ci: update github-script action to v9

.github/scripts/setup_benchmark_env.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+bec_core_branch="${BEC_CORE_BRANCH:-main}"
+ophyd_devices_branch="${OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:-main}"
+plugin_repo_branch="${PLUGIN_REPO_BRANCH:-main}"
+python_version="${PYTHON_VERSION:-3.11}"
+
+if command -v conda >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  conda_base="$(conda info --base)"
+  source "$conda_base/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
+fi
+
+echo "Using branch ${bec_core_branch} of BEC CORE"
+git clone --branch "$bec_core_branch" https://github.com/bec-project/bec.git
+
+echo "Using branch ${ophyd_devices_branch} of OPHYD_DEVICES"
+git clone --branch "$ophyd_devices_branch" https://github.com/bec-project/ophyd_devices.git
+
+echo "Using branch ${plugin_repo_branch} of bec_testing_plugin"
+git clone --branch "$plugin_repo_branch" https://github.com/bec-project/bec_testing_plugin.git
+
+conda create -q -n test-environment "python=${python_version}"
+conda activate test-environment
+
+cd bec
+source ./bin/install_bec_dev.sh
+cd ..
+
+python -m pip install -e ./ophyd_devices -e .[dev,pyside6] -e ./bec_testing_plugin
+
+benchmark_tmp_dir="$(mktemp -d)"
+export BEC_SERVICE_CONFIG="$benchmark_tmp_dir/services_config.yaml"
+
+# Start Redis
+redis-server --daemonize yes --port 6379
+
+# Wait for Redis to be ready
+timeout 30 bash -c 'until redis-cli ping > /dev/null 2>&1; do sleep 0.1; done' || {
+  echo "Redis failed to start" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+# Start BEC server
+bec-server start --config "$BEC_SERVICE_CONFIG"
+
+# Wait for BEC server to be ready
+sleep 5
+
+# Export BEC client configuration
+export BEC_CONFIG='{"redis": {"host": "localhost", "port": 6379}}'
+

.github/scripts/start_bec_benchmark_services.py

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Start BEC services for benchmark workflows and keep them alive."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from bec_ipython_client import BECIPythonClient
+from bec_lib.redis_connector import RedisConnector
+from bec_lib.service_config import ServiceConfig
+
+
+def _load_demo_config(services_config: Path) -> None:
+    bec = BECIPythonClient(ServiceConfig(services_config), RedisConnector, forced=True)
+    bec.start()
+    try:
+        bec.config.load_demo_config()
+    finally:
+        bec.shutdown()
+        bec._client._reset_singleton()
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument("--services-config", required=True, type=Path)
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    _load_demo_config(args.services_config)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()

.github/workflows/benchmark.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+name: BW Benchmarks
+
+on: [ workflow_call ]
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+env:
+  QTWEBENGINE_DISABLE_SANDBOX: 1
+  QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
+
+jobs:
+  benchmark:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      issues: write
+      pull-requests: write
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        shell: bash -el {0}
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout BEC Widgets
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          repository: bec-project/bec_widgets
+          ref: ${{ github.event.pull_request.head.sha || github.sha }}
+
+      - name: Set up Conda
+        uses: conda-incubator/setup-miniconda@v3
+        with:
+          auto-update-conda: true
+          auto-activate-base: true
+          python-version: "3.11"
+
+      - name: Run, compare, and publish benchmarks
+        uses: bec-project/benchmark_action@main
+        with:
+          mode: all
+          attempts: "3"
+          system-packages: libgl1 libegl1 x11-utils libxkbcommon-x11-0 libdbus-1-3 xvfb
+            libnss3 libxdamage1 libasound2t64 libatomic1 libxcursor1 hyperfine
+            redis-server
+          setup-scripts: .github/scripts/setup_benchmark_env.sh
+          benchmark-pytest-dirs: tests/unit_tests/benchmarks
+          threshold-percent: "10"

.github/workflows/check_pr.yml

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ jobs:
     outputs:
       branch-pr: ${{ steps.script.outputs.result }}
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/github-script@v7
+      - uses: actions/github-script@v9
         id: script
         if: github.event_name == 'push' && github.event.ref_type != 'tag'
         with:
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ jobs:
             if (prs.data.length) {
               console.log(`::notice ::Skipping CI on branch push as it is already run in PR #${prs.data[0]["number"]}`)
               return prs.data[0]["number"]
-            }
+            }

