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List: kstars-devel
Subject: Re: Interoperability proposal
From: Ed Lee <ed () thefamilee ! co ! uk>
Date: 2024-02-23 8:50:39
Message-ID: 097fd165-8b14-4d7d-8e1c-4ce133479dfa () thefamilee ! co ! uk
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Hi Wolfgang,
Some more details regarding the second idea...
In FireCapture, the imaging camera is handled directly for maximum
throughput. Other equipment must be connected via INDI (or ASCOM). The
other equipment in this case can be mount, filter wheel and focuser.
There is no need, from FireCapture's perspective, for KStars/Ekos, only
INDI. So it's possible, but clunky, to launch an INDI server handling
all the kit from the command line before starting FireCapture.
My current preferred workflow for a planetary capture is:
* Start KStars/Ekos
* Polar align using Ekos plate solving
* Train a quick mount model using Ekos plate solving
* Rough focus in Ekos (I'm manually focussing with a Bahtinov mask)
* Slew to planetary target in KStars
o In INDI control panel, disconnect imaging camera
o Launch FireCapture from the Desktop
* In FireCapture, connect to INDI, focus, adjust settings, capture,
close FireCapture
o In INDI control panel, reconnect imaging camera (if attempting
another target in the session).
So I'm using KStars/Ekos for setup and INDI server management, and
FireCapture for capture and guiding. When FireCapture is active it's
vital that KStars/Ekos is in an idle state, so in this case the button
would only be active when the scheduler is not running, guiding is not
active and no capture job is running. The plugin would just handle the
three indented actions above. I wouldn't intend to manage the capture
session in any way (guiding/focus/flip), that's the job of the capture
control system - in my case FireCapture.
Hope that helps in understanding my intent?
Kind regards
Ed
On 22/02/2024 22:27, Wolfgang Reissenberger wrote:
> Dear Ed,
> very interesting ideas!
>
> The first idea should be feasible.
>
> Regarding the idea interacting with FireCapture I'm not sure if I
> understand the intention behind. Is there the idea to use KStars for
> positioning the scope to the target, but then switching (at least
> capturing) to FireCapture? Should guiding continue running for
> example? What about meridian flip? Or Refocusing? There are many
> features of other modules that lead to interaction with the Capture
> module.
>
> Cheers
> Wolfgang
>
>> Am 21.02.2024 um 15:50 schrieb Jasem Mutlaq <mutlaqja@ikarustech.com>:
>>
>> Hello Ed,
>>
>> That's a great idea. Perhaps something like "Plugins" that could be
>> used to add extra functionality? KStars can be scripted by DBus
>> though the documentation & level of support for this can be improved.
>>
>> --
>> Best Regards,
>> Jasem Mutlaq
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Feb 21, 2024 at 5:35 PM Ed Lee <ed@thefamilee.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Although KStars is growing ever more capable there are other
>> programs that I like to use in conjunction, mostly for convenience.
>>
>> It occurs to me that my workflow could be made easier and the
>> system capabilities extended by providing a generalised means to
>> call other programs from within KStars/Ekos. At present there is
>> already a specific occurrence of this where the scheduler can
>> call start up / shut down scripts.
>>
>> Two examples of how I would like to use a generalised call:
>>
>> * Add a button to the Capture module that launches an external
>> live stacking application (for example Siril), pass it the
>> necessary commands to start receiving images from the current
>> selected camera, and then start repeating captures. Stop
>> capturing when the external process closes.
>> * Add a button to the Capture module that disconnects the
>> current selected camera from the INDI server and then
>> launches FireCapture for planetary imaging. Reconnect the
>> camera when the external process closes.
>>
>> Abstracting the external program calls via scripts would allow
>> user customisation and avoid any dependencies on / promotion of
>> specific software. Sample scripts could be provided. It may also
>> make the implementation simpler - an abstraction of the current
>> scheduler script processing with additional control processes
>> within KStars.
>>
>> Before I start working on this I wanted to ask for any thoughts
>> on this proposal, both regarding the implementation and also
>> whether this would be perceived an acceptable route for KStars.
>>
>> Kind Regards
>>
>> Ed Lee
>>
>
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<font face="Arial">Hi Wolfgang, <br>
<br>
Some more details regarding the second idea...<br>
<br>
In FireCapture, the imaging camera is handled directly for maximum
throughput. Other equipment must be connected via INDI (or ASCOM).
