The Square – FAQs
What is The Square?
The Square is the core of Lovelace’s Square💡. It’s a hub of open-source code, datasets, and tools made for chemometrics and chemistry.
Why is it called “The Square”?
Because it’s like a lively town square: an open place where everyone can meet, share, and build. No secret passwords, just plenty of data and good vibes.
Who can use The Square?
Anyone! Students, researchers, industry labs, or curious hobbyists. If you’re dealing with chemical data, you’re welcome (lab coat optional 🧑🔬).
Is The Square really free?
Yes. All resources live under permissive open-source licenses (MIT or similar). No hidden fees, no trial periods.
What resources can I find here?
Resources provided by the community include preprocessing tools, data analysis methods, and real benchmark datasets. Whenever possible, these resources are available in Python, R, and MATLAB.
How can I access resources in The Square?
It’s all online. Just visit: lovelacesquare.org/the-square.
Do I need to install any software?
Nope. Just download the code or dataset you want and that's all.
How do I cite code or data from The Square?
Check the author’s desires. Each resource should include a Cite Me section or similar with the corresponding reference. Just follow the author's instructions and you’re good to go ✍️.
How does The Square promote open science and reproducibility?
All resources include clear metadata and links to the original papers 🧪, so others can check or repeat your work.
Can I contribute my own code or dataset?
Absolutely! Head to the Contributors page for guidelines. A friendly maintainer will guide you through a quick review process.
What license should I use?
We strongly encourage using MIT or CC-BY-4.0, as these licenses keep things flexible for both academic and commercial users while ensuring you still receive credit. Although we allow CC BY-NC 4.0, we generally discourage it. We understand the pressures of academic competition and the need to secure funding, but we believe that truly open licenses like MIT or CC-BY-4.0 are the best way to support the whole community and maximize impact.
How long does review take?
Usually a few days. We run basic tests, skim the docs, and, if all looks tasty, merge it. Urgent bug fixes are fast-tracked.
Who maintains The Square?
A small volunteer team of chemometricians, coders, and coffee-powered reviewers ☕. Major hosting costs are covered by the Lovelace’s Square non-profit.
How can I support the project?
Spread the word, cite us, contribute code, or buy our team a virtual coffee. Every little bit keeps The Square humming.