# INCF/OCNS Software WG meeting 11 April 2022

## Attendees

- Ankur Sinha
- Shailesh Appukuttan
- Felix Kern

## Regrets

- Malin Sandstrom

## Pre-set agenda

From https://github.com/OCNS/SoftwareWG/issues/65

### CNS 2022 tutorials

- go over survey results
- decide on satellite tutorial sessions (we are confirming them with the OCNS organising committee now, and should have confirmation soon)
- WG members are invited to hold tutorial sessions for their respective tools
- we will reach out to non WG members to invite them to organise sessions for their tools

### Diversity & inclusion session at incf assembly

- birds of a feather "bof" session has been accepted
- we need input on what sessions to organise and who to invite
- we need input on what the goals (deliverables) of this session should be

### Software arena session at incf assembly

- has also been accepted
- input on the best way of doing this, and what our expected goals are

### WG business

- we don't currently have a way of actively communicating with the WG membership because we don't have a mailing list sort of thing where any announcements go straight to the members' inboxes (we don't even have all your e-mails because we decided not to use mailing lists when we started).
- the worry, however, is that using GitHub tickets/discussions is passive---i.e., folks do get notifications, but they still need to come up to the repository to engage
- the lack of something like a mailing list also means that we don't have a way of actively informing the community (outside our membership) of our activities

So:

- do we need a better way of keeping the wg membership in the loop? are you satisfied with our current way of doing things?
- are fixed meeting slots working? (we've had a lower than usual turnout recently---what can we do to help more of our members attend meetings?)

For communicating with the research community:

- should we send more updates to the already existing mailing lists (for example, should a note of our meeting be sent there?)
- or do we need a new mailing list/newsletter setup that folks can subscribe to? (in case our frequent posts to already existing mailing lists are thought to be an abuse of their policies?)

#### Increasing our membership

- what steps can we take to encourage more folks to join the WG?
- are their incentives we can think of to encourage students to join us for example? Simpler tasks for them to do, for example? (see #63 for example)

#### "Easyfix"

- thoughts on #63

### Standardisation of simulator generated data

- Possibility of standardising simulation generated output data (or facilitating conversion to NWB type formats to take advantage of the software/analysis eco system)

## Minutes

### CNS 2022 satellite tutorials

- Most in favour of free online software satellite tutorials
- Assume they're going to happen and plan accordingly
- ACTION: WG to finalise schedule, sessions by end of April and submit to Tutorials chair
- CNS: 16th-20th July
- Satellite tutorials (tentative): 27th June-1st July
- Open ticket and let folks comment if it *does not* work for them
- Software WG will host tutorials on whatever members are up to
- Invite others for stuff that's not manageable by WG
- Single registration form to collect e-mail addresses to send out links/information
- Include check boxes for each session so we have idea of per session interest/attendance.

### D&I session at INCF Assembly

- September 13th, 2022
- https://hackmd.io/s/SJgYACqQ9
- Start reaching out to prospective speakers ASAP to have confirmation for sessions (people are already planning the Autumn, so do this *ASAP*)
- Ideas for invitation draft: Malin

### Software arena session at incf assembly

- September 14th, 2022
- Session on making it easier to cite software (Marcel, Brian?)
- Target audience: software devs
- Invite devs from outside the WG
- Malin has list of GSoC mentors: can invite them

### WG business

#### Mailing list

- mailing list for announcements only
- discussions etc. continue on GitHub
- people attendings WG sessions etc. are added to the ML
- ACTION new mailing list [e-mail] (Malin)
- Ankur, Shailesh, Felix, Malin: initial admins/moderators
- continue sending usual updates to other public MLs

#### User targeted sessions: "Software highlights"

- Idea: dissemination of tools in neuroscience
- Try to get in touch with training focussed communities such as NeuroMatch to recommend that they direct their "students" to these sessions as follow-up
- INCF work with Neuromatch, so should be able to get us in touch.
- ACTION: need more volunteers to help us keep these going regularly
- Start new after summer vacations, near September
- Send announcements to lists
- Ask developers of new tools to get in touch
- Software WG members keep eye on publications on new software (JOSS etc.)

#### Encouraging folks to join the WG:

- Remember to show the slide Malin had made for the WG showing participants etc.

### Easyfix

- sounds like an idea worth trying
- Ankur set up demo

### Software wg survey

- Include link in next OCNS announcement
- Ankur remind Thomas Nowotny to include link to survey in next correspondence

### Standardisation

- Next meeting