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -1,19 +1,19 @@
 name: Full CI
-on: 
+on:
   push:
   pull_request:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Widgets to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Widgets to install"
         required: false
         type: string
       BEC_CORE_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Core to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Core to install"
         required: false
         type: string
       OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of Ophyd Devices to install'
+        description: "Branch of Ophyd Devices to install"
         required: false
         type: string
 
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ concurrency:
 
 permissions:
   pull-requests: write
+  contents: read
 
 jobs:
   check_pr_status:
@@ -33,6 +34,15 @@ jobs:
     if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
     uses: ./.github/workflows/formatter.yml
 
+  benchmark:
+    needs: [check_pr_status]
+    if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      issues: write
+      pull-requests: write
+    uses: ./.github/workflows/benchmark.yml
+
   unit-test:
     needs: [check_pr_status, formatter]
     if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
@@ -69,9 +79,9 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/child_repos.yml
     with:
       BEC_CORE_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_CORE_BRANCH || 'main' }}
-      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH || 'main'}} 
+      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH || 'main'}}
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH || github.head_ref || github.sha }}
-  
+
   plugin_repos:
     needs: [check_pr_status, formatter]
     if: needs.check_pr_status.outputs.branch-pr == ''
@@ -81,4 +91,4 @@ jobs:
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: ${{ inputs.BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH || github.head_ref || github.sha }}
 
     secrets:
-      GH_READ_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_READ_TOKEN }}
+      GH_READ_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GH_READ_TOKEN }}

.github/workflows/pytest-matrix.yml

@@ -1,25 +1,25 @@
 name: Run Pytest with different Python versions
-on: 
+on:
   workflow_call:
     inputs:
       pr_number:
-        description: 'Pull request number'
+        description: "Pull request number"
         required: false
         type: number
       BEC_CORE_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Core to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Core to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
       OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of Ophyd Devices to install'
+        description: "Branch of Ophyd Devices to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Widgets to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Widgets to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
 
 jobs:
@@ -30,15 +30,14 @@ jobs:
         python-version: ["3.11", "3.12", "3.13"]
 
     env:
-      BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: main  # Set the branch you want for bec_widgets
-      BEC_CORE_BRANCH: main        # Set the branch you want for bec
-      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: main   # Set the branch you want for ophyd_devices
+      BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH: main # Set the branch you want for bec_widgets
+      BEC_CORE_BRANCH: main # Set the branch you want for bec
+      OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH: main # Set the branch you want for ophyd_devices
       PROJECT_PATH: ${{ github.repository }}
       QTWEBENGINE_DISABLE_SANDBOX: 1
       QT_QPA_PLATFORM: "offscreen"
 
     steps:
-
       - name: Checkout BEC Widgets
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
@@ -56,4 +55,4 @@ jobs:
       - name: Run Pytest
         run: |
           pip install pytest pytest-random-order
-          pytest -v --junitxml=report.xml --random-order ./tests/unit_tests
+          pytest -v --junitxml=report.xml --random-order --ignore=tests/unit_tests/benchmarks ./tests/unit_tests

.github/workflows/pytest.yml

@@ -1,32 +1,30 @@
 name: Run Pytest with Coverage
-on: 
+on:
   workflow_call:
     inputs:
       pr_number:
-        description: 'Pull request number'
+        description: "Pull request number"
         required: false
         type: number
       BEC_CORE_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Core to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Core to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
       OPHYD_DEVICES_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of Ophyd Devices to install'
+        description: "Branch of Ophyd Devices to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
       BEC_WIDGETS_BRANCH:
-        description: 'Branch of BEC Widgets to install'
+        description: "Branch of BEC Widgets to install"
         required: false
-        default: 'main'
+        default: "main"
         type: string
     secrets:
       CODECOV_TOKEN:
         required: true
 
