PixInsight 1.8.1.1092 Ripley Released

[Juan Conejero]

Hi all,

A new version of PixInsight has been just released and is now available to all users: 1.8.1.1092 for FreeBSD, Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.

Build 1092 is a bugfix/maintenance release. We encourage you to update all your installations as soon as possible.


How to Install the Release

This version is not available through the update system. You have to download the appropriate installation package(s) for your platform(s) from our Software Distribution system:

https://pixinsight.com/dist/

Simply uninstall your current version and install the new one:

FreeBSD and Linux: PixInsight installation packages are gzip-compressed tar archives (.tar.gz). To install one of these archives, extract its full contents on any directory, preferably on one located under your home directory. Then become root and run the installer program from a terminal. For complete information on the PixInsight Linux/UNIX installer program, see this forum post:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6336.0

Mac OS X: Uncompress the .zip archive to get the PixInsight.app application bundle. It can be executed from any location, but we recommend copying it to the standard /Applications folder, and optionally add it to the Dock.

Windows: We provide standard Windows installation packages. To install one of these packages, launch the executable file and follow the instructions. Once installed, you'll have a new entry on your Start > All Programs menu (or equivalent item on Windows 8), namely PixInsight Platform, where you'll find an option to launch the PixInsight Core application. The installation also includes an uninstall utility.


Bug Fixes

This version fixes all confirmed bugs in the previous build 1087, plus a large number of minor bugs and performance issues that we have discovered through exhaustive stress testing. These are two relevant problems fixed in build 1092:

* Fixed a crash on all platforms when the RealTimePreview virtual view was selected in a view list. See the original bug report on PixInsight Forum:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6946.0

* Fixed a regression in the Math.min() and Math.max() JavaScript methods that was affecting the BatchPreprocessing script. Original bug report:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6937.0


New Features

This is a partial list with the most important new features in PixInsight Core 1.8.1.1092:

* Integration of Qt 4.8.6 Snapshot 517 (17 March 2014)
* Integration of dcraw 1.461 (31 January 2014)
* Integration of cUrl 7.36.0
* Integration of OpenSSL 1.0.1g (Heartbleed bugfix)
* Integration of gnuplot 4.6.5
* Linux versions are now built with GNU GCC 4.8.2
* Windows versions are now built with Microsoft Visual Studio 2013
* PixInsight Class Library 2.0.11.663

* The new MultiscaleLinearTransform (MLT) tool replaces ATrousWaveletTransform (which is now deprecated but maintained for compatibility). MLT introduces a new linear multiscale transform based on multiple Gaussian filters, besides the starlet transform (aka à  trous wavelet transform).

* The MultiscaleMedianTransform (MMT) tool introduces a new median-wavelet transform that splits the multiscale representation optimally into wavelets for nonsignificant structures and the median transform for high-contrast structures.

* New linear mask feature integrated in the MLT and MMT tools. Linear masks greatly enhance noise reduction of raw linear images.

* ImageIntegration has two new options to control how range rejected pixels are reported. See this forum post for more information:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6941.0

* New MergeCFA tool by Nikolay Volkov:

http://pixinsight.com/forum/index.php?topic=6249.0

* Updated script collection by Andrés del Pozo:

    - General: The queries to the catalogs of VizieR are now faster and smaller.
    - General: The cache of VizieR data keeps the last 20 queries between executions.
    - ImageSolver, AnnotateImage, AperturePhotometry, CatalogStarGenerator: New option "non-interactive" for non-interactive execution.
    - ImageSolver: Improved method for solving images using weighted splines.
    - AperturePhotometry: Measurement of all the stars in an area 50% bigger than the field of view of the first image.
    - AperturePhotometry: Option for saving the diagnostic images.
    - AperturePhotometry: Configuration of name prefix for the output tables.

* New standard update repository scheme. Updates are now split into three standard repositories: update, update-devel and update-doc for production stable modules, development/unstable modules and reference documentation, respectively. In this way the update system is more modular and flexible.

* New File.currentWorkingDirectory, File.homeDirectory and File.rootDirectory static JavaScript properties.

* New cpuId() global JavaScript method that gives access to the CPUID machine instruction on Intel and AMD processors.

* New Math.minElem() and Math.maxElem() static JavaScript methods.

* New version of the MakefileGenerator script with support for Microsoft Visual C++ 2013.


I hope you enjoy this new release.

[cdesselles]

Wow!  That's a lot of new stuff to learn in what is billed as a "maintenance" release...   

[Alejandro Tombolini]

Thank you all for the updates and improvements!.

Saludos, Alejandro.

[pfile]

just out of curiosity - were you able to solve the macosx 'sleep' bug that would cause PI to crash? or does the upgrade to the new Qt fix this?

thanks,

rob

[Enzo De Bernardini]

MLT is super-fast! 8)

Thanks!.

Enzo.

[astroedo]

Thank you guys!
New tools in the Easter egg this year 

[james7]

Is there going to be a release for Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7?

[Juan Conejero]

Is there going to be a release for Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7?

We are going to release a new version of PixInsight in a couple weeks, which will include a special build for Snow Leopard and Lion.

[Alejandro Tombolini]

Hi Juan,
loading projects saved with previous versions have a warning for a missing module (CAMF). Something to be worried about o just ignore it?

Code: [Select]

Loading project:
/home/alejandro/Datos/Pictures/A PROCESAR/2014_02_28 Proyecto M 78/postprocesing.xosm
* SHA-1 checksum: 8d6d96f8ea261f1aa95993e1ad1b0c609e26f5ed
* Reading project metadata
Created .................... 2014-abr-07 04:14:15 UTC
Author ..................... Alejandro Tombolini
Project generation features:
Include images ............. true
Include previews ........... true
Include interface states ... true
Include icons .............. true
Include text documents ..... true
Include thumbnail .......... true
File checksums (SHA-1) ..... true
Purge existing files ....... false
Check space available ...... true
Workspaces ................. Workspace01 Workspace02 Workspace03 Workspace04
Screen geometry ............ W=1920 H=1080
* Loading images
Reading image: PSF
Reading image: Aggregated
Reading image: Aggregated1
Reading image: star_mask
Reading image: range_mask
Reading image: integration
Reading image: integration->Preview01
Reading image: integration->Preview02
Reading image: integration->Preview03
Reading image: integration->Preview04
* Loading interface states
** Warning: Skipping unknown interface: CAMF
** Warning: Skipping unknown interface: BandingNotchFilter
* Loading embedded XPSM
Reading icon: Process65
Reading icon: Process69
Reading icon: Process66
Reading icon: Process67
Reading icon: Process70
Reading icon: Process71
Reading icon: Process77
Reading icon: Process14
Reading icon: Process12
Reading icon: Process15
Reading icon: Process22
Reading icon: Process23
* Regenerating masking relations
integration: ~range_mask
* Updating workspaces
* Project loaded successfully.
Saludos, Alejandro.

[Carlos Milovic]

Don't worry. These were development modules I gave to you for testing

[Howard]

Dear Juan: Just a gentle inquiry about the timeline on a new build for Mac Lion - I'm itching to try out the new Multiscale tools, especially after pouring over your very informative new tutorial. Best regards, Howard.

[Juan Conejero]

Hi Howard,

Version 1.8.2 is almost ready for release. It comes with lots of bug fixes and improvements, and of course it will include a special version for Mac OS X 10.6 and 10.7. The release should happen this week. Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Howard]

Hi Juan: Thank you for the update, and no inconvenience whatsoever - the continuing addition of new tools and improvements to PixInsight are outstanding! Cheers, Howard.