ICALEPCS2023 - Table of Session: FR2BC (Software User Interfaces & User Experience)

Paper	Title	Page
FR2BCO01	React Automation Studio: Modern Scientific Control with the Web	1643
	W. Duckitt Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa J.K. Abraham iThemba LABS, Somerset West, South Africa D. Marcato, G. Savarese INFN/LNL, Legnaro (PD), Italy
	React Automation Studio is a progressive web application framework that enables the control of large scientific equipment through EPICS from any smart device connected to a network. With built-in advanced features such as reusable widgets and components, macro substitution, OAuth 2.0 authentication, access rights administration, alarm-handing with notifications, diagnostic probes and archived data viewing, it allows one to build modern, secure and fully responsive control user interfaces and overview screens for the desktop, web browser, TV, mobile and tablet devices. A general overview of React Automation Studio and its features as well as the system architecture, implementation, community involvement and future plans for the system is presented.
	Slides FR2BCO01 [1.866 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO01
About •	Received ※ 03 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 13 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO02	A Lean UX Approach for Developing Effective Monitoring and Control User Interfaces: A Case Study for the SKA CSP. LMC Subsystem	1650
	V. Alberti INAF-OAT, Trieste, Italy C. Baffa, E. Giani, G. Marotta INAF - OA Arcetri, Firenze, Italy G. Brajnik IDS, Udine, Italy M. Colciago, I. Novak Cosylab Switzerland, Brugg, Switzerland
	The Central Signal Processor Local Monitor and Control (CSP. LMC) is a software component that allows the flow of information and commands between the Telescope Manager (TM) and the subsystems dedicated to signal processing, namely the correlator and beamformer, the pulsar search and the pulsar timing engines. It acts as an adapter by specialising the commands and associated data from the TM to the subsystems and by exposing the subsystems as a unified entity while monitoring their status. In this paper, we approach the problem of creating a User Interface (UI) for such a component. Through a series of short learning cycles, we want to explore different ways of looking at the system and build an initial set of UIs that can be refined to be used as engineering UIs in the first Array Assembly of the Square Kilometre Array. The process heavily involves some of the developers of the CSP. LMC in creating the dashboards, and other ones as participants in informal evaluations. In fact, the opportunities offered by Taranta, a tool to develop web UIs without needing web-development skills, make it possible to quickly realise a working dashboard that can be promptly tested. This also supports the short feedback cycle advocated by a Lean UX approach and maps well in a bi-weekly sprint cadence. In this paper, we will describe the method and present the results highlighting strengths and pain points where faced.
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO02
About •	Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Revised ※ 20 November 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 13 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO03	Taranta Project - Update and Current Status	1657
	Y.L. Li, M. Eguiraun, J. Forsberg, V. Hardion, M. Leorato MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden V. Alberti INAF-OAT, Trieste, Italy M. Canzaripresenter INAF - OAAB, Teramo, Italy A. Dubey PSL, Pune, India M. Gandor, D.T. Trojanowska S2Innovation, Kraków, Poland H.R. Ribeiro Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Ciências, Porto, Portugal
	Taranta, developed jointly by MAX IV Laboratory and SKA Observatory, is a web based no-code interface for remote control of instruments at accelerators and other scientific facilities. It has seen a great success in system development and scientific experiment usage. In the past two years, the panel of users has greatly expanded. The first generation of Taranta was not able to handle the challenges introduced by the user cases, notably the decreased performance when a high number of data points are requested, as well as new functionality requests. Therefore, a series of refactoring and performance improvements of Taranta are ongoing, to prepare it for handling large data transmission between Taranta and multiple sources of information, and to provide more possibilities for users to develop their own dashboards. This article presents the status of the Taranta project from the aspects of widgets updates, packages management, optimization of the communication with the backend TangoGQL, as well as the investigation on a new python library compatible with the newest python version for TangoGQL. In addition to the technical improvements, more facilities other than MAX IV and SKAO are considering to join Taranta project. One workshop has been successfully held and there will be more in the future. This article also presents the lesson learned from this project, the road map, and the GUI strategy for the near future.
	Slides FR2BCO03 [4.759 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO03
About •	Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 21 November 2023 — Issued ※ 23 November 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO04	Micro Frontends - a New Migration Process for Monolithic Web Applications	1663
	A. Asko, S. Deghaye, E. Galatas, A.E. Kustra, C. Roderick, B. Urbaniec CERN, Meyrin, Switzerland
	Numerous standalone web applications have been developed over the last 10 years to support the configuration and operation of the CERN accelerator complex. These applications have different levels of complexity, but they all support hundreds of users for essential activities. A monolithic architecture has been utilised so far, tailoring the standalone applications to specific accelerator needs. The global GUI technology landscape continues to evolve quickly, with most GUI technologies typically reaching end-of-life within 1-to-5 years. Keeping up-to-date with technologies presents a major challenge for the GUI application maintainers, with larger monolithic applications requiring long migration cycles which impede the introduction of new functionalities during the migration phase. To tackle the above issues within the CERN Controls domain, a new Micro Frontend architecture has been introduced and is being used to gradually migrate a large and complex AngularJS-based web application to Angular. This paper introduces the new generic architecture, which is not tied to any specific web framework. The development workflow, challenges, and lessons learned so far will be covered. The differences of this approach, particularly when compared to monolithic application technology migrations, will also be discussed.
	Slides FR2BCO04 [0.774 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO04
About •	Received ※ 04 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 12 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO05	Magnet Information Management System Based on Web Application for the KEK e⁻/e⁺ Injector Linac	1669
	M. Satoh, Y. Enomoto KEK, Ibaraki, Japan T. Kudou Mitsubishi Electric System & Service Co., Ltd, Tsukuba, Japan
	The KEK injector linac provides e⁻/e⁺ beam to four independent storage rings and a positron damping ring. An accurate information management system of the accelerator components is very important since it is utilized for the beam tuning model. Especially, the incorrect magnet database may cause large deterioration in the quality of beam emittance. In KEK linac, a text-based database system has been used for the information management of magnet system in the long time. It comprises several independent text files which are master information to generate the EPICS database files and the other configuration files required for many linac control software. In this management scheme, it is not easy to access and update any information for the common user except control software expert. For this reason, a new web application-based magnet information management system was developed with the Angular and PHP framework. In the new system, the magnet information can be easily extracted and modified through any web browser for any user. In this paper, we report the new magnet information management system in detail.
	Slides FR2BCO05 [2.146 MB]
DOI •	reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO05
About •	Received ※ 09 October 2023 — Revised ※ 11 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 20 November 2023 — Issued ※ 18 December 2023
Cite •	reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

