Announcing Onkor: free,open alternative to Encore Pro/Viewer

[jnk]

I mostly wanted to highlight that I thought DennisG raised good points:

. . . you state that you keep the files we upload . . . Do you really need to keep our data? . . . is there a way to run this locally or keep things a bit more anonymous?

I admit, though, that there is a little voice in my head telling me that I'm being paranoid. I forgot my aluminum-foil hat today.

<had to leave tin-foil hat joke in, sorry>

[DennisG]

Dennis, thanks for the response and questions. You're correct: at the moment, if someone knew your serial number they could view your reports. Password protecting these user report areas is an upcoming enhancement. I didn't want to do a halfway job and give the illusion of security, and thought it was better to just keep it open until I could do the job right.

Setting this software as a website has some pros and cons, and perhaps the most prominent negative is that a user (you) has to upload your datafiles to another server managed by another person (me). On the plus side, you get greater convenience of constant improvements without having to install new software. It's a similar tradeoff as using Gmail for your email (Google keeps all your email) instead of Outlook of Thunderbird.

While it is technically possible to get a copy of onkor running on your own computer, it's not that easy for a non-programmer. However, I believe jedimark and perhaps others are writing their own software, which I think is desktop (i.e. not website) based.

I really understand your concerns, which is why I put those statements on the site. I know this isn't what you were getting at, but I will take the opportunity to mention that I intend to keep this software free, open, and ad free, and have no intention of using uploaded data for any purpose other than improving onkor. I've made all the code I've written available to the public and tried to share everything I've figured out about the Respironics File format so that other developers could write their own software using what I've learned/done.

Thank you for getting back to me. Looks like my questions have stirred up a bit of a debate. My questions were not intended to cast any doubt on the motives of you or anyone else working on the development of this great new option for reading and charting our xPAP data.

My concern, most likely unfounded, was that potentially my DME or Sleep Doc who know my serial number could figure out my screen name. Not that it would be the end of the world, just could get uncomfortable posting my true feelings.

What would happen if I created my own serial number, i.e. P999XXXXXXXXX to upload my files. I understand that real serial numbers will prevent duplication issues, but with the length of the made up number it would be unlikely to have duplication.

Dennis

[cpapdork]

I just want to quickly address the serial number issue and I'll get to the some of the other questions posted in this thread tomorrow...

Serial numbers: It was a perhaps a poor choice of identifier. I needed people to be able to uniquely identify their own reports, but I didn't want to use a "username" yet as I thought it would confuse people about whether they had a secure accounts on onkor.

I actually worked earlier today before I saw this on implementing user accounts. It'll be several more days, but it's coming. In the meantime, the truth is right now you can use ANY combination of letters and numbers that starts with a P. So you could use a serial number of "PRETTYSLEEPY" if you want.

Thanks everyone for you input!

[jnk]

. . . So you could use a serial number of "PRETTYSLEEPY" if you want . . .

Solves all issues for me.

Or maybe that's just because I found my tin-foil hat.

[DennisG]

I just want to quickly address the serial number issue and I'll get to the some of the other questions posted in this thread tomorrow...

Serial numbers: It was a perhaps a poor choice of identifier. I needed people to be able to uniquely identify their own reports, but I didn't want to use a "username" yet as I thought it would confuse people about whether they had a secure accounts on onkor.

I actually worked earlier today before I saw this on implementing user accounts. It'll be several more days, but it's coming. In the meantime, the truth is right now you can use ANY combination of letters and numbers that starts with a P. So you could use a serial number of "PRETTYSLEEPY" if you want.

Thanks everyone for you input!

Thanks again for all your work, I hope all of this security paranoia does not discourage you.

The ability to make up our own serial number sounds great! Will your system prevent two people from using the same serial number?

Based on past experience with these things, I would think you may have more than one person try to use "PRETTYSLEEPY" for their number.

When I get home this evening, I look forward to trying out your program. Hopefully I will then be able to give you some relevant feedback on the actual use of your system and we can leave all of this security stuff behind us.

Thanks again,
Dennis

[jnk]

Would anyone object if I were to "dot out" (delete) my posts in this thread, now that my concerns have been allayed? I don't usually do that, but it might be a courtesy in this circumstance.

