2.45.13

Automatically generated by python-semantic-release

.github/dependabot.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+version: 2
+updates:
+  - package-ecosystem: "pip"
+    directory: "/"
+    schedule:
+      interval: "weekly"

.github/workflows/child_repos.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+name: Run Pytest with Coverage
+on: 
+  workflow_call:
+    inputs:
+      BEC_CORE_BRANCH:
+        description: 'Branch for BEC Core'
+        required: false
+        default: 'main'
+        type: string
+      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:
+        description: 'Branch for Ophyd Devices'
+        required: false
+        default: 'main'
+        type: string
+      BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH:
+        description: 'Branch for BEC Widgets'
+        required: false
+        default: 'main'
+        type: string
+
+
+jobs:
+  bec:
+    name: BEC Unit Tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout BEC
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: bec-project/bec
+          ref: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH }}
+
+      - name: Install BEC and dependencies
+        uses: ./.github/actions/bec_install
+        with:
+          BEC_CORE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH }}
+          OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH }}
+          PYTHON_VERSION: '3.11'
+      - name: Run Pytest
+        run: |
+          cd ./bec
+          pip install pytest pytest-random-order
+          pytest -v --maxfail=2 --junitxml=report.xml --random-order ./bec_server/tests ./bec_ipython_client/tests/client_tests ./bec_lib/tests
+  bec-e2e-test:
+    name: BEC End2End Tests
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout BEC
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: bec-project/bec
+          ref: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH }}
+
+      - name: Run E2E Tests
+        uses: ./.github/actions/bec_e2e_install
+        with:
+          BEC_CORE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH }}
+          OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH }}
+          BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH }}
+          PYTHON_VERSION: '3.11'

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -58,3 +58,23 @@ jobs:
     needs: [check_pr_status, formatter]
     if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
     uses: ./.github/workflows/end2end-conda.yml
+
+  child-repos:
+    needs: [check_pr_status, formatter]
+    if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/child_repos.yml
+    with:
+      BEC_CORE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH || 'main' }}
+      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH || 'main'}} 
+      BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH || github.head_ref || github.sha }}
+  
+  plugin_repos:
+    needs: [check_pr_status, formatter]
+    if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
+    uses: bec-project/bec/.github/workflows/plugin_repos.yml@main
+    with:
+      BEC_CORE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH || 'main' }}
+      BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH || github.head_ref || github.sha }}
+
+    secrets:
+      GH_READ_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_READ_TOKEN }}

.github/workflows/pytest-matrix.yml

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
+        python-version: ["3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
 
     env:
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: main  # Set the branch you want for bec_widgets

.github/workflows/stale-issues.yml

@@ -2,14 +2,18 @@ name: 'Close stale issues and PRs'
 on:
   schedule:
     - cron: '00 10 * * *'
+  workflow_dispatch:
 
 jobs:
   stale:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      issues: write
+      pull-requests: write
     steps:
       - uses: actions/stale@v9
         with:
-          stale-issue-message: 'This issue is stale because it has been open 60 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.'
+          stale-issue-message: 'This issue is stale because it has been open 120 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 14 days.'
-          stale-pr-message: 'This PR is stale because it has been open 60 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 7 days.'
+          stale-pr-message: 'This PR is stale because it has been open 120 days with no activity. Remove stale label or comment or this will be closed in 14 days.'
-          days-before-stale: 60
+          days-before-stale: 120
-          days-before-close: 7
+          days-before-close: 14

.gitlab-ci.yml

@@ -1,289 +0,0 @@
-# This file is a template, and might need editing before it works on your project.
-# Official language image. Look for the different tagged releases at:
-# https://hub.docker.com/r/library/python/tags/
-image: $CI_DEPENDENCY_PROXY_GROUP_IMAGE_PREFIX/python:3.11
-#commands to run in the Docker container before starting each job.
-variables:
-  DOCKER_TLS_CERTDIR: ""
-  BEC_CORE_BRANCH:
-    description: bec branch
-    value: main
-  OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:
-    description: ophyd_devices branch
-    value: main
-  CHILD_PIPELINE_BRANCH: $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH
-  CHECK_PKG_VERSIONS:
-    description: Whether to run additional tests against min/max/random selection of dependencies. Set to 1 for running.
-    value: 0
-
-workflow:
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "web"
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "pipeline"
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"
-    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH && $CI_OPEN_MERGE_REQUESTS
-      when: never
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH
-
-include:
-  - template: Security/Secret-Detection.gitlab-ci.yml
-  - project: "bec/awi_utils"
-    file: "/templates/check-packages-job.yml"
-    inputs:
-      stage: test
-      path: "."
-      pytest_args: "-v,--random-order,tests/unit_tests"
-      pip_args: ".[dev]"
-
-# different stages in the pipeline
-stages:
-  - Formatter
-  - test
-  - AdditionalTests
-  - End2End
-  - Deploy
-
-.install-qt-webengine-deps: &install-qt-webengine-deps
-  - apt-get -y install libnss3 libxdamage1 libasound2 libatomic1 libxcursor1
-  - export QTWEBENGINE_DISABLE_SANDBOX=1
-
-.clone-repos: &clone-repos
-  - echo -e "\033[35;1m Using branch $BEC_CORE_BRANCH of BEC CORE \033[0;m";
-  - git clone --branch $BEC_CORE_BRANCH https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec.git
-  - echo -e "\033[35;1m Using branch $OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH of OPHYD_DEVICES \033[0;m";
-  - git clone --branch $OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/ophyd_devices.git
-  - export OHPYD_DEVICES_PATH=$PWD/ophyd_devices
-
-.install-repos: &install-repos
-  - pip install -e ./ophyd_devices
-  - pip install -e ./bec/bec_lib[dev]
-  - pip install -e ./bec/bec_ipython_client
-  - pip install -e ./bec/pytest_bec_e2e
-
-.install-os-packages: &install-os-packages
-  - apt-get update
-  - apt-get install -y libgl1-mesa-glx libegl1-mesa x11-utils libxkbcommon-x11-0 libdbus-1-3 xvfb
-  - *install-qt-webengine-deps
-
-before_script:
-  - if [[ "$CI_PROJECT_PATH" != "bec/bec_widgets" ]]; then
-    echo -e "\033[35;1m Using branch $CHILD_PIPELINE_BRANCH of BEC Widgets \033[0;m";
-    test -d bec_widgets || git clone --branch $CHILD_PIPELINE_BRANCH https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec_widgets.git; cd bec_widgets;
-    fi
-
-formatter:
-  stage: Formatter
-  needs: []
-  script:
-    - pip install -e ./[dev]
-    - isort --check --diff --line-length=100 --profile=black --multi-line=3 --trailing-comma ./
-    - black --check --diff --color --line-length=100 --skip-magic-trailing-comma ./
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PROJECT_PATH == "bec/bec_widgets"
-
-pylint:
-  stage: Formatter
-  needs: []
-  before_script:
-    - pip install pylint pylint-exit anybadge
-    - pip install -e .[dev]
-  script:
-    - mkdir ./pylint
-    - pylint ./bec_widgets --output-format=text --output=./pylint/pylint.log | tee ./pylint/pylint.log || pylint-exit $?
-    - PYLINT_SCORE=$(sed -n 's/^Your code has been rated at \([-0-9.]*\)\/.*/\1/p' ./pylint/pylint.log)
-    - anybadge --label=Pylint --file=pylint/pylint.svg --value=$PYLINT_SCORE 2=red 4=orange 8=yellow 10=green
-    - echo "Pylint score is $PYLINT_SCORE"
-  artifacts:
-    paths:
-      - ./pylint/
-    expire_in: 1 week
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PROJECT_PATH == "bec/bec_widgets"
-
-pylint-check:
-  stage: Formatter
-  needs: []
-  allow_failure: true
-  before_script:
-    - pip install pylint pylint-exit anybadge
-    - apt-get update
-    - apt-get install -y bc
-  script:
-    - git fetch origin $CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME
-    # Identify changed Python files
-    - if [ "$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE" == "merge_request_event" ]; then
-      TARGET_BRANCH_COMMIT_SHA=$(git rev-parse origin/$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME);
-      CHANGED_FILES=$(git diff --name-only $TARGET_BRANCH_COMMIT_SHA HEAD | grep '\.py$' || true);
-      else
-      CHANGED_FILES=$(git diff --name-only $CI_COMMIT_BEFORE_SHA $CI_COMMIT_SHA | grep '\.py$' || true);
-      fi
-    - if [ -z "$CHANGED_FILES" ]; then echo "No Python files changed."; exit 0; fi
-
-    - echo "Changed Python files:"
-      - $CHANGED_FILES
-    # Run pylint only on changed files
-    - mkdir ./pylint
-    - pylint $CHANGED_FILES --output-format=text | tee ./pylint/pylint_changed_files.log || pylint-exit $?
-    - PYLINT_SCORE=$(sed -n 's/^Your code has been rated at \([-0-9.]*\)\/.*/\1/p' ./pylint/pylint_changed_files.log)
-    - echo "Pylint score is $PYLINT_SCORE"
-
-    # Fail the job if the pylint score is below 9
-    - if [ "$(echo "$PYLINT_SCORE < 9" | bc)" -eq 1 ]; then echo "Your pylint score is below the acceptable threshold (9)."; exit 1; fi
-  artifacts:
-    paths:
-      - ./pylint/
-    expire_in: 1 week
-  rules:
-    - if: $CI_PROJECT_PATH == "bec/bec_widgets"
-
-tests:
-  stage: test
-  needs: []
-  variables:
-    QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
-  script:
-    - *clone-repos
-    - *install-os-packages
-    - *install-repos
-    - pip install -e .[dev,pyside6]
-    - coverage run --source=./bec_widgets -m pytest -v --junitxml=report.xml --maxfail=2 --random-order --full-trace ./tests/unit_tests
-    - coverage report
-    - coverage xml
-  coverage: '/(?i)total.*? (100(?:\.0+)?\%|[1-9]?\d(?:\.\d+)?\%)$/'
-  artifacts:
-    reports:
-      junit: report.xml
-      coverage_report:
-        coverage_format: cobertura
-        path: coverage.xml
-    paths:
-      - tests/reference_failures/
-    when: always
-
-generate-client-check:
-  stage: test
-  needs: []
-  variables:
-    QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
-  script:
-    - *clone-repos
-    - *install-os-packages
-    - *install-repos
-    - pip install -e .[dev,pyside6]
-    - bw-generate-cli --target bec_widgets
-    # if there are changes in the generated files, fail the job
-    - git diff --exit-code
-
-test-matrix:
-  parallel:
-    matrix:
-      - PYTHON_VERSION:
-          - "3.10"
-          - "3.11"
-          - "3.12"
-        QT_PCKG:
-          - "pyside6"
-
-  stage: AdditionalTests
-  needs: []
-  variables:
-    QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
-    PYTHON_VERSION: ""
-    QT_PCKG: ""
-  image: $CI_DEPENDENCY_PROXY_GROUP_IMAGE_PREFIX/python:$PYTHON_VERSION
-  script:
-    - *clone-repos
-    - *install-os-packages
-    - *install-repos
-    - pip install -e .[dev,$QT_PCKG]
-    - pytest -v --maxfail=2 --junitxml=report.xml --random-order ./tests/unit_tests
-
-end-2-end-conda:
-  stage: End2End
-  needs: []
-  image: continuumio/miniconda3:25.1.1-2
-  allow_failure: false
-  variables:
-    QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
-  script:
-    - *clone-repos
-    - *install-os-packages
-    - conda config --show-sources
-    - conda config --add channels conda-forge
-    - conda config --system --remove channels https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main
-    - conda config --system --remove channels https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r
-    - conda config --remove channels https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main
-    - conda config --remove channels https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r
-    - conda config --show-sources
-    - conda config --set channel_priority strict
-    - conda config --set always_yes yes --set changeps1 no
-    - conda create -q -n test-environment python=3.11
-    - conda init bash
-    - source ~/.bashrc
-    - conda activate test-environment
-
-    - cd ./bec
-    - source ./bin/install_bec_dev.sh -t
-    - cd ../
-    - pip install -e ./ophyd_devices
-
-    - pip install -e .[dev,pyside6]
-    - pytest -v --files-path ./ --start-servers --random-order  ./tests/end-2-end
-
-  artifacts:
-    when: on_failure
-    paths:
-      - ./logs/*.log
-    expire_in: 1 week
-
-  rules:
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "web"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "pipeline"'
-    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "parent_pipeline"'
-    - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "main"'
-    - if: '$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME == "production"'
-    - if: "$CI_MERGE_REQUEST_TARGET_BRANCH_NAME =~ /^pre_release.*$/"
-
-semver:
-  stage: Deploy
-  needs: ["tests"]
-  script:
-    - git config --global user.name "ci_update_bot"
-    - git config --global user.email "ci_update_bot@bec.ch"
-    - git checkout "$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME"
-    - git reset --hard origin/"$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME"
-
-    # delete all local tags
-    - git tag -l | xargs git tag -d
-    - git fetch --tags
-    - git tag
-
-    # build and publish package
-    - pip install python-semantic-release==9.* wheel build twine
-    - export GL_TOKEN=$CI_UPDATES
-    - semantic-release -vv version
-
-    # check if any artifacts were created
-    - if [ ! -d dist ]; then echo No release will be made; exit 0; fi
-    - twine upload dist/* -u __token__ -p $CI_PYPI_TOKEN --skip-existing
-    - semantic-release publish
-
-  allow_failure: false
-  rules:
-    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "main" && $CI_PROJECT_PATH == "bec/bec_widgets"'
-
-pages:
-  stage: Deploy
-  needs: ["semver"]
-  variables:
-    TARGET_BRANCH: $CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME
-  rules:
-    - if: "$CI_COMMIT_TAG != null"
-      variables:
-        TARGET_BRANCH: $CI_COMMIT_TAG
-    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME == "main" && $CI_PROJECT_PATH == "bec/bec_widgets"'
-  script:
-    - curl -X POST -d "branches=$CI_COMMIT_REF_NAME" -d "token=$RTD_TOKEN" https://readthedocs.org/api/v2/webhook/bec-widgets/253243/

.pylintrc

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ persistent=yes
 
 # Minimum Python version to use for version dependent checks. Will default to
 # the version used to run pylint.
-py-version=3.10
+py-version=3.11
 
 # When enabled, pylint would attempt to guess common misconfiguration and emit
 # user-friendly hints instead of false-positive error messages.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,929 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
 
