The Astropy Problem
11 Oct 2016 · Muna Demitri, Alexander Michael, Allen Alice, Ashley Richard, Asmus Daniel, Azzollini Ruyman, Bannister Michele, Beaton Rachael, Benson Andrew, Berriman G. Bruce, Bilicki Maciej, Boyce Peter, Bridge Joanna, Cami Jan, Cangi Eryn, Chen Xian, Christiny Nicholas, Clark Christopher, Collins Michelle, Comparat Johan, Cook Neil, Croton Darren, Davids Isak Delberth, Depagne Éric, Donor John, Santos Leonardo A. dos, Douglas Stephanie, Du Alan, Durbin Meredith, Erb Dawn, Faes Daniel, Fernández-Trincado J. G., Foley Anthony, Fotopoulou Sotiria, Frimann Søren, Frinchaboy Peter, Garcia-Dias Rafael, Gawryszczak Artur, George Elizabeth, Gonzalez Sebastian, Gordon Karl, Gorgone Nicholas, Gosmeyer Catherine, Grasha Katie, Greenfield Perry, Grellmann Rebekka, Guillochon James, Gurwell Mark, Haas Marcel, Hagen Alex, Haggard Daryl, Haines Tim, Hall Patrick, Hellwing Wojciech, Herenz Edmund Christian, Hinton Samuel, Hlozek Renee, Hoffman John, Holman Derek, Holwerda Benne Willem, Horton Anthony, Hummels Cameron, Jacobs Daniel, Jensen Jens Juel, Jones David, Karick Arna, Kelley Luke, Kenworthy Matthew, Kitchener Ben, Klaes Dominik, Kohn Saul, Konorski Piotr, Krawczyk Coleman, Kuehn Kyler, Kuutma Teet, Lam Michael T., Lane Richard, Liske Jochen, Lopez-Camara Diego, Mack Katherine, Mangham Sam, Mao Qingqing, Marsh David J. E., Mateu Cecilia, Maurin Loïc, McCormac James, Momcheva Ivelina, Monteiro Hektor, Mueller Michael, Munoz Roberto, Naidu Rohan, Nelson Nicholas, Nitschelm Christian, North Chris, Nunez-Iglesias Juan, Ogaz Sara, Owen Russell, Parejko John, Patrício Vera, Pepper Joshua, Perrin Marshall, Pickering Timothy, Piscionere Jennifer, Pogge Richard, Poleski Radek, Pourtsidou Alkistis, Price-Whelan Adrian M., Rawls Meredith L., Read Shaun, Rees Glen, Rein Hanno, Rice Thomas, Riemer-Sørensen Signe, Rusomarov Naum, Sanchez Sebastian F., Santander-García Miguel, Sarid Gal, Schoenell William, Scholz Aleks, Schuhmann Robert L., Schuster William, Scicluna Peter, Seidel Marja, Shao Lijing, Sharma Pranav, Shulevski Aleksandar, Shupe David, Sifón Cristóbal, Simmons Brooke, Sinha Manodeep, Skillen Ian, Soergel Bjoern, Spriggs Thomas, Srinivasan Sundar, Stevens Abigail, Streicher Ole, Suchyta Eric, Tan Joshua, Telford O. Grace, Thomas Romain, Tonini Chiara, Tremblay Grant, Tuttle Sarah, Urrutia Tanya, Vaughan Sam, Verdugo Miguel, Wagner Alexander, Walawender Josh, Wetzel Andrew, Willett Kyle, Williams Peter K. G., Yang Guang, Zhu Guangtun, Zonca Andrea ·
The Astropy Project (http://astropy.org) is, in its own words, "a community effort to develop a single core package for Astronomy in Python and foster interoperability between Python astronomy packages." For five years this project has been managed, written, and operated as a grassroots, self-organized, almost entirely volunteer effort while the software is used by the majority of the astronomical community. Despite this, the project has always been and remains to this day effectively unfunded. Further, contributors receive little or no formal recognition for creating and supporting what is now critical software. This paper explores the problem in detail, outlines possible solutions to correct this, and presents a few suggestions on how to address the sustainability of general purpose astronomical software.
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