Adapting to Change: A look at the evolution of ALICE’s Quality Control framework

The European Organization for Nuclear Research CERN, Experimental Physics Department, Geneva, Switzerland

^* e-mail: piotr.konopka@cern.ch
^** e-mail: barthelemy.von.haller@cern.ch
^*** e-mail: michal.tichak@cern.ch

Published online: 7 October 2025

Abstract

Since the mid-2010s, the ALICE experiment at CERN has seen significant changes in its software, especially with the introduction of the Online-Offline (O²) computing system during Long Shutdown 2. This evolution required continuous adaptation of the Quality Control (QC) framework responsible for online Data Quality Monitoring (DQM) and offline Quality Assurance (QA).

After a general overview of the system, this talk delves into the evolving user requirements that shaped the QC framework from its initial prototyping phase to its current state. We will explore the changing landscape of performance needs and feature demands, highlighting which initial requirements persisted, which emerged later, and which features ultimately proved unnecessary.

Additionally, we will trace the framework’s development in relation to other software components within the ALICE ecosystem, offering valuable insights and lessons learned throughout the process. Finally, we will also discuss the challenges encountered in balancing development team resources with the evolving project scope.