Research infrastructure and knowledge management

Eric Maryniak

Software in the PIONIER group

• Software infrastructure– the “software tools” and network

• Software engineering– application of the tools to achieve goals– minimize costs:

• time

• effort

• money

Main goals

• Knowledge exchange

• Knowledge management

Knowledge?

• Software

• Publications

• Databases

• Online interactive memory tests

Knowledge exchange

With whom?

Knowledge exchange with:

• Scientific researchers world-wide

• General public

• Reseachers of the PIONIER group

Knowledge exchange

What?

Types of Knowledge exchange:

• Software

• Publications

• Databases

• Online interactive memory tests

• Walnut/Nutshell– neural network simulator

– free for download from the web site (Internet)

– supports addition of new paradigms

– user-friendly shell with graphical user interface

– runs on Microsoft Windows

– Walnut core library is platform independent

Software

• Object oriented languages– reuse– stability– Python, C++

• Usability tests– user friendliness– effectiveness

Software (cont’d)

• Two web sites:– neuroMod

- research community

– Human memory

- general audience

Publications

• Geppetto– neural network programs

– modeller tools

– online modifiable records by privileged users

• Online Tests– Memory tests

– Testpanels

– Scientific data for analysis

Databases

Knowledge exchange

How?

• Linux

• Apache and Zope

• MySQL

• CVS

• Samba

• Bugzilla

• Python and C++

Knowledge exchange: tools

Open Source software

• “Free” software: what is free?

• Verifiability and changeability

• Quality, stability and security

• Support

• Vendor independence

• Widespread longterm use

Open Source software (cont’d)

• Runs on regular, off-the-shelf, hardware

• Supported and endorsed by governments

• Used by universities and not for profit

organizations

• And more and more by government and commercial companies

Usability (Nielsen)

• Web site– Platform and user independence

– Easy navigation

• Software– Easy and intuitive to use

– Effective

– Session analysis

– Easy feedback

Object orientation (“OO”)

• Efficient re-use of software components

• Reduction of bugs and testing

• Design by Contract (“DBC”)

Documentation

• Facilitate use

• User level documentation: manuals

• Auto-generated documentation

Software testing

• Extensive testing before release

• Use of sophisticated tools

• Automatic testing with scripts

User feedback

• Facilitate user feedback

• Web site: documentation, faq’s

• Feedback forms and bug tracking

• Mailing lists

Summary

• Knowledge exchange and management

• Support collaborative work (“groupware”)

• Appy solid software engineering principles

• Open Source software used where possible

Visit us!

• http://neuromod.uva.nl/

• http://memory.uva.nl/

• Sheets available on the PIONIER web site (under Publications - Talks)