Reference

Command-line flags and beginner-safe defaults

PyMACS exposes many controls, but most first runs only need a small set of flags. This page groups the important ones by decision type.

Most useful beginner flags

Goal Command
Run a short test python 2_AutomateGromacs.py --ns 0.25
Use CPU only python 2_AutomateGromacs.py --compute CPU --ns 0.25
Use automatic GPU selection python 2_AutomateGromacs.py --compute auto --ns 0.25
Use a compact box python 1_AutomateGromacs.py --box-type dodecahedron
Increase box padding python 1_AutomateGromacs.py --box-distance 1.2
Resume an interrupted run python 2_AutomateGromacs.py --resume --production_only --ns 50
Make contact analysis stricter python 3A_AutomateGromacs.py --contact_cutoff 3.5
Make pocket analysis broader python 3A_AutomateGromacs.py --pocket-cutoff 6.0

Flag categories

Category Examples
Structure input --pdb, --fetch-pdb, --fetch-format
Chain handling --keep-chains, --drop-chains, --chain-names, --chain-map
System identity --mode, --ligand, --cofactors
Box and solvent --box-type, --box-distance
MDP customization --mdp-dir, --em-mdp, --nvt-mdp, --npt-mdp, --md-mdp
Hardware --compute, --gpu-id, --ntomp, --ntmpi, --gmx-bin
Restarts --resume, --production_only, --force_restart
Analysis --contact_cutoff, --pocket-cutoff, --min_contact_frac
PROTAC --quick-test, --basic-only, --contacts-only, --distance-cutoff

Beginner safety rule

Change one thing at a time. If you change the input structure, force field, box size, hardware mode, run length, and analysis cutoffs all at once, debugging becomes much harder.