Problems with KStars 3.5.7 on macOS

[Robert Lancaster]

Hi Bill,

I can’t say I am a big fan of the “Download New Stuff” or “Get New Stuff” system.  This isn’t actually a part of KStars, it is a KDE package that KStars and other KDE apps use.  It isn’t a problem that is just on MacOS, it is an overall problem with that system in my opinion.  But KStars developers don’t have control over that code.  I don’t like the interface myself. 

 As for the help button, I don’t know much about that one, I haven’t used it before.  I usually spend my time working on Plate Solving algorithms and making the astrophotography parts of the program better.  But I also was the one who first ported it to work on a Mac and I maintain the Mac version.  But even though I don’t know about this feature, I will definitely look into it for you, that could mean something is missing in the  Mac bundle or there might be a bug.  Let me see.

I wouldn’t say Kstars is flaky really, it is highly sophisticated fully automated astrophotography suite, that has allowed me and lots of other people to have many successful nights of imaging under the stars.   But sometimes there are bugs and we need people to test and find the bugs so that we can work on making it better.  We are all volunteer developers who contribute so that everyone can get a free and great program for taking astrophotos.  So please let us know and we can look into issues like this.  We especially need more people to test the MacOS versions.

Thanks,

Rob

> On Mar 5, 2022, at 5:25 PM, Bill Tschumy <bill at otherwise.com> wrote:
> 
> I seem to be having numerous problems with KStars 3.5.7 on Mac.  I’ve tried it on the latest macOS (12.2.1) as well as one two years old (10.15.7).
> 
> I’ve tried downloading the “Extra Data”, both from the Startup Wizard and from the Data menu item.  I will install something and then later, when I go back it says it is uninstalled.  Some of the larger downloads will say “Installing…” but then al of the sudden say "Install Again”.  Often if I install again it will indicate it is installed.
> 
> I have downloaded the USNO stars and initially is said it was installed.  However, if I go back now it says for me to install them.  Yet if I zoom in, I do see 14th mag stars so it really is installed.
> 
> I have been trying to get the inline thumbnails to install, but they never show up in the chart.  I did see them at one point while playing around,  but now they are gone.
> 
> Clicking the Help button in the Configure window (shown by choosing Preferences…) causes the app to hang.
> 
> Things just seem really flakey.
> 
> Bill
> 
> -- 
> Bill Tschumy
> Otherwise -- Longmont, CO
> www.otherwise.com
> 
> 
> 

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