Software projects I’d like to do before I die, and software to do it.

In C programming language (ideally also in Fortran 77)

• Read and write music formats to/from 1-D array – mp3, mid
• Read and write image formats to/from 2-D arrays – jpg, gif, png, fits
• Read and write video formats to/from 3-D arrays – mp4, avi
• Read and write GIS file formats
• Read and write CAD file formats
• Read and write finite element file formats
• Read pdf both as text and bitmap
• Read latitude and longitude world map and topography and texture map
• Contour plot (Mandelbrot style)
• z-buffering 3-D graphics
• 2-D linear elastic finite elements
• 2-D laplace, poisson equations and transient laminar flow
• Fractal landscape in 3-D
• Fractal ocean waves in 3-D
• Numerical Recipes standard
• Scatter plots (including trendlines) in C
• Full set of elementary statistics

Projects

• Re-mastering piano music to remove honky-tonk sound and to even up the timing
• De-blurring camera images – out of focus
• De-blurring camera images – camera shake
• Implement existing noise removal algorithm for low-light camera images
• Better optical character recognition for newspapers (Trove) and old books
• Animation of 2-D geometric dissections, and 3-D and 4-D
• Recovery of full 3-D information from a pair of stereoscopic images, or video
• Rapid movement analysis for robot ball games.
• 3-D robot movement software using Newtonian dynamics (not just statics)
• Explore little-known map projections
• Smoothing-spline trendlines
• Scientific animations

approve

A fair bit of wheel reinvention there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Here’s my list:

Using a popular number processing program as an interface:

Access open source scientific and maths libraries in Python.
Unit aware evaluation of functions entered as text.
2D and 3D frame analysis including non-linear and time related effects.
2D and 3D FEA analysis for soil-structure interaction, including efficient interface elements
Comprehensive section analysis functions for reinforced and prestressed concrete
Link to Strand7 FEA program
Link to more efficient plotting routines
Efficient generation of high quality scaled engineering sketches, including dimensions, notes etc.

That’s about it.

p.s. You know there are Fortran routines on my blog for 2D and 3D frame analysis, and 2D plane strain FEA analysis?
Also I recommend “Programming the Finite Element Method” by Smith and Griffiths (and someone else now) for easy to follow FEA code in Fortran.

The Rev Dodgson said:

A fair bit of wheel reinvention there. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Here’s my list:

Using a popular number processing program as an interface:

Access open source scientific and maths libraries in Python.
Unit aware evaluation of functions entered as text.
2D and 3D frame analysis including non-linear and time related effects.
2D and 3D FEA analysis for soil-structure interaction, including efficient interface elements
Comprehensive section analysis functions for reinforced and prestressed concrete
Link to Strand7 FEA program
Link to more efficient plotting routines
Efficient generation of high quality scaled engineering sketches, including dimensions, notes etc.

That’s about it.

p.s. You know there are Fortran routines on my blog for 2D and 3D frame analysis, and 2D plane strain FEA analysis?
Also I recommend “Programming the Finite Element Method” by Smith and Griffiths (and someone else now) for easy to follow FEA code in Fortran.

> A fair bit of wheel reinvention there.

Yep. If I write it myself, I’ll understand it better.

> Strand7

I’ve heard of that. Is that still a thing.

> Link to more efficient plotting routines. Efficient generation of high quality scaled engineering sketches, including dimensions, notes etc.

Ditto. Do you use Autocad?

> 2D and 3D frame analysis including non-linear and time related effects.

Non-linear as in Euler buckling and plastic hinge. Nice.
Time related as in low speed (creep) or high speed (collapse)?

> 2D and 3D FEA analysis for soil-structure interaction, including efficient interface elements

Whoa. Including variable soil moisture content, from dry all the way to saturated?
Including active and passive pressure on retaining walls?
That’s a big ask.

Do you model soil using fundamental properties: sieve analysis, clay chemical analysis, organic content?
Or using engineering properties: plastic limit, liquid limit, swelling, creep, Mohr’s circle with Tresca?

Including landslide prediction?

> You know there are Fortran routines on my blog for 2D and 3D frame analysis, and 2D plane strain FEA analysis?

Didn’t know. Do want. When I can figure out how to install Fortran on Linux – it isn’t there and first attempt to install failed.

The Rev Dodgson said:

> You know there are Fortran routines on my blog for 2D and 3D frame analysis, and 2D plane strain FEA analysis?

Didn’t know. Do want. When I can figure out how to install Fortran on Linux – it isn’t there and first attempt to install failed.

This:

https://newtonexcelbach.com/2016/07/04/compiling-fortran-code-for-windows/

is about using GFortran with the MinGW package (Minimalist GNU for Windows), but you might find something useful.

Also to see all the Fortran related stuff select Fortran in the “Categories” drop down box (top right).

The Rev Dodgson said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

> You know there are Fortran routines on my blog for 2D and 3D frame analysis, and 2D plane strain FEA analysis?

