1.17.0

Automatically generated by python-semantic-release

.gitlab-ci.yml

@@ -5,9 +5,16 @@ 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: "main"
-  OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: "main"
+  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:
@@ -27,8 +34,9 @@ include:
     inputs:
       stage: test
       path: "."
-      pytest_args: "-v --random-order tests/"
-      exclude_packages: ""
+      pytest_args: "-v,--random-order,tests/unit_tests"
+      ignore_dep_group: "pyqt6"
+      pip_args: ".[dev,pyside6]"
 
 # different stages in the pipeline
 stages:
@@ -53,6 +61,7 @@ stages:
   - 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
@@ -140,7 +149,7 @@ tests:
     - *install-os-packages
     - *install-repos
     - pip install -e .[dev,pyqt6]
-    - coverage run --source=./bec_widgets -m pytest -v --junitxml=report.xml --random-order --full-trace ./tests/unit_tests
+    - 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+)?\%)$/'
@@ -177,8 +186,7 @@ test-matrix:
     - *install-os-packages
     - *install-repos
     - pip install -e .[dev,$QT_PCKG]
-    - pytest -v --junitxml=report.xml --random-order ./tests/unit_tests
-  allow_failure: true
+    - pytest -v --maxfail=2 --junitxml=report.xml --random-order ./tests/unit_tests
 
 end-2-end-conda:
   stage: End2End

bec_widgets/applications/alignment/alignment_1d/alignment_1d.py

@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+""" This module contains the GUI for the 1D alignment application.
+It is a preliminary version of the GUI, which will be added to the main branch and steadily updated to be improved.
+"""
+
+import os
+from typing import Optional
+
+from bec_lib.device import Signal as BECSignal
+from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from qtpy.QtCore import QSize
+from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
+
+import bec_widgets
+from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import SafeSlot as Slot
+from bec_widgets.utils import UILoader
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher import BECDispatcher
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_accent_colors
+from bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.stop_button.stop_button import StopButton
+from bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_group.positioner_group import (
+    PositionerGroup,
+)
+from bec_widgets.widgets.dap.lmfit_dialog.lmfit_dialog import LMFitDialog
+from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.waveform_widget import BECWaveformWidget
+from bec_widgets.widgets.progress.bec_progressbar.bec_progressbar import BECProgressBar
+
+MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
+
+class Alignment1D:
+    """Alignment GUI to perform 1D scans"""
+
+    def __init__(self, client=None, gui_id: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        """Initialization
+
+        Args:
+            config: Configuration of the application.
+            client: BEC client object.
+            gui_id: GUI ID.
+        """
+        self.bec_dispatcher = BECDispatcher(client=client)
+        self.client = self.bec_dispatcher.client if client is None else client
+        QApplication.instance().aboutToQuit.connect(self.close)
+        self.dev = self.client.device_manager.devices
+
+        self._accent_colors = get_accent_colors()
+        self.ui_file = "alignment_1d.ui"
+        self.ui = None
+        self.progress_bar = None
+        self.waveform = None
+        self.init_ui()
+
+    def init_ui(self):
+        """Initialise the UI from QT Designer file"""
+        current_path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+        self.ui = UILoader(None).loader(os.path.join(current_path, self.ui_file))
+        # Customize the plotting widget
+        self.waveform = self.ui.findChild(BECWaveformWidget, "bec_waveform_widget")
+        self._customise_bec_waveform_widget()
+        # Setup comboboxes for motor and signal selection
+        # FIXME after changing the filtering in the combobox
+        self._setup_signal_combobox()
+        # Setup motor indicator
+        self._setup_motor_indicator()
+        # Setup progress bar
+        self._setup_progress_bar()
+        # Add actions buttons
+        self._customise_buttons()
+        # Hook scaninfo updates
+        self.bec_dispatcher.connect_slot(self.scan_status_callback, MessageEndpoints.scan_status())
+
+    def show(self):
+        return self.ui.show()
+
+    ##############################
+    ############ SLOTS ###########
+    ##############################
+
+    @Slot(dict, dict)
+    def scan_status_callback(self, content: dict, _) -> None:
+        """This slot allows to enable/disable the UI critical components when a scan is running"""
+        if content["status"] in ["open"]:
+            self.enable_ui(False)
+        elif content["status"] in ["aborted", "halted", "closed"]:
+            self.enable_ui(True)
+
+    @Slot(tuple)
+    def move_to_center(self, move_request: tuple) -> None:
+        """Move the selected motor to the center"""
+        motor = self.ui.device_combobox.currentText()
+        if move_request[0] in ["center", "center1", "center2"]:
+            pos = move_request[1]
+        self.dev.get(motor).move(float(pos), relative=False)
+
+    @Slot()
+    def reset_progress_bar(self) -> None:
+        """Reset the progress bar"""
+        self.progress_bar.set_value(0)
+        self.progress_bar.set_minimum(0)
+
+    @Slot(dict, dict)
+    def update_progress_bar(self, content: dict, _) -> None:
+        """Hook to update the progress bar
+
+        Args:
+            content: Content of the scan progress message.
+            metadata: Metadata of the message.
+        """
+        if content["max_value"] == 0:
+            self.progress_bar.set_value(0)
+            return
+        self.progress_bar.set_maximum(content["max_value"])
+        self.progress_bar.set_value(content["value"])
+
+    @Slot()
+    def clear_queue(self) -> None:
+        """Clear the scan queue"""
+        self.queue.request_queue_reset()
+
+    ##############################
+    ######## END OF SLOTS ########
+    ##############################
+
+    def enable_ui(self, enable: bool) -> None:
+        """Enable or disable the UI components"""
+        # Enable/disable motor and signal selection
+        self.ui.device_combobox_2.setEnabled(enable)
+        # Enable/disable DAP selection
+        self.ui.dap_combo_box.setEnabled(enable)
+        # Enable/disable Scan Button
+        # self.ui.scan_button.setEnabled(enable)
+        # Disable move to buttons in LMFitDialog
+        self.ui.findChild(LMFitDialog).set_actions_enabled(enable)
+
+    def _customise_buttons(self) -> None:
+        """Add action buttons for the Action Control.
+        In addition, we are adding a callback to also clear the queue to the stop button
+        to ensure that upon clicking the button, no scans from another client may be queued
+        which would be confusing without the queue widget.
+        """
+        fit_dialog = self.ui.findChild(LMFitDialog)
+        fit_dialog.active_action_list = ["center", "center1", "center2"]
+        fit_dialog.move_action.connect(self.move_to_center)
+        stop_button = self.ui.findChild(StopButton)
+        stop_button.button.setText("Stop and Clear Queue")
+        stop_button.button.clicked.connect(self.clear_queue)
+
+    def _customise_bec_waveform_widget(self) -> None:
+        """Customise the BEC Waveform Widget, i.e. clear the toolbar"""
+        self.waveform.toolbar.clear()
+
+    def _setup_motor_indicator(self) -> None:
+        """Setup the arrow item"""
+        self.waveform.waveform.tick_item.add_to_plot()
+        positioner_box = self.ui.findChild(PositionerGroup)
+        positioner_box.position_update.connect(self.waveform.waveform.tick_item.set_position)
+        self.waveform.waveform.tick_item.set_position(0)
+
+    def _setup_signal_combobox(self) -> None:
+        """Setup signal selection"""
+        # FIXME after changing the filtering in the combobox
+        signals = [name for name in self.dev if isinstance(self.dev.get(name), BECSignal)]
+        self.ui.device_combobox_2.setCurrentText(signals[0])
+        self.ui.device_combobox_2.set_device_filter("Signal")
+
+    def _setup_progress_bar(self) -> None:
+        """Setup progress bar"""
+        # FIXME once the BECScanProgressBar is implemented
+        self.progress_bar = self.ui.findChild(BECProgressBar, "bec_progress_bar")
+        self.progress_bar.set_value(0)
+        self.ui.bec_waveform_widget.new_scan.connect(self.reset_progress_bar)
+        self.bec_dispatcher.connect_slot(self.update_progress_bar, MessageEndpoints.scan_progress())
+
+    def close(self):
+        logger.info("Disconnecting", repr(self.bec_dispatcher))
+        self.bec_dispatcher.disconnect_all()
+        logger.info("Shutting down BEC Client", repr(self.client))
+        self.client.shutdown()
+
+
+def main():
+    import sys
+
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    icon = QIcon()
+    icon.addFile(
+        os.path.join(MODULE_PATH, "assets", "app_icons", "alignment_1d.png"), size=QSize(48, 48)
+    )
+    app.setWindowIcon(icon)
+    window = Alignment1D()
+    window.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()

bec_widgets/applications/alignment/alignment_1d/alignment_1d.ui

@@ -0,0 +1,615 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<ui version="4.0">
+ <class>mainWindow</class>
+ <widget class="QMainWindow" name="mainWindow">
+  <property name="geometry">
+   <rect>
+    <x>0</x>
+    <y>0</y>
+    <width>1611</width>
+    <height>1019</height>
+   </rect>
+  </property>
+  <property name="windowTitle">
+   <string>Alignment tool</string>
+  </property>
+  <widget class="QWidget" name="widget">
+   <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_2">
+    <item>
+     <widget class="QWidget" name="widget" native="true">
+      <property name="sizePolicy">
+       <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Fixed">
+        <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+        <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+       </sizepolicy>
+      </property>
+      <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_5">
+       <item>
+        <widget class="DarkModeButton" name="dark_mode_button"/>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_6">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>40</width>
+           <height>20</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="BECStatusBox" name="bec_status_box">
+         <property name="compact_view" stdset="0">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="label" stdset="0">
+          <string>BEC Servers</string>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_3">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>40</width>
+           <height>20</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="BECQueue" name="bec_queue">
+         <property name="compact_view" stdset="0">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_5">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>40</width>
+           <height>20</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioButton">
+         <property name="enabled">
+          <bool>false</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>SLS Light On</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="checkable">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="checked">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="autoExclusive">
+          <bool>false</bool>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_7">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>40</width>
+           <height>20</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="QRadioButton" name="radioButton_3">
+         <property name="enabled">
+          <bool>false</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="text">
+          <string>BEAMLINE Checks</string>
+         </property>
+         <property name="checkable">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="checked">
+          <bool>true</bool>
+         </property>
+         <property name="autoExclusive">
+          <bool>false</bool>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_4">
+         <property name="orientation">
+          <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+         </property>
+         <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+          <size>
+           <width>40</width>
+           <height>20</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </spacer>
+       </item>
+       <item>
+        <widget class="StopButton" name="stop_button">
+         <property name="sizePolicy">
+          <sizepolicy hsizetype="MinimumExpanding" vsizetype="MinimumExpanding">
+           <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+           <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+          </sizepolicy>
+         </property>
+         <property name="minimumSize">
+          <size>
+           <width>200</width>
+           <height>40</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+         <property name="maximumSize">
+          <size>
+           <width>200</width>
+           <height>40</height>
+          </size>
+         </property>
+        </widget>
+       </item>
+      </layout>
+     </widget>
+    </item>
+    <item>
+     <widget class="BECProgressBar" name="bec_progress_bar">
+      <property name="minimumSize">
+       <size>
+        <width>0</width>
+        <height>25</height>
+       </size>
+      </property>
+      <property name="maximumSize">
+       <size>
+        <width>16777215</width>
+        <height>25</height>
+       </size>
+      </property>
+     </widget>
+    </item>
+    <item>
+     <widget class="QTabWidget" name="tabWidget">
+      <property name="sizePolicy">
+       <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Expanding">
+        <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+        <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+       </sizepolicy>
+      </property>
+      <property name="currentIndex">
+       <number>0</number>
+      </property>
+      <widget class="QWidget" name="ControlTab">
+       <attribute name="title">
+        <string>Alignment Control</string>
+       </attribute>
+       <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_6">
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_4" native="true">
+          <property name="sizePolicy">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+            <horstretch>1</horstretch>
+            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+           </sizepolicy>
+          </property>
+          <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout_3">
+           <item>
+            <widget class="ScanControl" name="scan_control">
+             <property name="current_scan" stdset="0">
+              <string>line_scan</string>
+             </property>
+             <property name="hide_arg_box" stdset="0">
+              <bool>false</bool>
+             </property>
+             <property name="hide_scan_selection_combobox" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+             <property name="hide_add_remove_buttons" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="PositionerGroup" name="positioner_group"/>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <spacer name="verticalSpacer">
+             <property name="orientation">
+              <enum>Qt::Orientation::Vertical</enum>
+             </property>
+             <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+              <size>
+               <width>20</width>
+               <height>40</height>
+              </size>
+             </property>
+            </spacer>
+           </item>
+          </layout>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_3" native="true">
+          <property name="sizePolicy">
+           <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Preferred">
+            <horstretch>4</horstretch>
+            <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+           </sizepolicy>
+          </property>
+          <layout class="QVBoxLayout" name="verticalLayout">
+           <item>
+            <widget class="QWidget" name="widget_2" native="true">
+             <property name="sizePolicy">
+              <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Fixed">
+               <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+               <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+              </sizepolicy>
+             </property>
+             <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_3">
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QLabel" name="label_2">
+                <property name="font">
+                 <font/>
+                </property>
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Monitor</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="DeviceComboBox" name="device_combobox_2"/>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QLabel" name="label_3">
+                <property name="font">
+                 <font/>
+                </property>
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>LMFit Model</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="DapComboBox" name="dap_combo_box"/>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="QLabel" name="label">
+                <property name="text">
+                 <string>Enable ROI</string>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <widget class="ToggleSwitch" name="toggle_switch">
+                <property name="sizePolicy">
+                 <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Expanding">
+                  <horstretch>3</horstretch>
+                  <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+                 </sizepolicy>
+                </property>
+                <property name="toolTip">
+                 <string>Activate linear region select for LMFit</string>
+                </property>
+                <property name="layoutDirection">
+                 <enum>Qt::LayoutDirection::LeftToRight</enum>
+                </property>
+                <property name="checked" stdset="0">
+                 <bool>false</bool>
+                </property>
+               </widget>
+              </item>
+              <item>
+               <spacer name="horizontalSpacer_8">
+                <property name="orientation">
+                 <enum>Qt::Orientation::Horizontal</enum>
+                </property>
+                <property name="sizeHint" stdset="0">
+                 <size>
+                  <width>40</width>
+                  <height>20</height>
+                 </size>
+                </property>
+               </spacer>
+              </item>
+             </layout>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="BECWaveformWidget" name="bec_waveform_widget">
+             <property name="sizePolicy">
+              <sizepolicy hsizetype="Expanding" vsizetype="Expanding">
+               <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+               <verstretch>1</verstretch>
+              </sizepolicy>
+             </property>
+             <property name="minimumSize">
+              <size>
+               <width>600</width>
+               <height>450</height>
+              </size>
+             </property>
+             <property name="clear_curves_on_plot_update" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+           <item>
+            <widget class="LMFitDialog" name="lm_fit_dialog">
+             <property name="sizePolicy">
+              <sizepolicy hsizetype="Preferred" vsizetype="Minimum">
+               <horstretch>0</horstretch>
+               <verstretch>0</verstretch>
+              </sizepolicy>
+             </property>
+             <property name="minimumSize">
+              <size>
+               <width>0</width>
+               <height>190</height>
+              </size>
+             </property>
+             <property name="always_show_latest" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+             <property name="hide_curve_selection" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+             <property name="hide_summary" stdset="0">
+              <bool>true</bool>
+             </property>
+            </widget>
+           </item>
+          </layout>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
+      </widget>
+      <widget class="QWidget" name="tab_2">
+       <attribute name="title">
+        <string>Logbook</string>
+       </attribute>
+       <layout class="QHBoxLayout" name="horizontalLayout_4">
+        <property name="leftMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="topMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="rightMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <property name="bottomMargin">
+         <number>2</number>
+        </property>
+        <item>
+         <widget class="WebsiteWidget" name="website_widget">
+          <property name="url" stdset="0">
+           <string>https://scilog.psi.ch/login</string>
+          </property>
+         </widget>
+        </item>
+       </layout>
+      </widget>
+     </widget>
+    </item>
+   </layout>
+  </widget>
+ </widget>
+ <customwidgets>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>DapComboBox</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>dap_combo_box</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>StopButton</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>stop_button</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>WebsiteWidget</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>website_widget</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>BECQueue</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>bec_queue</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>ScanControl</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>scan_control</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>ToggleSwitch</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>toggle_switch</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>BECProgressBar</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>bec_progress_bar</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>DarkModeButton</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>dark_mode_button</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>PositionerGroup</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>positioner_group</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>BECWaveformWidget</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>bec_waveform_widget</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>DeviceComboBox</class>
+   <extends>QComboBox</extends>
+   <header>device_combobox</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>LMFitDialog</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>lm_fit_dialog</header>
+  </customwidget>
+  <customwidget>
+   <class>BECStatusBox</class>
+   <extends>QWidget</extends>
+   <header>bec_status_box</header>
+  </customwidget>
+ </customwidgets>
+ <resources/>
+ <connections>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>toggle_switch</sender>
+   <signal>enabled(bool)</signal>
+   <receiver>bec_waveform_widget</receiver>
+   <slot>toogle_roi_select(bool)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>1042</x>
+     <y>212</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>1416</x>
+     <y>322</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>bec_waveform_widget</sender>
+   <signal>dap_summary_update(QVariantMap,QVariantMap)</signal>
+   <receiver>lm_fit_dialog</receiver>
+   <slot>update_summary_tree(QVariantMap,QVariantMap)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>1099</x>
+     <y>258</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>1157</x>
+     <y>929</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>device_combobox_2</sender>
+   <signal>currentTextChanged(QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>bec_waveform_widget</receiver>
+   <slot>plot(QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>577</x>
+     <y>215</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>1416</x>
+     <y>427</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>device_combobox_2</sender>
+   <signal>currentTextChanged(QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>dap_combo_box</receiver>
+   <slot>select_y_axis(QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>577</x>
+     <y>215</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>909</x>
+     <y>215</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>dap_combo_box</sender>
+   <signal>new_dap_config(QString,QString,QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>bec_waveform_widget</receiver>
+   <slot>add_dap(QString,QString,QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>909</x>
+     <y>215</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>1416</x>
+     <y>447</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>scan_control</sender>
+   <signal>device_selected(QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>positioner_group</receiver>
+   <slot>set_positioners(QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>230</x>
+     <y>306</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>187</x>
+     <y>926</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>scan_control</sender>
+   <signal>device_selected(QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>bec_waveform_widget</receiver>
+   <slot>set_x(QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>187</x>
+     <y>356</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>972</x>
+     <y>509</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+  <connection>
+   <sender>scan_control</sender>
+   <signal>device_selected(QString)</signal>
+   <receiver>dap_combo_box</receiver>
+   <slot>select_x_axis(QString)</slot>
+   <hints>
+    <hint type="sourcelabel">
+     <x>187</x>
+     <y>356</y>
+    </hint>
+    <hint type="destinationlabel">
+     <x>794</x>
+     <y>202</y>
+    </hint>
+   </hints>
+  </connection>
+ </connections>
+</ui>

bec_widgets/applications/bec_app.py

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+"""
+Launcher for BEC GUI Applications
+
+Application must be located in bec_widgets/applications ;
+in order for the launcher to find the application, it has to be put in
+a subdirectory with the same name as the main Python module:
+
+/bec_widgets/applications
+    ├── alignment
+    │   └── alignment_1d
+    │       └── alignment_1d.py
+    ├── other_app
+        └── other_app.py
+
+The tree above would contain 2 applications, alignment_1d and other_app.
+
+The Python module for the application must have `if __name__ == "__main__":`
+in order for the launcher to execute it (it is run with `python -m`).
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+
+MODULE_PATH = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+
+
+def find_apps(base_dir: str) -> list[str]:
+    matching_modules = []
+
+    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(base_dir):
+        parent_dir = os.path.basename(root)
+
+        for file in files:
+            if file.endswith(".py") and file != "__init__.py":
+                file_name_without_ext = os.path.splitext(file)[0]
+
+                if file_name_without_ext == parent_dir:
+                    rel_path = os.path.relpath(root, base_dir)
+                    module_path = rel_path.replace(os.sep, ".")
+
+                    module_name = f"{module_path}.{file_name_without_ext}"
+                    matching_modules.append((file_name_without_ext, module_name))
+
+    return matching_modules
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="BEC application launcher")
+
+    parser.add_argument("-m", "--module", type=str, help="The module to run (string argument).")
+
+    # Add a positional argument for the module, which acts as a fallback if -m is not provided
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "positional_module",
+        nargs="?",  # This makes the positional argument optional
+        help="Positional argument that is treated as module if -m is not specified.",
+    )
+
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    # If the -m/--module is not provided, fallback to the positional argument
+    module = args.module if args.module else args.positional_module
+
+    if module:
+        for app_name, app_module in find_apps(MODULE_PATH):
+            if module in (app_name, app_module):
+                print("Starting:", app_name)
+                python_executable = sys.executable
+
+                # Replace the current process with the new Python module
+                os.execvp(
+                    python_executable,
+                    [python_executable, "-m", f"bec_widgets.applications.{app_module}"],
+                )
+        print(f"Error: cannot find application {module}")
+
+    # display list of apps
+    print("Available applications:")
+    for app, _ in find_apps(MODULE_PATH):
+        print(f"  - {app}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    main()

bec_widgets/assets/status_icons/error.svg

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-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/status_icons/not_connected.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#EA3323">
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bec_widgets/assets/status_icons/refresh.svg

