Iteration 2

• Phase: Elaboration
• Dates: January 28, 2010 - March 17, 2010

Tasks

Tools

• Assess MSBuild project file (used by Visual Studio and MonoDevelop) as replacement for NAnt build files. (Jimm)

External LANDIS Libraries

• Spatial library - Implement new GDAL driver (Jimm)
• Utility library - Required by spatial library. Move to Google Code, and update it to use new project file format. (Jimm)

Student Programmers

• Order and set up PCs for student programmers (Rob)
• Hire student programmers (Rob)
• Give students access to the repository (Rob)
• Begin bundling feature list into student projects (Rob)

Project Infrastructure

• Determine whether repository is getting backed up (David? Sarah)

Assessment

Tools

• Created a simple test "Hello world" program with MonoDevelop IDE on OS X. Confirmed that the solution and project files created by MonoDevelop could be opened and compiled with Visual C# on Windows.

External LANDIS Libraries

• Utility library - Created a Google Code project. Imported a copy of the current source files from the FLEL Subversion repository. Replaced the NAnt build files for the library and its unit tests with IDE project files. Builds successfully on OS X and Windows.
  • Lesson learned: Some tests involving data files and console output fail because the test code wasn't written to be portable.
• Spatial library
  • 1st phase: Get C# bindings working. Built them on OS X, but of the included sample C# programs didn't compile. Fixed errors, and filed a bug report with the GDAL project.
    • Lesson learned: C# documentation in GDAL wiki is not up-to-date with the source code.
  • 2nd phase: Revised the library's API for the raster I/O module (pixels and pixel bands) to fix inconsistencies and to simplify it.
    • Lesson learned: As noted in library-design resources, designing a simple useful API is a lot of work.
  • Major lesson learned: Need to simplify the library's architecture by removing the raster-driver layer. This will balance increased complexity from integrating GDAL. Since this architecture feature is at the implementation level, and has limited exposure in the API (only L-II core sees it, not the extensions), it can be re-introduced in the future if the need arises.

Student Programmers

• Ordered PCs and they're sitting in Rob's office waiting for the lab space. However, the university has taken longer than expected to prepare the new space. Temporary office space has been promised.
  • Lesson learned: Institutional schedules are beyond the project's control.
• Only two applications received. Interviews are scheduled for later this week and next week.
  • Lesson learned: Recruiting students in the middle of academic year is more difficult than for the summer because they already have their courses and jobs set up for the year.

Project Infrastructure

• David and Sarah confirmed that the repository is being backed up. Jimm attended a conference in Milwaukee so he swung by the lab and inventoried the software running on the Subversion box.