KIM API version 1.5.0 released --- build system updates

16-Jul-2014

The KIM development team is pleased to announce the release of version 1.5.0 of the KIM application programming interface (API). By conforming to this API, an atomistic simulation code will seamlessly work with any KIM-compliant interatomic model written in any supported language. This release includes significant updates to the build system to improve the way the package is installed to standard system directories and provides for each user on the system to have their own personal set of Models that the KIM API can access. See the INSTALL file for details.

Version 1.5.0 is a fully functioning API. It has the following main features:

  • licensed under the Open Source CDDL license
  • support for C, C++, FORTRAN 77, Fortran 90/95, Fortran 2003
  • support for static and dynamic linking of programs using the OpenKIM API
  • communication of an arbitrary number of `arguments’ to and from a Model
  • support for multiple particle types
  • enables a simulation code to access and modify Model parameters
  • support for physical units and unit conversions
  • support for seven NBC (neighbor list and boundary conditions) methods
  • support for `Model Drivers’ (Models that read in parameters)
  • built-in support for virial and Hessian calculations
  • up-to-date documentation

(See the CHANGELOG and README files described below for more information on these features.)

The distribution includes the API code, examples of simulation codes (Tests) and interatomic models (Models) and documentation.

To obtain the code, visit the following page:

https://openkim.org/kim-api/#download

and click on the link for the current release of the KIM API on the top of the page. Then do the following:

  1. Unpack the tarball (on Unix/Linux/Mac OSX systems, type: tar zxvf openkim-api-v1.5.0.tgz) which will create the directory openkim-api-v1.5.0
  2. Read the CHANGELOG file in the root directory (openkim-api-v1.5.0/CHANGELOG) to see what is new in the current release.
  3. Read the README file in the root directory (openkim-api-v1.5.0/README).
  4. Install the package. See directions in the INSTALL file in the root directory.
  5. Read the file README in the DOCs directory for a step-by-step guide to learning the API.

NOTE: It has been determined that GCC 4.6.x (and in particular, gfortran 4.6.x) has a number of insidious bugs associated with the use of Cray pointers AND the iso_c_binding interface. These bugs cause KIM Models to produce incorrect numerical results without generating any warnings or crashes. Thus, gfortran 4.6.x SHOULD NOT BE USED with the openkim-api software package.

SUPPORT

If you have problems or questions, send an email with your question and all relevant information to

openkim@googlegroups.com

Your message will be posted to the openkim google group:

https://groups.google.com/g/openkim

The members of the openkim development team actively monitor this forum and will do their best to help you with your question in a timely fashion. This forum is also used to announce minor new releases and bug fixes.

If you plan to work with the KIM API, it is highly recommended that you become a member of the openkim group. (Just go to the above link and click on “Join this group” on the right of the screen.)

(For more information on planned new features, see the TODO file in the API package root directory: openkim-api-v1.5.0/TODO)