The graphical user interface (GUI) is what most people now see when they use computers. The macOS and Windows operating systems are primarily graphical-based, as graphical interfaces are easier to use; while you can do some things from a text console, such as Windows PowerShell, the majority of features are accessed through a graphical window.
Currently, our fuel farm project is strictly text-based. To make it easier for people to use, we can put a graphical interface on it, which allows people to click on the components to manipulate them. In the industrial controls world, this is called a human-machine interface, more commonly known as an HMI. An HMI allows an operator to work with a system and change settings without having to manually walk to each component. It also displays system parameters, such as flow rates or pressure values.
In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:
- GUI functionality
- User environment
- GUI frameworks