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-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/status_icons/running.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
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-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/status_icons/warning.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#F19E39">
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/add.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/attach_all.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
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-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/auto_range.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/compare.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/connection.svg

@@ -1,4 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M0 0h24v24H0V0z" fill="none"/>
-    <path d="M17 7h-4v2h4c1.65 0 3 1.35 3 3s-1.35 3-3 3h-4v2h4c2.76 0 5-2.24 5-5s-2.24-5-5-5zm-6 8H7c-1.65 0-3-1.35-3-3s1.35-3 3-3h4V7H7c-2.76 0-5 2.24-5 5s2.24 5 5 5h4v-2zm-3-4h8v2H8z"/>
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/device_box.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
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-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/drag_pan_mode.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/export.svg

@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
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-     fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <g>
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-    </g>
-    <g>
-        <path d="M18,15v3H6v-3H4v3c0,1.1,0.9,2,2,2h12c1.1,0,2-0.9,2-2v-3H18z M7,9l1.41,1.41L11,7.83V16h2V7.83l2.59,2.58L17,9l-5-5L7,9z"/>
-    </g>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/fft.svg

@@ -1,11 +0,0 @@
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-     style="fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;stroke-linejoin:round;stroke-miterlimit:2;">
-    <rect id="Artboard1" x="0" y="0" width="100" height="96.486" style="fill:none;"/>
-    <g id="Artboard11" serif:id="Artboard1">
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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/fitting_parameters.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/history.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/image.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/image_autorange.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/import.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/line_axis.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/line_curve.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/lock_aspect_ratio.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/motor_map.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/photo_library.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/progress.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/queue.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/rectangle_mode.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/remove.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/reset_settings.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/restore_state.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/ring_progress.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/rotate_left.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/rotate_right.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/save.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/save_state.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/scan_control.svg

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bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/settings.svg

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-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M0 0h24v24H0V0z" fill="none"/>
-    <path d="M19.43 12.98c.04-.32.07-.64.07-.98 0-.34-.03-.66-.07-.98l2.11-1.65c.19-.15.24-.42.12-.64l-2-3.46c-.09-.16-.26-.25-.44-.25-.06 0-.12.01-.17.03l-2.49 1c-.52-.4-1.08-.73-1.69-.98l-.38-2.65C14.46 2.18 14.25 2 14 2h-4c-.25 0-.46.18-.49.42l-.38 2.65c-.61.25-1.17.59-1.69.98l-2.49-1c-.06-.02-.12-.03-.18-.03-.17 0-.34.09-.43.25l-2 3.46c-.13.22-.07.49.12.64l2.11 1.65c-.04.32-.07.65-.07.98 0 .33.03.66.07.98l-2.11 1.65c-.19.15-.24.42-.12.64l2 3.46c.09.16.26.25.44.25.06 0 .12-.01.17-.03l2.49-1c.52.4 1.08.73 1.69.98l.38 2.65c.03.24.24.42.49.42h4c.25 0 .46-.18.49-.42l.38-2.65c.61-.25 1.17-.59 1.69-.98l2.49 1c.06.02.12.03.18.03.17 0 .34-.09.43-.25l2-3.46c.12-.22.07-.49-.12-.64l-2.11-1.65zm-1.98-1.71c.04.31.05.52.05.73 0 .21-.02.43-.05.73l-.14 1.13.89.7 1.08.84-.7 1.21-1.27-.51-1.04-.42-.9.68c-.43.32-.84.56-1.25.73l-1.06.43-.16 1.13-.2 1.35h-1.4l-.19-1.35-.16-1.13-1.06-.43c-.43-.18-.83-.41-1.23-.71l-.91-.7-1.06.43-1.27.51-.7-1.21 1.08-.84.89-.7-.14-1.13c-.03-.31-.05-.54-.05-.74s.02-.43.05-.73l.14-1.13-.89-.7-1.08-.84.7-1.21 1.27.51 1.04.42.9-.68c.43-.32.84-.56 1.25-.73l1.06-.43.16-1.13.2-1.35h1.39l.19 1.35.16 1.13 1.06.43c.43.18.83.41 1.23.71l.91.7 1.06-.43 1.27-.51.7 1.21-1.07.85-.89.7.14 1.13zM12 8c-2.21 0-4 1.79-4 4s1.79 4 4 4 4-1.79 4-4-1.79-4-4-4zm0 6c-1.1 0-2-.9-2-2s.9-2 2-2 2 .9 2 2-.9 2-2 2z"/>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/status.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M286.83-277h60v-205h-60v205Zm326.91 0h60v-420h-60v420ZM450-277h60v-118h-60v118Zm0-205h60v-60h-60v60ZM185.09-105.87q-32.51 0-55.87-23.35-23.35-23.36-23.35-55.87v-589.82q0-32.74 23.35-56.26 23.36-23.53 55.87-23.53h589.82q32.74 0 56.26 23.53 23.53 23.52 23.53 56.26v589.82q0 32.51-23.53 55.87-23.52 23.35-56.26 23.35H185.09Z"/>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/terminal.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M145.09-145.87q-32.51 0-55.87-23.35-23.35-23.36-23.35-55.87v-509.82q0-32.74 23.35-56.26 23.36-23.53 55.87-23.53h669.82q32.74 0 56.26 23.53 23.53 23.52 23.53 56.26v509.82q0 32.51-23.53 55.87-23.52 23.35-56.26 23.35H145.09Zm0-79.22h669.82v-425.82H145.09v425.82ZM300-292l-42-42 103-104-104-104 43-42 146 146-146 146Zm190 4v-60h220v60H490Z"/>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/transform.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M636.17-32.59 480.35-188.41l45.82-46.07 77.13 77.37v-137.32H356.93q-28.1 0-46.8-18.55-18.7-18.54-18.7-46.95V-600.3H74.02v-65.27h217.41v-137.32l-77.36 77.37-45.59-45.83 155.59-155.82 156.06 155.82-46.06 45.83-77.14-77.37v442.96h529.29v65.5H669.04v137.32l77.13-77.37L792-188.41 636.17-32.59ZM603.3-419.93V-600.3H416.93v-65.27H603.3q28.37 0 47.06 18.56 18.68 18.55 18.68 46.71v180.37H603.3Z"/>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/assets/toolbar_icons/waveform.svg

@@ -1,3 +0,0 @@
-<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="48px" viewBox="0 -960 960 960" width="48px" fill="#FFFFFF">
-    <path d="M126-206.43 66.43-266 380-579.57 539.43-419.7l298-335 56.14 54.57-352.44 399.26L380-460.43l-254 254Z"/>
-</svg>

bec_widgets/cli/auto_updates.py

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import threading
+from queue import Queue
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from pydantic import BaseModel
@@ -25,14 +27,17 @@ class AutoUpdates:
 
     def __init__(self, gui: BECDockArea):
         self.gui = gui
+        self._default_dock = None
+        self._default_fig = None
 
     def start_default_dock(self):
         """
         Create a default dock for the auto updates.
         """
-        dock = self.gui.add_dock("default_figure")
-        dock.add_widget("BECFigure")
         self.dock_name = "default_figure"
+        self._default_dock = self.gui.add_dock(self.dock_name)
+        self._default_dock.add_widget("BECFigure")
+        self._default_fig = self._default_dock.widget_list[0]
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_scan_info(msg) -> ScanInfo:
@@ -60,15 +65,9 @@ class AutoUpdates:
         """
         Get the default figure from the GUI.
         """
-        dock = self.gui.panels.get(self.dock_name, [])
-        if not dock:
-            return None
-        widgets = dock.widget_list
-        if not widgets:
-            return None
-        return widgets[0]
+        return self._default_fig
 
-    def run(self, msg):
+    def do_update(self, msg):
         """
         Run the update function if enabled.
         """
@@ -77,10 +76,9 @@ class AutoUpdates:
         if msg.status != "open":
             return
         info = self.get_scan_info(msg)
-        self.handler(info)
+        return self.handler(info)
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def get_selected_device(monitored_devices, selected_device):
+    def get_selected_device(self, monitored_devices, selected_device):
         """
         Get the selected device for the plot. If no device is selected, the first
         device in the monitored devices list is selected.
@@ -97,14 +95,11 @@ class AutoUpdates:
         Default update function.
         """
         if info.scan_name == "line_scan" and info.scan_report_devices:
-            self.simple_line_scan(info)
-            return
+            return self.simple_line_scan(info)
         if info.scan_name == "grid_scan" and info.scan_report_devices:
-            self.simple_grid_scan(info)
-            return
+            return self.simple_grid_scan(info)
         if info.scan_report_devices:
-            self.best_effort(info)
-            return
+            return self.best_effort(info)
 
     def simple_line_scan(self, info: ScanInfo) -> None:
         """
@@ -114,12 +109,19 @@ class AutoUpdates:
         if not fig:
             return
         dev_x = info.scan_report_devices[0]
-        dev_y = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, self.gui.selected_device)
+        selected_device = yield self.gui.selected_device
+        dev_y = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, selected_device)
         if not dev_y:
             return
-        fig.clear_all()
-        plt = fig.plot(x_name=dev_x, y_name=dev_y, label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_y}")
-        plt.set(title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}", x_label=dev_x, y_label=dev_y)
+        yield fig.clear_all()
+        yield fig.plot(
+            x_name=dev_x,
+            y_name=dev_y,
+            label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_y}",
+            title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}",
+            x_label=dev_x,
+            y_label=dev_y,
+        )
 
     def simple_grid_scan(self, info: ScanInfo) -> None:
         """
@@ -130,12 +132,18 @@ class AutoUpdates:
             return
         dev_x = info.scan_report_devices[0]
         dev_y = info.scan_report_devices[1]
-        dev_z = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, self.gui.selected_device)
-        fig.clear_all()
-        plt = fig.plot(
-            x_name=dev_x, y_name=dev_y, z_name=dev_z, label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_z}"
+        selected_device = yield self.gui.selected_device
+        dev_z = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, selected_device)
+        yield fig.clear_all()
+        yield fig.plot(
+            x_name=dev_x,
+            y_name=dev_y,
+            z_name=dev_z,
+            label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_z}",
+            title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}",
+            x_label=dev_x,
+            y_label=dev_y,
         )
-        plt.set(title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}", x_label=dev_x, y_label=dev_y)
 
     def best_effort(self, info: ScanInfo) -> None:
         """
@@ -145,9 +153,16 @@ class AutoUpdates:
         if not fig:
             return
         dev_x = info.scan_report_devices[0]
-        dev_y = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, self.gui.selected_device)
+        selected_device = yield self.gui.selected_device
+        dev_y = self.get_selected_device(info.monitored_devices, selected_device)
         if not dev_y:
             return
-        fig.clear_all()
-        plt = fig.plot(x_name=dev_x, y_name=dev_y, label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_y}")
-        plt.set(title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}", x_label=dev_x, y_label=dev_y)
+        yield fig.clear_all()
+        yield fig.plot(
+            x_name=dev_x,
+            y_name=dev_y,
+            label=f"Scan {info.scan_number} - {dev_y}",
+            title=f"Scan {info.scan_number}",
+            x_label=dev_x,
+            y_label=dev_y,
+        )

bec_widgets/cli/client_utils.py

@@ -6,67 +6,34 @@ import json
 import os
 import select
 import subprocess
-import sys
 import threading
-import time
-import uuid
-from functools import wraps
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import isinstance_based_on_class_name, lazy_import, lazy_import_from
-from qtpy.QtCore import QEventLoop, QSocketNotifier, QTimer
 
 import bec_widgets.cli.client as client
 from bec_widgets.cli.auto_updates import AutoUpdates
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from bec_lib import messages
+    from bec_lib.connector import MessageObject
     from bec_lib.device import DeviceBase
 
-    from bec_widgets.cli.client import BECDockArea, BECFigure
-
-from bec_lib.serialization import MsgpackSerialization
-
-messages = lazy_import("bec_lib.messages")
-# from bec_lib.connector import MessageObject
-MessageObject = lazy_import_from("bec_lib.connector", ("MessageObject",))
-BECDispatcher = lazy_import_from("bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher", ("BECDispatcher",))
+    from bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher import BECDispatcher
+else:
+    messages = lazy_import("bec_lib.messages")
+    # from bec_lib.connector import MessageObject
+    MessageObject = lazy_import_from("bec_lib.connector", ("MessageObject",))
+    BECDispatcher = lazy_import_from("bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher", ("BECDispatcher",))
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
 
-def rpc_call(func):
-    """
-    A decorator for calling a function on the server.
-
-    Args:
-        func: The function to call.
-
-    Returns:
-        The result of the function call.
-    """
-
-    @wraps(func)
-    def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        # we could rely on a strict type check here, but this is more flexible
-        # moreover, it would anyway crash for objects...
-        out = []
-        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.gui_is_alive():
-            raise RuntimeError("GUI is not alive")
-        return self._run_rpc(func.__name__, *args, **kwargs)
-
-    return wrapper
-
-
 def _get_output(process, logger) -> None:
     log_func = {process.stdout: logger.debug, process.stderr: logger.error}
     stream_buffer = {process.stdout: [], process.stderr: []}
@@ -85,7 +52,7 @@ def _get_output(process, logger) -> None:
                     buf.clear()
                     buf.append(remaining)
     except Exception as e:
-        print(f"Error reading process output: {str(e)}")
+        logger.error(f"Error reading process output: {str(e)}")
 
 
 def _start_plot_process(gui_id: str, gui_class: type, config: dict | str, logger=None) -> None:
@@ -97,14 +64,15 @@ def _start_plot_process(gui_id: str, gui_class: type, config: dict | str, logger
     process will not be captured.
     """
     # pylint: disable=subprocess-run-check
-    command = ["bec-gui-server", "--id", gui_id, "--gui_class", gui_class.__name__]
+    command = ["bec-gui-server", "--id", gui_id, "--gui_class", gui_class.__name__, "--hide"]
     if config:
         if isinstance(config, dict):
             config = json.dumps(config)
-        command.extend(["--config", config])
+        command.extend(["--config", str(config)])
 
     env_dict = os.environ.copy()
     env_dict["PYTHONUNBUFFERED"] = "1"
+
     if logger is None:
         stdout_redirect = subprocess.DEVNULL
         stderr_redirect = subprocess.DEVNULL
@@ -130,14 +98,85 @@ def _start_plot_process(gui_id: str, gui_class: type, config: dict | str, logger
     return process, process_output_processing_thread
 
 
-class BECGuiClientMixin:
+class RepeatTimer(threading.Timer):
+    def run(self):
+        while not self.finished.wait(self.interval):
+            self.function(*self.args, **self.kwargs)
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def wait_for_server(client):
+    timeout = client._startup_timeout
+    if not timeout:
+        if client.gui_is_alive():
+            # there is hope, let's wait a bit
+            timeout = 1
+        else:
+            raise RuntimeError("GUI is not alive")
+    try:
+        if client._gui_started_event.wait(timeout=timeout):
+            client._gui_started_timer.cancel()
+            client._gui_started_timer.join()
+        else:
+            raise TimeoutError("Could not connect to GUI server")
+    finally:
+        # after initial waiting period, do not wait so much any more
+        # (only relevant if GUI didn't start)
+        client._startup_timeout = 0
+    yield
+
+
+### ----------------------------
+### NOTE
+### it is far easier to extend the 'delete' method on the client side,
+### to know when the client is deleted, rather than listening to server
+### to get notified. However, 'generate_cli.py' cannot add extra stuff
+### in the generated client module. So, here a class with the same name
+### is created, and client module is patched.
+class BECDockArea(client.BECDockArea):
+    def delete(self):
+        if self is BECGuiClient._top_level["main"].widget:
+            raise RuntimeError("Cannot delete main window")
+        super().delete()
+        try:
+            del BECGuiClient._top_level[self._gui_id]
+        except KeyError:
+            # if a dock area is not at top level
+            pass
+
+
+client.BECDockArea = BECDockArea
+### ----------------------------
+
+
+@dataclass
+class WidgetDesc:
+    title: str
+    widget: BECDockArea
+
+
+class BECGuiClient(RPCBase):
+    _top_level = {}
+
     def __init__(self, **kwargs) -> None:
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        self._auto_updates_enabled = True
+        self._auto_updates = None
+        self._startup_timeout = 0
+        self._gui_started_timer = None
+        self._gui_started_event = threading.Event()
         self._process = None
         self._process_output_processing_thread = None
-        self.auto_updates = self._get_update_script()
-        self._target_endpoint = MessageEndpoints.scan_status()
-        self._selected_device = None
+
+    @property
+    def windows(self):
+        return self._top_level
+
+    @property
+    def auto_updates(self):
+        if self._auto_updates_enabled:
+            with wait_for_server(self):
+                return self._auto_updates
 
     def _get_update_script(self) -> AutoUpdates | None:
         eps = imd.entry_points(group="bec.widgets.auto_updates")
@@ -150,7 +189,7 @@ class BECGuiClientMixin:
                         continue
                     return ep.load()(gui=self)
                 except Exception as e:
-                    print(f"Error loading auto update script from plugin: {str(e)}")
+                    logger.error(f"Error loading auto update script from plugin: {str(e)}")
         return None
 
