New direction in the development of the observation software framework (BOSS)

The Observation Software (OS) of astronomical instruments, which lie directly beneath the instructions of astronomers, carrying out exposures and calibrations is the supervisor of the multi-process and multi-layer instrument software package. The main responsibility of the OS is the synchronization of the subsystems (detectors and groups of mechanical devices) and the telescope during exposures. At ESO a software framework Base Observation Software Stub (BOSS) takes care of the common functionalities of all OS of various instruments at the various sites VLT, VLTI, La Silla and Vista. This paper discusses the latest applications and how their new generic requirements contributes to the BOSS framework. The paper discusses the resolution of problems of event queues, interdependent functionalities, parallel commands and asynchronous messages in the OS using OO technologies.