evaluating the modulefile.

Boolean variants can be specified with the +name syntax to set this variant on and with the -name or
~name syntaxes to set this variant off. The -name syntax is not supported on ml command as the minus sign
already means to unload designated module. The ~name and +name syntaxes could also be defined appended to
another specification word (e.g., the module name, version or another variant specification), whereas
-name syntax must be the start of a new specification word.

Boolean variants may also be specified with the name=value syntax. value should be set to 1, true, t,
yes, y or on to enable the variant or it should be set to 0, false, f, no, n or off to disable the
variant.

Shortcuts may be used to abbreviate variant specification. The variant_shortcut configuration option
associates shortcut character to variant name. With a shortcut defined, variant could be specified with
the <shortcut>value syntax. For instance if character % is set as a shortcut for variant foo, the %value
syntax is equivalent to the foo=value syntax.

Specific characters used in variant specification syntax cannot be used as part of the name of a module.
These specific characters are +, ~, = and all characters set as variant shortcut. Exception is made for +
character which could be set one or several consecutive times at the end of module name (e.g., name+ or
name++).

Extra specifier
After the module name, extra specifiers can be defined in module search context. Extra specifiers are an
extra query to list available modulefiles based on their content definition. They rely on the Extra match
search mechanism that collects content of available modulefiles.

Extra specifier can be set with the element:name[,name,...] syntax where element is a Tcl modulefile
command and name an item defined by this command. Depending on the kind of Tcl modulefile command, name
can refer to an environment variable, a shell alias, a module specification, etc.

Supported extra specifier elements are:

• variant, complete, uncomplete, set-alias, unset-alias, set-function, unset-function, chdir, family, tag

• setenv, unsetenv, append-path, prepend-path, remove-path and pushenv: these elements related to
environment variable handling may also be aliased envvar

• prereq, prereq-any, prereq-all, depends-on, always-load, load, load-any, try-load, switch and
switch-on: these elements related to module requirement definition accept a module specification as
value name and may be aliased require

• conflict, unload, switch and switch-off: these elements related to module incompatibility definition
accept a module specification as value name and may be aliased incompat

Each of the above supported elements corresponds to a Tcl modulefile command. load, load-any, try-load,
switch and unload match corresponding module sub-commands. prereq-any is an alias on prereq and vice
versa as both Tcl modulefile commands are the same. Following the same trend prereq-all is an alias on
depends-on and vice versa. Regarding switch-off and switch-on elements they correspond respectively to
the module to unload (if specified) and the module to load on a module switch command. switch is an alias
that matches both switch-off and switch-on elements. require and incompat elements do not match module
commands where --not-req option is set.

When several names are set on one element criterion (e.g., env:PATH,LD_LIBRARY_PATH), they act as an OR
operation. Which means modules listed in result are those matching any of the element names defined.

When several extra specifiers are set on a module search query (e.g., env:PATH env:LD_LIBRARY_PATH), they
act as an AND operation. Which means modules listed in result are those matching all extra specifiers
defined.

Module specification used as name value for some extra specifier elements may leverage Advanced module
version specifiers syntax. However if a module version range or list is implied, it is currently resolved
to existing modules. Thus it may not match modulefile definitions targeting modules that do not exist. In
addition, module aliases and symbolic versions are not resolved to their target either if set in extra
specifier query or in modulefile definition.

Extra specifier can only be set in a module search context (avail, whatis and paths sub-commands). An
error is raised if used on a module specification query in another context. An error is also raised if an
unknown extra specifier element is defined in search query.

Module tags
Module tags are piece of information that can be associated to individual modulefiles. Tags could be
purely informational or may lead to specific behaviors.

Module tags may be inherited from the module state set by a modulefile command or consequence of a module
action. The inherited tags are:

• auto-loaded: module has been automatically loaded by another module

• forbidden: module has been set forbidden through the use of the module-forbid command and thus this
module cannot be loaded.

• hidden: module has been set hidden through the use of the module-hide command and thus it is not
reported by default among the result of an avail sub-command.

• hidden-loaded: module has been set hidden once loaded through the use of the module-hide
--hidden-loaded command thus it is not reported bu default among the result of a list sub-command.

• loaded: module is currently loaded

• nearly-forbidden: module will soon be forbidden, which has been set through the use of the
module-forbid command. Thus this module will soon not be able to load anymore.

Tags may also be associated to modules by using the module-tag modulefile command. Among tags that could
be set this way, some have a special meaning:

• keep-loaded: auto-loaded module cannot be automatically unloaded. This tag is also set through the use
of the always-load command.

• sticky: module once loaded cannot be unloaded unless forced or reloaded (see Sticky modules section)

• super-sticky: module once loaded cannot be unloaded unless reloaded, module cannot be unloaded even if
forced (see Sticky modules section)

The --tag option helps to apply additional tags to modules. It is available on load, load-any, switch and
try-load sub-commands and on always-load, depends-on, module, prereq, prereq-all and prereq-any
modulefile commands. In case the designated module is already loaded, the additional tags are added to
the list of tags already applied to this module.

Module tags are reported along the module they are associated to on avail and list sub-command results
and also when module's loading, unloading, refreshing or tagging evaluation is mentioned. Tags could be
reported either:

• along the module name, all tags set within angle brackets, each tag separated from the others with a
colon character (e.g., foo/1.2 <tag1:tag2>).

• graphically rendered over the module name for each tag associated to a Select Graphic Rendition (SGR)
code in the color palette (see MODULES_COLORS)

When an abbreviated string is associated to a tag name (see MODULES_TAG_ABBREV), this abbreviation is
used to report tag along the module name or the tag is graphically rendered over the module name if a SGR
code is associated with tag abbreviation in the color palette. With an abbreviation set, the SGR code
associated to the tag full name is ignored thus an SGR code should be associated to the abbreviation to
get a graphical rendering of tag. If the abbreviation associated to a tag corresponds to the empty
string, tag is not reported.

Graphical rendering is made over the tag name or abbreviation instead of over the module name for each
tag name or abbreviation set in the MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME environment variable.

When several tags have to be rendered graphically over the same module name, each tag is rendered over a
sub-part of the module name. In case more tags need to be rendered than the total number of characters in
the module name, the remaining tags are graphically rendered over the tag name instead of over the module
name.

When the JSON output mode is enabled (with --json), tags are reported by their name under the tags
attribute. Tag abbreviation and color rendering do not apply on JSON output.

Module tags cannot be used in search query to designate a modulefile.

Sticky modules
Modules are said sticky when they cannot be unloaded (they stick to the loaded environment). Two kind of
stickiness can be distinguished:

• sticky module: cannot be unloaded unless if the unload is forced or if the module is reloaded after
being unloaded or if restoring a collection.

• super-sticky module: cannot be unloaded unless if the module is reloaded after being unloaded;
super-sticky modules cannot be unloaded even if the unload is forced.

Modules are designated sticky by associating them the sticky or the super-sticky module tag with the
module-tag modulefile command.

When stickiness is defined over the generic module name (and not over a specific module version, a
version list or a version range), sticky or super-sticky module can be swapped by another version of
module. For instance if the sticky tag is defined over foo module, loaded module foo/1.2 can be swapped
by foo/2.0. Such stickiness definition means one version of module should stay loaded whatever version it
is.

