PixInsight expands

[DavidTrap (David)]

Received an email this morning saying PI have added INDI to their software with the intention of eventually developing full camera and scope control.

INDI is the Linux alternative to ASCOM.

Interesting!

DT

[gregbradley]

Lets hope its intelligible.

Greg.

[cfranks (Charles)]

Sounded exciting and I loaded it last night (windi) but couldn't find drivers for any of my gear. Unfortunately, I know absolutely nothing about Linux and variations but I feel that will be the platform of choice.

Charles

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

I received the email from the Pixinsight also. Personally I am super excited about this, i've played with INDI before and am looking forward to seeing what new capability and integration the PI community can bring.

[gregbradley]

What they could do is bring some more advanced autoguiding capabilities.

Like multi star guiding or some other advancements as autoguiding is a bit of a stagnant area. PHD2 has been the best advance but it could be more stable.

Greg.

[glend (Glen)]

I am sure the Cult members will be pleased.

[RobF (Rob)]

Very interesting.....
Agree with Greg's comments on need for innovation in guiding. Either that or I'll have to buy a quality mount!

[DavidTrap (David)]

I guess it will take a while to mature, but as their email says,

"This is undoubtedly one of the most important milestones in the history of PixInsight development. INDIClient opens a door to hardware control support on the PixInsight platform, and you can bet we are going to open this door completely and go in."

In the long term, I wonder if this will aide those using the Mac platform as well?

ASCOM works pretty well, but I wonder if the PI zealots will come up with some interesting sequencing options. They've got a lot of work ahead of them to replicate the functionality of programs like ACP, SGP, CCDC, etc.

DT

[RickS (Rick)]

I'd personally prefer they put the effort into improved processing tools rather than data capture, but they didn't ask me

Cheers,
Rick.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by RickS

I'd personally prefer they put the effort into improved processing tools rather than data capture, but they didn't ask me

Cheers,
Rick.

Maxim is a very expensive capture program, with somewhat limited processing capabilities. Maybe PI can be capable in both areas.

DT

[multiweb (Marc)]

I like the possibilities with the scripting interface. Something worth checking out. I might be able to spend my time more wisely. Less around the mount guiding and more on the field (drinking?)

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

Maxim is a very expensive capture program, with somewhat limited processing capabilities. Maybe PI can be capable in both areas.

Will have to wait and see if there is the development bandwidth to do both well. I certainly agree with Greg that there's not been a lot of innovation in guiding lately. I am planning to script up guiding by plate solve but haven't got around to it yet. Should be the ultimate multi-star guiding solution if I can get the plate solves fast enough.

Originally Posted by multiweb

I like the possibilities with the scripting interface. Something worth checking out. I might be able to spend my time more wisely. Less around the mount guiding and more on the field (drinking?)

A good plan, Marc ACP and Maxim works well for automating my set up but it's an expensive solution.

[RobF (Rob)]

Also, if PI made Linux a powerful and RELIABLE alternative, that would probably push most people towards small cheap processors on their imaging rig controlled wirelessly by laptop (or Marc's mobile while he's off drinking with friends ). The ultimate "hub" solution on your rig.

[DJT (David)]

I would struggle with a move to PI for capture using the STL 6303 unless they bend their principles to put in a way to fix blooming artifacts. Judging by responses to requests on the forum that's unlikely to happen.

The boys would need to put in control for a rotator as well as part of their capture module.

Can you imagine the fun and games trying to get a user guide though

Anyway, good luck to them.

[Slawomir (Suavi)]

Originally Posted by RickS

I'd personally prefer they put the effort into improved processing tools rather than data capture, but they didn't ask me

Cheers,
Rick.

I totally agree. Jack of all trades, master of none...

[gregbradley]

[QUOTE=RickS;1249222]
I am planning to script up guiding by plate solve but haven't got around to it yet. Should be the ultimate multi-star guiding solution if I can get the plate solves fast enough.



Wow, what a good idea. I told you, you were a genius!

With the Proline and Trius I was getting plate solves in about 2 seconds using 2x2 binning and 3 second exposures in Sky X.
As I use 4-6 second guide exposures with PME and AP1600 that could be fast enough almost.

Greg.

[lazjen (Chris)]

There's already quite capable software out there using INDI now: Ekos (+kstars).

PixInsight would be better off doing more improvements as Rick suggests. If they really want to promote INDI, they would be better off assisting with the Ekos project.

Still, perhaps this will kick INDI into a higher gear, which I'd like to see.

[DavidTrap (David)]

I read the thread on the PI forum. There was a particularly frank post with someone throwing the toys out of the cot for PI heading in this direction. Vincent and Juan did point out this is a user contributed module.

I had a bit of a read about INDI vs ASCOM and there are a lot of arguments about ASCOM being a legacy item due to the "programming language" and "Windows bits" used (all this stuff is far above my pay grade, so please don't shoot the messenger). INDI uses more modern cross platform techniques. Thoughts?

DT

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

I read the thread on the PI forum. There was a particularly frank post with someone throwing the toys out of the cot for PI heading in this direction. Vincent and Juan did point out this is a user contributed module.

I had a bit of a read about INDI vs ASCOM and there are a lot of arguments about ASCOM being a legacy item due to the "programming language" and "Windows bits" used (all this stuff is far above my pay grade, so please don't shoot the messenger). INDI uses more modern cross platform techniques. Thoughts?

DT

Yeah someone had a bit of a dummy spit but I think it was more aimed indirectly towards the PixInsight (lack of) documentation.

Windows doesn't seem to be supported 100% yet from what I've read. Installing a VM to run Linux is another complication and possible cost. I don't know about any free VM client. VM ware is very good but does come at a price and the yearly licence is expensive, quite like MAXIM-DL. I reckon might wait a little bit once the dust settles. This is early days still.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Wow, what a good idea. I told you, you were a genius!

With the Proline and Trius I was getting plate solves in about 2 seconds using 2x2 binning and 3 second exposures in Sky X.
As I use 4-6 second guide exposures with PME and AP1600 that could be fast enough almost.

Save the praise for when I get it done, Greg It's one of many projects on my to-do list.

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

I had a bit of a read about INDI vs ASCOM and there are a lot of arguments about ASCOM being a legacy item due to the "programming language" and "Windows bits" used (all this stuff is far above my pay grade, so please don't shoot the messenger). INDI uses more modern cross platform techniques. Thoughts?

Yes, INDI has a modern architecture and doesn't rely on ancient Windows COM technology so it can easily run on other operating systems (especially interesting to me is the possibility of running it on a small embedded Linux system at the scope.) Whether it will succeed in displacing ASCOM remains to be seen. Clunky old architectures with wide adoption often hang around a long time after their use by date.