Speaker
Description
Efficient accelerator operation increasingly relies on software tools for monitoring, diagnostics, data analysis and automation. At ALBA Synchrotron, software development is primarily coordinated by the Computing Division, which supports a wide range of facility-wide programming requirements. However, the operational environment also generates highly specific requirements that need rapid development or specialized functionality.
To address these needs, members of the Operations Group create and maintain dedicated software tools for accelerator operation. These applications are developed using technologies such as Python, PyTango and Qt, and are designed around specific operational workflows and requirements. Although some tools started as small applications, several have evolved into substantial software projects comprising thousands of lines of code.
This poster presents several examples of operator-developed applications currently used at ALBA, covering monitoring, diagnostics, data visualization and operational support. The development approach, integration with the accelerator control system and the experience gained from maintaining these tools are discussed.
The objective is not to replace centralized software development, but to provide a complementary approach that allows the Operations Group to address specialized operational requirements while reducing the dependency on limited central development resources. The experience also highlights the benefits and challenges of placing software development and maintenance responsibilities directly within the operations team.