Testing LCSIII demos for Linux

CSGnet Archive CSG2013
1

Hi, all

As you may know, the PCT demo programs that come with LCS III, and are available for download at Bill’s site, can only run on Windows systems. They are written in the Delphi programming language and there is no Delphi for Linux. The closest thing is the Lazarus programming language, with similar, but not identical syntax and functionality.

In the following link you can find the programs ported to Lazarus, with source code and compiled Linux binaries (executable programs):

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70399093/LCSIIILinux.zip

Before releasing the programs, they need to be tested for bugs on different Linux systems. It would be very helpful if you would download and run these files on your Linux system to see if they can all execute, and if there are some bugs or non-functionalities. Even though the code is somewhat different, the programs should look very similar to the Windows version and have full functionality.

To run the programs, download the LCSIIILinux.zip file, unzip it and click the “LCS 3 demos” shortcut. Alternatively, you could click any of the specific demos inside their folders.

Things to look for: text or pictures out of place, files not being saved or loaded, segments of programs not working, unpredictable behavior or crashing of the programs, programs running too fast or too slow, and any other thing you think is out of place or is different from the Windows version.

If you don’t have a linux systems, but still wish to test the programs, you can try with a Live CD, which is a complete Linux distribution that runs from your CD, without installing the Linux on your computer. Here is Linux Mint: http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Any questions you have or bugs you find, you can post on this thread or send them to adam.matic@gmail.com

···

If you wish to compile the files on your system weather it’s Windows, Linux or MacOS, you need Lazarus, the newest version of can be found here: http://www.lazarus.freepascal.org/

Before compiling make sure that the LCL widgetset is set to GTK2. It’s default on Linux, but on Windows and MacOS, you need to do the following:

start Lazarus. From the Tools menu, chose “Configure Build Lazarus”, and from the dropdown menu “LCL widgetset” choose “gtk2”, chose your system, and click Build. After this, you should be able to compile and run the demos.

Happy testing,

Adam

2

[From Matti Kolu 2013.03.05.0110 CET}

In the following link you can find the programs ported to Lazarus, with
source code and compiled Linux binaries (executable programs):
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70399093/LCSIIILinux.zip

On a minimal Debian install:

Demo3-1-Liveblock: ./LiveBlock: error while loading shared libraries:
libQt4Pas.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

Choosecontrol: Works. -0.97 on disturbance vs mouse despite running things
over a VNC connection to a low-end VPS in another country. (For some reason
I find these tracking tasks slightly unnerving. I would prefer a lower run
time.)

Demo4-1-TrackAnalyze: Runs, but I received some warnings:

Xlib: extension "RANDR" missing on display ":1".

(TrackAnalyze:17469): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to store changes into
`/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: Failed to create
file '/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel.642KTW': No such file or
directory

(TrackAnalyze:17469): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to set the permissions of
`/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: No such file or
directory

(TrackAnalyze:17469): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to store changes into
`/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: Failed to create
file '/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel.T62KTW': No such file or
directory

(TrackAnalyze:17469): Gtk-WARNING **: Attempting to set the permissions of
`/home/matti/.local/share/recently-used.xbel', but failed: No such file or
directory

NonAdaptive: runs.

Demo8-1-ArmControlReorg/: Runs. The screen that pops up when you click on
"Instructions" is empty.

Demo8-2-Coordination: OK.

Demo8-3-ArmTrackTarget: OK.

Demo9-1-SquareCircle: Runs.

Demo7-2-ThreeSys: OK.

Demo7-1-Ecoli: OK

Demo9-3-InvtPend: OK

Demo9-2: OK

Menu: Don't know if this is a graphical artifact due to the VNC software,
but the text fields are "cut off" in ./Menu. "ChooseCor", "Livebl",
"Trackan", "NonAdap", "LiveTh", "Ec" and so on.

"LCS 3 Demos" -> /home/adam/Desktop/Konvertirano/Menu/Menu

Matti

···

On Fri, 1 Mar 2013 16:06:29 +0100, Adam Matic <adam.matic@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

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Great work Matti, thank you! I’ll review the code and get back with a new version.

Adam

4

[From Adam Matic 2013.03.05.2245cet]

Fixed some bugs, here’s the link:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70399093/LCSIIILinux.zip

(whichever link you click, this one, or the one from the first post, it will download the newest version)

(Matti Kolu 2013.03.05.0110 CET)

Demo3-1-Liveblock: ./LiveBlock: error while loading shared libraries:

libQt4Pas.so.5: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

AM: Recompiled without LibQt, should work good now.

MK: Demo4-1-TrackAnalyze: Runs, but I received some warnings […]:

AM:

I could not recreate the bug. I’ll try with a different linux system if I find one. If the program still runs, opens and saves the files, should be fine, though.

MK: Demo8-1-ArmControlReorg/: Runs. The screen that pops up when you click on

“Instructions” is empty.

AM: Fixed

MK: Menu: Don’t know if this is a graphical artifact due to the VNC software,

but the text fields are “cut off” in ./Menu. “ChooseCor”, “Livebl”,

“Trackan”, “NonAdap”, “LiveTh”, “Ec” and so on.

