Download the HEASOFT Software

Current version 6.31.1 Release Notes

Before downloading:

HEASOFT tasks may now be run remotely using the Hera data analysis service or on SciServer without having to install the software locally. These options provide a quick way to try out the software (along with access to archival data) and are ideal for users who have limited or infrequent need to run the HEASOFT tasks. More intensive users of HEASOFT are still encouraged to install the software locally for best performance.

A download containing all of the package selections can be around 5 Gb in size when unpacked; the actual size will vary depending on the packages you select and - if you choose a binary distribution - the architecture selected. If large file sizes present problems for your connection, it is possible to download the packages you want separately and unpack the tar files on top of each other afterwards, though you may need to either rename each tar file with a temporary name during the process or unpack each file immediately upon downloading so that one tar file isn't overwritten by the next.

Please use the interface below to download pre-compiled binaries, or if you wish to select only certain parts of the HEASoft suite for your source code download. For users who want all of the HEASoft source code, here are direct links to two tar file options, one of the complete source code, and one which adds older Xspec model data files:

  • Complete HEASoft source code (all mission & general-use software) (3.1 Gb / 5.1 Gb unpacked); md5 checksum

  • Complete HEASoft source code plus older Xspec model data unneeded by most users (4.1 Gb / 10 Gb unpacked); md5 checksum

    Patches for existing 6.31 installations:

  • For users who already have HEASoft 6.31, please see our 6.31.1 patch page for information about updating your installation to 6.31.1.

  • STEP 1 - Select the type of software:

    SOURCE CODE DISTRIBUTION (Recommended):

    Please note that the source code distribution is recommended - particularly for Linux users - due to portability issues that can affect the pre-compiled binaries. Also, a source code distribution is required for users who wish to use local models in XSPEC / PyXspec.


    Although the source code is intended to be portable to most PCs (Linux or WSL) or Macs, for project statistics purposes and to help us better serve our users, please indicate the platform(s) on which you intend to try to compile the HEAsoft source code. If you are uncertain about the version or flavor of your operating system, see the file "/etc/issue" on Linux or use the sw_vers command on Macs. Please note that not all of the systems listed below are actively supported. We have tried to note systems below that are known to be unsupported or only partially supported.

        
     

    PRE-COMPILED BINARY DISTRIBUTIONS (May experience portability issues):

    Please note that the pre-compiled binaries are not recommended - particularly for Linux users - due to Perl portability issues. Also, note that users who wish to use local models in XSPEC or PyXspec must get the source code distribution instead. Pre-compiled binaries for Silicon Macs are currently unavailable but may be added at a later date.


    STEP 2 - Download the desired packages:

    Selecting an individual mission package will automatically select a set of recommended general-use tools.

     
         

    Please click SUBMIT only once, and be patient while a tar file containing your selections is assembled and retrieved.


    * Xspec Notes:

    • HEASOFT 6.31.1 includes Xspec v12.13c. Please see the Xspec issues web page to apply the latest patches after building Xspec (source code distribution required).

    • Older Xspec model data (file list here) is available in a separate tar file:

      Older Xspec model data  (1Gb / 4.5Gb unpacked)

      After installing and initializing HEASoft, unpack this tar file in the directory above $HEADAS:
                   $ cd $HEADAS/..
                   $ tar zxf xspec-older-model-data.tar.gz
            
    • Users who wish to link Xspec models into their own program are advised to download the Xspec source code distribution and configure heasoft using the option "--enable-xs-models-only".

    STEP 3 - Install the software:




    FTOOLS HELP DESK

    If FTOOLS has been useful in your research, please reference this site (http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftools) and use the ASCL reference for HEASoft [ascl:1408.004] or the ASCL reference for the original FTOOLs paper [ascl:9912.002]:

    Blackburn, J. K. 1995, in ASP Conf. Ser., Vol. 77, Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems IV, ed. R. A. Shaw, H. E. Payne, and J. J. E. Hayes (San Francisco: ASP), 367.

    Web page maintained by: Bryan K. Irby


    HEASARC Home | Observatories | Archive | Calibration | Software | Tools | Students/Teachers/Public

    Last modified: Friday, 23-Dec-2022 16:34:48 EST