New applications will be added to ASTERIX by Richard Saxton (LTVAD::RDS) or Bob Vallance (BHVAD::RJV). It would be wise to contact them to discuss an idea for a new program before starting to code or convert it. Applications should be developed and tested in private directories or in AST_TEST. Application-specific subroutines may be written at will, and should be given names of the form applic_suffix, where `applic' is the name of the application. Subroutines which might be useful elsewhere in the system will be incorporated into ASTLIB. These should have names starting with one of the standard ASTLIB prefixes. Avoid the catch-all UTIL_* category if at all possible. If you feel the need for a new prefix category then contact RDS or RJV.
Applications should be tested as thoroughly as possible, on a wide range of input data, before being submitted for inclusion in the system. Some test data is available in directory AST_DEMO.
The following components will be required when submitting a program for inclusion in ASTERIX: the source code for the application and any new subroutines, an interface file and a HELP file.