-
-
 permissions:
   pull-requests: write
 
@@ -55,7 +53,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Run Pytest with Coverage
         id: coverage
-        run: pytest --random-order --cov=bec_widgets --cov-config=pyproject.toml --cov-branch --cov-report=xml --no-cov-on-fail tests/unit_tests/
+        run: pytest --random-order --cov=bec_widgets --cov-config=pyproject.toml --cov-branch --cov-report=xml --no-cov-on-fail --ignore=tests/unit_tests/benchmarks tests/unit_tests/
 
       - name: Upload test artifacts
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -69,4 +67,4 @@ jobs:
         uses: codecov/codecov-action@v5
         with:
           token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
-          slug: bec-project/bec_widgets
+          slug: bec-project/bec_widgets

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,19 +1,6 @@
 # CHANGELOG
 
 
-## v3.5.1 (2026-04-20)
-
-### Bug Fixes
-
-- Don't assume attr exists if we timed out waiting for it
-  ([`f7a1ee4`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/f7a1ee49a42c58ba315c8957b45a80d862ffe745))
-
-### Refactoring
-
-- Don't import real widgets in client
-  ([`8e51c1a`](https://github.com/bec-project/bec_widgets/commit/8e51c1adb6a7658c54846794cf97b774cbac2193))
-
-
 ## v3.5.0 (2026-04-14)
 
 ### Bug Fixes

bec_widgets/cli/client.py

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from typing import Literal, Optional
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 
 from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call, rpc_timeout
-from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_plugin_client_module
+from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_all_plugin_widgets, get_plugin_client_module
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
@@ -62,19 +62,29 @@ _Widgets = {
 
 
 try:
+    _plugin_widgets = get_all_plugin_widgets().as_dict()
     plugin_client = get_plugin_client_module()
+    Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", {name: name for name in _plugin_widgets} | _Widgets)
+
+    if (_overlap := _Widgets.keys() & _plugin_widgets.keys()) != set():
+        for _widget in _overlap:
+            logger.warning(
+                f"Detected duplicate widget {_widget} in plugin repo file: {inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[_widget])} !"
+            )
     for plugin_name, plugin_class in inspect.getmembers(plugin_client, inspect.isclass):
         if issubclass(plugin_class, RPCBase) and plugin_class is not RPCBase:
-            if plugin_name not in _Widgets:
-                _Widgets[plugin_name] = plugin_name
             if plugin_name in globals():
+                conflicting_file = (
+                    inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[plugin_name])
+                    if plugin_name in _plugin_widgets
+                    else f"{plugin_client}"
+                )
                 logger.warning(
-                    f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} in {plugin_class._IMPORT_MODULE} conflicts with a built-in class!"
+                    f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} from {conflicting_file} conflicts with a built-in class!"
                 )
                 continue
-            else:
+            if plugin_name not in _overlap:
                 globals()[plugin_name] = plugin_class
-        Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", _Widgets)
 except ImportError as e:
     logger.error(f"Failed loading plugins: \n{reduce(add, traceback.format_exception(e))}")
 
@@ -82,8 +92,6 @@ except ImportError as e:
 class AdminView(RPCBase):
     """A view for administrators to change the current active experiment, manage messaging"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.admin_view.admin_view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -92,8 +100,6 @@ class AdminView(RPCBase):
 
 
 class AutoUpdates(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.containers.auto_update.auto_updates"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def enabled(self) -> "bool":
@@ -130,8 +136,6 @@ class AutoUpdates(RPCBase):
 
 
 class AvailableDeviceResources(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_manager.components.available_device_resources.available_device_resources"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -152,8 +156,6 @@ class AvailableDeviceResources(RPCBase):
 
 
 class BECDockArea(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock_area.dock_area"
-
     @rpc_call
     def new(
         self,
@@ -389,8 +391,6 @@ class BECDockArea(RPCBase):
 
