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= Spin Name =
= Spin Name =


Fedora Scientific
Scientific Spin


== Summary ==
== Summary ==


Fedora Scientific spin aims to create a Fedora desktop based spin which will have a generic toolset for Linux users whose profession/studies involve scientific research. The spin aims to be directly under the umbrella of the [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/SIGs/SciTech Fedora Science and Technology SIG].
Fedora Scientific spin aims to create a Fedora desktop based spin which will have a generic tool set for Linux users whose profession/studies involve scientific research. The spin aims to be directly under the umbrella of the [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/SIGs/SciTech Fedora Science and Technology SIG].


<!-- A sentence or two summarizing what this spin is and what it will do.  This information is used for the overall spins summary page for each release. -->
<!-- A sentence or two summarizing what this spin is and what it will do.  This information is used for the overall spins summary page for each release. -->
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<!-- Include your email address so that people can reach you -->
<!-- Include your email address so that people can reach you -->
* Name: [[user:amitksaha| Amit Saha]]
* Name: [[user:amitksaha| Amit Saha]]
* email: droidery@gmail.com
* email: amitksaha@fedoraproject.org


== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==
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<!-- Please give a more extensive description of the Spin. This could be a few paragraphs, highlighting specific features of the Spin, marketing your product to the end user. This ends up on the details page on spins.fedoraproject.org, and may be used in the release notes. -->
<!-- Please give a more extensive description of the Spin. This could be a few paragraphs, highlighting specific features of the Spin, marketing your product to the end user. This ends up on the details page on spins.fedoraproject.org, and may be used in the release notes. -->


I am a long-term Linux user and have been into full-time scientific research for the past 3 years now. Everytime I have to do a
I am a long-term Linux user and have been into full-time scientific research for the past 3 years now. Every time I have to do a fresh-install of Linux (not so frequently, of course), I have to download a bunch of tools which I use regularly. For example, gnuplot, xfig, LaTex compilers, numpy, etc. Say hello to Fedora-Scientific. The idea is to create a Fedora spin based on the Fedora KDE Desktop, but having additional tools which most researchers will use.
fresh-install of Linux (not so frequently, ofcourse), I have to download a bunch of tools which I use regularly. For example, gnuplot, xfig, LaTex compilers, numpy, etc. Say hello to Fedora-Scientific. The idea is to create a Fedora spin based on the default Fedora GNOME Desktop, but having additional tools which most researchers will use.


== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==
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<!-- Describe why this Spin is beneficial to Fedora. This section should very accurately describe why this Spin is useful, in order to justify the use of time, disk space and bandwidth of which the Fedora Project has limited amounts (especially as far as the time is concerned, composing XX spins because the kernel changes right before GA, having them pass QA, onto the torrent boxes). -->
<!-- Describe why this Spin is beneficial to Fedora. This section should very accurately describe why this Spin is useful, in order to justify the use of time, disk space and bandwidth of which the Fedora Project has limited amounts (especially as far as the time is concerned, composing XX spins because the kernel changes right before GA, having them pass QA, onto the torrent boxes). -->


Although the motivation for such a spin is purely "scratching my own itch", but I won't be wrong in stating that a significant percentage of Fedora users will be involved in scientific research use a number of numerical libraries, tools and libraries in their daily work. Pulling all those packages everytime a fresh install of Fedora is done is time consuming and redundant.  
Although the motivation for such a spin is purely "scratching my own itch", but I won't be wrong in stating that a significant percentage of Fedora users will be involved in scientific research use a number of numerical libraries, tools and libraries in their daily work. Pulling all those packages every time a fresh install of Fedora is done is time consuming and redundant.  


Moving beyond Fedora users, such a spin will definitely attract new or seasoned Linux users who feels the need to have some the scientific software that he/she uses to  be already insalled.
Moving beyond Fedora users, such a spin will definitely attract new or seasoned Linux users who feels the need to have some the scientific software that he/she uses to  be already installed.


I discussed this idea on mailing lists and the CLUG folks showed a lot of +1s to the idea ([http://lists.samba.org/archive/linux/2011-July/030331.html Thread]). As was pointed out to me (which I didn't think before!), Fedora Scientific will be complimentary to the relatively more stable, RHEL based, Scientific Linux, as Fedora will cater to a similar audience, but giving the users more bleeding edge software experience.
I discussed this idea on mailing lists and the CLUG folks showed a lot of +1s to the idea ([http://lists.samba.org/archive/linux/2011-July/030331.html Thread]). As was pointed out to me (which I didn't think before!), Fedora Scientific will be complimentary to the relatively more stable, RHEL based, Scientific Linux, as Fedora will cater to a similar audience, but giving the users more bleeding edge software experience.
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<!-- URL to the most recent version of the kickstart file used to compose this Spin with -->
<!-- URL to the most recent version of the kickstart file used to compose this Spin with -->
[https://bitbucket.org/amitksaha/custom_linux/raw/fe51366fa5d9/fedora-livedvd-scientific.ks Current version of the Kickstart file] (GNOME 3 - Last Updated on August 7, 2011)


