CLEA Software A Technical Overview

1. CLEA SoftwareA Technical Overview Glenn A. Snyder, Project CLEA CLEA Summer Workshop June 21, 2010

2. Outline • Programming Language • Program Structure • Software Installation • Windows 7 & Vista • … & Macs

3. I. Programming Language(Software Development Environment)

4. “Old” CLEA Software • Borland Pascal With Objects (V. 7.0) • 16-Bit Code (Windows 3.1) – but still runs on current versions (Win2000, Win XP, 32-bit Win7/Vista ). • Environment not totally “integrated” - much left to programmer. • Programmer makes direct calls to Windows API. • No longer loaded on development machine. Code changes to modules “highly unlikely”.

5. “Old” CLEA Modules • (“The Revolution of the Moons of Jupiter”) • “The Rotation of Mercury Using Doppler Radar” • “The Flow of Energy Out of The Sun” • “The Classification of Stellar Spectra” • “Photoelectric Photometry of The Pleiades” • “The Hubble Redshift – Distance Relation” • “The Large-Scale Structure of The Universe”

6. “New” CLEA Software • Borland Delphi 2007 – (Pascal based, expanded Object features) • 32-Bit Code (All versions from Win 95 on) - Programs (.exe) are larger but load, run faster. • Highly integrated environment. Programmer moves quickly and easily between form and code. • Windows API is “hidden” from programmer. • Forms and Controls look better!

7. “New” CLEA Modules • “Radio Astronomy of Pulsars” • “Astrometry of Asteroids” • “Astrometry Toolkit” • “VIREO” (Multiple exercises) • “The Search for Object-X” • “The Period of Rotation of The Sun” • “Transits of Venus and Mercury” • “Dying Stars and The Birth of The Elements” • “The Revolution of the Moons of Jupiter” (V. 2)

8. The VIRtual Educational Observatory(VIREO) • New Exercises: “HR Diagrams of Open Clusters” “Photometry of Variable Stars” (Under development.) • Replacement of 16-bit modules: “The Classification of Stellar Spectra” “Photoelectric Photometry of Open Clusters” “The Hubble Redshift – Distance Relation” “The Large-Scale Structure of The Universe” (“Radio Astronomy of Pulsars”) • Identification of objects & other data completed. • A general guide is completed. Some Student Guides to specific exercises are available. Work in this area is welcomed & encouraged.

9. II. Program Structure

10. Target Environment • Dedicated “laboratory” setting, with instructor present. • Programs loaded on individual computers. • Students have full use of computers, including hard drive write privileges. • Program distribution to instructors & IT technicians via Web (FTP).

11. Not Targeted • Web-based execution. • Use in a write-restricted environment (network/shared drive or highly restricted computer). • “Unsupervised” access & use by students.

12. Run-Time Files • “Options” File • “Log” File • Data passed between activities. • Data for external analysis (spreadsheets). • Partial results - some re-start capability. • Final results – possible off-line combination with others.

13. Program Options • All CLEA programs have options (properties). • Access is restricted. Log on as “instructor”. Password is “CLEA”. • Documented in Software User’s Guide (old modules) & popup “hints” (new modules). • Check out “Test” and “Edit” modes in new modules. • VIREO will require more interaction with Options.

14. III. Software Installation

15. Installation - I • Self-Installing Executables (“InstallShield”) • “General User’s Guide…” no longer applies. See “Quick-Start Guide” (link on home page). • Also “UserGuide2.doc” on CD-ROM. (Draft form, but lots of good information.) • If possible, install in default folder (C:\Program Files\CLEA\Exercise Name\). • Otherwise, keep path as short as possible. (“Old” programs have 72 character limit on path length.)

16. Installation – II • For installation on network or shared drive, read “Shared_Install.doc” on installation disk. • To placate nervous IT administrators, see “License.rtf” on same disk. • Installation under Win 7/Vista – see next section. • For other installation or run-time problems, send me an e-mail providing as much info as possible. (gsnyder@gettysburg.edu)

17. IV. CLEA & Win 7/Vista

18. Important(!) • Instructors need to be aware of possible Win 7/Vista problems (and be prepared to address them) when assigning CLEA exercises as outside assignments or preparing “distance learning” programs.

19. Major Win 7/Vista Problem Areas • User told privileges are insufficient to install CLEA software. • After installation, not all CLEA software can be run. • Both addressed in write-up on PROJECT CLEA HOME PAGE

20. Installation Privileges • User usually has them. • Unlike XP, must be specifically invoked when installation run under Win7/Vista. • Procedure is outlined in write-up.

21. Runtime Problem - Versions • Windows versions called “Ultimate” are 64-bit code. • All other versions (at this time) are 32-bit code. • 64-bit “Ultimate” will NOT run 16-bit applications (i.e., all “Old” CLEA modules identified earlier). • 1st serious Windows compatibility issue in 18 years of CLEA.

22. Best Solutions • Use 32-bit Win 7 / Vista. • Use a virtualization product. • Use VIREO in place of 16-bit CLEA modules. • Details also in write-up.

23. V. CLEA & Macs

24. Why No MAC Versions? • Developing for a 2nd platform would have required a 2nd full-time programmer over the length of the project (~18 years). • Our grants have never included anything close to the funds needed for this. • We tried offering fixed-fee contracts to consultants – yield was 1 ½ programs.

25. Historical Background • 18 yrs ago Mac was not a development-friendly environment. (Intentional!) • Windows API gave us more flexibility. • At one point Mac nearly went out of business. • Mac operating system versions have mostly not been backward-compatible. Applications must be re-coded.

26. Solutions • Run a Windows emulator such as Parallels on Mac. • Run a Windows emulator under Linux. • “Wine” is freeware. Will run all “new” (32-bit) CLEA modules.