Paper

Title

Page

React Automation Studio: Modern Scientific Control with the Web

1643

W. Duckitt
Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
J.K. Abraham
iThemba LABS, Somerset West, South Africa
D. Marcato, G. Savarese
INFN/LNL, Legnaro (PD), Italy

React Automation Studio is a progressive web application framework that enables the control of large scientific equipment through EPICS from any smart device connected to a network. With built-in advanced features such as reusable widgets and components, macro substitution, OAuth 2.0 authentication, access rights administration, alarm-handing with notifications, diagnostic probes and archived data viewing, it allows one to build modern, secure and fully responsive control user interfaces and overview screens for the desktop, web browser, TV, mobile and tablet devices. A general overview of React Automation Studio and its features as well as the system architecture, implementation, community involvement and future plans for the system is presented.

Slides FR2BCO01 [1.866 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO01

About •

Received ※ 03 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 13 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO02

A Lean UX Approach for Developing Effective Monitoring and Control User Interfaces: A Case Study for the SKA CSP. LMC Subsystem

1650

V. Alberti
INAF-OAT, Trieste, Italy
C. Baffa, E. Giani, G. Marotta
INAF - OA Arcetri, Firenze, Italy
G. Brajnik
IDS, Udine, Italy
M. Colciago, I. Novak
Cosylab Switzerland, Brugg, Switzerland

The Central Signal Processor Local Monitor and Control (CSP. LMC) is a software component that allows the flow of information and commands between the Telescope Manager (TM) and the subsystems dedicated to signal processing, namely the correlator and beamformer, the pulsar search and the pulsar timing engines. It acts as an adapter by specialising the commands and associated data from the TM to the subsystems and by exposing the subsystems as a unified entity while monitoring their status. In this paper, we approach the problem of creating a User Interface (UI) for such a component. Through a series of short learning cycles, we want to explore different ways of looking at the system and build an initial set of UIs that can be refined to be used as engineering UIs in the first Array Assembly of the Square Kilometre Array. The process heavily involves some of the developers of the CSP. LMC in creating the dashboards, and other ones as participants in informal evaluations. In fact, the opportunities offered by Taranta, a tool to develop web UIs without needing web-development skills, make it possible to quickly realise a working dashboard that can be promptly tested. This also supports the short feedback cycle advocated by a Lean UX approach and maps well in a bi-weekly sprint cadence. In this paper, we will describe the method and present the results highlighting strengths and pain points where faced.

