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BLU-ICE is a graphical Interface to the
Distributed Control System for
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crystallographic
data collection at synchrotron light sources. Designed for highly
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heterogeneous
networked computing environments, it uses an efficient message
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passing
protocol for communication between underlying, disparate hardware control
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systems and
multiple, fully synchronized instances of the graphical user interface. A
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server process
at each beam line centralizes control over all beam line hardware and
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provides a
central point through which all messages between user interfaces and
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hardware
control systems pass. The server
also embeds a scripting engine capable
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of handling
complex operations spanning multiple control systems with a powerful
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event driven
language. The highly graphical
BLU-ICE user interface simplifies
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sophisticated
experimental protocols and complex motor relationships, hides the
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complexities
of the control and computer infrastructure, and allows the user to
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concentrate on
the problem at hand – the collection of diffraction data or the
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maintenance of
a beam line. The design philosophy
of BLU-ICE and the Distributed
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Control System
exemplifies the Collaboratory paradigm, featuring cross-platform
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portability, remote
access capability, and collaboration enabling features.
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