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 types of resources are available?

Ready-to-use code for methods like PCA, PLS, MCR, SIMCA, and more, plus real benchmark datasets. Everything ships in Python, R, and MATLAB whenever possible.

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 with DOI or BibTeX. Just copy–paste into your paper 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 prefer MIT or CC-BY-4.0. These keep things flexible for both academic and commercial users while ensuring you still get credit. We also allow CC BY-NC 4.0. Keep in mind that we do not accept more restrictive licenses.

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.