PhET Progress Report

Sam Reid

November 5, 2009

 

An online version of this report is available here.

Here's a pie chart representation of the time distribution.

 

Waiting On:

·         Noah: Interview feedback for Ramp + Forces & Motion

·         Wendy: approval to spend time on build process for removing jarsigner credential requirement (any developer), #1838

·         Jonathan: Feedback regarding density sim model #1868

·         Mike: Any other ideas for CCK numerical model based on prototype I sent you?

 

CCK

·         Worked with Mike to try to find a numerical solution to oscillation numerical problems.  So far no workaround we’ve tried solves the problem without creating worse problems.

1.      Tried 2-step time average in each time step; this fixes high frequency oscillation problems, but gives incorrect time constant in exponential decay

1.      Try taking a 2-step time average in the view only, still yields large spikes where there shouldn’t be.  Larger smoothing windows look correct, but are incorrect for other situations

·         Can someone (SM?) look through the CCK Physics tickets and see which are resolved in 3.17.18?

·         Created a ticket for issues raised by MG

 

Density

·         Provided an explanation for the linear algebra model in density sim, #1868

·         Followed JO’s instructions to set up debugger for Flex in IntelliJ

 

Moving Man

·         Worked with John on model refactoring: deciding between hierarchical vs monolithic in shared code

 

Accessibility

·         Tested high contrast mode under Windows 7 => Same problems as before

·         Tested high contrast with MAGic, couldn’t get software to run on my laptop

·         Tested high contrast with Zoomtext, results look promising

·         Full details available in #1863

 

Misc

·         Help JB with YF installer

·         Worked on gene-network model with JB

·         Discussed sim-centric structure in #1867

·         Added Chris as Piccolo administrator, see here

 

Upcoming Work

·         The Ramp

·         Forces & Motion

1.      triage of pre-existing to-do’s for motion-series (below moving man section)

·         CCK

·         Kathy/Mike: comment on CCK AC + capacitor issue #1839

1.      For only AC sources, look into using phasors?  This wouldn’t work for constant batteries

2.      Turn off workaround if there are only AC sources.

3.      A better detection: is the workaround “causing” or “resolving” the high-frequency oscillation?

·         Moving Man

·         Density

·         E&E graph should have record/playback, use motion series recording controls.

·         Better support for coordinate frames, see MyCanvas

·         Better tracking & documentation of sim dependencies and changes

·         Make it possible to redeploy sims with common changes without retesting the sim

·         Make it possible to deploy an exact version of a sim, could use git for this too?

1.      Should add a way to annotate tested versions, and test results

·         Publish sim models/approximations on web, as requested by Merlot

1.      Latex seems like the right medium for this if it has decent html output

2.      I’ve got a document somewhere about the CCK MNA model.

·         Piccolo

1.      #1821 update piccolo

2.      In RadioactiveDatingGameApplication 2nd tab, some bounds have NaN against Piccolo 1.3, and nothing renders

·         Discuss making branch releases of phetcommon and other common subprojects

·         Discuss making branches of each sim as it is redeployed.