Ultime notizie da Range-Software
Intervista con Tomáš Šoltys, fondatore di Range Software.
Tomáš Šoltys nasce nel 1979 in Cecoslovacchia, nella regione montuosa delle High Tatras. Attualmene risiede a Praga, nella Repubblica Ceca. Dopo essersi laureato in ingegneria meccanica presso l'università di Zilina con una tesi sulla simulazione numerica di problemi fluidodinamici, intraprende un percorso di ricerca nello stesso settore presso il Dipartimento di Meccanica dell'università di Rice che culmina con pubblicazioni riguardanti la simulazioni numerica di fenomeni biologici (emolisi).
Successivamente affianca gli studi ingegneristici al lavoro come programmatore presso importanti aziende tra cui Deutsche Boerse. Il curriculum completo è disponibile sul sito ufficiale di Range Software.
Ho conosciuto Range Software e Tomáš Šoltys tramite una segnalazione di SofwareScout come uno dei codici FEM emergenti più promettenti. Ssono rimasto affascinato dal progetto Range Software e dalla versatilità del suo ideatore nel conciliare il rigore della simulazione numerica di problemi meccanici (e non solo) con l'esperienza di un programmatore con ben presenti le necessità di produttività e ergonomicità che un moderno software deve avere.
L'intervista verrà tradotta dall'inglese nei prossimi gionri, ci scusiamo per il ritardo.
MP: Hello Tomas, let the first question be inspired by my feeling of "envy" to you: I have never been successful (despite having attended specific courses about Computer Aided Engineering) in synthesizing the world of numerical simulation with appropriate programming skills. Which of your past experiences do you consider as the most important in your professional training?
TS: Most of the knowledge I have gained by experience. But this would be impossible without the solid base. And this base was built in two stages. First I had to learn that there is a technque called FEM. Second I had to gain some mathematical and physical background. All these I have learned during my studies at University of Žilina in Slovakia. The last and possibly most important part of the basis was when I realized that I can do it my self. This I have learned while I was visiting Rice University in Houston, USA. And when it comes to programming skills, I am self-educated and I am sure that there are numbers of better programmers out there then myself.
MP: What is the origin and the meaning of the name Range?
TS: “Range” represents:
1.Wide “Range” of engineering and physical problems which is software addressing.
2.Wide “Range” of business areas and applications in which the software can be used.
3.Wide “Range” of functionality within the software.
MP: What are the strengths of the suite of tools proposed by Range Software?
TS: Software is developed with these points in mind:
1.Fast learning curve. It can be the best on most feature rich software out there but if no one knows how to use it all effort is worthless. Therefore the software contains hints in appropriate places, extensive user documentation and tutorials which are frequently updated.
2.User interface should be very similar to most common applications. Whenever you start some new application you always expect a File menu to be there. It can be disputed whether this is the best user interface but it is most common and users are comfortable with it and they expect it.
3.User interface should use left to right functional orientation. This means if you start “clicking” from the top left and continue all the way to the right bottom you should be able to set up a problem, run the simulation and post process it.
4.Software should detect user errors. If user enters an unrealistic value like negative temperature in Kelvins software will detect it and notify the user. There is also a tool which will go through the user's problem settings and will try to detect any possible inconsistencies.
5.Software should detect if there is a newer version available.
6.And last but not least, software should be accurate, fast and reliable.
With all these in mind and with concentration on quality I believe that the Range Software provides outstanding tool for matchless price.
MP: Range Software is a very young company, could you summarize its history and future goals?
TS: As with lot of things Range project does not have a clear starting point. First official release 1.0 happened on March 15 2007 and this is the date which I now consider as a starting day.
Since then project has evolved in two main directions and has produced two products which are interlinked. These are:
1.Range Software package – FEA suite
2.iRaCS – Online computational system.
So the main goal is to refine these two products.
MP: What future technical improvements are you planning for 2010?
TS: There are several improvements planned and for sure there will be even more, since I always try to accept and implement users suggestions.
Here are the most significant improvements which should appear within this year:
1.Modal analysis
2.Multiphase fluid flow
3.Boiling and cavitation.
MP: A personal curiosity: what are your interests outside the world of programming and mechanics?
TS: My number one hobby is Range Software! Other than that I really enjoy watching sports and sometimes to perform them too. Among all my most favorite is Ice Hockey and closely followed by Football.
MP: Thanks for the interview and see you soon!
Novità della versione più recente: Range Software v2.1.8
Tra le numerose novità della versione 2.1 un solutore più veloce, la possibiità di interagire graficamente con la geometria e un solutore per problemi di analsi fluidodinamica per fluidi incomprimibili, la possibilità di importare ed esportare in fomrato GMSH.
In particolare segnaliamo, per la versione 2.1.8 rilasciata il 10 marzo 2010, due interessanti novità: solutore multi processore per una maggiore potenza di calcolo e generazione automatica di report di calcolo in formato PDF. Tutte le informazioni su sito ufficiale: Range Software v2.1.8