When restoring a collection or resetting to the initial environment, sticky modules are unloaded to
ensure restore or reset sub-commands fully set the environment in target collection or initial state.
Super-sticky modules still cannot be unloaded with restore and reset sub-commands.

Module variants
Module variants are alternative evaluation of the same modulefile. A variant is specified by associating
a value to its name when designating module. Variant specification relies on the Advanced module version
specifiers mechanism.

Once specified, variant's value is transmitted to the evaluating modulefile which instantiates the
variant in the ModuleVariant array variable when reaching the variant modulefile command declaring this
variant. For instance the module load foo/1.2 bar=value1 command leads to the evaluation of foo/1.2
modulefile with bar=value1 variant specification. When reaching the variant bar value1 value2 value3
command in modulefile during its evaluation, the ModuleVariant(bar) array element is set to the value1
string.

Once variants are instantiated, modulefile's code could check the variant values to adapt the evaluation
and define for instance different module requirements or produce different environment variable setup.

Variants are interpreted in contexts where modulefiles are evaluated. Variants specified on module
designation are ignored by the is-avail or path sub-commands. On search sub-commands (avail, whatis and
paths), variants are interpreted and trigger the Extra match search process to filter results.

When modulefile is evaluated a value should be specified for each variant this modulefile declares. When
reaching the variant modulefile command declaring a variant, an error is raised if no value is specified
for this variant and if no default value is declared. Specified variant value should match a value from
the declared accepted value list if such list is defined otherwise an error is raised. Additionally if a
variant is specified but does not correspond to a variant declared in modulefile, an error is raised.

When searching for modules with variants specified in search query, the Extra match search process
triggers a specific scan modulefile evaluation. Variants defined in modulefile are collected during this
evaluation then compared to the variants specified in search query. If there is a match, module is
included in search results otherwise it is withdrawn.

When searching for available modules, if one variant is specified multiple times, matching modules are
those providing all specified variant values. For instance bar=value1 bar=value2 will return modules
defining a bar variant with value1 and value2 as available values. On a module selection context, only
the last specified value is retained. Which means on previous example that bar variant is set to value2.

When searching for available modules, multiple values may be set on one variant criterion, which matches
modules that provides any of these variant values. For instance bar=value1,value2 will return modules
defining a bar variant with either value1 or value2 as available value.

Module variants are reported along the module they are associated to on list sub-command results. They
are also reported on avail sub-command if specified in search query or added to the element to report in
sub-command output (see --output/-o option).

Variants are reported within curly braces next to module name, each variant definition separated from the
others with a colon character (e.g., foo/1.2{variant1=value:+variant2}). Boolean variants are reported
with the +name or -name syntaxes on list sub-command or with the name=on,off syntax on avail sub-command.
When a shortcut character is defined for a variant (see MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT) it is reported with the
<shortcut>value syntax. For instance if % character is defined as a shortcut for variant1:
foo/1.2{%value:+variant2}.

When the JSON output mode is enabled (with --json), variants are reported under the variants JSON object
as name/value pairs. Values of Boolean variant are set as JSON Boolean. Other values are set as JSON
strings. Variant shortcut and color rendering do not apply on JSON output.

Extra match search
Extra match search is a mechanism that evaluates available modulefiles during a module search to find
those matching an extra query or to report additional information. After selecting modulefiles that match
the module name and version specified in search query, these remaining modulefiles are evaluated to
collect their content.

Extra match search is available on the following module search sub-commands: avail, whatis and paths.

Extra match search is triggered when:

• Module variants and their available values have to be reported in avail output (see --output/-o
option): extra match search is triggered to collect variant information

• Module variant is specified in search query: extra match search is triggered to collect variant
information then match them against variant specified in query

• Extra specifier is specified in search query: extra match search is triggered to collect commands used
in modulefiles or modulercs then match them against extra specifier query

If search query does not contain an extra query and if variant information should not be reported, no
extra match search is performed. If search query does not contain any module name and version but
contains an extra query or if variant information should be reported, extra match search is applied to
all available modulefiles.

During this specific evaluation, modulefiles are interpreted in scan mode. This mode aims to collect the
different Tcl modulefile commands used. Special care should be given when writing modulefiles to ensure
they cope with such evaluation mode.

Modulefiles tagged forbidden are excluded from extra match search evaluation. Thus they are excluded from
result when this mechanism is triggered.

No scan modulefile evaluation is performed if search query is only composed of tag extra specifier.
Module tags are defined in modulercs thus no modulefile evaluation is required to get tags applying to a
modulefile.

As extra match search implies additional modulefile evaluations, it is advised to build and use Module
cache to improve search speed.

Collections
Collections describe a sequence of module use then module load commands that are interpreted by
modulecmd.tcl to set the user environment as described by this sequence.

Collections are generated by the save sub-command that dumps the current user environment state in terms
of module paths and loaded modules. By default collections are saved under the $HOME/.module directory.

$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
1) foo/1.2 2) bar/2.0 3) qux/3.5
$ module save foo
$ cat $HOME/.module/foo
module use --append /path/to/modulefiles
module load foo
module load bar/2.0
module load qux/3.5

The content of a collection can also be displayed with the saveshow sub-command. Note that in the above
example, bare module name is recorded for foo modulefile as loaded version is the implicit default.
Loaded version recording can be enforced by enabling collection_pin_version configuration option.

$ module config collection_pin_version 1
$ module save foo
$ module saveshow foo
-------------------------------------------------------------------
/home/user/.module/foo:

module use --append /path/to/modulefiles
module load foo/1.2
module load bar/2.0
module load qux/3.5

-------------------------------------------------------------------

When a collection is activated, with the restore sub-command, module paths and loaded modules are unused
or unloaded if they are not part or if they are not ordered the same way as in the collection.

$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
1) foo/1.2 2) bar/2.1 3) qux/3.5
$ module restore foo
Unloading qux/3.5
Unloading bar/2.1
Loading bar/2.0
Loading qux/3.5
$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
1) foo/1.2 2) bar/2.0 3) qux/3.5

In the above example, second and third module loaded are changed. First loaded module is not changed or
reloaded as it is the same module between current environment and collection. As second loaded module was
different, this module and all those loaded afterward are unloaded to then load the sequence described by
collection. As a result, third loaded module is reloaded, even if is was the same module between current
environment and collection.

Existing collections can be listed with savelist sub-command. They can be deleted with saverm
sub-command.

$ module savelist
Named collection list:
1) default 2) foo
$ module saverm default
$ module savelist
Named collection list:
1) foo

When no argument is provided to save, restore, saveshow or saverm sub-commands, the default collection is
assumed.

Collection can also be specified as a full pathname:

$ module save /path/to/collections/bar
$ module saveshow /path/to/collections/bar
-------------------------------------------------------------------
/path/to/collections/bar:

module use --append /path/to/modulefiles
module load foo/1.2
module load bar/2.0
module load qux/3.5

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Initial environment
Initial environment state, which corresponds to modulepaths enabled and modules loaded during Modules
initialization, is referred as the __init__ collection. This collection is virtual as its content is
stored in the __MODULES_LMINIT and not in a file. It can be displayed with saveshow and restored with
restore sub-command.

