XmCCD
-----

XmCCD has been tested most recently on Suse 10.1 and Suse 10.3 and it will 
probably run on most other recent Linux distributions.  However, it will not 
run on Suse 10.2 as configured by default.  For new installations we
recommend trying Suse 10.3.    

This version provides support only for USB cameras.  LPT cameras require an
older version and must run on 2.4 series kernels.

For the latest notes see TODO in this directory.

This is a "beta" version. The TDI feature is under development and is not ready
for  use.  However this version doe include several improvements  it should be 
used for new installations.  Replace it with the more polished final version 
that will be available in early January 2008.

This distribution includes source code to utilize the Santa Barbara Instrument
Group (SBIG) shared library libsbigudrv.so with a Motif-based graphical user
interface program to control SBIG astronomical CCD cameras.

Since the driver and camera control protocols are proprietary, source code is
not available for the library.  However, there is a very complete manual
accompanying the library, kernel modules, necessary files and utilities in the
sbig subdirectory.

Although the SBIG library is available directly from 

http://www.sbig.com

the version included here from Jan Soldan appears to correct some 
issues which we have had with the version on SBIG's website.  
You should use the version of the library included here at least until 
the revisions to XmCCD are complete and both library versions can be tested.  

The most recent version of XmCCD is available from 

http://www.astro.louisville.edu/moore/software

and you are encouraged to check there for the latest release, sources for 
other software needed to compile and run XmCCD, and supporting utilities.

XmCCD software is offered under the GNU Public License.  
Please see the files  LICENSE and COPYRIGHT for more information.

INSTALL describes how to build and install XmCCD. It does require other programs
to compile and run, some of which are not usually present in Linux
distributions.  The sources for these programs are available from the XmCCD
home at http://www.astro.louisville.edu/moore/software.  Before building and
running XmCCD, you will probably need to install the following:

OpenMotif or LessTif -- the user interface software
fxload               -- loads firmware up to the camera
SAOImage ds9         -- image display called by xmccd
cfitsio              -- standard FITS support

In addition to these, GIMP and CINEPAINT are very useful for subsequent image
processing. GIMP is often included in comprehensive Linux distributions.  It is
an 8-bit image processing program comparable to Adobe Photoshop.  CINEPAINT is a
32-bit program originally modeled on GIMP that is more useful for  astronomical
images with large dynamic range.  Both programs will read the  FITS format
camera image files written by XmCCD or ds9.

Links to the original sources for these programs are given on the 
web site for XmCCD.


John Kielkopf
November 10, 2007