     @property
@@ -158,205 +197,151 @@ class BECGuiClientMixin:
         """
         Selected device for the plot.
         """
-        return self._selected_device
+        auto_update_config_ep = MessageEndpoints.gui_auto_update_config(self._gui_id)
+        auto_update_config = self._client.connector.get(auto_update_config_ep)
+        if auto_update_config:
+            return auto_update_config.selected_device
+        return None
 
     @selected_device.setter
     def selected_device(self, device: str | DeviceBase):
         if isinstance_based_on_class_name(device, "bec_lib.device.DeviceBase"):
-            self._selected_device = device.name
+            self._client.connector.set_and_publish(
+                MessageEndpoints.gui_auto_update_config(self._gui_id),
+                messages.GUIAutoUpdateConfigMessage(selected_device=device.name),
+            )
         elif isinstance(device, str):
-            self._selected_device = device
+            self._client.connector.set_and_publish(
+                MessageEndpoints.gui_auto_update_config(self._gui_id),
+                messages.GUIAutoUpdateConfigMessage(selected_device=device),
+            )
         else:
             raise ValueError("Device must be a string or a device object")
 
     def _start_update_script(self) -> None:
-        self._client.connector.register(
-            self._target_endpoint, cb=self._handle_msg_update, parent=self
-        )
+        self._client.connector.register(MessageEndpoints.scan_status(), cb=self._handle_msg_update)
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _handle_msg_update(msg: MessageObject, parent: BECGuiClientMixin) -> None:
-        if parent.auto_updates is not None:
+    def _handle_msg_update(self, msg: MessageObject) -> None:
+        if self.auto_updates is not None:
             # pylint: disable=protected-access
-            parent._update_script_msg_parser(msg.value)
+            return self._update_script_msg_parser(msg.value)
 
     def _update_script_msg_parser(self, msg: messages.BECMessage) -> None:
         if isinstance(msg, messages.ScanStatusMessage):
             if not self.gui_is_alive():
                 return
-            self.auto_updates.run(msg)
+            if self._auto_updates_enabled:
+                return self.auto_updates.do_update(msg)
 
-    def show(self) -> None:
+    def _gui_post_startup(self):
+        self._top_level["main"] = WidgetDesc(
+            title="BEC Widgets", widget=BECDockArea(gui_id=self._gui_id)
+        )
+        if self._auto_updates_enabled:
+            if self._auto_updates is None:
+                auto_updates = self._get_update_script()
+                if auto_updates is None:
+                    AutoUpdates.create_default_dock = True
+                    AutoUpdates.enabled = True
+                    auto_updates = AutoUpdates(self._top_level["main"].widget)
+                if auto_updates.create_default_dock:
+                    auto_updates.start_default_dock()
+                self._start_update_script()
+                self._auto_updates = auto_updates
+        self._do_show_all()
+        self._gui_started_event.set()
+
+    def start_server(self, wait=False) -> None:
         """
-        Show the figure.
+        Start the GUI server, and execute callback when it is launched
         """
         if self._process is None or self._process.poll() is not None:
-            self._start_update_script()
+            logger.success("GUI starting...")
+            self._startup_timeout = 5
+            self._gui_started_event.clear()
             self._process, self._process_output_processing_thread = _start_plot_process(
-                self._gui_id, self.__class__, self._client._service_config.config
+                self._gui_id, self.__class__, self._client._service_config.config, logger=logger
             )
-        while not self.gui_is_alive():
-            print("Waiting for GUI to start...")
-            time.sleep(1)
+
+            def gui_started_callback(callback):
+                try:
+                    if callable(callback):
+                        callback()
+                finally:
+                    threading.current_thread().cancel()
+
+            self._gui_started_timer = RepeatTimer(
+                0.5, lambda: self.gui_is_alive() and gui_started_callback(self._gui_post_startup)
+            )
+            self._gui_started_timer.start()
+
+        if wait:
+            self._gui_started_event.wait()
+
+    def _dump(self):
+        rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:window", parent=self)
+        return rpc_client._run_rpc("_dump")
+
+    def start(self):
+        return self.start_server()
+
+    def _do_show_all(self):
+        rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:window", parent=self)
+        rpc_client._run_rpc("show")
+        for window in self._top_level.values():
+            window.widget.show()
+
+    def show_all(self):
+        with wait_for_server(self):
+            return self._do_show_all()
+
+    def hide_all(self):
+        with wait_for_server(self):
+            rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:window", parent=self)
+            rpc_client._run_rpc("hide")
+            for window in self._top_level.values():
+                window.widget.hide()
+
+    def show(self):
+        if self._process is not None:
+            return self.show_all()
+        # backward compatibility: show() was also starting server
+        return self.start_server(wait=True)
+
+    def hide(self):
+        return self.hide_all()
+
+    @property
+    def main(self):
+        """Return client to main dock area (in main window)"""
+        with wait_for_server(self):
+            return self._top_level["main"].widget
+
+    def new(self, title):
+        """Ask main window to create a new top-level dock area"""
+        with wait_for_server(self):
+            rpc_client = RPCBase(gui_id=f"{self._gui_id}:window", parent=self)
+            widget = rpc_client._run_rpc("new_dock_area", title)
+            self._top_level[widget._gui_id] = WidgetDesc(title=title, widget=widget)
+            return widget
 
     def close(self) -> None:
         """
         Close the gui window.
         """
+        self._top_level.clear()
+
+        if self._gui_started_timer is not None:
+            self._gui_started_timer.cancel()
+            self._gui_started_timer.join()
+
         if self._process is None:
             return
 
-        self._client.shutdown()
         if self._process:
+            logger.success("Stopping GUI...")
             self._process.terminate()
             if self._process_output_processing_thread:
                 self._process_output_processing_thread.join()
             self._process.wait()
             self._process = None
-
-
-class RPCResponseTimeoutError(Exception):
-    """Exception raised when an RPC response is not received within the expected time."""
-
-    def __init__(self, request_id, timeout):
-        super().__init__(
-            f"RPC response not received within {timeout} seconds for request ID {request_id}"
-        )
-
-
-class QtRedisMessageWaiter:
-    def __init__(self, redis_connector, message_to_wait):
-        self.ev_loop = QEventLoop()
-        self.response = None
-        self.connector = redis_connector
-        self.message_to_wait = message_to_wait
-        self.pubsub = redis_connector._redis_conn.pubsub()
-        self.pubsub.subscribe(self.message_to_wait.endpoint)
-        fd = self.pubsub.connection._sock.fileno()
-        self.notifier = QSocketNotifier(fd, QSocketNotifier.Read)
-        self.notifier.activated.connect(self._pubsub_readable)
-
-    def _msg_received(self, msg_obj):
-        self.response = msg_obj.value
-        self.ev_loop.quit()
-
-    def wait(self, timeout=1):
-        timer = QTimer()
-        timer.singleShot(timeout * 1000, self.ev_loop.quit)
-        self.ev_loop.exec_()
-        timer.stop()
-        self.notifier.setEnabled(False)
-        self.pubsub.close()
-        return self.response
-
-    def _pubsub_readable(self, fd):
-        while True:
-            msg = self.pubsub.get_message()
-            if msg:
-                if msg["type"] == "subscribe":
-                    # get_message buffers, so we may already have the answer
-                    # let's check...
-                    continue
-                else:
-                    break
-            else:
-                return
-        channel = msg["channel"].decode()
-        msg = MessageObject(topic=channel, value=MsgpackSerialization.loads(msg["data"]))
-        self.connector._execute_callback(self._msg_received, msg, {})
-
-
-class RPCBase:
-    def __init__(self, gui_id: str = None, config: dict = None, parent=None) -> None:
-        self._client = BECDispatcher().client
-        self._config = config if config is not None else {}
-        self._gui_id = gui_id if gui_id is not None else str(uuid.uuid4())
-        self._parent = parent
-        super().__init__()
-        # print(f"RPCBase: {self._gui_id}")
-
-    def __repr__(self):
-        type_ = type(self)
-        qualname = type_.__qualname__
-        return f"<{qualname} object at {hex(id(self))}>"
-
-    @property
-    def _root(self):
-        """
-        Get the root widget. This is the BECFigure widget that holds
-        the anchor gui_id.
-        """
-        parent = self
-        # pylint: disable=protected-access
-        while parent._parent is not None:
-            parent = parent._parent
-        return parent
-
-    def _run_rpc(self, method, *args, wait_for_rpc_response=True, timeout=3, **kwargs):
-        """
-        Run the RPC call.
-
-        Args:
-            method: The method to call.
-            args: The arguments to pass to the method.
-            wait_for_rpc_response: Whether to wait for the RPC response.
-            kwargs: The keyword arguments to pass to the method.
-
-        Returns:
-            The result of the RPC call.
-        """
-        request_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
-        rpc_msg = messages.GUIInstructionMessage(
-            action=method,
-            parameter={"args": args, "kwargs": kwargs, "gui_id": self._gui_id},
-            metadata={"request_id": request_id},
-        )
-
-        # pylint: disable=protected-access
-        receiver = self._root._gui_id
-        if wait_for_rpc_response:
-            redis_msg = QtRedisMessageWaiter(
-                self._client.connector, MessageEndpoints.gui_instruction_response(request_id)
-            )
-
-        self._client.connector.set_and_publish(MessageEndpoints.gui_instructions(receiver), rpc_msg)
-
-        if wait_for_rpc_response:
-            response = redis_msg.wait(timeout)
-
-            if response is None:
-                raise RPCResponseTimeoutError(request_id, timeout)
-
-            # get class name
-            if not response.accepted:
-                raise ValueError(response.message["error"])
-            msg_result = response.message.get("result")
-            return self._create_widget_from_msg_result(msg_result)
-
-    def _create_widget_from_msg_result(self, msg_result):
-        if msg_result is None:
-            return None
-        if isinstance(msg_result, list):
-            return [self._create_widget_from_msg_result(res) for res in msg_result]
-        if isinstance(msg_result, dict):
-            if "__rpc__" not in msg_result:
-                return {
-                    key: self._create_widget_from_msg_result(val) for key, val in msg_result.items()
-                }
-            cls = msg_result.pop("widget_class", None)
-            msg_result.pop("__rpc__", None)
-
-            if not cls:
-                return msg_result
-
-            cls = getattr(client, cls)
-            # print(msg_result)
-            return cls(parent=self, **msg_result)
-        return msg_result
-
-    def gui_is_alive(self):
-        """
-        Check if the GUI is alive.
-        """
-        heart = self._client.connector.get(MessageEndpoints.gui_heartbeat(self._root._gui_id))
-        return heart is not None

bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py

@@ -8,9 +8,10 @@ import sys
 
 import black
 import isort
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property as QtProperty
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.generate_designer_plugin import DesignerPluginGenerator
-from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import BECClassContainer, get_rpc_classes
+from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import BECClassContainer, get_custom_classes
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):
     from typing import get_overloads
@@ -30,10 +31,11 @@ else:
 class ClientGenerator:
     def __init__(self):
         self.header = """# This file was automatically generated by generate_cli.py\n
+from __future__ import annotations
 import enum
 from typing import Literal, Optional, overload
 
-from bec_widgets.cli.client_utils import RPCBase, rpc_call, BECGuiClientMixin
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call
 
 # pylint: skip-file"""
 
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ class Widgets(str, enum.Enum):
         # Generate the content
         if cls.__name__ == "BECDockArea":
             self.content += f"""
-class {class_name}(RPCBase, BECGuiClientMixin):"""
+class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
         else:
             self.content += f"""
 class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
@@ -90,11 +92,27 @@ class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
             self.content += """...
     """
         for method in cls.USER_ACCESS:
-            obj = getattr(cls, method)
-            if isinstance(obj, property):
-                self.content += """
+            is_property_setter = False
+            obj = getattr(cls, method, None)
+            if obj is None:
+                obj = getattr(cls, method.split(".setter")[0], None)
+                is_property_setter = True
+                method = method.split(".setter")[0]
+            if obj is None:
+                raise AttributeError(
+                    f"Method {method} not found in class {cls.__name__}. Please check the USER_ACCESS list."
+                )
+            if isinstance(obj, (property, QtProperty)):
+                # for the cli, we can map qt properties to regular properties
+                if is_property_setter:
+                    self.content += f"""
+    @{method}.setter
+    @rpc_call"""
+                else:
+                    self.content += """
     @property
     @rpc_call"""
+
                 sig = str(inspect.signature(obj.fget))
                 doc = inspect.getdoc(obj.fget)
             else:
@@ -157,7 +175,7 @@ def main():
         current_path = os.path.dirname(__file__)
         client_path = os.path.join(current_path, "client.py")
 
-        rpc_classes = get_rpc_classes("bec_widgets")
+        rpc_classes = get_custom_classes("bec_widgets")
 
         generator = ClientGenerator()
         generator.generate_client(rpc_classes)

bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_base.py

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import threading
+import uuid
+from functools import wraps
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from bec_lib.client import BECClient
+from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
+from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import, lazy_import_from
+
+import bec_widgets.cli.client as client
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from bec_lib import messages
+    from bec_lib.connector import MessageObject
+else:
+    messages = lazy_import("bec_lib.messages")
+    # from bec_lib.connector import MessageObject
+    MessageObject = lazy_import_from("bec_lib.connector", ("MessageObject",))
+
+
+def rpc_call(func):
+    """
+    A decorator for calling a function on the server.
+
+    Args:
+        func: The function to call.
+
+    Returns:
+        The result of the function call.
+    """
+
+    @wraps(func)
+    def wrapper(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # we could rely on a strict type check here, but this is more flexible
+        # moreover, it would anyway crash for objects...
+        out = []
+        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.gui_is_alive():
+            raise RuntimeError("GUI is not alive")
+        return self._run_rpc(func.__name__, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    return wrapper
+
+
+class RPCResponseTimeoutError(Exception):
+    """Exception raised when an RPC response is not received within the expected time."""
+
+    def __init__(self, request_id, timeout):
+        super().__init__(
+            f"RPC response not received within {timeout} seconds for request ID {request_id}"
+        )
+
+
+class RPCBase:
+    def __init__(self, gui_id: str = None, config: dict = None, parent=None) -> None:
+        self._client = BECClient()  # BECClient is a singleton; here, we simply get the instance
+        self._config = config if config is not None else {}
+        self._gui_id = gui_id if gui_id is not None else str(uuid.uuid4())[:5]
+        self._parent = parent
+        self._msg_wait_event = threading.Event()
+        self._rpc_response = None
+        super().__init__()
+        # print(f"RPCBase: {self._gui_id}")
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        type_ = type(self)
+        qualname = type_.__qualname__
+        return f"<{qualname} object at {hex(id(self))}>"
+
+    @property
+    def _root(self):
+        """
+        Get the root widget. This is the BECFigure widget that holds
+        the anchor gui_id.
+        """
+        parent = self
+        # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        while parent._parent is not None:
+            parent = parent._parent
+        return parent
+
+    def _run_rpc(self, method, *args, wait_for_rpc_response=True, timeout=3, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Run the RPC call.
+
+        Args:
+            method: The method to call.
+            args: The arguments to pass to the method.
+            wait_for_rpc_response: Whether to wait for the RPC response.
+            kwargs: The keyword arguments to pass to the method.
+
+        Returns:
+            The result of the RPC call.
+        """
+        request_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        rpc_msg = messages.GUIInstructionMessage(
+            action=method,
+            parameter={"args": args, "kwargs": kwargs, "gui_id": self._gui_id},
+            metadata={"request_id": request_id},
+        )
+
+        # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        receiver = self._root._gui_id
+        if wait_for_rpc_response:
+            self._rpc_response = None
+            self._msg_wait_event.clear()
+            self._client.connector.register(
+                MessageEndpoints.gui_instruction_response(request_id),
+                cb=self._on_rpc_response,
+                parent=self,
+            )
+
+        self._client.connector.set_and_publish(MessageEndpoints.gui_instructions(receiver), rpc_msg)
+
+        if wait_for_rpc_response:
+            try:
+                finished = self._msg_wait_event.wait(timeout)
+                if not finished:
+                    raise RPCResponseTimeoutError(request_id, timeout)
+            finally:
+                self._msg_wait_event.clear()
+                self._client.connector.unregister(
+                    MessageEndpoints.gui_instruction_response(request_id), cb=self._on_rpc_response
+                )
+            # get class name
+            if not self._rpc_response.accepted:
+                raise ValueError(self._rpc_response.message["error"])
+            msg_result = self._rpc_response.message.get("result")
+            self._rpc_response = None
+            return self._create_widget_from_msg_result(msg_result)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _on_rpc_response(msg: MessageObject, parent: RPCBase) -> None:
+        msg = msg.value
+        parent._msg_wait_event.set()
+        parent._rpc_response = msg
+
+    def _create_widget_from_msg_result(self, msg_result):
+        if msg_result is None:
+            return None
+        if isinstance(msg_result, list):
+            return [self._create_widget_from_msg_result(res) for res in msg_result]
+        if isinstance(msg_result, dict):
+            if "__rpc__" not in msg_result:
+                return {
+                    key: self._create_widget_from_msg_result(val) for key, val in msg_result.items()
+                }
+            cls = msg_result.pop("widget_class", None)
+            msg_result.pop("__rpc__", None)
+
+            if not cls:
+                return msg_result
+
+            cls = getattr(client, cls)
+            # print(msg_result)
+            return cls(parent=self, **msg_result)
+        return msg_result
+
+    def gui_is_alive(self):
+        """
+        Check if the GUI is alive.
+        """
+        heart = self._client.connector.get(MessageEndpoints.gui_heartbeat(self._root._gui_id))
+        if heart is None:
+            return False
+        if heart.status == messages.BECStatus.RUNNING:
+            return True
+        return False

bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_register.py

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 from threading import Lock
 from weakref import WeakValueDictionary
 

bec_widgets/cli/rpc/rpc_widget_handler.py

@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 from bec_widgets.utils import BECConnector
 
 
@@ -26,10 +28,10 @@ class RPCWidgetHandler:
         Returns:
             None
         """
-        from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import get_rpc_classes
+        from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import get_custom_classes
 
