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• ASCL API poster at ADASS XXX

  
  We have developed an API for the Astrophysics Source Code Library (ASCL) that enhances the ability of users to conduct complex and automated queries on ASCL indexed codes. The API is public and allows anyone to programmatically search and filter the ASCL software database via an HTTP request. For example, the search https://ascl.net/api/search/?q=%22supernova%22&fl=credit returns a list of authors with ASCL-indexed codes involving supernovae in JSON format. We will demonstrate the API and show its use in answering a researcher’s questions regarding the growth and usage of both interpreted and compiled languages in the database, gaining a more nuanced understanding of trends in astrophysics software development. Our findings confirmed a piece of conventional wisdom: that Python is growing in market share, while low level programming languages like C and C++ remain very popular. Further documentation for the API is available at https://github.com/teuben/ascl-tools/tree/master/API.

  Siddha Mavuram (UMD), Alice Allen (ASCL/UMD), Robert J. Nemiroff (MTU), Judy Schmidt (ASCL), Peter J. Teuben (UMD)

  Download poster (PDF)

  This entry was posted in ADASS, conferences, poster, presentations on November 10, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• ADASS 2020 in the time of pandemic

  Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems (ADASS), which was to have been in Granada, Spain this year, kicked off the fully online ADASS XXX meeting yesterday with four tutorials, as is usually done, though not quite like it was done this year. The Programming Organizing Committee and especially the Local Organizing Committee had to convert a conference that had been two years in the planning to a virtual meeting. This offered numerous challenges and learning opportunities! One challenge is that the conference is international; scheduling sessions for access to all participants couldn't have been easy, but with the technology stack they chose, which includes the conference website, Zoom, YouTube, and Discord, and hard work, all of ADASS's resources are available to all participants. One might have to get up early or stay up late to hear all of the talks live -- the sleep-deprived author of this post awoke at 12:15 AM today to catch the opening sessions -- but there are asynchronous options available, so groggy stumbling as one makes her way to the computer is a choice, not a requirement.

  The ASCL has several presentations and activities this year. ASCL Chair Peter Teuben, ASCL Advisory Committee member Bruce Berriman, and I organized a Birds of a Feather (BoF) session on How to better describe software for discovery and citation today. We have organized BoFs focused on some aspect of software in the past, and, as in the past, this BoF offered a number of very short presentations and then open discussion.

  The BoF session focused on software metadata, to improve how software is described and can be discovered and cited. After Teuben opened the session, Berriman presented his experience with using CiteAs to see how it suggested his software Montage be cited. CiteAs uses numerous ways to find a code's citation method, including looking for metadata files -- specific files that contain metadata for the software -- on the code's website and/or GitHub repository. Montage does not currently have a metadata file on its sites, so the citation method CiteAs suggested was not as robust as it could have been. The results of the search and its provenance are shown in the BoF's slides, which can be downloaded at a link below.

  This led nicely into my short talk on metadata files and how the ASCL can create a metadata file from an ASCL entry. The files the ASCL creates programmatically, codemeta.json and CITATION.cff, are intended to be starting points and contain placeholders for data the ASCL does not capture, but which we feel should be included in the metadata file; we encourage software authors to edit these files before they are placed on one's code site.

  Yan Grange, who had organized an earlier BoF on Best licensing practices, presented a summary of the session and the results of two of the several polls taken during that BoF.  Providing a license for your software is vitally important, as it lets others know what they can and cannot do with your software. Resources and other information from the earlier BoF are available online, and Grange's summary slides for our software metadata BoF are included in the slides file below.

  Teuben presented on several related topics: expanding or deepening a codemeta file with “API” information, the Unified Astronomy Thesaurus (UAT) and keywords, and the possibility of taking a software census at a niche science meeting. For this latter, he would like to take a well-defined field in astrophysics and have members of that community take an inventory of the software used and categorize it. He thinks a conference would be an ideal event for getting all the stakeholders together, and has identified a possible candidate conference for this activity.

  The floor, if there can be a floor in a virtual meeting, was then open for comments, questions, answers and ideas, though discussion had already started in the Discord channel. One outcome of this session was that before the end of it, several participants had added metadata files to code repositories!

  All slides for this session are in the PDF file below. If you would like more information about the session, please let us know in the comments section below, pinging us at ADASS if you are participating in the meeting, or by emailing me at editor@ascl.net.

