Generic Data Acquisition (GDA)RCP Framework

Matthew GerringData Acquisition

Diamond Light Source

Introduction

Includes reusable UI Components Link to hardware via name server

Supports EPICS, Tango, etc. GDA 7 – Uses Swing GDA 8 – RCP framework

GDA 7 – User Interface

As Richard said collaboration Diamond / Daresbury SRCG

Built on Swing Components which can be reused for a similar task.

UI tightly linked to functionality Respected and in active use at Diamond

RCPAdvantages

Uses RCP technology based on Eclipse More productive developer tools. Fast operation due to native widgets and lazy

loading architecture Completely modular design split up into

‘Editors’, ‘Views’ and ‘Actions’ (et. al.). Plugins [Widgets look/feel nice to use! Is this really scientific software?]

RCP Framework

RCP Frame WorkInternal frames, toolbars,

editors, views, etc.

RCP Swing

JFace Tables, Trees, Models,

Editors, Views, etc.

SWTWidgets – Native

Swing tables, trees, models etc.

Swing/AWTWidgets – Light Weight

Coding Starts Here

RCPDisadvantages

Eclipse complex to configure when deploying the RCP application

Eclipse is not bug free Exceptions are not reliably thrown by the

eclipse architecture unlike Swing.Internal stack traces

Error Dialogs

Exceptions caught and quietly dealt with

GDA 8 – RCP Framework

Develop user interface components not linked to hardware.

Store input data in XML Develop components to interact with XML Link XML data to hardware using GDA

server. Interpret data using common tools Keep UI configuration in Java

Spectroscopy BeamlinesI20, B18, I20_1

Develop new RCP GDA Client software Drive the server with XML files Edit and run the XML files using RCP

‘Editors’ Advanced multi-scan features Real time data analysis Professional UI development

Demonstration

Questions