 
 class BECMainWindow(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.containers.main_window.main_window"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -413,8 +413,6 @@ class BECMainWindow(RPCBase):
 class BECProgressBar(RPCBase):
     """A custom progress bar with smooth transitions. The displayed text can be customized using a template."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.progress.bec_progressbar.bec_progressbar"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_value(self, value):
         """
@@ -488,8 +486,6 @@ class BECProgressBar(RPCBase):
 class BECQueue(RPCBase):
     """Widget to display the BEC queue."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.services.bec_queue.bec_queue"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -512,8 +508,6 @@ class BECQueue(RPCBase):
 class BECShell(RPCBase):
     """A BecConsole pre-configured to run the BEC shell."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.bec_console.bec_console"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -536,8 +530,6 @@ class BECShell(RPCBase):
 class BECStatusBox(RPCBase):
     """An autonomous widget to display the status of BEC services."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.services.bec_status_box.bec_status_box"
-
     @rpc_call
     def get_server_state(self) -> "str":
         """
@@ -573,8 +565,6 @@ class BECStatusBox(RPCBase):
 class BaseROI(RPCBase):
     """Base class for all Region of Interest (ROI) implementations."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.roi.image_roi"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def label(self) -> "str":
@@ -704,8 +694,6 @@ class BaseROI(RPCBase):
 class BecConsole(RPCBase):
     """A console widget with access to a shared registry of terminals, such that instances can be moved around."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.bec_console.bec_console"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -728,8 +716,6 @@ class BecConsole(RPCBase):
 class CircularROI(RPCBase):
     """Circular Region of Interest with center/diameter tracking and auto-labeling."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.roi.image_roi"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def label(self) -> "str":
@@ -857,8 +843,6 @@ class CircularROI(RPCBase):
 
 
 class Curve(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.curve"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -1025,8 +1009,6 @@ class Curve(RPCBase):
 class DapComboBox(RPCBase):
     """Editable combobox listing the available DAP models."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.dap.dap_combo_box.dap_combo_box"
-
     @rpc_call
     def select_y_axis(self, y_axis: str):
         """
@@ -1058,8 +1040,6 @@ class DapComboBox(RPCBase):
 class DeveloperView(RPCBase):
     """A view for users to write scripts and macros and execute them within the application."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.developer_view.developer_view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -1070,8 +1050,6 @@ class DeveloperView(RPCBase):
 class DeviceBrowser(RPCBase):
     """DeviceBrowser is a widget that displays all available devices in the current BEC session."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.services.device_browser.device_browser"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -1094,8 +1072,6 @@ class DeviceBrowser(RPCBase):
 class DeviceInitializationProgressBar(RPCBase):
     """A progress bar that displays the progress of device initialization."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.progress.device_initialization_progress_bar.device_initialization_progress_bar"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -1118,8 +1094,6 @@ class DeviceInitializationProgressBar(RPCBase):
 class DeviceInputBase(RPCBase):
     """Mixin base class for device input widgets."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_input.base_classes.device_input_base"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -1142,8 +1116,6 @@ class DeviceInputBase(RPCBase):
 class DeviceManagerView(RPCBase):
     """A view for users to manage devices within the application."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.device_manager_view.device_manager_view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -1154,8 +1126,6 @@ class DeviceManagerView(RPCBase):
 class DockAreaView(RPCBase):
     """Modular dock area view for arranging and managing multiple dockable widgets."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.dock_area_view.dock_area_view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -1399,8 +1369,6 @@ class DockAreaView(RPCBase):
 class DockAreaWidget(RPCBase):
     """Lightweight dock area that exposes the core Qt ADS docking helpers without any"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock_area.basic_dock_area"
-
     @rpc_call
     def new(
         self,
@@ -1585,8 +1553,6 @@ class DockAreaWidget(RPCBase):
 class EllipticalROI(RPCBase):
     """Elliptical Region of Interest with centre/width/height tracking and auto-labelling."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.roi.image_roi"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def label(self) -> "str":
@@ -1709,8 +1675,6 @@ class EllipticalROI(RPCBase):
 class Heatmap(RPCBase):
     """Heatmap widget for visualizing 2d grid data with color mapping for the z-axis."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.heatmap.heatmap"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -2409,8 +2373,6 @@ class Heatmap(RPCBase):
 class Image(RPCBase):
     """Image widget for displaying 2D data."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.image.image"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -3022,8 +2984,6 @@ class Image(RPCBase):
 
 
 class ImageItem(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.image.image_item"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def color_map(self) -> "str":
@@ -3174,8 +3134,6 @@ class ImageItem(RPCBase):
 
 
 class LaunchWindow(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.launch_window"
-
     @rpc_call
     def show_launcher(self):
         """
@@ -3192,8 +3150,6 @@ class LaunchWindow(RPCBase):
 class LogPanel(RPCBase):
     """Displays a log panel"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.utility.logpanel.logpanel"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_plain_text(self, text: str) -> None:
         """
@@ -3213,15 +3169,12 @@ class LogPanel(RPCBase):
         """
 