[https://bitbucket.org/amitksaha/custom_linux/raw/bbe50daff4bf/fedora-livedvd-scientific-kde.ks KDE Based Kickstart file] (Update: August 17, 2011)
Fedora 20 branch: https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/spin-kickstarts.git/tree/fedora-livedvd-scientific-kde.ks?h=f20


== ISO Name / FS Label ==
== ISO Name / FS Label ==
<!-- While the name of the .iso file is not, the filesystem label is limited to 32 characters. Choose a name for the .iso, and a name for the fs-label. Mandatory is "Fedora", the release number, and the architecture. Example: ISO name: Fedora-11-x86_64-Education-Math FS-Label: ''Fedora-11-x86_64-Edu-Math''. -->
<!-- While the name of the .iso file is not, the filesystem label is limited to 32 characters. Choose a name for the .iso, and a name for the fs-label. Mandatory is "Fedora", the release number, and the architecture. Example: ISO name: Fedora-11-x86_64-Education-Math FS-Label: ''Fedora-11-x86_64-Edu-Math''. -->


To be Done
* ISO name: Fedora-$release-$arch-Live-Scientific
* FS-Label: Fedora-$release-$arch-Scientific


== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
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-->
-->


Fedora live desktop spin, KDE Spin.
Fedora KDE Spin
 


== Scope / Testing ==
== Scope / Testing ==
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This spin will be based on the Fedora desktop spin (one based on GNOME 3 and other on KDE). In addition, a number of tools and libraries for scientific research is included. I have decided upon the current set of applications based on my own experience and some discussions on mailing lists, notable the Canberra Linux Users Group. (as pointed out earlier).
This spin will be based on the Fedora KDE spin. A number of tools and libraries for scientific research is included. I have decided upon the current set of applications based on my own experience and some discussions on mailing lists, notable the Canberra Linux Users Group (as pointed out earlier).
 
The current set of packages include an IDE, tools and libraries for programming in C, C++, Python, Java and R.  Also included along with are libraries for parallel computing such as the OpenMPI and OpenMP. Tools for typesetting, writing and publishing are included. Scientific computing libraries and tools such as the GNU Scientific Library, SciPy, Octave, Maxima are also shipped in this spin.


The current set of packages include a IDE, tools and libraries for programming in C, C++, Python, Java and R.  Also included alongwith are libraries for parallel computing such as the OpenMPI and OpenMP. Tools for typesetting, writing and publishing are included. Scientific computing libraries and tools such as the GNU Scientific Library, SciPy, Octave, Maxima are also shipped in this spin.
A detailed list of all packages can be seen from the kickstart file. To see some discussions/thoughts/decisions and to add your own, please visit the [[Talk:Scientific_Spin]] page. The ISO stands at about ~3.2 G.


A detailed list of all packages can be seen from the kickstart file. To see some discussions/thoughts/decisions and to add your own, please visit the [[Talk:Scientific_Spin]] page
[[Scientific_Packages_List]] contains a list of all the packages with a brief description of their functionality. Also refer to the (in development) [http://fedora-scientific.readthedocs.org/en/latest/ Fedora Scientific documentation].


The current set of packages are provided from the '''Fedora 16 branch''' for my tests and the GNOME 3 ISO stands at ~1.6 Gigs and KDE based ISO stands at about ~2.1 G.  
Considering that there is a large number of packages being shipped, it is perhaps a good idea to at least do a "smoke" testing of the functionality of all the packages. Often, the entire functionality of a tool/library is split into more than one package and hence pulling in only the main package is no guarantee that the tool/library/application will work.  


[[Scientific_Packages_Testing]] contains some ways this can be done. Please add your own ideas.