$ module saveshow __init__
-------------------------------------------------------------------
initial environment:

module use --append /path/to/modulefiles
module load foo/1.2

-------------------------------------------------------------------

If the default collection does not exist, saveshow and restore sub-commands assume __init__ collection
when no argument provided to them.

$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
1) foo/1.2 2) bar/2.1 3) qux/3.5
$ module savelist
Named collection list:
1) foo
$ module restore
Unloading qux/3.5
Unloading bar/2.1

Initial environment state can also be restored with the reset sub-command. This sub-command behavior can
be changed with reset_target_state configuration option to choose to just purge loaded modules or to
restore a specific collection.

Collection targets
A collection target can be defined for current environment session with the collection_target
configuration option. When set, available collections are reduced to those suffixed with target name.
Which means restore, saveshow, savelist and saverm only find collections matching currently set target.

$ module savelist
Named collection list:
1) foo
$ module config collection_target mytarget
$ module savelist
No named collection (for target "mytarget").
$ module restore foo
ERROR: Collection foo (for target "mytarget") cannot be found

When saving a new collection, generated file is suffixed with currently set target name.

$ module save bar
$ module savelist
Named collection list (for target "mytarget"):
1) bar
$ ls $HOME/.module
bar.mytarget foo

Collection targets help to distinguish contexts and make collection reachable only from the context they
have been made for. For instance the same user account may be used to access different OSes or machine
architectures. With a target set, users are ensured to only access collections built for the context they
are currently connected to. See also MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET section.

Stash collections
Current user environment can be stashed with stash sub-command. When this sub-command is called, current
module environment is saved in a stash collection then initial environment is restored.

$ module list
Currently Loaded Modulefiles:
1) foo/1.2 2) qux/4.2
$ module stash
Unloading qux/4.2

Specific sub-commands are available to handle stash collections: stashpop, stashlist, stashshow, stashrm
and stashclear. A stash collection is restored with stashpop which also deletes the collection once
restored.

$ module stashlist
Stash collection list (for target "mytarget"):
0) stash-1667669750191
$ module stashpop
Loading qux/4.2
$ module stashlist
No stash collection (for target "mytarget").

Stash collections have same format and are saved in the same location than other collections. Collection
target also applies to stash collection. Creation timestamp is saved in stash collection name.

Stash collection can be designated by their full collection name (i.e., stash-<creation_timestamp>) or a
stash index. Most recent stash collection has index 0, 1 is the one before it. When no argument is
provided on stash sub-commands, the latest stash collection is assumed (that is stash index 0).

$ module stashlist
Stash collection list (for target "mytarget"):
0) stash-1667669750783 1) stash-1667669750253
$ module stashshow 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------
/home/user/.module/stash-1667669750253.mytarget:

module use --append /path/to/modulefiles
module load foo/1.2
module load bar/2.0

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Site-specific configuration
Siteconfig, the site-specific configuration script, is a way to extend modulecmd.tcl. Siteconfig is a Tcl
script. Its location is /etc/environment-modules/siteconfig.tcl.

When modulecmd.tcl is invoked it sources siteconfig script if it exists. Any global variable or procedure
of modulecmd.tcl can be redefined in siteconfig.

An additional siteconfig script may be specified through the extra_siteconfig configuration option. The
MODULES_SITECONFIG environment variable is defined by config sub-command when setting extra_siteconfig.
If it exists the extra siteconfig is sourced by modulecmd.tcl right after main siteconfig script.

Hooks
Siteconfig relies on the ability of the Tcl language to overwrite previously defined variables and
procedures. Sites may deploy their own Tcl code in siteconfig to adapt modulecmd.tcl to their specific
needs. The trace Tcl command may especially be used to define hooks that are run when entering or leaving
a given procedure, or when a variable is read or written. See trace(n) man page for detailed
information. The following example setup a procedure that is executed before each modulefile evaluation:

proc beforeEval {cmdstring code result op} {
# code to run right before each modulefile evaluation
}
trace add execution execute-modulefile enter beforeEval

Another possibility is to override the definition of an existing procedure by first renaming its original
version then creating a new procedure that will add specific code and rely on the renamed original
procedure for the rest. See rename(n) man page for details. As an example, the following code adds a new
query option to the module-info modulefile command:

rename module-info __module-info
proc module-info {what {more {}}} {
switch -- $what {
platform { return myhost-$::tcl_platform(machine) }
default { return [__module-info $what $more] }
}
}

Siteconfig hook variables
Some Tcl variables can be defined in siteconfig script with special hook meaning. The following variables
are recognized:

modulefile_extra_vars
List of variable names and associated values to setup in modulefile evaluation context. These
variables can be accessed when modulefile is executed. In case code in a modulefile changes the
value of such variable, its value is reset to the one defined in modulefile_extra_vars prior the
evaluation of the next modulefile.

set modulefile_extra_vars {myvar 1 othervar {some text}}

In the above siteconfig example, modulefile_extra_vars sets the myvar and othervar variables in
the modulefile evaluation context with respectively 1 and some text as value.

modulefile_extra_cmds
List of command and associated local procedure to setup in modulefile evaluation context. These
commands can be called from the modulefile to execute associated procedure. In case a modulefile
changes the definition of such command, its definition is bound again on the procedure defined in
modulefile_extra_cmds prior the evaluation of the next modulefile.

proc mycmd {} {
# Tcl code
}
proc anotherproc {args} {
# Tcl code
}
set modulefile_extra_cmds {mycmd mycmd othercmd anotherproc}

In the above siteconfig example, modulefile_extra_cmds sets the mycmd and othercmd commands in the
modulefile evaluation context and bind them respectively to the mycmd and anotherproc procedures
defined in siteconfig script.

modulerc_extra_vars
List of variable names and associated values to setup in modulerc evaluation context. These
variables can be accessed when modulerc is executed. In case code in a modulerc changes the value
of such variable, its value is reset to the one defined in modulerc_extra_vars prior the
evaluation of the next modulerc.

set modulerc_extra_vars {myvar 1 othervar {some text}}

In the above siteconfig example, modulerc_extra_vars sets the myvar and othervar variables in the
modulerc evaluation context with respectively 1 and some text as value.

modulerc_extra_cmds
List of command and associated local procedure to setup in modulerc evaluation context. These
commands can be called from the modulerc to execute associated procedure. In case a modulerc
changes the definition of such command, its definition is bound again on the procedure defined in
modulerc_extra_cmds prior the evaluation of the next modulerc.

proc mycmd {} {
# Tcl code
}
proc anotherproc {args} {
# Tcl code
}
set modulerc_extra_cmds {mycmd mycmd othercmd anotherproc}

In the above siteconfig example, modulerc_extra_cmds sets the mycmd and othercmd commands in the
modulerc evaluation context and bind them respectively to the mycmd and anotherproc procedures
defined in siteconfig script.

