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  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: strlen(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in drupal_random_bytes() (line 2268 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/bootstrap.inc).
  • Deprecated function: rtrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in url() (line 2349 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: strpos(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($haystack) of type string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2393 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in url_is_external() (line 2395 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/common.inc).
  • Deprecated function: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in url() (line 2311 of /home1/dhulse/public_html/_eqmac/includes/common.inc).

It has been a while since I've managed to produce any new releases of EQMac and I thought it might be good to let everyone know that I haven't given up on it by any means. In fact, I've been working on a few significant enhancements, mainly around the pointing model. In my development version, you can now SYNC on multiple stars as you always could, but now the software will use the sync point data to form 3-point triangles to improve the alignment process. When you slew to a target, EQMac will find the best triangle that encloses your target and will compute a slew adjustment on this basis. Presently EQMac simply uses the nearest sync point to your target for computing slew adjustments. I also had a request to add a facility to control the polarscope LED brightness for those mounts that support this. I have that working also.

The problem is that I've been extremely busy with work lately and things do not seem to be getting better. This has meant less time to spend on actual coding and less time available to actually go and test things in the field. For example, I've never managed to test the 3-point alignment system in the field. And when I do get clear nights, I have to choose between doing astronomy at all, testing things I've coded, or using the time to do pursue the hobby. Since I want to feel like I'm delivering a product that actually works when people go to use it, I really need to test all of the updates I've made and this is what has been holding things up.

So, I apologise if you've been waiting patiently for new features. You will get them eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I hope this helps to explain what has been going on lately.