[IPOL discuss] [IPOL edit] Suggested changes in Submission Procedure/Author Manual

[Miguel Colom]

We should also change the Software Guidelines:  
https://tools.ipol.im/wiki/ref/software_guidelines/#implementation

We should remove lines such as:
- C89, C99 or C++98 code tested with gcc -std=xxx -Wall -Wextra -Werror
- only libtiff, libjpeg, libpng, zlib, fftw, libgsl, libeigen, cblas  
and clapack external libraries
- compilation with make or cmake, only standard options, make uses  
$(CC) or $(CXX)
- max 1 GB memory, max 30 s computation in the demo environment
- can read/write in PNG, TIFF, PNM, EPS, SVG, VRML or PLY format
- max 80 characters per line, max 1000 lines per file
-  This file archive can either be a single volume .ZIP compressed  
archive or a GZIP compressed tar archive2. The size of the compressed  
archive file should be less than 2 MB --> There's no reason to limit  
to 2 Mb!
-  A published software must not be distributed with binary  
precompiled files if these files can be obtained from source code -->  
Actually, it should NEVER contain precompiled files!
- The source code of a published software must follow the published  
standard syntax of one or more compiled programming languages. Only  
C89, C99, and C++984 can currently be processed --> This is false
- Other techniques for accelerated computing, like OpenCL and OpenACC,  
are not supported by the journal --> We support it in the new system  
if we manage to have a server with a GPU.

In my opinion the Software Guidelines are not only outdated, and  
contains false claims, but are also unnecessarily strict.

Again, this is should be fixed, since it's blocking without any reason  
a lot of eventual submissions.

Best,
Miguel


Quoting Miguel Colom <Miguel.Colom at cmla.ens-cachan.fr>:

> Dear all,
>
> I've been reviewing our Submission Procedure in  
> http://www.ipol.im/meta/submission/ and I think we should change it.
>
> It says the following:
> <<<
> Note that to be able to obtain an online demo, code must at least  
> fulfill these minimal conditions:
>
> be written in C89, C99 or C++98, usable on a 64-bits Linux system;
> use only libtiff, libjpeg, libpng, libgsl, eigen, zlib, fftw, cblas  
> and clapack external libraries or be distributed with any other  
> needed library;
> be usable non-interactively from the command-line;
> need at most 1 GB memory and 30 s computation;
> read/write PNG, TIFF, PNM, EPS, SVG, VRML or PLY format.
>>>>
>
> It's not true any more that we only accept C/C++ code, and there's  
> no reason why the algorithms can't go further than 1 Gb of RAM  
> usage, since we have a lot of memory in the servers. They should not  
> use an exaggerated amount of memory, though.
>
> In my opinion, this text is limiting the potential submission in IPOL:
> - We accept not only C/C++ but also Python and MATLAB and we're open  
> to other languages eventually.
> - All those technical terms give the impression that we're going to  
> reject anything which does not follow exactly the norm of the  
> compile (C89, C99, C++98), which is not true.
> - We give a list of allowed libraries, but these technical details  
> should be discussed with the editor, not put here as a strong  
> requirement. The editor should tell the editor what is possible and  
> what is not, instead of writing "only libtiff, libjpeg, libpng,  
> libgsl, eigen, zlib, fftw, cblas and clapack external libraries".
> - We say "need at most 1 GB memory and 30 s computation". Again,  
> this is flexible. It seems that if your algorithm takes 45 seconds  
> it's going to be rejected. And that's not true at all. It should be  
> a discussion with the editor instead of a hard limit.
> - "read/write PNG, TIFF, PNM, EPS, SVG, VRML or PLY format." -->  
> Same comment here. Actually, the system can perform many conversions  
> if needed.
>
> I suggest to change all that complicated text by:
> <<<
> Note that the submitted code must at least fulfill these minimal conditions:
>
> - Be written in C/C++, Python, or MATLAB with minimal dependencies.
> - Must compile and run at least in a Debian Stable distribution.
>
> The editor will guide the authors throughout the publication process  
> giving technical support when needed.
>>>>
>
> The same information appears in the Author Manual:  
> https://tools.ipol.im/wiki/ref/author_manual/
>
> I think we should change it as soon as possible, since it's limiting  
> a lot future submissions.
>
> Best,
> Miguel
>
>
>
>