 
-class Minesweeper(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.games.minesweeper"
+class Minesweeper(RPCBase): ...
 
 
 class MonacoDock(RPCBase):
     """MonacoDock is a dock widget that contains Monaco editor instances."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.monaco.monaco_dock"
-
     @rpc_call
     def new(
         self,
@@ -3406,8 +3359,6 @@ class MonacoDock(RPCBase):
 class MonacoWidget(RPCBase):
     """A simple Monaco editor widget"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.monaco.monaco_widget"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_text(
         self, text: "str", file_name: "str | None" = None, reset: "bool" = False
@@ -3582,8 +3533,6 @@ class MonacoWidget(RPCBase):
 class MotorMap(RPCBase):
     """Motor map widget for plotting motor positions in 2D including a trace of the last points."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.motor_map.motor_map"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -4054,8 +4003,6 @@ class MotorMap(RPCBase):
 class MultiWaveform(RPCBase):
     """MultiWaveform widget for displaying multiple waveforms emitted by a single signal."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.multi_waveform.multi_waveform"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -4515,8 +4462,6 @@ class MultiWaveform(RPCBase):
 class PdfViewerWidget(RPCBase):
     """A widget to display PDF documents with toolbar controls."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.utility.pdf_viewer.pdf_viewer"
-
     @rpc_call
     def load_pdf(self, file_path: str):
         """
@@ -4648,10 +4593,6 @@ class PdfViewerWidget(RPCBase):
 class PositionIndicator(RPCBase):
     """Display a position within a defined range, e.g. motor limits."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = (
-        "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.position_indicator.position_indicator"
-    )
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_value(self, position: float):
         """
@@ -4717,10 +4658,6 @@ class PositionIndicator(RPCBase):
 class PositionerBox(RPCBase):
     """Simple Widget to control a positioner in box form"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = (
-        "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_box.positioner_box"
-    )
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_positioner(self, positioner: "str | Positioner"):
         """
@@ -4753,8 +4690,6 @@ class PositionerBox(RPCBase):
 class PositionerBox2D(RPCBase):
     """Simple Widget to control two positioners in box form"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_box_2d.positioner_box_2d"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_positioner_hor(self, positioner: "str | Positioner"):
         """
@@ -4824,8 +4759,6 @@ class PositionerBox2D(RPCBase):
 class PositionerControlLine(RPCBase):
     """A widget that controls a single device."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_box.positioner_control_line.positioner_control_line"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_positioner(self, positioner: "str | Positioner"):
         """
@@ -4858,8 +4791,6 @@ class PositionerControlLine(RPCBase):
 class PositionerGroup(RPCBase):
     """Simple Widget to control a positioner in box form"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.device_control.positioner_group.positioner_group"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_positioners(self, device_names: "str"):
         """
@@ -4891,8 +4822,6 @@ class PositionerGroup(RPCBase):
 class RectangularROI(RPCBase):
     """Defines a rectangular Region of Interest (ROI) with additional functionality."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.roi.image_roi"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def label(self) -> "str":
@@ -5022,8 +4951,6 @@ class RectangularROI(RPCBase):
 class ResumeButton(RPCBase):
     """A button that continue scan queue."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.buttons.button_resume.button_resume"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -5044,8 +4971,6 @@ class ResumeButton(RPCBase):
 
 
 class Ring(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.progress.ring_progress_bar.ring"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_value(self, value: "int | float"):
         """
@@ -5139,8 +5064,6 @@ class Ring(RPCBase):
 
 
 class RingProgressBar(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.progress.ring_progress_bar.ring_progress_bar"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -5220,14 +5143,12 @@ class RingProgressBar(RPCBase):
 class SBBMonitor(RPCBase):
     """A widget to display the SBB monitor website."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.sbb_monitor.sbb_monitor"
+    ...
 
