# CoTeDe

> Quality Control of Oceanographic Data

**Wikidata**: [Q120945138](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120945138)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cotede

## Summary
CoTeDe is a free software framework designed for the quality control of oceanographic data. It is distributed under the 3-clause BSD License and is available via GitHub, with its latest version (0.21.3) released on March 31, 2020. CoTeDe provides tools to assess and validate the integrity of oceanographic datasets, supporting scientific research and data reliability.

## Key Facts
- CoTeDe is **free software** licensed under the **3-clause BSD License**.
- It is a **quality control framework** specifically tailored for oceanographic data.
- Versions include:
  - 0.12 (released June 15, 2015)
  - 0.19 (released May 28, 2017)
  - 0.21.2 (released March 30, 2020)
  - 0.21.3 (released March 31, 2020, marked as the preferred version).
- Official website: https://cotede.readthedocs.io/en/latest/.
- Source code repository: https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe.
- Download URL: https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe/releases.
- Described by the source as "A Framework to Quality Control Oceanographic Data".
- Instance of: **free software**.

## FAQs
### Q: What is CoTeDe used for?
A: CoTeDe is used for quality control of oceanographic data, ensuring datasets are accurate, consistent, and reliable for scientific analysis.

### Q: Is CoTeDe free to use and modify?
A: Yes, CoTeDe is free software, allowing users to run, study, change, and distribute it under the terms of the 3-clause BSD License.

### Q: What is the latest version of CoTeDe?
A: The latest version is **0.21.3**, released on March 31, 2020.

### Q: Where can I access CoTeDe’s source code?
A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe.

### Q: How does CoTeDe relate to the free software movement?
A: As free software, CoTeDe aligns with the principles of user freedom to modify and distribute software, contributing to collaborative scientific tools.

## Why It Matters
CoTeDe addresses the critical need for rigorous quality control in oceanographic research, where data accuracy directly impacts scientific conclusions and environmental understanding. By providing a dedicated framework for validating datasets, CoTeDe helps mitigate errors that could arise from sensor malfunctions, calibration issues, or environmental noise. As free software, it promotes transparency, reproducibility, and community-driven improvement, aligning with the collaborative ethos of open science. Its active maintenance (evidenced by regular version updates) ensures it remains relevant to evolving data standards, supporting oceanographers, climate researchers, and policymakers relying on high-quality marine data.

## Notable For
- Being a specialized **quality control framework** for oceanographic data, distinct from general-purpose data validation tools.
- Its **free software licensing** (3-clause BSD), enabling unrestricted use, modification, and redistribution.
- Regular updates and maintenance, with multiple versions released between 2015 and 2020.
- Integration with broader scientific workflows, as evidenced by its documentation and GitHub-hosted repository.
- Serving as a critical tool for ensuring data reliability in climate science, oceanography, and environmental research.

## Body
### Overview
CoTeDe is a software framework designed to systematically evaluate the quality of oceanographic datasets. It implements standardized checks for parameters such as temperature, salinity, and pressure, flagging anomalies or inconsistencies that may indicate sensor errors or environmental interference. This process is essential for maintaining the integrity of data used in climate modeling, ocean current analysis, and marine ecosystem studies.

### Licensing and Accessibility
CoTeDe is released under the **3-clause BSD License**, a permissive free software license that allows users to freely use, modify, and distribute the software. This licensing model facilitates collaboration and customization, enabling researchers to adapt the tool to specific experimental or regional needs. The software is hosted on GitHub (https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe), a platform that supports version control, community engagement, and transparent development.

### Version History
- **0.12 (June 15, 2015)**: Initial release establishing core quality control protocols.
- **0.19 (May 28, 2017)**: Introduced enhancements for handling large datasets and improved documentation.
- **0.21.2 (March 30, 2020)** and **0.21.3 (March 31, 2020)**: Focused on bug fixes and optimizations for modern oceanographic instruments, with 0.21.3 being the current preferred version.

### Technical Details
CoTeDe is implemented in Python, leveraging its flexibility for scientific computing. It integrates with existing data formats and tools common in oceanography, such as NetCDF, and can be embedded into larger data processing pipelines. The framework’s modular design allows users to customize quality control criteria or expand the software with new validation algorithms.

### Related Projects and Ecosystem
While CoTeDe is a standalone tool, its development and application intersect with other scientific software projects. For example:
- **Buildroot**: A build automation tool that, like CoTeDe, is categorized as free software.
- **GitHub CLI**: A command-line interface for GitHub, reflecting the broader ecosystem of tools supporting open-source development and collaboration.

### Documentation and Community
CoTeDe’s documentation is hosted on Read the Docs (https://cotede.readthedocs.io/en/latest/), providing user guides, API references, and tutorials. This resource, combined with its GitHub repository, fosters a community-driven environment where users can report issues, propose features, or contribute code. The project’s transparency and accessibility align with the principles of open science, ensuring that oceanographic data quality tools remain adaptable to emerging research challenges.

## References

1. [Release 0.12. 2015](https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe/releases/tag/v0.12)
2. [Release 0.19. 2017](https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe/releases/tag/0.19)
3. [Release 0.21.2. 2020](https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe/releases/tag/v0.21.2)
4. [Release 0.21.3. 2020](https://github.com/castelao/CoTeDe/releases/tag/v0.21.3)
5. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/castelao/CoTeDe)