-        clss = get_rpc_classes("bec_widgets")
-        self._widget_classes = {cls.__name__: cls for cls in clss.top_level_classes}
+        clss = get_custom_classes("bec_widgets")
+        self._widget_classes = {cls.__name__: cls for cls in clss.widgets}
 
     def create_widget(self, widget_type, **kwargs) -> BECConnector:
         """

bec_widgets/cli/server.py

@@ -1,39 +1,63 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import inspect
+import functools
 import json
 import signal
 import sys
-from contextlib import redirect_stderr, redirect_stdout
+import types
+from contextlib import contextmanager, redirect_stderr, redirect_stdout
 from typing import Union
 
 from bec_lib.endpoints import MessageEndpoints
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_lib.service_config import ServiceConfig
 from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import
-from qtpy.QtCore import QTimer
+from qtpy.QtCore import Qt, QTimer
 
-from bec_widgets.cli.rpc_register import RPCRegister
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
+from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import ErrorPopupUtility
 from bec_widgets.utils import BECDispatcher
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_connector import BECConnector
-from bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher import QtRedisConnector
-from bec_widgets.widgets.dock.dock_area import BECDockArea
-from bec_widgets.widgets.figure import BECFigure
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock import BECDockArea
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.figure import BECFigure
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window import BECMainWindow
 
 messages = lazy_import("bec_lib.messages")
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
 
+@contextmanager
+def rpc_exception_hook(err_func):
+    """This context replaces the popup message box for error display with a specific hook"""
+    # get error popup utility singleton
+    popup = ErrorPopupUtility()
+    # save current setting
+    old_exception_hook = popup.custom_exception_hook
+
+    # install err_func, if it is a callable
+    def custom_exception_hook(self, exc_type, value, tb, **kwargs):
+        err_func({"error": popup.get_error_message(exc_type, value, tb)})
+
+    popup.custom_exception_hook = types.MethodType(custom_exception_hook, popup)
+
+    try:
+        yield popup
+    finally:
+        # restore state of error popup utility singleton
+        popup.custom_exception_hook = old_exception_hook
+
+
 class BECWidgetsCLIServer:
 
     def __init__(
         self,
-        gui_id: str = None,
+        gui_id: str,
         dispatcher: BECDispatcher = None,
         client=None,
         config=None,
         gui_class: Union[BECFigure, BECDockArea] = BECFigure,
     ) -> None:
+        self.status = messages.BECStatus.BUSY
         self.dispatcher = BECDispatcher(config=config) if dispatcher is None else dispatcher
         self.client = self.dispatcher.client if client is None else client
         self.client.start()
@@ -47,24 +71,29 @@ class BECWidgetsCLIServer:
         )
 
         # Setup QTimer for heartbeat
-        self._shutdown_event = False
         self._heartbeat_timer = QTimer()
         self._heartbeat_timer.timeout.connect(self.emit_heartbeat)
         self._heartbeat_timer.start(200)
 
+        self.status = messages.BECStatus.RUNNING
+        logger.success(f"Server started with gui_id: {self.gui_id}")
+
     def on_rpc_update(self, msg: dict, metadata: dict):
         request_id = metadata.get("request_id")
-        try:
-            obj = self.get_object_from_config(msg["parameter"])
-            method = msg["action"]
-            args = msg["parameter"].get("args", [])
-            kwargs = msg["parameter"].get("kwargs", {})
-            res = self.run_rpc(obj, method, args, kwargs)
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(e)
-            self.send_response(request_id, False, {"error": str(e)})
-        else:
-            self.send_response(request_id, True, {"result": res})
+        logger.debug(f"Received RPC instruction: {msg}, metadata: {metadata}")
+        with rpc_exception_hook(functools.partial(self.send_response, request_id, False)):
+            try:
+                obj = self.get_object_from_config(msg["parameter"])
+                method = msg["action"]
+                args = msg["parameter"].get("args", [])
+                kwargs = msg["parameter"].get("kwargs", {})
+                res = self.run_rpc(obj, method, args, kwargs)
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.error(f"Error while executing RPC instruction: {e}")
+                self.send_response(request_id, False, {"error": str(e)})
+            else:
+                logger.debug(f"RPC instruction executed successfully: {res}")
+                self.send_response(request_id, True, {"result": res})
 
     def send_response(self, request_id: str, accepted: bool, msg: dict):
         self.client.connector.set_and_publish(
@@ -81,16 +110,17 @@ class BECWidgetsCLIServer:
         return obj
 
     def run_rpc(self, obj, method, args, kwargs):
+        logger.debug(f"Running RPC instruction: {method} with args: {args}, kwargs: {kwargs}")
         method_obj = getattr(obj, method)
         # check if the method accepts args and kwargs
         if not callable(method_obj):
-            res = method_obj
-        else:
-            sig = inspect.signature(method_obj)
-            if sig.parameters:
-                res = method_obj(*args, **kwargs)
+            if not args:
+                res = method_obj
             else:
-                res = method_obj()
+                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]
@@ -111,16 +141,18 @@ class BECWidgetsCLIServer:
         return obj
 
     def emit_heartbeat(self):
-        if self._shutdown_event is False:
-            self.client.connector.set(
-                MessageEndpoints.gui_heartbeat(self.gui_id),
-                messages.StatusMessage(name=self.gui_id, status=1, info={}),
-                expire=1,
-            )
+        logger.trace(f"Emitting heartbeat for {self.gui_id}")
+        self.client.connector.set(
+            MessageEndpoints.gui_heartbeat(self.gui_id),
+            messages.StatusMessage(name=self.gui_id, status=self.status, info={}),
+            expire=10,
+        )
 
     def shutdown(self):  # TODO not sure if needed when cleanup is done at level of BECConnector
-        self._shutdown_event = True
+        logger.info(f"Shutting down server with gui_id: {self.gui_id}")
+        self.status = messages.BECStatus.IDLE
         self._heartbeat_timer.stop()
+        self.emit_heartbeat()
         self.gui.close()
         self.client.shutdown()
 
@@ -128,15 +160,16 @@ class BECWidgetsCLIServer:
 class SimpleFileLikeFromLogOutputFunc:
     def __init__(self, log_func):
         self._log_func = log_func
+        self._buffer = []
 
     def write(self, buffer):
-        for line in buffer.rstrip().splitlines():
-            line = line.rstrip()
-            if line:
-                self._log_func(line)
+        self._buffer.append(buffer)
 
     def flush(self):
-        return
+        lines, _, remaining = "".join(self._buffer).rpartition("\n")
+        if lines:
+            self._log_func(lines)
+        self._buffer = [remaining]
 
     def close(self):
         return
@@ -153,12 +186,12 @@ def _start_server(gui_id: str, gui_class: Union[BECFigure, BECDockArea], config:
         # if no config is provided, use the default config
         service_config = ServiceConfig()
 
-    bec_logger.configure(
-        service_config.redis,
-        QtRedisConnector,
-        service_name="BECWidgetsCLIServer",
-        service_config=service_config.service_config,
-    )
+    # bec_logger.configure(
+    #     service_config.redis,
+    #     QtRedisConnector,
+    #     service_name="BECWidgetsCLIServer",
+    #     service_config=service_config.service_config,
+    # )
     server = BECWidgetsCLIServer(gui_id=gui_id, config=service_config, gui_class=gui_class)
     return server
 
@@ -169,36 +202,46 @@ def main():
 
     from qtpy.QtCore import QSize
     from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
-    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMainWindow
+    from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
     import bec_widgets
 
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="BEC Widgets CLI Server")
-    parser.add_argument("--id", type=str, help="The id of the server")
+    parser.add_argument("--id", type=str, default="test", help="The id of the server")
     parser.add_argument(
         "--gui_class",
         type=str,
         help="Name of the gui class to be rendered. Possible values: \n- BECFigure\n- BECDockArea",
     )
     parser.add_argument("--config", type=str, help="Config file or config string.")
+    parser.add_argument("--hide", action="store_true", help="Hide on startup")
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    if args.gui_class == "BECFigure":
-        gui_class = BECFigure
-    elif args.gui_class == "BECDockArea":
+    bec_logger.level = bec_logger.LOGLEVEL.INFO
+    if args.hide:
+        # pylint: disable=protected-access
+        bec_logger._stderr_log_level = bec_logger.LOGLEVEL.ERROR
+        bec_logger._update_sinks()
+
+    if args.gui_class == "BECDockArea":
         gui_class = BECDockArea
+    elif args.gui_class == "BECFigure":
+        gui_class = BECFigure
     else:
         print(
             "Please specify a valid gui_class to run. Use -h for help."
             "\n Starting with default gui_class BECFigure."
         )
-        gui_class = BECFigure
+        gui_class = BECDockArea
 
-    with redirect_stdout(SimpleFileLikeFromLogOutputFunc(logger.debug)):
+    with redirect_stdout(SimpleFileLikeFromLogOutputFunc(logger.info)):
         with redirect_stderr(SimpleFileLikeFromLogOutputFunc(logger.error)):
             app = QApplication(sys.argv)
-            app.setApplicationName("BEC Figure")
+            # set close on last window, only if not under control of client ;
+            # indeed, Qt considers a hidden window a closed window, so if all windows
+            # are hidden by default it exits
+            app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(not args.hide)
             module_path = os.path.dirname(bec_widgets.__file__)
             icon = QIcon()
             icon.addFile(
@@ -206,22 +249,33 @@ def main():
                 size=QSize(48, 48),
             )
             app.setWindowIcon(icon)
-
-            win = QMainWindow()
-            win.setWindowTitle("BEC Widgets")
+            # store gui id within QApplication object, to make it available to all widgets
+            app.gui_id = args.id
 
             server = _start_server(args.id, gui_class, args.config)
 
+            win = BECMainWindow(gui_id=f"{server.gui_id}:window")
+            win.setAttribute(Qt.WA_ShowWithoutActivating)
+            win.setWindowTitle("BEC Widgets")
+
+            RPCRegister().add_rpc(win)
+
             gui = server.gui
             win.setCentralWidget(gui)
-            win.resize(800, 600)
-            win.show()
+            if not args.hide:
+                win.show()
 
             app.aboutToQuit.connect(server.shutdown)
 
             def sigint_handler(*args):
                 # display message, for people to let it terminate gracefully
                 print("Caught SIGINT, exiting")
+                # first hide all top level windows
+                # this is to discriminate the cases between "user clicks on [X]"
+                # (which should be filtered, to not close -see BECDockArea-)
+                # or "app is asked to close"
+                for window in app.topLevelWidgets():
+                    window.hide()  # so, we know we can exit because it is hidden
                 app.quit()
 
             signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sigint_handler)
@@ -230,5 +284,5 @@ def main():
             sys.exit(app.exec())
 
 
-if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()

bec_widgets/examples/general_app/general_app.py

@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def main():  # pragma: no cover
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
     icon = QIcon()
     icon.addFile(
-        os.path.join(MODULE_PATH, "assets", "app_icons", "BEC-Dark.png"), size=QSize(48, 48)
+        os.path.join(MODULE_PATH, "assets", "app_icons", "BEC-General-App.png"), size=QSize(48, 48)
     )
     app.setWindowIcon(icon)
     main_window = BECGeneralApp()

bec_widgets/examples/jupyter_console/jupyter_console_window.py

@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@ import os
 
 import numpy as np
 import pyqtgraph as pg
-from qtpy.QtCore import QSize
-from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
+from bec_qthemes import material_icon
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
     QApplication,
     QGroupBox,
     QHBoxLayout,
+    QPushButton,
     QSplitter,
     QTabWidget,
     QVBoxLayout,
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@ from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
 
 from bec_widgets.utils import BECDispatcher
 from bec_widgets.utils.colors import apply_theme
-from bec_widgets.widgets.dock.dock_area import BECDockArea
-from bec_widgets.widgets.figure import BECFigure
-from bec_widgets.widgets.jupyter_console.jupyter_console import BECJupyterConsole
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock import BECDockArea
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.figure import BECFigure
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.layout_manager.layout_manager import LayoutManagerWidget
+from bec_widgets.widgets.editors.jupyter_console.jupyter_console import BECJupyterConsole
 
 
 class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
@@ -46,14 +47,21 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
                     "w7": self.w7,
                     "w8": self.w8,
                     "w9": self.w9,
+                    "w10": self.w10,
                     "d0": self.d0,
                     "d1": self.d1,
                     "d2": self.d2,
                     "wave": self.wf,
-                    # "bar": self.bar,
-                    # "cm": self.colormap,
                     "im": self.im,
                     "mm": self.mm,
+                    "mw": self.mw,
+                    "lm": self.lm,
+                    "btn1": self.btn1,
+                    "btn2": self.btn2,
+                    "btn3": self.btn3,
+                    "btn4": self.btn4,
+                    "btn5": self.btn5,
+                    "btn6": self.btn6,
                 }
             )
 
@@ -78,11 +86,25 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
         second_tab_layout.addWidget(self.figure)
         tab_widget.addTab(second_tab, "BEC Figure")
 
+        third_tab = QWidget()
+        third_tab_layout = QVBoxLayout(third_tab)
+        self.lm = LayoutManagerWidget()
+        third_tab_layout.addWidget(self.lm)
+        tab_widget.addTab(third_tab, "Layout Manager Widget")
+
         group_box = QGroupBox("Jupyter Console", splitter)
         group_box_layout = QVBoxLayout(group_box)
         self.console = BECJupyterConsole(inprocess=True)
         group_box_layout.addWidget(self.console)
 
+        # Some buttons for layout testing
+        self.btn1 = QPushButton("Button 1")
+        self.btn2 = QPushButton("Button 2")
+        self.btn3 = QPushButton("Button 3")
+        self.btn4 = QPushButton("Button 4")
+        self.btn5 = QPushButton("Button 5")
+        self.btn6 = QPushButton("Button 6")
+
         # add stuff to figure
         self._init_figure()
 
@@ -92,15 +114,7 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
         self.setWindowTitle("Jupyter Console Window")
 
     def _init_figure(self):
-        self.w1 = self.figure.plot(
-            x_name="samx",
-            y_name="bpm4i",
-            # title="Standard Plot with sync device, custom labels - w1",
-            # x_label="Motor Position",
-            # y_label="Intensity (A.U.)",
-            row=0,
-            col=0,
-        )
+        self.w1 = self.figure.plot(x_name="samx", y_name="bpm4i", row=0, col=0)
         self.w1.set(
             title="Standard Plot with sync device, custom labels - w1",
             x_label="Motor Position",
@@ -162,18 +176,12 @@ class JupyterConsoleWindow(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover:
 
         self.d1 = self.dock.add_dock(name="dock_1", position="right")
         self.im = self.d1.add_widget("BECImageWidget")
-        self.im.image("eiger")
+        self.im.image("waveform", "1d")
 
         self.d2 = self.dock.add_dock(name="dock_2", position="bottom")
-        self.wf = self.d2.add_widget("BECWaveformWidget", row=0, col=0)
-        self.wf.plot(x_name="samx", y_name="bpm3a")
-        self.wf.plot(x_name="samx", y_name="bpm4i", dap="GaussianModel")
-        # self.bar = self.d2.add_widget("RingProgressBar", row=0, col=1)
-        # self.bar.set_diameter(200)
+        self.wf = self.d2.add_widget("BECFigure", row=0, col=0)
 
-        # self.d3 = self.dock.add_dock(name="dock_3", position="bottom")
-        # self.colormap = pg.GradientWidget()
-        # self.d3.add_widget(self.colormap, row=0, col=0)
+        self.mw = self.wf.multi_waveform(monitor="waveform")  # , config=config)
 
         self.dock.save_state()
 
@@ -199,10 +207,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
     app.setApplicationName("Jupyter Console")
     app.setApplicationDisplayName("Jupyter Console")
     apply_theme("dark")
-    icon = QIcon()
-    icon.addFile(
-        os.path.join(module_path, "assets", "app_icons", "terminal_icon.png"), size=QSize(48, 48)
-    )
+    icon = material_icon("terminal", color="#434343", filled=True)
     app.setWindowIcon(icon)
 
     bec_dispatcher = BECDispatcher()
@@ -211,6 +216,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
 
     win = JupyterConsoleWindow()
     win.show()
+    win.resize(1200, 800)
 
     app.aboutToQuit.connect(win.close)
     sys.exit(app.exec_())

bec_widgets/examples/plugin_example_pyside/tictactoe.py

@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ class TicTacToe(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover
         super().__init__(parent)
         self._state = DEFAULT_STATE
         self._turn_number = 0
-        print("TicTac HERE !!!!!!")
 
     def minimumSizeHint(self):
         return QSize(200, 200)

bec_widgets/examples/plugin_example_pyside/tictactoeplugin.py

@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 import os
 
 from qtpy.QtDesigner import QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface
-from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
 
 import bec_widgets
 from bec_widgets.examples.plugin_example_pyside.tictactoe import TicTacToe
 from bec_widgets.examples.plugin_example_pyside.tictactoetaskmenu import TicTacToeTaskMenuFactory
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_designer import designer_material_icon
 