AM:

There appears to be an issue with radio buttons on different systems. Changed radio buttons to normal buttons. Works.

“LCS 3 Demos” → /home/adam/Desktop/Konvertirano/Menu/Menu

AM:

Changed aps. path to relative, works now.

Later

Adam

5

[From Matti Kolu (2013.03.06.0150 CET)]

Adam Matic (2013.03.05.2245 CET) --

Fixed some bugs, here's the link:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70399093/LCSIIILinux.zip

Debian x32: (Different system than the last time, sorry.)

TRACKANALYZE: Runs without errors on this system.

LIVEBLOCK: On a 1024x768 display, some of the text is cut off: "Output Gain
facto", "Time Constant, Se" and also "Error Signa". In the first two cases,
there's not enough space on the screen to the left. (Resizing the window
doesn't work, the Block Diagram is contained in a rectangular box of a fixed
size.)

In the last example "Error Signa", the problem seems to be similar to the
earlier problems with the menu.

The values in the white boxes, the ones that are updated as you play around
with the Live Block, aren't aligned properly. This is more true for values
with four ("12.52") or five digits ("100.00").

Screenshot attached.

INVTPEND: The "Deliver Impulse" button seems to be too small, the last "e"
isn't visible.

THREESYS: "Signal reference patter", "Mouse-Operated Referen".

Lower left half of the window, the radio button reading "Reorg" has the g
_slightly_ cut off.

SQUARECIRCLE: Under Keyboard Controls, the "e" in "Toggle Square/Circle"
isn't visible.

ARMCONTROLREORG: When you launch it, the placement of the "Orthogonalize"
button is off. Maximizing the window fixes the placement of the button, but
at the same time, the scales for the log graph disappear.

Screenshots attached.

Linux-LiveBlock-V02-DebianX32-1024x768.png
Linux-LiveBlock-V02-DebianX32-1024x768.png1033×781 134 KB

Linux-ArmControlReorg-V02-DebianX32-1024x768-1-uponstartup.png
Linux-ArmControlReorg-V02-DebianX32-1024x768-1-uponstartup.png1030×789 99.1 KB

Linux-ArmControlReorg-V02-DebianX32-1024x768-2-maximized-nolog.png
Linux-ArmControlReorg-V02-DebianX32-1024x768-2-maximized-nolog.png1030×789 82.5 KB

···

--

This is probably due to the specific configuration I am running: If I start
say NonAdaptive by double clicking on it using the graphical file manager,
I'm met by the following error message:

"Unable to open file "Instructions.txt"

Press OK to ignore and risk data corruption. Press Cancel to kill the
program."

If I start the program using xterm (typing ./NonAdaptive after having
navigated to the appropriate folder) everything works. The file
Instructions.txt is clearly there.

Same thing with the menu: works fine when I start it by typing ./Menu in the
command line. When started through the file manager, all the paths of the
menu items are wrong. (Clicking on any item: "Cannot find
/MYLINUXUSERNAMEDemo4-1-TrackAnalyze/TrackAnalyze" ie

there's a slash missing in the path. Again, probably just the setup I'm
running.

--

AM: I'll try with a different linux system if I find one.

I've been playing around a little with DigitalOcean during the last couple
of weeks. Using them you can fire up 512MB virtual server instances for
$0,007 per hour. Having three servers running -- say, one Ubuntu 11.04x32
Desktop, one Debian x64 and perhaps a Fedora 17 x64 Desktop -- running for
a long weekend (72 hours) will set you back a whopping $1,5 ($0,007 x 72 x 3
). Once you are done, you can save snapshots of the created instances and
then "destroy" the virtual servers. (They need to be destroyed rather than
turned off, as a turned off server still has resources assigned to it, and
therefore costs money).

Next time you want to do some testing, just fire up a few servers based on
the saved snapshot images, and you'll be up and running in no time again. (I
used the following instructions for the VNC set-up:
vandorp.biz/2012/01/installing-a-lightweight-lxdevnc-desktop-environment-on-
your-ubuntudebian-vps/)

They take one time payments through Paypal, with the minimum amount
being $5 (what I paid), so there's very little risk involved.

Assuming that your latency to either Amsterdam or New York is decent, this
might be an alternative to running a bunch of Linux distros locally.

Matti

6

[From Adam Matic (2013.03.06.1330 CET)]

Thank you very much for the bug report. Attaching the pictures is a great idea.

MK: Debian x32: (Different system than the last time, sorry.)

AM: That’s quite good, really. The more different systems the better.

I’ll get back with a new version.

The DigitalOcean solution sounds very interesting, I might try it.

Adam

7

[From Adam Matic, 2013.03.07.0005 CET]

Uploaded a new version. I’ve changed the scaling methods for the problematic demos and fixed the missing slash in Menu.
Tested them under 1366x768, 1024x768 and 800x600 resolutions. First two look good but the last one not so much (at least on my sistem)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/70399093/LCSIIILinux.zip

Adam