A graphics code generation tool development.

Question

I am trying to build a tool for our embedded system project. Our embedded system controls a giant machine performing several safety critical activities. For time being lets imagine it to be a giant excavator. [Consider this as a hypothetical project].

This machine will be connected to 5-6 LCD panels that will continuously display several parameters in graphical format. Like one Speedometer displaying speed, a temperature scale and so on. The code for this graphics is to be developed using OpenGL API.

I was wondering if it will be easy to build a tool where we can simply drag-drop basic geometric shapes and it will generate the skeletal code for us and then the developers will only fill in the gaps. This will be very helpful assuming the code need to be certified to be DO-178B compliant.

Something similar is already available in market called SCADE Graphics but it costs a bomb.

I want you help on following things

• is Java Swing a good choice of technology to build such a tool?
• Do there exist any APIs where I can drag drop geometric shapes and then parse them to code?

Answer 1

Have you looked at LabView? No guarantee, of course, but it sounds like it might fit your needs reasonably well (though it's definitely not free either).

I'll refrain from commenting about Java (or Swing) beyond the fact that I don't think Java has been certified for DO-178B in general. Five years ago or so there was an attempt (JSR 302) at specifying a Java subset for safety critical applications, but I believe that effort is now dormant (if not dead) with no approval.