Module cache
To improve module search efficiency, a module cache can be setup in each modulepath. A module cache is
represented by a .modulecache file stored at the root of modulepath directory. This file aggregates
contents of all valid modulercs and modulefiles and issue description of all non-modulefiles stored in
modulepath directory.

When cache file is available, a module search analyzes this file rather walking through the content of
modulepath directory to check if files are modulefiles or not. Cache file reduces module search
processing time especially when hundreds of modulefiles are available and if these files are located on
busy storage systems. Having one file to read per modulepath rather walking through a whole directory
content extremely reduces the number of required I/O operations.

When modulefiles or directories in the modulepath are not accessible for everyone, a limited access
indication is recorded in cache file rather content of these modulefiles and content of these
directories. When cache file containing such indication is processed, the limited access modulefiles are
tested to check if they are available to the current running user. Limited access directories are walked
down to find all available modulefiles and modulercs.

Cache files are generated with cachebuild sub-command. This command has to be run by someone who owns
write access in modulepath directory to create cache file.

Cache files are used any time a module search occurs in modulepaths. They are analyzed for instance
during avail, load, display or whatis sub-commands.

Cache files are removed with cacheclear sub-command. This command has to be run by someone who own write
access in modulepath directory to effectively delete cache file.

EXIT STATUS

       The module command exits with 0 if its execution succeed.  Otherwise 1 is returned.

ENVIRONMENT

__MODULES_AUTOINIT_INPROGRESS
If set to 1, the autoinit sub-command process is skipped.

This environment variable is set to 1 by the autoinit sub-command after checking it is not set. It
ensures no nested initialization of Modules occur. At the end of the processing of the autoinit
sub-command, __MODULES_AUTOINIT_INPROGRESS is unset.

__MODULES_LMALTNAME
A colon separated list of the alternative names set through module-version and module-alias
statements corresponding to all loaded modulefiles. Each element in this list starts by the name
of the loaded modulefile followed by all alternative names resolving to it. The loaded modulefile
and its alternative names are separated by the ampersand character.

Each alternative name stored in __MODULES_LMALTNAME is prefixed by the al| string if it
corresponds to a module alias or prefixed by the as| string if it corresponds to an automatic
version symbol. These prefixes help to distinguish the different kind of alternative name.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
alternative names matching loaded modulefiles in order to keep environment consistent when
conflicts or pre-requirements are set over these alternative designations. It also helps to find a
match after modulefiles being loaded when unload, is-loaded or info-loaded actions are run over
these names.

Starting version 4.7 of Modules, __MODULES_LMALTNAME is also used on list sub-command to report
the symbolic versions associated with the loaded modules.

__MODULES_LMCONFLICT
A colon separated list of the conflict statements defined by all loaded modulefiles. Each element
in this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile declaring the conflict followed by the
name of all modulefiles it declares a conflict with. These loaded modulefiles and conflicting
modulefile names are separated by the ampersand character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
conflicts declared by the loaded modulefiles in order to keep environment consistent when a
conflicting module is asked for load afterward.

__MODULES_LMEXTRATAG
A colon separated list of the tags corresponding to all loaded modulefiles that have been set
through the --tag option. Each element in this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile
followed by all explicitly set tags applying to it. The loaded modulefile and its tags are
separated by the ampersand character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to distinguish from all tags
those that have been specifically set with --tag option.

__MODULES_LMINIT
A colon separated list describing the modulepaths that have been enabled and the modulefiles that
have been loaded with their tags during Modules initialization. Each element in this list
corresponds to a collection definition line.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
initial loaded state after initialization.

This initial environment state can then be restored with reset sub-command. It can also be
restored with restore sub-command when __init__ collection name is specified or when no collection
name is specified and no default collection exists.

The content of the initial environment can be displayed with saveshow sub-command when __init__
collection name is specified or when no collection name is specified and no default collection
exists.

__MODULES_LMPREREQ
A colon separated list of the prereq statements defined by all loaded modulefiles. Each element in
this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile declaring the pre-requirement followed by
the name of all modulefiles it declares a prereq with. These loaded modulefiles and pre-required
modulefile names are separated by the ampersand character. When a prereq statement is composed of
multiple modulefiles, these modulefile names are separated by the pipe character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
pre-requirement declared by the loaded modulefiles in order to keep environment consistent when a
pre-required module is asked for unload afterward.

__MODULES_LMREFRESH
A colon separated list of the loaded modules that are qualified for refresh evaluation. Loaded
modules listed in this variable are those defining volatile environment changes like shell
completion, alias and function.

__MODULES_LMSOURCESH
A colon separated list of the source-sh statements defined by all loaded modulefiles. Each element
in this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile declaring the environment changes made by
the evaluation of source-sh scripts. This name is followed by each source-sh statement call and
corresponding result achieved in modulefile. The loaded modulefile name and each source-sh
statement description are separated by the ampersand character. The source-sh statement call and
each resulting modulefile command (corresponding to the environment changes done by sourced
script) are separated by the pipe character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
modulefile commands applied for each source-sh command when loading the modulefile. In order to
reverse these modulefile commands when modulefile is unloaded to undo the environment changes.

__MODULES_LMSTICKYRULE
A colon separated list of the sticky or super-sticky tag definitions applying to loaded
modulefiles. Each element in this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile followed by the
sticky tag name and the module specifications on which the tag applies. These loaded modulefiles
and sticky tag definitions are separated by the ampersand character. Tag name and module
specifications on which it applies are separated by the pipe character.

When stickiness applies specifically to the loaded module name and version, sticky rule is not
recorded in __MODULES_LMSTICKYRULE.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
stickiness scope when sticky module is changed.

__MODULES_LMTAG
A colon separated list of the tags corresponding to all loaded modulefiles that have been set
through module-tag statements or from other modulefile statements like module-forbid (that may
apply the nearly-forbidden tag in specific situation) (see Module tags section). Each element in
this list starts by the name of the loaded modulefile followed by all tags applying to it. The
loaded modulefile and its tags are separated by the ampersand character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the tags
applying to loaded modulefiles in order to report these tags on list sub-command output or to
apply specific behavior when unloading modulefile.

__MODULES_LMVARIANT
A colon separated list of the variant instantiated through variant statements by all loaded
modulefiles (see Module variants section). Each element in this list starts by the name of the
loaded modulefile followed by all the variant definitions set during the load of this module. The
loaded modulefile and each of its variant definition are separated by the ampersand character.
Each variant definition starts with the variant name, followed by the variant value set, then a
flag to know if variant is of the Boolean type and last element in this definition is a flag to
know if the chosen value is the default one for this variant and if it has been automatically set
or not. These four elements composing the variant definition are separated by the pipe character.

This environment variable is intended for module command internal use to get knowledge of the
variant value defined by the loaded modulefiles in order to keep environment consistent when
requirements are set over a specific variant value or just to report these variant values when
listing loaded modules.

__MODULES_PUSHENV_<VAR>
Stack of saved values for <VAR> environment variable. A colon-separated list containing pairs of
elements. A pair is formed by a loaded module name followed by the value set to <VAR> in this
module with pushenv command. An ampersand character separates the two parts of the pair.