  Slides (PDF)

  This entry was posted in ADASS, conferences, news, presentations, software citation, software licensing on November 9, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• September 2020 additions to the ASCL

  Twenty-five codes were added to the ASCL in September 2020:

  AstroVaDEr: Unsupervised clustering and synthetic image generation
  Binary-Speckle: Binary or triple star parameters
  CASI-3D: Convolutional Approach to Structure Identification-3D
  Chrono: Multi-physics simulation engine
  cosmoFns: Functions for observational cosmology

  CosmoloPy: Cosmology package for Python
  CRAC: Cosmology R Analysis Code
  DASTCOM5: JPL small-body data browser
  FLEET: Finding Luminous and Exotic Extragalactic Transients
  halomod: Flexible interface for the halo model of dark matter halos

  Harmonia: Hybrid-basis inference for large-scale galaxy clustering
  ISPy3: Integrated-light Spectroscopy for Python3
  J plots: Tool for characterizing 2D and 3D structures in the interstellar medium
  JetSeT: Numerical modeling and SED fitting tool for relativistic jets
  MADHAT: Gamma-ray emission analyzer

  minot: Modeling framework for diffuse components in galaxy clusters
  MLG: Microlensing with Gaia
  MSL: Mining for Substructure Lenses
  oxkat: Semi-automated imaging of MeerKAT observations
  Paramo: PArticle and RAdiation MOnitor

  pySpectrum: Power spectrum and bispectrum calculator
  PyWST: WST and RWST for astrophysics
  rcosmo: Cosmic Microwave Background data analysis
  SPInS: Stellar Parameters INferred Systematically
  vlt-sphere: Automatic VLT/SPHERE data reduction and analysis

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on October 6, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• August 2020 additions to the ASCL

  Twenty-seven codes were added to the ASCL in August 2020:

  Barry: Modular BAO fitting code
  CMEchaser: Coronal Mass Ejection line-of-sight occultation detector
  CVXOPT: Convex Optimization
  DUCC: Distinctly Useful Code Collection

  Eclaire: CUDA-based Library for Astronomical Image REduction
  healpy: Python wrapper for HEALPix
  HorizonGRound: Relativistic effects in ultra-large-scale clustering
  iFIT: 1D surface photometry code

  kinesis: Kinematic modeling of clusters
  KLLR: Kernel Localized Linear Regression
  Magnetizer: Computing magnetic fields of evolving galaxies
  maxsmooth: Derivative constrained function fitting

  MUSIC2-monofonIC: 3LPT initial condition generator
  ParaMonte: Plain powerful parallel Monte Carlo library
  PhaseTracer: Cosmological phases mapping
  PySAP: Python Sparse data Analysis Package

  ramses2hsim: RAMSES output to 3D data cube for HSIM
  SEDBYS: Spectral Energy Distribution Builder for Young Stars
  SOT: Spin-Orbit Tomography
  sslf: A simple spectral-line finder

  SuperNNova: Photometric classification
  SuperRAENN: Supernova photometric classification pipeline
  TDEmass: Tidal Disruption Event interpretor
  TRISTAN: TRIdimensional STANford code

  Ujti: Geodesics in general relativity
  Umbrella: Asteroid detection, validation, and identification
  zeus: Lightning Fast MCMC

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on September 8, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• July additions to the ASCL

  Twenty-four codes were added to the ASCL in July 2020:

  CaTffs: Calcium triplet indexes
  CosmoGRaPH: Cosmological General Relativity and (Perfect fluid | Particle) Hydrodynamics
  DarkHistory: Modified cosmic ionization and thermal histories calculator
  FleCSPH: Parallel and distributed SPH implementation based on the FleCSI
  GProtation: Measuring stellar rotation periods with Gaussian processes

  hierArc: Hierarchical analysis of strong gravitational lenses
  JB2008: Empirical Thermospheric Density Model
  Line-Stacker: Spectral lines stacking
  MAGI: Initial-condition generator for galactic N-body simulations
  MPSolve: Multiprecision Polynomial SOLVEr

  OSPEX: Object Spectral Executive
  PARS: Paint the Atmospheres of Rotating Stars
  PeTar: ParticlE Tree & particle-particle & Algorithmic Regularization code for simulating massive star clusters
  polyMV: Multipolar coefficients converter
  PoPE: Population Profile Estimator

  PSRVoid: Statistical suite for folded pulsar data
  pygwinc: Gravitational Wave Interferometer Noise Calculator
  ReadPDS: Visualization tools for PDS4 data
  SPARTA: SPectroscopic vARiabiliTy Analysis
  SPARTA: Subhalo and PARticle Trajectory Analysis

  spex_to_xspec: Convert SPEX output to XSPEC input
  SPEX: Spectral Executive
  TROVE: Theoretical ROVibrational Energies
  wdtools: Spectroscopic analysis of white dwarfs

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on August 4, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• June additions to the ASCL

  Twenty-three codes were added to the ASCL in June 2020:

  2D-FFTLog: Generalized FFTLog algorithm for non-Gaussian covariance matrices
  ARCHI: Add-on pipeline module for background star analysis from CHEOPS data
  AstroCatR: Time series reconstruction of large-scale astronomical catalogs
  AxionNS: Ray-tracing in neutron stars

  CARACal: Containerized Automated Radio Astronomy Calibration pipeline
  CosmoCov: Configuration space covariances for projected galaxy 2-point statistics
  CosmoLike: Cosmological Likelihood analyses
  deepSIP: deep learning of Supernova Ia Parameters

  DeepSphere: Graph-based spherical convolutional neural network for cosmology
  FAMED: Extraction and mode identification of oscillation frequencies for solar-like pulsators
  GenetIC: Initial conditions generator for cosmological simulations
  HEARSAY: Simulations for the probability of alien contact

  JoXSZ: Joint X-ray and SZ fitting for galaxy clusters in Python
  KinMS: Three-dimensional kinematic modelling of arbitrary gas distributions
  MCSED: Spectral energy distribution fitting package for galactic systems
  Powderday: Dust radiative transfer package

  PRIISM: Python module for Radio Interferometry Imaging with Sparse Modeling
  PRISim: Precision Radio Interferometer Simulator
  pxf_kin_err: Radial velocity and velocity dispersion uncertainties estimator
  PyPopStar: Single-age, single-metallicity populations generator

  SERVAL: SpEctrum Radial Velocity AnaLyser
  TATOO : Tidal-chronology Age TOOl
  TATTER: Two-sAmple TesT EstimatoR

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on July 6, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• April and May additions to the ASCL

  Sixteen codes were added to the ASCL in April 2020:

  ArviZ: Exploratory analysis of Bayesian models
  ASTRAEUS: Semi-analytical semi-numerical galaxy evolution and reionization code
  Finesse: Frequency domain INterfErometer Simulation SoftwarE
  FUNDPAR: Deriving FUNDamental PARameters from equivalent widths

  IllinoisGRMHD: GRMHD code for dynamical spacetimes
  IRDAP: SPHERE-IRDIS polarimetric data reduction pipeline
  kombine: Kernel-density-based parallel ensemble sampler
  Locus: Optimized differential photometry

  PPMAP: Column density mapping with extra dimensions
  PRECISION: Astronomical infrared observations data reduction
  PyCosmo: Multi-purpose cosmology calculation tool
  PyKat: Python interface and tools for Finesse

  PyWD2015: Wilson-Devinney code GUI
  stardate: Measure precise stellar ages
  Tangra: Software for video photometry and astrometry
  WD: Wilson-Devinney binary star modeling

  And twenty codes were added in May 2020:

  2DBAT: 2D Bayesian Automated Tilted-ring fitter
  AMPEL: Alert Management, Photometry, and Evaluation of Light curves
  Carpyncho: VVV Catalog browser toolkit
  cdetools: Tools for Conditional Density Estimates

  FETCH: Fast Extragalactic Transient Candidate Hunter
  FFANCY: Fast Folding Algorithm for pulsar searching
  gotetra: Cosmic velocity fields tracking through the use of tetrahedra
  HiFLEx: Echelle data reduction pipeline

  HIPSTER: HIgh-k Power Spectrum EstimatoR
  MCRaT: Monte Carlo Radiation Transfer
  michi2: SED and SLED fitting tool
  NNKCDE: Nearest Neighbor Kernel Conditional Density Estimation

  qubefit: MCMC kinematic modeling
  RAPP: Robust Automated Photometry Pipeline
  REDFIT: Red-noise spectra directly from unevenly spaced time series
  RFCDE: Random Forests for Conditional Density Estimation

