[Babase] babase plans through mid-May 05

Susan Alberts babase@www.eco.princeton.edu
Tue, 1 Mar 2005 13:51:11 -0500


Dear all,

Karl called this morning and we had a good discussion the included a 
discussion of when he would come to Duke.

here is a summary of what we talked about.

FIRST, We talked about what remains to be done to fulfill all our 
hopes and dreams for babase. The list includes:

0. Priority one: finishing the conversion -- i.e., (1) getting all 
the data converted and then (2) writing all the updater programs etc 
that are required to update and maintain the program, and (3) 
finishing the documentation update. This seems to be within reach. 
Two to three weeks for part one and then two to three weeks for part 
two. Part three seems to be underway and will likely be finished on 
time with the other two.

After that there are other things:

1. integrating information that is not currently in babase (GPS data, etc)
2. producing a read-only version for CD (this would allow us to carry 
the database to the field once or twice a year)
3. develop a system in which we can track and archive the changes on 
data updates
4. develop a system in which we can track changes on documentation 
(this is already underway, focused on by Anne, as she updates 
documentation)
5. get the front end spiffy and in a form that is user-friendly and accessible.
6. Produce a version for public access

SECOND, We talked about karl's next trip to Duke. We agreed that he 
will come around March 23 and will stay until the data conversion is 
complete, approx 2 to 3 weeks. His goal before coming to Duke is to 
start optimizing the "down time" during conversions by getting a set 
of things that can be done during each conversion attempt -- ie 
making enough fixes while still in Chicago that we can optimize time 
spent during the conversion (if I understood this right). Another 
major goal before coming to Duke is to change the design of  the 
cycles program as discussed in Princeton, and he will start that and 
see how long it takes and how fast it goes.

THIRD we talked about the need to get the entire conversion (data,, 
programs and documentation) done before Susan leaves for Kenya or 
else she (and probably jeanne) will go crazy. The plan that we came 
up with is for karl to return to Chicago after the data conversion is 
finished, for a week or so to do life maintenance, and then to return 
to Duke for another 3 weeks or so and PUSH TO THE END so that the 
whole conversion is done.

FOURTH we talked about the fact that Karl should come up to Princeton 
from Duke at least for Friday Apr 8 if not the whole weekend, so that 
he can joion our babase meeting that day.

I think that's the summary. We can talk about all this briefly 
tomorrow after the ranks meeeting to confirm we are all agreed on 
these goals etc.

Susan
-- 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susan Alberts, Associate Professor 
Department of Biology, Duke University, Box 90338, Durham NC 27708 
phone 919-660-7272  fax 919-660-7293