Starship Asterisk*

The Astrophysics Source Code Library (ASCL) is a free, on-line reference library for source codes of all sizes that are of interest to astrophysicists. All ASCL source codes have been used to generate results published in or submitted to a refereed journal. No ASCL code is guaranteed to be correct.

ASCL was founded in March 1999; in 2010, it was moved from its former site at ASCL.net to its current home. In the opinion of the editors, source codes are increasingly important for the advancement of science in general and astrophysics in particular. Papers are meant to detail the general logic behind new results and ideas but rarely make available the source codes that generated these results.

We at ASCL feel there should be a formal on-line reference library for these source codes. We feel the advantages are at least threefold:

1. Increased Falsifiability

Perhaps a crucial error was made in the coding of a sound idea. ASCL presents a way for authors to bolster their results by demonstrating the integrity of their source code(s). Conversely, ASCL presents a way for readers to bolster their confidence in published results by checking details of the source code(s).
2. Increased Communication

Perhaps an author finds it difficult to describe completely in the text of a paper how the results were obtained. ASCL creates a way for authors to present more detailed information about how their computations were carried out.
3. Increased Utility

Perhaps an author has created a code that (s)he feels is itself useful to other astrophysicists. ASCL creates a way for these authors to disseminate a source code of significant utility to astrophysicists.ASCL is not meant to compete with journals, but to complement them. Journals do not usually publish source codes, and ASCL will not publish papers. In fact, to be archived in ASCL, astrophysics codes must have been used to generate results presented in (or submitted to) a refereed astronomy or astrophysics journal.

Codes in the ASCL are not meant to compete with established software packages, although we recognize that there is some overlap. Packages such as IMSL and Numerical Recipes provide general math support for larger programs in astrophysics. Although useful general subroutines might be found by the inquisitive scientist searching ASCL, we expect most of ASCL's utility will be in routines that are so specific to branches of science and astrophysics that no commercial product is available or even financially feasible.

by **owlice** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:01 pm

Advisory Committee Members and Editors

Editor: Alice Allen
Associate Editor: Kim DuPrie

by **RJN** » Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:01 pm

New codes welcome

If you know of a code that might be well placed here, please mention it as a reply to this topic. This could be your own code, one written by others and posted to arXiv.org, or something else entirely. For each code suggested, we will have a look and, if appropriate, add the code to the list in the future. - RJN

by **owlice** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:38 pm

How to post a code

To post information about a code:

Please click the "New Topic" button that appears at the top or bottom of the forum index page.
Type at least the following information into the "Post a new topic" text box:
- Code title
- Description of the code
- Coders' names (those who hold the copyright/should receive credit for the code)
- Link to a source for the code
- Link to a refereed paper for the code or using the code
Click "Submit."

Here is the code I use to post computer code entries; you do not need to use this. I post it just as an example; please replace text as appropriate with your own information.

Code: Select all: [size=120][b][c]Replace this text with the title of the code[/c][/b][/size] [b]Abstract[/b]: Replace this text with a description of the code [b]Credit[/b]: Replace this text with the names of those deserving credit for the code [b]Site[/b]: [url]Replace this text with the URL for the code source[/url] Replace this text with URL of refereed paper about the code or which used the code

by **owlice** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:38 pm

How to subscribe to get updates

Subscribing will notify you when there is an update to the topic or forum on the board via email. You must be a registered as an Asterisk user to subscribe.

If you would like to be notified when there is an addition of any kind to the ASCL, please subscribe to the forum. If you want to be notified when there is an addition on a particular thread, please subscribe to that thread.

To subscribe to the ASCL

Scroll to the bottom of the forum page
Click the “Subscribe forum” link on the bottom left of the screen; the checkmark is just decoration

subscribe_forum.JPG

To subscribe to a particular topic

Open the topic
Scroll to the bottom of the topic page
Click the “Subscribe topic” link on the bottom left of the screen; the checkmark is just decoration

subscribe_topic.JPG

by **owlice** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:38 pm

How to search for codes

To search the ASCL:

Please enter your search term(s) in the box at the top left of the forum by clicking on the magnifying glass and typing your term(s)
Click the "Search" button

ASCL searching.JPG

Your results appear on the screen. If needed, you can further refine your search by entering a new search term in the search box on the results screen.

by **owlice** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:38 pm

How to cite codes

ASCL entries are indexed by ADS. Using the entire ascl ID (ascl:xxxx.xxx) in a reference enables ADS to more easily pick up the citation. Most citations to codes have been in the format:

author

year

ascl ID

For example: Barnes, J. E., 2011, Astrophysics Source Code Library, record ascl:1102.027

It may be helpful to the reader to include the name of the code:

Barnes, J. E., 2011, ZENO, Astrophysics Source Code Library, record ascl:1102.027To provide a link to a particular entry, you can use the ascl ID number. For the example above, typing ascl.net/1102.027 into your browser brings up the entry for the code ZENO.