[DennisG]

Would anyone object if I were to "dot out" (delete) my posts in this thread, now that my concerns have been allayed? I don't usually do that, but it might be a courtesy in this circumstance.

Jeff,

I feel bad that you took up my concerns and made some good points along the way and now feel you need to delete your posts. I will defer to the OP as my intent was not to cause any problems.

Again I want to reiterate my feelings that the work done developing this alternative program for seeing our data is wonderful. I wish I had such talent to be able to put something like this together.

Dennis

[jnk]

Would anyone object if I were to "dot out" (delete) my posts in this thread, now that my concerns have been allayed? I don't usually do that, but it might be a courtesy in this circumstance.

Jeff,

I feel bad that you took up my concerns and made some good points along the way and now feel you need to delete your posts. I will defer to the OP as my intent was not to cause any problems.

Again I want to reiterate my feelings that the work done developing this alternative program for seeing our data is wonderful. I wish I had such talent to be able to put something like this together.

Dennis

Don't feel bad, Dennis. I don't feel the need to delete, I just want to be courteous to the hard-working developers.

I think I'll just do some creative editing of my previous posts.

You raised good concerns. They were addressed. All is well that ends well in that respect.

My hope is that you keep making excellent posts and cpapdork et al keep making good software.

I am usually opposed to editing discussions, but this was a release thread, after all, and it sounds to me like the data will not be linked to specific machines, if those using the software choose not to link the two. That's good enough for me.

Off to edit.

[DreamDiver]

I don't have a system one, but I have to say the work you've done is remarkable. Thank you for making this happen. Some thoughts cross my mind:
a. Considering the legal disclaimer at the bottom of the front page, I think you're covered there.
b. Once you get the system secured with a traditional user/pass system, I think people will be happier. Until then, the brave souls who are helping by uploading sample data are making things better for those of us who prefer wear our tinfoil hats. Thank you too.
c. Open source to me implies more than one person is looking at the code, commenting on it and making suggestions at the code level. There are enough people with this kind of expertise on this forum that this project could go the next level if you allow people to review and offer comment on the actual code. Currently, I don't see an available download so that others could test it out on a private server. Is this likely to happen in a future version?
d. It would be neat if you could get it to work for M-Series too. Just a thought.

Again - thanks cpapdork for all you've done.

[jedimark]

Onkor has a sourceforge page
https://sourceforge.net/projects/onkor/
Had code available via Mercurial RCS last time I looked.

Has any work been done on M-Series data formats? I personally would love to get my hands on some M-Series data.

I removed my previous posts due to context deletion. Not cool.

[SleepyCPAP]

Thanks cpapdork for providing the software online. This Mac user really appreciates that!

DreamDiver wrote:

d. It would be neat if you could get it to work for M-Series too. Just a thought.

Since EncoreViewer2 reads both PRS1 and M-Series, wouldn't the data codes be the same? Then perhaps the only thing missing is the 005 waveform file which wasn't on M-Series? I've never had a data-capable M-Series, so hadn't any chance to take a look at any files. Once the 001 and 002 files are on the computer, all the data (but not waveform) about AHI, Leak, etc. should be there.

--SleepyCPAP

[Breathe Jimbo]

Anyone working on something like this for ResMed machines?

[DreamDiver]

Onkor has a sourceforge page
https://sourceforge.net/projects/onkor/
Had code available via Mercurial RCS last time I looked.

Has any work been done on M-Series data formats? I personally would love to get my hands on some M-Series data.

I removed my previous posts due to context deletion. Not cool.

I am not as familiar with hg as others probably are, so when I saw this web page, I must have misunderstood.

It looks like a blank page. Is that what you mean by context deletion? I hope it will not be a setback on your already excellent work.

If you need data, I believe I have many months of original data archived direct from my smart card. I'll attempt to find it and PM you with a download link if that will work for you.

http://www.mycpap.org was an earlier slightly different web interface for M-Series machines by JSkinner. (James) I believe he's is still around, though I think he spends more time on other forums now.

Anyone working on something like this for ResMed machines?

I thought there was, but I haven't heard recently...

[Breathe Jimbo]

I see content, not a blank page. It may be a browser setup problem.

[Pugsy]

I see content also at the sourceforge page.