Sarah et al.,
the TOPCAT and STILTS builds run entirely within the starjava system,
the only other dependency is a JDK (+JAI required for the SPLAT build).
I've got no objection to the current system of building and
distributing starjava as part of the starlink distribution,
though it's not the primary way that topcat and stilts are
distributed, so if it went away I don't think it would be a
serious problem for either me or topcat/stilts users.
That might be relevant if EAO are keen to shrink the size of the
current starlink distribution. But if that is under consideration,
Peter should certainly get a say from the SPLAT point of view.
In any case I've got no wish to move the git repository away
from its current location (https://github.com/Starlink/starjava/).
As Ole says, I'm currently discussing the possibility of distributing
TOPCAT/STILTS/STIL as part of Debian Astro - again, if it happens,
this would be a non-primary distribution route.
Mark
On Thu, 5 Jan 2017, Sarah Graves wrote:
> Thanks Ole, that's very helpful.
>
> Specifically on Topcat -- I don't think this pulls in dependencies outside
> of Starjava. I *think* building it only requires the Starjava build system
> and stilts, but I've never built it on its own so I'm not sure.
>
> Topcat probably has a much wider user base than Starlink does at this
> point, and its development isn't funded by EAO at all so it shouldn't be
> affected by any changes to our software plans (other than possible
> administrative changes if Mark wants to move it to a separate repo or
> something).
>
> Sarah
>
> On 5 January 2017 at 05:46, Ole Streicher <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi Sarah,
> >
> > Sarah Graves <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> > > It would also be very helpful to know about any communities using
> > > Starlink who we (EAO) wouldn't know much about? I.e. not JCMT/UKIRT
> > > users?
> >
> > With my Debian hat on: From Starlink, we include currently three
> > packages from starlink:
> >
> > * AST
> > * PAL
> > * Skycat
> >
> > AST and PAL are used to build SAOImage DS9, which is actively maintained
> > and widely used. There are some users who have installed AST+PAL but not
> > DS9, but they are few only (~4%).
> >
> > Skycat was taken over from ESO, and we have chosen the Starlink version
> > since ESO's is basically dead. Skycat have ~60% of the user base of DS9
> > wihin Debian.
> >
> > We are also thinking of the integration of Topcat into Debian, which
> > would pull a number of Starjava (and maybe Starlink) dependencies.
> >
> > If the meeting appears to be *very* enthusiastic, you could also bring
> > the "packaging" issue onto you desk: We would welcome a volunteer to
> > create Debian packages for Starlink (who could als take over the
> > existing ones) ;-)
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Ole
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Dr Sarah Graves
> Scientific Programmer
> East Asian Observatory/JCMT
> [log in to unmask]
>
--
Mark Taylor Astronomical Programmer Physics, Bristol University, UK
[log in to unmask] +44-117-9288776 http://www.star.bris.ac.uk/~mbt/
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