First element in list corresponds to the lastly set value of <VAR>. If a value were set to <VAR>
prior the first evaluated pushenv command, this value is associated to an empty module name to
record it as a pair element in __MODULES_PUSHENV_<VAR>.

__MODULES_QUAR_<VAR>
Value of environment variable <VAR> passed to modulecmd.tcl in order to restore <VAR> to this
value once started.

__MODULES_QUARANTINE_SET
If set to 1, restore the environment variables set on hold by the quarantine mechanism when
starting modulecmd.tcl script. This variable is automatically defined by Modules shell
initialization scripts or module shell function when they apply the quarantine mechanism. (see
MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT).

__MODULES_SHARE_<VAR>
Reference counter variable for path-like variable <VAR>. A colon separated list containing pairs
of elements. A pair is formed by a path element followed its usage counter which represents the
number of times this path has been enabled in variable <VAR>. A colon separates the two parts of
the pair.

An element of a path-like variable is added to the reference counter variable as soon as it is
added more than one time. When an element of a path-like variable is not found in the reference
counter variable, it means this element has only be added once to the path-like variable.

When an empty string is added as an element in the path-like variable, it is added to the
reference counter variable even if added only once to distinguish between an empty path-like
variable and a path-like variable containing an empty string as single element.

_LMFILES_
A colon separated list of the full pathname for all loaded modulefiles.

This environment variable is generated by module command and should not be modified externally.

LOADEDMODULES
A colon separated list of all loaded modulefiles.

This environment variable is generated by module command and should not be modified externally.

MODULECONTACT
Email address to contact in case any issue occurs during the interpretation of modulefiles.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the contact configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULEPATH
The path that the module command searches when looking for modulefiles. Typically, it is set to
the main modulefiles directory, /usr/share/modules/modulefiles, by the initialization script.
MODULEPATH can be set using module use or by the module initialization script to search group or
personal modulefile directories before or after the main modulefile directory.

Path elements registered in the MODULEPATH environment variable may contain reference to
environment variables which are converted to their corresponding value by module command each time
it looks at the MODULEPATH value. If an environment variable referred in a path element is not
defined, its reference is converted to an empty string.

MODULERCFILE
The location of a global run-command file(s) containing modulefile specific setup. See Modulecmd
startup section for detailed information.

Several global run-command files may be defined in this environment variable by separating each of
them by colon character.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the rcfile configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_ABORT_ON_ERROR
A colon separated list of the module sub-commands that abort their evaluation sequence when an
error is raised by an evaluated module. When error occurs, evaluations already done are withdrawn
and the remaining modules to evaluate are skipped.

Accepted sub-commands that can be set in value list are:

• load

• ml

• mod-to-sh

• purge

• reload

• switch

• switch_unload

• try-load

• unload

Module sub-commands not configured to follow the abort on error behavior, apply the continue on
error behavior. In this case if one modulefile evaluation fails, sequence continues with remaining
modulefiles. When --force option is used, continue on error behavior applies.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the abort_on_error
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_ADVANCED_VERSION_SPEC
If set to 1, enable advanced module version specifiers (see Advanced module version specifiers
section). If set to 0, disable advanced module version specifiers.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the advanced_version_spec
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING
If set to 1, enable automated module handling mode. If set to 0 disable automated module handling
mode. Other values are ignored.

Automated module handling mode consists in additional actions triggered when loading or unloading
a modulefile to satisfy the constraints it declares. When loading a modulefile, following actions
are triggered:

• Requirement Load: load of the modulefiles declared as a prereq of the loading modulefile.

• Dependent Reload: reload of the modulefiles declaring a prereq onto loaded modulefile or
declaring a prereq onto a modulefile part of this reloading batch.

When unloading a modulefile, following actions are triggered:

• Dependent Unload: unload of the modulefiles declaring a non-optional prereq onto unloaded
modulefile or declaring a non-optional prereq onto a modulefile part of this unloading batch. A
prereq modulefile is considered optional if the prereq definition order is made of multiple
modulefiles and at least one alternative modulefile is loaded.

• Useless Requirement Unload: unload of the prereq modulefiles that have been automatically loaded
for either the unloaded modulefile, an unloaded dependent modulefile or a modulefile part of
this useless requirement unloading batch. Modulefiles are added to this unloading batch only if
they are not required by any other loaded modulefiles and if they are not tagged keep-loaded.

• Dependent Reload: reload of the modulefiles declaring a conflict or an optional prereq onto
either the unloaded modulefile, an unloaded dependent or an unloaded useless requirement or
declaring a prereq onto a modulefile part of this reloading batch.

In case a loaded modulefile has some of its declared constraints unsatisfied (pre-required
modulefile not loaded or conflicting modulefile loaded for instance), this loaded modulefile is
excluded from the automatic reload actions described above.

For the specific case of the switch sub-command, where a modulefile is unloaded to then load
another modulefile. Dependent modulefiles to Unload are merged into the Dependent modulefiles to
Reload that are reloaded after the load of the switched-to modulefile.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set on the auto_handling
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --auto and --no-auto
command line switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_AVAIL_INDEPTH
If set to 1, enable in depth search results for avail sub-command. If set to 0 disable avail
sub-command in depth mode. Other values are ignored.

When in depth mode is enabled, modulefiles and directories contained in directories matching
search query are also included in search results. When disabled these modulefiles and directories
contained in matching directories are excluded.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the avail_indepth
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --indepth and
--no-indepth command line switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_AVAIL_OUTPUT
A colon separated list of the elements to report in addition to module names on avail sub-command
regular output mode.

Accepted elements that can be set in value list are:

• alias: module aliases.

• dirwsym: directories associated with symbolic versions.

• indesym: symbolic versions reported independently from the module or directory they are attached
to.

• key: legend appended at the end of the output to explain it.

• modulepath: modulepath names set as header prior the list of available modules found in them.

• sym: symbolic versions associated with available modules.

• tag: tags associated with available modules.

• variant: variants and their possible values associated with available modules.

• variantifspec: like variant but only if a variant has been specified in search query.

The order of the elements in the list does not matter. Module names are the only content reported
when LIST is set to an empty value.

In case the modulepath element is missing from value list, the available modules from global/user
rc and all enabled modulepaths are reported as a single list.

When indesym element is set, dirwsym and sym elements are disabled.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the avail_output configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --output/-o command line switches
override this environment variable.

MODULES_AVAIL_TERSE_OUTPUT
A colon separated list of the elements to report in addition to module names on avail sub-command
terse output mode.

See MODULES_AVAIL_OUTPUT to get the accepted elements that can be set in value list.

The order of the elements in the list does not matter. Module names are the only content reported
when LIST is set to an empty value.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the avail_terse_output
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --output/-o command line
switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_CACHE_BUFFER_BYTES
Size of the buffer used when reading or writing cache files. Accepted values are integers
comprised between 4096 and 1000000.

MODULES_CACHE_EXPIRY_SECS
Number of seconds a cache file is considered valid after being generated. For example, if set to
3600 it means a cache file expires one hour after being generated and is then ignored.

When set to 0 cache file never expires. Accepted values are integers comprised between 0 (cache
files never expire) and 31536000 (equivalent to one year duration).

MODULES_CMD
The location of the active module command script.

This environment variable is generated by module command and should not be modified externally.

MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_VERSION
If set to 1, register exact version number of modulefiles when saving a collection. Otherwise
modulefile version number is omitted if it corresponds to the explicitly set default version and
also to the implicit default when the configuration option implicit_default is enabled.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the collection_pin_version
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_COLLECTION_PIN_TAG
If set to 1, register all tags applying to modulefiles when saving a collection. Otherwise only
the extra tags set through the --tag option and tags resulting from specific module states (like
auto-loaded and keep-loaded tags) are recorded in collection. Note that the nearly-forbidden tag
due to its temporal meaning is not saved in collection even when this configuration option is
enabled.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the collection_pin_tag
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET
The collection target that determines what collections are valid thus reachable on the current
system.

Collection directory may sometimes be shared on multiple machines which may use different modules
setup. For instance modules users may access with the same HOME directory multiple systems using
different OS versions. When it happens a collection made on machine 1 may be erroneous on machine
2.

When a target is set, only the collections made for that target are available to the restore,
savelist, saveshow, saverm, stash, stashpop, stashlist, stashshow, and stashrm sub-commands.
Saving a collection registers the target footprint by suffixing the collection filename with
.$MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET. The collection target is not involved when collection is specified as
file path on the saveshow, restore and save sub-commands.

For example, the MODULES_COLLECTION_TARGET variable may be set with results from commands like
lsb_release, hostname, dnsdomainname, etc.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the collection_target
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_COLOR
Defines if output should be colored or not. Accepted values are never, auto and always.

When color mode is set to auto, output is colored only if the standard error output channel is
attached to a terminal.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the color configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --color command line switch overrides
this environment variable.

NO_COLOR, CLICOLOR and CLICOLOR_FORCE environment variables are also honored to define color mode.
The never mode is set if NO_COLOR is defined (regardless of its value) or if CLICOLOR equals to 0.
If CLICOLOR is set to another value, it corresponds to the auto mode. The always mode is set if
CLICOLOR_FORCE is set to a value different than 0. NO_COLOR variable prevails over CLICOLOR and
CLICOLOR_FORCE. Color mode set with these three variables is superseded by mode set with
MODULES_COLOR environment variable or with --color command line switch..

MODULES_COLORS
Specifies the colors and other attributes used to highlight various parts of the output. Its value
is a colon-separated list of output items associated to a Select Graphic Rendition (SGR) code. It
follows the same syntax than LS_COLORS.

Output items are designated by keys. Items able to be colorized are: highlighted element (hi),
debug information (db), trace information (tr), tag separator (se); Error (er), warning (wa),
module error (me) and info (in) message prefixes; Modulepath (mp), directory (di), module alias
(al), module variant (va), module symbolic version (sy), module default version (de) and
modulefile command (cm).

Module tags can also be colorized. The key to set in the color palette to get a graphical
rendering of a tag is the tag name or the tag abbreviation if one is defined for tag. The SGR code
applied to a tag name is ignored if an abbreviation is set for this tag thus the SGR code should
be defined for this abbreviation to get a graphical rendering. Each basic tag has by default a key
set in the color palette, based on its abbreviated string: auto-loaded (aL), forbidden (F), hidden
and hidden-loaded (H), loaded (L), nearly-forbidden (nF), sticky (S), super-sticky (sS) and
keep-loaded (kL).

See the Select Graphic Rendition (SGR) section in the documentation of the text terminal that is
used for permitted values and their meaning as character attributes. These substring values are
integers in decimal representation and can be concatenated with semicolons. Modules takes care of
assembling the result into a complete SGR sequence (\33[...m). Common values to concatenate
include 1 for bold, 4 for underline, 30 to 37 for foreground colors and 90 to 97 for 16-color mode
foreground colors. See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANSI_escape_code#SGR_(Select_Graphic_Rendition)_parameters for a
complete SGR code reference.

No graphical rendition will be applied to an output item that could normally be colored but which
is not defined in the color set. Thus if MODULES_COLORS is defined empty, no output will be
colored at all.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the colors configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_EDITOR
Text editor command name or path for use to open modulefile through the edit sub-command.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the editor configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

Text editor could also be defined through the VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables. These
environment variables are overridden by MODULES_EDITOR.

MODULES_EXTENDED_DEFAULT
If set to 1, a specified module version is matched against starting portion of existing module
versions, where portion is a substring separated from the rest of the version string by a .
character. For example specified modules mod/1 and mod/1.2 will match existing modulefile
mod/1.2.3.

In case multiple modulefiles match the specified module version and a single module has to be
selected, the explicitly set default version is returned if it is part of matching modulefiles.
Otherwise the implicit default among matching modulefiles is returned if defined (see
MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT section)

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the extended_default
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_FAMILY_<NAME>
Module name minus version that provides for the name family in currently loaded environment. This
environment variable is defined through the use of the family modulefile command.

For instance if loading modulefile foo/1.0 defines being member of the bar family, the
MODULES_FAMILY_BAR will be set to the foo value.

This environment variable is generated by module command and should not be modified externally.

MODULES_ICASE
When module specification are passed as argument to module sub-commands or modulefile Tcl
commands, defines the case sensitiveness to apply to match them. When MODULES_ICASE is set to
never, a case sensitive match is applied in any cases. When set to search, a case insensitive
match is applied to the avail, list, whatis, paths and savelist sub-commands. When set to always,
a case insensitive match is also applied to the other module sub-commands and modulefile Tcl
commands for the module specification they receive as argument.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the icase configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --icase/-i command line switches, which
correspond to the always mode, override this environment variable.

MODULES_IGNORE_CACHE
Ignore (if set to 1) or not (if set to 0) module cache.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the ignore_cache configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --ignore-cache command line switch
overrides this environment variable.

MODULES_IGNORE_USER_RC
Skip evaluation (if set to 1) or not (if set to 0) of user-specific module rc file
($HOME/.modulerc).

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the ignore_user_rc
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --ignore-user-rc command
line switch overrides this environment variable.

MODULES_IMPLICIT_DEFAULT
Defines (if set to 1) or not (if set to 0) an implicit default version for modules without a
default version explicitly defined (see Locating Modulefiles section in the modulefile man page).

Without either an explicit or implicit default version defined a module must be fully qualified
(version should be specified in addition to its name) to get:

• targeted by module load, switch, display, help, test and path sub-commands.

• restored from a collection, unless already loaded in collection-specified order.

• automatically loaded by automated module handling mechanisms (see MODULES_AUTO_HANDLING section)
when declared as module requirement, with prereq or module load modulefile commands.

An error is returned in the above situations if either no explicit or implicit default version is
defined.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the implicit_default
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. This environment variable is
ignored if implicit_default has been declared locked in locked_configs configuration option.

MODULES_IMPLICIT_REQUIREMENT
Defines (if set to 1) or not (if set to 0) an implicit prereq or conflict requirement onto modules
specified respectively on module load or module unload commands in modulefile. When enabled an
implicit conflict requirement onto switched-off module and a prereq requirement onto switched-on
module are also defined for module switch commands used in modulefile.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the implicit_requirement
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --not-req option, applied
to a module command in a modulefile, overrides this environment variable.

MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT
A colon separated list of the elements to report in addition to module names on list sub-command
regular output mode.

Accepted elements that can be set in value list are:

• alias: module aliases targeting loaded modules.

• header: sentence to introduce the list of loaded modules or to state that no modules are loaded
currently.

• idx: index position of each loaded module.

• indesym: symbolic versions reported independently from the loaded module they are attached to.

• key: legend appended at the end of the output to explain it.

• variant: variant values selected for loaded modules.

• sym: symbolic versions associated with loaded modules.

• tag: tags associated with loaded modules.

The order of the elements in the list does not matter. Module names are the only content reported
when LIST is set to an empty value.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the list_output configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --output/-o command line switches
override this environment variable.

MODULES_LIST_TERSE_OUTPUT
A colon separated list of the elements to report in addition to module names on list sub-command
terse output mode.

See MODULES_LIST_OUTPUT to get the accepted elements that can be set in value list.

The order of the elements in the list does not matter. Module names are the only content reported
when LIST is set to an empty value.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the list_terse_output
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --output/-o command line
switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_MCOOKIE_CHECK
If set to eval, the Modules magic cookie (i.e., #%Module file signature) is only checked to
determine if a file is a modulefile when evaluating these files. If set to always, the Modules
magic cookie is also checked when searching for modules.

The eval mode is made to significantly reduce file checks when walking through modulepaths to
search for modulefiles. Special care should be given to the content of modulepaths when this eval
mode is set as the following kind of files are included in search results:

• modulefiles with a magic cookie requiring a higher version of modulecmd.tcl

• files not beginning with the magic cookie #%Module

• read-protected files

When a module cache file is available for a given modulepath, eval mode is not applied as cache
content is generated in always mode.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the mcookie_check
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_MCOOKIE_VERSION_CHECK
If set to 1, the version set in the Modules magic cookie in modulefile is checked against the
current version of modulecmd.tcl to determine if the modulefile can be evaluated.

When a module cache file is available for a given modulepath, version check is considered enabled
as cache content is generated in this mode.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the mcookie_version_check
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_ML
If set to 1, define ml command when initializing Modules (see Package Initialization section). If
set to 0, ml command is not defined.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the ml configuration option.
It can be defined with the config sub-command.

To enable or disable ml command, MODULES_ML should be set prior Modules initialization or the ml
configuration option should be set in the initrc configuration file.

MODULES_NEARLY_FORBIDDEN_DAYS
Number of days a module is considered nearly forbidden prior reaching its expiry date set by
module-forbid modulefile command. When a nearly forbidden module is evaluated a warning message is
issued to inform module will soon be forbidden. If set to 0, modules will never be considered
nearly forbidden. Accepted values are integers comprised between 0 and 365.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the nearly_forbidden_days
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_PAGER
Text viewer for use to paginate message output if error output stream is attached to a terminal.
The value of this variable is composed of a pager command name or path eventually followed by
command-line options.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the pager configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

If MODULES_PAGER variable is set to an empty string or to the value cat, pager will not be
launched.

MODULES_PROTECTED_ENVVARS
A colon separated list of environment variable names that should not be modified by any modulefile
command.

Prevents modifications by append-path, prepend-path, remove-path, setenv and unsetenv. When these
modulefile commands attempt to modify a protected environment variable, a warning message is
emitted and modification is ignored.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the protected_envvars
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT
If set to 1, produces the shell code for quarantine mechanism when the autoinit sub-command
generates the module shell function.

The generated shell code for quarantine mechanism indirectly passes the environment variable
defined in MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE to the modulecmd.tcl script to protect its run-time environment
from side-effect coming from the current definition of these variables.

To enable quarantine support, MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT should be set to 1 prior Modules
initialization or the quarantine_support configuration should be set to 1 in the initrc
configuration file.

Generated code for quarantine mechanism sets the __MODULES_QUARANTINE_SET environment variable
when calling the modulecmd.tcl script to make it restore the environment variable put in
quarantine.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the quarantine_support
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_REDIRECT_OUTPUT
If set to 0, the output generated by module command is kept on stderr and not redirected to stdout
channel.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the redirect_output
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --redirect and
--no-redirect command line switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_RESET_TARGET_STATE
Defines behavior of reset sub-command. When set to __init__, initial environment is restored. When
set to __purge__, reset performs a purge sub-command. Any other value designates a name collection
to restore.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the reset_target_state
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE
A space separated list of environment variable names that should be passed indirectly to
modulecmd.tcl to protect its run-time environment from side-effect coming from their current
definition.

If the quarantine mechanism has been included in module shell function (see
MODULES_QUARANTINE_SUPPORT), each variable found in MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE will have its value
emptied or set to the value of the corresponding MODULES_RUNENV_<VAR> variable when defining
modulecmd.tcl run-time environment.

Original values of these environment variables set in quarantine are passed to modulecmd.tcl via
__MODULES_QUAR_<VAR> variables.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the run_quarantine
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_RUNENV_<VAR>
Value to set to environment variable <VAR> for modulecmd.tcl run-time execution if <VAR> is
referred in MODULES_RUN_QUARANTINE.

MODULES_SEARCH_MATCH
When searching for modules with avail sub-command, defines the way query string should match
against available module names. With starts_with value, returned modules are those whose name
begins by search query string. When set to contains, any modules whose fully qualified name
contains search query string are returned.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the search_match configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --starts-with and --contains command
line switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_SET_SHELL_STARTUP
If set to 1, defines when module command initializes the shell startup file to ensure that the
module command is still defined in sub-shells. Setting shell startup file means defining the ENV
and BASH_ENV environment variable to the Modules bourne shell initialization script. If set to 0,
shell startup file is not defined.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the set_shell_startup
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

To enable shell startup file, MODULES_SET_SHELL_STARTUP should be set to 1 prior Modules
initialization or the set_shell_startup configuration option should be set to 1 in the initrc
configuration file.

MODULES_SHELLS_WITH_KSH_FPATH
A list of shell on which the FPATH environment variable should be defined at initialization time
to point to the ksh-functions directory where the ksh initialization script for module command is
located. It enables for the listed shells to get module function defined when starting ksh as
sub-shell from there.

Accepted values are a list of shell among sh, bash, csh, tcsh and fish separated by colon
character (:).

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the shells_with_ksh_fpath
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

To enable the setup of FPATH for some shells, MODULES_SHELLS_WITH_KSH_FPATH should be set to the
list of these shells prior Modules initialization or the shells_with_ksh_fpath configuration
option should be set to the list of these shells in the initrc configuration file.

MODULES_SILENT_SHELL_DEBUG
If set to 1, disable any xtrace or verbose debugging property set on current shell session for the
duration of either the module command or the module shell initialization script. Only applies to
Bourne Shell (sh) and its derivatives.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the silent_shell_debug
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

To generate the code to silence shell debugging property in the module shell function,
MODULES_SILENT_SHELL_DEBUG should be set to 1 prior Modules initialization or the
silent_shell_debug configuration option should be set to 1 in the initrc configuration file.