+## v2.45.13 (2025-12-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **scan queue**: Adjustments for changes to the pydantic model of the scan queue
+  ([`01c6e09`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/01c6e092b9cd46ae056c43e8c6576f7a570cce80))
+
+
+## v2.45.12 (2025-12-16)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **heatmap**: Flush image if config changes during scan
+  ([`e0fd976`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e0fd97616d370722e2ebf12d0f93862ac35cb20d))
+
+- **heatmap**: Grid scan image correctly map to scan positions
+  ([`6af8a5c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6af8a5cbfe0f97327b31039033d3e6946388347c))
+
+- **heatmap**: More robust logic for fast and slow axis in grid scan
+  ([`d876ca7`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d876ca72bc50f967f0872eb777f2378a3db68ddf))
+
+
+## v2.45.11 (2025-12-15)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **waveform**: Support for AsyncMultiSignal
+  ([`cd11a6c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/cd11a6cce33f3c0642984ae6b2d159c7441e22c6))
+
+
+## v2.45.10 (2025-12-10)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **devices**: Minor fix to comply with new config helper in bec_lib
+  ([`04f1ff4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/04f1ff4fe7869215f010bf73f7271e063e21f2a2))
+
+
+## v2.45.9 (2025-12-09)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **rpc**: Add expiration to GUI registry state updates
+  ([`5fc96bd`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/5fc96bd299115c1849240bae3b37112aad8f5a54))
+
+
+## v2.45.8 (2025-12-08)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **notification_banner**: Backwards compatibility to push messages from Broker to Centre as dict
+  ([`440e778`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/440e778162ebb359fc33be26e3d22f99b4f9dcfe))
+
+- **notification_banner**: Better contrast in light mode
+  ([`5c90983`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/5c90983dd4c3ff96e5625ebda0054a1ac1256227))
+
+- **notification_banner**: Expired messages are hidden in notification center but still accessible
+  ([`4171de1`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/4171de1e454c4832513ca599c0fd0eaa365c7c32))
+
+- **notification_banner**: Formatted error messages fetched directly from BECMessage; do not repreat
+  notifications ids
+  ([`fdeb8fc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/fdeb8fcb0f223d64933f2791585756527c2f41ed))
+
+
+## v2.45.7 (2025-12-08)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Handle none in literal combobox
+  ([`ce8e5f0`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/ce8e5f0bec7643c9f826e06f987775de95abb91d))
+
+
+## v2.45.6 (2025-11-27)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **curve**: Update dap curves if data are set manually
+  ([`b72f0dc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b72f0dc6e8474a65c83f7e2c938fc6356b7b5f3a))
+
+
+## v2.45.5 (2025-11-26)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Remove ghost widgets in scan metadata
+  ([`0a80bd0`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/0a80bd0a9279cef1136a04c252c97e624ef2e779))
+
+
+## v2.45.4 (2025-11-24)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **main_window**: Removed hiding scan progressbar animation
+  ([`40cbf7f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/40cbf7fe4f834a1a65306e54b3882d2c0495f90a))
+
+- **web_links**: Fixed link to bec widget issues from gitlab to github
+  ([`7d5e702`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/7d5e702a11043ed96a8cb97fce6b2162681e8fab))
+
+
+## v2.45.3 (2025-11-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **fakeredis**: Add support for additional args
+  ([`c945567`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c9455672b58b9df101ccd0d80a169bdf6c707f34))
+
+
+## v2.45.2 (2025-11-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **test**: Removed duplicate test in crosshair
+  ([`d00d786`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d00d786399bca516b8030b9de881b674140bf439))
+
+### Build System
+
+- Pyqtgraph pin to 0.13.7
+  ([`a4c465d`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a4c465dcaf8cb03962dec1e360b7b832a9a5c780))
+
+
+## v2.45.1 (2025-11-14)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **waveform**: Async_readback can accept 0D data
+  ([`bb3cea7`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/bb3cea7fe800cd5375de5351a72e0944dc86861f))
+
+
+## v2.45.0 (2025-11-10)
+
+### Chores
+
+- Add third-party license notice
+  ([`617f2df`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/617f2df2af41db7692c42d0e10bce4968f36fb94))
+
+### Features
+
+- **waveform**: Dap curve can be attached to custom and history curves
+  ([`198684c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/198684c65d9565e8985156b426b8ef98dcc687cc))
+
+
+## v2.44.0 (2025-11-05)
+
+### Chores
+
+- Update stale issue and PR settings to 120 days
+  ([`e9d381a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e9d381a18a425727216f035ecccdad25f3189608))
+
+### Documentation
+
+- Readme rewritten
+  ([`44b1dbf`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/44b1dbf911f43dbde4286e2ea541c480f7b834be))
+
+### Features
+
+- **plot_base**: Invert x/y axis
+  ([`b10efc0`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b10efc0f400fe36f7cb0d5998214d50943934d7b))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **plot_base**: Consolidated user access for the PlotBase
+  ([`d5e6f09`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d5e6f095fe60223972235acd3ea68389aa7a1a14))
+
+
+## v2.43.0 (2025-10-30)
+
+### Features
+
+- Add pdf viewer widget
+  ([`13a9175`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/13a9175ba5f5e1e2404d7302404d9511872aafc7))
+
+
+## v2.42.1 (2025-10-28)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **rpc_server**: Raise window, even if minimized
+  ([`6bc1c3c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6bc1c3c5f1b3e57ab8e8aeabcc1c0a52a56bbf0a))
+
+
+## v2.42.0 (2025-10-21)
+
+### Features
+
+- **image_roi**: Enhance get_coordinates to include rectangle center and dimensions
+  ([`96664c3`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/96664c3923737df0b09aa8f35df388f9fd630b55))
+
+- **positioner_box_2d**: Added properties to enable/disable vertical and horizontal controls
+  ([`1e19092`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1e190923196f8b28c92dfdd83b9ce90873dd792d))
+
+
+## v2.41.1 (2025-10-15)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **dependencies**: Bec lib versions fixed
+  ([`3941050`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3941050883a791f800ab7178af2435ac14f837b6))
+
+
+## v2.41.0 (2025-10-15)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **image_roi**: Delete button added to compact version
+  ([`ef27de4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/ef27de40ceee8375d95a0f3a8e451b7d05d0ae2c))
+
+- **image_roi**: Rois can be removed with right click context menu
+  ([`37df95e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/37df95ead8d6a07a6c5794a97a486d9f380004cc))
+
+### Build System
+
+- **bec_lib**: Version bump to 3.69.3
+  ([`28ac9c5`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/28ac9c5cc369bdfa712c70c45591243631c65066))
+
+### Features
+
+- **image_roi_tree**: Compact mode added
+  ([`c87a6cf`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c87a6cfce9c36588b32f5279e63072bc2646c36f))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **serializer**: Upgrade to new serializer interface
+  ([`3d807ea`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3d807eaa63980fd2bb11661696c4d8548fffde8c))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **deviceconfig-form-update**: Add onFailure default to test
+  ([`1dd20d5`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1dd20d5986485f3bfe7ee02596ca23027ec4b756))
+
+
+## v2.40.0 (2025-10-08)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **curve_tree**: Fetching scan numbers directly from the bec client
+  ([`8111a4a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8111a4a21b7c1bd75316e9a1f1166b88ea52326d))
+
+- **curve_tree**: Safeguard fetching scan numbers from BEC client
+  ([`df8065e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/df8065ea4000b24235520756515aa18f812bb390))
+
+- **curve_tree**: Scans are always fetched by scan ids
+  ([`20a59af`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/20a59af648a9808057df2226a3a3c12893cc5059))
+
+- **waveform**: Cleanup of scan_history dialog if not closed manually before widget
+  ([`d681ba5`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d681ba538be9ccec45a1ebd412cbc33c8c7c0ae2))
+
+- **waveform**: Fetching scan number is not done from list but from .get_by_scan_number
+  ([`962ab77`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/962ab774e6afc73a321a5680e2862d9e41812888))
+
+- **waveform**: If scan id and scan number is provided, the scan is fetched from the scan id
+  ([`e59f27a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e59f27a22de490768c814c80642a7a91bebfef5b))
+
+- **waveform**: Safeguard added to the fetching history data
+  ([`540cfc3`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/540cfc37be65afcf721773564adc85de681a9d07))
+
+- **waveform**: Safeguard for _scan_history_closed
+  ([`2bf4896`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2bf489600e96bb5b47d89bed261614f62c970ca9))
+
+- **waveform**: Safeguard for if scan_item is a list
+  ([`7e88a00`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/7e88a002b6ca40fc85fde993282b8706f140d9aa))
+
+- **waveform**: Update x suffix label with x property change, do not wait for next update cycle
+  ([`d19001c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d19001c94e652c0c3e18f8d7903fd1ccff1111cd))
+
+- **waveform**: X_data checked with is scalar instead of len()
+  ([`db7dd4f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/db7dd4f8d4b1210e65c852f6193fc8cf0f4809a5))
+
+### Build System
+
+- **bec_lib**: Bec_lib dependency raised to 3.68
+  ([`2f3dc2c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2f3dc2ce6b7133fc5582bd6996a674590cf1002d))
+
+### Chores
+
+- Add dependabot config
+  ([`f25f865`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f25f86522f0a2e9dd24ca862ea8de89873951f83))
+
+### Features
+
+- **waveform**: New type of curve - history curve
+  ([`f083dff`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f083dff6128c6256443b49f54ab12b54f1b90d66))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **test_waveform**: Test waveform renamed
+  ([`2f798be`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2f798be7b0d43d304ccbd0e992a9d62f1aa1dd5f))
+
+- **waveform**: Separate method to fetch scan item from history
+  ([`4be7058`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/4be70580a60293204b135c6ea77978f1dcf8aa5f))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **conftest**: Suppress_message_box for error popups fixture autouse True
+  ([`0844a9e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/0844a9e11975a34780b1dc413f5145517d1a1a22))
+
+- **plotting_framework_e2e**: Fetching history curve
+  ([`a006f95`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a006f95f211ad115019967e365a6627d9678a1e3))
+
+- **waveform,curve_tree**: Test extended to cover history curve behaviour
+  ([`5a5d323`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/5a5d32312b08e1edeb69243daddfaaa9bac22273))
+
+
+## v2.39.1 (2025-10-07)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Explicitly pass the cached readout flag
+  ([`50696bc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/50696bce4ce14c61b4bdda8c6fb40967972e6b23))
+
+
+## v2.39.0 (2025-09-24)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **rpc**: Fix hide/show
+  ([`975404f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/975404f483ddae041d9f4d819f39c53cec191439))
+
+### Features
+
+- **rpc_base**: Windows can be raised to front from CLI
+  ([`565c0bd`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/565c0bd1e7f4684d8401b6a2827c35422b1125c4))
+
+
+## v2.38.4 (2025-09-23)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **image**: Add support for specifying preview signals through cli
+  ([`108ddae`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/108ddae6ca3501a57b499c7080a36cf41a653074))
+
+
+## v2.38.3 (2025-09-23)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **connector**: Only flush pending events
+  ([`475ca9f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/475ca9f2d81bcc2bb0c7b104c0712b13d6616c08))
+
+- **ringprogressbar**: Fix client signature
+  ([`65bc5f5`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/65bc5f5421077da70ef5068d51e36119e1055955))
+
+- **ringprogressbar**: Various fixes and improvements
+  ([`bbb5fc6`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/bbb5fc6ce17248a948c6fd4a7652d17d64a79d2a))
+
+### Chores
+
+- Deprecate 3.10, add 3.13
+  ([`3e33934`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3e339348dd3d0a3b12522312132fca139dc22835))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **ringprogressbar**: Extend e2e test
+  ([`b1b6c5e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b1b6c5e6a5dd81965baa5c742e9bdae8cdb4f09b))
+
+
+## v2.38.2 (2025-09-11)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **crosshair**: Ignore fetching data and markers from invisible items
+  ([`72b6f74`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/72b6f74252e1f36339945c549049b166cccf3561))
+
+- **plot_base**: Crosshair items are excluded from visible curves and from auto_range
+  ([`4dc4ede`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/4dc4ede1d251d081e5bcf3d37fcc784982c9258e))
+
+- **plot_base**: Visible items injected into plot item
+  ([`b703b37`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b703b37bbdbf97182b58ac4c69c1384fa78d0c12))
+
+- **waveform**: Changing curve visibility refresh markers
+  ([`556832f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/556832fd48bcb16b95df8cf91417d7045bbca2a3))
+
+### Continuous Integration
+
+- Fix stale issues job permissions; add workflow dispatch option
+  ([`fe67a4f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/fe67a4f325cbd41f13102e5698d86ed9e90b048e))
+
+### Documentation
+
+- Move to autoapi
+  ([`18ef35f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/18ef35f22a1b7496b13f833e63a4f3875e1497e3))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **crosshair**: Visibility test added with plotbase fixture
+  ([`3a2ec9f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3a2ec9f1b74c4bb5f239940b874576a877ce45c0))
+
+
+## v2.38.1 (2025-08-22)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Move thefuzz dependency to prod
+  ([`ad7cdc6`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/ad7cdc60dd6da6c5291f8b42932aacb12aa671a6))
+
+
+## v2.38.0 (2025-08-19)
+
+### Features
+
+- **device_manager**: Devicemanager view of config session
+  ([`6e05157`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6e05157abb61ec569eec10ff7295c28cb6a2ec45))
+
+
+## v2.37.0 (2025-08-19)
+
+### Features
+
+- Add explorer widget
+  ([`1bec9bd`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1bec9bd9b2238ed484e8d25e691326efe5730f6b))
+
+
+## v2.36.0 (2025-08-18)
+
+### Features
+
+- **scan control**: Add support for literals
+  ([`f2e5a85`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f2e5a85e616aa76d4b7ad3b3c76a24ba114ebdd1))
+
+
+## v2.35.0 (2025-08-14)
+
+### Build System
+
+- Pyside6 upgraded to 6.9.0
+  ([`44ba720`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/44ba7201b4914d63281bbed5e62d07e5c240595a))
+
+### Features
+
+- **property_manager**: Property manager widget
+  ([`926d722`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/926d7229559d189d382fe034b3afbc544e709efa))
+
+
+## v2.34.0 (2025-08-07)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Plugin widget import machinery
+  ([`9de5484`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/9de548446b9975c0f692757c66ffa07b9a849f15))
+
+- lazy import client so plugin widgets can import BECWidgets which use it indirectly - exclude
+  classes originating from bec_widgets core from plugin discovery - better errors
+
+- Use better source for plugin repo name
+  ([`f4af6eb`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f4af6ebc5fabf5b62ec87b580476d93d52690b08))
+
+### Features
+
+- Autoformat compiled file and add docs
+  ([`a923f12`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a923f12c974192909222fcada9eca97325866d74))
+
+- **plugin manager**: Add cli commands
+  ([`49ac7de`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/49ac7decf7d4cf461e6437f7285dc6967ee36d96))
+
+
+## v2.33.3 (2025-07-31)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **scan-history-view**: Account for async loading of scan history
+  ([`6df1d0c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6df1d0c31fb58c25b01e95e2247277ff2dd5d00e))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- Improve scan history performance on loading full scan lists
+  ([`a5adf3a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a5adf3a97d9ff05cef833445c1e6cd8f35a9a2fa))
+
+- Make ids a set, cleanup
+  ([`c1f62ad`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c1f62ad6cb00d9b392a8e0b6247f5260dfb37256))
+
+- Use client callback for scan history reload
+  ([`d22a331`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/d22a3317baeccfcc4e074dcef4e3912301d210c5))
+
+- **scan-history**: Add spinner for loading time of history
+  ([`50c84a7`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/50c84a766a2b021768fb2c0e8ee00b8e5f058ba7))
+
+- **scan-history**: Fix insert logic; cleanup
+  ([`946752a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/946752a4b05804c2f59cb5c21e4c1d11709a7d44))
+
+
+## v2.33.2 (2025-07-31)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Delete choice dialog on close
+  ([`23413cf`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/23413cffabe721e35bb5bb726ec34d74dc4ffe05))
+
+- Display short lists in SignalDisplay
+  ([`4bbb8fa`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/4bbb8fa519e8a90eebfcfa34e157493c9baa7880))
+
+- Don't warn on empty DeviceEdit init
+  ([`f18eeb9`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f18eeb9c5dccbd9348b6ee6d1477a8b7925d40fc))
+
+- Remove config, directly set device+signal
+  ([`32ce8e2`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/32ce8e2818ceacda87e48399e3ed4df0cabb2335))
+
+
+## v2.33.1 (2025-07-31)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **cli**: Ensure guis are not started twice
+  ([`cd81e7f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/cd81e7f9ba40be23f6b930d250f743276720b277))
+
+
+## v2.33.0 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **monaco**: Forward text changed signal
+  ([`a51ef04`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a51ef04cdf0ac8abdb7008d78b13c75b86ce9e06))
+
+### Build System
+
+- Update bec and qtmonaco min dependencies
+  ([`5f925ba`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/5f925ba4e3840219e4473d6346ece6746076f718))
+
+### Features
+
+- **monaco**: Add insert, delete and lsp header
+  ([`fc68d2c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/fc68d2cf2d6b161d8e3b9fc9daf6185d9197deba))
+
+- **monaco**: Add vim mode
+  ([`627b49b`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/627b49b33a30e45b2bfecb57f090eecfa31af09d))
+
+- **web console**: Add set_readonly method
+  ([`c2e1642`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c2e16429c91de7cc0e672ba36224e9031c1c4234))
+
+- **web console**: Add signal to indicate when the js backend is initialized
+  ([`2b9fe6c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2b9fe6c9590c8d18b7542307273176e118828681))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **web console**: Add tests for the web console
+  ([`40f4bce`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/40f4bce2854bcf333ce261229bd1703b80ced538))
+
+
+## v2.32.0 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Features
+
+- **dock area**: Add screenshot toolbar action
+  ([`fd5af01`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/fd5af0184279400ca6d8e5d2042f31be88d180f3))
+
+- **rpc_timeout**: Add decorator to override the rpc timeout
+  ([`8a214c8`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8a214c897899d0d94d5f262591a001c127d1b155))
+
+
+## v2.31.3 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **waveform**: Fallback mechanism for auto mode to use index if scan_report_devices are not
+  available
+  ([`6bf84ae`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6bf84aea2508ff01fe201c045ec055684da88593))
+
+
+## v2.31.2 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **bec widgets**: Always call cleanup of child widgets on cleanup
+  ([`bf86a03`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/bf86a030a08b325a08e031ff71d0716a2f2f122b))
+
+
+## v2.31.1 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **image_base**: Fix cleanup of uninitialized image layer
+  ([`c1bdc50`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c1bdc506e8099f178acdccbe0e1109deeeaaca38))
+
+
+## v2.31.0 (2025-07-29)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **bec_main_window**: Main window have unified status bar on macOS
+  ([`1d0490f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1d0490fff428d51f2cdb7d35a954a7cd62cbb65c))
+
+- **color_button_native**: Removed BECWidget inheritance
+  ([`e42ffd7`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e42ffd7c015a026d8e0967ac6b5866cbbea7bfed))
+
+- **decimal_spinbox**: Removed BECWidget inheritance
+  ([`2bd6d00`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2bd6d0089955172134afb4d39939890026ed43f0))
+
+- **launch_window**: Logic for custom main window apps adjusted
+  ([`e090ac4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e090ac49b72fa15ebf1c09164ff3c6de577cb939))
+
+- **plugin_utils**: Plugins can be created from QWidgets, no need for BECWidget base class for
+  plugin creation
+  ([`c2a918e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c2a918ef4b77ccd7fa43d1bc0b907d55a17a6c95))
+
+- **scan_progressbar**: Added kwargs to init
+  ([`7073e75`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/7073e75adf0eeb81f4f8e27eb99fc1b7a395c751))
+
+- **utils**: Plugin template createWidget do not initialise widgets by default
+  ([`728d4ef`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/728d4efd9646ffcecd7d1a2f70988a7d7c799124))
+
+- **widgets**: Added missing __init__ files
+  ([`6bbf512`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6bbf5126cf586063ed08d6cd489d6a9af28eac35))
+
+### Features
+
+- **bec_main_window**: Plugin and rpc created
+  ([`e4521d9`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e4521d95286bbc598c3c05f357d247d950477b71))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **widgets**: All plugins regenerated
+  ([`10cbb9a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/10cbb9a05cb96a791448caff4ffc4115b76146d7))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **launch_window**: Mainwindow raise test removed, features is supported now
+  ([`0854175`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/0854175acbda1d4de71358aec028539552a26448))
+
+
+## v2.30.6 (2025-07-26)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **waveform**: Autorange is applied with 150ms delay after curve is added
+  ([`61e5bde`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/61e5bde15f0e1ebe185ddbe81cd71ad581ae6009))
+
+
+## v2.30.5 (2025-07-25)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **positioner-box**: Test to fix handling of none integer values for precision
+  ([`b718b43`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b718b438bacff6eb6cd6015f1a67dcf75c05dce4))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **positioner-box**: Cleanup, accept float precision
+  ([`4d5df96`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/4d5df9608a9438b9f6d7508c323eb3772e53f37d))
+
+
+## v2.30.4 (2025-07-25)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **cli**: Remove stderr from cli output when not using rpc
+  ([`b4e0664`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b4e0664011682cae9966aa2632210a6b60e11714))
+
+
+## v2.30.3 (2025-07-23)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Cleanup subscriptions in device browser
+  ([`0d81bdd`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/0d81bdd4ddb4ec474a414b107cbc7fc865253934))
+
+
+## v2.30.2 (2025-07-23)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Factor out device name function and add test
+  ([`8eb8225`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8eb8225a7f56014d6093aa142b3a5d071837982e))
+
+- **rpc_base**: Rpc_call wrapper passes full_name for Devices indeed of name
+  ([`491d044`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/491d04467c8ce4e116d61e614895d1dcc6b4b201))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **test_plotting_framework_e2e**: Added test for waveform with passing device from dev container
+  ([`3fd09fc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3fd09fceef2ffa7e7c3eee20176304bafb00d0db))
+
+
+## v2.30.1 (2025-07-22)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Ignore KeyError in SignalLabel
+  ([`608590c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/608590c5421368d5bba0e4b0f5187d90cac323be))
+
+
+## v2.30.0 (2025-07-22)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **device_browser**: Display signal for signals
+  ([`3384ca0`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3384ca02bdb5a2798ad3339ecf3e2ba7c121e28f))
+
+- **device_signal_display**: Don't read omitted
+  ([`b9af36a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b9af36a4f1c91e910d4fc738b17b90e92287a7e3))
+
+- **signal_label**: Rewrite reading selection logic
+  ([`cd17a4a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/cd17a4aad905296eb0460ecc27e5920f5c2e8fe5))
+
+- **signal_label**: Show all signals by default
+  ([`22beadc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/22beadcad061b328c986414f30fef57b64bad693))
+
+- **signal_label**: Update signal from dialog correctly
+  ([`959cedb`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/959cedbbd5a123eef5f3370287bf6476c48caab9))
+
+- **signal_label**: Use read() instead of get() for init
+  ([`f0dc992`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f0dc99258607a5cc8af51686d01f7fd54ae2779f))
+
+### Chores
+
+- Update client.py
+  ([`fd1f994`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/fd1f9941e046b7ae1e247dde39c20bcbc37ac189))
+
+### Features
+
+- **signal_label**: Property to display array data or not
+  ([`ca4f975`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/ca4f97503bf06363e8e8a5d494a9857223da4104))
+
+
+## v2.29.0 (2025-07-22)
+
+### Features
+
+- **notification_banner**: Notification centre for alarms implemented into BECMainWindow
+  ([`cd9d22d`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/cd9d22d0b40d633af76cb1188b57feb7b6a5dbf2))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **notification_banner**: Becnotificationbroker done as singleton to sync all windows in the
+  session
+  ([`7cda2ed`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/7cda2ed846d3c27799f4f15f6c5c667631b1ca55))
+
+
+## v2.28.0 (2025-07-21)
+
+### Features
+
+- Disable editing while scan active
+  ([`1397655`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/13976557fbdb71a1161029521d81a655d25dd134))
+
+- Remove and readd device for config changes
+  ([`8489ef4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8489ef4a69d69b39648b1a9270012f14f95c6121))
+
+- Save and load config from devicebrowser
+  ([`7f0098f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/7f0098f1533d419cc75801c4d6cbea485c7bbf94))
+
+
+## v2.27.1 (2025-07-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **image_roi_tree**: Rois signals are disconnected when roi tree widget is closed
+  ([`00e3713`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/00e3713181916a432e4e9dec8a0d80205914cf77))
+
+
+## v2.27.0 (2025-07-17)
+
+### Features
+
+- Add monaco editor
+  ([`2373c7e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2373c7e996566a5b84c5a50e1c3e69de885713db))
+
+
+## v2.26.0 (2025-07-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **config label**: Reset offset when toggling the label action
+  ([`b8ae7b2`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/b8ae7b2e96071b6dc59dae7ffa72bbedc6aaea23))
+
+- **performance_bundle**: Fix performance bundle cleanup
+  ([`23674cc`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/23674ccf592a2caa0b57ae64ad1499c270b7d469))
+
+### Features
+
+- **device combobox**: Add option to insert an empty element
+  ([`debd347`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/debd347b64a3d2ca07ddcd5ef3a3394d1ffb67e3))
+
+- **heatmap**: Add interpolation and oversampling UI components
+  ([`1d8069e`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1d8069e391412e3096a3c1e7181398dd4e609650))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- **image_base**: Cleanup
+  ([`46a9178`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/46a91784d237137128965ad585e38085e931e5d4))
+
+### Testing
+
+- **history**: Add history message helper methods to conftest
+  ([`44cc061`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/44cc06137ccfbc087bdd3005156ff28effe05f23))
+
+
+## v2.25.0 (2025-07-17)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **bec-progressbar**: Add flag for theme update
+  ([`694a6c4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/694a6c49608b68e25dc0c76b58855b96f3f0ef0b))
+
+### Continuous Integration
+
+- **bec**: Add child_repos test for bec (unit and e2e tests)
+  ([`a9c8995`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a9c8995ac0b39f6bc327887f43f7d4d6e6e89db2))
+
+- **plugin**: Add plugin repository test to BW ci
+  ([`2b06e34`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/2b06e34ecff8c0a92a2b235f375e837729736b2a))
+
+### Features
+
+- **scan-history-browser**: Add history browser and history metadata viewer
+  ([`9caae4c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/9caae4cf40d3876175b827abb735ae227ae0bcea))
+
+### Refactoring
+
+- Add additional components for history metadata, device view and popup ui
+  ([`cf97cc1`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/cf97cc1805e16073c7849d1f9375e2ebd2176b70))
+
+- Cleanup, add compact popup view for scan_history_browser and update tests
+  ([`25b2737`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/25b2737aacfaa45f255afb6ebf467d5781165a8e))
+
+
+## v2.24.1 (2025-07-15)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Update signal label for device_edit changes
+  ([`bde5238`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/bde523806fdb6ab224b485f65b615f89dfe20b7b))
+
+
+## v2.24.0 (2025-07-15)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- Hide validity LED, show message as tooltip
+  ([`530797a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/530797a5568957dde9f47f417310f5c4d2493906))
+
+- Validate some config data
+  ([`c660e51`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/c660e5141f191a782c224ee1b83536793639eecb))
+
+- **device_browser**: Un-nest exception
+  ([`8b2d605`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8b2d6052e808f8b4063e5f45c40e4460524f044e))
+
+### Documentation
+
+- Docstring for config dialog
+  ([`1925e6a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/1925e6ac7f98875eb5980637ae3293e22b459e28))
+
+### Features
+
+- (#495) add devices through browser
+  ([`170be0c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/170be0c7d3bb1f6e5f2305958909ef68cd987fbd))
+
+- **#495**: Add validation against existing device names
+  ([`900153b`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/900153bc0b8cec7bad82e23b3772c66e84900a17))
+
+- **device_browser**: Connect update to item refresh
+  ([`130cc24`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/130cc24b351684358558ab81c0111f10f9abb11f))
+
+- **device_browser**: Device deletion from config
+  ([`8dc7265`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8dc72656ef46ae7be886f9da59beb768f5381b4f))
+
+
+## v2.23.0 (2025-07-11)
+
+### Features
+
+- **widget_finder**: Widget to fetch any other widget by class from currently running app
+  ([`a9fce17`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a9fce175b720ad85a5cefcab99d79fbcb971ff4a))
+
+- **widget_io**: Utility function to find widget in the app by class
+  ([`783d042`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/783d042e8c469774fc8407921462a99c96f6d408))
+
+
+## v2.22.2 (2025-07-11)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **plot_base**: Autorange takes into account only visible curves
+  ([`7643986`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/76439866c1fd09cb7d9d48dfccdc7b1943bfbc0f))
+
+
+## v2.22.1 (2025-07-11)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **crosshair**: Crosshair mouse_moved can be set manually
+  ([`63a8da6`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/63a8da680d263a50102aacf463ec6f6252562f9d))
+
+- **heatmap**: Fix pixel size calculation for arbitrary shapes
+  ([`6c49425`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/6c494258f82059a2472f43bb8287390ce1aba704))
+
+
+## v2.22.0 (2025-07-10)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **crosshair**: Add slot to reset mouse markers
+  ([`adaad4f`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/adaad4f4d5ebf775a337e23a944ba9eb289d01a0))
+
+- **crosshair**: Fix crosshair support for transformations
+  ([`3ba0fc4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/3ba0fc4b442e5926f27a13f09d628c30987f2cf8))
+
+- **image**: Reset crosshair on new scan
+  ([`e594de3`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/e594de3ca39970f91f5842693eeb1fac393eaa34))
+
+- **image item**: Fix processor for nans in images
+  ([`39c316d`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/39c316d6eadfdfbd483661b67720a7e224a46712))
+
+- **image_base**: Move cbar init to image base
+  ([`8929778`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8929778f073c40a9eabba7eda2415fc9af1072bb))
+
+- **image_processor**: Support for nans in nd arrays
+  ([`a6fc799`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/a6fc7993a3d22cfd086310c8e6dad3f9f3d1e9fe))
+
+### Features
+
+- Add heatmap widget
+  ([`0c76b0c`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/0c76b0c49598d1456aab266b483de327788028fd))
+
+- **image_item**: Add support for qtransform
+  ([`324a5bd`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/324a5bd3d9ed278495c6ba62453b02061900ae32))
+
+
+## v2.21.4 (2025-07-08)
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+- **image_roi_tree**: Changing color dialog from ColorButtonNative is open once
+  ([`244bca4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/244bca4e1ec7c00109534b9f503ff2eb125c1ffe))
+
+
 ## v2.21.3 (2025-07-03)
 
 ### Bug Fixes

README.md

@@ -1,81 +1,200 @@
-# BEC Widgets
+![banner_opti](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/44e483be-3f0d-4eb0-bd98-613157456b81)
 
+# BEC Widgets
 
 [![CI](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg)](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
 [![badge](https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/bec-widgets)](https://pypi.org/project/bec-widgets/)
 [![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/bec-project/bec_widgets)](./LICENSE)
 [![Code style: black](https://img.shields.io/badge/code%20style-black-000000.svg)](https://github.com/psf/black)
-[![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.10%20%7C%203.11%20%7C%203.12-blue?logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://www.python.org)
+[![Python](https://img.shields.io/badge/python-3.11%20%7C%203.12%20%7C%203.13-blue?logo=python&logoColor=white)](https://www.python.org)
 [![PySide6](https://img.shields.io/badge/PySide6-blue?logo=qt&logoColor=white)](https://doc.qt.io/qtforpython/)
 [![Conventional Commits](https://img.shields.io/badge/conventional%20commits-1.0.0-yellow?logo=conventionalcommits&logoColor=white)](https://conventionalcommits.org)
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/bec-project/bec_widgets/graph/badge.svg?token=0Z9IQRJKMY)](https://codecov.io/gh/bec-project/bec_widgets)
 
+A modular PySide6(Qt6) toolkit for [BEC (Beamline Experiment Control)](https://github.com/bec-project/bec). Create
+high-performance, dockable GUIs to move devices, run scans, and stream live or disk data—powered by Redis and a modular
+plugin system.
 
-**⚠️ Important Notice:**
+## Highlights
 
-🚨 **PyQt6 is no longer supported** due to incompatibilities with Qt Designer. Please use **PySide6** instead. 🚨
+- **No-code first** — For ~90% of day-to-day workflows, you can compose, operate, and save workspaces **without writing
+  a single line of code**. Just launch, drag widgets, and do your experiment.
+- **Flexible layout composition** — Build complex experiment GUIs in seconds with the `BECDockArea`: drag‑dock, tab,
+  split, and export profiles/workspaces for reuse.
+- **CLI / scripting** — Control your beamline experiment from the command line a robust RPC layer using
+  `BECIPythonClient`.
+- **Designer integration** — Use Qt Designer plugins to drop BEC widgets next to any Qt control, then launch the `.ui`
+  with the custom BEC loader for a zero‑glue workflow.
+- **Operational integration** — Widgets stay in sync with your running BEC/Redis as the single source of truth:
+  Subscribe to events from BEC and create dynamically updating UIs. BECWidgets also grants you easy access the
+  acquisition history.
+- **Extensible by design** — Build new widgets with minimal boilerplate using `BECWidget` and `BECDispatcher` for BEC data and
+  messaging. Use the generator command to scaffold RPC interfaces and Designer plugin stubs; beamline plugins can extend
+  or override behavior as needed.
 
-BEC Widgets is a GUI framework designed for interaction with [BEC (Beamline Experiment Control)](https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec).
+## Table of Contents
+
+- [Installation](#installation)
+- [Features](#features)
+    - [1. Dock area interface: build GUIs in seconds](#1-dock-area-interface-build-guis-in-seconds)
+    - [2. Qt Designer plugins + BEC Launcher (no glue)](#2-qt-designer-plugins--bec-launcher-no-glue)
+    - [3. Robust RPC from CLI & remote scripting](#3-robust-rpc-from-cli--remote-scripting)
+    - [4. Rapid development (extensible by design)](#4-rapid-development-extensible-by-design)
+- [Widget Library](#widget-library)
+- [Documentation](#documentation)
+- [License](#license)
 
 ## Installation
 
+Use any of the following setups:
+
+### Stable release
+
 Use the package manager [pip](https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/) to install BEC Widgets:
 
 ```bash
-pip install bec_widgets[pyside6]
+pip install bec_widgets
 ```
 
+### From source (recommended for development)
+
 For development purposes, you can clone the repository and install the package locally in editable mode:
 
 ```bash
-git clone https://gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec-widgets
+git clone https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets.git
 cd bec_widgets
-pip install -e .[dev,pyside6]
+pip install -e .[dev]
 ```
 
-BEC Widgets now **only supports PySide6**. Users must manually install PySide6 as no default Qt distribution is
+## Features
-specified.
+
+### 1. Dock area interface: build GUIs in seconds
+
+The fastest way to explore BEC Widgets. Launch the BEC IPython client with simply `bec` in terminal and the **BECDockArea** opens as the default UI:
+drag widgets, dock/tab/split panes, and explore. Everything is live—widgets auto-connect to BEC/Redis, so you can
+operate immediately and refine later with RPC or Designer if needed.
+
+![dock_area_example](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/219a2806-19a8-4a07-9734-b7b554850833)
+
+### 2. Qt Designer plugins + BEC Launcher (no glue)
+
+All BEC Widgets ship as **Qt Designer plugins** with our custom Qt Designer launchable by `bec-designer`. Design your UI
+visually in Designer, save a `.ui`, then launch it with
+the **BEC Launcher**—no glue code. Widgets auto‑connect to BEC/Redis on startup, so your UI is operational immediately.
+
+![designer_opti](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/fed4843c-1cce-438a-b41f-6636fa5e1545)
+
+### 3. Robust RPC from CLI & remote scripting
+
+Operate and automate BEC Widgets directly from the `BECIPythonClient`. Create or attach to GUIs, address any sub-widget
+via a simple hierarchical API with tab-completion, and script event-driven behavior that reacts to BEC (scan lifecycle,
+active devices, topics)—so your UI can be heavily automated.
+
+- Create & control GUIs: launch, load profiles, open/close panels, tweak properties—all from the shell.
+- Hierarchical addressing: navigate widgets and sub-widgets with discoverable paths and tab-completion.
+- Event scripting: subscribe to BEC events (e.g., scan start/finish, device readiness, topic updates) and trigger
+  actions,switch profiles, open diagnostic views, or start specific scans.
+- Remote & headless: run automation on analysis nodes or from notebooks without a local GUI process.
+- Plays with no-code: Use the Dock Area / BEC Designer to set up the layout and add automation with RPC when needed.
+
+![rpc_opti](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/666be7fb-9a0d-44c2-8d44-2f9d1dae4497)
+
+### 4. Rapid development (extensible by design)
+
+Build new widgets fast: Inherit from `BECWidget`, list your RPC methods in `USER_ACCESS`, and use `bec_dispatcher` to
+bind endpoints. Then run `bw-generate-cli --target <your-plugin-repo>`. This generates the RPC CLI bindings and a Qt
+Designer plugin that are immediately usable with your BEC setup. Widgets
+come online with live BEC/Redis wiring out of the box. 
+
+<details>
+<summary> View code: Example Widget </summary>
+
+```python
+    from typing import Literal
+
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget, QLabel, QPushButton, QHBoxLayout, QVBoxLayout, QApplication
+from qtpy.QtCore import Slot
+
+from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
+from bec_widgets import BECWidget, SafeSlot
+
+
+class SimpleMotorWidget(BECWidget, QWidget):
+    USER_ACCESS = ["move"]
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, motor_name="samx", step=5.0, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(parent=parent, **kwargs)
+        self.motor_name = motor_name
+        self.step = float(step)
+
+        self.get_bec_shortcuts()
+
+        self.value_label = QLabel(f"{self.motor_name}: —")
+        self.btn_left = QPushButton("◀︎ -5")
+        self.btn_right = QPushButton("+5 ▶︎")
+
+        row = QHBoxLayout()
+        row.addWidget(self.btn_left)
+        row.addWidget(self.btn_right)
+
+        col = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        col.addWidget(self.value_label)
+        col.addLayout(row)
+
+        self.btn_left.clicked.connect(lambda: self.move("left", self.step))
+        self.btn_right.clicked.connect(lambda: self.move("right", self.step))
+
+        self.bec_dispatcher.connect_slot(self.on_readback, MessageEndpoints.device_readback(self.motor_name))
+
+    @SafeSlot(dict, dict)
+    def on_readback(self, data: dict, meta: dict):
+        current_value = data.get("signals").get(self.motor_name).get('value')
+        self.value_label.setText(f"{self.motor_name}: {current_value:.3f}")
+
+    @Slot(str, float)
+    def move(self, direction: Literal["left", "right"] = "left", step: float = 5.0):
+        if direction == "left":
+            self.dev[self.motor_name].move(-step, relative=True)
+        else:
+            self.dev[self.motor_name].move(step, relative=True)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import sys
+
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    w = SimpleMotorWidget(motor_name="samx", step=5.0)
+    w.setWindowTitle("MotorJogWidget")
+    w.resize(280, 90)
+    w.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())
+```
+
+</details>
+
+## Widget Library
+
+A large and growing catalog—plug, configure, run:
+
+### Plotting
+
+Waveform, MultiWaveform, and Image/Heatmap widgets deliver responsive plots with crosshairs and ROIs for live and
+history data.
+
+<img width="1108" height="838" alt="plotting_hr" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/f50462a5-178d-44d4-aee5-d378c74b107b" />
+
+### Scan orchestration and motion control.
+
+Start and stop scans, track progress, reuse parameter presets, and browse history from a focused control surface.
+Positioner boxes and tweak controls handle precise moves, homing, and calibration for day‑to‑day alignment.
+
+<img width="1496" height="1388" alt="control" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d4fb2e2e-04f9-4621-8087-790680797620" />
 
 ## Documentation
 
-Documentation of BEC Widgets can be found [here](https://bec-widgets.readthedocs.io/en/latest/). The documentation of the BEC can be found [here](https://bec.readthedocs.io/en/latest/).
+Documentation of BEC Widgets can be found [here](https://bec-widgets.readthedocs.io/en/latest/). The documentation of
-
+the BEC can be found [here](https://bec.readthedocs.io/en/latest/).
-## Contributing
-
-All commits should use the Angular commit scheme:
-
-> #### <a name="commit-header"></a>Angular Commit Message Header
->
-> ```
-> <type>(<scope>): <short summary>
->   │       │             │
->   │       │             └─⫸ Summary in present tense. Not capitalized. No period at the end.
->   │       │
->   │       └─⫸ Commit Scope: animations|bazel|benchpress|common|compiler|compiler-cli|core|
->   │                          elements|forms|http|language-service|localize|platform-browser|
->   │                          platform-browser-dynamic|platform-server|router|service-worker|
->   │                          upgrade|zone.js|packaging|changelog|docs-infra|migrations|ngcc|ve|
->   │                          devtools
->   │
->   └─⫸ Commit Type: build|ci|docs|feat|fix|perf|refactor|test
-> ```
->
-> The `<type>` and `<summary>` fields are mandatory, the `(<scope>)` field is optional.
-
-> ##### Type
->
-> Must be one of the following:
->
-> * **build**: Changes that affect the build system or external dependencies (example scopes: gulp, broccoli, npm)
-> * **ci**: Changes to our CI configuration files and scripts (examples: CircleCi, SauceLabs)
-> * **docs**: Documentation only changes
-> * **feat**: A new feature
-> * **fix**: A bug fix
-> * **perf**: A code change that improves performance
-> * **refactor**: A code change that neither fixes a bug nor adds a feature
-> * **test**: Adding missing tests or correcting existing tests
 
 ## License
 
 [BSD-3-Clause](https://choosealicense.com/licenses/bsd-3-clause/)
-

THIRD-PARTY-LICENCES

@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+While BEC Widgets is shipped with BSD-3-Clause license, it includes third-party components with different licenses. Below is a list of these components along with their respective licenses.
+
+Core Dependencies:
+- BEC: BSD-3-Clause License, see [here](https://github.com/bec-project/bec/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- black: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/psf/black/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- isort: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/PyCQA/isort/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pydantic: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pydantic/pydantic/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pyqtgraph: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pyqtgraph/pyqtgraph/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)
+- PySide6: LGPLv3 License, see [here](https://doc.qt.io/qtforpython/licenses.html)
+- qtconsole: BSD-3-Clause License, see [here](https://github.com/spyder-ide/qtconsole/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- qtpy: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/spyder-ide/qtpy/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)
+- qtmonaco: BSD-3-Clause License, see [here](https://github.com/bec-project/qtmonaco/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- thefuzz: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/seatgeek/thefuzz/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)
+
+
+Additional Dependencies (Testing/Development):
+- coverage: Apache License 2.0, see [here](https://github.com/coveragepy/coveragepy/blob/main/LICENSE.txt)
+- fakeredis: BSD-3-Clause License, see [here](https://github.com/cunla/fakeredis-py/blob/master/LICENSE)
+- pytest-bec-e2e: BSD-3-Clause License, see [here](https://github.com/bec-project/bec/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pytest-qt: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-qt/blob/master/LICENSE)
+- pytest-random-order: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-random-order/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pytest-timeout: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-timeout/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pytest-xvfb: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/The-Compiler/pytest-xvfb/blob/master/LICENSE)
+- pytest: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- pytest-cov: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pytest-dev/pytest-cov/blob/main/LICENSE)
+- watchdog: Apache License 2.0, see [here](https://github.com/gorakhargosh/watchdog/blob/master/LICENSE)
+- pre_commit: MIT License, see [here](https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit/blob/main/LICENSE)
+

bec_widgets/applications/launch_window.py

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from bec_widgets.utils.toolbars.toolbar import ModularToolBar
 from bec_widgets.utils.ui_loader import UILoader
 from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.auto_update.auto_updates import AutoUpdates
 from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock.dock_area import BECDockArea
-from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window import BECMainWindow, UILaunchWindow
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window import BECMainWindow, BECMainWindowNoRPC
 from bec_widgets.widgets.utility.visual.dark_mode_button.dark_mode_button import DarkModeButton
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
@@ -395,20 +395,24 @@ class LaunchWindow(BECMainWindow):
             if isinstance(result_widget, BECMainWindow):
                 result_widget.show()
             else:
-                window = BECMainWindow()
+                window = BECMainWindowNoRPC()
                 window.setCentralWidget(result_widget)
                 window.setWindowTitle(f"BEC - {result_widget.objectName()}")
                 window.show()
             return result_widget
 
     def _launch_custom_ui_file(self, ui_file: str | None) -> BECMainWindow:
-        # Load the custom UI file
+        """
+        Load a custom .ui file. If the top-level widget is a MainWindow subclass,
+        instantiate it directly; otherwise, embed it in a UILaunchWindow.
+        """
         if ui_file is None:
             raise ValueError("UI file must be provided for custom UI file launch.")
         filename = os.path.basename(ui_file).split(".")[0]
 
         WidgetContainerUtils.raise_for_invalid_name(filename)
 
+        # Parse the UI to detect top-level widget class
         tree = ET.parse(ui_file)
         root = tree.getroot()
         # Check if the top-level widget is a QMainWindow
@@ -416,19 +420,22 @@ class LaunchWindow(BECMainWindow):
         if widget is None:
             raise ValueError("No widget found in the UI file.")
 
