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README.md

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+netcdf-cxx4
+
+Official GitHub repository for netCDF-4 C++ library.
+
+### Introduction
+
+Lynton Appel, of the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) in
+Oxfordshire, has developed and contributed a
+[netCDF-4 C++ library][netcdf-cxx4] that depends on an installed
+netCDF-4 C library.  The netCDF-4 C++ API was developed for use in
+managing fusion research data from CCFE's innovative MAST (Mega Amp
+Spherical Tokamak) experiment.
+
+  [netcdf-cxx4]: http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/downloads/netcdf/netcdf-cxx/
+
+Appel's C++ implementation is a complete read/write interface for
+netCDF-4, but can also be used as an alternative to the older netCDF-3
+C++ interface, to write classic-format netCDF-3 files as well as
+netCDF-4 classic model files. The new API is implemented as a layer
+over the netCDF-4 C interface, which means bug fixes and performance
+enhancements in the C interface will be immediately available to C++
+developers as well. It replaces a previous partial netCDF-4 C++
+interface developed by Shanna Forbes.
+
+The new API makes use of standard C++ features such as namespaces,
+exceptions, and templates, none of which were included in the first
+netCDF-3 C++ API developed in the mid-90's. The earlier netCDF-3 C++
+API is still supported and available in the source distribution, but
+developers who are thinking of eventually upgrading to use of the
+enhanced data model should consider using Lynton's new API.
+
+We're grateful for Appel's development and CCFE's contribution of the
+new open-source code for the netCDF-4 C++ API, and hope C++ developers
+in the netCDF community will find it useful! Feedback is appreciated,
+and should be directed to [Lynton Appel][la_email].
+
+  [la_email]: mailto:Lynton.Appel@ccfe.ac.uk
+
+### Installation
+
+Installing the C++ interface requires the additional flag
+--enable-netcdf-4 to be used during the configure stage of the
+installation, for example enter
+
+      ./configure --enable-cxx-4 [plus other options]
+
+To build the C++ interface guide, change to the cxx4 directory of the
+distribution and enter
+
+      doxygen
+
+By default, HTML documentation will be installed in cxx4/doc/html;
+other options may be specified according to the settings contained in
+the file "Doxyfile" (details of alternative settings are documented at
+[doxygen][dox_l]). Note that as a prerequisite for generating the
+documentation, the system will need to have doxygen and
+[Graphviz][g_l] installed.
+
+
+  [dox_l]: http://www.stack.nl/~dimitri/doxygen
+  [g_l]: http://www.graphviz.org/
+
+
+### Examples of usage
+
+Examples codes can be found by selecting the "Examples" tab.
+
+
+