# Proposal: drop ITKAnalyzeObjectMap remote module from ITK

**URL:** https://discourse.itk.org/t/proposal-drop-itkanalyzeobjectmap-remote-module-from-itk/7757
**Category:** Engineering
**Tags:** itk
**Created:** [May 4, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.itk.org/t/proposal-drop-itkanalyzeobjectmap-remote-module-from-itk/7757 "2026-05-04T20:32:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![hjmjohnson](https://discourse.itk.org/user_avatar/discourse.itk.org/hjmjohnson/32/23_2.png) [@hjmjohnson](https://discourse.itk.org/u/hjmjohnson)
#### Post date: [May 4, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.itk.org/t/proposal-drop-itkanalyzeobjectmap-remote-module-from-itk/7757/1 "2026-05-04T20:32:24Z")

</div>

The ITK maintainers are proposing to drop the `AnalyzeObjectLabelMap`  
remote module from the ITK source tree. **PR [#6207](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/pull/6207)** removes the `Modules/Remote/AnalyzeObjectLabelMap.remote.cmake` declaration so  
the module will no longer be reachable via `-DModule_AnalyzeObjectLabelMap:BOOL=ON`. The upstream repository [`InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITKAnalyzeObjectMap`](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITKAnalyzeObjectMap)  
will be flipped to **archived (read-only)** after the PR merges; the historical sources remain accessible for anyone who needs them.

This is part of the broader remote-module consolidation tracked in issue [#6160](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/issues/6160).

### Why drop it instead of ingesting

Unlike most other remote modules being ingested into ITK proper , `AnalyzeObjectLabelMap` does not appear to have an active user community:

- The Analyze Object Map `.obj` format is a legacy format from the  
late-1990s / early-2000s era of Mayo Clinic’s Analyze software.
- `ITKAnalyzeObjectMap` is essentially the **only open-source  
reader/writer** for the format. None of Slicer, SPM, FreeSurfer,  
FSL, or AFNI support it.
- The small residual user base of Analyze software (AnalyzeDirect, the  
commercial successor) works inside that environment and is unlikely  
to need ITK’s reader. It is unclear if the commercial product still supports this legacy format.
- The remote module has been kept on life support — CI builds pass,  
it was updated for ITK 5.x API changes — but it has zero stars on  
GitHub, no releases, and the underlying format has been superseded.

### Recommended migration for any remaining users

If you have legacy Analyze Object Map data that you still need to use in modern pipelines, the recommended path is a **one-time conversion to NIfTI label maps** using the current version of ITKAnalyzeObjectMap (or a small custom script using the upstream `itk::AnalyzeObjectMap`  
class) and then store the converted NIfTI files for ongoing work.  
NIfTI label maps are well-supported across the open-source imaging ecosystem and through ITK’s first-class NIfTI I/O.

### Looking for input

Before this PR is merged, we’d like to confirm we’re not stranding  
anyone:

- Are you currently using `Module_AnalyzeObjectLabelMap` in a build,  
pipeline, or downstream package?
- Would archiving the upstream repository (read-only, fully  
preserved) cause a problem for your workflow?
- Do you have legacy Analyze `.obj` data that still needs active  
read/write support in ITK rather than a one-time conversion?

If any of these apply, please reply or comment on  
[PR #6207](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/pull/6207) within the next week. Absent any objections, the PR will land  
and the upstream repository will be archived after that.

### Related links

- PR [#6207 — drop the remote-fetch declaration](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/pull/6207)
- Tracking issue [#6160 — Master tracking — Remote-module ingestion, archival, and consolidation](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/issues/6160)
- Issue 6160 rationale [comment](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITK/issues/6160#issuecomment-4374078956)
- Upstream repository to be archived: [InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITKAnalyzeObjectMap](https://github.com/InsightSoftwareConsortium/ITKAnalyzeObjectMap)