-        if widget.attrib.get("class") == "QMainWindow":
+        # Load the UI into a widget
-            raise ValueError(
+        loader = UILoader(None)
-                "Loading a QMainWindow from a UI file is currently not supported. "
+        loaded = loader.loader(ui_file)
-                "If you need this, please contact the BEC team or create a ticket on gitlab.psi.ch/bec/bec_widgets."
+
-            )
+        # Display the UI in a BECMainWindow
+        if isinstance(loaded, BECMainWindow):
+            window = loaded
+            window.object_name = filename
+        else:
+            window = BECMainWindow(object_name=filename)
+            window.setCentralWidget(loaded)
 
-        window = UILaunchWindow(object_name=filename)
         QApplication.processEvents()
-        result_widget = UILoader(window).loader(ui_file)
+        window.setWindowTitle(f"BEC - {filename}")
-        window.setCentralWidget(result_widget)
-        window.setWindowTitle(f"BEC - {window.object_name}")
         window.show()
-        logger.info(f"Object name of new instance: {result_widget.objectName()}, {window.gui_id}")
+        logger.info(f"Launched custom UI: {filename}, type: {type(window).__name__}")
         return window
 
     def _launch_auto_update(self, auto_update: str) -> AutoUpdates:
@@ -451,7 +458,7 @@ class LaunchWindow(BECMainWindow):
 
         WidgetContainerUtils.raise_for_invalid_name(name)
 
-        window = BECMainWindow()
+        window = BECMainWindowNoRPC()
 
         widget_instance = widget(root_widget=True, object_name=name)
         assert isinstance(widget_instance, QWidget)

bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py

@@ -14,18 +14,21 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Literal, TypeAlias, cast
 
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
-from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import_from
+from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import, lazy_import_from
 from rich.console import Console
 from rich.table import Table
 
-import bec_widgets.cli.client as client
 from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, RPCReference
 from bec_widgets.utils.serialization import register_serializer_extension
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from bec_lib.messages import GUIRegistryStateMessage
+
+    import bec_widgets.cli.client as client
 else:
     GUIRegistryStateMessage = lazy_import_from("bec_lib.messages", "GUIRegistryStateMessage")
+    client = lazy_import("bec_widgets.cli.client")
+
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
@@ -51,7 +54,7 @@ def _filter_output(output: str) -> str:
 
 
 def _get_output(process, logger) -> None:
-    log_func = {process.stdout: logger.debug, process.stderr: logger.error}
+    log_func = {process.stdout: logger.debug, process.stderr: logger.info}
     stream_buffer = {process.stdout: [], process.stderr: []}
     try:
         os.set_blocking(process.stdout.fileno(), False)
@@ -151,8 +154,10 @@ def wait_for_server(client: BECGuiClient):
             raise RuntimeError("GUI is not alive")
     try:
         if client._gui_started_event.wait(timeout=timeout):
-            client._gui_started_timer.cancel()
+            if client._gui_started_timer is not None:
-            client._gui_started_timer.join()
+                # cancel the timer, we are done
+                client._gui_started_timer.cancel()
+                client._gui_started_timer.join()
         else:
             raise TimeoutError("Could not connect to GUI server")
     finally:
@@ -261,18 +266,37 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
 
     def start(self, wait: bool = False) -> None:
         """Start the GUI server."""
+        logger.warning("Using <gui>.start() is deprecated, use <gui>.show() instead.")
         return self._start(wait=wait)
 
-    def show(self):
+    def show(self, wait=True) -> None:
-        """Show the GUI window."""
+        """
+        Show the GUI window.
+        If the GUI server is not running, it will be started.
+
+        Args:
+            wait(bool): Whether to wait for the server to start. Defaults to True.
+        """
         if self._check_if_server_is_alive():
             return self._show_all()
-        return self.start(wait=True)
+        return self._start(wait=wait)
 
     def hide(self):
         """Hide the GUI window."""
         return self._hide_all()
 
+    def raise_window(self, wait: bool = True) -> None:
+        """
+        Bring GUI windows to the front.
+        If the GUI server is not running, it will be started.
+
+        Args:
+            wait(bool): Whether to wait for the server to start. Defaults to True.
+        """
+        if self._check_if_server_is_alive():
+            return self._raise_all()
+        return self._start(wait=wait)
+
     def new(
         self,
         name: str | None = None,
@@ -382,6 +406,9 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
         """
         Start the GUI server, and execute callback when it is launched
         """
+        if self._gui_is_alive():
+            self._gui_started_event.set()
+            return
         if self._process is None or self._process.poll() is not None:
             logger.success("GUI starting...")
             self._startup_timeout = 5
@@ -428,8 +455,8 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
         self._update_dynamic_namespace(self._server_registry)
 
     def _do_show_all(self):
-        rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:launcher", parent=self)
+        if self.launcher and len(self._top_level) == 0:
-        rpc_client._run_rpc("show")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+            self.launcher._run_rpc("show")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
         for window in self._top_level.values():
             window.show()
 
@@ -439,11 +466,24 @@ class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
 
     def _hide_all(self):
         with wait_for_server(self):
-            rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:launcher", parent=self)
+            if self._killed:
-            rpc_client._run_rpc("hide")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+                return
-            if not self._killed:
+            self.launcher._run_rpc("hide")
-                for window in self._top_level.values():
+            for window in self._top_level.values():
-                    window.hide()
+                window.hide()
+
+    def _do_raise_all(self):
+        """Bring GUI windows to the front."""
+        if self.launcher and len(self._top_level) == 0:
+            self.launcher._run_rpc("raise")  # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        for window in self._top_level.values():
+            window._run_rpc("raise")  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+
+    def _raise_all(self):
+        with wait_for_server(self):
+            if self._killed:
+                return
+            return self._do_raise_all()
 
     def _update_dynamic_namespace(self, server_registry: dict):
         """
@@ -524,7 +564,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
         # Test the client_utils.py module
         gui = BECGuiClient()
 
-        gui.start(wait=True)
+        gui.show(wait=True)
         gui.new().new(widget="Waveform")
         time.sleep(10)
     finally:

bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 {base_imports}
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 
-from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call, rpc_timeout
 {"from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_all_plugin_widgets, get_plugin_client_module" if self._base else ""}
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
@@ -180,7 +180,10 @@ class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
                     f"Method {method} not found in class {cls.__name__}. "
                     f"Please check the USER_ACCESS list."
                 )
-
+            if hasattr(obj, "__rpc_timeout__"):
+                timeout = {"value": obj.__rpc_timeout__}
+            else:
+                timeout = {}
             if isinstance(obj, (property, QtProperty)):
                 # for the cli, we can map qt properties to regular properties
                 if is_property_setter:
@@ -205,14 +208,26 @@ class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
     def {method}{str(sig_overload)}: ...
     """
 
-                self.content += """
+                self.content += f"""
-    @rpc_call"""
+    {self._rpc_call(timeout)}"""
             self.content += f"""
     def {method}{str(sig)}:
         \"\"\"
 {doc}
         \"\"\""""
 
+    def _rpc_call(self, timeout_info: dict[str, float | None]):
+        """
+        Decorator to mark a method as an RPC call.
+        This is used to generate the client code for the method.
+        """
+        if not timeout_info:
+            return "@rpc_call"
+        timeout = timeout_info.get("value", None)
+        return f"""
+    @rpc_timeout({timeout})
+    @rpc_call"""
+
     def write(self, file_name: str):
         """
         Write the content to a file, automatically formatted with black.

bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from functools import wraps
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 
 from bec_lib.client import BECClient
+from bec_lib.device import DeviceBaseWithConfig
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
 from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import, lazy_import_from
 
@@ -24,6 +25,43 @@ else:
 # pylint: disable=protected-access
 
 
+def _name_arg(arg):
+    if isinstance(arg, DeviceBaseWithConfig):
+        # if dev.<device> is passed to GUI, it passes full_name
+        if hasattr(arg, "full_name"):
+            return arg.full_name
+    elif hasattr(arg, "name"):
+        return arg.name
+    return arg
+
+
+def _transform_args_kwargs(args, kwargs) -> tuple[tuple, dict]:
+    return tuple(_name_arg(arg) for arg in args), {k: _name_arg(v) for k, v in kwargs.items()}
+
+
+def rpc_timeout(timeout):
+    """
+    A decorator to set a timeout for an RPC call.
+
+    Args:
+        timeout: The timeout in seconds.
+
+    Returns:
+        The decorated function.
+    """
+
+    def decorator(func):
+        @wraps(func)
+        def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            if "timeout" not in kwargs:
+                kwargs["timeout"] = timeout
+            return func(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        return wrapper
+
+    return decorator
+
+
 def rpc_call(func):
     """
     A decorator for calling a function on the server.
@@ -47,15 +85,7 @@ def rpc_call(func):
                 return None  # func(*args, **kwargs)
             caller_frame = caller_frame.f_back
 
-        out = []
+        args, kwargs = _transform_args_kwargs(args, kwargs)
-        for arg in args:
-            if hasattr(arg, "name"):
-                arg = arg.name
-            out.append(arg)
-        args = tuple(out)
-        for key, val in kwargs.items():
-            if hasattr(val, "name"):
-                kwargs[key] = val.name
         if not self._root._gui_is_alive():
             raise RuntimeError("GUI is not alive")
         return self._run_rpc(func.__name__, *args, **kwargs)
@@ -172,6 +202,11 @@ class RPCBase:
             parent = parent._parent
         return parent  # type: ignore
 
+    def raise_window(self):
+        """Bring this widget (or its container) to the front."""
+        # Use explicit call to ensure action name is 'raise' (not 'raise_')
+        return self._run_rpc("raise")
+
     def _run_rpc(
         self,
         method,
@@ -195,6 +230,12 @@ class RPCBase:
         Returns:
             The result of the RPC call.
         """
+        if method in ["show", "hide", "raise"] and gui_id is None:
+            obj = self._root._server_registry.get(self._gui_id)
+            if obj is None:
+                raise ValueError(f"Widget {self._gui_id} not found.")
+            gui_id = obj.get("container_proxy")  # type: ignore
+
         request_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
         rpc_msg = messages.GUIInstructionMessage(
             action=method,

bec_widgets/cli/server.py

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from contextlib import redirect_stderr, redirect_stdout
 
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_lib.service_config import ServiceConfig
+from qtmonaco.pylsp_provider import pylsp_server
 from qtpy.QtCore import QSize, Qt
 from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
@@ -142,6 +143,8 @@ class GUIServer:
         """
         Shutdown the GUI server.
         """
+        if pylsp_server.is_running():
+            pylsp_server.stop()
         if self.dispatcher:
             self.dispatcher.stop_cli_server()
             self.dispatcher.disconnect_all()

bec_widgets/examples/jupyter_console/jupyter_console_window.py

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
                     # "btn6": self.btn6,
                     # "pb": self.pb,
                     # "pi": self.pi,
-                    # "wf": self.wf,
+                    "wf": self.wf,
                     # "scatter": self.scatter,
                     # "scatter_mi": self.scatter,
                     # "mwf": self.mwf,
@@ -105,12 +105,11 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
         # self.btn5 = QPushButton("Button 5")
         # self.btn6 = QPushButton("Button 6")
         #
-        # fifth_tab = QWidget()
+        fifth_tab = QWidget()
-        # fifth_tab_layout = QVBoxLayout(fifth_tab)
+        fifth_tab_layout = QVBoxLayout(fifth_tab)
-        # self.wf = Waveform()
+        self.wf = Waveform()
-        # fifth_tab_layout.addWidget(self.wf)
+        fifth_tab_layout.addWidget(self.wf)
-        # tab_widget.addTab(fifth_tab, "Waveform Next Gen")
+        tab_widget.addTab(fifth_tab, "Waveform Next Gen")
-        # tab_widget.setCurrentIndex(4)
         #
         sixth_tab = QWidget()
         sixth_tab_layout = QVBoxLayout(sixth_tab)

bec_widgets/tests/utils.py

@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ class FakePositioner(BECPositioner):
     def set_read_value(self, value):
         self.read_value = value
 
-    def read(self):
+    def read(self, cached=False):
         return self.signals
 
     def set_limits(self, limits):

bec_widgets/utils/bec_connector.py

@@ -161,8 +161,6 @@ class BECConnector:
 
         # 2) Enforce unique objectName among siblings with the same BECConnector parent
         self.setParent(parent)
-        if isinstance(self.parent(), QObject) and hasattr(self, "cleanup"):
-            self.parent().destroyed.connect(self._run_cleanup_on_deleted_parent)
 
         # Error popups
         self.error_utility = ErrorPopupUtility()
@@ -186,24 +184,6 @@ class BECConnector:
         except:
             logger.error(f"Error getting parent_id for {self.__class__.__name__}")
 
-    def _run_cleanup_on_deleted_parent(self) -> None:
-        """
-        Run cleanup on the deleted parent.
-        This method is called when the parent is deleted.
-        """
-        if not hasattr(self, "cleanup"):
-            return
-        try:
-            if not self._destroyed:
-                self.cleanup()
-                self._destroyed = True
-        except Exception:
-            content = traceback.format_exc()
-            logger.info(
-                "Failed to run cleanup on deleted parent. "
-                f"This is not necessarily an error as the parent may be deleted before the child and includes already a cleanup. The following exception was raised:\n{content}"
-            )
-
     def change_object_name(self, name: str) -> None:
         """
         Change the object name of the widget. Unregister old name and register the new one.
@@ -233,7 +213,7 @@ class BECConnector:
           - If there's a nearest BECConnector parent, only compare with children of that parent.
           - If parent is None (i.e., top-level object), compare with all other top-level BECConnectors.
         """
-        QApplication.processEvents()
+        QApplication.sendPostedEvents()
         parent_bec = WidgetHierarchy._get_becwidget_ancestor(self)
 
         if parent_bec:

bec_widgets/utils/bec_plugin_helper.py

@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@ def _loaded_submodules_from_specs(
         try:
             submodule.__loader__.exec_module(submodule)
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(
+            exception_text = "".join(traceback.format_exception(e))
-                f"Error loading plugin {submodule}: \n{''.join(traceback.format_exception(e))}"
+            if "(most likely due to a circular import)" in exception_text:
-            )
+                logger.warning(f"Circular import encountered while loading {submodule}")
+            else:
+                logger.error(f"Error loading plugin {submodule}: \n{exception_text}")
         yield submodule
 
 
@@ -59,7 +61,8 @@ def _get_widgets_from_module(module: ModuleType) -> BECClassContainer:
         module,
         predicate=lambda item: inspect.isclass(item)
         and issubclass(item, BECWidget)
-        and item is not BECWidget,
+        and item is not BECWidget
+        and not item.__module__.startswith("bec_widgets"),
     )
     return BECClassContainer(
         BECClassInfo(name=k, module=module.__name__, file=module.__loader__.get_filename(), obj=v)

bec_widgets/utils/bec_plugin_manager/create/widget.py

@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import traceback
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Annotated
+
+import copier
+import typer
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from bec_lib.plugin_helper import plugin_repo_path
+from bec_lib.utils.plugin_manager._constants import ANSWER_KEYS
+from bec_lib.utils.plugin_manager._util import existing_data, git_stage_files, make_commit
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_manager.edit_ui import open_and_watch_ui_editor
+
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+_app = typer.Typer(rich_markup_mode="rich")
+
+
+def _commit_added_widget(repo: Path, name: str):
+    git_stage_files(repo, [".copier-answers.yml"])
+    git_stage_files(repo / repo.name / "bec_widgets" / "widgets" / name, [])
+    make_commit(repo, f"plugin-manager added new widget: {name}")
+    logger.info(f"Committing new widget {name}")
+
+
+def _widget_exists(widget_list: list[dict[str, str | bool]], name: str):
+    return name in [w["name"] for w in widget_list]
+
+
+def _editor_cb(ctx: typer.Context, value: bool):
+    if value and not ctx.params["use_ui"]:
+        raise typer.BadParameter("Can only open the editor if creating a .ui file!")
+    return value
+
+
+_bold_blue = "\033[34m\033[1m"
+_off = "\033[0m"
+_USE_UI_MSG = "Generate a .ui file for use in bec-designer."
+_OPEN_DESIGNER_MSG = f"""This app can watch for changes and recompile them to a python file imported to the widget whenever it is saved.
+To open this editor independently, you can use {_bold_blue}bec-plugin-manager edit-ui [widget_name]{_off}.
+Open the created widget .ui file in bec-designer now?"""
+
+
+@_app.command()
+def widget(
+    name: Annotated[str, typer.Argument(help="Enter a name for your widget in snake_case")],
+    use_ui: Annotated[bool, typer.Option(prompt=_USE_UI_MSG, help=_USE_UI_MSG)] = True,
+    open_editor: Annotated[
+        bool, typer.Option(prompt=_OPEN_DESIGNER_MSG, help=_OPEN_DESIGNER_MSG, callback=_editor_cb)
+    ] = True,
+):
+    """Create a new widget plugin with the given name.
+
+If [bold white]use_ui[/bold white] is set, a bec-designer .ui file will also be created. If \
+[bold white]open_editor[/bold white] is additionally set, the .ui file will be opened in \
+bec-designer and the compiled python version will be updated when changes are made and saved."""
+    if (formatted_name := name.lower().replace("-", "_")) != name:
+        logger.warning(f"Adjusting widget name from {name} to {formatted_name}")
+    if not formatted_name.isidentifier():
+        logger.error(
+            f"{name} is not a valid name for a widget (even after converting to {formatted_name}) - please enter something in snake_case"
+        )
+        exit(-1)
+    logger.info(f"Adding new widget {formatted_name} to the template...")
+    try:
+        repo = Path(plugin_repo_path())
+        plugin_data = existing_data(repo, [ANSWER_KEYS.VERSION, ANSWER_KEYS.WIDGETS])
+        if _widget_exists(plugin_data[ANSWER_KEYS.WIDGETS], formatted_name):
+            logger.error(f"Widget {formatted_name} already exists!")
+            exit(-1)
+        plugin_data[ANSWER_KEYS.WIDGETS].append({"name": formatted_name, "use_ui": use_ui})
+        copier.run_update(
+            repo,
+            data=plugin_data,
+            defaults=True,
+            unsafe=True,
+            overwrite=True,
+            vcs_ref=plugin_data[ANSWER_KEYS.VERSION],
+        )
+        _commit_added_widget(repo, formatted_name)
+    except Exception:
+        logger.error(traceback.format_exc())
+        logger.error("exiting...")
+        exit(-1)
+    logger.success(f"Added widget {formatted_name}!")
+    if open_editor:
+        open_and_watch_ui_editor(formatted_name)

bec_widgets/utils/bec_plugin_manager/edit_ui.py

@@ -0,0 +1,136 @@
+import re
+import subprocess
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from bec_lib.plugin_helper import plugin_package_name, plugin_repo_path
+from watchdog.events import (
+    DirCreatedEvent,
+    DirModifiedEvent,
+    DirMovedEvent,
+    FileCreatedEvent,
+    FileModifiedEvent,
+    FileMovedEvent,
+    FileSystemEvent,
+    FileSystemEventHandler,
+)
+from watchdog.observers import Observer
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import open_designer
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_all_plugin_widgets
+from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import get_custom_classes
+
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
+
+class RecompileHandler(FileSystemEventHandler):
+    def __init__(self, in_file: Path, out_file: Path) -> None:
+        super().__init__()
+        self.in_file = str(in_file)
+        self.out_file = str(out_file)
+        self._pyside_import_re = re.compile(r"from PySide6\.(.*) import ")
+        self._widget_import_re = re.compile(
+            r"^from ([a-zA-Z_]*) import ([a-zA-Z_]*)$", re.MULTILINE
+        )
+        self._widget_modules = {
+            c.name: c.module for c in (get_custom_classes("bec_widgets") + get_all_plugin_widgets())
+        }
+
+    def on_created(self, event: DirCreatedEvent | FileCreatedEvent) -> None:
+        self.recompile(event)
+
+    def on_modified(self, event: DirModifiedEvent | FileModifiedEvent) -> None:
+        self.recompile(event)
+
+    def on_moved(self, event: DirMovedEvent | FileMovedEvent) -> None:
+        self.recompile(event)
+
+    def recompile(self, event: FileSystemEvent) -> None:
+        if event.src_path == self.in_file or event.dest_path == self.in_file:
+            self._recompile()
+
+    def _recompile(self):
+        logger.success(".ui file modified, recompiling...")
+        code = subprocess.call(
+            ["pyside6-uic", "--absolute-imports", self.in_file, "-o", self.out_file]
+        )
+        logger.success(f"compilation exited with code {code}")
+        if code != 0:
+            return
+        self._add_comment_to_file()
+        logger.success("updating imports...")
+        self._update_imports()
+        logger.success("formatting...")
+        code = subprocess.call(
+            ["black", "--line-length=100", "--skip-magic-trailing-comma", self.out_file]
+        )
+        if code != 0:
+            logger.error(f"Error while running black on {self.out_file}, code: {code}")
+            return
+        code = subprocess.call(
+            [
+                "isort",
+                "--line-length=100",
+                "--profile=black",
+                "--multi-line=3",
+                "--trailing-comma",
+                self.out_file,
+            ]
+        )
+        if code != 0:
+            logger.error(f"Error while running isort on {self.out_file}, code: {code}")
+            return
+        logger.success("done!")
+
+    def _add_comment_to_file(self):
+        with open(self.out_file, "r+") as f:
+            initial = f.read()
+            f.seek(0)
+            f.write(f"# Generated from {self.in_file} by bec-plugin-manager - do not edit! \n")
+            f.write(
+                "# Use 'bec-plugin-manager edit-ui [widget_name]' to make changes, and this file will be updated accordingly. \n\n"
+            )
+            f.write(initial)
+
+    def _update_imports(self):
+        with open(self.out_file, "r+") as f:
+            initial = f.read()
+            f.seek(0)
+            qtpy_imports = re.sub(
+                self._pyside_import_re, lambda ob: f"from qtpy.{ob.group(1)} import ", initial
+            )
+            print(self._widget_modules)
+            print(re.findall(self._widget_import_re, qtpy_imports))
+            widget_imports = re.sub(
+                self._widget_import_re,
+                lambda ob: (
+                    f"from {module} import {ob.group(2)}"
+                    if (module := self._widget_modules.get(ob.group(2))) is not None
+                    else ob.group(1)
+                ),
+                qtpy_imports,
+            )
+            f.write(widget_imports)
+            f.truncate()
+
+
+def open_and_watch_ui_editor(widget_name: str):
+    logger.info(f"Opening the editor for {widget_name}, and watching")
+    repo = Path(plugin_repo_path())
+    widget_dir = repo / plugin_package_name() / "bec_widgets" / "widgets" / widget_name
+    ui_file = widget_dir / f"{widget_name}.ui"
+    ui_outfile = widget_dir / f"{widget_name}_ui.py"
+
+    logger.info(
+        f"Opening the editor for {widget_name}, and watching {ui_file} for changes. Whenever you save the file, it will be recompiled to {ui_outfile}"
+    )
+    recompile_handler = RecompileHandler(ui_file, ui_outfile)
+    observer = Observer()
+    observer.schedule(recompile_handler, str(ui_file.parent))
+    observer.start()
+    try:
+        open_designer([str(ui_file)])
+    finally:
+        observer.stop()
+        observer.join()
+    logger.info("Editing session ended, exiting...")

bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py

@@ -1,15 +1,19 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 import darkdetect
+import shiboken6
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
-from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, Slot
+from qtpy.QtCore import QObject
-from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QFileDialog, QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_connector import BECConnector, ConnectionConfig
 from bec_widgets.utils.colors import set_theme
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
+from bec_widgets.utils.rpc_decorator import rpc_timeout
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:  # pragma: no cover
     from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock import BECDock
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
                 theme = "dark"
         self.apply_theme(theme)
 
-    @Slot(str)
+    @SafeSlot(str)
     def apply_theme(self, theme: str):
         """
         Apply the theme to the widget.
@@ -96,12 +100,43 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
             theme(str, optional): The theme to be applied.
         """
 
+    @SafeSlot()
+    @SafeSlot(str)
+    @rpc_timeout(None)
+    def screenshot(self, file_name: str | None = None):
+        """
+        Take a screenshot of the dock area and save it to a file.
+        """
+        if not isinstance(self, QWidget):
+            logger.error("Cannot take screenshot of non-QWidget instance")
+            return
+
+        screenshot = self.grab()
+        if file_name is None:
+            file_name, _ = QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(
+                self,
+                "Save Screenshot",
+                f"bec_{datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d_%H%M%S')}.png",
+                "PNG Files (*.png);;JPEG Files (*.jpg *.jpeg);;All Files (*)",
+            )
+        if not file_name:
+            return
+        screenshot.save(file_name)
+        logger.info(f"Screenshot saved to {file_name}")
+
     def cleanup(self):
         """Cleanup the widget."""
         with RPCRegister.delayed_broadcast():
             # All widgets need to call super().cleanup() in their cleanup method
             logger.info(f"Registry cleanup for widget {self.__class__.__name__}")
             self.rpc_register.remove_rpc(self)
+        children = self.findChildren(BECWidget)
+        for child in children:
+            if not shiboken6.isValid(child):
+                # If the child is not valid, it means it has already been deleted
+                continue
+            child.close()
+            child.deleteLater()
 
     def closeEvent(self, event):
         """Wrap the close even to ensure the rpc_register is cleaned up."""

bec_widgets/utils/compact_popup.py

@@ -259,12 +259,3 @@ class CompactPopupWidget(QWidget):
     @expand_popup.setter
     def expand_popup(self, popup: bool):
         self._expand_popup = popup
-
-    def closeEvent(self, event):
-        # Called by Qt, on closing - since the children widgets can be
-        # BECWidgets, it is good to explicitely call 'close' on them,
-        # to ensure proper resources cleanup
-        for child in self.container.findChildren(QWidget, options=Qt.FindDirectChildrenOnly):
-            child.close()
-
-        super().closeEvent(event)

bec_widgets/utils/crosshair.py

@@ -5,9 +5,13 @@ from typing import Any
 
 import numpy as np
 import pyqtgraph as pg
-from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, Qt, Signal, Slot
+from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, QPointF, Qt, Signal
+from qtpy.QtGui import QCursor, QTransform
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
+from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.image.image_item import ImageItem
+
 
 class CrosshairScatterItem(pg.ScatterPlotItem):
     def setDownsampling(self, ds=None, auto=None, method=None):
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
             qapp.theme_signal.theme_updated.connect(self._update_theme)
             self._update_theme()
 
-    @Slot(str)
+    @SafeSlot(str)
     def _update_theme(self, theme: str | None = None):
         """Update the theme."""
         if theme is None:
@@ -187,7 +191,7 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
         self.coord_label.fill = pg.mkBrush(label_bg_color)
         self.coord_label.border = pg.mkPen(None)
 
-    @Slot(int)
+    @SafeSlot(int)
     def update_highlighted_curve(self, curve_index: int):
         """
         Update the highlighted curve in the case of multiple curves in a plot item.
@@ -205,8 +209,11 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
         if self.highlighted_curve_index is not None and hasattr(self.plot_item, "visible_curves"):
             # Focus on the highlighted curve only
             self.items = [self.plot_item.visible_curves[self.highlighted_curve_index]]
-        else:
+        elif hasattr(self.plot_item, "visible_items"):  # PlotBase general case
-            # Handle all curves
+            # Handle visible items in the plot item
+            self.items = self.plot_item.visible_items()
+        else:  # Non PlotBase case
+            # Handle all items
             self.items = self.plot_item.items
 
         # Create or update markers
@@ -265,15 +272,47 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
                     [0, 0], size=[item.image.shape[0], 1], pen=pg.mkPen("r", width=2), movable=False
                 )
                 self.marker_2d_row.skip_auto_range = True
+                if item.image_transform is not None:
+                    self.marker_2d_row.setTransform(item.image_transform)
                 self.plot_item.addItem(self.marker_2d_row)
 
                 # Create vertical ROI for column highlighting
                 self.marker_2d_col = pg.ROI(
                     [0, 0], size=[1, item.image.shape[1]], pen=pg.mkPen("r", width=2), movable=False
                 )
+                if item.image_transform is not None:
+                    self.marker_2d_col.setTransform(item.image_transform)
                 self.marker_2d_col.skip_auto_range = True
                 self.plot_item.addItem(self.marker_2d_col)
 
+    @SafeSlot()
+    def update_markers_on_image_change(self):
+        """
+        Update markers when the image changes, e.g. when the
+        image shape or transformation changes.
+        """
+        for item in self.items:
+            if not isinstance(item, pg.ImageItem):
+                continue
+            if self.marker_2d_row is not None:
+                self.marker_2d_row.setSize([item.image.shape[0], 1])
+                self.marker_2d_row.setTransform(item.image_transform)
+            if self.marker_2d_col is not None:
+                self.marker_2d_col.setSize([1, item.image.shape[1]])
+                self.marker_2d_col.setTransform(item.image_transform)
+            # Get the current mouse position
+            views = self.plot_item.vb.scene().views()
+            if not views:
+                return
+            view = views[0]
+            global_pos = QCursor.pos()
+            view_pos = view.mapFromGlobal(global_pos)
+            scene_pos = view.mapToScene(view_pos)
+
+            if self.plot_item.vb.sceneBoundingRect().contains(scene_pos):
+                plot_pt = self.plot_item.vb.mapSceneToView(scene_pos)
+                self.mouse_moved(manual_pos=(plot_pt.x(), plot_pt.y()))
+
     def snap_to_data(
         self, x: float, y: float
     ) -> tuple[None, None] | tuple[defaultdict[Any, list], defaultdict[Any, list]]:
@@ -316,9 +355,25 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
                 image_2d = item.image
                 if image_2d is None:
                     continue
-                # Clip the x and y values to the image dimensions to avoid out of bounds errors
+                # Map scene coordinates (plot units) back to image pixel coordinates
-                y_values[name] = int(np.clip(y, 0, image_2d.shape[1] - 1))
+                if item.image_transform is not None:
-                x_values[name] = int(np.clip(x, 0, image_2d.shape[0] - 1))
+                    inv_transform, _ = item.image_transform.inverted()
+                    xy_trans = inv_transform.map(QPointF(x, y))
+                else:
+                    xy_trans = QPointF(x, y)
+
+                # Define valid pixel coordinate bounds
+                min_x_px, min_y_px = 0, 0
+                max_x_px = image_2d.shape[0] - 1  # columns
+                max_y_px = image_2d.shape[1] - 1  # rows
+
+                # Clip the mapped coordinates to the image bounds
+                px = int(np.clip(xy_trans.x(), min_x_px, max_x_px))
+                py = int(np.clip(xy_trans.y(), min_y_px, max_y_px))
+
+                # Store snapped pixel positions
+                x_values[name] = px
+                y_values[name] = py
 
         if x_values and y_values:
             if all(v is None for v in x_values.values()) or all(
@@ -358,60 +413,74 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
 
         return list_x[original_index], list_y[original_index]
 
-    def mouse_moved(self, event):
+    @SafeSlot(object, tuple)
-        """Handles the mouse moved event, updating the crosshair position and emitting signals.
+    def mouse_moved(self, event=None, manual_pos=None):
+        """
+        Handles the mouse moved event, updating the crosshair position and emitting signals.
 
         Args:
-            event: The mouse moved event
+            event(object): The mouse moved event, which contains the scene position.
+            manual_pos(tuple, optional): A tuple containing the (x, y) coordinates to manually set the crosshair position.
         """
-        pos = event[0]
+        # Determine target (x, y) in *plot* coordinates
+        if manual_pos is not None:
+            x, y = manual_pos
+        else:
+            if event is None:
+                return  # nothing to do
+            scene_pos = event[0]  # SignalProxy bundle
+            if not self.plot_item.vb.sceneBoundingRect().contains(scene_pos):
+                return
+            view_pos = self.plot_item.vb.mapSceneToView(scene_pos)
+            x, y = view_pos.x(), view_pos.y()
+
+        # Update cross‑hair visuals
+        self.v_line.setPos(x)
+        self.h_line.setPos(y)
+
         self.update_markers()
-        if self.plot_item.vb.sceneBoundingRect().contains(pos):
+        scaled_x, scaled_y = self.scale_emitted_coordinates(x, y)
-            mouse_point = self.plot_item.vb.mapSceneToView(pos)
+        self.crosshairChanged.emit((scaled_x, scaled_y))
-            x, y = mouse_point.x(), mouse_point.y()
+        self.positionChanged.emit((x, y))
-            self.v_line.setPos(x)
-            self.h_line.setPos(y)
-            scaled_x, scaled_y = self.scale_emitted_coordinates(mouse_point.x(), mouse_point.y())
-            self.crosshairChanged.emit((scaled_x, scaled_y))
-            self.positionChanged.emit((x, y))
 
-            x_snap_values, y_snap_values = self.snap_to_data(x, y)
+        snap_x_vals, snap_y_vals = self.snap_to_data(x, y)
-            if x_snap_values is None or y_snap_values is None:
+        if snap_x_vals is None or snap_y_vals is None:
-                return
+            return
-            if all(v is None for v in x_snap_values.values()) or all(
+        if all(v is None for v in snap_x_vals.values()) or all(
-                v is None for v in y_snap_values.values()
+            v is None for v in snap_y_vals.values()
-            ):
+        ):
-                # not sure how we got here, but just to be safe...
+            return
-                return
 
-            precision = self._current_precision()
+        precision = self._current_precision()
-            for item in self.items:
+
-                if isinstance(item, pg.PlotDataItem):
+        for item in self.items:
-                    name = item.name() or str(id(item))
+            if isinstance(item, pg.PlotDataItem):
-                    x, y = x_snap_values[name], y_snap_values[name]
+                name = item.name() or str(id(item))
-                    if x is None or y is None:
+                sx, sy = snap_x_vals[name], snap_y_vals[name]
-                        continue
+                if sx is None or sy is None:
-                    self.marker_moved_1d[name].setData([x], [y])
-                    x_snapped_scaled, y_snapped_scaled = self.scale_emitted_coordinates(x, y)
-                    coordinate_to_emit = (
-                        name,
-                        round(x_snapped_scaled, precision),
-                        round(y_snapped_scaled, precision),
-                    )
-                    self.coordinatesChanged1D.emit(coordinate_to_emit)
-                elif isinstance(item, pg.ImageItem):
-                    name = item.objectName() or str(id(item))
-                    x, y = x_snap_values[name], y_snap_values[name]
-                    if x is None or y is None:
-                        continue
-                    # Set position of horizontal ROI (row)
-                    self.marker_2d_row.setPos([0, y])
-                    # Set position of vertical ROI (column)
-                    self.marker_2d_col.setPos([x, 0])
-                    coordinate_to_emit = (name, x, y)
-                    self.coordinatesChanged2D.emit(coordinate_to_emit)
-                else:
                     continue
+                self.marker_moved_1d[name].setData([sx], [sy])
+                sx_s, sy_s = self.scale_emitted_coordinates(sx, sy)
+                self.coordinatesChanged1D.emit(
+                    (name, round(sx_s, precision), round(sy_s, precision))
+                )
+
+            elif isinstance(item, pg.ImageItem):
+                name = item.objectName() or str(id(item))
+                px, py = snap_x_vals[name], snap_y_vals[name]
+                if px is None or py is None:
+                    continue
+
+                # Respect image transforms
+                if isinstance(item, ImageItem) and item.image_transform is not None:
+                    row, col = self._get_transformed_position(px, py, item.image_transform)
+                    self.marker_2d_row.setPos(row)
+                    self.marker_2d_col.setPos(col)
+                else:
+                    self.marker_2d_row.setPos([0, py])
+                    self.marker_2d_col.setPos([px, 0])
+
+                self.coordinatesChanged2D.emit((name, px, py))
 
     def mouse_clicked(self, event):
         """Handles the mouse clicked event, updating the crosshair position and emitting signals.
@@ -462,15 +531,35 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
                     x, y = x_snap_values[name], y_snap_values[name]
                     if x is None or y is None:
                         continue
-                    # Set position of horizontal ROI (row)
+
-                    self.marker_2d_row.setPos([0, y])
+                    if isinstance(item, ImageItem) and item.image_transform is not None:
-                    # Set position of vertical ROI (column)
+                        row, col = self._get_transformed_position(x, y, item.image_transform)
-                    self.marker_2d_col.setPos([x, 0])
+                        self.marker_2d_row.setPos(row)
+                        self.marker_2d_col.setPos(col)
+                    else:
+                        self.marker_2d_row.setPos([0, y])
+                        self.marker_2d_col.setPos([x, 0])
+
                     coordinate_to_emit = (name, x, y)
                     self.coordinatesClicked2D.emit(coordinate_to_emit)
                 else:
                     continue
 
+    def _get_transformed_position(
+        self, x: float, y: float, transform: QTransform
+    ) -> tuple[QPointF, QPointF]:
+        """
+        Maps the given x and y coordinates to the transformed position using the provided transform.
+        Args:
+            x (float): The x-coordinate to transform.
+            y (float): The y-coordinate to transform.
+            transform (QTransform): The transformation to apply.
+        """
+        origin = transform.map(QPointF(0, 0))
+        row = transform.map(QPointF(0, y)) - origin
+        col = transform.map(QPointF(x, 0)) - origin
+        return row, col
+
     def clear_markers(self):
         """Clears the markers from the plot."""
         for marker in self.marker_moved_1d.values():
@@ -512,8 +601,18 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
                 image = item.image
                 if image is None:
                     continue
-                ix = int(np.clip(x, 0, image.shape[0] - 1))
+
-                iy = int(np.clip(y, 0, image.shape[1] - 1))
+                if item.image_transform is not None:
+                    inv_transform, _ = item.image_transform.inverted()
+                    pt = inv_transform.map(QPointF(x, y))
+                    px, py = pt.x(), pt.y()
+                else:
+                    px, py = x, y
+
+                # Clip to valid pixel indices
+                ix = int(np.clip(px, 0, image.shape[0] - 1))  # column
+                iy = int(np.clip(py, 0, image.shape[1] - 1))  # row
+
                 intensity = image[ix, iy]
                 text += f"\nIntensity: {intensity:.{precision}f}"
                 break
@@ -533,15 +632,19 @@ class Crosshair(QObject):
         self.is_derivative = self.plot_item.ctrl.derivativeCheck.isChecked()
         self.clear_markers()
 
-    def cleanup(self):
+    @SafeSlot()
+    def reset(self):
+        """Resets the crosshair to its initial state."""
         if self.marker_2d_row is not None:
             self.plot_item.removeItem(self.marker_2d_row)
             self.marker_2d_row = None
         if self.marker_2d_col is not None:
             self.plot_item.removeItem(self.marker_2d_col)
             self.marker_2d_col = None
+        self.clear_markers()
+
+    def cleanup(self):
+        self.reset()
         self.plot_item.removeItem(self.v_line)
         self.plot_item.removeItem(self.h_line)
         self.plot_item.removeItem(self.coord_label)
-
-        self.clear_markers()

bec_widgets/utils/entry_validator.py

@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ class EntryValidator:
         if not available_entries:
             available_entries = [name]
 
+        # edge case for if name is passed instead of full_name, should not happen
+        if entry in signals_dict:
+            entry = signals_dict[entry].get("obj_name", entry)
+
         if entry is None or entry == "":
             entry = next(iter(device._hints), name) if hasattr(device, "_hints") else name
         if entry not in available_entries:

bec_widgets/utils/forms_from_types/forms.py

@@ -81,10 +81,11 @@ class TypedForm(BECWidget, QWidget):
 
         self._form_grid_container = QWidget(parent=self)
         self._form_grid_container.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
+        self._form_grid_container.setLayout(QVBoxLayout())
+        self._layout.addWidget(self._form_grid_container)
+
         self._form_grid = QWidget(parent=self._form_grid_container)
         self._form_grid.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
-        self._layout.addWidget(self._form_grid_container)
-        self._form_grid_container.setLayout(QVBoxLayout())
         self._form_grid.setLayout(self._new_grid_layout())
 
         self._widget_types: dict | None = None
@@ -105,11 +106,11 @@ class TypedForm(BECWidget, QWidget):
 
     def _add_griditem(self, item: FormItemSpec, row: int):
         grid = self._form_grid.layout()
-        label = QLabel(item.name)
+        label = QLabel(parent=self._form_grid, text=item.name)
         label.setProperty("_model_field_name", item.name)
         label.setToolTip(item.info.description or item.name)
         grid.addWidget(label, row, 0)
-        widget = self._widget_from_type(item, self._widget_types)(parent=self, spec=item)
+        widget = self._widget_from_type(item, self._widget_types)(parent=self._form_grid, spec=item)
         widget.valueChanged.connect(self.value_changed)
         widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
         grid.addWidget(widget, row, 1)
@@ -128,19 +129,17 @@ class TypedForm(BECWidget, QWidget):
         }
 
     def _clear_grid(self):
-        if (old_layout := self._form_grid.layout()) is not None:
+        gl = self._form_grid.layout()
-            while old_layout.count():
+        while w := gl.takeAt(0):
-                item = old_layout.takeAt(0)
+            w = w.widget()
-                widget = item.widget()
+            if hasattr(w, "teardown"):
-                if widget is not None:
+                w.teardown()
-                    widget.deleteLater()
+            w.deleteLater()
-            old_layout.deleteLater()
+        self._form_grid_container.layout().removeWidget(self._form_grid)
-            self._form_grid.deleteLater()
+        self._form_grid.deleteLater()
         self._form_grid = QWidget()
-        self._form_grid.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
         self._form_grid.setLayout(self._new_grid_layout())
         self._form_grid_container.layout().addWidget(self._form_grid)
-
         self.update_size()
 
     def update_size(self):
@@ -149,7 +148,7 @@ class TypedForm(BECWidget, QWidget):
         self.adjustSize()
 
     def _new_grid_layout(self):
-        new_grid = QGridLayout()
+        new_grid = QGridLayout(self)
         new_grid.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
         return new_grid
 
@@ -171,8 +170,9 @@ class TypedForm(BECWidget, QWidget):
 
 
 class PydanticModelForm(TypedForm):
-    metadata_updated = Signal(dict)
+    form_data_updated = Signal(dict)
-    metadata_cleared = Signal(NoneType)
+    form_data_cleared = Signal(NoneType)
+    validity_proc = Signal(bool)
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class PydanticModelForm(TypedForm):
 
         self._validity = CompactPopupWidget()
         self._validity.compact_view = True  # type: ignore
-        self._validity.label = "Metadata validity"  # type: ignore
+        self._validity.label = "Validity"  # type: ignore
         self._validity.compact_show_popup.setIcon(
             material_icon(icon_name="info", size=(10, 10), convert_to_pixmap=False)
         )
@@ -264,16 +264,18 @@ class PydanticModelForm(TypedForm):
     def validate_form(self, *_) -> bool:
         """validate the currently entered metadata against the pydantic schema.
         If successful, returns on metadata_emitted and returns true.
-        Otherwise, emits on metadata_cleared and returns false."""
+        Otherwise, emits on form_data_cleared and returns false."""
         try:
             metadata_dict = self.get_form_data()
             self._md_schema.model_validate(metadata_dict)
             self._validity.set_global_state("success")
             self._validity_message.setText("No errors!")
-            self.metadata_updated.emit(metadata_dict)
+            self.form_data_updated.emit(metadata_dict)
+            self.validity_proc.emit(True)
             return True
         except ValidationError as e:
             self._validity.set_global_state("emergency")
             self._validity_message.setText(str(e))
-            self.metadata_cleared.emit(None)
+            self.form_data_cleared.emit(None)
+            self.validity_proc.emit(False)
             return False

bec_widgets/utils/forms_from_types/items.py

@@ -3,8 +3,20 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import typing
 from abc import abstractmethod
 from decimal import Decimal
-from types import GenericAlias, UnionType
+from types import GenericAlias, NoneType, UnionType
-from typing import Callable, Final, Iterable, Literal, NamedTuple, OrderedDict, get_args
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    Callable,
+    Final,
+    Generic,
+    Iterable,
+    Literal,
+    NamedTuple,
+    Optional,
+    OrderedDict,
+    TypeVar,
+    get_args,
+)
 
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_qthemes import material_icon
@@ -61,7 +73,7 @@ class FormItemSpec(BaseModel):
 
     model_config = ConfigDict(arbitrary_types_allowed=True)
 
-    item_type: type | UnionType | GenericAlias
+    item_type: type | UnionType | GenericAlias | Optional[Any]
     name: str
     info: FieldInfo = FieldInfo()
     pretty_display: bool = Field(
@@ -178,6 +190,10 @@ class DynamicFormItem(QWidget):
         """Add the main data entry widget to self._main_widget and appply any
         constraints from the field info"""
 
+    @SafeSlot()
+    def clear(self, *_):
+        return
+
     def _set_pretty_display(self):
         self.setEnabled(False)
         if button := getattr(self, "_clear_button", None):
@@ -194,11 +210,17 @@ class DynamicFormItem(QWidget):
         self._layout.addWidget(self._clear_button)
         # the widget added in _add_main_widget must implement .clear() if value is not required
         self._clear_button.setToolTip("Clear value or reset to default.")
-        self._clear_button.clicked.connect(self._main_widget.clear)  # type: ignore
+        self._clear_button.clicked.connect(self.clear)  # type: ignore
 
     def _value_changed(self, *_, **__):
         self.valueChanged.emit()
 
+    def teardown(self):
+        self._layout.deleteLater()
+        self._layout.removeWidget(self._main_widget)
+        self._main_widget.deleteLater()
+        self._main_widget = None
+
 
 class StrFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
     def __init__(self, parent: QWidget | None = None, *, spec: FormItemSpec) -> None:
@@ -350,11 +372,13 @@ class DictFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
         self._main_widget.replace_data(value)
 
 
-class _ItemAndWidgetType(NamedTuple):
+_IW = TypeVar("_IW", bound=int | float | str)
-    # TODO: this should be generic but not supported in 3.10
+
-    item: type[int | float | str]
+
+class _ItemAndWidgetType(NamedTuple, Generic[_IW]):
+    item: type[_IW]
     widget: type[QWidget]
-    default: int | float | str
+    default: _IW
 
 
 class ListFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
@@ -390,17 +414,29 @@ class ListFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
 
     def _add_buttons(self):
         self._button_holder = QWidget()
+        self._button_holder.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Minimum, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
         self._buttons = QVBoxLayout()
+        self._buttons.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
         self._button_holder.setLayout(self._buttons)
         self._layout.addWidget(self._button_holder)
+
+        self._add_remove_button_holder = QWidget()
+        self._add_remove_button_layout = QHBoxLayout()
+        self._add_remove_button_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self._add_remove_button_holder.setLayout(self._add_remove_button_layout)
+
         self._add_button = QPushButton("+")
+        self._add_button.setMinimumHeight(15)
         self._add_button.setToolTip("add a new row")
         self._remove_button = QPushButton("-")
+        self._remove_button.setMinimumHeight(15)
         self._remove_button.setToolTip("delete the focused row (if any)")
         self._add_button.clicked.connect(self._add_row)
         self._remove_button.clicked.connect(self._delete_row)
-        self._buttons.addWidget(self._add_button)
+
-        self._buttons.addWidget(self._remove_button)
+        self._buttons.addWidget(self._add_remove_button_holder)
+        self._add_remove_button_layout.addWidget(self._add_button)
+        self._add_remove_button_layout.addWidget(self._remove_button)
 
     def _set_pretty_display(self):
         super()._set_pretty_display()
@@ -518,11 +554,14 @@ class StrLiteralFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
         self._layout.addWidget(self._main_widget)
 
     def getValue(self):
+        if self._main_widget.currentIndex() == -1:
+            return None
         return self._main_widget.currentText()
 
     def setValue(self, value: str | None):
         if value is None:
             self.clear()
+            return
         for i in range(self._main_widget.count()):
             if self._main_widget.itemText(i) == value:
                 self._main_widget.setCurrentIndex(i)
@@ -533,15 +572,39 @@ class StrLiteralFormItem(DynamicFormItem):
         self._main_widget.setCurrentIndex(-1)
 
 
+class OptionalStrLiteralFormItem(StrLiteralFormItem):
+    def _add_main_widget(self) -> None:
+        self._main_widget = QComboBox()
+        self._options = get_args(get_args(self._spec.info.annotation)[0])
+        for opt in self._options:
+            self._main_widget.addItem(opt)
+        self._layout.addWidget(self._main_widget)
+
+
 WidgetTypeRegistry = OrderedDict[str, tuple[Callable[[FormItemSpec], bool], type[DynamicFormItem]]]
 
+
+def _is_string_literal(t: type):
+    return type(t) is type(Literal[""]) and set(type(arg) for arg in get_args(t)) == {str}
+
+
+def _is_optional_string_literal(t: type):
+    if not hasattr(t, "__args__"):
+        return False
+    if len(t.__args__) != 2:
+        return False
+    if _is_string_literal(t.__args__[0]) and t.__args__[1] is NoneType:
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
 DEFAULT_WIDGET_TYPES: Final[WidgetTypeRegistry] = OrderedDict() | {
     # dict literals are ordered already but TypedForm subclasses may modify coppies of this dict
     # and delete/insert keys or change the order
-    "literal_str": (
+    "literal_str": (lambda spec: _is_string_literal(spec.info.annotation), StrLiteralFormItem),
-        lambda spec: type(spec.info.annotation) is type(Literal[""])
+    "optional_literal_str": (
-        and set(type(arg) for arg in get_args(spec.info.annotation)) == {str},
+        lambda spec: _is_optional_string_literal(spec.info.annotation),
-        StrLiteralFormItem,
+        OptionalStrLiteralFormItem,
     ),
     "str": (lambda spec: spec.item_type in [str, str | None, None], StrFormItem),
     "int": (lambda spec: spec.item_type in [int, int | None], IntFormItem),
@@ -592,6 +655,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
         value5: int | None = Field()
         value6: list[int] = Field()
         value7: list = Field()
+        literal: Literal["a", "b", "c"]
+        nullable_literal: Literal["a", "b", "c"] | None = None
 
     app = QApplication([])
     w = QWidget()
@@ -599,7 +664,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
     w.setLayout(layout)
     items = []
     for i, (field_name, info) in enumerate(TestModel.model_fields.items()):
-        spec = spec = FormItemSpec(item_type=info.annotation, name=field_name, info=info)
+        spec = FormItemSpec(item_type=info.annotation, name=field_name, info=info)
         layout.addWidget(QLabel(field_name), i, 0)
         widg = widget_from_type(spec)(spec=spec)
         items.append(widg)

bec_widgets/utils/generate_designer_plugin.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from qtpy.QtCore import QObject
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.name_utils import pascal_to_snake
 
-EXCLUDED_PLUGINS = ["BECConnector", "BECDockArea", "BECDock", "BECFigure"]
+EXCLUDED_PLUGINS = ["BECConnector", "BECDock"]
 _PARENT_ARG_REGEX = r".__init__\(\s*(?:parent\)|parent=parent,?|parent,?)"
 _SELF_PARENT_ARG_REGEX = r".__init__\(\s*self,\s*(?:parent\)|parent=parent,?|parent,?)"
 SUPER_INIT_REGEX = re.compile(r"super\(\)" + _PARENT_ARG_REGEX, re.MULTILINE)

bec_widgets/utils/plugin_templates/plugin.template

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 {widget_import}
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class {plugin_name_pascal}Plugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+           return QWidget()
         t = {plugin_name_pascal}(parent)
         return t
 

bec_widgets/utils/plugin_utils.py

@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def get_custom_classes(repo_name: str) -> BECClassContainer:
                     class_info = BECClassInfo(name=name, module=module.__name__, file=path, obj=obj)
                     if issubclass(obj, BECConnector):
                         class_info.is_connector = True
-                    if issubclass(obj, BECWidget):
+                    if issubclass(obj, QWidget) or issubclass(obj, BECWidget):
                         class_info.is_widget = True
                     if len(subs) == 1 and (
                         issubclass(obj, QWidget) or issubclass(obj, QGraphicsWidget)

