PyMca is an open source package best known for its capabilities in the
field of X-ray fluorescence analysis. This presentation aims to
illustrate its capabilities on other synchrotron radiation related
areas.
PyMca strives to provide a data quality assessment tool. This is an area
at the borderline between data acquisition and data analysis that is
critical for facilities designed to provide data to external users. In
fact, the features of PyMca, are also useful to other techniques. PyMca
provides visualization (from 1D to 4D), multivariate analysis (principal
component analysis, non-negative matrix approximation,...), support of
common data formats (like NeXus/HDF5)... Furthermore, its availability
under multiple platforms (Linux, MacOS, windows,...) makes it a
practical tool not only for the beamline scientist but also for the end
user.
Clearly a generic application cannot target all the needs of all the
beamlines. A simple plugin system allows to implement simple tasks
specific to a particular beamline but that can hardly be considered of
generic interest. Some plugin examples will be presented. Some of them
make a good use of the plugin philosophy while some others abuse from
it.
To understand PyMca further developments, a reference to the current
developments undertaken at the ESRF is necessary. ESRF has identified
Data Analysis as a key issue and has decided to allocated ~45
full-time-equivalent years of man-power during a 7-year period to it.
Recent developments at the ESRF (ex. silx) and their eventual
consequences respect to PyMca will also be presented.
