Connection between linuxcnc and GUI

Hi,

I would like to build a rather minimal GUI for an automated saw.
As I am quite comfortable with GTK and C/C++

For a automated saw i should only use the linuxcnc hal interface to connect hardware like motors, encoders etc.
To clearify, you then have a .hal file wich is loaded by a halcmd, without actually starting lcnc.

A opengl gremlin gcode preview screen is kind of useless and complex. Do you need gcode anyway for a saw?
I think you need a smart data input. Can be touch screen, or can be visualised by c++ opencascade cad wich is quite
easy to use in c++.

If you know c++ then it's easy to write some code for the saw. You can send calculated position's to the stepgen component
who takes care as a pid controller.

If you want to program in c++ with linuxcnc hal and make a nice saw preview in 3d. This is possible.
I don't know how much time you wanna spent to build the program?

There is also a new qml app to look at. This is a quite simple coding format. I don't use it myself. Qml is more for dummy's, but it is very responsive. Building a web browser is 5 minutes of work in Qml.

I agree with mr. Morley. Python is the easyest way to go. In the past i started also with python gtk2 for cnc gui's.

with your answers I was able to dig much deeper in the code and the internals of linuxcnc.
With all respect, you don't have to dig this deep. Just stay at the floorlevel for now. Then you are much more productive in
creating a solution.

this is an rest api interface for linuxcnc. you can create an local webserver with an in and out rest structure for your halpins. We have used this to connect java-guis to lcnc.

github.com/sittner/linuxcnc-rest

I don't really see any good reason to go for manually programming a new UI. A couple of the UI framekworks already allow you to make custom UIs. I personally am only familiar with QtPyVCP, but QtVCP and GladeVCP are also options.

With QtPyVCP a simple UI doesn't require any real programming either, so no real need to learn Python. Don't know about the other options.

Bocnc wrote: I would like to build a rather minimal GUI for an automated saw.

How minimal? 4 x 20 LCD display minmal? ( github.com/LinuxCNC/linuxcnc/blob/master...c/usr_intf/emclcd.cc )

I am playing about with a minimal GUI for a press brake in another thread . It's interesting that the GUI tends not to remain minimal.
The unusual thing about that setup is that it does not use The LinuxCNC Motion module, Task Module or an interpreter. Though as time goes on I am starting to question the value of this approach.

A good reason: I want to learn more about OpenGL and as I think I will need a more complex but customized GUI in the future, this project is a nice start.

The 4x20 a bit too minimal. But nice example code to look at. What do you mean with you question the approach?
Was there a good option to use for a press brake?

Bocnc wrote: What do you mean with you question the approach?

I am currently implementing homing and jogging in a HAL component. So re-inventing the wheel in many ways, these (and general axis motion to set positions) are already-solved problems. I am thinking that finding a way to add press-brake motions by foot-pedal to a conventional config would maybe have been better.