 
 class ScanControl(RPCBase):
     """Widget to submit new scans to the queue."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.control.scan_control.scan_control"
-
     @rpc_call
     def attach(self):
         """
@@ -5251,8 +5172,6 @@ class ScanControl(RPCBase):
 class ScanProgressBar(RPCBase):
     """Widget to display a progress bar that is hooked up to the scan progress of a scan."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.progress.scan_progressbar.scan_progressbar"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -5275,8 +5194,6 @@ class ScanProgressBar(RPCBase):
 class ScatterCurve(RPCBase):
     """Scatter curve item for the scatter waveform widget."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.scatter_waveform.scatter_curve"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def color_map(self) -> "str":
@@ -5286,8 +5203,6 @@ class ScatterCurve(RPCBase):
 
 
 class ScatterWaveform(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.scatter_waveform.scatter_waveform"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -5755,8 +5670,6 @@ class ScatterWaveform(RPCBase):
 
 
 class SignalLabel(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.utility.signal_label.signal_label"
-
     @property
     @rpc_call
     def custom_label(self) -> "str":
@@ -5901,8 +5814,6 @@ class SignalLabel(RPCBase):
 class TextBox(RPCBase):
     """A widget that displays text in plain and HTML format"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.text_box.text_box"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_plain_text(self, text: str) -> None:
         """
@@ -5925,8 +5836,6 @@ class TextBox(RPCBase):
 class ViewBase(RPCBase):
     """Wrapper for a content widget used inside the main app's stacked view."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -5937,8 +5846,6 @@ class ViewBase(RPCBase):
 class Waveform(RPCBase):
     """Widget for plotting waveforms."""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.waveform"
-
     @rpc_call
     def remove(self):
         """
@@ -6517,8 +6424,6 @@ class Waveform(RPCBase):
 
 
 class WaveformViewInline(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -6527,8 +6432,6 @@ class WaveformViewInline(RPCBase):
 
 
 class WaveformViewPopup(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.applications.views.view"
-
     @rpc_call
     def activate(self) -> "None":
         """
@@ -6539,8 +6442,6 @@ class WaveformViewPopup(RPCBase):
 class WebsiteWidget(RPCBase):
     """A simple widget to display a website"""
 
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "bec_widgets.widgets.editors.website.website"
-
     @rpc_call
     def set_url(self, url: str) -> None:
         """

bec_widgets/cli/generate_cli.py

@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import inspect
 import os
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import get_overloads
 
 import black
 import isort
@@ -19,6 +18,20 @@ from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import BECClassContainer, get_custom_classes
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):
+    from typing import get_overloads
+else:
+    print(
+        "Python version is less than 3.11, using dummy function for get_overloads. "
+        "If you want to use the real function 'typing.get_overloads()', please use Python 3.11 or later."
+    )
+
+    def get_overloads(_obj):
+        """
+        Dummy function for Python versions before 3.11.
+        """
+        return []
+
 
 class ClientGenerator:
     def __init__(self, base=False):
@@ -41,7 +54,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 
 from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call, rpc_timeout
-{"from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_plugin_client_module" if self._base else ""}
+{"from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_all_plugin_widgets, get_plugin_client_module" if self._base else ""}
 
 logger = bec_logger.logger
 
@@ -98,19 +111,27 @@ _Widgets = {
             self.content += """
 
 try:
+    _plugin_widgets = get_all_plugin_widgets().as_dict()
     plugin_client = get_plugin_client_module()
+    Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", {name: name for name in _plugin_widgets} | _Widgets)
+
+    if (_overlap := _Widgets.keys() & _plugin_widgets.keys()) != set():
+        for _widget in _overlap:
+            logger.warning(f"Detected duplicate widget {_widget} in plugin repo file: {inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[_widget])} !")
     for plugin_name, plugin_class in inspect.getmembers(plugin_client, inspect.isclass):
         if issubclass(plugin_class, RPCBase) and plugin_class is not RPCBase:
-            if plugin_name not in _Widgets:
-                _Widgets[plugin_name] = plugin_name
             if plugin_name in globals():
+                conflicting_file = (
+                    inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[plugin_name])
+                    if plugin_name in _plugin_widgets
+                    else f"{plugin_client}"
+                )
                 logger.warning(
-                    f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} in {plugin_class._IMPORT_MODULE} conflicts with a built-in class!"
+                    f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} from {conflicting_file} conflicts with a built-in class!"
                 )
                 continue
-            else:
+            if plugin_name not in _overlap:
                 globals()[plugin_name] = plugin_class
-        Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", _Widgets)
 except ImportError as e:
     logger.error(f"Failed loading plugins: \\n{reduce(add, traceback.format_exception(e))}")
 """
@@ -125,8 +146,12 @@ except ImportError as e:
 
