Documentation

This section is KherveFitting's manual — an open-source Python application for XPS peak fitting, built around wxPython, MatplotLib, NumPy, lmfit, and Pandas. These pages cover everything from your first fit through to depth profiling and PCA.

Looking for docs on a different Kherve app? Jump to All Kherve Tools below — every app has its own page with attributes, built-with libraries, and (where available) a documentation section.

KherveFitting main view

Where to start

  • Quick start (13 steps) — drag in a file, build a background, fit Sr3d and Ti2p with Voigt models, export to the Results grid.
  • Supported file formats — VAMAS, Avantage, Kratos KAL, PHI SPE, Scienta, Igor, Casa, and more.

Fitting reference

  • Background models — Linear, Shirley, Tougaard (single & double), Multi-Regions Smart.
  • Peak models — SGL, LA (Area, σ/γ, γ), Voigt (Area, L/G, σ), Doniach-Sunjic.
  • BE correction — auto-align C 1s C-C to 284.8 eV.

KherveFitting's built-in tools

  • KherveDB — built-in periodic-table viewer with NIST/XPS binding energies, Auger lines, and the sensitivity-factor libraries used for quantification.
  • Peak Fitting Library — save, load, and share peak tables as portable JSON files; pull pre-configured models from the community cloud library.
  • Sample Manager — organise sample series with metadata.
  • AutoID surveys — automatic element identification with Auger recognition.
  • Depth profiling — Profile Creator and Editor for ion-sputter series.
  • PCA & advanced statistics — Principal component analysis, D-parameter, Fermi edge, VBM, Thickogram.

The full PDF manual (KherveFitting Help Guide, issue 1.7, Jan 2026) is bundled with each release.

All Kherve Tools

The rest of this "Docs" section is KherveFitting-specific. Every other Kherve app documents itself on its own page — attributes, built-with libraries, and a documentation section where one exists.

Available now

  • KherveBook — A computational notebook — and the future home of every Kherve tool.
  • KherveFitting — Open-source XPS peak fitting, elegant and simple to use.
  • KherveDB — The NIST XPS binding-energy database, preserved and searchable.
  • KhervePDF — A PDF viewer and annotation editor with built-in Git history.
  • KherveTeX — WYSIWYG document editing that produces beautiful LaTeX PDFs.
  • KherveSheet — An Excel-inspired spreadsheet workbench for scientific data.
  • KhervePaint — Draw anything scientific — by hand, from the library, or by AI.
  • KherveCAD — Visual CAD with OpenSCAD as the engine.
  • KhervePY — A lightweight, GitHub-first Python IDE — built for vibe coding.

Coming soon

  • KherveNoise — Noise characterisation and reduction for scientific data.
  • KherveMol — Draw chemical compounds and crystal structures in 2D and 3D.
  • KherveSlide — A WYSIWYG slide designer that produces Beamer LaTeX.
  • KhervePlot — Publication-quality scientific plotting.