Java Development Initiative Status Report
Don Murray
October 1, 2001
This report updates the status of Unidata's Java development
efforts
reported at the last User's
Committee meeting.
Objectives
The long-term objectives of Unidata's Java Development Initiative are:
- Deliver turn-key platform-independent applications for the
analysis and visualization of meteorological data. These
applications must provide and extend the most important capabilities of
currently-available applications such as GEMPAK, GARP, and
McIDAS. Use of these applications should require no knowledge
of Java or component architectures.
- Deliver easily installed executables, user documentation, and
test cases for the turn-key applications.
- Identify or create a component-oriented framework that supports
construction of custom applications from components used to
build the turn-key applications. This framework should be
useful to create new combinations of components that provide
subsets of the capabilities of the turn-key applications,
connect them in unanticipated ways, or provide tailored
mini-applications for embedding in educational materials. Use
of these components may require knowledge of component
architectures or Java.
- Deliver full source code, class documentation, and test cases
for the MetApps components.
- Enlist other developers in enhancing components and developing
new components for the framework by providing an
archive, mailing list, developers' forums, documentation, web
site, and support for the components.
To accomplish these long-term goals, short-term objectives include the
delivery of incremental releases involving users, incorporating
feedback, refining the development process, and enhancing the software
with each release.
Progress to Date
Four prototype MetApps applications have been developed: a gridded data
viewer for viewing model data, an interactive sounding application, an
image viewer for viewing and looping image data from local and remote
datasets, and a surface observations viewer. Development on the surface
observations viewer has ceased. Lessons learned in developing that
prototype and some of the components have been incorporated into the
remaining prototypes. The other three prototypes are in active
development at this time. A lot of work is being done at present on
infrastructure items that do not necessarily result in new features
in the prototypes (remote data access, component frameworks).
In more detail, recent accomplishments include:
- Several incremental releases of the Gridded Data Viewer (GDV).
GDV now can access data from DODS servers as well as local
netCDF files. The 3D user interface was redesigned and the
3D display now includes multiple parameter display, interactive
cross-sections and horizontal contour surfaces. Users can control
contour intervals and colors. Some derived quantities are
automatically computed if variables to create them are present
(e.g. wind speed from u & v, dewpoint from T & RH). Wind vectors
can be displayed in horizontal and vertical cross sections.
- Stu Wier and Don Murray have been working with ATD on the development
of components to display SPOL radar data. This work should
eventually lead to components to display Level II NEXRAD data.
ATD has 2 programmers working on this project. The initial
task has been to develop a 3D display of SPOL radar data, mobile
field sounding data and satellite imagery,
to be demonstrated at ATD's NSF review in October.
- John Caron is working on data access components for the THREDDS
project. These components will be used by MetApps to access data
on the remote server. The DODS access described above is a prototype
of this.
- Don Murray has been working on a new version of the ImageViewer
that allows selection and display of NEXRAD Level III images
access through ADDE from remote servers. This will probably be
released later in the fall.
- The development team created a strawman of the essential features
of an integrated application that could be delivered in 2003.
The Task Force had a discussion of this list on
UMADA. That discussion will lead to a revised list and a
prioritization of all features by the Task Force.
- John, Stu and Steve attended the JavaOne conference in June.
We are evaluating some of the new features of the upcoming
Java 1.4 release (e.g., preferences for configuration, support
for XML)
- We are in the process of hiring a new Software Engineer for
MetApps development. Funds for this position are coming from
the THREDDS project. John will be working on THREDDS and its
MetApps related components and the new person will work on other
components for the integrated display to be delivered in 2003.
Ongoing efforts include:
- Using the UMADA web site to discuss MetApps issues
- Collaborating in the development of
VisAD
- Keeping up with new Java interfaces and developments
This document is maintained by
Don Murray <dmurray@unidata.ucar.edu>