Didn’t know. Do want. When I can figure out how to install Fortran on Linux – it isn’t there and first attempt to install failed.

This:

https://newtonexcelbach.com/2016/07/04/compiling-fortran-code-for-windows/

is about using GFortran with the MinGW package (Minimalist GNU for Windows), but you might find something useful.

Also to see all the Fortran related stuff select Fortran in the “Categories” drop down box (top right).

Ta.

Fingers crossed I’ve just got OpenGL working on Linux. Well, at least two demo programs work. May be good for 3-D graphics.

I also see that the gcc command claims to be able to compile and run Fortran programs on Linux.

mollwollfumble said:

> A fair bit of wheel reinvention there.

Yep. If I write it myself, I’ll understand it better.

> Strand7

I’ve heard of that. Is that still a thing.

Yes, still going, and currently working on a major upgrade (and have been for about 5 years)

mollwollfumble said:

> Link to more efficient plotting routines. Efficient generation of high quality scaled engineering sketches, including dimensions, notes etc.

Ditto. Do you use Autocad?

I used to use a cheap copy (Briscad), but I don’t find it worth the effort these days.

mollwollfumble said:

> 2D and 3D frame analysis including non-linear and time related effects.

Non-linear as in Euler buckling and plastic hinge. Nice.
Time related as in low speed (creep) or high speed (collapse)?

Not just buckling; general geometric effects and also material non-linearity.
Time related is creep and shrinkage.
I do seismic dynamic analysis in Strand7 but haven’t got round to programming that myself yet.

mollwollfumble said:

> 2D and 3D FEA analysis for soil-structure interaction, including efficient interface elements

Whoa. Including variable soil moisture content, from dry all the way to saturated?
Including active and passive pressure on retaining walls?
That’s a big ask.

Do you model soil using fundamental properties: sieve analysis, clay chemical analysis, organic content?
Or using engineering properties: plastic limit, liquid limit, swelling, creep, Mohr’s circle with Tresca?

Including landslide prediction?

I use input mechanical properties using modified Mohr-Coulomb behaviour.

An example with soil slope failure:
https://newtonexcelbach.com/2016/06/30/making-non-linear-fea-with-excel-go-much-faster/

and retaining wall analysis:
https://newtonexcelbach.com/2016/06/23/2d-non-linear-fea-with-excel/

Huge problem.

Every time I turn on the laptop it reinstalls Linux.which means that:

• I lose every new document I’ve created
• I lose all new packages I’ve installed
• etc.

Starts with UNetbootin.
Linux originally installed from an .iso file in c:/

mollwollfumble said:

Huge problem.

Every time I turn on the laptop it reinstalls Linux.which means that:

• I lose every new document I’ve created
• I lose all new packages I’ve installed
• etc.

Starts with UNetbootin.
Linux originally installed from an .iso file in c:/

It sounds like what you have is known as a ‘Live’ install. A live install runs off a USB stick or CD and is generally used to recover a broken operating system or for demo purposes. It runs in RAM and does not write anything to the local HD. Whenever you turn off or restart the computer, any changes you made in the live install will disappear.

What you need is a full install.

fsm said:

mollwollfumble said:

Huge problem.

Every time I turn on the laptop it reinstalls Linux.which means that:

• I lose every new document I’ve created
• I lose all new packages I’ve installed
• etc.

Starts with UNetbootin.
Linux originally installed from an .iso file in c:/

It sounds like what you have is known as a ‘Live’ install. A live install runs off a USB stick or CD and is generally used to recover a broken operating system or for demo purposes. It runs in RAM and does not write anything to the local HD. Whenever you turn off or restart the computer, any changes you made in the live install will disappear.

What you need is a full install.

Yes! I do have a “Live” install.

How do I change it to a dead install? I tried putting a different .iso on a memory stick (again a live one so need to cancel that) but the laptop couldn’t find the memory stick, and I did try through bios. The original .iso I put in c:/ because it didn’t boot from memory stick.

Download a Linux distro iso.

Use a utility like Rufus to create a bootable usb drive using the linux iso. https://rufus.ie/

Boot to the usb drive and install Linux.

Unplug the usb drive and boot into Linux.

Easy to use Linux distros for a Windows person might be Zorin, Mint or Ubuntu.

fsm said:

Download a Linux distro iso.

Use a utility like Rufus to create a bootable usb drive using the linux iso. https://rufus.ie/

Boot to the usb drive and install Linux.

Unplug the usb drive and boot into Linux.

Easy to use Linux distros for a Windows person might be Zorin, Mint or Ubuntu.

Ta a million. I’ll be back with you when I’ve tried that (Ubuntu .iso download time > 1 hr)

Do I run Rufus from Windows (desktop) or Linux (laptop)? I’ll figure it out.

mollwollfumble said:

fsm said:

Download a Linux distro iso.

Use a utility like Rufus to create a bootable usb drive using the linux iso. https://rufus.ie/

Boot to the usb drive and install Linux.