bec_widgets/utils/property_editor.py

@@ -0,0 +1,694 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from qtpy.QtCore import QLocale, QMetaEnum, Qt, QTimer
+from qtpy.QtGui import QColor, QCursor, QFont, QIcon, QPalette
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QCheckBox,
+    QColorDialog,
+    QComboBox,
+    QDoubleSpinBox,
+    QFileDialog,
+    QFontDialog,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QHeaderView,
+    QLabel,
+    QLineEdit,
+    QMenu,
+    QPushButton,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QSpinBox,
+    QToolButton,
+    QTreeWidget,
+    QTreeWidgetItem,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+
+
+class PropertyEditor(QWidget):
+    def __init__(self, target: QWidget, parent: QWidget | None = None, show_only_bec: bool = True):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self._target = target
+        self._bec_only = show_only_bec
+
+        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+
+        # Name row
+        name_row = QHBoxLayout()
+        name_row.addWidget(QLabel("Name:"))
+        self.name_edit = QLineEdit(target.objectName())
+        self.name_edit.setEnabled(False)  # TODO implement with RPC broadcast
+        name_row.addWidget(self.name_edit)
+        layout.addLayout(name_row)
+
+        # BEC only checkbox
+        filter_row = QHBoxLayout()
+        self.chk_show_qt = QCheckBox("Show Qt properties")
+        self.chk_show_qt.setChecked(False)
+        filter_row.addWidget(self.chk_show_qt)
+        filter_row.addStretch(1)
+        layout.addLayout(filter_row)
+        self.chk_show_qt.toggled.connect(lambda checked: self.set_show_only_bec(not checked))
+
+        # Main tree widget
+        self.tree = QTreeWidget(self)
+        self.tree.setColumnCount(2)
+        self.tree.setHeaderLabels(["Property", "Value"])
+        self.tree.setAlternatingRowColors(True)
+        self.tree.setRootIsDecorated(False)
+        layout.addWidget(self.tree)
+        self._build()
+
+    def _class_chain(self):
+        chain = []
+        mo = self._target.metaObject()
+        while mo is not None:
+            chain.append(mo)
+            mo = mo.superClass()
+        return chain
+
+    def set_show_only_bec(self, flag: bool):
+        self._bec_only = flag
+        self._build()
+
+    def _set_equal_columns(self):
+        header = self.tree.header()
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(0, QHeaderView.Interactive)
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(1, QHeaderView.Interactive)
+        w = self.tree.viewport().width() or self.tree.width()
+        if w > 0:
+            half = max(1, w // 2)
+            self.tree.setColumnWidth(0, half)
+            self.tree.setColumnWidth(1, w - half)
+
+    def _build(self):
+        self.tree.clear()
+        for mo in self._class_chain():
+            class_name = mo.className()
+            if self._bec_only and not self._is_bec_metaobject(mo):
+                continue
+            group_item = QTreeWidgetItem(self.tree, [class_name])
+            group_item.setFirstColumnSpanned(True)
+            start = mo.propertyOffset()
+            end = mo.propertyCount()
+            for i in range(start, end):
+                prop = mo.property(i)
+                if (
+                    not prop.isReadable()
+                    or not prop.isWritable()
+                    or not prop.isStored()
+                    or not prop.isDesignable()
+                ):
+                    continue
+                name = prop.name()
+                if name == "objectName":
+                    continue
+                value = self._target.property(name)
+                self._add_property_row(group_item, name, value, prop)
+            if group_item.childCount() == 0:
+                idx = self.tree.indexOfTopLevelItem(group_item)
+                self.tree.takeTopLevelItem(idx)
+        self.tree.expandAll()
+        QTimer.singleShot(0, self._set_equal_columns)
+
+    def _enum_int(self, obj) -> int:
+        return int(getattr(obj, "value", obj))
+
+    def _make_sizepolicy_editor(self, name: str, sp):
+        if not isinstance(sp, QSizePolicy):
+            return None
+        wrap = QWidget(self)
+        row = QHBoxLayout(wrap)
+        row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        row.setSpacing(4)
+        h_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        v_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        hs = QSpinBox(wrap)
+        vs = QSpinBox(wrap)
+        for b in (hs, vs):
+            b.setRange(0, 16777215)
+        policies = [
+            (QSizePolicy.Fixed, "Fixed"),
+            (QSizePolicy.Minimum, "Minimum"),
+            (QSizePolicy.Maximum, "Maximum"),
+            (QSizePolicy.Preferred, "Preferred"),
+            (QSizePolicy.Expanding, "Expanding"),
+            (QSizePolicy.MinimumExpanding, "MinExpanding"),
+            (QSizePolicy.Ignored, "Ignored"),
+        ]
+        for pol, text in policies:
+            h_combo.addItem(text, self._enum_int(pol))
+            v_combo.addItem(text, self._enum_int(pol))
+
+        def _set_current(combo, val):
+            idx = combo.findData(self._enum_int(val))
+            if idx >= 0:
+                combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+
+        _set_current(h_combo, sp.horizontalPolicy())
+        _set_current(v_combo, sp.verticalPolicy())
+        hs.setValue(sp.horizontalStretch())
+        vs.setValue(sp.verticalStretch())
+
+        def apply_changes():
+            hp = QSizePolicy.Policy(h_combo.currentData())
+            vp = QSizePolicy.Policy(v_combo.currentData())
+            nsp = QSizePolicy(hp, vp)
+            nsp.setHorizontalStretch(hs.value())
+            nsp.setVerticalStretch(vs.value())
+            self._target.setProperty(name, nsp)
+
+        h_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_changes())
+        v_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_changes())
+        hs.valueChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_changes())
+        vs.valueChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_changes())
+        row.addWidget(h_combo)
+        row.addWidget(v_combo)
+        row.addWidget(hs)
+        row.addWidget(vs)
+        return wrap
+
+    def _make_locale_editor(self, name: str, loc):
+        if not isinstance(loc, QLocale):
+            return None
+        wrap = QWidget(self)
+        row = QHBoxLayout(wrap)
+        row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        row.setSpacing(4)
+        lang_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        country_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        for lang in QLocale.Language:
+            try:
+                lang_int = self._enum_int(lang)
+            except Exception:
+                continue
+            if lang_int < 0:
+                continue
+            name_txt = QLocale.languageToString(QLocale.Language(lang_int))
+            lang_combo.addItem(name_txt, lang_int)
+
+        def populate_countries():
+            country_combo.blockSignals(True)
+            country_combo.clear()
+            for terr in QLocale.Country:
+                try:
+                    terr_int = self._enum_int(terr)
+                except Exception:
+                    continue
+                if terr_int < 0:
+                    continue
+                text = QLocale.countryToString(QLocale.Country(terr_int))
+                country_combo.addItem(text, terr_int)
+            cur_country = self._enum_int(loc.country())
+            idx = country_combo.findData(cur_country)
+            if idx >= 0:
+                country_combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+            country_combo.blockSignals(False)
+
+        cur_lang = self._enum_int(loc.language())
+        idx = lang_combo.findData(cur_lang)
+        if idx >= 0:
+            lang_combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+        populate_countries()
+
+        def apply_locale():
+            lang = QLocale.Language(int(lang_combo.currentData()))
+            country = QLocale.Country(int(country_combo.currentData()))
+            self._target.setProperty(name, QLocale(lang, country))
+
+        lang_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _=None: populate_countries())
+        lang_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_locale())
+        country_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_locale())
+        row.addWidget(lang_combo)
+        row.addWidget(country_combo)
+        return wrap
+
+    def _make_icon_editor(self, name: str, icon):
+        btn = QPushButton(self)
+        btn.setText("Choose…")
+        if isinstance(icon, QIcon) and not icon.isNull():
+            btn.setIcon(icon)
+
+        def pick():
+            path, _ = QFileDialog.getOpenFileName(
+                self, "Select Icon", "", "Images (*.png *.jpg *.jpeg *.bmp *.svg)"
+            )
+            if path:
+                ic = QIcon(path)
+                self._target.setProperty(name, ic)
+                btn.setIcon(ic)
+
+        btn.clicked.connect(pick)
+        return btn
+
+    def _spin_pair(self, ints: bool = True):
+        box1 = QSpinBox(self) if ints else QDoubleSpinBox(self)
+        box2 = QSpinBox(self) if ints else QDoubleSpinBox(self)
+        if ints:
+            box1.setRange(-10_000_000, 10_000_000)
+            box2.setRange(-10_000_000, 10_000_000)
+        else:
+            for b in (box1, box2):
+                b.setDecimals(6)
+                b.setRange(-1e12, 1e12)
+                b.setSingleStep(0.1)
+        row = QHBoxLayout()
+        row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        row.setSpacing(4)
+        wrap = QWidget(self)
+        wrap.setLayout(row)
+        row.addWidget(box1)
+        row.addWidget(box2)
+        return wrap, box1, box2
+
+    def _spin_quad(self, ints: bool = True):
+        s = QSpinBox if ints else QDoubleSpinBox
+        boxes = [s(self) for _ in range(4)]
+        if ints:
+            for b in boxes:
+                b.setRange(-10_000_000, 10_000_000)
+        else:
+            for b in boxes:
+                b.setDecimals(6)
+                b.setRange(-1e12, 1e12)
+                b.setSingleStep(0.1)
+        row = QHBoxLayout()
+        row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        row.setSpacing(4)
+        wrap = QWidget(self)
+        wrap.setLayout(row)
+        for b in boxes:
+            row.addWidget(b)
+        return wrap, boxes
+
+    def _make_font_editor(self, name: str, value):
+        btn = QPushButton(self)
+        if isinstance(value, QFont):
+            btn.setText(f"{value.family()}, {value.pointSize()}pt")
+        else:
+            btn.setText("Select font…")
+
+        def pick():
+            ok, font = QFontDialog.getFont(
+                value if isinstance(value, QFont) else QFont(), self, "Select Font"
+            )
+            if ok:
+                self._target.setProperty(name, font)
+                btn.setText(f"{font.family()}, {font.pointSize()}pt")
+
+        btn.clicked.connect(pick)
+        return btn
+
+    def _make_color_editor(self, initial: QColor, apply_cb):
+        btn = QPushButton(self)
+        if isinstance(initial, QColor):
+            btn.setText(initial.name())
+            btn.setStyleSheet(f"background:{initial.name()};")
+        else:
+            btn.setText("Select color…")
+
+        def pick():
+            col = QColorDialog.getColor(
+                initial if isinstance(initial, QColor) else QColor(), self, "Select Color"
+            )
+            if col.isValid():
+                apply_cb(col)
+                btn.setText(col.name())
+                btn.setStyleSheet(f"background:{col.name()};")
+
+        btn.clicked.connect(pick)
+        return btn
+
+    def _apply_palette_color(
+        self,
+        name: str,
+        pal: QPalette,
+        group: QPalette.ColorGroup,
+        role: QPalette.ColorRole,
+        col: QColor,
+    ):
+        pal.setColor(group, role, col)
+        self._target.setProperty(name, pal)
+
+    def _make_palette_editor(self, name: str, pal: QPalette):
+        if not isinstance(pal, QPalette):
+            return None
+        wrap = QWidget(self)
+        row = QHBoxLayout(wrap)
+        row.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        group_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        role_combo = QComboBox(wrap)
+        pick_btn = self._make_color_editor(
+            pal.color(QPalette.Active, QPalette.WindowText),
+            lambda col: self._apply_palette_color(
+                name, pal, QPalette.Active, QPalette.WindowText, col
+            ),
+        )
+        groups = [
+            (QPalette.Active, "Active"),
+            (QPalette.Inactive, "Inactive"),
+            (QPalette.Disabled, "Disabled"),
+        ]
+        for g, label in groups:
+            group_combo.addItem(label, int(getattr(g, "value", g)))
+        roles = [
+            (QPalette.WindowText, "WindowText"),
+            (QPalette.Window, "Window"),
+            (QPalette.Base, "Base"),
+            (QPalette.AlternateBase, "AlternateBase"),
+            (QPalette.ToolTipBase, "ToolTipBase"),
+            (QPalette.ToolTipText, "ToolTipText"),
+            (QPalette.Text, "Text"),
+            (QPalette.Button, "Button"),
+            (QPalette.ButtonText, "ButtonText"),
+            (QPalette.BrightText, "BrightText"),
+            (QPalette.Highlight, "Highlight"),
+            (QPalette.HighlightedText, "HighlightedText"),
+        ]
+        for r, label in roles:
+            role_combo.addItem(label, int(getattr(r, "value", r)))
+
+        def rewire_button():
+            g = QPalette.ColorGroup(int(group_combo.currentData()))
+            r = QPalette.ColorRole(int(role_combo.currentData()))
+            col = pal.color(g, r)
+            while row.count() > 2:
+                w = row.takeAt(2).widget()
+                if w:
+                    w.deleteLater()
+            btn = self._make_color_editor(
+                col, lambda c: self._apply_palette_color(name, pal, g, r, c)
+            )
+            row.addWidget(btn)
+
+        group_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _: rewire_button())
+        role_combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(lambda _: rewire_button())
+        row.addWidget(group_combo)
+        row.addWidget(role_combo)
+        row.addWidget(pick_btn)
+        return wrap
+
+    def _make_cursor_editor(self, name: str, value):
+        combo = QComboBox(self)
+        shapes = [
+            (Qt.ArrowCursor, "Arrow"),
+            (Qt.IBeamCursor, "IBeam"),
+            (Qt.WaitCursor, "Wait"),
+            (Qt.CrossCursor, "Cross"),
+            (Qt.UpArrowCursor, "UpArrow"),
+            (Qt.SizeAllCursor, "SizeAll"),
+            (Qt.PointingHandCursor, "PointingHand"),
+            (Qt.ForbiddenCursor, "Forbidden"),
+            (Qt.WhatsThisCursor, "WhatsThis"),
+            (Qt.BusyCursor, "Busy"),
+        ]
+        current_shape = None
+        if isinstance(value, QCursor):
+            try:
+                enum_val = value.shape()
+                current_shape = int(getattr(enum_val, "value", enum_val))
+            except Exception:
+                current_shape = None
+        for shape, text in shapes:
+            combo.addItem(text, int(getattr(shape, "value", shape)))
+        if current_shape is not None:
+            idx = combo.findData(current_shape)
+            if idx >= 0:
+                combo.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+
+        def apply_index(i):
+            shape_val = int(combo.itemData(i))
+            self._target.setProperty(name, QCursor(Qt.CursorShape(shape_val)))
+
+        combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(apply_index)
+        return combo
+
+    def _add_property_row(self, parent: QTreeWidgetItem, name: str, value, prop):
+        item = QTreeWidgetItem(parent, [name, ""])
+        editor = self._make_editor(name, value, prop)
+        if editor is not None:
+            self.tree.setItemWidget(item, 1, editor)
+        else:
+            item.setText(1, repr(value))
+
+    def _is_bec_metaobject(self, mo) -> bool:
+        cname = mo.className()
+        for cls in type(self._target).mro():
+            if getattr(cls, "__name__", None) == cname:
+                mod = getattr(cls, "__module__", "")
+                return mod.startswith("bec_widgets")
+        return False
+
+    def _enum_text(self, meta_enum: QMetaEnum, value_int: int) -> str:
+        if not meta_enum.isFlag():
+            key = meta_enum.valueToKey(value_int)
+            return key.decode() if isinstance(key, (bytes, bytearray)) else (key or str(value_int))
+        parts = []
+        for i in range(meta_enum.keyCount()):
+            k = meta_enum.key(i)
+            v = meta_enum.value(i)
+            if value_int & v:
+                k = k.decode() if isinstance(k, (bytes, bytearray)) else k
+                parts.append(k)
+        return " | ".join(parts) if parts else "0"
+
+    def _enum_value_to_int(self, meta_enum: QMetaEnum, value) -> int:
+        try:
+            return int(value)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        v = getattr(value, "value", None)
+        if isinstance(v, (int,)):
+            return int(v)
+        n = getattr(value, "name", None)
+        if isinstance(n, str):
+            res = meta_enum.keyToValue(n)
+            if res != -1:
+                return int(res)
+        s = str(value)
+        parts = [p.strip() for p in s.replace(",", "|").split("|")]
+        keys = []
+        for p in parts:
+            if "." in p:
+                p = p.split(".")[-1]
+            keys.append(p)
+        keystr = "|".join(keys)
+        try:
+            res = meta_enum.keysToValue(keystr)
+            if res != -1:
+                return int(res)
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+        return 0
+
+    def _make_enum_editor(self, name: str, value, prop):
+        meta_enum = prop.enumerator()
+        current = self._enum_value_to_int(meta_enum, value)
+
+        if not meta_enum.isFlag():
+            combo = QComboBox(self)
+            for i in range(meta_enum.keyCount()):
+                key = meta_enum.key(i)
+                key = key.decode() if isinstance(key, (bytes, bytearray)) else key
+                combo.addItem(key, meta_enum.value(i))
+            idx = combo.findData(current)
+            if idx < 0:
+                txt = self._enum_text(meta_enum, current)
+                idx = combo.findText(txt)
+            combo.setCurrentIndex(max(idx, 0))
+
+            def apply_index(i):
+                v = combo.itemData(i)
+                self._target.setProperty(name, int(v))
+
+            combo.currentIndexChanged.connect(apply_index)
+            return combo
+
+        btn = QToolButton(self)
+        btn.setText(self._enum_text(meta_enum, current))
+        btn.setPopupMode(QToolButton.InstantPopup)
+        menu = QMenu(btn)
+        actions = []
+        for i in range(meta_enum.keyCount()):
+            key = meta_enum.key(i)
+            key = key.decode() if isinstance(key, (bytes, bytearray)) else key
+            act = menu.addAction(key)
+            act.setCheckable(True)
+            act.setChecked(bool(current & meta_enum.value(i)))
+            actions.append(act)
+        btn.setMenu(menu)
+
+        def apply_flags():
+            flags = 0
+            for i, act in enumerate(actions):
+                if act.isChecked():
+                    flags |= meta_enum.value(i)
+            self._target.setProperty(name, int(flags))
+            btn.setText(self._enum_text(meta_enum, flags))
+
+        menu.triggered.connect(lambda _a: apply_flags())
+        return btn
+
+    def _make_editor(self, name: str, value, prop):
+        from qtpy.QtCore import QPoint, QPointF, QRect, QRectF, QSize, QSizeF
+
+        if prop.isEnumType():
+            return self._make_enum_editor(name, value, prop)
+        if isinstance(value, QColor):
+            return self._make_color_editor(value, lambda col: self._target.setProperty(name, col))
+        if isinstance(value, QFont):
+            return self._make_font_editor(name, value)
+        if isinstance(value, QPalette):
+            return self._make_palette_editor(name, value)
+        if isinstance(value, QCursor):
+            return self._make_cursor_editor(name, value)
+        if isinstance(value, QSizePolicy):
+            ed = self._make_sizepolicy_editor(name, value)
+            if ed is not None:
+                return ed
+        if isinstance(value, QLocale):
+            ed = self._make_locale_editor(name, value)
+            if ed is not None:
+                return ed
+        if isinstance(value, QIcon):
+            ed = self._make_icon_editor(name, value)
+            if ed is not None:
+                return ed
+        if isinstance(value, QSize):
+            wrap, w, h = self._spin_pair(ints=True)
+            w.setValue(value.width())
+            h.setValue(value.height())
+            w.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QSize(w.value(), h.value()))
+            )
+            h.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QSize(w.value(), h.value()))
+            )
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, QSizeF):
+            wrap, w, h = self._spin_pair(ints=False)
+            w.setValue(value.width())
+            h.setValue(value.height())
+            w.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QSizeF(w.value(), h.value()))
+            )
+            h.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QSizeF(w.value(), h.value()))
+            )
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, QPoint):
+            wrap, x, y = self._spin_pair(ints=True)
+            x.setValue(value.x())
+            y.setValue(value.y())
+            x.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QPoint(x.value(), y.value()))
+            )
+            y.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QPoint(x.value(), y.value()))
+            )
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, QPointF):
+            wrap, x, y = self._spin_pair(ints=False)
+            x.setValue(value.x())
+            y.setValue(value.y())
+            x.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QPointF(x.value(), y.value()))
+            )
+            y.valueChanged.connect(
+                lambda _: self._target.setProperty(name, QPointF(x.value(), y.value()))
+            )
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, QRect):
+            wrap, boxes = self._spin_quad(ints=True)
+            for b, v in zip(boxes, (value.x(), value.y(), value.width(), value.height())):
+                b.setValue(v)
+
+            def apply_rect():
+                self._target.setProperty(
+                    name,
+                    QRect(boxes[0].value(), boxes[1].value(), boxes[2].value(), boxes[3].value()),
+                )
+
+            for b in boxes:
+                b.valueChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_rect())
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, QRectF):
+            wrap, boxes = self._spin_quad(ints=False)
+            for b, v in zip(boxes, (value.x(), value.y(), value.width(), value.height())):
+                b.setValue(v)
+
+            def apply_rectf():
+                self._target.setProperty(
+                    name,
+                    QRectF(boxes[0].value(), boxes[1].value(), boxes[2].value(), boxes[3].value()),
+                )
+
+            for b in boxes:
+                b.valueChanged.connect(lambda _=None: apply_rectf())
+            return wrap
+        if isinstance(value, bool):
+            w = QCheckBox(self)
+            w.setChecked(bool(value))
+            w.toggled.connect(lambda v: self._target.setProperty(name, v))
+            return w
+        if isinstance(value, int) and not isinstance(value, bool):
+            w = QSpinBox(self)
+            w.setRange(-10_000_000, 10_000_000)
+            w.setValue(int(value))
+            w.valueChanged.connect(lambda v: self._target.setProperty(name, v))
+            return w
+        if isinstance(value, float):
+            w = QDoubleSpinBox(self)
+            w.setDecimals(6)
+            w.setRange(-1e12, 1e12)
+            w.setSingleStep(0.1)
+            w.setValue(float(value))
+            w.valueChanged.connect(lambda v: self._target.setProperty(name, v))
+            return w
+        if isinstance(value, str):
+            w = QLineEdit(self)
+            w.setText(value)
+            w.editingFinished.connect(lambda: self._target.setProperty(name, w.text()))
+            return w
+        return None
+
+
+class DemoApp(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+
+        layout = QHBoxLayout(self)
+
+        # Create a BECWidget instance example
+        waveform = self.create_waveform()
+
+        # property editor for the BECWidget
+        property_editor = PropertyEditor(waveform, show_only_bec=True)
+
+        layout.addWidget(waveform)
+        layout.addWidget(property_editor)
+
+    def create_waveform(self):
+        """Create a new waveform widget."""
+
+        from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.waveform import Waveform
+
+        waveform = Waveform(parent=self)
+        waveform.title = "New Waveform"
+        waveform.x_label = "X Axis"
+        waveform.y_label = "Y Axis"
+        return waveform
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover:
+    import sys
+
+    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
+
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    demo = DemoApp()
+    demo.setWindowTitle("Property Editor Demo")
+    demo.resize(1200, 800)
+    demo.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec())

bec_widgets/utils/rpc_decorator.py

@@ -13,3 +13,17 @@ def register_rpc_methods(cls):
         if getattr(method, "rpc_public", False):
             cls.USER_ACCESS.add(name)
     return cls
+
+
+def rpc_timeout(timeout: float | None):
+    """
+    Decorator to set a timeout for RPC methods.
+    The actual implementation of timeout handling is within the cli module. This decorator
+    is solely to inform the generate-cli command about the timeout value.
+    """
+
+    def decorator(func):
+        func.__rpc_timeout__ = timeout  # Store the timeout value in the function
+        return func
+
+    return decorator

bec_widgets/utils/rpc_server.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import functools
+import time
 import traceback
 import types
 from contextlib import contextmanager
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ from bec_lib.client import BECClient
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import
-from qtpy.QtCore import QTimer
+from qtpy.QtCore import Qt, QTimer
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 from redis.exceptions import RedisError
 
@@ -128,16 +129,44 @@ class RPCServer:
         # Run with rpc registry broadcast, but only once
         with RPCRegister.delayed_broadcast():
             logger.debug(f"Running RPC instruction: {method} with args: {args}, kwargs: {kwargs}")
-            method_obj = getattr(obj, method)
+            if method == "raise" and hasattr(
-            # check if the method accepts args and kwargs
+                obj, "setWindowState"
-            if not callable(method_obj):
+            ):  # special case for raising windows, should work even if minimized
-                if not args:
+                # this is a special case for raising windows for gnome on rethat 9 systems where changing focus is supressed by default
-                    res = method_obj
+                # The procedure is as follows:
-                else:
+                # 1. Get the current window state to check if the window is minimized and remove minimized flag
-                    setattr(obj, method, args[0])
+                # 2. Then in order to force gnome to raise the window, we set the window to stay on top temporarily
-                    res = None
+                #    and call raise_() and activateWindow()
+                #    This forces gnome to raise the window even if focus stealing is prevented
+                # 3. Flag for stay on top is removed again to restore the original window state
+                # 4. Finally, we call show() to ensure the window is visible
+
+                state = getattr(obj, "windowState", lambda: Qt.WindowNoState)()
+                target_state = state | Qt.WindowActive
+                if state & Qt.WindowMinimized:
+                    target_state &= ~Qt.WindowMinimized
+                obj.setWindowState(target_state)
+                if hasattr(obj, "showNormal") and state & Qt.WindowMinimized:
+                    obj.showNormal()
+                if hasattr(obj, "raise_"):
+                    obj.setWindowFlags(obj.windowFlags() | Qt.WindowStaysOnTopHint)
+                    obj.raise_()
+                if hasattr(obj, "activateWindow"):
+                    obj.activateWindow()
+                obj.setWindowFlags(obj.windowFlags() & ~Qt.WindowStaysOnTopHint)
+                obj.show()
+                res = None
             else:
-                res = method_obj(*args, **kwargs)
+                method_obj = getattr(obj, method)
+                # check if the method accepts args and kwargs
+                if not callable(method_obj):
+                    if not args:
+                        res = method_obj
+                    else:
+                        setattr(obj, method, args[0])
+                        res = None
+                else:
+                    res = method_obj(*args, **kwargs)
 
             if isinstance(res, list):
                 res = [self.serialize_object(obj) for obj in res]
@@ -200,6 +229,7 @@ class RPCServer:
             MessageEndpoints.gui_registry_state(self.gui_id),
             msg_dict={"data": messages.GUIRegistryStateMessage(state=data)},
             max_size=1,
+            expire=60,
         )
 
     def _serialize_bec_connector(self, connector: BECConnector, wait=False) -> dict:
@@ -229,6 +259,8 @@ class RPCServer:
         if wait:
             while not self.rpc_register.object_is_registered(connector):
                 QApplication.processEvents()
+                logger.info(f"Waiting for {connector} to be registered...")
+                time.sleep(0.1)
 
         widget_class = getattr(connector, "rpc_widget_class", None)
         if not widget_class:

bec_widgets/utils/serialization.py

@@ -1,44 +1,25 @@
+from bec_lib.codecs import BECCodec
 from bec_lib.serialization import msgpack
 from qtpy.QtCore import QPointF
 
 
+class QPointFEncoder(BECCodec):
+    obj_type = QPointF
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def encode(obj: QPointF) -> list[float]:
+        """Encode a QPointF object to a list of floats."""
+        return [obj.x(), obj.y()]
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def decode(type_name: str, data: list[float]) -> list[float]:
+        """No-op function since QPointF is encoded as a list of floats."""
+        return data
+
+
 def register_serializer_extension():
     """
     Register the serializer extension for the BECConnector.
     """
-    if not module_is_registered("bec_widgets.utils.serialization"):
+    if not msgpack.is_registered(QPointF):
-        msgpack.register_object_hook(encode_qpointf, decode_qpointf)
+        msgpack.register(QPointF, QPointFEncoder.encode, QPointFEncoder.decode)
-
-
-def module_is_registered(module_name: str) -> bool:
-    """
-    Check if the module is registered in the encoder.
-
-    Args:
-        module_name (str): The name of the module to check.
-
-    Returns:
-        bool: True if the module is registered, False otherwise.
-    """
-    # pylint: disable=protected-access
-    for enc in msgpack._encoder:
-        if enc[0].__module__ == module_name:
-            return True
-    return False
-
-
-def encode_qpointf(obj):
-    """
-    Encode a QPointF object to a list of floats. As this is mostly used for sending
-    data to the client, it is not necessary to convert it back to a QPointF object.
-    """
-    if isinstance(obj, QPointF):
-        return [obj.x(), obj.y()]
-    return obj
-
-
-def decode_qpointf(obj):
-    """
-    no-op function since QPointF is encoded as a list of floats.
-    """
-    return obj

bec_widgets/utils/toolbars/performance.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
 from bec_widgets.utils.toolbars.actions import MaterialIconAction
 from bec_widgets.utils.toolbars.bundles import ToolbarBundle
 from bec_widgets.utils.toolbars.connections import BundleConnection
@@ -42,11 +43,15 @@ class PerformanceConnection(BundleConnection):
         super().__init__()
         self._connected = False
 
+    @SafeSlot(bool)
+    def set_fps_monitor(self, enabled: bool):
+        setattr(self.target_widget, "enable_fps_monitor", enabled)
+
     def connect(self):
         self._connected = True
         # Connect the action to the target widget's method
         self.components.get_action_reference("fps_monitor")().action.toggled.connect(
-            lambda checked: setattr(self.target_widget, "enable_fps_monitor", checked)
+            self.set_fps_monitor
         )
 
     def disconnect(self):
@@ -54,5 +59,6 @@ class PerformanceConnection(BundleConnection):
             return
         # Disconnect the action from the target widget's method
         self.components.get_action_reference("fps_monitor")().action.toggled.disconnect(
-            lambda checked: setattr(self.target_widget, "enable_fps_monitor", checked)
+            self.set_fps_monitor
         )
+        self._connected = False

bec_widgets/utils/widget_io.py

@@ -264,6 +264,48 @@ class WidgetIO:
                 return WidgetIO._handlers[base]
         return None
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def find_widgets(widget_class: QWidget | str, recursive: bool = True) -> list[QWidget]:
+        """
+        Return widgets matching the given class (or class-name string).
+
+        Args:
+            widget_class: Either a QWidget subclass or its class-name as a string.
+            recursive: If True (default), traverse all top-level widgets and their children;
+                       if False, scan app.allWidgets() for a flat list.
+
+        Returns:
+            List of QWidget instances matching the class or class-name.
+        """
+        app = QApplication.instance()
+        if app is None:
+            raise RuntimeError("No QApplication instance found.")
+
+        # Match by class-name string
+        if isinstance(widget_class, str):
+            name = widget_class
+            if recursive:
+                result: list[QWidget] = []
+                for top in app.topLevelWidgets():
+                    if top.__class__.__name__ == name:
+                        result.append(top)
+                    result.extend(
+                        w for w in top.findChildren(QWidget) if w.__class__.__name__ == name
+                    )
+                return result
+            return [w for w in app.allWidgets() if w.__class__.__name__ == name]
+
+        # Match by actual class
+        if recursive:
+            result: list[QWidget] = []
+            for top in app.topLevelWidgets():
+                if isinstance(top, widget_class):
+                    result.append(top)
+                result.extend(top.findChildren(widget_class))
+            return result
+
+        return [w for w in app.allWidgets() if isinstance(w, widget_class)]
+
 
 ################## for exporting and importing widget hierarchies ##################
 

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/auto_update/auto_updates.py

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class AutoUpdates(BECMainWindow):
     _default_dock: BECDock
     USER_ACCESS = ["enabled", "enabled.setter", "selected_device", "selected_device.setter"]
     RPC = True
+    PLUGIN = False
 
     # enforce that subclasses have the same rpc widget class
     rpc_widget_class = "AutoUpdates"

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/bec_dock_area.pyproject

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{'files': ['dock_area.py']}

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/bec_dock_area_plugin.py

@@ -1,22 +1,19 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
-from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock import BECDockArea
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock.dock_area import BECDockArea
 
 DOM_XML = """
 <ui language='c++'>
-    <widget class='BECDockArea' name='dock_area'>
+    <widget class='BECDockArea' name='bec_dock_area'>
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class BECDockAreaPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -24,6 +21,8 @@ class BECDockAreaPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = BECDockArea(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -31,13 +30,13 @@ class BECDockAreaPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "BEC Plots"
+        return "BEC Containers"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(BECDockArea.ICON_NAME)
 
     def includeFile(self):
-        return "dock_area"
+        return "bec_dock_area"
 
     def initialize(self, form_editor):
         self._form_editor = form_editor
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ class BECDockAreaPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "BECDockArea"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "BECDockArea"
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/dock.py

@@ -389,6 +389,7 @@ class BECDock(BECWidget, Dock):
         if widget in self.widgets:
             self.widgets.remove(widget)
         widget.close()
+        widget.deleteLater()
 
     def delete_all(self):
         """

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/dock_area.py

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window import BECMainWindow
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box import PositionerBox
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.scan_control.scan_control import ScanControl
 from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.vscode.vscode import VSCodeEditor
+from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.heatmap.heatmap import Heatmap
 from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.image.image import Image
 from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.motor_map.motor_map import MotorMap
 from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.multi_waveform.multi_waveform import MultiWaveform
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         "detach_dock",
         "attach_all",
         "save_state",
+        "screenshot",
         "restore_state",
     ]
 
@@ -154,6 +156,9 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
                         filled=True,
                         parent=self,
                     ),
+                    "heatmap": MaterialIconAction(
+                        icon_name=Heatmap.ICON_NAME, tooltip="Add Heatmap", filled=True, parent=self
+                    ),
                 },
             ),
         )
@@ -263,11 +268,16 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
             "restore_state",
             MaterialIconAction(icon_name="frame_reload", tooltip="Restore Dock State", parent=self),
         )
+        self.toolbar.components.add_safe(
+            "screenshot",
+            MaterialIconAction(icon_name="photo_camera", tooltip="Take Screenshot", parent=self),
+        )
 
         bundle = ToolbarBundle("dock_actions", self.toolbar.components)
         bundle.add_action("attach_all")
         bundle.add_action("save_state")
         bundle.add_action("restore_state")
+        bundle.add_action("screenshot")
         self.toolbar.add_bundle(bundle)
 
     def _hook_toolbar(self):
@@ -291,6 +301,9 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         menu_plots.actions["motor_map"].action.triggered.connect(
             lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="MotorMap")
         )
+        menu_plots.actions["heatmap"].action.triggered.connect(
+            lambda: self._create_widget_from_toolbar(widget_name="Heatmap")
+        )
 
         # Menu Devices
         menu_devices.actions["scan_control"].action.triggered.connect(
@@ -326,6 +339,7 @@ class BECDockArea(BECWidget, QWidget):
         self.toolbar.components.get_action("restore_state").action.triggered.connect(
             self.restore_state
         )
+        self.toolbar.components.get_action("screenshot").action.triggered.connect(self.screenshot)
 
     @SafeSlot()
     def _create_widget_from_toolbar(self, widget_name: str) -> None:

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/dock_area.pyproject

@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-{'files': ['dock_area.py','dock.py']}

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/dock/register_bec_dock_area.py

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ def main():  # pragma: no cover
         return
     from PySide6.QtDesigner import QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection
 
-    from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock.dock_area_plugin import BECDockAreaPlugin
+    from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock.bec_dock_area_plugin import BECDockAreaPlugin
 
     QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection.addCustomWidget(BECDockAreaPlugin())
 

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/explorer/collapsible_tree_section.py

