Code sharing and collaboration: experiences from the Scientist's Expert Assistant project and their relevance to the virtual observatory

Anuradha Koratkar; Sandy Grosvenor; Jeremy E. Jones; Connie Li; Jennifer Mackey; Ken Neher; Karl R. Wolf

doi:10.1117/12.447175

Translator Disclaimer

1 November 2001 Code sharing and collaboration: experiences from the Scientist's Expert Assistant project and their relevance to the virtual observatory

Anuradha Koratkar, Sandy Grosvenor, Jeremy E. Jones, Connie Li, Jennifer Mackey, Ken Neher, Karl R. Wolf

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4477, Astronomical Data Analysis; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447175
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

In the Virtual Observatory (VO), software tools will perform the functions that have traditionally been performed by physical observatories and their instruments. These tools will not be adjuncts to VO functionality but will make up the very core of the VO. Consequently, the tradition of observatory and system independent tools serving a small user base is not valid for the VO. For the VO to succeed, we must improve software collaboration and code sharing between projects and groups. A significant goal of the Scientist's Expert Assistant (SEA) project has been promoting effective collaboration and code sharing among groups. During the past three years, the SEA project has been developing prototypes for new observation planning software tools and strategies. Initially funded by the Next Generation Space Telescope, parts of the SEA code have since been adopted by the Space Telescope Science Institute. SEA has also supplied code for the SIRTF planning tools, and the JSky Open Source Java library. The potential benefits of sharing code are clear. The recipient gains functionality for considerably less cost. The provider gains additional developers working with their code. If enough users groups adopt a set of common code and tools, de facto standards can emerge (as demonstrated by the success of the FITS standard). Code sharing also raises a number of challenges related to the management of the code. In this talk, we will review our experiences with SEA - both successes and failures, and offer some lessons learned that might promote further successes in collaboration and re-use.

Citation Download Citation

Anuradha Koratkar, Sandy Grosvenor, Jeremy E. Jones, Connie Li, Jennifer Mackey, Ken Neher, and Karl R. Wolf "Code sharing and collaboration: experiences from the Scientist's Expert Assistant project and their relevance to the virtual observatory", Proc. SPIE 4477, Astronomical Data Analysis, (1 November 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.447175

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE