Advanced Examples
Maria Grazia Pia
INFN Genova
on behalf of the Advanced Examples [not yet] Working Group
http://www.ge.infn.it/geant4/examples/
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Background
Geant4/examples/advanced existing since the first Geant4
release in 1998
– …but empty
First two advanced examples proposed in 2000
– xray_telescope
– gammaray_telescope
Now 14 examples released + 1 to be released in 7.0
Established collaboration between Geant4 and analysis groups
– constructive mutual help with AIDA and Anaphe/PI, JAS teams
23 Geant4 collaborators involved
– + 1 former collaborator and various external contributors
Wide network of contacts with users
– Often volunteering to contribute new examples
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Topics
Astrophysics / Space Science
– cosmicray_charging
– gamma-ray_telescope
– X-ray_telescope
HEP
– composite_calorimeter
– lAr_calorimeter
– RICH
– underground_physics
Medical Physics
– brachytherapy
– hadrontherapy
– medical_linac
– purging_magnet
Shielding
– radioprotection
– Tiara
Spectroscopy
– X-ray_fluorescence
Next release
– air_shower
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
http://www.ge.infn.it/geant4/examples
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Advanced
Examples
“Working
Group”
Members
Stefano Agostinelli
Henrique Araujo
Pablo Cirrone
Giacomo Cuttone
Giuseppe Daquino
Maria Catarina Espirito Santo
Franca Foppiano
Stefania Garelli
Patricia Goncalves
Susanna Guatelli
Alex Howard
Francesco Longo
Ana Keating
Susanne Larsson
Alfonso Mantero
Lorenzo Moneta
Jakub Moscicki
Andreas Pfeiffer
Maria Grazia Pia
Michela Piergentili
Alberto Ribon
Giovanni Santin
Bernardo Tome
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Former members
and
external contributors
Patricia Mendez Lorenzo
Sajan Easo (not a Geant4 member)
Regular WG meetings
WG mailing list
[email protected]
Common software process
Overall coordination
Shared vision and goals
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Vision
Provide real-life examples to users
– Realistic applications of Geant4 “on the field”
– Developed together by experts in the experimental domain and in Geant4
– Useful to users to get started in a typical experimental application domain
Provide feedback to Geant4 developers
– How well Geant4 fulfills the requirements of a specific experimental domain
 identify new requirements, improvements needed etc.
– How well Geant4 works in a realistic environment
 physics, performance etc.
Educate developers to a healthy software process
– Learn the discipline of a full cycle of software development
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Role
A strategical area of Geant4
– Geant4 shifting more and more from development to application
Understanding experimental needs is crucial
– if we want to provide a tool responding to the needs of the
scientific community
User support is a significant workload for developers
– Examples alleviate the developers’ workload
Facilitate contacts and open communication with the
user community
– Get in touch with a (new) experimental environment
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
The process of creating an example
Normal procedure
– We (developers) propose the creation of a new advanced example, in
an area where user support is needed
– Goal: offer a broad coverage of experimental domains
– “Motivate” a team to work together on a simplified version of a reallife application
A new attitude recently showing up…
– Users contact us proposing to contribute to a new advanced example
New examples in preparation announced to the TSB
Directory in cvs agreed with the Release Manager
Development process guided by the team
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Minimal process artifacts required
Vision
User Requirements Document
Design model
Code
Test plan
– with integration in Geant4 system testing
User documentation
– README file, web page
Traceability through all the above
Improved process documentation in preparation…
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Peer reviews
Design and code reviews included in the process
– We would like to do more…
– Limiting factor are time and distance…
Main problem encountered: the reviewers are too nice!
– Next reviews will provide a more detailed checklist to guide the
reviewers
Spells of fortran++, lack of design, missing or poor
documentation, neglection of the software process etc.
– Room for improvement in many areas…
– …as well as in the rest of Geant4
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Problems
Since no WG formally exists, some activities escape
from any coordination
– Some examples “found” in the release without even informing the
de facto existing Advanced Examples team
– These activities are not subject to the common rigorous software
process
– Generate problems with software quality, documentation,
maintenance, confusion, poor communication
– Lack of common vision
Hardly any strategic vision on advanced examples by
the Collaboration
– A common vision would be beneficial
– …not only on advanced examples
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Maintenance
This is the key
problem!
– Developing an example is fun
– Maintaining an example is NOT fun!
What to do when the original developer(s) quit Geant4?
What to do when the original developers do the
maintenance at the last minute, or are “too busy” to do it?
– Retire the examples
– Somebody else takes over the maintenance
Need a Collaboration/WG policy
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Interaction with analysis
Simulation goes together with its analysis in real life
– Not only common sense, but use cases users submit to us…
Fruitful collaboration with AIDA groups
–
–
–
–
–
But there is room for improvement…
Better coordination of releases
Documentation of new features, interface changes etc. in advance
Communication of Geant4 user requirements
Willingness to consider Geant4 requirements
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
In spite of some problems…
…a lot of enthusiasm around advanced examples
– A young developers’ team
– A wide user community around
A relevant role in Geant4
– Not only user support, but a strategical tool for Geant4 future
A fruitful collaboration across software domains
– Simulation, analysis, GRID
Excellent training for many young collaborators to a
rigorous software process
– The “kernel development” WGs profit of this training exposure
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004
Focus for discussion
Maintenance
Relation with analysis
Peer reviews
SPI (integration, process documentation etc.)
New experimental areas to be covered
More detailed introduction by Susanna in the parallel session
Any other topics for discussion?
What about recognizing this de facto existing
Working Group?
Maria Grazia Pia, INFN Genova
Geant4 Workshop 2004