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The Future of Software Systems for Astronomy

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Software Systems for Astronomy

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Astronomy ((BRIEFSASTRON))

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Abstract

What does the future hold for software systems for astronomy? Will the demand continue to rise for software tailored to ground-based observatories (e.g., AO software); or will it retreat? Will the promise of “software engineering” keep software projects on schedule and improve the end product? What market movers (gaming? social networking? smart phones? tablets?) will provide the next wave for astronomers to ride. Will that wave, like the CCD, the DVD, and other past innovations, revolutionize astronomy and drive the type of software required by software professionals working in this field?

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Notes

  1. 1.

    We coin this phrase here, Amdahl-friendly, as shorthand for those applications that have a small “sequential fraction” as defined in Amdahl’s Law. Many applications in astronomy (because they operate on a spatial grid) are in this category. The matrix-vector multiply at the heart of an AO loop stands as a classic example.

  2. 2.

    Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) are icy worlds beyond Neptune like the famous former-planet Pluto. Pluto has 5 moons. Four of these, like the moons of all other KBO, are hard to detect. But it is possible with AO on a large telescope.

References

  1. Structured Analysis and System Specification, Tom DeMarco, Yourdon Press, 1978.

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  2. The Art of Software Testing, Glenford J. Meyers. Wiley, 1979.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Puako Beach Drive 76B, Kamuela, HI, 96743, USA

    Albert R. Conrad

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  1. Albert R. Conrad
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Correspondence to Albert R. Conrad .

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© 2014 Albert R. Conrad

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Conrad, A.R. (2014). The Future of Software Systems for Astronomy. In: Software Systems for Astronomy. SpringerBriefs in Astronomy. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7058-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7058-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-7057-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-7058-8

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