Roadmap¶

Current Development Focus¶

OpenTraceLab is actively developed with focus on modernizing the sigrok codebase and enhancing user experience.

Short Term (2024-2025)¶

OpenTraceView Enhancements¶

Performance improvements - Faster rendering for large captures
UI/UX modernization - Updated interface design and workflows
Better protocol decoder integration - Improved decoder management
Export capabilities - More output formats (JSON, CSV, VCD)
Session management - Save/restore complete analysis sessions

OpenTraceCapture Improvements¶

Device driver updates - Support for newer hardware
USB 3.0 support - Higher bandwidth capture devices
Streaming optimizations - Better real-time performance
Configuration management - Simplified device setup
Error handling - More robust device communication

OpenTraceDecode Expansion¶

New protocol decoders - USB, Ethernet, automotive protocols
Decoder performance - Faster processing for complex protocols
Stacked decoder improvements - Better chaining and configuration
Analog signal support - Mixed-signal analysis capabilities
Custom decoder tools - Simplified decoder development

Medium Term (2025-2026)¶

Architecture Modernization¶

API v3 implementation - Query-based decoder architecture
Multi-threading - Parallel processing for better performance
Memory management - Efficient handling of large datasets
Plugin system - Extensible architecture for third-party additions

Advanced Features¶

Real-time analysis - Live protocol decoding during capture
Trigger enhancements - Complex pattern and protocol triggers
Measurement tools - Timing analysis and signal quality metrics
Annotation system - User notes and collaborative features

Platform Expansion¶

Mobile support - Android/iOS companion apps
Web interface - Browser-based analysis tools
Cloud integration - Remote analysis and collaboration
Embedded targets - On-device analysis capabilities

Long Term (2026+)¶

Next-Generation Features¶

AI-assisted analysis - Automatic protocol detection and anomaly detection
Machine learning - Pattern recognition and signal classification
Advanced visualization - 3D signal representation and VR/AR interfaces
Collaborative analysis - Real-time multi-user sessions

Ecosystem Growth¶

Hardware partnerships - Native support for new analyzer designs
Educational tools - Interactive tutorials and learning modules
Industry integration - Professional workflow tools and certifications
Standards development - Contribute to new protocol standards

Technical Priorities¶

Performance¶

Streaming architecture - Handle continuous high-speed data
GPU acceleration - Leverage graphics hardware for signal processing
Distributed processing - Multi-machine analysis clusters
Memory efficiency - Handle TB-scale captures

Usability¶

Wizard-driven workflows - Guided setup for common tasks
Template system - Pre-configured setups for popular protocols
Automation tools - Scripted analysis and batch processing
Integration APIs - Connect with other development tools

Reliability¶

Comprehensive testing - Automated test suites for all components
Error recovery - Graceful handling of device and data errors
Data integrity - Checksums and validation for capture files
Backward compatibility - Support for legacy file formats

Community Goals¶

Developer Experience¶

Documentation improvements - Complete API references and guides
Development tools - Better debugging and profiling capabilities
Contribution workflows - Streamlined process for community contributions
Mentorship programs - Support for new contributors

User Support¶

Training materials - Video tutorials and interactive guides
Community forums - Better platforms for user discussion
Professional support - Commercial support options for enterprises
Certification programs - Validated expertise in OpenTraceLab usage

Hardware Roadmap¶

Device Support¶

Modern logic analyzers - Support for latest high-speed devices
Mixed-signal analyzers - Combined logic and analog capture
Protocol-specific analyzers - Specialized devices for automotive, aerospace
Open hardware designs - Reference designs for community hardware

Interface Evolution¶

USB4/Thunderbolt - Next-generation high-bandwidth interfaces
Wireless connectivity - Remote and distributed capture setups
Embedded integration - Direct integration with development boards
Cloud connectivity - Internet-connected analysis devices

Research Areas¶

Signal Processing¶

Advanced filtering - Noise reduction and signal enhancement
Compression algorithms - Efficient storage of large captures
Real-time processing - Low-latency analysis pipelines
Multi-domain analysis - Time, frequency, and statistical analysis

Protocol Innovation¶

Automatic protocol discovery - Unknown protocol analysis
Protocol fuzzing - Security testing and validation
Timing analysis - Precise protocol timing verification
Error injection - Protocol robustness testing

Getting Involved¶

How to Contribute¶

Code contributions - Features, bug fixes, optimizations
Documentation - User guides, API docs, tutorials
Testing - Device compatibility, performance testing
Design - UI/UX improvements, workflow optimization

Priority Areas¶

Protocol decoders - High demand for new protocol support
Device drivers - Support for emerging hardware
Performance optimization - Scalability improvements
User experience - Interface and workflow enhancements

Feedback Channels¶

GitHub Issues - Bug reports and feature requests
Community discussions - Design feedback and suggestions
User surveys - Regular feedback collection
Developer meetings - Regular community calls

Funding and Sustainability¶

Current Support¶

Community contributions - Volunteer development efforts
Hardware partnerships - Device manufacturer support
Educational grants - Academic institution funding
Commercial licensing - Enterprise support contracts

Future Funding¶

Foundation support - Open source foundation backing
Crowdfunding - Community-funded development
Corporate sponsorship - Industry partner support
Grant applications - Research and development funding The roadmap is continuously updated based on community feedback and emerging needs. Join our discussions to help shape the future of OpenTraceLab!