The other equipment in this case can be mount, filter wheel and
focuser. There is no need, from FireCapture's perspective, for
KStars/Ekos, only INDI. So it's possible, but clunky, to launch an
INDI server handling all the kit from the command line before
starting FireCapture. <br>
<br>
My current preferred workflow for a planetary capture is:<br>
</font>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial">Start KStars/Ekos</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Polar align using Ekos plate solving</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Train a quick mount model using Ekos plate
solving</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Rough focus in Ekos (I'm manually focussing
with a Bahtinov mask)</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Slew to planetary target in KStars</font></li>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial">In INDI control panel, disconnect imaging
camera</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Launch FireCapture from the Desktop</font></li>
</ul>
<li><font face="Arial">In FireCapture, connect to INDI, focus,
adjust settings, capture, close FireCapture</font></li>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial">In INDI control panel, reconnect imaging
camera (if attempting another target in the session).</font></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p><font face="Arial">So I'm using KStars/Ekos for setup and INDI
server management, and FireCapture for capture and guiding. When
FireCapture is active it's vital that KStars/Ekos is in an idle
state, so in this case the button would only be active when the
scheduler is not running, guiding is not active and no capture
job is running.</font> The plugin would just handle the three
indented actions above. I wouldn't intend to manage the capture
session in any way (guiding/focus/flip), that's the job of the
capture control system - in my case FireCapture.<br>
</p>
<p>Hope that helps in understanding my intent?</p>
<p>Kind regards</p>
<p>Ed<br>
</p>
<font face="Arial"><br>
</font>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 22/02/2024 22:27, Wolfgang
Reissenberger wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:EAB7C3FB-E763-4EEC-AFA7-750B25B4674B@openfuture.de">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
Dear Ed,
<div>very interesting ideas!</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The first idea should be feasible.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Regarding the idea interacting with FireCapture I'm not sure
if I understand the intention behind. Is there the idea to use
KStars for positioning the scope to the target, but then
switching (at least capturing) to FireCapture? Should guiding
continue running for example? What about meridian flip? Or
Refocusing? There are many features of other modules that lead
to interaction with the Capture module.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Cheers</div>
<div>Wolfgang</div>
<div>
<div><br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>Am 21.02.2024 um 15:50 schrieb Jasem Mutlaq
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" \
href="mailto:mutlaqja@ikarustech.com"><mutlaqja@ikarustech.com></a>:</div> <br \
class="Apple-interchange-newline"> <div>
<div dir="ltr">Hello Ed,
<div><br>
</div>
<div>That's a great idea. Perhaps something like
"Plugins" that could be used to add extra
functionality? KStars can be scripted by DBus though
the documentation & level of support for this can
be improved. </div>
<div><br clear="all">
<div>
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"
data-smartmail="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>--</div>
<div>Best Regards,<br>
Jasem Mutlaq<br>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Feb 21, 2024
at 5:35 PM Ed Lee <<a
href="mailto:ed@thefamilee.co.uk"
moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">ed@thefamilee.co.uk</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">
<div> <font face="Arial">Hi,<br>
<br>
Although KStars is growing ever more capable there
are other programs that I like to use in
conjunction, mostly for convenience.<br>
<br>
It occurs to me that my workflow could be made
easier and the system capabilities extended by
providing a generalised means to call other
programs from within KStars/Ekos. At present there
is already a specific occurrence of this where the
scheduler can call start up / shut down scripts. <br>
<br>
Two examples of how I would like to use a
generalised call:<br>
</font>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial">Add a button to the Capture
module that launches an external live stacking
application (for example Siril), pass it the
necessary commands to start receiving images
from the current selected camera, and then
start repeating captures. Stop capturing when
the external process closes.<br>
</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial">Add a button to the Capture
module that disconnects the current selected
camera from the INDI server and then launches
FireCapture for planetary imaging. Reconnect
the camera when the external process closes.</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="Arial">Abstracting the external
program calls via scripts would allow user
customisation and avoid any dependencies on /
promotion of specific software. Sample scripts
could be provided. It may also make the
implementation simpler - an abstraction of the
current scheduler script processing with
additional control processes within KStars.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Before I start working on this
I wanted to ask for any thoughts on this
proposal, both regarding the implementation and
also whether this would be perceived an
acceptable route for KStars.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Kind Regards</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Ed Lee<br>
</font></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
</body>
</html>
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