Australian Synchrotron

Mature GUI’s for protein crystallography beamlines

Julian Adams

Australian Synchrotron

Current examples

• Blu-Ice (SSRL)• CBASS (NSLS)• DCS (ALS)• SER-GUI (SER Cat, APS)• Blu-Ice (GM/CA Cat, APS)• NE-GUI (NE Cat, APS)

Australian Synchrotron

Requirements for “service” type PX beamlines

• Intuitive• Easy for non-expert scientist• Group information and controls by function

• Full control, but limited risk (to the beamline)• Log information in a portable, easily displayed

format

• Point & click energy scans, & MAD data collections

Australian Synchrotron

Technical requirements

• Provide for fixed exit including corrections for beam shift due to dispersion and sagital focus radius

• Provide repeatable mechanical systems that allow for simple optimisation routines

• Provide reliable diagnostics for users to determine when staff intervention is necessary

• Crystal visualization systems that allow for 1 to 2 micron resolution

• Automation of crystal centering, either loop centering or point and click centering

Fait, Chrzas & Lavender

Australian Synchrotron

Controls

• Modular control system based on commercial components from many vendors

• Client-Server model, over TCP-IP• Multiple operating systems, multiple servers for a

single client • Device drivers must be readily implemented for

new hardware• Vendor hardware and software must be able to be

integrated, regardless of cooperation of vendor or availability of reasonable interfaces

• Beamline users should not be aware of these issues

Fait, Chrzas & Lavender

Australian Synchrotron

CBASS Style

Skinner, Sweet & Robinson

Australian Synchrotron

CBASS Style

Australian Synchrotron

CBASS Style

Australian Synchrotron

CBASS Style

Australian Synchrotron

Blu-Ice Style

McPhillips

Australian Synchrotron

Blu-Ice Style

Australian Synchrotron

Blu-Ice Style

Australian Synchrotron

Blu-Ice Style

Australian Synchrotron

Client server models

Cork & TimossiSkinner, Sweet & Robinson

Australian Synchrotron

PX at the Australian synchrotron

• High throughput (MAD, robot etc)• Users like Blu-Ice style• GUI that focuses on the experiment• EPICS middleware layer• EPICS client server model (TCP-IP)• GUI implemented over remote network