== Spins Page ==
== Spins Page ==
<!-- This information will be used on the spins.fedoraproject.org website.  See https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Website_redesign_2009/Mockups/Spins.fpo for more info. -->
<!-- This information will be used on the spins.fedoraproject.org website.  See https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Website_redesign_2009/Mockups/Spins.fpo for more info. -->


To Be Done
The Website design team has started working on the spins page. Thanks Guys! [https://fedorahosted.org/fedora-websites/ticket/61 Ticket]


=== Slogan ===
=== Slogan ===


<!-- A slogan for the spin to serve as the heading for the home page. -->
<!-- A slogan for the spin to serve as the heading for the home page. -->
Fedora for Researchers in Science and Engineering
''Open Source Scientific Computing'' (tentative)


=== Spin description ===
=== Spin description ===
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<!-- At least a paragraph describing what the spin is used for, who the spin is for, what unique features it has – that kind of information.  This will also go on the home tab. -->
<!-- At least a paragraph describing what the spin is used for, who the spin is for, what unique features it has – that kind of information.  This will also go on the home tab. -->


To Be Done
Fedora Scientific Spin brings together the open source scientific and numerical tools used in research along with the goodness of the Fedora KDE desktop. These tools range from libraries such as the GNU Scientific library, the SciPy libraries, tools like Octave and xfig to typesetting tools like Kile and graphics programs such as Inkscape. Fedora Scientific Spin aims to prevent the need to re-install your favorite scientific packages every time you re-install Linux.
 


=== Screenshot ===
=== Screenshot ===
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<!-- For the downloads tab, if you’d like custom text to describe the spin download, add it here. Otherwise the defaults from this mockup will be used: https://fedoraproject.org/w/uploads/c/ce/Spin-details-download.png -->


To Be Done
Fedora Scientific is available as a Live DVD download - via torrent or direct download. A LiveDVD is an operating system that is executed upon boot, without installation on a hard drive. A desktop icon can be used to install the OS if wanted. Once you have the ISO, you can either create a Bootable [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/How_to_create_and_use_Live_USB USB stick] or burn it to a [http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/14/html/Burning_ISO_images_to_disc/ DVD].


=== Support tab ===
=== Support tab ===
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<!-- What IRC channels or other live support options do users have for the spin (if any), what mailing lists / forums / non-live support options users have for the spin (if any), and what documentation would you like to highlight to new users?  This will go on the support tab.  Here’s an example: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/File:Spin-details-support.png  -->
<!-- What IRC channels or other live support options do users have for the spin (if any), what mailing lists / forums / non-live support options users have for the spin (if any), and what documentation would you like to highlight to new users?  This will go on the support tab.  Here’s an example: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/File:Spin-details-support.png  -->


Since this spin aims be under the umbrella of the Fedora SciTech SIG, I aim to use the communication channels for the SIG as support group for this spin as well:
Need Help using Fedora Scientific?
 
'''Help via Chat'''
 
General help is available in irc channel #fedora-science on irc.freenode.net.
 
For help using IRC, please visit the Fedora IRC [https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate/IRCHowTo how-to]
 
'''Help via Email'''
 
Users and developers are also available on the [https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/scitech Fedora Scitech List]
 
General help with Fedora is available on the Fedora users' mailing list at [users@lists.fedoraproject.org https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users]. For guidance on how to interact on Fedora mailing lists, please review the [https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Communicate/MailingListGuidelines Fedora Mailing List Guidelines].
 
'''Help via Forums'''


* Mailing list: [https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/scitech Fedora Scitech List] '
Helpful forums can be found at:[http://fedoraforum.org Fedora Forums]
* #fedora-science on the freenode IRC network
 
'''General Help Using Fedora'''
 
Sometimes you may encounter an issue with this spin that you can get help with using general Fedora support resources. A list of those resources is available at the Fedora [https://fedoraproject.org/get-help 'Get Help'] page.


=== Custom branding ===
=== Custom branding ===
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[[Category:Spins_Ready_For_Wrangler]]
<!--[[Category:Spins_Ready_For_Wrangler]]-->


<!--[[Category:Spins_in_Development]]
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[[Category:Spins_Ready_For_Council]]


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<!-- When your spins page is completed and ready for review,
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<!-- After review, the spins wrangler will move your page to Category:Spins_Ready_For_Sig... if it still needs more work it will move back to Category:Spins_in_Development -->
<!-- After review, the spins wrangler will move your page to Category:Spins_Ready_For_SIG... if it still needs more work it will move back to Category:Spins_in_Development -->
<!-- After the Spins SIG has reviewed and accepted your Spins Page the spins wrangler will change it to Category:Spins_Ready_For_Board -->
<!-- After the Spins SIG has reviewed and accepted your Spins Page the spins wrangler will change it to Category:Spins_Ready_For_Board -->
<!-- After the Fedora Board has granted trademark approval for your spin the spins wrangler will change it to Category:Spins_Fedora_X -->
<!-- After the Fedora Board has granted trademark approval for your spin the spins wrangler will change it to Category:Spins_Fedora_X -->
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<!-- A pretty picture of the page category usage is at: http://poelstra.fedorapeople.org/misc/spins-process-flow-v1.png -->

Revision as of 19:17, 11 March 2015


Spin Name

Scientific Spin

Summary

Fedora Scientific spin aims to create a Fedora desktop based spin which will have a generic tool set for Linux users whose profession/studies involve scientific research. The spin aims to be directly under the umbrella of the Fedora Science and Technology SIG.