         class_name = cls.__name__
 
-        self.content += f"""
-class {class_name}(RPCBase):\n"""
+        if class_name == "BECDockArea":
+            self.content += f"""
+class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
+        else:
+            self.content += f"""
+class {class_name}(RPCBase):"""
 
         if cls.__doc__:
             # We only want the first line of the docstring
@@ -137,9 +162,13 @@ class {class_name}(RPCBase):\n"""
             else:
                 class_docs = cls.__doc__.split("\n")[1]
             self.content += f"""
-    \"\"\"{class_docs}\"\"\"\n"""
+    \"\"\"{class_docs}\"\"\"
+    """
         user_access_entries = self._get_user_access_entries(cls)
-        self.content += f'    _IMPORT_MODULE="{cls.__module__}"\n'
+        if not user_access_entries:
+            self.content += """...
+    """
+
         for method_entry in user_access_entries:
             method, obj, is_property_setter = self._resolve_method_object(cls, method_entry)
             if obj is None:

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "bec_widgets"
-version = "3.5.1"
+version = "3.5.0"
 description = "BEC Widgets"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 classifiers = [

tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/benchmark_import_bec_widgets.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# BENCHMARK_TITLE: Import bec_widgets
+set -euo pipefail
+
+python -c 'import bec_widgets; print(bec_widgets.__file__)'

tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/benchmark_launch_bec_with_companion.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# BENCHMARK_TITLE: BEC IPython client with companion app
+set -euo pipefail
+
+bec --post-startup-file tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/utils/exit_bec_startup.py

tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/benchmark_launch_bec_without_companion.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# BENCHMARK_TITLE: BEC IPython client without companion app
+set -euo pipefail
+
+bec --nogui --post-startup-file tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/utils/exit_bec_startup.py

tests/benchmarks/hyperfine/utils/exit_bec_startup.py

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+import time
+
+_ip = get_ipython()
+_ip.confirm_exit = False
+_ip.ask_exit()

tests/end-2-end/conftest.py

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def threads_check_fixture(threads_check):
 @pytest.fixture
 def gui_id():
     """New gui id each time, to ensure no 'gui is alive' zombie key can perturb"""
-    return f"figure_{random.randint(0, 100)}"  # make a new gui id each time, to ensure no 'gui is alive' zombie key can perturb
+    return f"figure_{random.randint(0,100)}"  # make a new gui id each time, to ensure no 'gui is alive' zombie key can perturb
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ def connected_client_gui_obj(qtbot, gui_id, bec_client_lib):
         qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: len(gui.bec.widget_list()) == 0, timeout=10000)
         yield gui
     finally:
-        if (bec := getattr(gui, "bec", None)) is not None:
-            bec.delete_all()  # ensure clean state
-            qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: len(bec.widget_list()) == 0, timeout=10000)
+        gui.bec.delete_all()  # ensure clean state
+        qtbot.waitUntil(lambda: len(gui.bec.widget_list()) == 0, timeout=10000)
         gui.kill_server()

tests/unit_tests/benchmarks/test_dock_area_benchmark.py

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from bec_widgets.widgets.containers.dock_area.dock_area import BECDockArea
+from bec_widgets.widgets.plots.waveform.waveform import Waveform
+from tests.unit_tests.client_mocks import mocked_client
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def dock_area(qtbot, mocked_client):
+    widget = BECDockArea(client=mocked_client)
+    qtbot.addWidget(widget)
+    qtbot.waitExposed(widget)
+    yield widget
+
+
+def test_add_waveform_to_dock_area(benchmark, dock_area, qtbot, mocked_client):
+    """Benchmark adding a Waveform widget to an existing dock area."""
+
+    def add_waveform():
+        dock_area.new("Waveform")
+        return dock_area
+
+    dock = benchmark(add_waveform)
+
+    assert dock is not None

tests/unit_tests/test_client_plugin_widgets.py

@@ -9,8 +9,7 @@ from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase
 from bec_widgets.utils.plugin_utils import BECClassContainer, BECClassInfo
 
