1. ADOPTION OF ECLIPSE RCP TO BUILD RICH GUI FOR THE SPACE DOMAIN
ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
ADOPTION OF ECLIPSE RCP TO BUILD RICH GUI FOR THE SPACE DOMAIN

2. Overview of migrated systems. Tecnical approach. Main challenges.
Contents
Overview of migrated systems.
Tecnical approach.
Main challenges.
Future.
Conclusions.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

3. Overview of migrated systems.
ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Overview of migrated systems.

4. GMV systemS GMV migrated systems:
Satellite Control System (SCS) – hifly:
Responsible for monitoring and control the satellite.
Flight Dynamics System (FDS) – focus:
Responsible for determining and predecting satellite orbit.
Mission Planning System (MPS) - flexplan :
Responsible for planning the satellite operations.
SCS
MPS
FDS
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

5. Satellite control system
SCS
GUI
Applications
C++/Ilog Views
Backend
C++
CORBA & TCP/IP
Client/server architecture
Communication through CORBA and TCP/IP.
Server developed in C++.
Client developed in C++/Ilog Views.
Real-time and off-line.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

6. Flight dynamics system
FDS
GUI
Applications
Tcl/Tk
Backend
TCP/IP
Tcl
Client/server architecture.
Communication through TCP/IP.
Server developed in Tcl.
Client developed in Tcl/Tk.
Off-line application.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

7. Mission planning system
MPS
GUI
Applications
C++/Ilog Views
Backend
C++
CORBA
Client/server architecture.
Communication through CORBA.
Server developed in C++.
Client developed in C++/Ilog Views.
Off-line application.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

8. Replace UI layer. GOALS Reuse existing business logic.
Harmonise displays.
Improve usability.
Improve system maintenability.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

9. Advanced development environment:
Requirements
Performance.
Extensibility.
Configurability.
Multiplatform.
Advanced development environment:
Eclipse IDE
Automatic build system
Continuous Integration
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

10. Platform independent with native look&feel. Not only a GUI toolkit
Why Eclipse rcp?
Platform independent with native look&feel.
Not only a GUI toolkit
Plugin-based pogramming model
Extension points
Active community and industry support
At the time being adopted by the European Space Agency for their ground systems infrastructure.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

11. ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Technical approach

12. Architecture overview (I)
We had …
We did …
SCS
FDS
MPS
Eclipse RCP Applications
GUI
Applications
C++/Ilog Views
GUI
Applications
Tcl/Tk
GUI
Applications
C++/Ilog Views
Service adapter
Service adapter
Service adapter
SCS
CORBA
Backend
C++
FDS
Backend
TCP/IP
Tcl
MPS
Backend
C++
CORBA
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

13. Architecture overview (II)
General Architecture:
Backend: Business Logic
Middleware
GUI Application:
Services Layer
Displays Layer
Services Layer
Displays Layer
Backend
Java/Eclipse RCP
Middleware
GUI Application
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

14. ServiceS Layer (I) Backend
Decouple the presentation and business logic that interact exclusively through a middleware:
Service: Backend element that exposes some business logic.
Service Adapters: Proxy that wraps the access to a service.
Written in Java.
No dependency on UI elements.
No dependency on Eclipse API.
No additional business logic.
Mechanism to consume services transparently.
Services Layer
Displays Layer
Backend
Java/Eclipse RCP
Middleware
GUI Application
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

15. ServiceS Layer (II) Application Application Backend Backend
This layer allows us :
Option A: Replacement of communication layer
Service
adapters
Application
Backend
Java/Eclipse RCP
Middleware: CORBA
Backend
Middleware:
Message oriented
Service
adapters
Application
Java/Eclipse RCP
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

16. ServiceS Layer (III) Application Backend Backend
This infraestructure allows us :
Option B: Replacement of presentation layer
Service
adapters
Application
Backend
Java/Eclipse RCP
Middleware: CORBA
Backend
Java
Middleware: CORBA
WS wrapper
Service
adapters
Middleware: WS
Web Application
GWT
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