 DOM_XML = """
 <ui language='c++'>
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ class TicTacToePlugin(QDesignerCustomWidgetInterface):  # pragma: no cover
         return "Games"
 
     def icon(self):
-        icon_path = os.path.join(MODULE_PATH, "assets", "designer_icons", "games.png")
-        return QIcon(icon_path)
+        return designer_material_icon("sports_esports")
 
     def includeFile(self):
         return "tictactoe"

bec_widgets/qt_utils/collapsible_panel_manager.py

@@ -0,0 +1,380 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+from typing import Literal
+
+import pyqtgraph as pg
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property, QEasingCurve, QObject, QPropertyAnimation
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QApplication,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QMainWindow,
+    QPushButton,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+from typeguard import typechecked
+
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.layout_manager.layout_manager import LayoutManagerWidget
+
+
+class DimensionAnimator(QObject):
+    """
+    Helper class to animate the size of a panel widget.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, panel_widget: QWidget, direction: str):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.panel_widget = panel_widget
+        self.direction = direction
+        self._size = 0
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def panel_width(self):
+        """
+        Returns the current width of the panel widget.
+        """
+        return self._size
+
+    @panel_width.setter
+    def panel_width(self, val: int):
+        """
+        Set the width of the panel widget.
+
+        Args:
+            val(int): The width to set.
+        """
+        self._size = val
+        self.panel_widget.setFixedWidth(val)
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def panel_height(self):
+        """
+        Returns the current height of the panel widget.
+        """
+        return self._size
+
+    @panel_height.setter
+    def panel_height(self, val: int):
+        """
+        Set the height of the panel widget.
+
+        Args:
+            val(int): The height to set.
+        """
+        self._size = val
+        self.panel_widget.setFixedHeight(val)
+
+
+class CollapsiblePanelManager(QObject):
+    """
+    Manager class to handle collapsible panels from a main widget using LayoutManagerWidget.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, layout_manager: LayoutManagerWidget, reference_widget: QWidget, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self.layout_manager = layout_manager
+        self.reference_widget = reference_widget
+        self.animations = {}
+        self.panels = {}
+        self.direction_settings = {
+            "left": {"property": b"maximumWidth", "default_size": 200},
+            "right": {"property": b"maximumWidth", "default_size": 200},
+            "top": {"property": b"maximumHeight", "default_size": 150},
+            "bottom": {"property": b"maximumHeight", "default_size": 150},
+        }
+
+    def add_panel(
+        self,
+        direction: Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"],
+        panel_widget: QWidget,
+        target_size: int | None = None,
+        duration: int = 300,
+    ):
+        """
+        Add a panel widget to the layout manager.
+
+        Args:
+            direction(Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"]): Direction of the panel.
+            panel_widget(QWidget): The panel widget to add.
+            target_size(int, optional): The target size of the panel. Defaults to None.
+            duration(int): The duration of the animation in milliseconds. Defaults to 300.
+        """
+        if direction not in self.direction_settings:
+            raise ValueError("Direction must be one of 'left', 'right', 'top', 'bottom'.")
+
+        if target_size is None:
+            target_size = self.direction_settings[direction]["default_size"]
+
+        self.layout_manager.add_widget_relative(
+            widget=panel_widget, reference_widget=self.reference_widget, position=direction
+        )
+        panel_widget.setVisible(False)
+
+        # Set initial constraints as flexible
+        if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+            panel_widget.setMaximumWidth(0)
+            panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+        else:
+            panel_widget.setMaximumHeight(0)
+            panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+
+        self.panels[direction] = {
+            "widget": panel_widget,
+            "direction": direction,
+            "target_size": target_size,
+            "duration": duration,
+            "animator": None,
+        }
+
+    def toggle_panel(
+        self,
+        direction: Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"],
+        target_size: int | None = None,
+        duration: int | None = None,
+        easing_curve: QEasingCurve = QEasingCurve.InOutQuad,
+        ensure_max: bool = False,
+        scale: float | None = None,
+        animation: bool = True,
+    ):
+        """
+        Toggle the specified panel.
+
+        Parameters:
+            direction (Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"]): Direction of the panel to toggle.
+            target_size (int, optional): Override target size for this toggle.
+            duration (int, optional): Override the animation duration.
+            easing_curve (QEasingCurve): Animation easing curve.
+            ensure_max (bool): If True, animate as a fixed-size panel.
+            scale (float, optional): If provided, calculate target_size from main widget size.
+            animation (bool): If False, no animation is performed; panel instantly toggles.
+        """
+        if direction not in self.panels:
+            raise ValueError(f"No panel found in direction '{direction}'.")
+
+        panel_info = self.panels[direction]
+        panel_widget = panel_info["widget"]
+        dir_settings = self.direction_settings[direction]
+
+        # Determine final target size
+        if scale is not None:
+            main_rect = self.reference_widget.geometry()
+            if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                computed_target = int(main_rect.width() * scale)
+            else:
+                computed_target = int(main_rect.height() * scale)
+            final_target_size = computed_target
+        else:
+            if target_size is None:
+                final_target_size = panel_info["target_size"]
+            else:
+                final_target_size = target_size
+
+        if duration is None:
+            duration = panel_info["duration"]
+
+        expanding_property = dir_settings["property"]
+        currently_visible = panel_widget.isVisible()
+
+        if ensure_max:
+            if panel_info["animator"] is None:
+                panel_info["animator"] = DimensionAnimator(panel_widget, direction)
+            animator = panel_info["animator"]
+
+            if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                prop_name = b"panel_width"
+            else:
+                prop_name = b"panel_height"
+        else:
+            animator = None
+            prop_name = expanding_property
+
+        if currently_visible:
+            # Hide the panel
+            if ensure_max:
+                start_value = final_target_size
+                end_value = 0
+                finish_callback = lambda w=panel_widget, d=direction: self._after_hide_reset(w, d)
+            else:
+                start_value = (
+                    panel_widget.width()
+                    if direction in ["left", "right"]
+                    else panel_widget.height()
+                )
+                end_value = 0
+                finish_callback = lambda w=panel_widget: w.setVisible(False)
+        else:
+            # Show the panel
+            start_value = 0
+            end_value = final_target_size
+            finish_callback = None
+            if ensure_max:
+                # Fix panel exactly
+                if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                    panel_widget.setMinimumWidth(0)
+                    panel_widget.setMaximumWidth(final_target_size)
+                    panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+                else:
+                    panel_widget.setMinimumHeight(0)
+                    panel_widget.setMaximumHeight(final_target_size)
+                    panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+            else:
+                # Flexible mode
+                if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                    panel_widget.setMinimumWidth(0)
+                    panel_widget.setMaximumWidth(final_target_size)
+                    panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+                else:
+                    panel_widget.setMinimumHeight(0)
+                    panel_widget.setMaximumHeight(final_target_size)
+                    panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+
+            panel_widget.setVisible(True)
+
+        if not animation:
+            # No animation: instantly set final state
+            if end_value == 0:
+                # Hiding
+                if ensure_max:
+                    # Reset after hide
+                    self._after_hide_reset(panel_widget, direction)
+                else:
+                    panel_widget.setVisible(False)
+            else:
+                # Showing
+                if ensure_max:
+                    # Already set fixed size
+                    if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                        panel_widget.setFixedWidth(end_value)
+                    else:
+                        panel_widget.setFixedHeight(end_value)
+                else:
+                    # Just set maximum dimension
+                    if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+                        panel_widget.setMaximumWidth(end_value)
+                    else:
+                        panel_widget.setMaximumHeight(end_value)
+            return
+
+        # With animation
+        animation = QPropertyAnimation(animator if ensure_max else panel_widget, prop_name)
+        animation.setDuration(duration)
+        animation.setStartValue(start_value)
+        animation.setEndValue(end_value)
+        animation.setEasingCurve(easing_curve)
+
+        if end_value == 0 and finish_callback:
+            animation.finished.connect(finish_callback)
+        elif end_value == 0 and not finish_callback:
+            animation.finished.connect(lambda w=panel_widget: w.setVisible(False))
+
+        animation.start()
+        self.animations[panel_widget] = animation
+
+    @typechecked
+    def _after_hide_reset(
+        self, panel_widget: QWidget, direction: Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"]
+    ):
+        """
+        Reset the panel widget after hiding it in ensure_max mode.
+
+        Args:
+            panel_widget(QWidget): The panel widget to reset.
+            direction(Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"]): The direction of the panel.
+        """
+        # Called after hiding a panel in ensure_max mode
+        panel_widget.setVisible(False)
+        if direction in ["left", "right"]:
+            panel_widget.setMinimumWidth(0)
+            panel_widget.setMaximumWidth(0)
+            panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+        else:
+            panel_widget.setMinimumHeight(0)
+            panel_widget.setMaximumHeight(16777215)
+            panel_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+
+
+####################################################################################################
+# The following code is for the GUI control panel to interact with the CollapsiblePanelManager.
+# It is not covered by any tests as it serves only as an example for the CollapsiblePanelManager class.
+####################################################################################################
+
+
+class MainWindow(QMainWindow):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setWindowTitle("Panels with ensure_max, scale, and animation toggle")
+        self.resize(800, 600)
+
+        central_widget = QWidget()
+        self.setCentralWidget(central_widget)
+        main_layout = QVBoxLayout(central_widget)
+        main_layout.setContentsMargins(10, 10, 10, 10)
+        main_layout.setSpacing(10)
+
+        # Buttons
+        buttons_layout = QHBoxLayout()
+        self.btn_left = QPushButton("Toggle Left (ensure_max=True)")
+        self.btn_top = QPushButton("Toggle Top (scale=0.5, no animation)")
+        self.btn_right = QPushButton("Toggle Right (ensure_max=True, scale=0.3)")
+        self.btn_bottom = QPushButton("Toggle Bottom (no animation)")
+
+        buttons_layout.addWidget(self.btn_left)
+        buttons_layout.addWidget(self.btn_top)
+        buttons_layout.addWidget(self.btn_right)
+        buttons_layout.addWidget(self.btn_bottom)
+
+        main_layout.addLayout(buttons_layout)
+
+        self.layout_manager = LayoutManagerWidget()
+        main_layout.addWidget(self.layout_manager)
+
+        # Main widget
+        self.main_plot = pg.PlotWidget()
+        self.main_plot.plot([1, 2, 3, 4], [4, 3, 2, 1])
+        self.layout_manager.add_widget(self.main_plot, 0, 0)
+
+        self.panel_manager = CollapsiblePanelManager(self.layout_manager, self.main_plot)
+
+        # Panels
+        self.left_panel = pg.PlotWidget()
+        self.left_panel.plot([1, 2, 3], [3, 2, 1])
+        self.panel_manager.add_panel("left", self.left_panel, target_size=200)
+
+        self.right_panel = pg.PlotWidget()
+        self.right_panel.plot([10, 20, 30], [1, 10, 1])
+        self.panel_manager.add_panel("right", self.right_panel, target_size=200)
+
+        self.top_panel = pg.PlotWidget()
+        self.top_panel.plot([1, 2, 3], [1, 2, 3])
+        self.panel_manager.add_panel("top", self.top_panel, target_size=150)
+
+        self.bottom_panel = pg.PlotWidget()
+        self.bottom_panel.plot([2, 4, 6], [10, 5, 10])
+        self.panel_manager.add_panel("bottom", self.bottom_panel, target_size=150)
+
+        # Connect buttons
+        # Left with ensure_max
+        self.btn_left.clicked.connect(
+            lambda: self.panel_manager.toggle_panel("left", ensure_max=True)
+        )
+        # Top with scale=0.5 and no animation
+        self.btn_top.clicked.connect(
+            lambda: self.panel_manager.toggle_panel("top", scale=0.5, animation=False)
+        )
+        # Right with ensure_max, scale=0.3
+        self.btn_right.clicked.connect(
+            lambda: self.panel_manager.toggle_panel("right", ensure_max=True, scale=0.3)
+        )
+        # Bottom no animation
+        self.btn_bottom.clicked.connect(
+            lambda: self.panel_manager.toggle_panel("bottom", target_size=100, animation=False)
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    w = MainWindow()
+    w.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec())

bec_widgets/qt_utils/compact_popup.py

@@ -0,0 +1,268 @@
+import time
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+
+from bec_qthemes import material_icon
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property, Qt, Signal
+from qtpy.QtGui import QColor
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QDialog,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QLabel,
+    QPushButton,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QSpacerItem,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_accent_colors
+
+
+class LedLabel(QLabel):
+    success_led = "color: white;border-radius: 10;background-color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0.145, y1:0.16, x2:1, y2:1, stop:0 %s, stop:1 %s);"
+    emergency_led = "color: white;border-radius: 10;background-color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0.145, y1:0.16, x2:0.92, y2:0.988636, stop:0 %s, stop:1 %s);"
+    warning_led = "color: white;border-radius: 10;background-color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0.232, y1:0.272, x2:0.98, y2:0.959773, stop:0 %s, stop:1 %s);"
+    default_led = "color: white;border-radius: 10;background-color: qlineargradient(spread:pad, x1:0.04, y1:0.0565909, x2:0.799, y2:0.795, stop:0 %s, stop:1 %s);"
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+
+        self.palette = get_accent_colors()
+        if self.palette is None:
+            # no theme!
+            self.palette = SimpleNamespace(
+                default=QColor("blue"),
+                success=QColor("green"),
+                warning=QColor("orange"),
+                emergency=QColor("red"),
+            )
+        self.setState("default")
+        self.setFixedSize(20, 20)
+
+    def setState(self, state: str):
+        match state:
+            case "success":
+                r, g, b, a = self.palette.success.getRgb()
+                self.setStyleSheet(
+                    LedLabel.success_led
+                    % (
+                        f"rgba({r},{g},{b},{a})",
+                        f"rgba({int(r*0.8)},{int(g*0.8)},{int(b*0.8)},{a})",
+                    )
+                )
+            case "default":
+                r, g, b, a = self.palette.default.getRgb()
+                self.setStyleSheet(
+                    LedLabel.default_led
+                    % (
+                        f"rgba({r},{g},{b},{a})",
+                        f"rgba({int(r*0.8)},{int(g*0.8)},{int(b*0.8)},{a})",
+                    )
+                )
+            case "warning":
+                r, g, b, a = self.palette.warning.getRgb()
+                self.setStyleSheet(
+                    LedLabel.warning_led
+                    % (
+                        f"rgba({r},{g},{b},{a})",
+                        f"rgba({int(r*0.8)},{int(g*0.8)},{int(b*0.8)},{a})",
+                    )
+                )
+            case "emergency":
+                r, g, b, a = self.palette.emergency.getRgb()
+                self.setStyleSheet(
+                    LedLabel.emergency_led
+                    % (
+                        f"rgba({r},{g},{b},{a})",
+                        f"rgba({int(r*0.8)},{int(g*0.8)},{int(b*0.8)},{a})",
+                    )
+                )
+            case unknown_state:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Unknown state {repr(unknown_state)}, must be one of default, success, warning or emergency"
+                )
+
+
+class PopupDialog(QDialog):
+    def __init__(self, content_widget):
+        self.parent = content_widget.parent()
+        self.content_widget = content_widget
+
+        super().__init__(self.parent)
+
+        self.setAttribute(Qt.WA_DeleteOnClose)
+
+        self.content_widget.setParent(self)
+        QVBoxLayout(self)
+        self.layout().addWidget(self.content_widget)
+        self.content_widget.setVisible(True)
+
+    def closeEvent(self, event):
+        self.content_widget.setVisible(False)
+        self.content_widget.setParent(self.parent)
+        self.done(True)
+
+
+class CompactPopupWidget(QWidget):
+    """Container widget, that can display its content or have a compact form,
+    in this case clicking on a small button pops the contained widget up.
+
+    In the compact form, a LED-like indicator shows a status indicator.
+    """
+
+    expand = Signal(bool)
+
+    def __init__(self, parent=None, layout=QVBoxLayout):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+
+        self._popup_window = None
+        self._expand_popup = True
+
+        QVBoxLayout(self)
+        self.compact_view_widget = QWidget(self)
+        self.compact_view_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+        QHBoxLayout(self.compact_view_widget)
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().setSpacing(0)
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().addSpacerItem(
+            QSpacerItem(0, 0, QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+        )
+        self.compact_label = QLabel(self.compact_view_widget)
+        self.compact_status = LedLabel(self.compact_view_widget)
+        self.compact_show_popup = QPushButton(self.compact_view_widget)
+        self.compact_show_popup.setFlat(True)
+        self.compact_show_popup.setIcon(
+            material_icon(icon_name="expand_content", size=(10, 10), convert_to_pixmap=False)
+        )
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().addWidget(self.compact_label)
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().addWidget(self.compact_status)
+        self.compact_view_widget.layout().addWidget(self.compact_show_popup)
+        self.compact_view_widget.setVisible(False)
+        self.layout().addWidget(self.compact_view_widget)
+        self.container = QWidget(self)
+        self.layout().addWidget(self.container)
+        self.container.setVisible(True)
+        layout(self.container)
+        self.layout = self.container.layout()
+
+        self.compact_show_popup.clicked.connect(self.show_popup)
+
+    def set_global_state(self, state: str):
+        """Set the LED-indicator state
+
+        The LED indicator represents the 'global' state. State can be one of the
+        following: "default", "success", "warning", "emergency"
+        """
+        self.compact_status.setState(state)
+
+    def show_popup(self):
+        """Display the contained widgets in a popup dialog"""
+        if self._expand_popup:
+            # show popup
+            self._popup_window = PopupDialog(self.container)
+            self._popup_window.show()
+            self._popup_window.finished.connect(lambda: self.expand.emit(False))
+            self.expand.emit(True)
+        else:
+            if self.compact_view:
+                # expand in place
+                self.compact_view = False
+                self.compact_view_widget.setVisible(True)
+                self.compact_label.setVisible(False)
+                self.compact_status.setVisible(False)
+                self.compact_show_popup.setIcon(
+                    material_icon(
+                        icon_name="collapse_content", size=(10, 10), convert_to_pixmap=False
+                    )
+                )
+                self.expand.emit(True)
+            else:
+                # back to compact form
+                self.compact_label.setVisible(True)
+                self.compact_status.setVisible(True)
+                self.compact_show_popup.setIcon(
+                    material_icon(
+                        icon_name="expand_content", size=(10, 10), convert_to_pixmap=False
+                    )
+                )
+                self.compact_view = True
+                self.expand.emit(False)
+
+    def setSizePolicy(self, size_policy1, size_policy2=None):
+        # setting size policy on the compact popup widget will set
+        # the policy for the container, and for itself
+        if size_policy2 is None:
+            # assuming first form: setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy)
+            self.container.setSizePolicy(size_policy1)
+            QWidget.setSizePolicy(self, size_policy1)
+        else:
+            self.container.setSizePolicy(size_policy1, size_policy2)
+            QWidget.setSizePolicy(self, size_policy1, size_policy2)
+
+    def addWidget(self, widget):
+        """Add a widget to the popup container
+
+        The popup container corresponds to the "full view" (not compact)
+        The widget is reparented to the container, and added to the container layout
+        """
+        widget.setParent(self.container)
+        self.container.layout().addWidget(widget)
+
+    @Property(bool)
+    def compact_view(self):
+        return self.compact_label.isVisible()
+
+    @compact_view.setter
+    def compact_view(self, set_compact: bool):
+        """Sets the compact form
+
+        If set_compact is True, the compact view is displayed ; otherwise,
+        the full view is displayed. This is handled by toggling visibility of
+        the container widget or the compact view widget.
+        """
+        if set_compact:
+            self.compact_view_widget.setVisible(True)
+            self.container.setVisible(False)
+            QWidget.setSizePolicy(self, QSizePolicy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+        else:
+            self.compact_view_widget.setVisible(False)
+            self.container.setVisible(True)
+            QWidget.setSizePolicy(self, self.container.sizePolicy())
+        if self.parentWidget():
+            self.parentWidget().adjustSize()
+        else:
+            self.adjustSize()
+
+    @Property(str)
+    def label(self):
+        return self.compact_label.text()
+
+    @label.setter
+    def label(self, compact_label_text: str):
+        """Set the label text associated to the compact view"""
+        self.compact_label.setText(compact_label_text)
+
+    @Property(str)
+    def tooltip(self):
+        return self.compact_label.toolTip()
+
+    @tooltip.setter
+    def tooltip(self, tooltip: str):
+        """Set the tooltip text associated to the compact view"""
+        self.compact_label.setToolTip(tooltip)
+        self.compact_status.setToolTip(tooltip)
+
+    @Property(bool)
+    def expand_popup(self):
+        return self._expand_popup
+
+    @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()

bec_widgets/qt_utils/error_popups.py

@@ -2,9 +2,93 @@ import functools
 import sys
 import traceback
 
-from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, Qt, Signal, Slot
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property, QObject, Qt, Signal, Slot
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMessageBox, QPushButton, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
 
