Re: Announcing Ferret V5.0 (beta) on Solaris, Linux, and DEC (Compaq)

[Steve Hankin <hankin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Emilio,

Our plan is to release the source code when the V5 "BETA" becomes an
official version. We plan to let the BETA period run about 2 months.

The source is, of course, quite large -- but has lots of internal
documentation and is quite readable/modifiable. We would welcome
contributions to it. (Note that the new external functions framework
also provides a mechanism for adding new functionality -- without the
need to mess with the source code.)

	- steve

======================================================================

Emilio Mayorga wrote:
> 
> Thank you, Steve! V5.0 sounds like a very powerful upgrade. Thanks for all
> the work you and the PMEL group have put into Ferret, and supporting the
> Ferret mailing list.
> 
> I was wondering: I thought I heard that you were going to release the
> source code also. Is that true? If so, do you think the code will be clean
> and readable enough for programmers to make meaningful contributions?
> 
> Again, thanks and congratulations.
> 
> Best regards,
> 
> Emilio Mayorga
> 
> ________________________________________________________________
> University of Washington
> School of Oceanography                  emiliom@u.washington.edu
> Box 357940                              ph. (206) 543-5334
> Seattle, WA  98195-7940   USA           FAX (206) 685-3351
> http://boto.ocean.washington.edu/staff_pages/emilio
> On Wed, 2 Jun 1999, Steve Hankin wrote:
> 
> >
> > *** Ferret V5.0 (BETA) Available on Solaris, Linux, and DEC (Compaq) ***
> >
> > Ferret version 5.0 (beta 1.1), with many powerful new features, is now
> > available for download and installation. Instructions are available at
> > the URLs below. The Ferret Web pages
> > (http://ferret.wrc.noaa.gov/Ferret/) will serve as your guide to the new
> > features of V5 (see What's New and Documentation)
> >
> > The Windows NT/9X versions, as well as WebFerret, will follow shortly.
> > We will be working with volunteers at other sites to assist with the
> > ports of V5 to SGI, HP, and IBM/AIX. If you would like to volunteer to
> > help with these or other ports, please contact us at
> > ferret@pmel.noaa.gov.
> >
> > Here are the highlights of V5:
> >
> >    o Access to many gigabytes of remote data at NOAA/CDC, NASA/JPL, FSU,
> >      URI/GSO and elsewhere -- satellite data bases, operational model
> >      outputs, reference climatologies, etc. (see dods_demo)
> >
> >    o An "external functions" framework allows you to add your own code
> >      into Ferret at runtime. It also allows Ferret to integrate with
> >      MATLAB, IDL, Vis5D, and the like. (see external_functions_demo)
> >
> >    o New routines for sorting, sampling, gridding of scattered data,
> >      FFTs, etc.
> >
> >    o New graphics techniques for visualizing scattered data and handling
> >      polygonal data sets (see trackline_demo, polymark_demo, and
> >      polytube_demo)
> >
> >    o A broad array of map projections and new options for
> >      color palettes and hatch patterns in 2D plots (see mp_demo,
> >      pattern_demo, and palette_demo)
> >
> >    o Access to Ferret from Web browsers (WebFerret -- available soon)
> >
> >    o Faster graphics, IO, and computation ...
> >
> >       Happy Ferreting -- the Ferret developers
> >
> > ----
> >
> > Web download:
> > http://ferret.wrc.noaa.gov/Ferret/
> >
> > ftp download:
> > ftp://ferret.wrc.noaa.gov/pub/
> >

-- 
Steve Hankin
NOAA/PMEL, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115-0070
ph. (206) 526-6080 -- FAX (206) 526-6744