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-ecCodes is the ECMWF encoding/decoding software for GRIB and BUFR.
+ecCodes is an application program interface developed by ECMWF for
+decoding and encoding messages in the following formats:
+
+    * WMO FM-92 GRIB edition 1 and edition 2
+    * WMO FM-94 BUFR edition 3 and edition 4 (only decoding in this release)
+    * WMO GTS abbreviated header (only decoding in this release).
+
+A useful set of command line tools provide quick access to the messages.
+C, Fortran 90 and Python interfaces provide access to the main ecCodes functionality.
+
+ecCodes is an evolution of GRIB API.
+It is designed to provide the user with a simple set of functions to access data from
+several formats with a key/value approach.
+
 
 Documentation can be found here:
     https://software.ecmwf.int/wiki/display/ECC/ecCodes+Home