[hpsdr] HPSDR software direction

[Dan Babcock]

I am also a Linux user that keeps a Windows XP partition for one reason, 
PowerSDR.  


As KV0S says, the key to HPSDR software development at this point is  
comprehensive documentation and protocol standardization.  If the HPSDR project 
is going to be successful in the long term, we need to recruit  more software 
developers.  Having the appropriate documentation and definitions makes that 
task much easier.

My vote would be for a separate server and GUI with both being cross platform.  
Using this architecture and the proper RPM or deb packages  both elements of the 
software can be run on one machine and are easy to install.  In my opinion the 
best language options are writing the server in C++, the GUI with Qt and using 
OpenGL for video hardware acceleration.  This combination gives maximum 
flexibility across OS platforms, a large pool of potential programmers, lots of 
free software development tools and, if past experience is a good predictor of 
the future, an excellent end product.

Many moons ago I experimented with Cathy Moss's SDRMaxIII code using N9VV's 
server .  With the Qt Creator IDE even I was able to make minor changes to the 
code and quickly recompile the executable.

A few "facts" about a well known subject:

1)  If we use HPSDR hardware ownership as a  predictor of participation, we have 
approximately 500 "active" members in our group.  (I believe the reflector has 
about 800 members).
2)  So far, about 25 HPSDR group members have made software and FPGA code 
contributions.
3)  To date, 99% of the participants are licensed amateurs.

There is a reasonably large hardware user base.  The HPSDR project needs more 
software and FPGA code contributors.  We should also attempt to recruit 
developers from outside the amateur radio community.

One final thought.  With the assistance of TAPR and NT Electronics, the basic 
HPSDR hardware is in pretty good shape.  We now need to focus on software.

73,

Dan N4XWE




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