Updated 2011-01-24 23:08:34 by AK

by Theo Verelst

The Bwise tcl/tk package is a way back compatible package for making graphs of blocks which can be executed as chains with tcl code.

See the currently latest version here: Bwise version 0.34, all in one file, 8.4 compatible

I did a presentation on FOSDEM 2004 open source conference, where I (in a short time) had prepared a presentation interface for, to make bwise work with an overhead projector setup to display text, while remaining functional for demo-ing live with blocks.

The code to make this possible is as follows (assuming you've already loaded Bwise, and that the text below, without leading spaces, is put in bwisepres.txt):
 set cb [pwd]                     # so we can cd $cb later
 cd {c:/Theo/Tcl}                 # you'll have other paths
 # puts {C:/cygwin/home/Theo/Tcl} # small reminder printed at start

 open_text {bwisepres.txt}        # assuming that file is in current dir,
 wm iconify .tt

 # F1 reloads text, F2 = Next, F3 = Prev
 bind . <Key-F1> {if ![info exists prescount] {set prescount 0} ; presp dis}
 bind . <Key-F2> {presp next}
 bind . <Key-F3> {presp prev}

 append env(PATH) ";c:\\cygwin\\bin"  # I wanted to be able to use cygwin for the C image example

 proc presp { {c} } {
   global prescount;
   set t $prescount;
   switch $c  "next" {
      set prescount [expr [lindex [split [.tt.t search -- ---- $prescount.0] .] 0]+1]
   } "prev" {
      set prescount [expr [lindex [split [.tt.t search -back -- ---- [expr $prescount-3].end] .] 0]+1]
   } "dis" {
   }
   set t [expr [lindex [split [.tt.t search -- ---- $prescount.0] .] 0]+1]
   set o {} ; set i 0
   foreach l [split [.tt.t get $prescount.0 [expr $t-2].end] \n] {
      if {$i < 1} {
         lappend o {-fill blue} $l
      } {
         lappend o {} $l
      }
      incr i
   }
   welcome $o
 }

 proc welcome { {we {}} } {
   global mc
   $mc del welcome
   bind $mc <Button-1> {global mc; $mc del welcome; bind $mc <Button-1> {}}

  if {$we == ""} {set we {
   {-fill blue} "   Welcome to Bwise version 0.34"   {} {}
   {-fill red} "Press left mouse button once in this canvas to delete welcome message!"
   {} "This canvas can be clicked on to create blocks with the"
   {} "rigth or middle mouse button menu, see top of source code."
   {} ""
   {} "The paper image button creates a tcl shell."
   {} "Connect blocks by clicking on two pins and press wire."
   {} "Double click blocks to select them for \\\"delete\\\" button."
   {} "Saving the canvas doesn't save block entry components (yet)."
   {} "Right-click block yellow part to get block menu."
   {} "Use Funprop on first block of a network to 'run' it"
   } }
   set i 0;
   foreach {a t} $we {
      eval $mc create text 15 [expr 20+30*$i] -font \"helvetica 14\" -anchor nw  -tag welcome $a -text \"$t\"
      incr i
   }
 }

Apart from this, we need the actual texts to be displayed, which are stored in this format, here including the whole presentation (called bwisepres.txt):
 ----
                       Welcome to BWise

                          by Theo Verelst

  - Blockwise programming
  - Net based flow execution
  - Tk canvas graphical nets
  - Utilities
 ----
 Main idea and history

 Prototyping all over
 In e.g. EE blocks and diagrams are normal
 programming by units is good practice
 various specific uses in mind, which are working
 many limitations, unfinished ideas, and some anomalities
 ----
 Creating a block

 Rationale: if you can't block it,
   you're definitions are probably weak
 functional analysis
 new-block functions and popup menu
 Left pins inputs, Right pins outputs
 ----
 Block example

 a simple pass-through block
 standard block facilities
   newproc {} example_block
 ----
 Block data

 Right-click popup menu
 Data Window
 List of block variables
 Editable entries
 Mind braces around variable names with dots
 ----
 Block Evaluate

 Either from menu or
 button on data window
 Evaluates tcl from variable
   block.bfunc
 at toplevel #0
 ----
 Connecting Blocks

 Click on pins to select, press Wire.
 Connections follow displaced blocks
 Each connection has unique name
 connect wirename block1 pin1 block2 pin2
 ----
 Transfering Data

 transfer menu

 transfers data on output pins
 to all connected pins
 Visual feedback (slowed down for demo)
 ----
 Automatic chain block eval and transfer

 'flooding' based algorithms
 net_funprop: minimal # evals/transfers algorithm
 latter introduces an invisible state to the net
 ----
 TK Canvas Use

 Block elements share first tag name
 Main yellow rectangle has 'block' as third tag
 much use of canvas tags
 some library functions like tag_and (older tk)
 ----
 Block select and delete

 double click on main square creates red selection
 Del Sel button deletes all selected blocks
 and their wires.
 ----
 Procedure Window

 List of all main namespace procs
 double click a proc to edit it
 initial procs and names with
 tk_* and tcl_* are filtered
 ----
 Proc Edit

 Text widget which is filled with actual body
 window is eval-ed at buttonpress to redef
 change proc name to create a new, and refresh
 single button saving of changed procs
 ----
 Forming commands with a proc

 double click proc
 put cursor in pro_args line
 click arguments with non-default value and fill in
 Form Command and Execute
 ----
 Creating Blocks from Functions

 Ideally a unambinguous, straightforward step
 works best for functions with

  • all-formal ingoing info (no globals or uplevel)
  • only return value as outcoming info
 ----
 Procedure to block

 choose proc, and press button
 block appears at fixed point
 all arguments and return value are pins
 defaults are filled in (pin vars)
 ----
 net_ functions

 various net-related lib procs
 for instance net_left
 netlistout generates list of {bl p bl2 p2}
 gen_netlist generates eval-able connect list
 ----
 Predefined Block generators

 See right popupmenu
 Entry and Mon text windows
 array for testing purposes
 Stack, Term, Seq
 ----
 Image blocks

 newimage birds.gif
 newimage bridge.jpg
 ----
 Example: C compiled image processing

 Uses (free) cygwin C compiler from BWise
 compiler, Image-generator and viewer blocks
 Useful real time net programs
 ----

Don't forget to remove the leading space from here, or adapt the code a bit.

Now BWise can be used as normal, any left mouse click on the canvas removes the text, but leaves the rest in place, and the text can be redrawn by pressing F1.

F2 procedes to the next text field, F3 back to the previous.

The text file can be arbitrary in format and lenght, the first line of a block is presented in blue.

The 'open_text' command has made a window with text widget, which can run-time be edited, for instance to prepare a demonstration, it can be edited interleaved with viewing without problem. Save and load work instantaneously on the file with name provided in the entry, that is NO CONFIRMATION IS ASKED FOR to load and save files !!