[PSUBS-MAILIST] Programing Options For GUI

Thu Aug 29 21:20:47 EDT 2019

Thanks Jon,
that's helped me come to the conclusion that getting a local automation
technician I met with last year to do this is a better option.
Part of the reason for wanting to program this myself was so that I could fine 
tune things like my O2 system valve 'on time', CO2 scrubber speed, humidity 
control, etc. But have just realised that I could get him to program in a password
sensitive 'settings' area on the GUI that gives me simple controls for adjusting
various parameters. Will also get him to notate his programming so that a dummy
can follow it. 
I was going with the raspberry Pi because I thought it would be better suited to 
the GUI. Have ordered breakout boards for ADC.
Cheers Alan

> On 30/08/2019, at 9:40 AM, Jon Wallace via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi Alan,
> 
> I don't know Python so won't be much help.  Python became popular around the "I don't feel like learning another programming language" point in my lengthy career so I never got round to picking it up.  As you noted in a previous message, the PI has limited IO pins so I'm curious why you have selected it as your primary processor.  I use it only for the capacitive touch screen graphical display specifically designed for the PI.  All my sensor data comes from an Arduino type processor, the Teensy to be specific which I pass to the PI via serial communication.
> 
> I used Processing for graphics which is the same language that the Arduino IDE is built around.  Easy to learn, user forums, and many references.  However, python has the same.  I used a combination of code and icons for the graphics.  On the main screen the depth, vrate, warning panel, compass, yaw, and pitch are all produced by code.  The buttons at the top, side, and bottom are all JPG icons which I created in an old graphics editor (Paint Shop Pro) that isn't even available anymore.  Have you considered GIMP for your graphics editing?  It's free and powerful, runs on windows and unix, and has a large following.
> 
> My approach was to use icons for things that were relatively static, like a button, and software for animation and dynamic information that changed frequently and quickly, like depth and compass.  Producing animation with icons requires LOTS of images and I wasn't interested in all the possible combinations I would need to produce the compass/pitch/roll graphic.  It was easier to create via software code.
> 
> I'm sure Python has the same capabilities, to customize any widgets and/or allow you to created custom graphics including displaying prebuilt images or icons.  Everything is going to have a learning curve and I had one with Processing, but it was pretty straight forward.
> 
> Jon
> 
> 
> 
> On Thursday, August 29, 2019, 06:34:33 AM EDT, Alan via Personal_Submersibles <personal_submersibles at psubs.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> Jon, or anyone else with an opinion.
> Have started learning Python to program a Raspberry Pi  for controlling functions 
> & displaying information on a GUI (touch screen).
> Jon, in general I am wanting to do similar to what you have done with your 
> "submarine control manager" but different in a lot of aspects.
> There are a few options I have been looking at for creating the GUI.
> The first is Tkinter, but I am hearing that it's a bit old school. One advantage though
> is that there is a lot of resources available in the way of written code for various
> applications, instruction & help.
> The second is PysimpleGUI . https://pysimplegui.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tutorial/#what-is-a-gui
> but this may be a bit simple & limited.
> The third is Pyqt5 with qt designer. The designer lets you drag & drop widgets
> & relieves you of a lot of code writing. This combination seems the best option
> so far.
> I am not sure to what degree I can customise the widgets in the various programs;
> for instance, can I create a compass or image of a submarine. I am keen to have
> some contemporary looking graphics but I may be stuck with what they provide.
> Have tried to find out if the program's support any sort of huge library of pre made 
> open source widgets that I can use, but have only heard reference to a small basic
> list of widgets.
> I did learn photoshop from an 800 page book, so not scared of a learning curve
> however I am only learning for this project at this stage.
> Any thoughts appreciated.
> Alan
> 
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