NA-MICNational Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer 2010:Past, Present, and Future

Steve Pieper, Ph.D.

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Topics

• Slicer 3.6

• Slicer Timeline

• Slicer 4 Topics

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer Background

• 3D Slicer Role in NA-MIC– Translation Platform to get Medical Computing

Technology to DBP Researchers– Provide Reference Implementation using NA-

MIC Kit– Part of NA-MIC Outreach to New Applications

• First Slicer3 svn commit: January 26, 2006

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

3D Slicer version 3.6!!!• Congratulations and Thanks!

• Dozens of Contributors and Many, Many Bug Fixes and New Features

• See slicer.org for info…

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer Timeline

• 3.6.X Patch Releases During 2010

• Transition to Slicer4 in Second Half of 2010

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

• Stable End of KWWidgets-based Slicer• Bug Fixes in Core Libraries• Updated Modules

– Meshing, Prostate IGT, EMSegmenter…

• 3.6.1 this summer, others later• No new features in Slicer3 svn trunk

– Code that is being tested for inclusion in 3.6.X– Code that will migrate to 4.x (Qt code, conditionally

compiled)

• Nightly builds and dashboards will be based on Slicer3 svn trunk during summer 2010

• Maintenance will continue through 2011 and beyond as needed

Slicer 3.6.X

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4 Goals

• Slim Down, Modernize, and Optimize

• Improve Collaboration

• Introduce New Technologies

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4 Collaborations

• Nokia - Qt Software Ecosystem• CTK (Common Toolkit)

– Widgets, DICOM, Messaging…

• BRAINS Registration• ITKv4• (Nipy) Neuroimaging Python • And, of course, NAC, NCIGT, NA-MIC

DBPs, Collaboration Grants, Longtime Friends and Family…

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4 Compatibility Pledge

• Import .xml and .mrml from Slicer2.x and Slicer3.x

• Command Line Modules will not Need to Change• Core Modules will be Ported• Help will be Provided for Porting Loadable

Modules– MRML and Logic Basically Unchanged, Only GUI

Needs to be Rewritten– ModuleWizard to Create Code Framework

• Consistent Slicer Terminology and Concepts– Ease User Transition, Leverage Training

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: Git

• Distributed Source Control– Faster– Enables Scalable Workflows for Larger Teams

• Requires New Thinking– Come Thursday at 2 for More Info…

• We will create a Slicer4 Git this Summer– History will be imported– Host TBD (possibly github or Kitware)

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: Qt

• Large Developer Community

• Many Highly Refined Tools

• Major Effort Underway thanks to ARRA Supplement

• Learn More this Afternoon 1-3

• Results are Encouraging, but there is Much To Do…

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: Qt Impact

• No More X11 on Mac OSX

• Designer for GUI Construction

• Native WebKit– Native HTML (CSS, HTML5, webgl)– JavaScript Engine

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: CTK

• See commontk.org for info• CTK is home for “generic” parts of Slicer4

– CTKWidgets, including Transfer Function Editor

– CTKDICOM, based on DCMTK– Other Code may Migrate (Execution Model?

MRML? …)

• Active International Development Team

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: PythonQt

• Developed by Mevislab (Germany)

• LGPL, Stable

• Scripted Access to Classes, Signals, Slots, Properties

• May (or may not) be Replace with PySide in the Future

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Slicer4: SuperBuild

• Evolution of getbuildtest.tcl Concept into Pure CMake– More General Implementation to Serve

as Template for Other Projects

• Hierarchical– CTK also Uses SuperBuild

• Try It– Slicer4 Build Instructions on Wiki

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Developer Decision Tree

• Command Line Module?– Develop and Test with Slicer3.6

• GUI Project with Deadlines in 2010?– Develop for 3.6.X

• Longer-Term Project that Needs a Custom GUI?– Start Learning Qt– Implement Logic and MRML with Slicer3– Expect to have Usable Slicer4 alphas in late

2010