Automation of the software production process for multiple cryogenic control applications

Abstract

The development of process control systems for the cryogenic infrastructure at CERN is based on an automatic software generation approach. The overall complexity of the systems, their frequent evolution as well as the extensive use of databases, repositories, commercial engineering software and CERN frameworks have led to further efforts towards improving the existing automation based software production methodology. A large number of control system upgrades were successfully performed for the Cryogenics in the LHC accelerator, applying the Continuous Integration practice integrating all software production tasks, tools and technologies. The production and maintenance of the control software for multiple cryogenic applications have become more reliable while significantly reducing the required time and effort. This concept became a guideline for development of process control software for new cryogenic systems at CERN. This publication presents the software production methodology, as well as the summary of several years of experience with the enhanced automated control software production, already implemented for the Cryogenics of the LHC accelerator and the CERN cryogenic test facilities