I know I have said this before, but it is very important.

Please! For the love of all that is holy. If you are a scientist, I beg you, don't write software. Hire yourself a programmer. Find an unemployed student, grab someone off the street wearing a compuert t-shirt. Just don't write the software yourself.

I understand you are smart. You have a Ph.D. in pysics. You have studied the nature of the Universe for years. You have traveled the known world in search of knowledge and enlightenment. But trust me when I tell you.

You Can't Write Code

Let someone else who has studied the intricacies of programming, software distribution and packaging handle this part for you. Remember, they are educated people too. Let them use their craft to turn your software needs into something the rest of us can easily install and maintain.

If you have ever had to install or maintain software like IRAF, AIPS or CASA you know of what I speak. These are all very usefull and powerfull tools that are held together with duct tape and wishfull thinking. They have code dating back before I was born. They have their own versions of libraries that have been common for over a decade. The rely on dozens of very specific software packages and directory structures. This is not how good software is written.

Thank you for your time.