The Methods & Tools Special Interest Group and the Interoperability Special Interest Group held today a joint meeting at 9 pm Central European Time.

Agenda

  • Versioning of CAPE-OPEN
  • COBIA installers

Participants

U.S Environmental Protection Agency (represented by Bill BARRETT), Malcolm WOODMAN, AmsterCHEM (represented by Jasper van BATEN), Bryan Research & Engineering (represented by Michael HLAVINKA), Michael HALLORAN (contractor for CO-LaN), Michel PONS (contractor for CO-LaN as Chief Technology Officer)

Summary

The Methods & Tools Special Interest Group is developing the specification for the installers of COBIA middleware and COBIA Software Development Kit (SDK). The current version of this textual specification has been provided to the Interoperability Special Interest Group for review and comments. Since CO-LaN is considering out-sourcing the development and maintenance of these installers, Michael HALLORAN will review the document for completeness and ability for a 3rd party to implement based on documentation. Michael HALLORAN‘s initial reaction is that the document is pretty good.

A preliminary list of 3rd parties with the skill set and experience in developing such installers has been discussed and established.

An additional safety measure has been discussed and defined with respect to the code signing certificate CO-LaN is using for the software it is distributing (COLTT, CAPE-OPEN TLB/PIA for the moment and COBIA installers next).

Michael HALLORAN has reported on his recent investigation related to the versioning of installers and their contents through the use of companion files. An odd behavior has been encountered on installing: location of Companion file (tlb) changed, so that both PIA and TLB end up in same location. Also Michael HALLORAN investigated putting a version number in the PIA based on (e.g.) day of year, so that build number automatically increments. Further investigation of both is required.

The next joint meeting of the Methods & Tools Special Interest Group and of the Interoperability Special Interest Group is scheduled for Februrary 20, 2019.