+logger = bec_logger.logger
+
+
+def SafeProperty(prop_type, *prop_args, popup_error: bool = False, default=None, **prop_kwargs):
+    """
+    Decorator to create a Qt Property with safe getter and setter so that
+    Qt Designer won't crash if an exception occurs in either method.
+
+    Args:
+        prop_type: The property type (e.g., str, bool, int, custom classes, etc.)
+        popup_error (bool): If True, show a popup for any error; otherwise, ignore or log silently.
+        default: Any default/fallback value to return if the getter raises an exception.
+        *prop_args, **prop_kwargs: Passed along to the underlying Qt Property constructor.
+
+    Usage:
+        @SafeProperty(int, default=-1)
+        def some_value(self) -> int:
+            # your getter logic
+            return ...   # if an exception is raised, returns -1
+
+        @some_value.setter
+        def some_value(self, val: int):
+            # your setter logic
+            ...
+    """
+
+    def decorator(py_getter):
+        """Decorator for the user's property getter function."""
+
+        @functools.wraps(py_getter)
+        def safe_getter(self_):
+            try:
+                return py_getter(self_)
+            except Exception:
+                # Identify which property function triggered error
+                prop_name = f"{py_getter.__module__}.{py_getter.__qualname__}"
+                error_msg = traceback.format_exc()
+
+                if popup_error:
+                    ErrorPopupUtility().custom_exception_hook(*sys.exc_info(), popup_error=True)
+                logger.error(f"SafeProperty error in GETTER of '{prop_name}':\n{error_msg}")
+                return default
+
+        class PropertyWrapper:
+            """
+            Intermediate wrapper used so that the user can optionally chain .setter(...).
+            """
+
+            def __init__(self, getter_func):
+                # We store only our safe_getter in the wrapper
+                self.getter_func = safe_getter
+
+            def setter(self, setter_func):
+                """Wraps the user-defined setter to handle errors safely."""
+
+                @functools.wraps(setter_func)
+                def safe_setter(self_, value):
+                    try:
+                        return setter_func(self_, value)
+                    except Exception:
+                        prop_name = f"{setter_func.__module__}.{setter_func.__qualname__}"
+                        error_msg = traceback.format_exc()
+
+                        if popup_error:
+                            ErrorPopupUtility().custom_exception_hook(
+                                *sys.exc_info(), popup_error=True
+                            )
+                        logger.error(f"SafeProperty error in SETTER of '{prop_name}':\n{error_msg}")
+                        return
+
+                # Return the full read/write Property
+                return Property(prop_type, self.getter_func, safe_setter, *prop_args, **prop_kwargs)
+
+            def __call__(self):
+                """
+                If user never calls `.setter(...)`, produce a read-only property.
+                """
+                return Property(prop_type, self.getter_func, None, *prop_args, **prop_kwargs)
+
+        return PropertyWrapper(py_getter)
+
+    return decorator
+
 
 def SafeSlot(*slot_args, **slot_kwargs):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     """Function with args, acting like a decorator, applying "error_managed" decorator + Qt Slot
@@ -22,7 +106,13 @@ def SafeSlot(*slot_args, **slot_kwargs):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
             try:
                 return method(*args, **kwargs)
             except Exception:
-                ErrorPopupUtility().custom_exception_hook(*sys.exc_info(), popup_error=popup_error)
+                slot_name = f"{method.__module__}.{method.__qualname__}"
+                error_msg = traceback.format_exc()
+                if popup_error:
+                    ErrorPopupUtility().custom_exception_hook(
+                        *sys.exc_info(), popup_error=popup_error
+                    )
+                logger.error(f"SafeSlot error in slot '{slot_name}':\n{error_msg}")
 
         return wrapper
 
@@ -91,6 +181,12 @@ class _ErrorPopupUtility(QObject):
         msg.setMinimumHeight(400)
         msg.exec_()
 
+    def show_property_error(self, title, message, widget):
+        """
+        Show a property-specific error message.
+        """
+        self.error_occurred.emit(title, message, widget)
+
     def format_traceback(self, traceback_message: str) -> str:
         """
         Format the traceback message to be displayed in the error popup by adding indentation to each line.
@@ -127,12 +223,14 @@ class _ErrorPopupUtility(QObject):
             error_message = " ".join(captured_message)
         return error_message
 
+    def get_error_message(self, exctype, value, tb):
+        return "".join(traceback.format_exception(exctype, value, tb))
+
     def custom_exception_hook(self, exctype, value, tb, popup_error=False):
         if popup_error or self.enable_error_popup:
-            error_message = traceback.format_exception(exctype, value, tb)
             self.error_occurred.emit(
                 "Method error" if popup_error else "Application Error",
-                "".join(error_message),
+                self.get_error_message(exctype, value, tb),
                 self.parent(),
             )
         else:

bec_widgets/qt_utils/palette_viewer.py

@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+from qtpy.QtCore import Qt
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QApplication,
+    QFrame,
+    QGridLayout,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QLabel,
+    QScrollArea,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
+from bec_widgets.utils.colors import get_accent_colors, get_theme_palette
+from bec_widgets.widgets.utility.visual.dark_mode_button.dark_mode_button import DarkModeButton
+
+
+class PaletteViewer(BECWidget, QWidget):
+    """
+    This class is a widget that displays current palette colors.
+    """
+
+    ICON_NAME = "palette"
+
+    def __init__(self, *args, parent=None, **kwargs):
+        super().__init__(*args, theme_update=True, **kwargs)
+        QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
+        self.setFixedSize(400, 600)
+        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        dark_mode_button = DarkModeButton(self)
+        layout.addWidget(dark_mode_button)
+
+        # Create a scroll area to hold the color boxes
+        scroll_area = QScrollArea(self)
+        scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
+        scroll_area.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+
+        # Create a frame to hold the color boxes
+        self.frame = QFrame(self)
+        self.frame_layout = QGridLayout(self.frame)
+        self.frame_layout.setSpacing(0)
+        self.frame_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+
+        scroll_area.setWidget(self.frame)
+        layout.addWidget(scroll_area)
+
+        self.setLayout(layout)
+
+        self.update_palette()
+
+    def apply_theme(self, theme) -> None:
+        """
+        Apply the theme to the widget.
+
+        Args:
+            theme (str): The theme to apply.
+        """
+        self.update_palette()
+
+    def clear_palette(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Clear the palette colors from the frame.
+        Recursively removes all widgets and layouts in the frame layout.
+        """
+        # Iterate over all items in the layout in reverse to safely remove them
+        for i in reversed(range(self.frame_layout.count())):
+            item = self.frame_layout.itemAt(i)
+
+            # If the item is a layout, clear its contents
+            if isinstance(item, QHBoxLayout):
+                # Recursively remove all widgets from the layout
+                for j in reversed(range(item.count())):
+                    widget = item.itemAt(j).widget()
+                    if widget:
+                        item.removeWidget(widget)
+                        widget.deleteLater()
+                self.frame_layout.removeItem(item)
+
+            # If the item is a widget, remove and delete it
+            elif item.widget():
+                widget = item.widget()
+                self.frame_layout.removeWidget(widget)
+                widget.deleteLater()
+
+    def update_palette(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Update the palette colors in the frame.
+        """
+        self.clear_palette()
+        palette_label = QLabel("Palette Colors (e.g. palette.windowText().color())")
+        palette_label.setStyleSheet("font-weight: bold;")
+        self.frame_layout.addWidget(palette_label, 0, 0)
+
+        palette = get_theme_palette()
+        # Add the palette colors (roles) to the frame
+        palette_roles = [
+            palette.windowText,
+            palette.toolTipText,
+            palette.placeholderText,
+            palette.text,
+            palette.buttonText,
+            palette.highlight,
+            palette.link,
+            palette.light,
+            palette.midlight,
+            palette.mid,
+            palette.shadow,
+            palette.button,
+            palette.brightText,
+            palette.toolTipBase,
+            palette.alternateBase,
+            palette.dark,
+            palette.base,
+            palette.window,
+            palette.highlightedText,
+            palette.linkVisited,
+        ]
+
+        offset = 1
+        for i, pal in enumerate(palette_roles):
+            i += offset
+            color = pal().color()
+            label_layout = QHBoxLayout()
+            color_label = QLabel(f"{pal().color().name()} ({pal.__name__})")
+            background_label = self.background_label_with_clipboard(color)
+            label_layout.addWidget(color_label)
+            label_layout.addWidget(background_label)
+            self.frame_layout.addLayout(label_layout, i, 0)
+
+        # add a horizontal spacer
+        spacer = QLabel()
+        spacer.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Minimum)
+        self.frame_layout.addWidget(spacer, i + 1, 0)
+
+        accent_colors_label = QLabel("Accent Colors (e.g. accent_colors.default)")
+        accent_colors_label.setStyleSheet("font-weight: bold;")
+        self.frame_layout.addWidget(accent_colors_label, i + 2, 0)
+
+        accent_colors = get_accent_colors()
+        items = [
+            (accent_colors.default, "default"),
+            (accent_colors.success, "success"),
+            (accent_colors.warning, "warning"),
+            (accent_colors.emergency, "emergency"),
+            (accent_colors.highlight, "highlight"),
+        ]
+
+        offset = len(palette_roles) + 2
+        for i, (color, name) in enumerate(items):
+            i += offset
+            label_layout = QHBoxLayout()
+            color_label = QLabel(f"{color.name()} ({name})")
+            background_label = self.background_label_with_clipboard(color)
+            label_layout.addWidget(color_label)
+            label_layout.addWidget(background_label)
+            self.frame_layout.addLayout(label_layout, i + 2, 0)
+
+    def background_label_with_clipboard(self, color) -> QLabel:
+        """
+        Create a label with a background color that copies the color to the clipboard when clicked.
+
+        Args:
+            color (QColor): The color to display in the background.
+
+        Returns:
+            QLabel: The label with the background color.
+        """
+        button = QLabel()
+        button.setStyleSheet(f"QLabel {{ background-color: {color.name()}; }}")
+        button.setToolTip("Click to copy color to clipboard")
+        button.setCursor(Qt.PointingHandCursor)
+        button.mousePressEvent = lambda event: QApplication.clipboard().setText(color.name())
+        return button
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    import sys
+
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    viewer = PaletteViewer()
+    viewer.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())

bec_widgets/qt_utils/redis_message_waiter.py

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+from bec_lib.serialization import MsgpackSerialization
+from bec_lib.utils import lazy_import_from
+from qtpy.QtCore import QEventLoop, QSocketNotifier, QTimer
+
+MessageObject = lazy_import_from("bec_lib.connector", ("MessageObject",))
+
+
+class QtRedisMessageWaiter:
+    def __init__(self, redis_connector, message_to_wait):
+        self.ev_loop = QEventLoop()
+        self.response = None
+        self.connector = redis_connector
+        self.message_to_wait = message_to_wait
+        self.pubsub = redis_connector._redis_conn.pubsub()
+        self.pubsub.subscribe(self.message_to_wait.endpoint)
+        fd = self.pubsub.connection._sock.fileno()
+        self.notifier = QSocketNotifier(fd, QSocketNotifier.Read)
+        self.notifier.activated.connect(self._pubsub_readable)
+
+    def _msg_received(self, msg_obj):
+        self.response = msg_obj.value
+        self.ev_loop.quit()
+
+    def wait(self, timeout=1):
+        timer = QTimer()
+        timer.singleShot(timeout * 1000, self.ev_loop.quit)
+        self.ev_loop.exec_()
+        timer.stop()
+        self.notifier.setEnabled(False)
+        self.pubsub.close()
+        return self.response
+
+    def _pubsub_readable(self, fd):
+        while True:
+            msg = self.pubsub.get_message()
+            if msg:
+                if msg["type"] == "subscribe":
+                    # get_message buffers, so we may already have the answer
+                    # let's check...
+                    continue
+                else:
+                    break
+            else:
+                return
+        channel = msg["channel"].decode()
+        msg = MessageObject(topic=channel, value=MsgpackSerialization.loads(msg["data"]))
+        self.connector._execute_callback(self._msg_received, msg, {})

bec_widgets/qt_utils/round_frame.py

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+import pyqtgraph as pg
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication, QFrame, QVBoxLayout, QWidget
+
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_widget import BECWidget
+from bec_widgets.widgets.utility.visual.dark_mode_button.dark_mode_button import DarkModeButton
+
+
+class RoundedFrame(BECWidget, QFrame):
+    """
+    A custom QFrame with rounded corners and optional theme updates.
+    The frame can contain any QWidget, however it is mainly designed to wrap PlotWidgets to provide a consistent look and feel with other BEC Widgets.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        parent=None,
+        content_widget: QWidget = None,
+        background_color: str = None,
+        theme_update: bool = True,
+        radius: int = 10,
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        QFrame.__init__(self, parent)
+
+        self.background_color = background_color
+        self.theme_update = theme_update if background_color is None else False
+        self._radius = radius
+
+        # Apply rounded frame styling
+        self.setObjectName("roundedFrame")
+        self.update_style()
+
+        # Create a layout for the frame
+        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+        layout.setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5)  # Set 5px margin
+
+        # Add the content widget to the layout
+        if content_widget:
+            layout.addWidget(content_widget)
+
+        # Store reference to the content widget
+        self.content_widget = content_widget
+
+        # Automatically apply initial styles to the PlotWidget if applicable
+        if isinstance(content_widget, pg.PlotWidget):
+            self.apply_plot_widget_style()
+
+        self._connect_to_theme_change()
+
+    def apply_theme(self, theme: str):
+        """
+        Apply the theme to the frame and its content if theme updates are enabled.
+        """
+        if not self.theme_update:
+            return
+
+        # Update background color based on the theme
+        if theme == "light":
+            self.background_color = "#e9ecef"  # Subtle contrast for light mode
+        else:
+            self.background_color = "#141414"  # Dark mode
+
+        self.update_style()
+
+        # Update PlotWidget's background color and axis styles if applicable
+        if isinstance(self.content_widget, pg.PlotWidget):
+            self.apply_plot_widget_style()
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def radius(self):
+        """Radius of the rounded corners."""
+        return self._radius
+
+    @radius.setter
+    def radius(self, value: int):
+        self._radius = value
+        self.update_style()
+
+    def update_style(self):
+        """
+        Update the style of the frame based on the background color.
+        """
+        if self.background_color:
+            self.setStyleSheet(
+                f"""
+                QFrame#roundedFrame {{
+                    background-color: {self.background_color}; 
+                    border-radius: {self._radius}; /* Rounded corners */
+                }}
+            """
+            )
+
+    def apply_plot_widget_style(self, border: str = "none"):
+        """
+        Automatically apply background, border, and axis styles to the PlotWidget.
+
+        Args:
+            border (str): Border style (e.g., 'none', '1px solid red').
+        """
+        if isinstance(self.content_widget, pg.PlotWidget):
+            # Sync PlotWidget's background color with the RoundedFrame's background color
+            self.content_widget.setBackground(self.background_color)
+
+            # Calculate contrast-optimized axis and label colors
+            if self.background_color == "#e9ecef":  # Light mode
+                label_color = "#000000"
+                axis_color = "#666666"
+            else:  # Dark mode
+                label_color = "#FFFFFF"
+                axis_color = "#CCCCCC"
+
+            # Apply axis label and tick colors
+            plot_item = self.content_widget.getPlotItem()
+            plot_item.getAxis("left").setPen(pg.mkPen(color=axis_color))
+            plot_item.getAxis("bottom").setPen(pg.mkPen(color=axis_color))
+            plot_item.getAxis("left").setTextPen(pg.mkPen(color=label_color))
+            plot_item.getAxis("bottom").setTextPen(pg.mkPen(color=label_color))
+
+            # Apply border style via stylesheet
+            self.content_widget.setStyleSheet(
+                f"""
+                PlotWidget {{
+                    border: {border}; /* Explicitly set the border */
+                }}
+            """
+            )
+
+
+class ExampleApp(QWidget):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setWindowTitle("Rounded Plots Example")
+
+        # Main layout
+        layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+
+        dark_button = DarkModeButton()
+
+        # Create PlotWidgets
+        plot1 = pg.PlotWidget()
+        plot1.plot([1, 3, 2, 4, 6, 5], pen="r")
+
+        plot2 = pg.PlotWidget()
+        plot2.plot([1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32], pen="r")
+
+        # Wrap PlotWidgets in RoundedFrame
+        rounded_plot1 = RoundedFrame(content_widget=plot1, theme_update=True)
+        rounded_plot2 = RoundedFrame(content_widget=plot2, theme_update=True)
+        round = RoundedFrame()
+
+        # Add to layout
+        layout.addWidget(dark_button)
+        layout.addWidget(rounded_plot1)
+        layout.addWidget(rounded_plot2)
+        layout.addWidget(round)
+
+        self.setLayout(layout)
+
+        # Simulate theme change after 2 seconds
+        from qtpy.QtCore import QTimer
+
+        def change_theme():
+            rounded_plot1.apply_theme("light")
+            rounded_plot2.apply_theme("dark")
+
+        QTimer.singleShot(100, change_theme)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    app = QApplication([])
+
+    window = ExampleApp()
+    window.show()
+
+    app.exec()

bec_widgets/qt_utils/settings_dialog.py

@@ -106,3 +106,14 @@ class SettingsDialog(QDialog):
         Apply the changes made in the settings widget without closing the dialog.
         """
         self.widget.accept_changes()
+
+    def cleanup(self):
+        """
+        Cleanup the dialog.
+        """
+        self.button_box.close()
+        self.button_box.deleteLater()
+
+    def closeEvent(self, event):
+        self.cleanup()
+        super().closeEvent(event)