  RID: Relativistic Image Doubling in water Cherenkov detectors
  RM-Tools: Rotation measure (RM) synthesis and Stokes QU-fitting
  RoLo: Calculate radius and potential of the Roche Lobe
  s3PCF: Compute the 3-point correlation function in the squeezed limit

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on June 11, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• March additions to the ASCL

  Fourteen codes were added to the ASCL in March 2020; I'd hoped to process more entries, but well, you know... circumstances. I hope to do better in April.

  acorns: Agglomerative Clustering for ORganising Nested Structures
  AstroHOG: Analysis correlations using the Histograms of Oriented Gradients
  CoastGuard: Automated timing data reduction pipeline
  HOMER: MCMC-based inverse modeling code
  MAGNETAR: Histogram of relative orientation calculator for MHD observations

  MARGE: Machine learning Algorithm for Radiative transfer of Generated Exoplanets
  PORTAL: POlarized Radiative Transfer Adapted to Lines
  PYSOLATOR: Remove the orbital modulation from a binary pulsar and/or its companion
  RAPID: Real-time Automated Photometric IDentification
  RHT: Rolling Hough Transform

  scousepy: Semi-automated multi-COmponent Universal Spectral-line fitting Engine
  TESS-Point: High precision TESS pointing tool
  TOASTER: Times-Of-Arrival Tracker
  Torch: Coupled gas and N-body dynamics simulator

  Stay safe, stay home, stay well.

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on April 10, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• February additions to the ASCL

  Twenty-two codes were added to the ASCL in February 2020:

  Apercal: Pipeline for the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope Apertif upgrade
  Bayesfit: Command-line program for combining Tempo2 and MultiNest components
  Cobra: Bayesian pulsar searching
  CR-SISTEM: Symplectic integrator for lunar core-mantle and orbital dynamics
  DASH: Deep Automated Supernova and Host classifier

  DISKMODs: Accretion Disk Radial Structure Models
  DMRadon: Radon Transform calculation tools
  ExoCAM: Exoplanet Community Atmospheric Model
  ExoRT: Two-stream radiative transfer code
  ExoSim: Simulator for predicting signal and noise in transit spectroscopy observations

  GizmoAnalysis: Read and analyze Gizmo simulations
  GWecc: Calculator for pulsar timing array signals due to eccentric supermassive binaries
  HaloAnalysis: Read and analyze halo catalogs and merger trees
  libstempo: Python wrapper for Tempo2
  ODUSSEAS: Observing Dwarfs Using Stellar Spectroscopic Energy-Absorption Shapes

  ORIGIN: detectiOn and extRactIon of Galaxy emIssion liNes
  ProSpect: Spectral generation package
  PyHammer: Python spectral typing suite
  RASCAS: Resonant line transfer in AMR simulations
  ScamPy: Sub-halo Clustering and Abundance Matching Python interface

  SDAR: Slow-Down Algorithmic Regularization code for solving few-body problems
  triceratops: Candidate exoplanet rating tool

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on March 11, 2020 by Alice Allen.
• January additions to the ASCL

  Fifteen codes were added to the ASCL in January 2020:

  BTS: Behind The Spectrum
  CosMOPED: Compressed Planck likelihood
  DebrisDiskFM: Debris Disk Forward Modeling
  ExoTETHyS: Exoplanetary transits and eclipsing binaries modeler
  FAKEOBS: Model visibilities generator

  FragMent: Fragmentation techniques for studying filaments
  gnm: The MCMC Jagger
  MCMCI: Markov Chain Monte Carlo + Isochrones method for characterizing exoplanetary systems
  Min-CaLM: Mineral compositional analysis on debris disk spectra
  ORCS: Analysis engine for SITELLE spectral cubes

  Peasoup: C++/CUDA GPU pulsar searching library
  Protostellar Evolution: Stellar evolution simulator
  RPPPS: Re-analyzing Pipeline for Parkes Pulsar Survey
  sf3dmodels: Star-forming regions 3D modelling package
  TRANSPHERE: 1-D spherical continuum radiative transfer

  This entry was posted in code additions, codes, news on February 6, 2020 by Alice Allen.