Future management needs of a "software-driven" science community

TL;DR

The paper discusses the evolving needs of astronomers for advanced software due to increasing data complexity and advocates for a collaborative approach between software specialists and scientists to enhance data interpretation.

Contribution

It proposes a new model of collaboration between programmers and scientists to better manage complex astronomical data and software development.

Findings

Enhanced collaboration improves data analysis efficiency.

Splitting roles benefits scientific interpretation and software development.

Test case demonstrates practical advantages of the proposed approach.

Abstract

The work of astronomers is getting more complex and advanced as the progress of computer development occurs. With improved computing capabilities and increased data flow, more sophisticated software is required in order to interpret, and fully exploit, astronomic data. However, it is not possible for every astronomer to also be a software specialist. As history has shown, the work of scientists always becomes increasingly specialised, and we here argue in favour of another, at least partial, split between "programmers" and "interpreters". In this presentation we outline our vision for a new approach and symbiosis between software specialists and scientists, and present its advantages along with a simple test case.