@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from bec_qthemes import material_icon
+from qtpy.QtCore import QMimeData, Qt, Signal
+from qtpy.QtGui import QDrag
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QHBoxLayout, QPushButton, QSizePolicy, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_theme_palette
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeProperty
+
+
+class CollapsibleSection(QWidget):
+    """A widget that combines a header button with any content widget for collapsible sections
+
+    This widget contains a header button with a title and a content widget.
+    The content widget can be any QWidget. The header button can be expanded or collapsed.
+    The header also contains an "Add" button that is only visible when hovering over the section.
+
+    Signals:
+        section_reorder_requested(str, str): Emitted when the section is dragged and dropped
+                                             onto another section for reordering.
+                                             Arguments are (source_title, target_title).
+    """
+
+    section_reorder_requested = Signal(str, str)  # (source_title, target_title)
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, title="", indentation=10, show_add_button=False):
+        super().__init__(parent=parent)
+        self.title = title
+        self.content_widget = None
+        self.setAcceptDrops(True)
+        self._expanded = True
+
+        # Setup layout
+        self.main_layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        self.main_layout.setContentsMargins(indentation, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.main_layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        header_layout = QHBoxLayout()
+        header_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 4, 0)
+        header_layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        # Create header button
+        self.header_button = QPushButton()
+        self.header_button.clicked.connect(self.toggle_expanded)
+
+        # Enable drag and drop for reordering
+        self.header_button.setAcceptDrops(True)
+        self.header_button.mousePressEvent = self._header_mouse_press_event
+        self.header_button.mouseMoveEvent = self._header_mouse_move_event
+        self.header_button.dragEnterEvent = self._header_drag_enter_event
+        self.header_button.dropEvent = self._header_drop_event
+
+        self.drag_start_position = None
+
+        # Add header to layout
+        header_layout.addWidget(self.header_button)
+        header_layout.addStretch()
+
+        self.header_add_button = QPushButton()
+        self.header_add_button.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
+        self.header_add_button.setFixedSize(20, 20)
+        self.header_add_button.setToolTip("Add item")
+        self.header_add_button.setVisible(show_add_button)
+
+        self.header_add_button.setIcon(material_icon("add", size=(20, 20)))
+        header_layout.addWidget(self.header_add_button)
+
+        self.main_layout.addLayout(header_layout)
+
+        self._update_expanded_state()
+
+    def set_widget(self, widget):
+        """Set the content widget for this collapsible section"""
+        # Remove existing content widget if any
+        if self.content_widget and self.content_widget.parent() == self:
+            self.main_layout.removeWidget(self.content_widget)
+            self.content_widget.close()
+            self.content_widget.deleteLater()
+
+        self.content_widget = widget
+        if self.content_widget:
+            self.main_layout.addWidget(self.content_widget)
+
+        self._update_expanded_state()
+
+    def _update_appearance(self):
+        """Update the header button appearance based on expanded state"""
+        # Use material icons with consistent sizing to match tree items
+        icon_name = "keyboard_arrow_down" if self.expanded else "keyboard_arrow_right"
+        icon = material_icon(icon_name=icon_name, size=(20, 20), convert_to_pixmap=False)
+
+        self.header_button.setIcon(icon)
+        self.header_button.setText(self.title)
+
+        # Get theme colors
+        palette = get_theme_palette()
+        text_color = palette.text().color().name()
+
+        self.header_button.setStyleSheet(
+            f"""
+            QPushButton {{
+                font-weight: bold;
+                text-align: left;
+                margin: 0;
+                padding: 0px;
+                border: none;
+                background: transparent;
+                color: {text_color};
+                icon-size: 20px 20px;
+            }}
+        """
+        )
+
+    def toggle_expanded(self):
+        """Toggle the expanded state and update size policy"""
+        self.expanded = not self.expanded
+        self._update_expanded_state()
+
+    def _update_expanded_state(self):
+        """Update the expanded state based on current state"""
+        self._update_appearance()
+        if self.expanded:
+            if self.content_widget:
+                self.content_widget.show()
+            self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding)
+        else:
+            if self.content_widget:
+                self.content_widget.hide()
+            self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
+
+    @SafeProperty(bool)
+    def expanded(self) -> bool:
+        """Get the expanded state"""
+        return self._expanded
+
+    @expanded.setter
+    def expanded(self, value: bool):
+        """Set the expanded state programmatically"""
+        if not isinstance(value, bool):
+            raise ValueError("Expanded state must be a boolean")
+        if self._expanded == value:
+            return
+        self._expanded = value
+        self._update_appearance()
+
+    def connect_add_button(self, slot):
+        """Connect a slot to the add button's clicked signal.
+
+        Args:
+            slot: The function to call when the add button is clicked.
+        """
+        self.header_add_button.clicked.connect(slot)
+
+    def _header_mouse_press_event(self, event):
+        """Handle mouse press on header for drag start"""
+        if event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton:
+            self.drag_start_position = event.pos()
+        QPushButton.mousePressEvent(self.header_button, event)
+
+    def _header_mouse_move_event(self, event):
+        """Handle mouse move to start drag operation"""
+        if event.buttons() & Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton and self.drag_start_position is not None:
+
+            # Check if we've moved far enough to start a drag
+            if (event.pos() - self.drag_start_position).manhattanLength() >= 10:
+
+                self._start_drag()
+        QPushButton.mouseMoveEvent(self.header_button, event)
+
+    def _start_drag(self):
+        """Start the drag operation with a properly aligned widget pixmap"""
+        drag = QDrag(self.header_button)
+        mime_data = QMimeData()
+        mime_data.setText(f"section:{self.title}")
+        drag.setMimeData(mime_data)
+
+        # Grab a pixmap of the widget
+        widget_pixmap = self.header_button.grab()
+
+        drag.setPixmap(widget_pixmap)
+
+        # Set the hotspot to where the mouse was pressed on the widget
+        drag.setHotSpot(self.drag_start_position)
+
+        drag.exec_(Qt.MoveAction)
+
+    def _header_drag_enter_event(self, event):
+        """Handle drag enter on header"""
+        if event.mimeData().hasText() and event.mimeData().text().startswith("section:"):
+            event.acceptProposedAction()
+        else:
+            event.ignore()
+
+    def _header_drop_event(self, event):
+        """Handle drop on header"""
+        if event.mimeData().hasText() and event.mimeData().text().startswith("section:"):
+            source_title = event.mimeData().text().replace("section:", "")
+            if source_title != self.title:
+                # Emit signal to parent to handle reordering
+                self.section_reorder_requested.emit(source_title, self.title)
+            event.acceptProposedAction()
+        else:
+            event.ignore()

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/explorer/explorer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from qtpy.QtCore import Qt
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QSizePolicy, QSpacerItem, QSplitter, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_theme_palette
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.explorer.collapsible_tree_section import CollapsibleSection
+
+
+class Explorer(BECWidget, QWidget):
+    """
+    A widget that combines multiple collapsible sections for an explorer-like interface.
+    Each section can be expanded or collapsed, and sections can be reordered. The explorer
+    can contain also sub-explorers for nested structures.
+    """
+
+    RPC = False
+    PLUGIN = False
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+
+        # Main layout
+        self.main_layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        self.main_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.main_layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        # Splitter for sections
+        self.splitter = QSplitter(Qt.Orientation.Vertical)
+        self.main_layout.addWidget(self.splitter)
+
+        # Spacer for when all sections are collapsed
+        self.expander = QSpacerItem(0, 0)
+        self.main_layout.addItem(self.expander)
+
+        # Registry of sections
+        self.sections: list[CollapsibleSection] = []
+
+        # Setup splitter styling
+        self._setup_splitter_styling()
+
+    def add_section(self, section: CollapsibleSection) -> None:
+        """
+        Add a collapsible section to the explorer
+
+        Args:
+            section (CollapsibleSection): The section to add
+        """
+        if not isinstance(section, CollapsibleSection):
+            raise TypeError("section must be an instance of CollapsibleSection")
+
+        if section in self.sections:
+            return
+
+        self.sections.append(section)
+        self.splitter.addWidget(section)
+
+        # Connect the section's toggle to update spacer
+        section.header_button.clicked.connect(self._update_spacer)
+
+        # Connect section reordering if supported
+        if hasattr(section, "section_reorder_requested"):
+            section.section_reorder_requested.connect(self._handle_section_reorder)
+
+        self._update_spacer()
+
+    def remove_section(self, section: CollapsibleSection) -> None:
+        """
+        Remove a collapsible section from the explorer
+
+        Args:
+            section (CollapsibleSection): The section to remove
+        """
+        if section not in self.sections:
+            return
+        self.sections.remove(section)
+        section.deleteLater()
+        section.close()
+
+        # Disconnect signals
+        try:
+            section.header_button.clicked.disconnect(self._update_spacer)
+            if hasattr(section, "section_reorder_requested"):
+                section.section_reorder_requested.disconnect(self._handle_section_reorder)
+        except RuntimeError:
+            # Signals already disconnected
+            pass
+
+        self._update_spacer()
+
+    def get_section(self, title: str) -> CollapsibleSection | None:
+        """Get a section by its title"""
+        for section in self.sections:
+            if section.title == title:
+                return section
+        return None
+
+    def _setup_splitter_styling(self) -> None:
+        """Setup the splitter styling with theme colors"""
+        palette = get_theme_palette()
+        separator_color = palette.mid().color()
+
+        self.splitter.setStyleSheet(
+            f"""
+            QSplitter::handle {{
+                height: 0.1px;
+                background-color: rgba({separator_color.red()}, {separator_color.green()}, {separator_color.blue()}, 60);
+            }}
+        """
+        )
+
+    def _update_spacer(self) -> None:
+        """Update the spacer size based on section states"""
+        any_expanded = any(section.expanded for section in self.sections)
+
+        if any_expanded:
+            self.expander.changeSize(0, 0, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Policy.Fixed)
+        else:
+            self.expander.changeSize(
+                0, 10, QSizePolicy.Policy.Maximum, QSizePolicy.Policy.Expanding
+            )
+
+    def _handle_section_reorder(self, source_title: str, target_title: str) -> None:
+        """Handle reordering of sections"""
+        if source_title == target_title:
+            return
+
+        source_section = self.get_section(source_title)
+        target_section = self.get_section(target_title)
+
+        if not source_section or not target_section:
+            return
+
+        # Get current indices
+        source_index = self.splitter.indexOf(source_section)
+        target_index = self.splitter.indexOf(target_section)
+
+        if source_index == -1 or target_index == -1:
+            return
+
+        # Insert at target position
+        self.splitter.insertWidget(target_index, source_section)
+
+        # Update sections
+        self.sections.remove(source_section)
+        self.sections.insert(target_index, source_section)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import os
+
+    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QLabel
+
+    from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.explorer.script_tree_widget import ScriptTreeWidget
+
+    app = QApplication([])
+    explorer = Explorer()
+    section = CollapsibleSection(title="SCRIPTS", indentation=0)
+
+    script_explorer = Explorer()
+    script_widget = ScriptTreeWidget()
+    local_scripts_section = CollapsibleSection(title="Local")
+    local_scripts_section.set_widget(script_widget)
+    script_widget.set_directory(os.path.abspath("./"))
+    script_explorer.add_section(local_scripts_section)
+
+    section.set_widget(script_explorer)
+    explorer.add_section(section)
+    shared_script_section = CollapsibleSection(title="Shared")
+    shared_script_widget = ScriptTreeWidget()
+    shared_script_widget.set_directory(os.path.abspath("./"))
+    shared_script_section.set_widget(shared_script_widget)
+    script_explorer.add_section(shared_script_section)
+    macros_section = CollapsibleSection(title="MACROS", indentation=0)
+    macros_section.set_widget(QLabel("Macros will be implemented later"))
+    explorer.add_section(macros_section)
+    explorer.show()
+    app.exec()

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/explorer/script_tree_widget.py

@@ -0,0 +1,387 @@
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from qtpy.QtCore import QModelIndex, QRect, QRegularExpression, QSortFilterProxyModel, Qt, Signal
+from qtpy.QtGui import QAction, QPainter
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QFileSystemModel, QStyledItemDelegate, QTreeView, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_theme_palette
+from bec_widgets.utils.toolbars.actions import MaterialIconAction
+
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
+
+class FileItemDelegate(QStyledItemDelegate):
+    """Custom delegate to show action buttons on hover"""
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self.hovered_index = QModelIndex()
+        self.file_actions: list[QAction] = []
+        self.dir_actions: list[QAction] = []
+        self.button_rects: list[QRect] = []
+        self.current_file_path = ""
+
+    def add_file_action(self, action: QAction) -> None:
+        """Add an action for files"""
+        self.file_actions.append(action)
+
+    def add_dir_action(self, action: QAction) -> None:
+        """Add an action for directories"""
+        self.dir_actions.append(action)
+
+    def clear_actions(self) -> None:
+        """Remove all actions"""
+        self.file_actions.clear()
+        self.dir_actions.clear()
+
+    def paint(self, painter, option, index):
+        """Paint the item with action buttons on hover"""
+        # Paint the default item
+        super().paint(painter, option, index)
+
+        # Early return if not hovering over this item
+        if index != self.hovered_index:
+            return
+
+        tree_view = self.parent()
+        if not isinstance(tree_view, QTreeView):
+            return
+
+        proxy_model = tree_view.model()
+        if not isinstance(proxy_model, QSortFilterProxyModel):
+            return
+
+        source_index = proxy_model.mapToSource(index)
+        source_model = proxy_model.sourceModel()
+        if not isinstance(source_model, QFileSystemModel):
+            return
+
+        is_dir = source_model.isDir(source_index)
+        file_path = source_model.filePath(source_index)
+        self.current_file_path = file_path
+
+        # Choose appropriate actions based on item type
+        actions = self.dir_actions if is_dir else self.file_actions
+        if actions:
+            self._draw_action_buttons(painter, option, actions)
+
+    def _draw_action_buttons(self, painter, option, actions: list[QAction]):
+        """Draw action buttons on the right side"""
+        button_size = 18
+        margin = 4
+        spacing = 2
+
+        # Calculate total width needed for all buttons
+        total_width = len(actions) * button_size + (len(actions) - 1) * spacing
+
+        # Clear previous button rects and create new ones
+        self.button_rects.clear()
+
+        # Calculate starting position (right side of the item)
+        start_x = option.rect.right() - total_width - margin
+        current_x = start_x
+
+        painter.save()
+        painter.setRenderHint(QPainter.RenderHint.Antialiasing)
+
+        # Get theme colors for better integration
+        palette = get_theme_palette()
+        button_bg = palette.button().color()
+        button_bg.setAlpha(150)  # Semi-transparent
+
+        for action in actions:
+            if not action.isVisible():
+                continue
+
+            # Calculate button position
+            button_rect = QRect(
+                current_x,
+                option.rect.top() + (option.rect.height() - button_size) // 2,
+                button_size,
+                button_size,
+            )
+            self.button_rects.append(button_rect)
+
+            # Draw button background
+            painter.setBrush(button_bg)
+            painter.setPen(palette.mid().color())
+            painter.drawRoundedRect(button_rect, 3, 3)
+
+            # Draw action icon
+            icon = action.icon()
+            if not icon.isNull():
+                icon_rect = button_rect.adjusted(2, 2, -2, -2)
+                icon.paint(painter, icon_rect)
+
+            # Move to next button position
+            current_x += button_size + spacing
+
+        painter.restore()
+
+    def editorEvent(self, event, model, option, index):
+        """Handle mouse events for action buttons"""
+        # Early return if not a left click
+        if not (
+            event.type() == event.Type.MouseButtonPress
+            and event.button() == Qt.MouseButton.LeftButton
+        ):
+            return super().editorEvent(event, model, option, index)
+
+        # Early return if not a proxy model
+        if not isinstance(model, QSortFilterProxyModel):
+            return super().editorEvent(event, model, option, index)
+
+        source_index = model.mapToSource(index)
+        source_model = model.sourceModel()
+
+        # Early return if not a file system model
+        if not isinstance(source_model, QFileSystemModel):
+            return super().editorEvent(event, model, option, index)
+
+        is_dir = source_model.isDir(source_index)
+        actions = self.dir_actions if is_dir else self.file_actions
+
+        # Check which button was clicked
+        visible_actions = [action for action in actions if action.isVisible()]
+        for i, button_rect in enumerate(self.button_rects):
+            if button_rect.contains(event.pos()) and i < len(visible_actions):
+                # Trigger the action
+                visible_actions[i].trigger()
+                return True
+
+        return super().editorEvent(event, model, option, index)
+
+    def set_hovered_index(self, index):
+        """Set the currently hovered index"""
+        self.hovered_index = index
+
+
+class ScriptTreeWidget(QWidget):
+    """A simple tree widget for scripts using QFileSystemModel - designed to be injected into CollapsibleSection"""
+
+    file_selected = Signal(str)  # Script file path selected
+    file_open_requested = Signal(str)  # File open button clicked
+    file_renamed = Signal(str, str)  # Old path, new path
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+
+        # Create layout
+        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+        # Create tree view
+        self.tree = QTreeView()
+        self.tree.setHeaderHidden(True)
+        self.tree.setRootIsDecorated(True)
+
+        # Enable mouse tracking for hover effects
+        self.tree.setMouseTracking(True)
+
+        # Create file system model
+        self.model = QFileSystemModel()
+        self.model.setNameFilters(["*.py"])
+        self.model.setNameFilterDisables(False)
+
+        # Create proxy model to filter out underscore directories
+        self.proxy_model = QSortFilterProxyModel()
+        self.proxy_model.setFilterRegularExpression(QRegularExpression("^[^_].*"))
+        self.proxy_model.setSourceModel(self.model)
+        self.tree.setModel(self.proxy_model)
+
+        # Create and set custom delegate
+        self.delegate = FileItemDelegate(self.tree)
+        self.tree.setItemDelegate(self.delegate)
+
+        # Add default open button for files
+        action = MaterialIconAction(icon_name="file_open", tooltip="Open file", parent=self)
+        action.action.triggered.connect(self._on_file_open_requested)
+        self.delegate.add_file_action(action.action)
+
+        # Remove unnecessary columns
+        self.tree.setColumnHidden(1, True)  # Hide size column
+        self.tree.setColumnHidden(2, True)  # Hide type column
+        self.tree.setColumnHidden(3, True)  # Hide date modified column
+
+        # Apply BEC styling
+        self._apply_styling()
+
+        # Script specific properties
+        self.directory = None
+
+        # Connect signals
+        self.tree.clicked.connect(self._on_item_clicked)
+        self.tree.doubleClicked.connect(self._on_item_double_clicked)
+
+        # Install event filter for hover tracking
+        self.tree.viewport().installEventFilter(self)
+
+        # Add to layout
+        layout.addWidget(self.tree)
+
+    def _apply_styling(self):
+        """Apply styling to the tree widget"""
+        # Get theme colors for subtle tree lines
+        palette = get_theme_palette()
+        subtle_line_color = palette.mid().color()
+        subtle_line_color.setAlpha(80)
+
+        # pylint: disable=f-string-without-interpolation
+        tree_style = f""" 
+            QTreeView {{ 
+                border: none;
+                outline: 0;
+                show-decoration-selected: 0;
+            }}
+            QTreeView::branch {{
+                border-image: none;
+                background: transparent;
+            }}
+
+            QTreeView::item {{
+                border: none;
+                padding: 0px;
+                margin: 0px;
+            }}
+            QTreeView::item:hover {{
+                background: palette(midlight);
+                border: none;
+                padding: 0px;
+                margin: 0px;
+                text-decoration: none;
+            }}
+            QTreeView::item:selected {{
+                background: palette(highlight);
+                color: palette(highlighted-text);
+            }}
+            QTreeView::item:selected:hover {{
+                background: palette(highlight);
+            }}
+        """
+
+        self.tree.setStyleSheet(tree_style)
+
+    def eventFilter(self, obj, event):
+        """Handle mouse move events for hover tracking"""
+        # Early return if not the tree viewport
+        if obj != self.tree.viewport():
+            return super().eventFilter(obj, event)
+
+        if event.type() == event.Type.MouseMove:
+            index = self.tree.indexAt(event.pos())
+            if index.isValid():
+                self.delegate.set_hovered_index(index)
+            else:
+                self.delegate.set_hovered_index(QModelIndex())
+            self.tree.viewport().update()
+            return super().eventFilter(obj, event)
+
+        if event.type() == event.Type.Leave:
+            self.delegate.set_hovered_index(QModelIndex())
+            self.tree.viewport().update()
+            return super().eventFilter(obj, event)
+
+        return super().eventFilter(obj, event)
+
+    def set_directory(self, directory):
+        """Set the scripts directory"""
+        self.directory = directory
+
+        # Early return if directory doesn't exist
+        if not directory or not os.path.exists(directory):
+            return
+
+        root_index = self.model.setRootPath(directory)
+        # Map the source model index to proxy model index
+        proxy_root_index = self.proxy_model.mapFromSource(root_index)
+        self.tree.setRootIndex(proxy_root_index)
+        self.tree.expandAll()
+
+    def _on_item_clicked(self, index: QModelIndex):
+        """Handle item clicks"""
+        # Map proxy index back to source index
+        source_index = self.proxy_model.mapToSource(index)
+
+        # Early return for directories
+        if self.model.isDir(source_index):
+            return
+
+        file_path = self.model.filePath(source_index)
+
+        # Early return if not a valid file
+        if not file_path or not os.path.isfile(file_path):
+            return
+
+        path_obj = Path(file_path)
+
+        # Only emit signal for Python files
+        if path_obj.suffix.lower() == ".py":
+            logger.info(f"Script selected: {file_path}")
+            self.file_selected.emit(file_path)
+
+    def _on_item_double_clicked(self, index: QModelIndex):
+        """Handle item double-clicks"""
+        # Map proxy index back to source index
+        source_index = self.proxy_model.mapToSource(index)
+
+        # Early return for directories
+        if self.model.isDir(source_index):
+            return
+
+        file_path = self.model.filePath(source_index)
+
+        # Early return if not a valid file
+        if not file_path or not os.path.isfile(file_path):
+            return
+
+        # Emit signal to open the file
+        logger.info(f"File open requested via double-click: {file_path}")
+        self.file_open_requested.emit(file_path)
+
+    def _on_file_open_requested(self):
+        """Handle file open action triggered"""
+        logger.info("File open requested")
+        # Early return if no hovered item
+        if not self.delegate.hovered_index.isValid():
+            return
+
+        source_index = self.proxy_model.mapToSource(self.delegate.hovered_index)
+        file_path = self.model.filePath(source_index)
+
+        # Early return if not a valid file
+        if not file_path or not os.path.isfile(file_path):
+            return
+
+        self.file_open_requested.emit(file_path)
+
+    def add_file_action(self, action: QAction) -> None:
+        """Add an action for file items"""
+        self.delegate.add_file_action(action)
+
+    def add_dir_action(self, action: QAction) -> None:
+        """Add an action for directory items"""
+        self.delegate.add_dir_action(action)
+
+    def clear_actions(self) -> None:
+        """Remove all actions from items"""
+        self.delegate.clear_actions()
+
+    def refresh(self):
+        """Refresh the tree view"""
+        if self.directory is None:
+            return
+        self.model.setRootPath("")  # Reset
+        root_index = self.model.setRootPath(self.directory)
+        proxy_root_index = self.proxy_model.mapFromSource(root_index)
+        self.tree.setRootIndex(proxy_root_index)
+
+    def expand_all(self):
+        """Expand all items in the tree"""
+        self.tree.expandAll()
+
+    def collapse_all(self):
+        """Collapse all items in the tree"""
+        self.tree.collapseAll()

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/main_window/addons/web_links.py

@@ -12,4 +12,4 @@ class BECWebLinksMixin:
 
     @staticmethod
     def open_bec_bug_report():
-        webbrowser.open("https://gitlab.psi.ch/groups/bec/-/issues/")
+        webbrowser.open("https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/issues")

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/main_window/bec_main_window.pyproject

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{'files': ['main_window.py']}

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/main_window/bec_main_window_plugin.py

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
+from qtpy.QtCore import QSize
+from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window import BECMainWindow
+
+DOM_XML = """
+<ui language='c++'>
+    <widget class='BECMainWindow' name='bec_main_window'>
+    </widget>
+</ui>
+"""
+
+
+class BECMainWindowPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self._form_editor = None
+
+    def createWidget(self, parent):
+        # We want to initialize BECMainWindow upon starting designer
+        t = BECMainWindow(parent)
+        return t
+
+    def domXml(self):
+        return DOM_XML
+
+    def group(self):
+        return "BEC Containers"
+
+    def icon(self):
+        return designer_material_icon(BECMainWindow.ICON_NAME)
+
+    def includeFile(self):
+        return "bec_main_window"
+
+    def initialize(self, form_editor):
+        import os
+
+        from qtpy.QtCore import Qt
+        from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
+
+        import bec_widgets
+
+        MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
+        QApplication.setAttribute(Qt.AA_DontUseNativeMenuBar, True)
+        app = QApplication.instance()
+        icon = QIcon()
+        icon.addFile(
+            os.path.join(MODULE_PATH, "assets", "app_icons", "BEC-General-App.png"),
+            size=QSize(48, 48),
+        )
+        app.setWindowIcon(icon)
+        self._form_editor = form_editor
+
+    def isContainer(self):
+        return True
+
+    def isInitialized(self):
+        return self._form_editor is not None
+
+    def name(self):
+        return "BECMainWindow"
+
+    def toolTip(self):
+        return "BECMainWindow"
+
+    def whatsThis(self):
+        return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/main_window/main_window.py

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import os
 
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
-from qtpy.QtCore import QEasingCurve, QEvent, QPropertyAnimation, QSize, Qt, QTimer
+from qtpy.QtCore import QEvent, QSize, Qt, QTimer
 from qtpy.QtGui import QAction, QActionGroup, QIcon
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
     QApplication,
@@ -19,22 +19,30 @@ from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
 import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils import UILoader
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
-from bec_widgets.utils.colors import apply_theme
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import apply_theme, set_theme
 from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
 from bec_widgets.utils.widget_io import WidgetHierarchy
 from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.addons.hover_widget import HoverWidget
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.addons.notification_center.notification_banner import (
+    BECNotificationBroker,
+    NotificationCentre,
+    NotificationIndicator,
+)
 from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.addons.scroll_label import ScrollLabel
 from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.addons.web_links import BECWebLinksMixin
 from bec_widgets.widgets.progress.scan_progressbar.scan_progressbar import ScanProgressBar
 
 MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
 
+# Ensure the application does not use the native menu bar on macOS to be consistent with linux development.
+QApplication.setAttribute(Qt.AA_DontUseNativeMenuBar, True)
+
 
 class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
-    RPC = False
+    RPC = True
-    PLUGIN = False
+    PLUGIN = True
     SCAN_PROGRESS_WIDTH = 100  # px
-    STATUS_BAR_WIDGETS_EXPIRE_TIME = 60_000  # milliseconds
+    SCAN_PROGRESS_HEIGHT = 12  # px
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -50,6 +58,14 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         self.app = QApplication.instance()
         self.status_bar = self.statusBar()
         self.setWindowTitle(window_title)
+
+        # Notification Centre overlay
+        self.notification_centre = NotificationCentre(parent=self)  # Notification layer
+        self.notification_broker = BECNotificationBroker()
+        self._nc_margin = 16
+        self._position_notification_centre()
+
+        # Init ui
         self._init_ui()
         self._connect_to_theme_change()
 
@@ -58,6 +74,34 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
             self.display_client_message, MessageEndpoints.client_info()
         )
 
+    def setCentralWidget(self, widget: QWidget, qt_default: bool = False):  # type: ignore[override]
+        """
+        Re‑implement QMainWindow.setCentralWidget so that the *main content*
+        widget always lives on the lower layer of the stacked layout that
+        hosts our notification overlays.
+
+        Args:
+            widget: The widget that should become the new central content.
+            qt_default: When *True* the call is forwarded to the base class so
+                that Qt behaves exactly as the original implementation (used
+                during __init__ when we first install ``self._full_content``).
+        """
+        super().setCentralWidget(widget)
+        self.notification_centre.raise_()
+        self.statusBar().raise_()
+
+    def resizeEvent(self, event):
+        super().resizeEvent(event)
+        self._position_notification_centre()
+
+    def _position_notification_centre(self):
+        """Keep the notification panel at a fixed margin top-right."""
+        if not hasattr(self, "notification_centre"):
+            return
+        margin = getattr(self, "_nc_margin", 16)  # px
+        nc = self.notification_centre
+        nc.move(self.width() - nc.width() - margin, margin)
+
     ################################################################################
     # MainWindow Elements Initialization
     ################################################################################
@@ -94,6 +138,26 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         # Add scan_progress bar with display logic
         self._add_scan_progress_bar()
 
+        # Setup NotificationIndicator to bottom right of the status bar
+        self._add_notification_indicator()
+
+    ################################################################################
+    # Notification indicator and Notification Centre helpers
+
+    def _add_notification_indicator(self):
+        """
+        Add the notification indicator to the status bar and hook the signals.
+        """
+        # Add the notification indicator to the status bar
+        self.notification_indicator = NotificationIndicator(self)
+        self.status_bar.addPermanentWidget(self.notification_indicator)
+
+        # Connect the notification broker to the indicator
+        self.notification_centre.counts_updated.connect(self.notification_indicator.update_counts)
+        self.notification_indicator.filter_changed.connect(self.notification_centre.apply_filter)
+        self.notification_indicator.show_all_requested.connect(self.notification_centre.show_all)
+        self.notification_indicator.hide_all_requested.connect(self.notification_centre.hide_all)
+
     ################################################################################
     # Client message status bar widget helpers
 
@@ -137,8 +201,8 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         self._scan_progress_bar_simple.show_remaining_time = False
         self._scan_progress_bar_simple.show_source_label = False
         self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progressbar.label_template = ""
-        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progressbar.setFixedHeight(8)
+        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progressbar.setFixedHeight(self.SCAN_PROGRESS_HEIGHT)
-        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progressbar.setFixedWidth(80)
+        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progressbar.setFixedWidth(self.SCAN_PROGRESS_WIDTH)
         self._scan_progress_bar_full = ScanProgressBar(self)
         self._scan_progress_hover = HoverWidget(
             self, simple=self._scan_progress_bar_simple, full=self._scan_progress_bar_full
@@ -155,62 +219,8 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.layout.addWidget(separator)
         self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.layout.addWidget(self._scan_progress_hover)
 
-        # Set Size
-        self._scan_progress_bar_target_width = self.SCAN_PROGRESS_WIDTH
-        self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.setMaximumWidth(self._scan_progress_bar_target_width)
-
         self.status_bar.addWidget(self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator)
 
-        # Visibility logic
-        self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.hide()
-        self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.setMaximumWidth(0)
-
-        # Timer for hiding logic
-        self._scan_progress_hide_timer = QTimer(self)
-        self._scan_progress_hide_timer.setSingleShot(True)
-        self._scan_progress_hide_timer.setInterval(self.STATUS_BAR_WIDGETS_EXPIRE_TIME)
-        self._scan_progress_hide_timer.timeout.connect(self._animate_hide_scan_progress_bar)
-
-        # Show / hide behaviour
-        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progress_started.connect(self._show_scan_progress_bar)
-        self._scan_progress_bar_simple.progress_finished.connect(self._delay_hide_scan_progress_bar)
-
-    def _show_scan_progress_bar(self):
-        if self._scan_progress_hide_timer.isActive():
-            self._scan_progress_hide_timer.stop()
-        if self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.isVisible():
-            return
-
-        # Make visible and reset width
-        self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.show()
-        self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.setMaximumWidth(0)
-
-        self._show_container_anim = QPropertyAnimation(
-            self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator, b"maximumWidth", self
-        )
-        self._show_container_anim.setDuration(300)
-        self._show_container_anim.setStartValue(0)
-        self._show_container_anim.setEndValue(self._scan_progress_bar_target_width)
-        self._show_container_anim.setEasingCurve(QEasingCurve.OutCubic)
-        self._show_container_anim.start()
-
-    def _delay_hide_scan_progress_bar(self):
-        """Start the countdown to hide the scan progress bar."""
-        if hasattr(self, "_scan_progress_hide_timer"):
-            self._scan_progress_hide_timer.start()
-
-    def _animate_hide_scan_progress_bar(self):
-        """Shrink container to the right, then hide."""
-        self._hide_container_anim = QPropertyAnimation(
-            self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator, b"maximumWidth", self
-        )
-        self._hide_container_anim.setDuration(300)
-        self._hide_container_anim.setStartValue(self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.width())
-        self._hide_container_anim.setEndValue(0)
-        self._hide_container_anim.setEasingCurve(QEasingCurve.InCubic)
-        self._hide_container_anim.finished.connect(self._scan_progress_bar_with_separator.hide)
-        self._hide_container_anim.start()
-
     def _add_separator(self, separate_object: bool = False) -> QWidget | None:
         """
         Add a vertically centred separator to the status bar or just return it as a separate object.
@@ -379,12 +389,12 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
     @SafeSlot(str)
     def change_theme(self, theme: str):
         """
-        Change the theme of the application.
+        Change the theme of the application and propagate it to widgets.
 
