Quanity Modelling Language (QML)
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First off: thanks for taking a look at QML. I bet you are wondering
what "QML" is, eh? Ok, here's a quick shot at defining it:
QML is a "thing"-based language for scientific and
mathematical data modeling. Each "thing" is a "quantity" which
is be associated with a structure and a semantic definition..which
for our purposes is a physical phenomena (like "star" or
"fluid temperature"). It has much in common with ontology-based
languages like OWL/RDF but is streamlined to just focus on percieved
needs in science data modeling and data serialization for archiving
and transport.
Second, this software consitutes a research effort/interest by myself
and this software is not guarrenteed to be complete or fit for any
purpose whatsoever. As it happens, I would consider this package to
currently be "alpha" (see the TODO file for missing things). Certainly
there may also be some significant bugs and some existing features may
break from version to version. The majority of my effort is to test
ideas and add planned features from the development roadmap; stability
will come afterwards.
Third, if you just want to install this and run it, proceed directly
to the "INSTALL" file.
I am very open to contributions and development help. Please contact me
if you are interested.
Lastly, as a notice to my employers, and whomever else is concerned:
While this work overlaps heavily with my professional interests
in Grid computing and the Virtual Observatory, the package was
wholly developed on my own time, away from work. I did this, not
because I wished to annoy my wife (which I did do), but because
I wanted this package to be free and clear of any institutional
entanglements/licensing problems.
As a result, this package is licensed under the Lessor GNU Public
License (LGPL) so that it may be used by the broadest audience
possible. When you are using/hacking/modifying this package, all
that I ask is that if you develop a good patch, to let be know
about it so that it might be incorporated within QML.
-brian
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This package (and my work on QML) is dedicated to my Mother,
Freida Ann Thomas, who passed away from cancer while I was working
on the early versions of it. I love and miss you very much mom.