bec_widgets/qt_utils/side_panel.py

@@ -0,0 +1,386 @@
+import sys
+from typing import Literal, Optional
+
+from qtpy.QtCore import Property, QEasingCurve, QPropertyAnimation
+from qtpy.QtGui import QAction
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QApplication,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QLabel,
+    QMainWindow,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QSpacerItem,
+    QStackedWidget,
+    QVBoxLayout,
+    QWidget,
+)
+
+from bec_widgets.qt_utils.toolbar import MaterialIconAction, ModularToolBar
+from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.waveform_widget import BECWaveformWidget
+
+
+class SidePanel(QWidget):
+    """
+    Side panel widget that can be placed on the left, right, top, or bottom of the main widget.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        parent=None,
+        orientation: Literal["left", "right", "top", "bottom"] = "left",
+        panel_max_width: int = 200,
+        animation_duration: int = 200,
+        animations_enabled: bool = True,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(parent=parent)
+
+        self._orientation = orientation
+        self._panel_max_width = panel_max_width
+        self._animation_duration = animation_duration
+        self._animations_enabled = animations_enabled
+        self._orientation = orientation
+
+        self._panel_width = 0
+        self._panel_height = 0
+        self.panel_visible = False
+        self.current_action: Optional[QAction] = None
+        self.current_index: Optional[int] = None
+        self.switching_actions = False
+
+        self._init_ui()
+
+    def _init_ui(self):
+        """
+        Initialize the UI elements.
+        """
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            self.main_layout = QHBoxLayout(self)
+            self.main_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+            self.main_layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+            self.toolbar = ModularToolBar(target_widget=self, orientation="vertical")
+
+            self.container = QWidget()
+            self.container.layout = QVBoxLayout(self.container)
+            self.container.layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+            self.container.layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+            self.stack_widget = QStackedWidget()
+            self.stack_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Fixed, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+            self.stack_widget.setMinimumWidth(5)
+
+            if self._orientation == "left":
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.toolbar)
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.container)
+            else:
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.container)
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.toolbar)
+
+            self.container.layout.addWidget(self.stack_widget)
+            self.stack_widget.setMaximumWidth(self._panel_max_width)
+
+        else:
+            self.main_layout = QVBoxLayout(self)
+            self.main_layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+            self.main_layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+            self.toolbar = ModularToolBar(target_widget=self, orientation="horizontal")
+
+            self.container = QWidget()
+            self.container.layout = QVBoxLayout(self.container)
+            self.container.layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+            self.container.layout.setSpacing(0)
+
+            self.stack_widget = QStackedWidget()
+            self.stack_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+            self.stack_widget.setMinimumHeight(5)
+
+            if self._orientation == "top":
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.toolbar)
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.container)
+            else:
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.container)
+                self.main_layout.addWidget(self.toolbar)
+
+            self.container.layout.addWidget(self.stack_widget)
+            self.stack_widget.setMaximumHeight(self._panel_max_width)
+
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            self.menu_anim = QPropertyAnimation(self, b"panel_width")
+        else:
+            self.menu_anim = QPropertyAnimation(self, b"panel_height")
+
+        self.menu_anim.setDuration(self._animation_duration)
+        self.menu_anim.setEasingCurve(QEasingCurve.InOutQuad)
+
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            self.panel_width = 0
+        else:
+            self.panel_height = 0
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def panel_width(self):
+        """
+        Get the panel width.
+        """
+        return self._panel_width
+
+    @panel_width.setter
+    def panel_width(self, width: int):
+        """
+        Set the panel width.
+
+        Args:
+            width(int): The width of the panel.
+        """
+        self._panel_width = width
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            self.stack_widget.setFixedWidth(width)
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def panel_height(self):
+        """
+        Get the panel height.
+        """
+        return self._panel_height
+
+    @panel_height.setter
+    def panel_height(self, height: int):
+        """
+        Set the panel height.
+
+        Args:
+            height(int): The height of the panel.
+        """
+        self._panel_height = height
+        if self._orientation in ("top", "bottom"):
+            self.stack_widget.setFixedHeight(height)
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def panel_max_width(self):
+        """
+        Get the maximum width of the panel.
+        """
+        return self._panel_max_width
+
+    @panel_max_width.setter
+    def panel_max_width(self, size: int):
+        """
+        Set the maximum width of the panel.
+
+        Args:
+            size(int): The maximum width of the panel.
+        """
+        self._panel_max_width = size
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            self.stack_widget.setMaximumWidth(self._panel_max_width)
+        else:
+            self.stack_widget.setMaximumHeight(self._panel_max_width)
+
+    @Property(int)
+    def animation_duration(self):
+        """
+        Get the duration of the animation.
+        """
+        return self._animation_duration
+
+    @animation_duration.setter
+    def animation_duration(self, duration: int):
+        """
+        Set the duration of the animation.
+
+        Args:
+            duration(int): The duration of the animation.
+        """
+        self._animation_duration = duration
+        self.menu_anim.setDuration(duration)
+
+    @Property(bool)
+    def animations_enabled(self):
+        """
+        Get the status of the animations.
+        """
+        return self._animations_enabled
+
+    @animations_enabled.setter
+    def animations_enabled(self, enabled: bool):
+        """
+        Set the status of the animations.
+
+        Args:
+            enabled(bool): The status of the animations.
+        """
+        self._animations_enabled = enabled
+
+    def show_panel(self, idx: int):
+        """
+        Show the side panel with animation and switch to idx.
+
+        Args:
+            idx(int): The index of the panel to show.
+        """
+        self.stack_widget.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+        self.panel_visible = True
+        self.current_index = idx
+
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            start_val, end_val = 0, self._panel_max_width
+        else:
+            start_val, end_val = 0, self._panel_max_width
+
+        if self._animations_enabled:
+            self.menu_anim.stop()
+            self.menu_anim.setStartValue(start_val)
+            self.menu_anim.setEndValue(end_val)
+            self.menu_anim.start()
+        else:
+            if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+                self.panel_width = end_val
+            else:
+                self.panel_height = end_val
+
+    def hide_panel(self):
+        """
+        Hide the side panel with animation.
+        """
+        self.panel_visible = False
+        self.current_index = None
+
+        if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+            start_val, end_val = self._panel_max_width, 0
+        else:
+            start_val, end_val = self._panel_max_width, 0
+
+        if self._animations_enabled:
+            self.menu_anim.stop()
+            self.menu_anim.setStartValue(start_val)
+            self.menu_anim.setEndValue(end_val)
+            self.menu_anim.start()
+        else:
+            if self._orientation in ("left", "right"):
+                self.panel_width = end_val
+            else:
+                self.panel_height = end_val
+
+    def switch_to(self, idx: int):
+        """
+        Switch to the specified index without animation.
+
+        Args:
+            idx(int): The index of the panel to switch to.
+        """
+        if self.current_index != idx:
+            self.stack_widget.setCurrentIndex(idx)
+            self.current_index = idx
+
+    def add_menu(self, action_id: str, icon_name: str, tooltip: str, widget: QWidget, title: str):
+        """
+        Add a menu to the side panel.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id(str): The ID of the action.
+            icon_name(str): The name of the icon.
+            tooltip(str): The tooltip for the action.
+            widget(QWidget): The widget to add to the panel.
+            title(str): The title of the panel.
+        """
+        container_widget = QWidget()
+        container_layout = QVBoxLayout(container_widget)
+        container_widget.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0);")
+        title_label = QLabel(f"<b>{title}</b>")
+        title_label.setStyleSheet("font-size: 16px;")
+        spacer = QSpacerItem(0, 0, QSizePolicy.Minimum, QSizePolicy.Expanding)
+        container_layout.addWidget(title_label)
+        container_layout.addWidget(widget)
+        container_layout.addItem(spacer)
+        container_layout.setContentsMargins(5, 5, 5, 5)
+        container_layout.setSpacing(5)
+
+        index = self.stack_widget.count()
+        self.stack_widget.addWidget(container_widget)
+
+        action = MaterialIconAction(icon_name=icon_name, tooltip=tooltip, checkable=True)
+        self.toolbar.add_action(action_id, action, target_widget=self)
+
+        def on_action_toggled(checked: bool):
+            if self.switching_actions:
+                return
+
+            if checked:
+                if self.current_action and self.current_action != action.action:
+                    self.switching_actions = True
+                    self.current_action.setChecked(False)
+                    self.switching_actions = False
+
+                self.current_action = action.action
+
+                if not self.panel_visible:
+                    self.show_panel(index)
+                else:
+                    self.switch_to(index)
+            else:
+                if self.current_action == action.action:
+                    self.current_action = None
+                    self.hide_panel()
+
+        action.action.toggled.connect(on_action_toggled)
+
+
+class ExampleApp(QMainWindow):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setWindowTitle("Side Panel Example")
+
+        central_widget = QWidget()
+        self.setCentralWidget(central_widget)
+
+        self.side_panel = SidePanel(self, orientation="left")
+
+        self.layout = QHBoxLayout(central_widget)
+
+        self.layout.addWidget(self.side_panel)
+        self.plot = BECWaveformWidget()
+        self.layout.addWidget(self.plot)
+        self.add_side_menus()
+
+    def add_side_menus(self):
+        widget1 = QWidget()
+        widget1_layout = QVBoxLayout(widget1)
+        widget1_layout.addWidget(QLabel("This is Widget 1"))
+        self.side_panel.add_menu(
+            action_id="widget1",
+            icon_name="counter_1",
+            tooltip="Show Widget 1",
+            widget=widget1,
+            title="Widget 1 Panel",
+        )
+
+        widget2 = QWidget()
+        widget2_layout = QVBoxLayout(widget2)
+        widget2_layout.addWidget(QLabel("This is Widget 2"))
+        self.side_panel.add_menu(
+            action_id="widget2",
+            icon_name="counter_2",
+            tooltip="Show Widget 2",
+            widget=widget2,
+            title="Widget 2 Panel",
+        )
+
+        widget3 = QWidget()
+        widget3_layout = QVBoxLayout(widget3)
+        widget3_layout.addWidget(QLabel("This is Widget 3"))
+        self.side_panel.add_menu(
+            action_id="widget3",
+            icon_name="counter_3",
+            tooltip="Show Widget 3",
+            widget=widget3,
+            title="Widget 3 Panel",
+        )
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    window = ExampleApp()
+    window.resize(800, 600)
+    window.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec())

bec_widgets/qt_utils/toolbar.py

@@ -1,11 +1,27 @@
 # pylint: disable=no-name-in-module
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import os
+import sys
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from collections import defaultdict
+from typing import Dict, List, Literal, Tuple
 
-from qtpy.QtCore import QSize
-from qtpy.QtGui import QAction, QIcon
-from qtpy.QtWidgets import QHBoxLayout, QLabel, QMenu, QToolBar, QToolButton, QWidget
+from bec_qthemes._icon.material_icons import material_icon
+from qtpy.QtCore import QSize, Qt
+from qtpy.QtGui import QAction, QColor, QIcon
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import (
+    QApplication,
+    QComboBox,
+    QHBoxLayout,
+    QLabel,
+    QMainWindow,
+    QMenu,
+    QSizePolicy,
+    QToolBar,
+    QToolButton,
+    QWidget,
+)
 
 import bec_widgets
 
@@ -18,7 +34,7 @@ class ToolBarAction(ABC):
 
     Args:
         icon_path (str, optional): The name of the icon file from `assets/toolbar_icons`. Defaults to None.
-        tooltip (bool, optional): The tooltip for the action. Defaults to None.
+        tooltip (str, optional): The tooltip for the action. Defaults to None.
         checkable (bool, optional): Whether the action is checkable. Defaults to False.
     """
 
@@ -44,9 +60,7 @@ class SeparatorAction(ToolBarAction):
     """Separator action for the toolbar."""
 
     def add_to_toolbar(self, toolbar: QToolBar, target: QWidget):
-        self.separator = QToolButton()
-        self.separator.setFixedSize(2, 22)
-        toolbar.addWidget(self.separator)
+        toolbar.addSeparator()
 
 
 class IconAction(ToolBarAction):
@@ -70,6 +84,65 @@ class IconAction(ToolBarAction):
         toolbar.addAction(self.action)
 
 
+class MaterialIconAction(ToolBarAction):
+    """
+    Action with a Material icon for the toolbar.
+
+    Args:
+        icon_name (str, optional): The name of the Material icon. Defaults to None.
+        tooltip (str, optional): The tooltip for the action. Defaults to None.
+        checkable (bool, optional): Whether the action is checkable. Defaults to False.
+        filled (bool, optional): Whether the icon is filled. Defaults to False.
+        color (str | tuple | QColor | dict[Literal["dark", "light"], str] | None, optional): The color of the icon.
+            Defaults to None.
+        parent (QWidget or None, optional): Parent widget for the underlying QAction.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        icon_name: str = None,
+        tooltip: str = None,
+        checkable: bool = False,
+        filled: bool = False,
+        color: str | tuple | QColor | dict[Literal["dark", "light"], str] | None = None,
+        parent=None,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(icon_path=None, tooltip=tooltip, checkable=checkable)
+        self.icon_name = icon_name
+        self.filled = filled
+        self.color = color
+        # Generate the icon
+        self.icon = material_icon(
+            self.icon_name,
+            size=(20, 20),
+            convert_to_pixmap=False,
+            filled=self.filled,
+            color=self.color,
+        )
+        # Immediately create an QAction with the given parent
+        self.action = QAction(self.icon, self.tooltip, parent=parent)
+        self.action.setCheckable(self.checkable)
+
+    def add_to_toolbar(self, toolbar: QToolBar, target: QWidget):
+        """
+        Adds the action to the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            toolbar(QToolBar): The toolbar to add the action to.
+            target(QWidget): The target widget for the action.
+        """
+        toolbar.addAction(self.action)
+
+    def get_icon(self):
+        """
+        Returns the icon for the action.
+
+        Returns:
+            QIcon: The icon for the action.
+        """
+        return self.icon
+
+
 class DeviceSelectionAction(ToolBarAction):
     """
     Action for selecting a device in a combobox.
@@ -77,7 +150,6 @@ class DeviceSelectionAction(ToolBarAction):
     Args:
         label (str): The label for the combobox.
         device_combobox (DeviceComboBox): The combobox for selecting the device.
-
     """
 
     def __init__(self, label: str, device_combobox):
@@ -98,6 +170,63 @@ class DeviceSelectionAction(ToolBarAction):
         self.device_combobox.setStyleSheet(f"QComboBox {{ background-color: {color}; }}")
 
 
+class WidgetAction(ToolBarAction):
+    """
+    Action for adding any widget to the toolbar.
+
+    Args:
+        label (str|None): The label for the widget.
+        widget (QWidget): The widget to be added to the toolbar.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, label: str | None = None, widget: QWidget = None, parent=None):
+        super().__init__(parent)
+        self.label = label
+        self.widget = widget
+
+    def add_to_toolbar(self, toolbar: QToolBar, target: QWidget):
+        container = QWidget()
+        layout = QHBoxLayout(container)
+        layout.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        layout.setSpacing(5)
+
+        if self.label is not None:
+            label_widget = QLabel(f"{self.label}")
+            label_widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Minimum, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+            label_widget.setAlignment(Qt.AlignVCenter | Qt.AlignRight)
+            layout.addWidget(label_widget)
+
+        if isinstance(self.widget, QComboBox):
+            self.widget.setSizeAdjustPolicy(QComboBox.AdjustToContents)
+
+            size_policy = QSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Expanding, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+            self.widget.setSizePolicy(size_policy)
+
+            self.widget.setMinimumWidth(self.calculate_minimum_width(self.widget))
+
+        else:
+            self.widget.setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy.Preferred, QSizePolicy.Fixed)
+
+        layout.addWidget(self.widget)
+
+        toolbar.addWidget(container)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def calculate_minimum_width(combo_box: QComboBox) -> int:
+        """
+        Calculate the minimum width required to display the longest item in the combo box.
+
+        Args:
+            combo_box (QComboBox): The combo box to calculate the width for.
+
+        Returns:
+            int: The calculated minimum width in pixels.
+        """
+        font_metrics = combo_box.fontMetrics()
+        max_width = max(font_metrics.width(combo_box.itemText(i)) for i in range(combo_box.count()))
+        return max_width + 60
+
+
 class ExpandableMenuAction(ToolBarAction):
     """
     Action for an expandable menu in the toolbar.
@@ -106,7 +235,6 @@ class ExpandableMenuAction(ToolBarAction):
         label (str): The label for the menu.
         actions (dict): A dictionary of actions to populate the menu.
         icon_path (str, optional): The path to the icon file. Defaults to None.
-
     """
 
     def __init__(self, label: str, actions: dict, icon_path: str = None):
@@ -133,10 +261,12 @@ class ExpandableMenuAction(ToolBarAction):
         menu = QMenu(button)
         for action_id, action in self.actions.items():
             sub_action = QAction(action.tooltip, target)
-            if action.icon_path:
+            if hasattr(action, "icon_path"):
                 icon = QIcon()
                 icon.addFile(action.icon_path, size=QSize(20, 20))
                 sub_action.setIcon(icon)
+            elif hasattr(action, "get_icon"):
+                sub_action.setIcon(action.get_icon())
             sub_action.setCheckable(action.checkable)
             menu.addAction(sub_action)
             self.widgets[action_id] = sub_action
@@ -144,13 +274,64 @@ class ExpandableMenuAction(ToolBarAction):
         toolbar.addWidget(button)
 
 
+class ToolbarBundle:
+    """
+    Represents a bundle of toolbar actions, keyed by action_id.
+    Allows direct dictionary-like access: self.actions["some_id"] -> ToolBarAction object.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, bundle_id: str = None, actions=None):
+        """
+        Args:
+            bundle_id (str): Unique identifier for the bundle.
+            actions: Either None or a list of (action_id, ToolBarAction) tuples.
+        """
+        self.bundle_id = bundle_id
+        self._actions: dict[str, ToolBarAction] = {}
+
+        # If you passed in a list of tuples, load them into the dictionary
+        if actions is not None:
+            for action_id, action in actions:
+                self._actions[action_id] = action
+
+    def add_action(self, action_id: str, action: ToolBarAction):
+        """
+        Adds or replaces an action in the bundle.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action.
+            action (ToolBarAction): The action to add.
+        """
+        self._actions[action_id] = action
+
+    def remove_action(self, action_id: str):
+        """
+        Removes an action from the bundle by ID.
+        Ignores if not present.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action to remove.
+        """
+        self._actions.pop(action_id, None)
+
+    @property
+    def actions(self) -> dict[str, ToolBarAction]:
+        """
+        Return the internal dictionary of actions so that you can do
+        bundle.actions["drag_mode"] -> ToolBarAction instance.
+        """
+        return self._actions
+
+
 class ModularToolBar(QToolBar):
     """Modular toolbar with optional automatic initialization.
+
     Args:
         parent (QWidget, optional): The parent widget of the toolbar. Defaults to None.
-        actions (list[ToolBarAction], optional): A list of action creators to populate the toolbar. Defaults to None.
+        actions (dict, optional): A dictionary of action creators to populate the toolbar. Defaults to None.
         target_widget (QWidget, optional): The widget that the actions will target. Defaults to None.
-        color (str, optional): The background color of the toolbar. Defaults to "black".
+        orientation (Literal["horizontal", "vertical"], optional): The initial orientation of the toolbar. Defaults to "horizontal".
+        background_color (str, optional): The background color of the toolbar. Defaults to "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" - transparent background.
     """
 
     def __init__(
@@ -158,31 +339,334 @@ class ModularToolBar(QToolBar):
         parent=None,
         actions: dict | None = None,
         target_widget=None,
-        color: str = "rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)",
+        orientation: Literal["horizontal", "vertical"] = "horizontal",
+        background_color: str = "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)",
     ):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
         self.widgets = defaultdict(dict)
-        self.set_background_color(color)
+        self.background_color = background_color
+        self.set_background_color(self.background_color)
+
+        # Set the initial orientation
+        self.set_orientation(orientation)
+
+        # Initialize bundles
+        self.bundles = {}
+        self.toolbar_items = []
 
         if actions is not None and target_widget is not None:
             self.populate_toolbar(actions, target_widget)
 
-    def populate_toolbar(self, actions: dict, target_widget):
+    def populate_toolbar(self, actions: dict, target_widget: QWidget):
         """Populates the toolbar with a set of actions.
 