         Args:
-            theme(str): The theme to apply, either "light" or "dark".
+            theme(str): Either "light" or "dark".
         """
-        apply_theme(theme)
+        set_theme(theme)  # emits theme_updated and applies palette globally
 
     def event(self, event):
         if event.type() == QEvent.Type.StatusTip:
@@ -410,8 +420,6 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         # Timer cleanup
         if hasattr(self, "_client_info_expire_timer") and self._client_info_expire_timer.isActive():
             self._client_info_expire_timer.stop()
-        if hasattr(self, "_scan_progress_hide_timer") and self._scan_progress_hide_timer.isActive():
-            self._scan_progress_hide_timer.stop()
 
         ########################################
         # Status bar widgets cleanup
@@ -430,15 +438,16 @@ class BECMainWindow(BECWidget, QMainWindow):
         super().cleanup()
 
 
-class UILaunchWindow(BECMainWindow):
+class BECMainWindowNoRPC(BECMainWindow):
-    RPC = True
+    RPC = False
+    PLUGIN = False
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     import sys
 
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
-    main_window = UILaunchWindow()
+    main_window = BECMainWindow()
     main_window.show()
     main_window.resize(800, 600)
     sys.exit(app.exec())

bec_widgets/widgets/containers/main_window/register_bec_main_window.py

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+def main():  # pragma: no cover
+    from qtpy import PYSIDE6
+
+    if not PYSIDE6:
+        print("PYSIDE6 is not available in the environment. Cannot patch designer.")
+        return
+    from PySide6.QtDesigner import QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection
+
+    from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.bec_main_window_plugin import (
+        BECMainWindowPlugin,
+    )
+
+    QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection.addCustomWidget(BECMainWindowPlugin())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/buttons/button_abort/abort_button_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.button_abort.button_abort import AbortButton
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class AbortButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = AbortButton(parent)
         return t
 

bec_widgets/widgets/control/buttons/button_reset/reset_button_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.button_reset.button_reset import ResetButton
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class ResetButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = ResetButton(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ class ResetButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "ResetButton"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "A button that reset the scan queue."
+        return "A button that resets the scan queue."
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/buttons/button_resume/resume_button_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.button_resume.button_resume import ResumeButton
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class ResumeButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = ResumeButton(parent)
         return t
 

bec_widgets/widgets/control/buttons/stop_button/stop_button_plugin.py

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.stop_button.stop_button import StopButton
 
@@ -15,8 +14,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class StopButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -24,6 +21,8 @@ class StopButtonPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = StopButton(parent)
         return t
 

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/position_indicator/position_indicator_plugin.py

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.position_indicator.position_indicator import (
     PositionIndicator,
@@ -17,8 +16,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class PositionIndicatorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -26,6 +23,8 @@ class PositionIndicatorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cov
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = PositionIndicator(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ class PositionIndicatorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cov
         return "PositionIndicator"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "PositionIndicator"
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/_base/positioner_box_base.py

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class PositionerBoxBase(BECWidget, CompactPopupWidget):
         if not self._check_device_is_valid(device):
             return
 
-        data = self.dev[device].read()
+        data = self.dev[device].read(cached=True)
         self._on_device_readback(
             device,
             self._device_ui_components(device),
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ class PositionerBoxBase(BECWidget, CompactPopupWidget):
         signals = msg_content.get("signals", {})
         # pylint: disable=protected-access
         hinted_signals = self.dev[device]._hints
-        precision = self.dev[device].precision
+        precision = getattr(self.dev[device], "precision", 8)
+        try:
+            precision = int(precision)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            precision = int(8)
 
         spinner = ui_components["spinner"]
         position_indicator = ui_components["position_indicator"]
@@ -178,11 +182,13 @@ class PositionerBoxBase(BECWidget, CompactPopupWidget):
             spinner.setVisible(False)
 
         if readback_val is not None:
-            readback.setText(f"{readback_val:.{precision}f}")
+            text = f"{readback_val:.{precision}f}"
+            readback.setText(text)
             position_emit(readback_val)
 
         if setpoint_val is not None:
-            setpoint.setText(f"{setpoint_val:.{precision}f}")
+            text = f"{setpoint_val:.{precision}f}"
+            setpoint.setText(text)
 
         limits = self.dev[device].limits
         limit_update(limits)
@@ -205,10 +211,13 @@ class PositionerBoxBase(BECWidget, CompactPopupWidget):
         ui["readback"].setToolTip(f"{device} readback")
         ui["setpoint"].setToolTip(f"{device} setpoint")
         ui["step_size"].setToolTip(f"Step size for {device}")
-        precision = self.dev[device].precision
+        precision = getattr(self.dev[device], "precision", 8)
-        if precision is not None:
+        try:
-            ui["step_size"].setDecimals(precision)
+            precision = int(precision)
-            ui["step_size"].setValue(10**-precision * 10)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            precision = int(8)
+        ui["step_size"].setDecimals(precision)
+        ui["step_size"].setValue(10**-precision * 10)
 
     def _swap_readback_signal_connection(self, slot, old_device, new_device):
         self.bec_dispatcher.disconnect_slot(slot, MessageEndpoints.device_readback(old_device))

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/positioner_box/positioner_box.py

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class PositionerBox(PositionerBoxBase):
     PLUGIN = True
     RPC = True
 
-    USER_ACCESS = ["set_positioner"]
+    USER_ACCESS = ["set_positioner", "screenshot"]
     device_changed = Signal(str, str)
     # Signal emitted to inform listeners about a position update
     position_update = Signal(float)

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/positioner_box/positioner_box_plugin.py

@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
-import os
-
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
-from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box import PositionerBox
+from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_box.positioner_box import (
+    PositionerBox,
+)
 
 DOM_XML = """
 <ui language='c++'>
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 
 
 class PositionerBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class PositionerBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = PositionerBox(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ class PositionerBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "Device Control"
+        return "BEC Device Control"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(PositionerBox.ICON_NAME)

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/positioner_box_2d/positioner_box2_d_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_box_2d.positioner_box_2d import (
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ class PositionerBox2DPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = PositionerBox2D(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@ class PositionerBox2DPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "Device Control"
+        return "BEC Device Control"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(PositionerBox2D.ICON_NAME)

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/positioner_box_2d/positioner_box_2d.py

@@ -34,7 +34,15 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
 
     PLUGIN = True
     RPC = True
-    USER_ACCESS = ["set_positioner_hor", "set_positioner_ver"]
+    USER_ACCESS = [
+        "set_positioner_hor",
+        "set_positioner_ver",
+        "screenshot",
+        "enable_controls_hor",
+        "enable_controls_hor.setter",
+        "enable_controls_ver",
+        "enable_controls_ver.setter",
+    ]
 
     device_changed_hor = Signal(str, str)
     device_changed_ver = Signal(str, str)
@@ -63,6 +71,8 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
         self._limits_hor = None
         self._limits_ver = None
         self._dialog = None
+        self._enable_controls_hor = True
+        self._enable_controls_ver = True
         if self.current_path == "":
             self.current_path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
         self.init_ui()
@@ -281,6 +291,7 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
             self.on_device_readback_hor,
             self._device_ui_components_hv("horizontal"),
         )
+        self._apply_controls_enabled("horizontal")
 
     @SafeSlot(str, str)
     def on_device_change_ver(self, old_device: str, new_device: str):
@@ -300,6 +311,7 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
             self.on_device_readback_ver,
             self._device_ui_components_hv("vertical"),
         )
+        self._apply_controls_enabled("vertical")
 
     def _device_ui_components_hv(self, device: DeviceId) -> DeviceUpdateUIComponents:
         if device == "horizontal":
@@ -337,6 +349,25 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
         if device == self.device_ver:
             return self._device_ui_components_hv("vertical")
 
+    def _apply_controls_enabled(self, axis: DeviceId):
+        state = self._enable_controls_hor if axis == "horizontal" else self._enable_controls_ver
+        if axis == "horizontal":
+            widgets = [
+                self.ui.tweak_increase_hor,
+                self.ui.tweak_decrease_hor,
+                self.ui.step_increase_hor,
+                self.ui.step_decrease_hor,
+            ]
+        else:
+            widgets = [
+                self.ui.tweak_increase_ver,
+                self.ui.tweak_decrease_ver,
+                self.ui.step_increase_ver,
+                self.ui.step_decrease_ver,
+            ]
+        for w in widgets:
+            w.setEnabled(state)
+
     @SafeSlot(dict, dict)
     def on_device_readback_hor(self, msg_content: dict, metadata: dict):
         """Callback for device readback.
@@ -417,6 +448,26 @@ class PositionerBox2D(PositionerBoxBase):
         """Step size for tweak"""
         self.ui.step_size_ver.setValue(val)
 
+    @SafeProperty(bool)
+    def enable_controls_hor(self) -> bool:
+        """Persisted switch for horizontal control buttons (tweak/step)."""
+        return self._enable_controls_hor
+
+    @enable_controls_hor.setter
+    def enable_controls_hor(self, value: bool):
+        self._enable_controls_hor = value
+        self._apply_controls_enabled("horizontal")
+
+    @SafeProperty(bool)
+    def enable_controls_ver(self) -> bool:
+        """Persisted switch for vertical control buttons (tweak/step)."""
+        return self._enable_controls_ver
+
+    @enable_controls_ver.setter
+    def enable_controls_ver(self, value: bool):
+        self._enable_controls_ver = value
+        self._apply_controls_enabled("vertical")
+
     @SafeSlot()
     def on_tweak_inc_hor(self):
         """Tweak device a up"""

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_box/positioner_control_line/positioner_control_line_plugin.py

@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
-import os
-
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
-from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box import PositionerControlLine
+from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_control_line.positioner_control_line import (
+    PositionerControlLine,
+)
 
 DOM_XML = """
 <ui language='c++'>
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 
 
 class PositionerControlLinePlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class PositionerControlLinePlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = PositionerControlLine(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ class PositionerControlLinePlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "Device Control"
+        return "BEC Device Control"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(PositionerControlLine.ICON_NAME)
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@ class PositionerControlLinePlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no
         return "PositionerControlLine"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "A widget that controls a single positioner in line form."
+        return "A widget that controls a single device."
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_group/positioner_group.py

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ logger = bec_logger.logger
 
 
 class PositionerGroupBox(QGroupBox):
-    PLUGIN = True
+
     position_update = Signal(float)
 
     def __init__(self, parent, dev_name):
@@ -45,7 +45,12 @@ class PositionerGroupBox(QGroupBox):
 
     def _on_position_update(self, pos: float):
         self.position_update.emit(pos)
-        self.widget.label = f"%.{self.widget.dev[self.widget.device].precision}f" % pos
+        precision = getattr(self.widget.dev[self.widget.device], "precision", 8)
+        try:
+            precision = int(precision)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            precision = int(8)
+        self.widget.label = f"{pos:.{precision}f}"
 
     def close(self):
         self.widget.close()
@@ -55,6 +60,7 @@ class PositionerGroupBox(QGroupBox):
 class PositionerGroup(BECWidget, QWidget):
     """Simple Widget to control a positioner in box form"""
 
+    PLUGIN = True
     ICON_NAME = "grid_view"
     USER_ACCESS = ["set_positioners"]
 

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_control/positioner_group/positioner_group_plugin.py

@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
-import os
-
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_group.positioner_group import (
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
 
 
 class PositionerGroupPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
@@ -25,6 +23,8 @@ class PositionerGroupPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = PositionerGroup(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class PositionerGroupPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "Device Control"
+        return "BEC Device Control"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(PositionerGroup.ICON_NAME)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class PositionerGroupPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "PositionerGroup"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Container Widget to control positioners in compact form, in a grid"
+        return "Simple Widget to control a positioner in box form"
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/base_classes/device_input_base.py

@@ -112,7 +112,9 @@ class DeviceInputBase(BECWidget):
             WidgetIO.set_value(widget=self, value=device)
             self.config.default = device
         else:
-            logger.warning(f"Device {device} is not in the filtered selection.")
+            logger.warning(
+                f"Device {device} is not in the filtered selection of {self}: {self.devices}."
+            )
 
     @SafeSlot()
     def update_devices_from_filters(self):
@@ -131,7 +133,8 @@ class DeviceInputBase(BECWidget):
         # Filter based on readout priority
         devs = [dev for dev in devs if self._check_readout_filter(dev)]
         self.devices = [device.name for device in devs]
-        self.set_device(current_device)
+        if current_device != "":
+            self.set_device(current_device)
 
     @SafeSlot(list)
     def set_available_devices(self, devices: list[str]):

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/base_classes/device_signal_input_base.py

@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class DeviceSignalInputBase(BECWidget):
         Args:
             signal (str): signal name.
         """
-        if self.validate_signal(signal) is True:
+        if self.validate_signal(signal):
             WidgetIO.set_value(widget=self, value=signal)
             self.config.default = signal
         else:

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/device_combobox/device_combo_box.pyproject

@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-{
+{'files': ['device_combobox.py']}
-    "files": ["device_combobox.py"]
-}

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/device_combobox/device_combo_box_plugin.py

@@ -1,22 +1,19 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.device_combobox.device_combobox import DeviceComboBox
 
 DOM_XML = """
 <ui language='c++'>
-    <widget class='DeviceComboBox' name='device_combobox'>
+    <widget class='DeviceComboBox' name='device_combo_box'>
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class DeviceComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -24,6 +21,8 @@ class DeviceComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = DeviceComboBox(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ class DeviceComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return designer_material_icon(DeviceComboBox.ICON_NAME)
 
     def includeFile(self):
-        return "device_combobox"
+        return "device_combo_box"
 
     def initialize(self, form_editor):
         self._form_editor = form_editor
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ class DeviceComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "DeviceComboBox"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Device ComboBox Example for BEC Widgets"
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/device_combobox/device_combobox.py

@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from qtpy.QtGui import QPainter, QPaintEvent, QPen
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QComboBox, QSizePolicy
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_accent_colors
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeProperty
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.base_classes.device_input_base import (
     BECDeviceFilter,
     DeviceInputBase,
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ class DeviceComboBox(DeviceInputBase, QComboBox):
         self._callback_id = None
         self._is_valid_input = False
         self._accent_colors = get_accent_colors()
+        self._set_first_element_as_empty = False
         # We do not consider the config that is passed here, this produced problems
         # with QtDesigner, since config and input arguments may differ and resolve properly
         # Implementing this logic and config recoverage is postponed.
@@ -93,6 +95,31 @@ class DeviceComboBox(DeviceInputBase, QComboBox):
         self.currentTextChanged.connect(self.check_validity)
         self.check_validity(self.currentText())
 
+    @SafeProperty(bool)
+    def set_first_element_as_empty(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Whether the first element in the combobox should be empty.
+        This is useful to allow the user to select a device from the list.
+        """
+        return self._set_first_element_as_empty
+
+    @set_first_element_as_empty.setter
+    def set_first_element_as_empty(self, value: bool) -> None:
+        """
+        Set whether the first element in the combobox should be empty.
+        This is useful to allow the user to select a device from the list.
+
+        Args:
+            value (bool): True if the first element should be empty, False otherwise.
+        """
+        self._set_first_element_as_empty = value
+        if self._set_first_element_as_empty:
+            self.insertItem(0, "")
+            self.setCurrentIndex(0)
+        else:
+            if self.count() > 0 and self.itemText(0) == "":
+                self.removeItem(0)
+
     def on_device_update(self, action: str, content: dict) -> None:
         """
         Callback for device update events. Triggers the device_update signal.

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/device_line_edit/device_line_edit.pyproject

@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-{
+{'files': ['device_line_edit.py']}
-    "files": ["device_line_edit.py"]
-}

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/device_line_edit/device_line_edit_plugin.py

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.device_line_edit.device_line_edit import (
     DeviceLineEdit,
@@ -17,8 +16,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class DeviceLineEditPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -26,6 +23,8 @@ class DeviceLineEditPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = DeviceLineEdit(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ class DeviceLineEditPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "DeviceLineEdit"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Device LineEdit Example for BEC Widgets with autocomplete."
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/signal_combobox/signal_combo_box_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.signal_combobox.signal_combobox import SignalComboBox
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class SignalComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = SignalComboBox(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ class SignalComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "SignalComboBox"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Signal ComboBox Example for BEC Widgets with autocomplete."
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/signal_combobox/signal_combobox.py

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 from bec_lib.device import Positioner
 from qtpy.QtCore import QSize, Signal
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QComboBox, QSizePolicy
 
-from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeProperty, SafeSlot
 from bec_widgets.utils.filter_io import ComboBoxFilterHandler, FilterIO
 from bec_widgets.utils.ophyd_kind_util import Kind
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.base_classes.device_signal_input_base import (
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ class SignalComboBox(DeviceSignalInputBase, QComboBox):
 
         self.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Preferred, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
         self.setMinimumSize(QSize(100, 0))
+        self._set_first_element_as_empty = True
         # We do not consider the config that is passed here, this produced problems
         # with QtDesigner, since config and input arguments may differ and resolve properly
         # Implementing this logic and config recoverage is postponed.
@@ -90,6 +93,31 @@ class SignalComboBox(DeviceSignalInputBase, QComboBox):
                 self.insertItem(0, "Hinted Signals")
                 self.model().item(0).setEnabled(False)
 
+    @SafeProperty(bool)
+    def set_first_element_as_empty(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Whether the first element in the combobox should be empty.
+        This is useful to allow the user to select a device from the list.
+        """
+        return self._set_first_element_as_empty
+
+    @set_first_element_as_empty.setter
+    def set_first_element_as_empty(self, value: bool) -> None:
+        """
+        Set whether the first element in the combobox should be empty.
+        This is useful to allow the user to select a device from the list.
+
+        Args:
+            value (bool): True if the first element should be empty, False otherwise.
+        """
+        self._set_first_element_as_empty = value
+        if self._set_first_element_as_empty:
+            self.insertItem(0, "")
+            self.setCurrentIndex(0)
+        else:
+            if self.count() > 0 and self.itemText(0) == "":
+                self.removeItem(0)
+
     def set_to_obj_name(self, obj_name: str) -> bool:
         """
         Set the combobox to the object name of the signal.
@@ -142,6 +170,10 @@ class SignalComboBox(DeviceSignalInputBase, QComboBox):
             return
         self.device_signal_changed.emit(text)
 
+    @property
+    def selected_signal_comp_name(self) -> str:
+        return dict(self.signals).get(self.currentText(), {}).get("component_name", "")
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
     # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_input/signal_line_edit/signal_line_edit_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.signal_line_edit.signal_line_edit import (
@@ -22,6 +23,8 @@ class SignalLineEditPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = SignalLineEdit(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -50,7 +53,7 @@ class SignalLineEditPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "SignalLineEdit"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Signal LineEdit Example for BEC Widgets with autocomplete."
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_manager/components/device_table_view.py

