PyDM: Python Display Manager

PyDM is a PyQt-based framework for building user interfaces for control systems. The goal is to provide a no-code, drag-and-drop system to make simple screens, as well as a straightforward Python framework to build complex applications.

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Python Qt Wrapper

PyDM project uses the qtpy as the abstraction layer for the Qt Python wrappers (PyQt5/PyQt4/PySide2/PySide). All tests are performed with PyQt5.

Prerequisites

Python 3.7+
Qt 5.6 or higher
qtpy
PyQt5 >= 5.7 or any other Qt Python wrapper.

Note: If you'd like to use Qt Designer (drag-and-drop tool to build interfaces) you'll need to make sure you have the PyQt plugin for Designer installed. This usually happens automatically when you install PyQt from source, but if you install it from a package manager, it may be left out.

Python package requirements are listed in the requirements.txt file, which can be used to install all requirements from pip: 'pip install -r requirements.txt'

Running the Tests

In order to run the tests you will need to install some dependencies that are not part of the runtime dependencies of PyDM.

Assuming that you have cloned this repository do:

pip install -r dev-requirements.txt

python run_tests.py

If you want to see the coverage report do:

python run_tests.py --show-cov

Running the Examples

There are various examples of some of the features of the display manager. To launch a particular display run 'python scripts/pydm '.

There is a 'home' display in the examples directory with buttons to launch all the examples:

python scripts/pydm examples/home.ui

Building the Documentation Locally

In order to build the documentation you will need to install some dependencies that are not part of the runtime dependencies of PyDM.

Assuming that you have cloned this repository do:

pip install -r docs-requirements.txt

cd docs
make html

This will generate the HTML documentation for PyDM at the <>/docs/build/html folder. Look for the index.html file and open it with your browser.

Online Documentation

Documentation is available at http://slaclab.github.io/pydm/. Documentation is somewhat sparse right now, unfortunately.

Widget Designer Plugins

pydm widgets are written in Python, and are loaded into Qt Designer via the PyQt Designer Plugin. If you want to use the pydm widgets in Qt Designer, add the pydm directory (which holds designer_plugin.py) to your PYQTDESIGNERPATH environment variable. Eventually, this will happen automatically in some kind of setup script.

Easy Installing PyDM

Using the source code

git clone https://github.com/slaclab/pydm.git
cd pydm
pip install .[all]

Using Anaconda

When using Anaconda to install PyDM at a Linux Environment it will automatically define the PYQTDESIGNERPATH environment variable pointing to /etc/pydm which will have a file named designer_plugin.py which will make all the PyDM widgets available to the Qt Designer. For more information please see our installation guide.