 
-class _TestGlobalPlugin(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "test.global.plugin.widgets"
+class _TestGlobalPlugin(RPCBase): ...
 
 
 mock_client_module_globals = SimpleNamespace()
@@ -26,13 +25,12 @@ mock_client_module_globals.Widgets = _TestGlobalPlugin
 def test_plugins_dont_clobber_client_globals(bec_logger: MagicMock):
     reload(client)
     bec_logger.logger.warning.assert_called_with(
-        "Plugin widget Widgets in test.global.plugin.widgets conflicts with a built-in class!"
+        "Plugin widget Widgets from namespace(Widgets=<class 'tests.unit_tests.test_client_plugin_widgets._TestGlobalPlugin'>) conflicts with a built-in class!"
     )
     assert isinstance(client.Widgets, enum.EnumType)
 
 
-class _TestDuplicatePlugin(RPCBase):
-    _IMPORT_MODULE = "test.duplicate.plugin.module"
+class _TestDuplicatePlugin(RPCBase): ...
 
 
 mock_client_module_duplicate = SimpleNamespace()
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@ def test_duplicate_plugins_not_allowed(_, bec_logger: MagicMock):
     reload(client)
     assert (
         call(
-            "Plugin widget Waveform in test.duplicate.plugin.module conflicts with a built-in class!"
+            f"Detected duplicate widget Waveform in plugin repo file: {inspect.getfile(_TestDuplicatePlugin)} !"
         )
         in bec_logger.logger.warning.mock_calls
     )

tests/unit_tests/test_generate_cli_client.py

@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ def test_client_generator_with_black_formatting():
         from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
 
         from bec_widgets.cli.rpc.rpc_base import RPCBase, rpc_call, rpc_timeout
-        from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import get_plugin_client_module
+        from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import (get_all_plugin_widgets,
+                                                        get_plugin_client_module)
 
         logger = bec_logger.logger
 
@@ -122,25 +123,31 @@ def test_client_generator_with_black_formatting():
 
         
         try:
+            _plugin_widgets = get_all_plugin_widgets().as_dict()
             plugin_client = get_plugin_client_module()
+            Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", {name: name for name in _plugin_widgets} | _Widgets)
+
+            if (_overlap := _Widgets.keys() & _plugin_widgets.keys()) != set():
+                for _widget in _overlap:
+                    logger.warning(f"Detected duplicate widget {_widget} in plugin repo file: {inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[_widget])} !")
             for plugin_name, plugin_class in inspect.getmembers(plugin_client, inspect.isclass):
                 if issubclass(plugin_class, RPCBase) and plugin_class is not RPCBase:
-                    if plugin_name not in _Widgets:
-                        _Widgets[plugin_name] = plugin_name
                     if plugin_name in globals():
+                        conflicting_file = (
+                            inspect.getfile(_plugin_widgets[plugin_name])
+                            if plugin_name in _plugin_widgets
+                            else f"{plugin_client}"
+                        )
                         logger.warning(
-                            f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} in {plugin_class._IMPORT_MODULE} conflicts with a built-in class!"
+                            f"Plugin widget {plugin_name} from {conflicting_file} conflicts with a built-in class!"
                         )
                         continue
-                    else:
+                    if plugin_name not in _overlap:
                         globals()[plugin_name] = plugin_class
-                Widgets = _WidgetsEnumType("Widgets", _Widgets)
         except ImportError as e:
             logger.error(f"Failed loading plugins: \\n{reduce(add, traceback.format_exception(e))}")
 
         class MockBECFigure(RPCBase):
-            _IMPORT_MODULE = "tests.unit_tests.test_generate_cli_client"
-            
             @rpc_call
             def add_plot(self, plot_id: str):
                 """
@@ -155,8 +162,6 @@ def test_client_generator_with_black_formatting():
 
 
         class MockBECWaveform1D(RPCBase):
-            _IMPORT_MODULE = "tests.unit_tests.test_generate_cli_client"
-            
             @rpc_call
             def set_frequency(self, frequency: float) -> list:
                 """