Owner(s)

  • Name: Amit Saha
  • email: amitksaha@fedoraproject.org

Detailed Description

I am a long-term Linux user and have been into full-time scientific research for the past 3 years now. Every time I have to do a fresh-install of Linux (not so frequently, of course), I have to download a bunch of tools which I use regularly. For example, gnuplot, xfig, LaTex compilers, numpy, etc. Say hello to Fedora-Scientific. The idea is to create a Fedora spin based on the Fedora KDE Desktop, but having additional tools which most researchers will use.

Benefit to Fedora

Although the motivation for such a spin is purely "scratching my own itch", but I won't be wrong in stating that a significant percentage of Fedora users will be involved in scientific research use a number of numerical libraries, tools and libraries in their daily work. Pulling all those packages every time a fresh install of Fedora is done is time consuming and redundant.

Moving beyond Fedora users, such a spin will definitely attract new or seasoned Linux users who feels the need to have some the scientific software that he/she uses to be already installed.

I discussed this idea on mailing lists and the CLUG folks showed a lot of +1s to the idea (Thread). As was pointed out to me (which I didn't think before!), Fedora Scientific will be complimentary to the relatively more stable, RHEL based, Scientific Linux, as Fedora will cater to a similar audience, but giving the users more bleeding edge software experience.

Kickstart File

Fedora 20 branch: https://git.fedorahosted.org/cgit/spin-kickstarts.git/tree/fedora-livedvd-scientific-kde.ks?h=f20

ISO Name / FS Label

  • ISO name: Fedora-$release-$arch-Live-Scientific
  • FS-Label: Fedora-$release-$arch-Scientific

Dependencies

Fedora KDE Spin

Scope / Testing

This spin will be based on the Fedora KDE spin. A number of tools and libraries for scientific research is included. I have decided upon the current set of applications based on my own experience and some discussions on mailing lists, notable the Canberra Linux Users Group (as pointed out earlier).

The current set of packages include an IDE, tools and libraries for programming in C, C++, Python, Java and R. Also included along with are libraries for parallel computing such as the OpenMPI and OpenMP. Tools for typesetting, writing and publishing are included. Scientific computing libraries and tools such as the GNU Scientific Library, SciPy, Octave, Maxima are also shipped in this spin.

A detailed list of all packages can be seen from the kickstart file. To see some discussions/thoughts/decisions and to add your own, please visit the Talk:Scientific_Spin page. The ISO stands at about ~3.2 G.

Scientific_Packages_List contains a list of all the packages with a brief description of their functionality. Also refer to the (in development) Fedora Scientific documentation.

Considering that there is a large number of packages being shipped, it is perhaps a good idea to at least do a "smoke" testing of the functionality of all the packages. Often, the entire functionality of a tool/library is split into more than one package and hence pulling in only the main package is no guarantee that the tool/library/application will work.

Scientific_Packages_Testing contains some ways this can be done. Please add your own ideas.

Spins Page

The Website design team has started working on the spins page. Thanks Guys! Ticket

Slogan

Open Source Scientific Computing (tentative)

Spin description

Fedora Scientific Spin brings together the open source scientific and numerical tools used in research along with the goodness of the Fedora KDE desktop. These tools range from libraries such as the GNU Scientific library, the SciPy libraries, tools like Octave and xfig to typesetting tools like Kile and graphics programs such as Inkscape. Fedora Scientific Spin aims to prevent the need to re-install your favorite scientific packages every time you re-install Linux.

Screenshot

Boot screen

Applications

Download tab

Fedora Scientific is available as a Live DVD download - via torrent or direct download. A LiveDVD is an operating system that is executed upon boot, without installation on a hard drive. A desktop icon can be used to install the OS if wanted. Once you have the ISO, you can either create a Bootable USB stick or burn it to a DVD.

Support tab

Need Help using Fedora Scientific?

Help via Chat

General help is available in irc channel #fedora-science on irc.freenode.net.

For help using IRC, please visit the Fedora IRC how-to

Help via Email

Users and developers are also available on the Fedora Scitech List

General help with Fedora is available on the Fedora users' mailing list at [users@lists.fedoraproject.org https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/users]. For guidance on how to interact on Fedora mailing lists, please review the Fedora Mailing List Guidelines.

Help via Forums

Helpful forums can be found at:Fedora Forums

General Help Using Fedora

Sometimes you may encounter an issue with this spin that you can get help with using general Fedora support resources. A list of those resources is available at the Fedora 'Get Help' page.

Custom branding

Submitted a ticket to the design team

Comments and Discussion