Qt Migration

A One-Year RetrospectiveA One-Year Retrospective

Motivations for Replacing GalaxyMotivations for Replacing Galaxy

Galaxy as a GUI ToolkitGalaxy as a GUI Toolkit Galaxy TodayGalaxy Today

– Visix bankruptcyVisix bankruptcy– Ambiencia purchaseAmbiencia purchase– No updates or maintenanceNo updates or maintenance– Shrinking user-baseShrinking user-base– Questionable support for new OS versionsQuestionable support for new OS versions

QtQt

Platform independent (Windows, Solaris, Linux, Platform independent (Windows, Solaris, Linux, Mac)Mac)

Easy Integration with GalaxyEasy Integration with Galaxy Substantial user-baseSubstantial user-base

– Linux / KDELinux / KDE– Commercial customers - AT&T, IBM, Xerox, Nasa, Commercial customers - AT&T, IBM, Xerox, Nasa,

AdobeAdobe Reasonable cost and licensingReasonable cost and licensing

– Commercial and non-commercial Open SourceCommercial and non-commercial Open Source Object-orientedObject-oriented GUI builder toolGUI builder tool Advanced widgetsAdvanced widgets Custom widgetsCustom widgets

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

Plot DialogPlot Dialog– Replaced xmgr on SolarisReplaced xmgr on Solaris

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

New slot dialogs in 4.2 New slot dialogs in 4.2 1.1. ScalarSlot DialogScalarSlot Dialog

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

New slot dialogs in 4.2 (Cont’d)New slot dialogs in 4.2 (Cont’d)2.2. ListSlot DialogListSlot Dialog

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

New slot dialogs in 4.2 (Cont’d)New slot dialogs in 4.2 (Cont’d)3.3. PeriodicSlot DialogPeriodicSlot Dialog

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

RulesAnalysis DialogRulesAnalysis Dialog– New development for 4.3 New development for 4.3

Completed Qt DevelopmentCompleted Qt Development

OpenObject DialogOpenObject Dialog– Replaced Galaxy dialog in 4.3Replaced Galaxy dialog in 4.3

New Qt DevelopmentNew Qt Development

SCTSCT– Will replace Galaxy SCTWill replace Galaxy SCT

New User Interface New User Interface FeaturesFeatures

Popup MenusPopup Menus– Right-mouse buttonRight-mouse button– Context-sensitiveContext-sensitive

Sortable ListsSortable Lists

New User Interface New User Interface FeaturesFeatures

ToolbarsToolbars Tooltips and Status Bar HelpTooltips and Status Bar Help

Initial AssesmentInitial Assesment

Object-OrientedObject-Oriented– Yeah!Yeah!– Much easier integration with simulation codeMuch easier integration with simulation code

More stable GUI codeMore stable GUI code Complexity of codeComplexity of code

– DateTimeSpinner: DateTimeSpinner:

2700 lines (Galaxy) vs 600 lines(Qt)2700 lines (Galaxy) vs 600 lines(Qt)

Initial Assesment Initial Assesment (Cont’d)(Cont’d)

Open-SourceOpen-Source– Debug using source codeDebug using source code– Modify Qt ourselvesModify Qt ourselves– Qwt graphing libraryQwt graphing library

TrolltechTrolltech– Good documentationGood documentation– Maintenance and releasesMaintenance and releases