Software Project Quarterly Report Oct-Dec 2000
==============================================

Our key milestones and deliverables during the period in the core
software development program supported by the Project came in the
context of major framework (Athena) releases during the period,
discussed below. The deliverables encompassed major advances in
control framework, event model and database software with
contributions from all supported institutes. WBS numbers are
reported in the milestone summary that follows, and in the 
narrative text for tasks not represented in the milestone summary.

The period began with a major release of the ATLAS offline framework,
Athena, scheduled for Sep 29, 2000. This was the Alpha release, the
first version delivering broad functionality to users and a major U.S.
milestone, encompassing major deliverables in both control framework
and databases. Deliverables in the release were met during October and
early November, with the exception of formal merging Unified Software 
Development Process activities into main line development (little
impact), with the milestone declared complete by ATLAS in
November. Major components of the release were an event data model
prototype implementation (StoreGate), event generator integration,
fast simulation integration, incorporation of Athena into ATLAS
releases, physics analysis output to ROOT, and a resource monitoring
(auditing) system.

Reprioritization by ATLAS and the heavy review load resulted in
deferment of some deliverables to the next release in December;
specifically, the Objectivity and ROOT event I/O prototypes, and the
deployment of the interactive scripting prototype.

The period ended with the next major (Beta) release of Athena and
associated deliverables, again encompassing major control framework
and database deliverables from the U.S. The milestone date was
December 29; the release became available with the Atlas release
following the holidays.  The deliverables deferred from the Alpha
release mentioned above were completed. Also included were the user
deployment of the StoreGate event data model and the auditor service,
and a strategy document for the development of a data definition
language and dictionary, identified as an essential framework
component by the ATLAS Architecture Review Committee. The detector
description prototype deliverable (not under U.S. control) scheduled
for this release is late.  Following ATLAS reprioritization the
pile-up support prototype due in this release was deferred to April
2001. A draft version of the Athena Users Guide was released.

An important achievement during the period was the long-delayed
ramp-up of database activity at ANL, with two FTEs added to the
effort (one highly experienced external hire and two half-time
computer scientists transferred internally), together with a recent
U Chicago hire working 50% on databases. With these acquisitions
the ANL and LBNL core software programs are at or near critical mass,
and future focus shifts to completing the delayed ramp at BNL in
event model and data management.

The period saw much progress in software support (WBS 2.2.4) and
management (WBS 2.4.1).  Software activities at BNL including project
management, librarian services and development activities were
consolidated in a new Physics Applications Software Group in the
Physics Department.  A US ATLAS software web server was completed with
a range of code browsing services, database services, and the
HyperNews discussion tool. A software project planning system
'XProject' was developed and adopted both by U.S. and International
ATLAS as the basis for unified project planning.

Core software efforts were complemented by much (primarily
off-project) development activity in subsystem software (WBS 2.2.2),
including substantial work in evaluating and deploying new core
developments. Examples include development and testing of StoreGate in
the LAr reconstruction; development of a unified framework for LAr and
Tile calorimeter reconstruction; strong U.S. participation in Geant4
physics performance studies; test beam analysis in several subsystems;
Athena integration work in all subsystems; strong participation in
detector description development particularly in the muon subsystem;
development of a new muon reconstruction package; and prototyping I/O
tools in LAr simulation. The U.S. acquired a new major subsystem
software role in International ATLAS with the appointment of Srini
Rajagopalan (BNL) as LAr Reconstruction Coordinator.

A new round of solicitations for interest in training courses was sent
out (WBS 2.2.5) in order to plan courses for the next 6-12 months.
Some of these courses will utilize the web-based Syncomat lecture
tools (WBS 2.2.3).

Substantial progress was made on ATLAS software agreements during the
period. A draft software agreement between U.S. ATLAS and
International ATLAS covering the control framework was completed,
circulated throughout ATLAS, and followed up with a solicitation for
other expressions of interest in the area. One institute (Annecy)
expressed interest in the specific area of the data dictionary, and
agreement was reached on a revised software agreement incorporating
data dictionary as a subtask performed by Annecy and overseen by
U.S. ATLAS. This draft is in the final stages of preparation. A first
solicitation for expressions of interest in subsystem software was
also received, for the LAr calorimeter. U.S. ATLAS is engaged in
assembling a unified response to the solicitation, following our
approach for core software, and is on target to meet the Feb 2, 2001
submission deadline.

Summary of Major Milestones and Deliverables:
=============================================

Sep 29, 2000: Athena Alpha Release (WBS 2.2.1.2)
 - U.S. control framework and event model (WBS 2.2.1.4) deliverables
   met by mid November (most met in October), except merging of USDP
   (WBS 2.2.1.1)
   - impact of USDP merge delay: negligible
 - U.S. database deliverables (WBS 2.2.1.3) met or deferred to December
   - impact of deferments: contraction of already tight schedule
     for database evaluations and technology selection in 2001

Dec 29, 2000: Athena Beta Release (WBS 2.2.1.2)
 - deployed in ATLAS software release 1.3.0
 - U.S. control framework deliverables met
 - U.S. database deliverables met (WBS 2.2.1.3)

Forthcoming Milestones and Deliverables:
========================================
The next major milestone will be the Athena Gamma release in
May. Deliverables with substantial U.S. involvement are indicated.

May 14, 2001: Athena gamma release (WBS 2.2.1.2)
 - Objectivity event I/O fully deployed (WBS 2.2.1.3)
 - Data dictionary prototype
 - Pile-up support prototype
 - Physics analysis ROOT binding
 - Geant4 integration prototype (limited U.S. involvement)
 In addition, the following are desirable: 
 - Particle properties service deployed
 - Statistics and monitoring tools prototype
 - Bookkeeping prototype

Summer, 2001: Selection of database technology (WBS 2.2.1.2)
 A 'floating' milestone in International ATLAS, without a firm date,
 and which may be delayed. Involves the selection of the event
 storage technology (Objectivity, ROOT, relational DB...). ATLAS is
 currently in a poor position to make such a decision, with little
 evaluation of the alternatives done. The U.S. will be (must be) a
 strong contributor to the prototyping, evaluating, and decision
 making involved, and this will be a focus area in the database and
 data management effort in the coming months.