FluidNC gCode Sender - Cross-platform GUI for FluidNC

🚀 Project Overview

This is the C++ wxWidgets conversion of the original Python-based FluidNC_gCodeSender. The conversion is currently in progress, focusing on improved performance, lower memory usage, and enhanced thread safety.

🎯 Core Features

Real-time DRO (Machine/Work position)
SVG to G-code conversion
Interactive jogging and homing
Custom macro system
Auto-restore after power loss

🔧 Technical Highlights

Modern C++17 with threading
Cross-platform (Windows/Linux)
JSON-compatible configuration
Thread-safe design
AUI dockable interface

🌐 Connectivity

Asynchronous telnet communication
Auto-reconnection with retry
Command queuing system
Real-time status monitoring
Cross-platform sockets

📈 Development Progress

✅ Phase 1: Core Infrastructure

✓ CMake build system
✓ StateManager (JSON persistence)
✓ FluidNCClient (network communication)
✓ Cross-platform socket abstraction
✓ Threading and synchronization

🚧 Phase 2: Basic GUI

⚡ MainFrame implementation
⚡ DROPanel implementation
⚡ JogPanel implementation
◯ TelnetSetupPanel implementation
◯ SettingsPanel implementation

❌ Phase 3: Advanced Features

◯ SVG loading and display
◯ G-code generation from SVG
◯ Macro engine
◯ G-code editor with drag-drop
◯ Toolpath preview

🔨 Building the Project

Prerequisites

CMake 3.16+
C++17 compatible compiler (MSVC 2019+, GCC 7+, Clang 5+)
wxWidgets 3.1+ with AUI and PropGrid
nlohmann::json (can be installed via package manager)

Windows (MSVC)

            # Install dependencies via vcpkg (recommended)
vcpkg install wxwidgets nlohmann-json

# Configure and build
cmake -B build-win -S . -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=[path-to-vcpkg]/scripts/buildsystems/vcpkg.cmake
cmake --build build-win --config Release
        

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

            # Install dependencies
sudo apt-get install libwxgtk3.0-gtk3-dev nlohmann-json3-dev cmake build-essential

# Build
cmake -B build-linux -S .
cmake --build build-linux
        

⚙️ Configuration

The application maintains the same configuration format as the Python version for seamless migration:

Settings: config/settings.json - Main application configuration
Recovery: config/recovery.json - Auto-saved state for crash recovery

Example Configuration

            {
  "telnet": {
    "host": "192.168.1.100",
    "port": 23,
    "connect_retries": 3,
    "retry_interval_s": 2
  },
  "window_geometry": [100, 100, 1200, 800],
  "aui_layout": {
    "perspective": "layout0|name=setup;caption=;state=..."
  },
  "gcode_history": [
    "G0 X10 Y10",
    "$H",
    "G1 X0 Y0 F1000"
  ]
}
        

🔄 Migration from Python Version

Backup your configuration: cp -r config/ config_backup/
The C++ version automatically reads existing settings:
- All telnet settings
- Window positions and layout
- G-code command history
- Macro definitions (when implemented)
Benefits of the C++ version:
- Better performance due to native compilation
- Lower memory usage
- Improved thread safety
- Enhanced error handling

🤝 Contributing

The conversion follows the original Python code structure while modernizing with C++ best practices. Key areas needing attention:

GUI Implementation: Converting wxPython panels to wxWidgets C++
SVG Processing: Finding suitable C++ SVG library (considering Cairo, NanoSVG)
Advanced Features: Macro scripting engine, G-code manipulation
Testing: Unit tests and integration tests
Documentation: API documentation and user guides

📄 License

BSD 3-Clause License (same as original Python version)

🛠️ FluidNC gCode Sender