The Delft-FEWS 2018.02 stable release is coming up! With some delay we are in the middle of (client-server) testing at the moment. A number of large, national and international clients will install this version in their acceptance server environments in the next few months, both on physical or virtual servers and in the Azure cloud. A lot of new features are in this version, including a large majority of the roadmap-features you all have been contributing to.

The keywords of this new version are: a brand new Administrator Interface (including webservice, a full-access and a read-only mode), self-registering Forecasting Shell Servers, scalable Forecasting Shell Servers, possible use of Docker (for containerization of Delft-FEWS components) and Kubernetes (a tool for automatic deployment and scaling of Delft-FEWS components). Besides that, Java version 11 is now required and has been placed inside the Delft-FEWS binaries structure. Since it is now part of the 'base-build', distributing new base-builds for newer versions (e.g. for future upgrades) will be much easier! In the same roadmap project the Delft-FEWS PI webservice has been improved and e.g. now supports WMS (Web Mapping Service) and is much easier to install, configure and upgrade. The Open Archive is more prominently connected and visible within the Delft-FEWS Operator Client. Which forecasts are already available within the archive and which are not can be clearly distinguished. In general, security and performance improvements have been implemented in all three roadmap projects.

Next to substantial improvements 'under the hood', regular features have been implemented as well. The overall look of the Delft-FEWS Explorer has been adjusted to Windows 10. In several displays (TimeSeries Display, Spatial Display, Schematic Status Display) new features have been added. The Web Browser Display has been completely renewed and is based on new (Chromium) technology. Around 10 data import routines has been added or improved.

The formal release is foreseen for the end of February 2019.

A complete overview of all features can be found on the release notes pages of the Delft-FEWS documentation WIKI

For improving our Delft-FEWS software delivery services, an external review will be carried out by SIG (Software Improvement Group). This will be done in the coming period and we hope to have results and recommendations by the end of March2019. In the next FEWS NEWS we will update you on the outcomes.