The Astrophysics Source Code Library contains over 2700 metadata records on astro research
software. This short hands-on tutorial is geared to new users of the resource, though even
advanced users of it are sure to learn something new.
Attendees will learn:
* alternate ways to bring up ASCL records
* how to find software
* Hands-on activity: Search for software using at least three different methods:
* full-text search
* ASCL’s API
* ADS and Google
* how citation tracking and preferred citation work
* how to create a metadata file for their own software that tells others how to cite their code
* Hands-on activity: Create codemeta.json and CITATION.cff files using ASCL and GitHub
* Hands-on activity: Add preferred citation information to their own software
* what metadata is contained in the ASCL and how it is structured
* how to download the ASCL’s contents for their own projects
* Hands-on activity: Experiment with ASCL metadata using some simple tools
* how to submit software to the ASCL
* Optional hands-on activity: Submit a code to the ASCL

The tutorial will cover related topics, including the differences between ASCL and ZENODO, and
how, why, and when to submit to each, as time permits.

In the past dozen years, the ecosystem around astronomy software has seen great changes, including improved infrastructure for creating, managing, indexing, storing, and archiving code, more journals in which to publish software, and better citation methods and citation tracking of computational methods. What changes are coming up? How can we build on the progress that’s been made? What further improvements are needed? This BoF will have an open discussion with attendees, with a panel to guide the conversation, to explore what additional changes are needed and what paths can bring these ideas to fruition.