Unplug the usb drive and boot into Linux.

Easy to use Linux distros for a Windows person might be Zorin, Mint or Ubuntu.

Ta a million. I’ll be back with you when I’ve tried that (Ubuntu .iso download time > 1 hr)

Do I run Rufus from Windows (desktop) or Linux (laptop)? I’ll figure it out.

I’ll try it from laptop first because I don’t want to bugger up the desktop. Windows no longer boots on laptop, despite having the windows bootup option.

mollwollfumble said:

fsm said:

Download a Linux distro iso.

Use a utility like Rufus to create a bootable usb drive using the linux iso. https://rufus.ie/

Boot to the usb drive and install Linux.

Unplug the usb drive and boot into Linux.

Easy to use Linux distros for a Windows person might be Zorin, Mint or Ubuntu.

Ta a million. I’ll be back with you when I’ve tried that (Ubuntu .iso download time > 1 hr)

Do I run Rufus from Windows (desktop) or Linux (laptop)? I’ll figure it out.

Not from laptop, rufus only runs under windows 7 and higher.

mollwollfumble said:

Software projects I’d like to do before I die, and software to do it.

In C programming language (ideally also in Fortran 77)

• Read and write music formats to/from 1-D array – mp3, mid
• Read and write image formats to/from 2-D arrays – jpg, gif, png, fits
• Read and write video formats to/from 3-D arrays – mp4, avi
• Read and write GIS file formats
• Read and write CAD file formats
• Read and write finite element file formats
• Read pdf both as text and bitmap
• Read latitude and longitude world map and topography and texture map
• Contour plot (Mandelbrot style)
• z-buffering 3-D graphics
• 2-D linear elastic finite elements
• 2-D laplace, poisson equations and transient laminar flow
• Fractal landscape in 3-D
• Fractal ocean waves in 3-D
• Numerical Recipes standard
• Scatter plots (including trendlines) in C
• Full set of elementary statistics

Projects

• Re-mastering piano music to remove honky-tonk sound and to even up the timing
• De-blurring camera images – out of focus
• De-blurring camera images – camera shake
• Implement existing noise removal algorithm for low-light camera images
• Better optical character recognition for newspapers (Trove) and old books
• Animation of 2-D geometric dissections, and 3-D and 4-D
• Recovery of full 3-D information from a pair of stereoscopic images, or video
• Rapid movement analysis for robot ball games.
• 3-D robot movement software using Newtonian dynamics (not just statics)
• Explore little-known map projections
• Smoothing-spline trendlines
• Scientific animations

A big shout out thank you to whoever suggested “Octave”.

A heck of a lot of that listed above can be done in Octave rather than C. It seems to be an open source analog of Mathematica. I’ve been tempted by Mathematica before, but put off by the large cost, not so much of the main package but all of the toolboxes cost extra. Add five toolboxes and more and you’re starting to talk about real money.

Here’s a look at the packages for Octave. https://octave.sourceforge.io/packages.php

eg. Audio package, Data smoothing package, Finite Element FEniCS PDE solver is separate but links to Octave, GIS interface, optics, nonlinear optimisation, statistics, physical constants, video, vrml, elementary algebra, solving the defective confusion equation, FITS for analysing astronomical images, 3-D mesh creation for FE and FV, nurbs, interface for map projections from proj.org, kriging, n-dimensional interpolation of arbitrarily located observations

Yum yum.

The list of functions in Octave’s core https://octave.sourceforge.io/octave/overview.html“https://octave.sourceforge.io/octave/overview.html

Literally the only useful stuff I haven’t seen yet in Octave is good LaTEX style vector fonts.

mollwollfumble said:

A big shout out thank you to whoever suggested “Octave”.

A heck of a lot of that listed above can be done in Octave rather than C. It seems to be an open source analog of Mathematica. I’ve been tempted by Mathematica before, but put off by the large cost, not so much of the main package but all of the toolboxes cost extra. Add five toolboxes and more and you’re starting to talk about real money.

Here’s a look at the packages for Octave. https://octave.sourceforge.io/packages.php

eg. Audio package, Data smoothing package, Finite Element FEniCS PDE solver is separate but links to Octave, GIS interface, optics, nonlinear optimisation, statistics, physical constants, video, vrml, elementary algebra, solving the defective confusion equation, FITS for analysing astronomical images, 3-D mesh creation for FE and FV, nurbs, interface for map projections from proj.org, kriging, n-dimensional interpolation of arbitrarily located observations

Yum yum.

The list of functions in Octave’s core https://octave.sourceforge.io/octave/overview.html“https://octave.sourceforge.io/octave/overview.html

Literally the only useful stuff I haven’t seen yet in Octave is good LaTEX style vector fonts.

Having Binged a quick reminder on Octave, it looks more like MATLAB than Mathematica.

The only thing that puts me off is having to learn yet another language.

Did you give up on Python/Scipy?