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO02

About •

Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Revised ※ 20 November 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 13 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO03

Taranta Project - Update and Current Status

1657

Y.L. Li, M. Eguiraun, J. Forsberg, V. Hardion, M. Leorato
MAX IV Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
V. Alberti
INAF-OAT, Trieste, Italy
M. Canzaripresenter
INAF - OAAB, Teramo, Italy
A. Dubey
PSL, Pune, India
M. Gandor, D.T. Trojanowska
S2Innovation, Kraków, Poland
H.R. Ribeiro
Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Ciências, Porto, Portugal

Taranta, developed jointly by MAX IV Laboratory and SKA Observatory, is a web based no-code interface for remote control of instruments at accelerators and other scientific facilities. It has seen a great success in system development and scientific experiment usage. In the past two years, the panel of users has greatly expanded. The first generation of Taranta was not able to handle the challenges introduced by the user cases, notably the decreased performance when a high number of data points are requested, as well as new functionality requests. Therefore, a series of refactoring and performance improvements of Taranta are ongoing, to prepare it for handling large data transmission between Taranta and multiple sources of information, and to provide more possibilities for users to develop their own dashboards. This article presents the status of the Taranta project from the aspects of widgets updates, packages management, optimization of the communication with the backend TangoGQL, as well as the investigation on a new python library compatible with the newest python version for TangoGQL. In addition to the technical improvements, more facilities other than MAX IV and SKAO are considering to join Taranta project. One workshop has been successfully held and there will be more in the future. This article also presents the lesson learned from this project, the road map, and the GUI strategy for the near future.

Slides FR2BCO03 [4.759 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO03

About •

Received ※ 06 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 21 November 2023 — Issued ※ 23 November 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO04

Micro Frontends - a New Migration Process for Monolithic Web Applications

1663

A. Asko, S. Deghaye, E. Galatas, A.E. Kustra, C. Roderick, B. Urbaniec
CERN, Meyrin, Switzerland

Numerous standalone web applications have been developed over the last 10 years to support the configuration and operation of the CERN accelerator complex. These applications have different levels of complexity, but they all support hundreds of users for essential activities. A monolithic architecture has been utilised so far, tailoring the standalone applications to specific accelerator needs. The global GUI technology landscape continues to evolve quickly, with most GUI technologies typically reaching end-of-life within 1-to-5 years. Keeping up-to-date with technologies presents a major challenge for the GUI application maintainers, with larger monolithic applications requiring long migration cycles which impede the introduction of new functionalities during the migration phase. To tackle the above issues within the CERN Controls domain, a new Micro Frontend architecture has been introduced and is being used to gradually migrate a large and complex AngularJS-based web application to Angular. This paper introduces the new generic architecture, which is not tied to any specific web framework. The development workflow, challenges, and lessons learned so far will be covered. The differences of this approach, particularly when compared to monolithic application technology migrations, will also be discussed.

Slides FR2BCO04 [0.774 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO04

About •

Received ※ 04 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 05 December 2023 — Issued ※ 12 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)

FR2BCO05

Magnet Information Management System Based on Web Application for the KEK e⁻/e⁺ Injector Linac

1669

M. Satoh, Y. Enomoto
KEK, Ibaraki, Japan
T. Kudou
Mitsubishi Electric System & Service Co., Ltd, Tsukuba, Japan

The KEK injector linac provides e⁻/e⁺ beam to four independent storage rings and a positron damping ring. An accurate information management system of the accelerator components is very important since it is utilized for the beam tuning model. Especially, the incorrect magnet database may cause large deterioration in the quality of beam emittance. In KEK linac, a text-based database system has been used for the information management of magnet system in the long time. It comprises several independent text files which are master information to generate the EPICS database files and the other configuration files required for many linac control software. In this management scheme, it is not easy to access and update any information for the common user except control software expert. For this reason, a new web application-based magnet information management system was developed with the Angular and PHP framework. In the new system, the magnet information can be easily extracted and modified through any web browser for any user. In this paper, we report the new magnet information management system in detail.

Slides FR2BCO05 [2.146 MB]

DOI •

reference for this paper ※ doi:10.18429/JACoW-ICALEPCS2023-FR2BCO05

About •

Received ※ 09 October 2023 — Revised ※ 11 October 2023 — Accepted ※ 20 November 2023 — Issued ※ 18 December 2023

Cite •

reference for this paper using ※ BibTeX, ※ LaTeX, ※ Text/Word, ※ RIS, ※ EndNote (xml)