Where did I go ?Where did I go ?
Where did I work ?Where did I work ?
What did I do @ ANSTO ?What did I do @ ANSTO ?
1. Choose a device bus
2. Choose a programming language
3. Propose and develop an architecture for the GUI
4. Waltzing Mathilda i.e. see Australia !
Choosing a Device BusChoosing a Device Bus
• Compared XML-RPC and TANGO
1. XML-RPC1. No standard API
2. 4 pages of documentation
3. Slow 1. Java – 25 ms / kb (worst 432 ms)
2. C – 91 ms / kb (worst 4477 ms)
4. Lack of functionality (no timeouts, events etc.)
2. TANGO1. The best object oriented control system there is ;-)!
2. Fast (250 microsecs)
3. Full set of functionalities
• The winner is – “TANGO” !
TANGO in SydneyTANGO in Sydney
• TANGO will be used as device bus for detectors and hardware which are running on a separate computer and need to be interfaced with the control system e.g. Denex detectors, Brookhaven detector, Velocity selector, etc.
• TANGO will be used without the database (aka 99% fat free TANGO)
• TANGO is installed and currently one device server exists for one detector on the old reactor
• TANGO will be interfaced to SICS, the main control system sequencer
TANGO architecture @ RRRTANGO architecture @ RRR
SICSserver
TANGO Device Servers
Histogrammemory
Velocityselector
SICS Motor controllersSICSclient
HistogramGUI
TANGO seen from 15000 kmTANGO seen from 15000 km
• The source code distribution for Linux and the binary distribution for Windows WORK!
• TANGO is not easy to use and understand if you do not have previous experience with TANGO
• TANGO is great BUT … It is not easy to find what device servers exist and
download them “dbase=no” option is not supported for everything It does not have enough applications + howto’s Web site is not easy to navigate The TANGO collaboration does not look coherent from
the outside TANGO is not a complete solution for doing controls
(yet)
Choosing a programming language for Choosing a programming language for the GUIthe GUI
• C++ is excluded because it the cross platform solutions are either not free or not well supported
• Compared Java vs. Python/Qt Python+Qt
Relatively easy to program, no type checking, few tools, popular at scientific institutes, not so portable
Java Supports type checking, is portable, lots of classes available, well
structured, good development tools, weak on data visualisation
• The winner is – “Java”
• BUT which widget library to use : Swing/AWT or JFace/SWT ?
The Graphical User InterfaceThe Graphical User Interface
Andy Götz
Tony Lam
Ferdi Franceschini
Nick Hauser
Development TeamDevelopment Team
Main Architects
SICS Expert Visualisation ManGUI Developer
Nick HAUSER
Paul HATHAWAY
Andy GOTZ
Ferdi FRANCESCHINITony LAM
Graphical User InterfaceGraphical User Interface
Main Components:1. Instrument Control and Status
• No prior knowledge of SICS commands
2. Live Data Visualization• Preview of the data acquired during experiment
3. Online / Offline Data Analysis• Data analysis package embedded with other GUI components
Motors Detectors Ancillaries
Control / StatusData Visualization
Data Analysis
GUI
SIC Server
RRR Uses Novel Approach for GUIRRR Uses Novel Approach for GUI Old days Now @ RRR
• GUI is being built BEFORE the instruments
• Scientists can test-drive the GUI in simulation mode before getting neutrons
• Data can be simulated or real data
Take a guess
What to call the GUI ?What to call the GUI ?
Kowari (Residual Stress)
Platypus (Reflectometer)Wombat (HIPD)
Echidna (HRPD)
Koala (QLD)Quokka (SANS)
Graphical User Interface for Multiple and Time Resolved Experiments
The Gumtree Base TechnologyThe Gumtree Base Technology
• GumTree is based on Eclipse Technology
• What is Eclipse? The next best thing since sliced
bread ! Java based technology for
building applications
• Why Eclipse Plug-in architecture
Scalability, extensibility Modern application features Multi platform support Open Source + FREE!! IBM spent 40 million US$ on
developing Eclipse
The Gumtree conceptThe Gumtree concept
• Fat client as opposed to thin client• The single workbench for doing all the scientist needs to
do take and analyse data• The various tools the scientist needs are written as Eclipse
plugins• The tools plug in to the workbench to form a coherent
integrated application• The standard tasks needed for doing beamline control are
provided by Gumtree• Gumtree abstracts the standard tasks as a set of
interfaces e.g. control system, device, motor, detector, sequencer etc.
• The system integrator implements the interfaces which access the underlying control system
• Gumtree discovers what is in the underlying control system by browsing
What Eclipse offers?What Eclipse offers?• A development tool
• AND A Framework A framework can be up to 80% of an application
• ECLIPSE Framework SWT (based on native widgets) JFace (based on SWT) Views Perspectives Window management Preferences Properties Internationalisation Wizard classes to build your own wizards Online help to build your own context sensitive help Forms for html type views Cheatsheets XML editor Update manager …
What is an Eclipse plugin?What is an Eclipse plugin?
• Is the smallest unit of code in Eclipse• It is written in Java• Contains an xml declaration file + jar + resources• The manifest file declares :
Extensions – what plugins your plugin extends Extension Points – how your plugin can be extended
• An extension point can have its own API
• Eclipse reads all manifest files to discover all plugins
• Plugins are only activated when needed
GumTree ScreenshotsGumTree Screenshots
The knife analogy to software The knife analogy to software developmentdevelopment
ConclusionConclusion
• TANGO is great BUT it still needs improvements to: No database option to be improved Need more integrated applications Website face lift
• Python is great BUT Java is better• Gumtree is a great integrated application for doing experiments• Gumtree could be used at the ESRF beamlines BUT it is not
written in Python
• Eclipse in the TANGO collaboration ? It could be used to write applications for TANGO SWT and JFace could replace Swing BUT what to do with the
existing base already written in Swing ? At least try out Eclipse as development tool for Java + C/C++
• I think Eclipse could become the next major platform independent application framework and could have as much influence as Linux and Java for software developers
Waltzing MathildaWaltzing Mathilda