MODULES_SITECONFIG
Location of a site-specific configuration script to source into modulecmd.tcl. See Site-specific
configuration section for details.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the extra_siteconfig
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. This environment variable is
ignored if extra_siteconfig has been declared locked in locked_configs configuration option.

MODULES_SOURCE_CACHE
If set to 1, cache content of files evaluated in modulefile through source(n) Tcl command. When
same file is sourced multiple times, cached content is reused rather reading file again.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the source_cache configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_STICKY_PURGE
When unloading a sticky or super-sticky module during a module purge, raise an error or emit a
warning message or be silent.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the sticky_purge configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_TAG_ABBREV
Specifies the abbreviation strings used to report module tags (see Module tags section). Its value
is a colon-separated list of module tag names associated to an abbreviation string (e.g.
tagname=abbrev).

If a tag is associated to an empty string abbreviation, this tag will not be reported. In case the
whole MODULES_TAG_ABBREV environment variable is set to an empty string, tags are reported but not
abbreviated.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the tag_abbrev configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME
Specifies the tag names or abbreviations whose graphical rendering should be applied over
themselves instead of being applied over the name of the module they are attached to. Value of
MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME is a colon-separated list of module tag names or abbreviation strings (see
Module tags section).

When a select graphic rendition is defined for a tag name or a tag abbreviation string, it is
applied over the module name associated with the tag and tag name or abbreviation is not
displayed. When listed in MODULES_TAG_COLOR_NAME environment variable, a tag name or abbreviation
is displayed and select graphic rendition is applied over it.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the tag_color_name
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_TCL_LINTER
Command name or path for use to check syntax of modulefile through the lint sub-command.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the tcl_linter configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_TERM_BACKGROUND
Inform Modules of the terminal background color to determine if the color set for dark background
or the color set for light background should be used to color output in case no specific color set
is defined with the MODULES_COLORS variable. Accepted values are dark and light.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the term_background
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_TERM_WIDTH
Specifies the number of columns of the output. If set to 0, the output width will be the full
terminal width, which is automatically detected by the module command. Accepted values are
integers comprised between 0 and 1000.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the term_width configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --width/-w command line switches
override this environment variable.

MODULES_UNIQUE_NAME_LOADED
If set to 1, allows only one module loaded per module name. A conflict is raised when loading a
module whose name or alternative names are shared by an already loaded module.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the unique_name_loaded
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_UNLOAD_MATCH_ORDER
When a module unload request matches multiple loaded modules, unload firstly loaded module or
lastly loaded module. Accepted values are returnfirst and returnlast.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the unload_match_order
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_VARIANT_SHORTCUT
Specifies the shortcut characters that could be used to specify and report module variants (see
Module variants section). Its value is a colon-separated list of variant names associated to a
shortcut character (e.g., variantname=shortcutchar).

A variant shortcut must be of one character length and must avoid characters used for other
concerns or in module names (i.e., [-+~/@=a-zA-Z0-9]).

If a shortcut is associated to an empty string or an invalid character, this shortcut definition
will be ignored.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the variant_shortcut
configuration option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

MODULES_VERBOSITY
Defines the verbosity level of the module command. Available verbosity levels from the least to
the most verbose are:

• silent: turn off error, warning and informational messages but does not affect module command
output result.

• concise: enable error and warning messages but disable informational messages.

• normal: turn on informational messages, like a report of the additional module evaluations
triggered by loading or unloading modules, aborted evaluation issues or a report of each module
evaluation occurring during a restore or source sub-commands.

• verbose: add additional informational messages, like a systematic report of the loading or
unloading module evaluations.

• verbose2: report loading or unloading module evaluations of hidden-loaded modules, report if
loading module is already loaded or if unloading module is not loaded.

• trace: provide details on module searches, resolutions, selections and evaluations.

• debug: print debugging messages about module command execution.

• debug2: report modulecmd.tcl procedure calls in addition to printing debug messages.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the verbosity configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command. The --silent, --verbose, --debug and
--trace command line switches override this environment variable.

MODULES_WA_277
If set to 1 prior to Modules package initialization, enables workaround for Tcsh history issue
(see https://github.com/cea-hpc/modules/issues/277). This issue leads to erroneous history
entries under Tcsh shell. When workaround is enabled, an alternative module alias is defined which
fixes the history mechanism issue. However the alternative definition of the module alias weakens
shell evaluation of the code produced by modulefiles. Characters with a special meaning for Tcsh
shell (like { and }) may not be used anymore in shell alias definition otherwise the evaluation of
the code produced by modulefiles will return a syntax error.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the wa_277 configuration
option. It can be defined with the config sub-command.

To enable this workaround, MODULES_WA_277 should be set to 1 prior Modules initialization or the
wa_277 configuration option should be set to 1 in the initrc configuration file.

MODULESHOME
The location of the main Modules package file directory containing module command initialization
scripts, the executable program modulecmd.tcl, and a directory containing a collection of main
modulefiles.

This environment variable value supersedes the default value set in the home configuration option.
It can be defined with the config sub-command.

FILES

/usr/share/modules
The MODULESHOME directory.

/etc/environment-modules/initrc
The configuration file evaluated by modulecmd.tcl when it initializes to enable the default
modulepaths, load the default modules and set module command configuration.

initrc is a modulefile so it is written as a Tcl script and defines modulepaths to enable with module
use, modules to load with module load and configuration to apply with module config. As any modulefile
initrc must begin with the Modules magic cookie (i.e., #%Module file signature).

initrc is optional. When this configuration file is present it is evaluated after the modulespath
configuration file. See the Package Initialization section for details.

/etc/environment-modules/modulespath
The configuration file evaluated by modulecmd.tcl when it initializes to enable the default
modulepaths. This file contains the list of modulepaths separated by either newline or colon
characters.

modulespath is optional. When this configuration file is present it is evaluated before the initrc
configuration file. See the Package Initialization section for details.

/etc/environment-modules/siteconfig.tcl
The site-specific configuration script of modulecmd.tcl. An additional configuration script could be
defined using the MODULES_SITECONFIG environment variable. See Site-specific configuration for
detailed information.

/etc/environment-modules/rc
The system-wide modules rc file. The location of this file can be changed using the MODULERCFILE
environment variable as described above.

$HOME/.modulerc
The user specific modules rc file.

$HOME/.module
The user specific collection directory.

/usr/share/modules/modulefiles
The directory for system-wide modulefiles. The location of the directory can be changed using the
MODULEPATH environment variable as described above.

<modulepath>/.modulerc
Modulepath-specific module rc file.

<modulepath>/.modulecache
Modulepath-specific module cache file.

/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/modulecmd.tcl
The modulefile interpreter that gets executed upon each invocation of module.

/usr/share/modules/init/<shell>
The Modules package initialization file sourced into the user's environment.

COPYRIGHT

       1996-1999  John  L.  Furlani  &  Peter W. Osel, 1998-2017 R.K.Owen, 2002-2004 Mark Lakata, 2004-2017 Kent
       Mein, 2016-2024 Xavier Delaruelle

NAME

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

EXIT STATUS

ENVIRONMENT

FILES

SEE ALSO

COPYRIGHT