Phone Meeting 2004-08-24 14:30 UT

Participants: KlausBanse, TimCornwell, BillCotton, JanneIgnatius, PrebenGrosbol, PeterLinde, DanielPonz, DougTody

Agenda and minutes

1. General information
   • Correction of typo in TWiki installation
     • During the installation of the PollPlugin a typo in a configuration file was found and corrected. You should now be prompted correctly for your identity when you start accessing pages. If you find other peculiar features please tell me so we can check.
   • Planned discussion in ESO faculty
     • The ESO faculty will have a discussion on data processing needs and new software environments on 2004-09-20. PrebenGrosbol will at this occasion give a summary of the current work in our Network. In this connection, it would be good to start the discussions of Scope-2 in ScopeOfNetwork to highlight the reasons for considering a new environment.
   • Status of ESO-project in Finland. Especially notice the in-kind agreement (the doc file near the end of that Web page).
     • JanneIgnatius summarized the [Finnish-ESO project and the in-kind agreement with ESO. It was suggested to place a link to the Finnish-ESO project on the UsefulReferences page. After a question by PrebenGrosbol it was confirmed that at least 1-2 people on finish side would have astronomical knowledge. It was emphasized by JanneIgnatius and PrebenGrosbol that the efforts of Finish contribution and our Network would be closely coordinated so that they share the vast majority of requirements and objectives. There may be minor differences due to special ESO wishes but it is expected that most requirements and design proposals would be generated by our Network in close collaboration with the Finnish-ESO side.
2. Draft of OPTICON handout
   • Discussion on draft handout (see GeneralDocuments)
     • The first draft version of the Handout for JENAM was made availablejust before the meeting so no major discussion was made. It would be nice to have some figure (e.g. a block diagram); if anyone as an appropriate one, please send it. Comments are welcome and should be sent to PrebenGrosbol who will update the draft (see action) before sending it to JohnDavies early next week.
3. Discussion on UserScenarios
   • Discussion on SingleUserScenario
     • PrebenGrosbol felt that some kind of electronic notebook with connection to the environment would be useful (see TeamWorkScenario).
   • Discussion on SingleDeveloperScenario
     • KlausBanse introduced the scenario.
   • Discussion on TeamDevelopmentScenario
     • PrebenGrosbol went shortly through the scenario which obviously share many points with SingleDeveloperScenario.
     • DanielPonz noted that the design of the package was already assumed and suggested that one also may consider this a part of the scenario. In a general discussion (BillCotton, PrebenGrosbol, DougTody) it was concluded that it was safer to leave as much freedom to people as possible. Trying to impose too many rules may well frighten potential user of the environment. Although one possibly should offer recommendations with regard to design, it would be dangerous to impose requirements. The same conclusion was reached with respect to usage of code revision systems and package managers. In general the less imposed rules the better. It is important to leave as much freedom to user while still ensuring interoperability. We can probably learn much from the open-source Linux community.
   • Discussion on ComplexMultiWavelengthScenario
     • DougTody went through the scenario. PrebenGrosbol asked if the data mediation was more a VO matter. There need to be mediation on both sides i.e. the farmewore and VO.
   • Discussion on TeamWorkScenario
     • The scenario was summarized by BillCotton. PrebenGrosbol argued that some kind of electronic notebook with connection to the environment also should be included. This to share reasons for decisions made during the analysis with the collaborators.
     • It was recommended that individual comments to the scenarios should be added at the bottom of the relevant page. In some time, the pages should then be updated taking the comments into account.
4. Next steps
   • Analyze reasons for making a new environment
     • As we considered both Scope-0 (VisionStatement) and Scope-1 (UserScenarios), the next step would be to start working on Scope-2 that is why one would consider to make a new environment. As PrebenGrosbol would need for the ESO Faculty, he will start the relevant page (see action). Volunteers are welcome.
     • It would also be good to have a first go at Scope-4 on lessons learned (see action).
     • We should start discussing requirements and framework architecture Scope-5/6 in the October-November time frame.
5. Actions
   • Status of open actions (see ActionList)
   • Summary of new actions (see below)
6. Face-to-face meeting
   • Suggestion: Dec. 2-3 but you can vote on PollMeetingDates
     • We will try to fix the dates for our first face-to-face meeting during the next PhoneMeeting20040921. Your votes will be checked just before (on 2004-09-21T12:00Z) and be the basis of the decision.
     • BillCotton asked if video-conference facilities would be available so that people not being able to participate in person could join. PrebenGrosbol confirmed that both rooms in question have such equipment and we would try to make an agenda to accommodate this.
7. Time for next phone meeting
   • Suggestion: 2004-09-21 14:30 UT
8. Any other business

-- PrebenGrosbol - 25 Aug 2004