Numerical Software Maintenance, Versioning, Distribution

With the increased proliferation of software applications, there exists a need to ensure that an orderly and efficient mechanism exists to (1) shorten the time required for computational packages to transition from pre-publication algorithms to packaged products; (2) build, package, and distribute the products; and (3) ensure that users of the computational packages can easily locate and integrate packages best suited to solve a problem. This project will build an innovative solution called CodeBook that utilizes Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 social networking and semantic analysis concepts. In Phase I, a prototype CodeBook was developed and demonstrated to DOE employees and members of the computational community at SciDAC, NERSC, and three national laboratories. In Phase II, the prototype will be expanded into a product designed to help bring about the transformation of the way in which computational-based methods are utilized. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The product developed under Phase II should promote collaboration among developers and users of computational packages, providing the following benefits: (1) exponential content growth rather than incremental, (2) dramatic increase in availability of numerical software libraries, (3) site maintenance independent of the availability of a single person or the willingness of a given entity to donate that person¿s time, and (4) improved quality of content as the result of peer reviews and contributions.