Background

Over the course of the last several years, every office in Western Region has been active in developing new and useful local software applications that help the office function more efficiently. These applications range from web-based applications to data/system monitors. In an effort to share these programs with others in the National Weather Service, a Local Software Applications (LSA) section was added to the Western Region Headquarters homepage in June of 1997.

LSAs have replaced Western Region Programming Notes. This transition has lead to some confusion. Questions concerning the content, format and submission process of LSAs have been raised. In response to these questions, the following information can be used as a guideline for submitting LSAs.

Content

The programs that are currently listed on the LSA homepage cover a wide range of topics. No restrictions have been placed on the type of applications that are appropriate for the LSA page. If the program in question has been developed locally or has proved to be of value to the office, then sharing it with WR offices through the use of the LSA homepage is appropriate. Also, anything that would have previously been considered appropriate for a Western Region Programming Note is acceptable.

Format

In order to encourage timely and frequent submissions, the format for the LSAs has been kept relatively simple and informal. This will continue to be the case in the future. The basic information that is needed for publication is as follows:

Program Name
Developer
Office
Contact (if different than the developer)
Program files
Program write-up

The information and detail given in the program write-up is left to the discretion of the developer. It can be as simple as a few paragraphs explaining what the program does and the environment in which it runs or as detailed as a complete README. A basic rule of thumb is to make sure that there is enough information about the program that others understand what it does and how it is used before they begin the downloading process. Try to avoid redundancy with any detailed setup instructions that will be downloaded. Browse the LSA page at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/LSA/lsa1.html for examples of LSA write-ups.

In order to eliminate confusion and the possibility of excluding necessary files from the LSA, please zip or tar all of the files that are required for the program. If the individual files in the .zip or .tar file need explanations, include them in the write-up.

Submission

Again, the goal of submitting LSAs is to keep it simple. There are two methods that you can use:

Method 1 - via cc:mail

1) Address a cc:mail message with the subject "New LSA" to Kellie Hansen
2) Attach the write-up for the program
3) Attach any .tar/.zip/README files that are necessary to install, localize, and run your program
4) Send message. If there are any other special instructions (i.e., links in write-up that need to be activated), make note of them in the message

NOTE: There is no size limit for cc:mail messages sent within the confines of Western Region. If the cc:mail crosses regional boundaries, the size limit is 250K. If the files exceed this limit, use Method 2.

Method 2 - via ftp

1) ftp to WRH
ftp ftp.wrh.noaa.gov
2) Login as anonymous
3) Your default directory will be /pub/incoming/
4) cd LSA
5) Place any .tar/.zip/README files that are necessary to install, localize, and run your program in the /pub/incoming/LSA/ directory
put (filename)
6) Address a cc:mail message with the subject "New LSA" to Kellie Hansen
7) Attach the write-up for the program
8) Include a list of the filenames you placed on WRH and any other special instructions (ie. links in write-up that need to be activated) in the message

Publication

Once the files for the LSA have been received, they will be reviewed by Western Region SSD and added to the LSA homepage. On the average, this process takes one week. When this is completed, the LSA will be referenced and a short program description will be given in the SSD section of Western Region Staff Notes.

Program Modifications

As modifications and updates are made to previously submitted LSAs, please resubmit the programs using one of the two methods described above. The modified program will not be placed on the LSA page as a new LSA. Instead, the outdated download file on the current LSA will be replaced by the new download file and the date of the latest program update will be placed on the page.

Conclusion

In the year that has passed since the LSA page was first established, 46 programs have been published and many NWS offices around the country have benefitted from them. These procedures for submitting LSAs have been set forth in hopes of the continued growth and success of the page. If further questions arise about LSAs, please address them to Kellie Hansen, WRH/SSD.