17. DISPLAYS Layer (I) Backend
Reusable graphical components at functional level:
Display: GUI element to vizualize and manipulate information:
Access to business logic via Services Adapters.
Eclipse View
An Application is just a displays container.
Mechanism to save/restore application status.
Services Layer
Displays Layer
Backend
Java/Eclipse RCP
Middleware
GUI Application
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

18. DISPLAYS Layer (II) Visual style: GUI guidelines: Common look & feel.
Uniform interaction paradigms.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

19. GUI Elements Set of reusable widgets:
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

20. How to create a new application?
We have the backend and some services…
GUI Application
1. Define new Services
2. Define the Services Layer
Displays Layer
3. Define the Displays Layer
Services Layer
Middleware
Backend
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

21. Result…
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich graphical user interface for the space domain
18/09/2018

22. ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Main Challenges

23. A Common Target Platform (I)
SCS
FDS
Target Platform is a set of plug-ins to reuse among products.
Different ground segment systems
Sharing some common functionality
Identified a set of plug-ins for common applications
The Ground Segment Target Platform contains
Ground Segment plug-ins
Eclipse RCP plug-ins
Plug-ins from third party products
MPS
Ground Segment Target Platform E E
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

24. A Common Target Platform (II)
SCS
FDS
Also a Target Platform per ground segment system.
Functionality common to specific system.
Hierarchy of plug-ins:
Ground Segment
Subsystem
Specific per mission
MPS
SCS Target Platform
MPS Target Platform
FDS Target Platform
Ground Segment Target Platform E E
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

25. A Common Target Platform (III)
Complex to handle…
Evolution of common plugins
Need to create a Target Definition:
List of plug-ins for a specific development
Target Definition
SCS Target Platform
Ground Segment Target Platform E E
Versions E E E E
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

26. A common development environment
Defining a common Eclipse IDE facilitates the process:
Share a Target Definition
Definition a set of common coding rules.
Checked with Checkstyle, Eclipse formatter, Clean-up etc.
Inspection of violations with Sonar.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

27. A common BUILD system Complex build systems can be difficult.
Common build for all new RCP products
Origins: Shell scripts
First steps: ANT  Eclipse Plugin Development Environment (PDE)
In process: moving to Maven + Tycho
Next steps:
Use Nexus as repository manager for the common plug-ins.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

28. SWT Related specific ISSUES
Real-time display of Telemetry data in different types of displays
Initial prototyping lead to performance problems (high CPU consumption with high refresh rates)
Solved by using SWING in displays with high refresh rate
Problems with SWT-SWING bridge
Lack of advanced SWT widgets
Gantt Charts: Nebula? Jaret timebars?
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

29. ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Future

30. Eclipse 4 & RAP Eclipse 4 Eclipse RAP
Currently all applications based on 3.x
Not sure on best approach to migrate…
New developments based on 4.x
Eclipse RAP
Considering creation of web interfaces in addition to desktop ones
Prototyping phase
Considering single source for new developments
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

31. New COMPONENTS (I) 3D applications Display/manage 3D models
Flight of satellites in real or simulated time
Views of terrain (Mars, Moon…)
Plan to use
OpenGL + SWT
NASA’s World Wind Java.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

32. New COMPONENTS (II) Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Display data over maps
Rover path over Mars surface
Science data from earth observation satellites
Global navigation systems performance data
Evaluating uDig. Considering NASA’s WWJ for 3D contexts.
Not many alternatives…
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

33. ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Conclusion

34. Conclusion
RCP provides a good mechanism to implement modular applications.
Satisfied clients!
Migration of existing products to RCP can be complex.
Extensible & configurable per product.
Nice native look&feel…
But some Linux / Windows mismatches
Steep learning curve.
But an active community.
SWT issues: lack of advanced widgets, performance problems.
Adoption of Eclipse RCP to build rich GUI for space domain
2013/05/06

35. ECLIPSECON FRANCE 2013
Questions?

36. Thank you Rosa María García Casado
Manuel Casado Martín