Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

corra · 2023-09-19 09:04:16

Hello there,

I have been using Code_Aster since 2009. I love the software, and I especially love the documentation coming with it, which allows everyone to understand the theory behind it. For some time, I have used the Windows version; then I went back to Linux systems and, I must say, all the hassle coming from the installation.
I have noticed that the downloading page has not been updated since 2020 (version 15.2), while, scrolling the forum, I got in touch with this gitlab repository:

https /gitlab.com/codeaster-opensource-documentation

where it seems that many changes have occurred since 2020 (Code Aster seems mainly moved to containers; more close relationship with Salome Meca; Python API and new architecture), which are, at once, a bit confusing. It seems strange that there is no mention of all this in the official website. So my basic questions are: is the website still maintained? Has Code Aster been forked by a new team? Where should a generic user look for news, documentation and official versions?

Thank you very much for any kind answer.

Corrado

paul18 · 2023-09-19 13:08:55

Hi,

Quite recently I came back to Code Aster after more than 15 years; as expected and logically, some changes have occurred in the meantime, even if the Code Aster skeleton remains more or less the same through last decades.

The main difference I’ve been noticing is the community behaviour and more precisely the lack of reaction: years ago, any question in the forum found an answer quite fastly (in the day from memory), both internal and external Code Aster people felt involved … that’s not clearly the case today: some posts has few answers or not at all.

My feeling: Code Aster developments started in the 1990’s i.e. more than 30 years ago => another time, another developers (another strategies? for interna use only?).

It seems that learning Code Aster has become more hard today; I can imagine any new user will wonder if it's worth getting started with a new solver with limited support?… it’s a pity because as Corrado said, it’s probably one of the most complete FEM solver in terms of functionalities, docs, test cases and so on.

Paul

AsterO'dactyle · 2023-09-22 07:23:58

Hello,

ode_aster is even more developed and active than ever.
On the other hand, we don't have any time to devote to animating the free community, including the website. This was already the case 15 years ago, and the time was taken from people's personal time (evenings and weekends).
Now, it's mainly devoted to EDF industrial issues.
I'd also like to make two comments:
- 10 or 15 years ago, one or two questions a week was manageable. Now it's several dozen, and the questions are particularly difficult.
- code distribution and tools keep pace with modern developments: containers, use of Git. There will also be major changes in documentation.
Finally, I notice that the community can't organize itself. It's open-source code, and apart from a few notable exceptions (like our Italian friends), it's mostly a collection of isolated people who come in once to ask a couple of questions and then disappear. Nevertheless, as many people answer the questions with accuracy and enthusiasm, I think it's not very nice not to notice.

After many years of hard work by our historical fathers, users are getting organized on the industrial side, with co-development agreements, particularly in the nuclear sector, or via highly professional solutions such as SimScale. I invite you to follow the news we regularly post on LinkedIn (often at weekends too...).

corra · 2023-09-22 07:55:02

Dear AsterO'dactyle,

Thank you for your answer. My question was not meant to criticize anything, it was just a genuine question on the "modern developments", as you said. Where are they posted and released? Is the website to be considered outdated? Where should a generic user look for news, documentation and official versions?

About the forum I completely agree with you, it is made by enthusiasts and experts in their free time. So the next question is: how should a user (an academic one, in my case) look for more structured support? Is it possible in Code_Aster, for instance in form of formal agreement or paid support?

I am sorry for the long list of questions, but I would really like to understand.
Kind regards,

Corrado

laurent · 2023-09-22 08:07:28

Hi

I learned Aster when you first had to compile it with Intel compiler and MKL around 2003/2004.
The whole learning was really hard but i had the time.
Very useful learning experience and an opportunity to compare with others softwares (Abaqus)

I lost touch around 2016.
Coming back to it recently to assess a thermal problem (1st Aster, then i will see if i need to move to Syrthes):
a. Coudn't do a Ubuntu install with the Singularity stuff and didn't want to lose too much time if others solutions would work (hence: Windows & Salome-for-Windows 2021). Salome-Meca direct install also wouldn't work on Ubuntu.
b. Had issue to just download Salome stand-alone: website link to working to get the file after filling up all infos...
So, yes, starting/restarting is difficult but maybe easily fixable?

Yet, if/when Salome-Meca is working (Windows today sadly for me, but hopefull it will change), i got my simulation set-up and working in much less time that i would have thought it would take.
The integration is really an improvement.
And i can see that User Meetings started again, with sharing of the presentations...

Hopefully it will follow a good trajectory/path and this discussion might help getting attention on some of the issues

ps: now reading AsterO'dactyle's comments: i am one of those individuals, using the strength of an industrial code @no cost, which has served me well. I try to help whenever i can, but as mentioned, some questions reflect how complex simulation can be.
Personnaly, Aster & Saturne helped me pushing topics i could never push without demonstrating by myself (with those tools) a few points conceptually. Then things got started. So, thank to the community for that. But no nice presentation to share! I could relate some experience if that helps

ps2: @Corra have you checked the Pronet code-aster.org/V2/spip.php?rubrique62 page regarding support?

Last edited by laurent (2023-09-22 08:08:23)

AsterO'dactyle · 2023-09-22 14:52:33

Hello,

Don't worry.
These are legitimate and very frequent questions.

We have to deploy our software on many different types of media. The best tool at the moment is containers. A container contains salome_meca, but there's nothing to stop you using only code_aster, especially in the case of problems such as graphics cards.
Internally, code is qualified on platforms such as Debian10. Soon Debian11.
You can always compile code_aster externally. The only difference is that we no longer make "aster-full" packages, which had become too time-consuming. There are many prerequisites for code-aster. The salome-meca container contains them all, with the guarantee that they'll work whatever happens.
In addition, the sources are updated every week (in fact, every day) on the Gitlab repository, so nothing has changed in that respect.

About the support. The answer is: no.
EDF is an electricity producer, not a software vendor.
Some companies have tried to set up this kind of service, but the problem is that the French market is too small and it's not profitable for them.

For a long time now, we've known that the only solution is for the open-source community to organize itself so that this kind of service can emerge.
It's possible, but it's difficult. Don't forget that a mechanical computation code is an extremely complex object on a restricted market. Look at the size and power of the software editors in this market (ANSYS, Dassault Systèmes, etC.). This is no coincidence...

#1 2023-09-19 09:04:16

Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

#2 2023-09-19 13:08:55

Re: Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

#3 2023-09-22 07:23:58

Re: Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

#4 2023-09-22 07:55:02

Re: Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

#5 2023-09-22 08:07:28

Re: Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

#6 2023-09-22 14:52:33

Re: Where is Code_Aster (website) going?

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