@@ -0,0 +1,631 @@
+"""Module with the device table view implementation."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import copy
+import json
+
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from bec_qthemes import material_icon
+from qtpy import QtCore, QtGui, QtWidgets
+from thefuzz import fuzz
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_accent_colors
+from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeSlot
+
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
+# Threshold for fuzzy matching, careful with adjusting this. 80 seems good
+FUZZY_SEARCH_THRESHOLD = 80
+
+
+class DictToolTipDelegate(QtWidgets.QStyledItemDelegate):
+    """Delegate that shows all key-value pairs of a rows's data as a YAML-like tooltip."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def dict_to_str(d: dict) -> str:
+        """Convert a dictionary to a formatted string."""
+        return json.dumps(d, indent=4)
+
+    def helpEvent(self, event, view, option, index):
+        """Override to show tooltip when hovering."""
+        if event.type() != QtCore.QEvent.ToolTip:
+            return super().helpEvent(event, view, option, index)
+        model: DeviceFilterProxyModel = index.model()
+        model_index = model.mapToSource(index)
+        row_dict = model.sourceModel().row_data(model_index)
+        row_dict.pop("description", None)
+        QtWidgets.QToolTip.showText(event.globalPos(), self.dict_to_str(row_dict), view)
+        return True
+
+
+class CenterCheckBoxDelegate(DictToolTipDelegate):
+    """Custom checkbox delegate to center checkboxes in table cells."""
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        colors = get_accent_colors()
+        self._icon_checked = material_icon(
+            "check_box", size=QtCore.QSize(16, 16), color=colors.default
+        )
+        self._icon_unchecked = material_icon(
+            "check_box_outline_blank", size=QtCore.QSize(16, 16), color=colors.default
+        )
+
+    def apply_theme(self, theme: str | None = None):
+        colors = get_accent_colors()
+        self._icon_checked.setColor(colors.default)
+        self._icon_unchecked.setColor(colors.default)
+
+    def paint(self, painter, option, index):
+        value = index.model().data(index, QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole)
+        if value is None:
+            super().paint(painter, option, index)
+            return
+
+        # Choose icon based on state
+        pixmap = self._icon_checked if value == QtCore.Qt.Checked else self._icon_unchecked
+
+        # Draw icon centered
+        rect = option.rect
+        pix_rect = pixmap.rect()
+        pix_rect.moveCenter(rect.center())
+        painter.drawPixmap(pix_rect.topLeft(), pixmap)
+
+    def editorEvent(self, event, model, option, index):
+        if event.type() != QtCore.QEvent.MouseButtonRelease:
+            return False
+        current = model.data(index, QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole)
+        new_state = QtCore.Qt.Unchecked if current == QtCore.Qt.Checked else QtCore.Qt.Checked
+        return model.setData(index, new_state, QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole)
+
+
+class WrappingTextDelegate(DictToolTipDelegate):
+    """Custom delegate for wrapping text in table cells."""
+
+    def paint(self, painter, option, index):
+        text = index.model().data(index, QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole)
+        if not text:
+            return super().paint(painter, option, index)
+
+        painter.save()
+        painter.setClipRect(option.rect)
+        text_option = QtCore.Qt.TextWordWrap | QtCore.Qt.AlignLeft | QtCore.Qt.AlignTop
+        painter.drawText(option.rect.adjusted(4, 2, -4, -2), text_option, text)
+        painter.restore()
+
+    def sizeHint(self, option, index):
+        text = str(index.model().data(index, QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole) or "")
+        # if not text:
+        #     return super().sizeHint(option, index)
+
+        # Use the actual column width
+        table = index.model().parent()  # or store reference to QTableView
+        column_width = table.columnWidth(index.column())  # - 8
+
+        doc = QtGui.QTextDocument()
+        doc.setDefaultFont(option.font)
+        doc.setTextWidth(column_width)
+        doc.setPlainText(text)
+
+        layout_height = doc.documentLayout().documentSize().height()
+        height = int(layout_height) + 4  # Needs some extra padding, otherwise it gets cut off
+        return QtCore.QSize(column_width, height)
+
+
+class DeviceTableModel(QtCore.QAbstractTableModel):
+    """
+    Custom Device Table Model for managing device configurations.
+
+    Sort logic is implemented directly on the data of the table view.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, device_config: list[dict] | None = None, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self._device_config = device_config or []
+        self.headers = [
+            "name",
+            "deviceClass",
+            "readoutPriority",
+            "enabled",
+            "readOnly",
+            "deviceTags",
+            "description",
+        ]
+        self._checkable_columns_enabled = {"enabled": True, "readOnly": True}
+
+    ###############################################
+    ########## Overwrite custom Qt methods ########
+    ###############################################
+
+    def rowCount(self, parent=QtCore.QModelIndex()) -> int:
+        return len(self._device_config)
+
+    def columnCount(self, parent=QtCore.QModelIndex()) -> int:
+        return len(self.headers)
+
+    def headerData(self, section, orientation, role=QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole):
+        if role == QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole and orientation == QtCore.Qt.Horizontal:
+            return self.headers[section]
+        return None
+
+    def row_data(self, index: QtCore.QModelIndex) -> dict:
+        """Return the row data for the given index."""
+        if not index.isValid():
+            return {}
+        return copy.deepcopy(self._device_config[index.row()])
+
+    def data(self, index, role=QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole):
+        """Return data for the given index and role."""
+        if not index.isValid():
+            return None
+        row, col = index.row(), index.column()
+        key = self.headers[col]
+        value = self._device_config[row].get(key)
+
+        if role == QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole:
+            if key in ("enabled", "readOnly"):
+                return bool(value)
+            if key == "deviceTags":
+                return ", ".join(str(tag) for tag in value) if value else ""
+            return str(value) if value is not None else ""
+        if role == QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole and key in ("enabled", "readOnly"):
+            return QtCore.Qt.Checked if value else QtCore.Qt.Unchecked
+        if role == QtCore.Qt.TextAlignmentRole:
+            if key in ("enabled", "readOnly"):
+                return QtCore.Qt.AlignCenter
+            return QtCore.Qt.AlignLeft | QtCore.Qt.AlignVCenter
+        if role == QtCore.Qt.FontRole:
+            font = QtGui.QFont()
+            return font
+        return None
+
+    def flags(self, index):
+        """Flags for the table model."""
+        if not index.isValid():
+            return QtCore.Qt.NoItemFlags
+        key = self.headers[index.column()]
+
+        if key in ("enabled", "readOnly"):
+            base_flags = QtCore.Qt.ItemIsEnabled | QtCore.Qt.ItemIsSelectable
+            if self._checkable_columns_enabled.get(key, True):
+                return base_flags | QtCore.Qt.ItemIsUserCheckable
+            else:
+                return base_flags  # disable editing but still visible
+        return QtCore.Qt.ItemIsEnabled | QtCore.Qt.ItemIsSelectable
+
+    def setData(self, index, value, role=QtCore.Qt.EditRole) -> bool:
+        """
+        Method to set the data of the table.
+
+        Args:
+            index (QModelIndex): The index of the item to modify.
+            value (Any): The new value to set.
+            role (Qt.ItemDataRole): The role of the data being set.
+
+        Returns:
+            bool: True if the data was set successfully, False otherwise.
+        """
+        if not index.isValid():
+            return False
+        key = self.headers[index.column()]
+        row = index.row()
+
+        if key in ("enabled", "readOnly") and role == QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole:
+            if not self._checkable_columns_enabled.get(key, True):
+                return False  # ignore changes if column is disabled
+            self._device_config[row][key] = value == QtCore.Qt.Checked
+            self.dataChanged.emit(index, index, [QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole])
+            return True
+        return False
+
+    ####################################
+    ############ Public methods ########
+    ####################################
+
+    def get_device_config(self) -> list[dict]:
+        """Return the current device config (with checkbox updates applied)."""
+        return self._device_config
+
+    def set_checkbox_enabled(self, column_name: str, enabled: bool):
+        """
+        Enable/Disable the checkbox column.
+
+        Args:
+            column_name (str): The name of the column to modify.
+            enabled (bool): Whether the checkbox should be enabled or disabled.
+        """
+        if column_name in self._checkable_columns_enabled:
+            self._checkable_columns_enabled[column_name] = enabled
+            col = self.headers.index(column_name)
+            top_left = self.index(0, col)
+            bottom_right = self.index(self.rowCount() - 1, col)
+            self.dataChanged.emit(
+                top_left, bottom_right, [QtCore.Qt.CheckStateRole, QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole]
+            )
+
+    def set_device_config(self, device_config: list[dict]):
+        """
+        Replace the device config.
+
+        Args:
+            device_config (list[dict]): The new device config to set.
+        """
+        self.beginResetModel()
+        self._device_config = list(device_config)
+        self.endResetModel()
+
+    @SafeSlot(dict)
+    def add_device(self, device: dict):
+        """
+        Add an extra device to the device config at the bottom.
+
+        Args:
+            device (dict): The device configuration to add.
+        """
+        row = len(self._device_config)
+        self.beginInsertRows(QtCore.QModelIndex(), row, row)
+        self._device_config.append(device)
+        self.endInsertRows()
+
+    @SafeSlot(int)
+    def remove_device_by_row(self, row: int):
+        """
+        Remove one device row by index. This maps to the row to the source of the data model
+
+        Args:
+            row (int): The index of the device row to remove.
+        """
+        if 0 <= row < len(self._device_config):
+            self.beginRemoveRows(QtCore.QModelIndex(), row, row)
+            self._device_config.pop(row)
+            self.endRemoveRows()
+
+    @SafeSlot(list)
+    def remove_devices_by_rows(self, rows: list[int]):
+        """
+        Remove multiple device rows by their indices.
+
+        Args:
+            rows (list[int]): The indices of the device rows to remove.
+        """
+        for row in sorted(rows, reverse=True):
+            self.remove_device_by_row(row)
+
+    @SafeSlot(str)
+    def remove_device_by_name(self, name: str):
+        """
+        Remove one device row by name.
+
+        Args:
+            name (str): The name of the device to remove.
+        """
+        for row, device in enumerate(self._device_config):
+            if device.get("name") == name:
+                self.remove_device_by_row(row)
+                break
+
+
+class BECTableView(QtWidgets.QTableView):
+    """Table View with custom keyPressEvent to delete rows with backspace or delete key"""
+
+    def keyPressEvent(self, event) -> None:
+        """
+        Delete selected rows with backspace or delete key
+
+        Args:
+            event: keyPressEvent
+        """
+        if event.key() not in (QtCore.Qt.Key_Backspace, QtCore.Qt.Key_Delete):
+            return super().keyPressEvent(event)
+
+        proxy_indexes = self.selectedIndexes()
+        if not proxy_indexes:
+            return
+
+        # Get unique rows (proxy indices) in reverse order so removal indexes stay valid
+        proxy_rows = sorted({idx.row() for idx in proxy_indexes}, reverse=True)
+        # Map to source model rows
+        source_rows = [
+            self.model().mapToSource(self.model().index(row, 0)).row() for row in proxy_rows
+        ]
+
+        model: DeviceTableModel = self.model().sourceModel()  # access underlying model
+        # Delegate confirmation and removal to helper
+        removed = self._confirm_and_remove_rows(model, source_rows)
+        if not removed:
+            return
+
+    def _confirm_and_remove_rows(self, model: DeviceTableModel, source_rows: list[int]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Prompt the user to confirm removal of rows and remove them from the model if accepted.
+
+        Returns True if rows were removed, False otherwise.
+        """
+        cfg = model.get_device_config()
+        names = [str(cfg[r].get("name", "<unknown>")) for r in sorted(source_rows)]
+
+        msg = QtWidgets.QMessageBox(self)
+        msg.setIcon(QtWidgets.QMessageBox.Warning)
+        msg.setWindowTitle("Confirm remove devices")
+        if len(names) == 1:
+            msg.setText(f"Remove device '{names[0]}'?")
+        else:
+            msg.setText(f"Remove {len(names)} devices?")
+        msg.setInformativeText("\n".join(names))
+        msg.setStandardButtons(QtWidgets.QMessageBox.Ok | QtWidgets.QMessageBox.Cancel)
+        msg.setDefaultButton(QtWidgets.QMessageBox.Cancel)
+
+        res = msg.exec_()
+        if res == QtWidgets.QMessageBox.Ok:
+            model.remove_devices_by_rows(source_rows)
+            # TODO add signal for removed devices
+            return True
+        return False
+
+
+class DeviceFilterProxyModel(QtCore.QSortFilterProxyModel):
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self._hidden_rows = set()
+        self._filter_text = ""
+        self._enable_fuzzy = True
+        self._filter_columns = [0, 1]  # name and deviceClass for search
+
+    def hide_rows(self, row_indices: list[int]):
+        """
+        Hide specific rows in the model.
+
+        Args:
+            row_indices (list[int]): List of row indices to hide.
+        """
+        self._hidden_rows.update(row_indices)
+        self.invalidateFilter()
+
+    def show_rows(self, row_indices: list[int]):
+        """
+        Show specific rows in the model.
+
+        Args:
+            row_indices (list[int]): List of row indices to show.
+        """
+        self._hidden_rows.difference_update(row_indices)
+        self.invalidateFilter()
+
+    def show_all_rows(self):
+        """
+        Show all rows in the model.
+        """
+        self._hidden_rows.clear()
+        self.invalidateFilter()
+
+    @SafeSlot(int)
+    def disable_fuzzy_search(self, enabled: int):
+        self._enable_fuzzy = not bool(enabled)
+        self.invalidateFilter()
+
+    def setFilterText(self, text: str):
+        self._filter_text = text.lower()
+        self.invalidateFilter()
+
+    def filterAcceptsRow(self, source_row: int, source_parent) -> bool:
+        # No hidden rows, and no filter text
+        if not self._filter_text and not self._hidden_rows:
+            return True
+        # Hide hidden rows
+        if source_row in self._hidden_rows:
+            return False
+        # Check the filter text for each row
+        model = self.sourceModel()
+        text = self._filter_text.lower()
+        for column in self._filter_columns:
+            index = model.index(source_row, column, source_parent)
+            data = str(model.data(index, QtCore.Qt.DisplayRole) or "")
+            if self._enable_fuzzy is True:
+                match_ratio = fuzz.partial_ratio(self._filter_text.lower(), data.lower())
+                if match_ratio >= FUZZY_SEARCH_THRESHOLD:
+                    return True
+            else:
+                if text in data.lower():
+                    return True
+        return False
+
+
+class DeviceTableView(BECWidget, QtWidgets.QWidget):
+    """Device Table View for the device manager."""
+
+    RPC = False
+    PLUGIN = False
+    devices_removed = QtCore.Signal(list)
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, client=None):
+        super().__init__(client=client, parent=parent, theme_update=True)
+
+        self.layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
+        self.layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.layout.setSpacing(4)
+
+        # Setup table view
+        self._setup_table_view()
+        # Setup search view, needs table proxy to be iniditate
+        self._setup_search()
+        # Add widgets to main layout
+        self.layout.addLayout(self.search_controls)
+        self.layout.addWidget(self.table)
+
+    def _setup_search(self):
+        """Create components related to the search functionality"""
+
+        # Create search bar
+        self.search_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.search_label = QtWidgets.QLabel("Search:")
+        self.search_input = QtWidgets.QLineEdit()
+        self.search_input.setPlaceholderText(
+            "Filter devices (approximate matching)..."
+        )  # Default to fuzzy search
+        self.search_input.setClearButtonEnabled(True)
+        self.search_input.textChanged.connect(self.proxy.setFilterText)
+        self.search_layout.addWidget(self.search_label)
+        self.search_layout.addWidget(self.search_input)
+
+        # Add exact match toggle
+        self.fuzzy_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.fuzzy_label = QtWidgets.QLabel("Exact Match:")
+        self.fuzzy_is_disabled = QtWidgets.QCheckBox()
+
+        self.fuzzy_is_disabled.stateChanged.connect(self.proxy.disable_fuzzy_search)
+        self.fuzzy_is_disabled.setToolTip(
+            "Enable approximate matching (OFF) and exact matching (ON)"
+        )
+        self.fuzzy_label.setToolTip("Enable approximate matching (OFF) and exact matching (ON)")
+        self.fuzzy_layout.addWidget(self.fuzzy_label)
+        self.fuzzy_layout.addWidget(self.fuzzy_is_disabled)
+        self.fuzzy_layout.addStretch()
+
+        # Add both search components to the layout
+        self.search_controls = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        self.search_controls.addLayout(self.search_layout)
+        self.search_controls.addSpacing(20)  # Add some space between the search box and toggle
+        self.search_controls.addLayout(self.fuzzy_layout)
+        QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, lambda: self.fuzzy_is_disabled.stateChanged.emit(0))
+
+    def _setup_table_view(self) -> None:
+        """Setup the table view."""
+        # Model + Proxy
+        self.table = BECTableView(self)
+        self.model = DeviceTableModel(parent=self.table)
+        self.proxy = DeviceFilterProxyModel(parent=self.table)
+        self.proxy.setSourceModel(self.model)
+        self.table.setModel(self.proxy)
+        self.table.setSortingEnabled(True)
+
+        # Delegates
+        self.checkbox_delegate = CenterCheckBoxDelegate(self.table)
+        self.wrap_delegate = WrappingTextDelegate(self.table)
+        self.tool_tip_delegate = DictToolTipDelegate(self.table)
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(0, self.tool_tip_delegate)  # name
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(1, self.tool_tip_delegate)  # deviceClass
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(2, self.tool_tip_delegate)  # readoutPriority
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(3, self.checkbox_delegate)  # enabled
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(4, self.checkbox_delegate)  # readOnly
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(5, self.wrap_delegate)  # deviceTags
+        self.table.setItemDelegateForColumn(6, self.wrap_delegate)  # description
+
+        # Column resize policies
+        # TODO maybe we need here a flexible header options as deviceClass
+        # may get quite long for beamlines plugin repos
+        header = self.table.horizontalHeader()
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(0, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.ResizeToContents)  # name
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(1, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.ResizeToContents)  # deviceClass
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(2, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.ResizeToContents)  # readoutPriority
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(3, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.Fixed)  # enabled
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(4, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.Fixed)  # readOnly
+        # TODO maybe better stretch...
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(5, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.ResizeToContents)  # deviceTags
+        header.setSectionResizeMode(6, QtWidgets.QHeaderView.Stretch)  # description
+        self.table.setColumnWidth(3, 82)
+        self.table.setColumnWidth(4, 82)
+
+        # Ensure column widths stay fixed
+        header.setMinimumSectionSize(70)
+        header.setDefaultSectionSize(90)
+
+        # Enable resizing of column
+        header.sectionResized.connect(self.on_table_resized)
+
+        # Selection behavior
+        self.table.setSelectionBehavior(QtWidgets.QAbstractItemView.SelectRows)
+        self.table.setSelectionMode(QtWidgets.QAbstractItemView.ExtendedSelection)
+        self.table.horizontalHeader().setHighlightSections(False)
+
+        # QtCore.QTimer.singleShot(0, lambda: header.sectionResized.emit(0, 0, 0))
+
+    def device_config(self) -> list[dict]:
+        """Get the device config."""
+        return self.model.get_device_config()
+
+    def apply_theme(self, theme: str | None = None):
+        self.checkbox_delegate.apply_theme(theme)
+
+    ######################################
+    ########### Slot API #################
+    ######################################
+
+    @SafeSlot(int, int, int)
+    def on_table_resized(self, column, old_width, new_width):
+        """Handle changes to the table column resizing."""
+        if column != len(self.model.headers) - 1:
+            return
+
+        for row in range(self.table.model().rowCount()):
+            index = self.table.model().index(row, column)
+            delegate = self.table.itemDelegate(index)
+            option = QtWidgets.QStyleOptionViewItem()
+            height = delegate.sizeHint(option, index).height()
+            self.table.setRowHeight(row, height)
+
+    ######################################
+    ##### Ext.  Slot API #################
+    ######################################
+
+    @SafeSlot(list)
+    def set_device_config(self, config: list[dict]):
+        """
+        Set the device config.
+
+        Args:
+            config (list[dict]): The device config to set.
+        """
+        self.model.set_device_config(config)
+
+    @SafeSlot()
+    def clear_device_config(self):
+        """
+        Clear the device config.
+        """
+        self.model.set_device_config([])
+
+    @SafeSlot(dict)
+    def add_device(self, device: dict):
+        """
+        Add a device to the config.
+
+        Args:
+            device (dict): The device to add.
+        """
+        self.model.add_device(device)
+
+    @SafeSlot(int)
+    @SafeSlot(str)
+    def remove_device(self, dev: int | str):
+        """
+        Remove the device from the config either by row id, or device name.
+
+        Args:
+            dev (int | str): The device to remove, either by row id or device name.
+        """
+        if isinstance(dev, int):
+            # TODO test this properly, check with proxy index and source index
+            # Use the proxy model to map to the correct row
+            model_source_index = self.table.model().mapToSource(self.table.model().index(dev, 0))
+            self.model.remove_device_by_row(model_source_index.row())
+            return
+        if isinstance(dev, str):
+            self.model.remove_device_by_name(dev)
+            return
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    import sys
+
+    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
+
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    window = DeviceTableView()
+    # pylint: disable=protected-access
+    config = window.client.device_manager._get_redis_device_config()
+    window.set_device_config(config)
+    window.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())

bec_widgets/widgets/control/device_manager/device_manager.py

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+"""
+This module provides an implementation for the device config view.
+The widget is the entry point for users to edit device configurations.
+"""

bec_widgets/widgets/control/scan_control/scan_control.py

@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class ScanControl(BECWidget, QWidget):
     Widget to submit new scans to the queue.
     """
 
+    USER_ACCESS = ["remove", "screenshot"]
     PLUGIN = True
     ICON_NAME = "tune"
     ARG_BOX_POSITION: int = 2
@@ -169,8 +170,8 @@ class ScanControl(BECWidget, QWidget):
         self.layout.addWidget(self._metadata_form)
         self._metadata_form.update_with_new_scan(self.comboBox_scan_selection.currentText())
         self.scan_selected.connect(self._metadata_form.update_with_new_scan)
-        self._metadata_form.metadata_updated.connect(self.update_scan_metadata)
+        self._metadata_form.form_data_updated.connect(self.update_scan_metadata)
-        self._metadata_form.metadata_cleared.connect(self.update_scan_metadata)
+        self._metadata_form.form_data_cleared.connect(self.update_scan_metadata)
         self._metadata_form.validate_form()
 
     def populate_scans(self):

bec_widgets/widgets/control/scan_control/scan_control_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.control.scan_control.scan_control import ScanControl
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class ScanControlPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = ScanControl(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ class ScanControlPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return "Device Control"
+        return "BEC Device Control"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(ScanControl.ICON_NAME)
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ class ScanControlPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "ScanControl"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "ScanControl"
+        return ""
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/control/scan_control/scan_group_box.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from typing import Literal
+from typing import Literal, Sequence
 
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_qthemes import material_icon
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class ScanArgType:
     BOOL = "bool"
     STR = "str"
     DEVICEBASE = "DeviceBase"
-    LITERALS = "dict"
+    LITERALS_DICT = "dict"  # Used when the type is provided as a dict with Literal key
 
 
 class SettingsDialog(QDialog):
@@ -83,6 +83,39 @@ class ScanSpinBox(QSpinBox):
             self.setValue(default)
 
 
+class ScanLiteralsComboBox(QComboBox):
+    def __init__(
+        self, parent=None, arg_name: str | None = None, default: str | None = None, *args, **kwargs
+    ):
+        super().__init__(parent=parent, *args, **kwargs)
+        self.arg_name = arg_name
+        self.default = default
+        if default is not None:
+            self.setCurrentText(default)
+
+    def set_literals(self, literals: Sequence[str | int | float | None]) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the list of literals for the combo box.
+
+        Args:
+            literals: List of literal values (can be strings, integers, floats or None)
+        """
+        self.clear()
+        literals = set(literals)  # Remove duplicates
+        if None in literals:
+            literals.remove(None)
+            self.addItem("")
+
+        self.addItems([str(value) for value in literals])
+
+        # find index of the default value
+        index = max(self.findText(str(self.default)), 0)
+        self.setCurrentIndex(index)
+
+    def get_value(self) -> str | None:
+        return self.currentText() if self.currentText() else None
+
+
 class ScanDoubleSpinBox(QDoubleSpinBox):
     def __init__(
         self, parent=None, arg_name: str = None, default: float | None = None, *args, **kwargs
@@ -137,7 +170,7 @@ class ScanGroupBox(QGroupBox):
         ScanArgType.INT: ScanSpinBox,
         ScanArgType.BOOL: ScanCheckBox,
         ScanArgType.STR: ScanLineEdit,
-        ScanArgType.LITERALS: QComboBox,  # TODO figure out combobox logic
+        ScanArgType.LITERALS_DICT: ScanLiteralsComboBox,
     }
 
     device_selected = Signal(str)
@@ -226,7 +259,11 @@ class ScanGroupBox(QGroupBox):
         for column_index, item in enumerate(group_inputs):
             arg_name = item.get("name", None)
             default = item.get("default", None)
-            widget_class = self.WIDGET_HANDLER.get(item["type"], None)
+            item_type = item.get("type", None)
+            if isinstance(item_type, dict) and "Literal" in item_type:
+                widget_class = self.WIDGET_HANDLER.get(ScanArgType.LITERALS_DICT, None)
+            else:
+                widget_class = self.WIDGET_HANDLER.get(item["type"], None)
             if widget_class is None:
                 logger.error(
                     f"Unsupported annotation '{item['type']}' for parameter '{item['name']}'"
@@ -239,6 +276,8 @@ class ScanGroupBox(QGroupBox):
                 widget.set_device_filter(BECDeviceFilter.DEVICE)
                 self.selected_devices[widget] = ""
                 widget.device_selected.connect(self.emit_device_selected)
+            if isinstance(widget, ScanLiteralsComboBox):
+                widget.set_literals(item["type"].get("Literal", []))
             tooltip = item.get("tooltip", None)
             if tooltip is not None:
                 widget.setToolTip(item["tooltip"])
@@ -336,6 +375,8 @@ class ScanGroupBox(QGroupBox):
             widget = self.layout.itemAtPosition(1, i).widget()
             if isinstance(widget, DeviceLineEdit) and device_object:
                 value = widget.get_current_device().name
+            elif isinstance(widget, ScanLiteralsComboBox):
+                value = widget.get_value()
             else:
                 value = WidgetIO.get_value(widget)
             kwargs[widget.arg_name] = value

bec_widgets/widgets/dap/dap_combo_box/dap_combo_box_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.dap.dap_combo_box.dap_combo_box import DapComboBox
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class DapComboBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = DapComboBox(parent)
         return t
 

bec_widgets/widgets/dap/lmfit_dialog/lm_fit_dialog_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.dap.lmfit_dialog.lmfit_dialog import LMFitDialog
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class LMFitDialogPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = LMFitDialog(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ class LMFitDialogPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "LMFitDialog"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "LMFitDialog"
+        return "Dialog for displaying the fit summary and params for LMFit DAP processes"
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/monaco/monaco_widget.py

@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+from typing import Literal
+
+import qtmonaco
+from qtpy.QtCore import Signal
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_theme_name
+
+
+class MonacoWidget(BECWidget, QWidget):
+    """
+    A simple Monaco editor widget
+    """
+
+    text_changed = Signal(str)
+    PLUGIN = True
+    ICON_NAME = "code"
+    USER_ACCESS = [
+        "set_text",
+        "get_text",
+        "insert_text",
+        "delete_line",
+        "set_language",
+        "get_language",
+        "set_theme",
+        "get_theme",
+        "set_readonly",
+        "set_cursor",
+        "current_cursor",
+        "set_minimap_enabled",
+        "set_vim_mode_enabled",
+        "set_lsp_header",
+        "get_lsp_header",
+    ]
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, config=None, client=None, gui_id=None, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(
+            parent=parent, client=client, gui_id=gui_id, config=config, theme_update=True, **kwargs
+        )
+        layout = QVBoxLayout()
+        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.editor = qtmonaco.Monaco(self)
+        layout.addWidget(self.editor)
+        self.setLayout(layout)
+        self.editor.text_changed.connect(self.text_changed.emit)
+        self.editor.initialized.connect(self.apply_theme)
+
+    def apply_theme(self, theme: str | None = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Apply the current theme to the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            theme (str, optional): The theme to apply. If None, the current theme will be used.
+        """
+        if theme is None:
+            theme = get_theme_name()
+        editor_theme = "vs" if theme == "light" else "vs-dark"
+        self.set_theme(editor_theme)
+
+    def set_text(self, text: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the text in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            text (str): The text to set in the editor.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_text(text)
+
+    def get_text(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Get the current text from the Monaco editor.
+        """
+        return self.editor.get_text()
+
+    def insert_text(self, text: str, line: int | None = None, column: int | None = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Insert text at the current cursor position or at a specified line and column.
+
+        Args:
+            text (str): The text to insert.
+            line (int, optional): The line number (1-based) to insert the text at. Defaults to None.
+            column (int, optional): The column number (1-based) to insert the text at. Defaults to None.
+        """
+        self.editor.insert_text(text, line, column)
+
+    def delete_line(self, line: int | None = None) -> None:
+        """
+        Delete a line in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            line (int, optional): The line number (1-based) to delete. If None, the current line will be deleted.
+        """
+        self.editor.delete_line(line)
+
+    def set_cursor(
+        self,
+        line: int,
+        column: int = 1,
+        move_to_position: Literal[None, "center", "top", "position"] = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the cursor position in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            line (int): Line number (1-based).
+            column (int): Column number (1-based), defaults to 1.
+            move_to_position (Literal[None, "center", "top", "position"], optional): Position to move the cursor to.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_cursor(line, column, move_to_position)
+
+    def current_cursor(self) -> dict[str, int]:
+        """
+        Get the current cursor position in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Returns:
+            dict[str, int]: A dictionary with keys 'line' and 'column' representing the cursor position.
+        """
+        return self.editor.current_cursor
+
+    def set_language(self, language: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the programming language for syntax highlighting in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            language (str): The programming language to set (e.g., "python", "javascript").
+        """
+        self.editor.set_language(language)
+
+    def get_language(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Get the current programming language set in the Monaco editor.
+        """
+        return self.editor.get_language()
+
+    def set_readonly(self, read_only: bool) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the Monaco editor to read-only mode.
+
+        Args:
+            read_only (bool): If True, the editor will be read-only.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_readonly(read_only)
+
+    def set_theme(self, theme: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the theme for the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            theme (str): The theme to set (e.g., "vs-dark", "light").
+        """
+        self.editor.set_theme(theme)
+
+    def get_theme(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Get the current theme of the Monaco editor.
+        """
+        return self.editor.get_theme()
+
+    def set_minimap_enabled(self, enabled: bool) -> None:
+        """
+        Enable or disable the minimap in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            enabled (bool): If True, the minimap will be enabled; otherwise, it will be disabled.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_minimap_enabled(enabled)
+
+    def set_highlighted_lines(self, start_line: int, end_line: int) -> None:
+        """
+        Highlight a range of lines in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            start_line (int): The starting line number (1-based).
+            end_line (int): The ending line number (1-based).
+        """
+        self.editor.set_highlighted_lines(start_line, end_line)
+
+    def clear_highlighted_lines(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Clear any highlighted lines in the Monaco editor.
+        """
+        self.editor.clear_highlighted_lines()
+
+    def set_vim_mode_enabled(self, enabled: bool) -> None:
+        """
+        Enable or disable Vim mode in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Args:
+            enabled (bool): If True, Vim mode will be enabled; otherwise, it will be disabled.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_vim_mode_enabled(enabled)
+
+    def set_lsp_header(self, header: str) -> None:
+        """
+        Set the LSP (Language Server Protocol) header for the Monaco editor.
+        The header is used to provide context for language servers but is not displayed in the editor.
+
+        Args:
+            header (str): The LSP header to set.
+        """
+        self.editor.set_lsp_header(header)
+
+    def get_lsp_header(self) -> str:
+        """
+        Get the current LSP header set in the Monaco editor.
+
+        Returns:
+            str: The LSP header.
+        """
+        return self.editor.get_lsp_header()
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    qapp = QApplication([])
+    widget = MonacoWidget()
+    # set the default size
+    widget.resize(800, 600)
+    widget.set_language("python")
+    widget.set_theme("vs-dark")
+    widget.editor.set_minimap_enabled(False)
+    widget.set_text(
+        """
+import numpy as np
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from bec_lib.devicemanager import DeviceContainer
+    from bec_lib.scans import Scans
+    dev: DeviceContainer
+    scans: Scans
+
+#######################################
+########## User Script #####################
+#######################################
+
+# This is a comment
+def hello_world():
+    print("Hello, world!")
+            """
+    )
+    widget.set_highlighted_lines(1, 3)
+    widget.show()
+    qapp.exec_()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/monaco/monaco_widget.pyproject

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{'files': ['monaco_widget.py']}

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/monaco/monaco_widget_plugin.py

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
+
+from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
+from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.monaco.monaco_widget import MonacoWidget
+
+DOM_XML = """
+<ui language='c++'>
+    <widget class='MonacoWidget' name='monaco_widget'>
+    </widget>
+</ui>
+"""
+
+
+class MonacoWidgetPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self._form_editor = None
+
+    def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
+        t = MonacoWidget(parent)
+        return t
+
+    def domXml(self):
+        return DOM_XML
+
+    def group(self):
+        return "BEC Developer"
+
+    def icon(self):
+        return designer_material_icon(MonacoWidget.ICON_NAME)
+
+    def includeFile(self):
+        return "monaco_widget"
+
+    def initialize(self, form_editor):
+        self._form_editor = form_editor
+
+    def isContainer(self):
+        return False
+
+    def isInitialized(self):
+        return self._form_editor is not None
+
+    def name(self):
+        return "MonacoWidget"
+
+    def toolTip(self):
+        return ""
+
+    def whatsThis(self):
+        return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/monaco/register_monaco_widget.py

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+def main():  # pragma: no cover
+    from qtpy import PYSIDE6
+
+    if not PYSIDE6:
+        print("PYSIDE6 is not available in the environment. Cannot patch designer.")
+        return
+    from PySide6.QtDesigner import QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection
+
+    from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.monaco.monaco_widget_plugin import MonacoWidgetPlugin
+
+    QPyDesignerCustomWidgetCollection.addCustomWidget(MonacoWidgetPlugin())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/sbb_monitor/sbb_monitor_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.sbb_monitor.sbb_monitor import SBBMonitor
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class SBBMonitorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = SBBMonitor(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ class SBBMonitorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return ""
+        return "BEC Utils"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(SBBMonitor.ICON_NAME)

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/scan_metadata/scan_metadata.py

@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@ class ScanMetadata(PydanticModelForm):
     def set_schema_from_scan(self, scan_name: str | None):
         self._scan_name = scan_name or ""
         self.set_schema(get_metadata_schema_for_scan(self._scan_name))
-        self.populate()
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/scan_metadata/scan_metadata_plugin.py

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.scan_metadata.scan_metadata import ScanMetadata
@@ -20,6 +21,8 @@ class ScanMetadataPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = ScanMetadata(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -27,7 +30,7 @@ class ScanMetadataPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return DOM_XML
 
     def group(self):
-        return ""
+        return "BEC Input Widgets"
 
     def icon(self):
         return designer_material_icon(ScanMetadata.ICON_NAME)
@@ -48,7 +51,7 @@ class ScanMetadataPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "ScanMetadata"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "Dynamically generates a form for inclusion of metadata for a scan."
+        return "ScanMetadata"
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/text_box/text_box_plugin.py

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.text_box.text_box import TextBox
 
@@ -14,7 +13,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
     </widget>
 </ui>
 """
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
 
 
 class TextBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
@@ -23,6 +21,8 @@ class TextBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = TextBox(parent)
         return t
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class TextBoxPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "TextBox"
 
     def toolTip(self):
-        return "TextBox"
+        return "A widget that displays text in plain and HTML format"
 
     def whatsThis(self):
         return self.toolTip()

bec_widgets/widgets/editors/vscode/vs_code_editor_plugin.py

@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2022 The Qt Company Ltd.
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LicenseRef-Qt-Commercial OR BSD-3-Clause
-import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QWidget
 
-import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.vscode.vscode import VSCodeEditor
 
@@ -15,8 +14,6 @@ DOM_XML = """
 </ui>
 """
 
-MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
-
 
 class VSCodeEditorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
     def __init__(self):
@@ -24,6 +21,8 @@ class VSCodeEditorPlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         self._form_editor = None
 
     def createWidget(self, parent):
+        if parent is None:
+            return QWidget()
         t = VSCodeEditor(parent)
         return t