Discussion: Pass variables to factor evaluation so that we can use variable data?

[GearsAD]

I'd like to use the data from variables in the factor evaluation, e.g. Radar data. I think we should pass down the variables into the factor evaluation, so that I could potentially use smallData or bigData.

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EDIT

DF, punchline: #784 (comment)

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DF edit, predominant design discussion over in #783 -- can use this issue once a decision has been made there on how to split manifest and user-meta-data requirement.

user desire for more "metadata" in a variable: #783 (comment) -- i.e additional data format and contents from end user not know at design time.

[dehann]

moving to v0.15.0 as more realistic. Hopefully can make 783 decision by v0.14.0

[dehann]

resolved with discussion around and following #783 (comment)

[dehann]

Punchline is to use the new CalcFactor approach, and hopefully stable API defined in v0.21. See #467 as relatively well linked issue discussion on what the API should be. All metadata (variables, smalldata, entry=>data, etc.) are available through the CalcFactor approach. This is both during residual factor evaluation and getSample.