SS-NES: Tools for Sustainable Software Best Practices in Natural Sciences and Engineering

Sustainable research software is a critical enabler of reproducible, transparent, and impactful science in the Natural Sciences and Engineering (NES). However, the adoption of software best practices across the full software life cycle remains uneven, often due to a lack of domain-specific guidance, integrated tools, and supporting infrastructure. The SS-NES (Sustainable Software for Natural Sciences and Engineering) project addresses these challenges by providing a coherent ecosystem of guidance, tools, infrastructure, and training aimed at improving research software quality and longevity.

Funded by the TDCC NES Fund Call 2023, SS-NES brings together multiple Dutch research institutions to support best practices from planning and development to publishing and reuse. The project delivers practical guidance on sustainable software, interoperable tooling, and enhanced digital infrastructure, complemented by community building and training activities. Central outputs include a Software Management Plan (SMP) Decision Tree for step-by-step planning, a Meta Template for creating and maintaining standardized yet customizable research software templates, and the Code Auditor tool for automated assessment of code quality and conformity with best practices.

Together, these tools enable a streamlined, iterative, and feedback-driven research software development process. This presentation introduces the SS-NES approach, demonstrates key tools, and highlights opportunities for adoption, integration, and collaboration within the NES community.