Hello everyone,
I am sending my Final GSoC report. The more detailed version with permanent links on GitHub PRs and with several screenshots can be found at the project wiki: https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout# FinalReport (https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout#FinalReport) . Abstract: The project was focused mainly on the extensive Graphical User Interface refactoring necessary to prepare GRASS for Single-Window GUI. In addition to a good programming base, the simple working Single-Window GUI prototype was built in a parallel environment. This Single-Window frame largely copies the design (mockup) which the author had proposed for the GSoC application (see (https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/wxGUIDevelopment/SingleWindow)[1]). All main functionality will be put into operation after the successful merge of PR [2] and PR [3]. (https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1789)However, to completely replace the current Multi-Window GUI solution, many other improvements are still expected. The state of the art BEFORE the start of GSoC: Although the GRASS GUI has been enriched with many new features since last year, the basic Multi-Window GUI concept used in all historical GRASS versions has been preserved. As the name suggests Multi-Window GUI consists of several windows (frames) - the control window and additional separate map display windows. The control window includes a notebook containing 5 tabs in a standard 2D map view - Data, Display, Modules, Console, and Python. The state of the art AFTER GSoC: A large part of the project was focused on GUI refactoring. The core work had to be done all at once in the PR (https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1675)[2] and since it overturns the core logic of map display widgets, it was decided to merge it after GSoC when the GRASS 8 will be released. To sum it up, we are probably not entirely done with the refactoring, but the main part was managed. In addition, a Single-Window GUI prototype has been coded in a parallel environment. I with help of my mentors handled to get to the stage where most of the functions are working. There is just missing completion of PR [3] and possible check/fix of workspaces functioning. It is important to emphasize here that I'm talking about basic functionality. To provide a really user-friendly environment, many other things will have to be changed or reprogrammed. All those steps are summed up in the "Next steps" paragraph. Conclusion: To follow the project idea I wrote for the GSoC application, I succeeded (with help of my mentors) to provide the first steps for a new era of Single -Window GUI. Those steps have a form of refactoring as well as a new parallel simple Single-Window GUI prototype. I believe it's one big step forward and I am looking forward to further development of which I would like to be a part. Next Steps: All these following points assume that the main functionality is working. In other words, we must have a merged main refactoring PR [2] and a merged PR [3](https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1789) aiming at the implementation of the AuiNotebook closing event. Then several improvements are possible (and probably necessary): * Enable undocking the Map Display notebook tab to a separate window. It will allow each user to use the Single-Window GUI as the Multi-Window GUI. * Fix switching to the Console pane in an automatic notebook if any information is written there. * Check/test if workspaces are functioning properly. * Focus on a newly added Map Display tab in the Display pane (now it may not be clear at first glance that it has been added). * Modify the appearance for the dark mode. Some parts are ugly and illegible (names of AuiNotebook tabs, names of panes, ugly gradients etc.). * Add the option for starting GRASS as the Single-Window GUI => we want GRASS geeks to try it out. :-) Other improvements mainly concern the organization of widgets and possible ideas for the future: * It is necessary to change the rendering of the 3D View panel. Now the 3 D View pane is added as another panel under the Display tab - very problematic in terms of space. * A part of the Console pane in the startup Single-Window layout is not visible. We should completely reorganize the Console tab, such as the Output window and Command prompt data outputs go into two separate tabs. * If both Map Display tabs are displayed side by side, the status bar cannot fit in the space. The solution is to create a separate dialog, which will contain a check box and other settings for the Map Display notebook tab. * Each user should be able to choose a convenient layout of widgets and save this setting for future sessions. It should be possible via perspectives. * Creating, saving, and selecting perspectives along with switching to dark mode could be part of a new tab menu called "View". Permanent links and screenshots can be found at [4] and [5]. [1] https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/wxGUIDevelopment/SingleWindow (https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/wxGUIDevelopment/SingleWindow) [2] https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1675 (https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1675) [3] https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1789 (https://github.com/OSGeo/grass/pull/1789) [4] https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout# FinalReport (https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout#FinalReport) [5] https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout# BrandnewScreenshotsofSingle-WindowGUI (https://trac.osgeo.org/grass/wiki/GSoC/2021/SingleWindowLayout#BrandnewScreenshotsofSingle-WindowGUI) Best, Linda Kladivova
_______________________________________________ grass-dev mailing list grass-dev@lists.osgeo.org https://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/grass-dev