         Args:
-            actions (list[ToolBarAction]): A list of action creators to populate the toolbar.
+            actions (dict): A dictionary of action creators to populate the toolbar.
             target_widget (QWidget): The widget that the actions will target.
         """
         self.clear()
+        self.toolbar_items.clear()  # Reset the order tracking
         for action_id, action in actions.items():
             action.add_to_toolbar(self, target_widget)
             self.widgets[action_id] = action
+            self.toolbar_items.append(("action", action_id))
+        self.update_separators()  # Ensure separators are updated after populating
 
-    def set_background_color(self, color: str):
-        self.setStyleSheet(f"QToolBar {{ background: {color}; }}")
+    def set_background_color(self, color: str = "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"):
+        """
+        Sets the background color and other appearance settings.
+
+        Args:
+            color(str): The background color of the toolbar.
+        """
         self.setIconSize(QSize(20, 20))
         self.setMovable(False)
         self.setFloatable(False)
         self.setContentsMargins(0, 0, 0, 0)
+        self.background_color = color
+        self.setStyleSheet(f"QToolBar {{ background-color: {color}; border: none; }}")
+
+    def set_orientation(self, orientation: Literal["horizontal", "vertical"]):
+        """Sets the orientation of the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            orientation (Literal["horizontal", "vertical"]): The desired orientation of the toolbar.
+        """
+        if orientation == "horizontal":
+            self.setOrientation(Qt.Horizontal)
+        elif orientation == "vertical":
+            self.setOrientation(Qt.Vertical)
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Orientation must be 'horizontal' or 'vertical'.")
+
+    def update_material_icon_colors(self, new_color: str | tuple | QColor):
+        """
+        Updates the color of all MaterialIconAction icons in the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            new_color (str | tuple | QColor): The new color for the icons.
+        """
+        for action in self.widgets.values():
+            if isinstance(action, MaterialIconAction):
+                action.color = new_color
+                # Refresh the icon
+                updated_icon = action.get_icon()
+                action.action.setIcon(updated_icon)
+
+    def add_action(self, action_id: str, action: ToolBarAction, target_widget: QWidget):
+        """
+        Adds a new standalone action to the toolbar dynamically.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action.
+            action (ToolBarAction): The action to add to the toolbar.
+            target_widget (QWidget): The target widget for the action.
+        """
+        if action_id in self.widgets:
+            raise ValueError(f"Action with ID '{action_id}' already exists.")
+        action.add_to_toolbar(self, target_widget)
+        self.widgets[action_id] = action
+        self.toolbar_items.append(("action", action_id))
+        self.update_separators()  # Update separators after adding the action
+
+    def hide_action(self, action_id: str):
+        """
+        Hides a specific action on the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action to hide.
+        """
+        if action_id not in self.widgets:
+            raise ValueError(f"Action with ID '{action_id}' does not exist.")
+        action = self.widgets[action_id]
+        if hasattr(action, "action") and isinstance(action.action, QAction):
+            action.action.setVisible(False)
+            self.update_separators()  # Update separators after hiding the action
+
+    def show_action(self, action_id: str):
+        """
+        Shows a specific action on the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action to show.
+        """
+        if action_id not in self.widgets:
+            raise ValueError(f"Action with ID '{action_id}' does not exist.")
+        action = self.widgets[action_id]
+        if hasattr(action, "action") and isinstance(action.action, QAction):
+            action.action.setVisible(True)
+            self.update_separators()  # Update separators after showing the action
+
+    def add_bundle(self, bundle: ToolbarBundle, target_widget: QWidget):
+        """
+        Adds a bundle of actions to the toolbar, separated by a separator.
+
+        Args:
+            bundle (ToolbarBundle): The bundle to add.
+            target_widget (QWidget): The target widget for the actions.
+        """
+        if bundle.bundle_id in self.bundles:
+            raise ValueError(f"ToolbarBundle with ID '{bundle.bundle_id}' already exists.")
+
+        # Add a separator before the bundle (but not to first one)
+        if self.toolbar_items:
+            sep = SeparatorAction()
+            sep.add_to_toolbar(self, target_widget)
+            self.toolbar_items.append(("separator", None))
+
+        # Add each action in the bundle
+        for action_id, action_obj in bundle.actions.items():
+            action_obj.add_to_toolbar(self, target_widget)
+            self.widgets[action_id] = action_obj
+
+        # Register the bundle
+        self.bundles[bundle.bundle_id] = list(bundle.actions.keys())
+        self.toolbar_items.append(("bundle", bundle.bundle_id))
+
+        self.update_separators()  # Update separators after adding the bundle
+
+    def contextMenuEvent(self, event):
+        """
+        Overrides the context menu event to show a list of toolbar actions with checkboxes and icons, including separators.
+
+        Args:
+            event(QContextMenuEvent): The context menu event.
+        """
+        menu = QMenu(self)
+
+        # Iterate through the toolbar items in order
+        for item_type, identifier in self.toolbar_items:
+            if item_type == "separator":
+                menu.addSeparator()
+            elif item_type == "bundle":
+                self.handle_bundle_context_menu(menu, identifier)
+            elif item_type == "action":
+                self.handle_action_context_menu(menu, identifier)
+
+        # Connect the triggered signal after all actions are added
+        menu.triggered.connect(self.handle_menu_triggered)
+        menu.exec_(event.globalPos())
+
+    def handle_bundle_context_menu(self, menu: QMenu, bundle_id: str):
+        """
+        Adds a set of bundle actions to the context menu.
+
+        Args:
+            menu (QMenu): The context menu to which the actions are added.
+            bundle_id (str): The identifier for the bundle.
+        """
+        action_ids = self.bundles.get(bundle_id, [])
+        for act_id in action_ids:
+            toolbar_action = self.widgets.get(act_id)
+            if not isinstance(toolbar_action, ToolBarAction) or not hasattr(
+                toolbar_action, "action"
+            ):
+                continue
+            qaction = toolbar_action.action
+            if not isinstance(qaction, QAction):
+                continue
+            display_name = qaction.text() or toolbar_action.tooltip or act_id
+            menu_action = QAction(display_name, self)
+            menu_action.setCheckable(True)
+            menu_action.setChecked(qaction.isVisible())
+            menu_action.setData(act_id)  # Store the action_id
+
+            # Set the icon if available
+            if qaction.icon() and not qaction.icon().isNull():
+                menu_action.setIcon(qaction.icon())
+
+            menu.addAction(menu_action)
+
+    def handle_action_context_menu(self, menu: QMenu, action_id: str):
+        """
+        Adds a single toolbar action to the context menu.
+
+        Args:
+            menu (QMenu): The context menu to which the action is added.
+            action_id (str): Unique identifier for the action.
+        """
+        toolbar_action = self.widgets.get(action_id)
+        if not isinstance(toolbar_action, ToolBarAction) or not hasattr(toolbar_action, "action"):
+            return
+        qaction = toolbar_action.action
+        if not isinstance(qaction, QAction):
+            return
+        display_name = qaction.text() or toolbar_action.tooltip or action_id
+        menu_action = QAction(display_name, self)
+        menu_action.setCheckable(True)
+        menu_action.setChecked(qaction.isVisible())
+        menu_action.setData(action_id)  # Store the action_id
+
+        # Set the icon if available
+        if qaction.icon() and not qaction.icon().isNull():
+            menu_action.setIcon(qaction.icon())
+
+        menu.addAction(menu_action)
+
+    def handle_menu_triggered(self, action):
+        """Handles the toggling of toolbar actions from the context menu."""
+        action_id = action.data()
+        if action_id:
+            self.toggle_action_visibility(action_id, action.isChecked())
+
+    def toggle_action_visibility(self, action_id: str, visible: bool):
+        """
+        Toggles the visibility of a specific action on the toolbar.
+
+        Args:
+            action_id(str): Unique identifier for the action to toggle.
+            visible(bool): Whether the action should be visible.
+        """
+        if action_id not in self.widgets:
+            return
+
+        tool_action = self.widgets[action_id]
+        if hasattr(tool_action, "action") and isinstance(tool_action.action, QAction):
+            tool_action.action.setVisible(visible)
+            self.update_separators()
+
+    def update_separators(self):
+        """
+        Hide separators that are adjacent to another separator or have no actions next to them.
+        """
+        toolbar_actions = self.actions()
+
+        for i, action in enumerate(toolbar_actions):
+            if not action.isSeparator():
+                continue
+            # Find the previous visible action
+            prev_visible = None
+            for j in range(i - 1, -1, -1):
+                if toolbar_actions[j].isVisible():
+                    prev_visible = toolbar_actions[j]
+                    break
+
+            # Find the next visible action
+            next_visible = None
+            for j in range(i + 1, len(toolbar_actions)):
+                if toolbar_actions[j].isVisible():
+                    next_visible = toolbar_actions[j]
+                    break
+
+            # Determine if the separator should be hidden
+            # Hide if both previous and next visible actions are separators or non-existent
+            if (prev_visible is None or prev_visible.isSeparator()) and (
+                next_visible is None or next_visible.isSeparator()
+            ):
+                action.setVisible(False)
+            else:
+                action.setVisible(True)
+
+
+class MainWindow(QMainWindow):  # pragma: no cover
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self.setWindowTitle("Toolbar / ToolbarBundle Demo")
+
+        self.central_widget = QWidget()
+        self.setCentralWidget(self.central_widget)
+
+        # Create a modular toolbar
+        self.toolbar = ModularToolBar(parent=self, target_widget=self)
+        self.addToolBar(self.toolbar)
+
+        # Example: Add a single bundle
+        home_action = MaterialIconAction(
+            icon_name="home", tooltip="Home", checkable=True, parent=self
+        )
+        settings_action = MaterialIconAction(
+            icon_name="settings", tooltip="Settings", checkable=True, parent=self
+        )
+        profile_action = MaterialIconAction(
+            icon_name="person", tooltip="Profile", checkable=True, parent=self
+        )
+        main_actions_bundle = ToolbarBundle(
+            bundle_id="main_actions",
+            actions=[
+                ("home_action", home_action),
+                ("settings_action", settings_action),
+                ("profile_action", profile_action),
+            ],
+        )
+        self.toolbar.add_bundle(main_actions_bundle, target_widget=self)
+
+        # Another bundle
+        search_action = MaterialIconAction(
+            icon_name="search", tooltip="Search", checkable=True, parent=self
+        )
+        help_action = MaterialIconAction(
+            icon_name="help", tooltip="Help", checkable=True, parent=self
+        )
+        second_bundle = ToolbarBundle(
+            bundle_id="secondary_actions",
+            actions=[("search_action", search_action), ("help_action", help_action)],
+        )
+        self.toolbar.add_bundle(second_bundle, target_widget=self)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":  # pragma: no cover
+    app = QApplication(sys.argv)
+    main_window = MainWindow()
+    main_window.show()
+    sys.exit(app.exec_())

bec_widgets/tests/utils.py

@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from bec_lib.device import Device as BECDevice
+from bec_lib.device import Positioner as BECPositioner
+from bec_lib.device import ReadoutPriority
+from bec_lib.devicemanager import DeviceContainer
+
+
+class FakeDevice(BECDevice):
+    """Fake minimal positioner class for testing."""
+
+    def __init__(self, name, enabled=True, readout_priority=ReadoutPriority.MONITORED):
+        super().__init__(name=name)
+        self._enabled = enabled
+        self.signals = {self.name: {"value": 1.0}}
+        self.description = {self.name: {"source": self.name, "dtype": "number", "shape": []}}
+        self._readout_priority = readout_priority
+        self._config = {
+            "readoutPriority": "baseline",
+            "deviceClass": "ophyd.Device",
+            "deviceConfig": {},
+            "deviceTags": ["user device"],
+            "enabled": enabled,
+            "readOnly": False,
+            "name": self.name,
+        }
+
+    @property
+    def readout_priority(self):
+        return self._readout_priority
+
+    @readout_priority.setter
+    def readout_priority(self, value):
+        self._readout_priority = value
+
+    @property
+    def limits(self) -> tuple[float, float]:
+        return self._limits
+
+    @limits.setter
+    def limits(self, value: tuple[float, float]):
+        self._limits = value
+
+    def __contains__(self, item):
+        return item == self.name
+
+    @property
+    def _hints(self):
+        return [self.name]
+
+    def set_value(self, fake_value: float = 1.0) -> None:
+        """
+        Setup fake value for device readout
+        Args:
+            fake_value(float): Desired fake value
+        """
+        self.signals[self.name]["value"] = fake_value
+
+    def describe(self) -> dict:
+        """
+        Get the description of the device
+        Returns:
+            dict: Description of the device
+        """
+        return self.description
+
+
+class FakePositioner(BECPositioner):
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        name,
+        enabled=True,
+        limits=None,
+        read_value=1.0,
+        readout_priority=ReadoutPriority.MONITORED,
+    ):
+        super().__init__(name=name)
+        # self.limits = limits if limits is not None else [0.0, 0.0]
+        self.read_value = read_value
+        self.setpoint_value = read_value
+        self.motor_is_moving_value = 0
+        self._enabled = enabled
+        self._limits = limits
+        self._readout_priority = readout_priority
+        self.signals = {self.name: {"value": 1.0}}
+        self.description = {self.name: {"source": self.name, "dtype": "number", "shape": []}}
+        self._config = {
+            "readoutPriority": "baseline",
+            "deviceClass": "ophyd_devices.SimPositioner",
+            "deviceConfig": {"delay": 1, "tolerance": 0.01, "update_frequency": 400},
+            "deviceTags": ["user motors"],
+            "enabled": enabled,
+            "readOnly": False,
+            "name": self.name,
+        }
+        self._info = {
+            "signals": {
+                "readback": {"kind_str": "5"},  # hinted
+                "setpoint": {"kind_str": "1"},  # normal
+                "velocity": {"kind_str": "2"},  # config
+            }
+        }
+        self.signals = {
+            self.name: {"value": self.read_value},
+            f"{self.name}_setpoint": {"value": self.setpoint_value},
+            f"{self.name}_motor_is_moving": {"value": self.motor_is_moving_value},
+        }
+
+    @property
+    def readout_priority(self):
+        return self._readout_priority
+
+    @readout_priority.setter
+    def readout_priority(self, value):
+        self._readout_priority = value
+
+    @property
+    def enabled(self) -> bool:
+        return self._enabled
+
+    @enabled.setter
+    def enabled(self, value: bool):
+        self._enabled = value
+
+    @property
+    def limits(self) -> tuple[float, float]:
+        return self._limits
+
+    @limits.setter
+    def limits(self, value: tuple[float, float]):
+        self._limits = value
+
+    def __contains__(self, item):
+        return item == self.name
+
+    @property
+    def _hints(self):
+        return [self.name]
+
+    def set_value(self, fake_value: float = 1.0) -> None:
+        """
+        Setup fake value for device readout
+        Args:
+            fake_value(float): Desired fake value
+        """
+        self.read_value = fake_value
+
+    def describe(self) -> dict:
+        """
+        Get the description of the device
+        Returns:
+            dict: Description of the device
+        """
+        return self.description
+
+    @property
+    def precision(self):
+        return 3
+
+    def set_read_value(self, value):
+        self.read_value = value
+
+    def read(self):
+        return self.signals
+
+    def set_limits(self, limits):
+        self.limits = limits
+
+    def move(self, value, relative=False):
+        """Simulates moving the device to a new position."""
+        if relative:
+            self.read_value += value
+        else:
+            self.read_value = value
+        # Respect the limits
+        self.read_value = max(min(self.read_value, self.limits[1]), self.limits[0])
+
+    @property
+    def readback(self):
+        return MagicMock(get=MagicMock(return_value=self.read_value))
+
+
+class Positioner(FakePositioner):
+    """just placeholder for testing embedded isinstance check in DeviceCombobox"""
+
+    def __init__(self, name="test", limits=None, read_value=1.0):
+        super().__init__(name, limits, read_value)
+
+
+class Device(FakeDevice):
+    """just placeholder for testing embedded isinstance check in DeviceCombobox"""
+
+    def __init__(self, name, enabled=True):
+        super().__init__(name, enabled)
+
+
+class DMMock:
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.devices = DeviceContainer()
+        self.enabled_devices = [device for device in self.devices if device.enabled]
+
+    def add_devives(self, devices: list):
+        for device in devices:
+            self.devices[device.name] = device
+
+
+DEVICES = [
+    FakePositioner("samx", limits=[-10, 10], read_value=2.0),
+    FakePositioner("samy", limits=[-5, 5], read_value=3.0),
+    FakePositioner("samz", limits=[-8, 8], read_value=4.0),
+    FakePositioner("aptrx", limits=None, read_value=4.0),
+    FakePositioner("aptry", limits=None, read_value=5.0),
+    FakeDevice("gauss_bpm"),
+    FakeDevice("gauss_adc1"),
+    FakeDevice("gauss_adc2"),
+    FakeDevice("gauss_adc3"),
+    FakeDevice("bpm4i"),
+    FakeDevice("bpm3a"),
+    FakeDevice("bpm3i"),
+    FakeDevice("eiger", readout_priority=ReadoutPriority.ASYNC),
+    FakeDevice("waveform1d"),
+    FakeDevice("async_device", readout_priority=ReadoutPriority.ASYNC),
+    Positioner("test", limits=[-10, 10], read_value=2.0),
+    Device("test_device"),
+]
+
+
+def check_remote_data_size(widget, plot_name, num_elements):
+    """
+    Check if the remote data has the correct number of elements.
+    Used in the qtbot.waitUntil function.
+    """
+    return len(widget.get_all_data()[plot_name]["x"]) == num_elements

bec_widgets/utils/bec_connector.py

@@ -6,17 +6,18 @@ import time
 import uuid
 from typing import Optional
 
-import yaml
+from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 from bec_lib.utils.import_utils import lazy_import_from
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field, field_validator
 from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, QRunnable, QThreadPool, Signal
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
-from bec_widgets.cli.rpc_register import RPCRegister
+from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_register import RPCRegister
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import ErrorPopupUtility
 from bec_widgets.qt_utils.error_popups import SafeSlot as pyqtSlot
 from bec_widgets.utils.yaml_dialog import load_yaml, load_yaml_gui, save_yaml, save_yaml_gui
 
+logger = bec_logger.logger
 BECDispatcher = lazy_import_from("bec_widgets.utils.bec_dispatcher", ("BECDispatcher",))
 
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ class Worker(QRunnable):
 class BECConnector:
     """Connection mixin class to handle BEC client and device manager"""
 
-    USER_ACCESS = ["_config_dict", "_get_all_rpc"]
+    USER_ACCESS = ["_config_dict", "_get_all_rpc", "_rpc_id"]
     EXIT_HANDLERS = {}
 
     def __init__(self, client=None, config: ConnectionConfig = None, gui_id: str = None):
@@ -81,9 +82,9 @@ class BECConnector:
             # the function depends on BECClient, and BECDispatcher
             @pyqtSlot()
             def terminate(client=self.client, dispatcher=self.bec_dispatcher):
-                print("Disconnecting", repr(dispatcher))
+                logger.info("Disconnecting", repr(dispatcher))
                 dispatcher.disconnect_all()
-                print("Shutting down BEC Client", repr(client))
+                logger.info("Shutting down BEC Client", repr(client))
                 client.shutdown()
 
             BECConnector.EXIT_HANDLERS[self.client] = terminate
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ class BECConnector:
             self.config = config
             self.config.widget_class = self.__class__.__name__
         else:
-            print(
+            logger.debug(
                 f"No initial config found for {self.__class__.__name__}.\n"
                 f"Initializing with default config."
             )