# Presentation: 316699

## The Future of Visual DCT

- EPICS Collaboration 2006
- Argonne National Laboratory
- emma.shepherd@diamond.ac.uk

- 15/06/2006

## Who does what?

- I am the new DLS point of contact for VDCT
- Core development done by Cosylab
- Would like other people to provide extensions
- DLS co-ordinating funding, future directions
- Need input from the EPICS community
- Please fill in the VDCT usage survey
- Results will be posted on tech-talk

## Background

- Open source database configuration tool
- Designed as a CapFast replacement
- Written in Java
- Preserves db file format
*	**	*** http://visualdct.cosylab.com **

## Current status

- Currently available features include:
- Support for hierarchical databases
- Plug-in framework for extensibility
- Debug plug-in (to talk to live databases)
- Alarm handler and archiver plug-ins
- “Package F” released December 2005:
- Major usability enhancements and
- 	bug fixes
- Much improved wiring
- Support for importing borders
- .... and more
** http://www.aps.anl.gov/epics/wiki/index.php/VDCT_Status_Page **

## The future: Option 1

- Continue with ‘standalone’ developments:
- Enhancements to the debug plug-in
- ‘Spreadsheet mode’ editing
- Intelligent linking
- Support for editing the DB/DBD include path
- Colour coding
- Even better wire positioning
- Improved printing
- More comprehensive documentation
- Relational database integration
- OR.....

## The future: Option 2

- Integrate with Control System Studio in Eclipse:
- All of the option 1 improvements but within the same environment as the EPICS IDE
- The vision:
*	*
*	*

## Why use Eclipse?

- ‘Look and feel’ already defined – easy for several labs to contribute plug-ins that fit together seamlessly
- Runs on a wide range of Operating Systems
- Flexible and extensible – only install functionality you need
- A lot of useful code already exists (GEF for wiring editor, EMF...)
- Integration with source code control systems comes for free
- Designed for ‘multiple personalities’:
- Database design perspective
- Database test perspective
- ... only limit is your imagination!

** http://www.eclipse.org **

## Ideas for a new VDCT in CSS

- Extensible record palette
- Linked to EPICS documentation
- Groups records into categories
- Macro subst. file editor
- EPICS tutorials
- e.g. Walking through process of creating a new template
- Design pattern view
- Support for encapsulating design patterns from existing databases and re-using them
- Integrated with an SNL editor

- DB hierarchy tree view
- To visualise db hierarchies
- Design checker
- Does my database conform to lab standards?
- Using Eclipse ‘problems’ view
- Test plug-in
- e.g. X.VAL always <= Y.VAL
- Extension to graphical editor and debug plug-in: failing records highlighted at runtime

## What next...

- Cosylab currently undertaking initial design / feasibility study on integrating VDCT into Eclipse
- Main issue is suitability of GEF for the graphical editor
- BUT nothing will happen without funding!
- Combine with maintenance support contract for other tools?
- Initial proposal: £20k from 5 labs
- Remember: an improved database configuration tool will increase productivity
- Any thoughts / ideas...?

## Thank you for listening!

Please send any ideas or questions to:
emma.shepherd@diamond.ac.uk

- Please send any ideas or questions to:
*emma.shepherd@diamond.ac.uk*