= CONFIGURATION SELECTOR

[[cha:selector]] (((CONFIGURATION SELECTOR)))

The Configuraton Selector gui is activated from the system main 
menu when CNC / LinuxCNC is selected.

The Configuration Selector offers a selection of configurations
organized:

   My Configurations -------- User configurations

   Sample Configurations ---- Sample configurations that
                              can be copied to 'My Configurations'

      sim ------------------- simulation configurations. These 
                              can be used for testing or learning

      by_interface ---------- configurations organized by interface

      by_machine ------------ configurations organized by machine

      apps ------------------ applications that do not require
                              starting linuxcnc but may be useful
                              for testing or trying applications
                              like pyvcp or gladevcp

      attic ----------------- obsolete or historical configurations


The sim configurations are often the most useful starting point for
new users and are organized around supported guis:

     axis
     gmoccapy
     gscreen
     low_graphics
     tklinuxcnc
     touchy

A gui configuration directory may contain subdirectories with
configurations that illustrate special situations or the embedding
of other applications.

The by_interface configurations are organized around common, supported
interfaces like:

    general mechatronics
    mesa
    parport
    pico
    pluto
    servotogo
    vigilant
    vitalsystems

Related hardware may be required to use these configurations as
starting points for a system.


The by_machine configurations are organized around complete, known
systems like:

    boss
    cooltool
    sherline
    smithy
    tormach

A complete system may be required to use these configurations.

The apps items are typically 1) utilities that don't require
starting linuxcnc or 2) demonstrations of applications that can
be used with linuxcnc:

    info ------ creates a file with system information that
                may be useful for problem diagnosis
    gladevcp -- example gladevcp applications
    halrun  --- starts halrun in an terminal
    latency --- applications to investigate latency
    parport --- applications to test parport
    pyvcp ----- example pyvcp applications
    xhc-hb04 -- applications to test an xhc-hb04 USB wireless MPG


The attic directory stores obsolete or historical configurations.


When started, the Configuration Selector allows the user to pick one
of their existing configurations (My Configurations) or select
a new one (from the Sample Configurations) to be copied to their
home directory.  Copied configurations will appear under My Configurations
on the next invocation of the Configuration Selector.

[NOTE]
Under the Apps directory, only applications that are usefully modified
by the user are offered for copying to the user's directory.