Re: Release Numbers

[npr@jach.hawaii.edu (Nick Rees)]

> 	-- S is the Site code.  After a distribution, each site can tailor
> its "standard" to include only that device, record, and driver support it
> desires for itself and its satellite sites; and to include and/or modify
> the collection of extensions and unsupported clients and off-line tools.
> I propose the following:
> 
> 	A = APS
> 	L = LANL
> 	C = CEBAF
> 	B = LBL ("Berkeley")
> 	S = SLAC
> 	D = DESY
> 
> Please let me know what other letters to use for the other sites.  I hope
> single letters will suffice!

There have been a lot of astronomy responses to this, but I am not so
sure whether I agree with the idea - at least it may need more
thought.

Firstly I am sure single letters will not suffice in the long term.

Secondly whilst accelerator sites are fairly independent (and so having
different release numbers for each site make sense), astronomy sites
are not! Thus RGO and ROE have site letters, R and E, but they develop
software for many end users, including our site, which supports two
telescopes, each of which has different software architectures. In
future we will support a third telescope, Gemini (site letter G). What
I want to ensure is that software developed at other sites slots neatly
into our release when it arrives. Having separate releases does not
address this, and I think that we may have to think more about it,
particularly the astronomy sites.

In the meantime, can I reserve:

1. U - for United Kingdom Infra-red telescope
2. J - for either Joint Astronomy Centre or James Clarke Maxwell Telescope.

Nick Rees

Joint Astronomy Centre                    Ph:       +1 (808) 961-3756
660 N. Aohoku Place                       Fax:      +1 (808) 961-6516
Hilo, HI.  96720                          Internet: npr@jach.hawaii.edu