an others.” For instance, VisIt uses Ascent for in-situ processing and OSPRay as the ray-tracing library. The next VisIt version will include upgrades to GPU acceleration through VTK-m and, inevitably, documentation updates to reflect the current state of the software.
VisIt will mark its 20th anniversary next year, and its longevity can be attributed to several factors. According to Miller, many of VisIt’s capabilities cannot be found in commercial software. Moreover, he notes, “A majority of the core development team has been involved since the early 2000s, demonstrating remarkable and highly valued stability especially when compared to commercial software projects of similar scope.”
Success also depends on the team’s lasting relationships with early collaborators combined with welcoming the next generation of computer scientists. Former LLNL employee Brad Whitlock works with Intelligent Light to enhance their VisIt capabilities and remains active in the tool’s development. VisIt’s original architect, Hank Childs, now teaches at the University of Oregon and continues to assist with strategic planning. Childs regularly sets his research students—like alumnus Maguire—to work on VisIt. Maguire says, “I probably wouldn’t be at the Lab if VisIt hadn’t been open source.”