pyote 5.8.0

pyote is an occultation lightcurve timing extraction tool

PyOTE

PyOTE is a Python implementation of the essential parts of the R-OTE occultation timing extractor. It analyses lightcurves recorded during asteroid occultations and produces timing measurements — D and R event times with error bars, false-positive estimates, and publication-ready lightcurve plots.

The name was chosen out of respect and deference to R-OTE, the original Occultation Timing Extractor that this tool builds on. PyOTE has fewer "bells and whistles" than R-OTE, runs faster, and is easier to deploy.

Installing

Windows: download the executable (easiest)

Windows users can skip the Python toolchain entirely. Go to the latest release page and download PyOTE.exe from the Assets section. Double-click to run — no installation, no Python setup required. The executable bundles its own Python runtime and all dependencies.

The first activation will take extra time because it will be downloading the proper version of Python and all the other dependencies. Subsequent activations will only take a few seconds.

To update later, just download the newer PyOTE.exe from the release page and replace the old one.

If you'd rather run from source (all platforms), follow the uv-based instructions below.

Installing from source (any platform)

PyOTE uses uv to manage its Python environment. You do not need Python pre-installed — uv will automatically download the correct version (3.10) on first run.

Step 1. Install uv (one line, user-scope, no admin rights required).

Windows, in PowerShell:

powershell -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

macOS or Linux, in a terminal:

curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Close and reopen your terminal afterwards so the new uv command is on your PATH.

Step 2. Get the PyOTE source. Either clone with git:

git clone https://github.com/bob-anderson-ok/py-ote.git
cd py-ote

or download the repository as a ZIP from the GitHub page, unzip it, and cd into the extracted folder.

Step 3. Launch PyOTE:

uv run pyote

On first run, uv downloads Python 3.10 (if not already present), installs the pinned dependencies from uv.lock into a local .venv folder, and opens the PyOTE window. Subsequent runs are near-instant.

Updating

To pick up a new PyOTE release:

git pull
uv run pyote

uv automatically re-syncs the environment whenever uv.lock has changed, so there is nothing else to do.

Troubleshooting

• "uv: command not found" — close and reopen your terminal, or follow the PATH instructions printed by the uv installer.
• Windows SmartScreen warning on the uv installer — click More info → Run anyway. The installer is published by Astral.
• Corporate proxy / firewall issues — uv honours standard HTTPS_PROXY and HTTP_PROXY environment variables.