Project launch

It is early days and our first task is to review and document John’s code so that we understand it fully before it is made more widely available.

Photometry Express will run as a stand-alone application but the ‘vanilla’ Automation Express is written to work with 3rd party software to control the telescope mount, CCD and filter wheel.  Naturally, John developed Automation Express around the software that he used for his variable star work, namely:

• Maxim DL
• Pinpoint and / or Elbrus
• The Sky

In the longer term we want to build on John’s software by integrating more third party options (such as Astroart and maybe Cartes de Ciel) to bring Automation Express to the widest possible audience.  Fortunately John’s code is well written and uses ASCOM APIs.  This will make our work much easier.

The development platform is Delphi – based on PASCAL.  For one of our team having to learn Delphi and its integrated development environment is itself a challenge.  The PASCAL I learned  at university was not Object Oriented!  Fortunately we have an experienced Delphi programmer on board.

The adventure begins!

Peter Campbell-Burns, Farnham Astronomical Society