MAS GUI

Node Manager for ROS (1/2).

The MAS GUI is composed by two main parts: A Back-End component (daemon with WebSocket), and a Front-End Component (powered by Electron and ReactJS). Data exchange between the daemon and the Front-End takes place via the WebSocket. The description of the message formats can be found here.

Install

We need to first install dependencies and run both Front and Back-End components:

Install dependencies

You need a running TTYD to show screen or log output of the nodes.

sudo snap install ttyd --classic

Update nodejs to v22

The code have been tested with NodeJS v22.21.0:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

Server Side (Back-End)

cd ros_workspace/src
git clone https://github.com/fkie/fkie-multi-agent-suite.git fkie-multi-agent-suite
rosdep update
rosdep install -i --as-root pip:false --reinstall --from-paths fkie-multi-agent-suite

Then build all packages:

catkin build fkie_mas_meta

or

colcon build --packages-up-to fkie_mas_meta

Client Side (Front-End)

Only for developer mode: Download and install JavaScript module dependencies:

cd fkie_mas_gui
npm install
npm run build

Usage

Run the app in developer mode:

npm run dev:ns

The app will start automatically the local daemon and master discovery nodes.

Start only as node (without GUI)

Starts a server on default port 6274. You can change the port in electron.vite.config.ts.

npm run server:ns

Then open in browser http://localhost:6274

Additional Tools

• To package the client component into an AppImage, run:

cd fkie_mas_gui
npm run build:linux

• update licenses of dependencies

npm install -g license-report
license-report --config=./license-report-config.json > src/renderer/deps-licenses.json

Known Issues

• If you work behind a proxy, you might need to explicitly specify the URL and PORT before downloading the electron packages. The problem occurs when installing the package (npm install).

```bash export ELECTRON_GET_USE_PROXY=true

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Changelog

5.0.2 - 22.12.2025

Fixed update launch files Fixed open terminal in external window

5.0.1 - 18.12.2025

Fixed update launch info of a node after load or unload a launch file Fixed downgrade to release channel

5.0.0 - 05.12.2025

Added arm64 to build debs Documentation updated and relevant sections in the code adjusted Refactor workflow to support multiple OS and architectures Behavior changed to update ROS status Changed algorithm for updating ros state in daemon Fixed manager tag in nodes info Reduced log info output Changed connected info to success Fixed deselection topics/services on click on action button

4.9.0 - 28.11.2025

Allow deselection of topics, services, and nodes Added octet to input elements in publish panel Fixed open publish panel if no topic is selected Optimized handling in the publish panel

4.8.2 - 27.11.2025

Removed snackbar info Log panel revised Fixed layout that is corrupted after MAS update and layout reset Changed update strategy of the ros nodes Fixed environment variable set in a launch group Adjust default layout weights Added warning for true/false in launch dialog Added warning for true/false not capitalized in XML launch files Renamed “Node Details” to “Details” tab Show host details in the node details window instead of in a new tab

4.8.1 - 25.11.2025

Reduced number of service calls for updating composable and lifecycle nodes Fixed “Use of externally-controlled format string” warning

4.8.0 - 24.11.2025

Added ROS graph change detection to discovery node Fixed forced update topic and service list Reduced count of updates Added id to RosTopic and RosService Added tooltip for CMD in node details Do not show errors in the snackbar for already running requests Fixed deselection of nodes when they are updated Changed the highlighting when hovering Reduced the effort required for updates Fixed error when processing the stop queue Fixed version update info, if updates have not yet been checked for after startup Updated cli description

4.7.3 - 18.11.2025

Highlight true/false in XML launch files Added let proposal Fixed proposals for unless and if in XML launch file Fixed go back/forward in editor

4.7.2 - 18.11.2025

Load launch file on pressed enter load dialog Added option to start publisher with simtime Close load dialog before loadings the launch file to avoid multiple load trigger Added lifecycle context menu to node name Added namespace tag for composable_node in XML launch file proposals Improved log settings

4.7.1 - 14.11.2025

fixed error when loading ‘capability groups’ for included files

4.7.0 - 11.11.2025

Added notification if launch file was reloaded by another instance Fixed: sorting nodes in the host view Evaluate wildcard hostnames in the ssh configuration Improved host input in the connection dialog Updated vite dependency version Fixed the style of the “Node Details” tab when the namespace is too long

4.6.15 - 30.09.2025

Fixed crash of the daemon on exception while load_launch Fixed updating the package list when a package is selected

4.6.14 - 25.09.2025

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