PLUTO, a grid based Godunov type code, that implements a variety of diferrent solvers, reconstruction algorithms and time-stepping routines, is about to reach version 3.0.

PLUTO 3.0 significantly improves over its predecessor in several aspects. The new version requires a few changes to the init.c function (initial and boundary conditions) and to pluto.ini (initialization file) to allow for more compact and flexible notations.

Some of the novel features are:

• completely re-designed output interface supporting new data types, such as VTK, single precision binary data and image formats (PPM and PNG). The new interface also allows to dump supplementary user-defined variables;
• output data now has a unique syntax, independently on serial/parallel mode;
• initial conditions can also be assigned from external file, by suitable bi- or tri-linear interpolation;
• Adaptive Mesh Refinement (using the Chombo library) support for serial or parallel computations in 2 and 3 dimensions;
• a new body_force module replacing the old GRAVITY function;
• thermal conduction module for hydro and MHD;
• simpler and more flexible syntax for pluto.ini, init.c;
• more efficient IDL routines;
• bug fixes;

The stable version is expected to be released by the end of March 2008. Check PLUTO's website for news!