Frossie Economou (JAC), Alan Bridger, Gillian Wright (UKATC), Tim Jenness (JAC), Malcolm J. Currie (UKATC), Andy Adamson (University of Central Lancashire)
Reference URL: http://www.jach.hawaii.edu/UKIRT/software/orac/
As part of the UKIRT ORAC project we have developed a pipeline (ORAC-DR) for driving online data reduction using existing astronomical packages as algorithm engines and display tools. The design is modular and extensible on several levels, allowing it to be easily adapted to a wide variety of instruments. Here we briefly review the design, discuss the robustness and speed of execution issues inherent in such pipelines, and address what constitutes a desirable (in terms of ``buy-in'' effort) engine or tool.