TEMPO Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: May 30 2005.

The latest version of this FAQ is always available from the TEMPO project web site, at <http://tempo.sourceforge.net/FAQ.html>.

The Questions

  1. What is TEMPO?
  2. Why the name "TEMPO"?
  3. Where can I get TEMPO?
  4. How to build TEMPO from source code?
  5. Which platforms are supported?
  6. What are prerequisites to build TEMPO?
  7. Is there a binary for my platform?
  8. Once installed, how to launch TEMPO?
  9. How thoroughly tested is TEMPO?
  10. Whom do I contact for support?
  11. How can I contribute to TEMPO?
  12. What are the future plans for TEMPO?
  13. May I include the TEMPO software on a CD or other package I'm distributing?

The Answers

  1. What is TEMPO?

    TEMPO is software for 3D visualization of EEG recorded brain electrical activity. TEMPO is able to read EEG recordings in EDF format and to create corresponding topographic maps. TEMPO is, as for now, supporting mapping of following scores:

    TEMPO makes it possible to play animation of topographic maps for any of above scores. TEMPO is also able to save specific map in PNG format.


  2. Why the name "TEMPO"?

    It stands as shorthand for "Topographic EEG Mapping Program"; besides, it sounds pretty good.


  3. Where can I get TEMPO?

    TEMPO source code is available for download from project download area. See below for availability of precompiled versions.

    Latest TEMPO development sources are available at CVS repository that is accessible through corresponding Web interface. Sources could also be fetched through anonymous CVS using following command:

    cvs -z3 -d :pserver:anonymous@cvs.sourceforge.net:/cvsroot/tempo co tempo
    

  4. How to build TEMPO from source code?

    Following sequence:

    qmake
    make
    
    should be enough to compile TEMPO from source code. But see below for list of prerequisites.
  5. Which platforms are supported?

    TEMPO is written using Qt toolkit, thus supported platforms are UNIX, Windows and Mac OS X.


  6. What are prerequisites to build TEMPO?

    Successful TEMPO compilation requires Qt toolkit version 4.0 to be installed on compilation machine.


  7. Is there a binary for my platform?

    No binaries for now, see below if willing to help in creating binary packages for your platform.


  8. Once installed, how to launch TEMPO?

    You'll need an EEG recording file in EDF format. A sample file is distributed along with TEMPO, so this file could be opened in TEMPO in order to try it. Most available actions will be probably intuitive; still, TEMPO user manual is available under Manual button (and, for that matter, also available on-line).


  9. How thoroughly tested is TEMPO?

    Far from enough. Please note no warranty clause in GPL license that TEMPO is distributed under. Please DO NOT use TEMPO for any analysis in clinical settings without comparison and verification with results obtained over same recording using other tools.

    Hopefully, with help from users, TEMPO will reach stage when it could be recommended for daily use. Please see below for information regarding helping this happens.


  10. Whom do I contact for support?

    Please direct all support requests, bug reports and feature suggestions to TEMPO mailing list.


  11. How can I contribute to TEMPO?

    Help in implementing intended improvements of TEMPO would be mostly welcomed. Still, there are many other areas where ordinary (by ordinary, I mean "non-programmers") users could help. Actually, since TEMPO is in a kind of stabilization phase, this kind of help is much more needed than programming skills. So, here follows some possible directions regarding helping in developing and promoting TEMPO:

    If any help or instructions regarding above activities needed, please write to mailing list.


  12. What are the future plans for TEMPO?

    There exist many intended and/or user suggested improvements of TEMPO. Here follow some of these ideas (in no specific order):

    However, while certainly all of above would be exciting extensions and while ideas for other improvements are welcome, TEMPO development is now frozen for while, because most important tasks at this moment are testing and verification of present TEMPO functionality, as well as building TEMPO community. Please see above for information regarding how to help in these activities.


  13. May I include the TEMPO software on a CD or other package I'm distributing?

    Sure, as long as terms of GPL license respected. Please do send a notice to TEMPO mailing list if providing TEMPO distribution in any form.