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McXtrace - An X-ray ray-trace simulation package
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December 12th, 2025: McStas and McXtrace 3.6.1 released


McStas and McXtrace release 3.6.1 is now available.
McXtrace installation instructions are found on GitHub .

What's Changed - Main Highlights:

Overall release focus:

  • Code quality improvements: Suppression of warnings from c-compilers and our static code analysis tool cppcheck
  • Continuous integration improvement: Any change in instrument/component code is tested via GitHub CI features

New tool features / capabilities:

  • mcrun/mxrun simulation launch tool: (@willend)
    • Scans can be parallelised at the "step number" level, use --scan_split. Contribution from @Lomholy.
    • If installed, cppcheck can be used to perform static code analysis on the generated code, use -C/--c-lint?
    • Improved string-handling in input parameters, e.g. in use with NCrystal config strings. Contribution from @tkittel.
  • mcplot/mxplot simulation plot tools: (@willend)
    • Better support for 'intermediate saves' done via kill -USR2 or Progress_bar, and plots should work on an unfinished simulation.
    • Plotting a completed simulation with 'intermediate saves' will give you latest plot version in the 2D case and multiple, overplotted curves in the 1D case
    • The mcplot-matlab/mxplot-matlab tool is back. You need to manually install either Matlab or Octave to make use of this
  • mcdisplay/mxdisplay instrument visualisation tools: (@willend)
    • On conda-based installations, the mcdisplay-cad/mxdisplay-cad tool includes the cadquery dependency. On completion of building the model, the OS is asked to handle the resulting CAD model.
    • The mcdisplay-matlab/mxdisplay-matlab tool is back. You need to manually install either Matlab or Octave to make use of this
    • For better integration with McStasScript, the mcdisplay-webgl-classic/mxdisplay-webgl-classic is used in such scenarios
    • The 'newer/fancy' mcdisplay-webgl/mxdisplay-webgl based on THREE.js, react and other javascript requires a slightly time-consuming installation process on 1st launch. The user now gets an info box about this.
    • The McStas-specific mcdisplay-mantid IDF generator tool received a bug fix for OFF geometry detectors.
  • mcdoc/mxdoc documentation tool: (@willend)
    • Higher quality / more complete comp/instr doc pages
  • mctest/mxtest test tool: (@willend)
    • Easier to use locally for component/instrument developers

Components and instruments:

McXtrace:

  • The Fluorescence components have a new flag to enhance statistics/signal from low concentration materials. Work by @farhi.

McStas:

  • The Union subsystem now handles 'surface physics' with the introduction of a system of refraction/reflection processes on geometry surfaces. Work by @mads-bertelsen.
  • The Union subsystem now has a functional 3D-mesh system (Union_mesh) that supports CAD style geometries. (Ascii/binary STL files and OFF files are supported. - For now only those with triangular meshing.) Work by @Lomholy.
  • As part of the overall code-quality improvement process, various aspects of the Union subsystem have been tested / improved / revised. Contributions by @tkittel and @willend in close collaboration with @mads-bertelsen.
  • New ISIS-related instrument files, components and data:
    • ISIS_LET by Ross Stewart and Rob Bewley, serves as test-instrument for Commodus_I3 (ISIS source model - corresponds to ViewModISIS with a different parameter interface)
    • Updated / larger set of input files for the ISIS moderator components
    • Multilayer_sample from Rob Dalgliesh was updated with nrepeats which allows to repeat an SLD material stack. ISIS_CRISP was updated to include this feature.
    • TOF_PSDmonitor_toQ is a new component with built-in data reduction from Rob Dalgliesh. Uses ToF to calculate Q. Test_TOF_PSDmonitor_toQ is a basic instrument to showcase the component.
  • Several of the basic McStas sample components received a systematic validation against analytical methods, thanks to @Lomholy with help from KU/NBI students.
  • As part of the overall code-quality improvement process, the whole component / instrument base got a BIG overhaul as such (@willend)

Platform support:

  • The Windows/conda platform which uses the MSVC compiler is now fully functional for all McStas code and a good part of the McXtrace code. As part of this process a new header-file mccode-complex-lib.h should be used by all code requiring complex numbers. (Implements functions for e.g. +-*/ operations across platforms - MSVC does not self implement these operations...) @willend

For all release details, please refer to the github release page for version 3.6.1

Seasons greetings from all of McStas/McXtrace - and hope you will enjoy this new release!
Peter Willendrup

June 17th, 2025: McStas and McXtrace 3.5.32 released


McStas and McXtrace release 3.5.32 is now available.
McXtrace installation instructions are found on GitHub .

What's Changed

Common changes to McStas and McXtrace

  • Deployment, platforms and CI
    • [Bugfixes] to Windows conda script and related README by @willend in#1976#1978, #1984, #1985, #1986
    • [CI] Let "autobuild" CI scripts create arm64 debs for mccode.org by @willend in #1981
  • Tools:
    • [Feature] mcgui/mxgui: show current instrument name in dialogues by @farhi in #1989
    • [Feature] VSCode McStas/McXtrace grammar extension
      • Update vs code extension by @Lomholy in #1975
      • Small updates to editor, as well as updated installation information by @Lomholy in #1977
    • [Feature] LaTeX math (formulae etc) for mcdoc %Description headers by @willend in #2054
  • Code generator/Grammar:
    • [Feature] Unified McStas/McXtrace, c and .py code generators defined from common set of files in mccode/src
      • Unify grammar take2 by @willend in #2008
      • Unify instr y c py: unify our code generators for C and Python by @farhi in #2009
    • [Feature] NEW INHERIT keyword in the component grammar: Allows to mix and match component sections from multiple components to achieve new functionality.
      For an example use see
    • [Feature] Add ADR (Architectural Design Record) for grammar changes
      • Add doc folder for proposed, accepted, rejected, deprecated, superseded changes of McCode GRAMMAR by @willend in #2064
      • Put in place folder for grammar documentation by @willend in #2070
    • [Feature] The McStas/McXtrace code generators have a new commandline switch --version-num to print the version number only.
    • [Feature] New CLI default for mcstas / mcxtrace: --trace is on (This allows any compiled instrument to run with --trace=0 by @willend in #2010 and #2023)
  • Libs and runtime (various minor changes)
    • Add Open_File in header (used from e.g. PowderN) by @willend in #2014
    • Wrap cabs in OpenACC settings by @willend in #2016
    • Swap default trace behaviour to 'enabled' by @willend in #2023
    • cif2hkl: update to solve F^2 for Xrays using latest CrysFML by @farhi in #2021
    • Openacc minor rectifications by @willend in #2027
  • MCPL Components
    • [Feature] Update MCPL components for MCPL 2.2.0 features (including stat:sum). by @tkittel in #2046
    • [Feature] Sync MCPL components McStas <-> McXtrace for MCPL 2.2.0 support by @willend in #2019
    • [Feature] Please consult the GitHub discussion on MCPL > 2.0 support in McStas / McXtrace

McStas specific:

  • [Bugfix] Source_custom
    • Fixed minor typo in docs by @pablogila in #1980
    • Fixed pulse normalisation for all values of n by @pablogila in #2024
    • Simplified redundant code for the peak integral calculation by @pablogila in #2025
  • [Bugfix and feature] Resolution sample/monitor
    • Reso: Updates by @tweber-ill in #1992
    • Add infrastructure to save calculated resolution/covariance matrices by @willend in #1993
    • Sync Res_monitor <-> TOFRes_monitor by @willend in #1995
  • [Bugfix] Add mcresplot to debian metapackage by @willend in #2022
  • [Bugfix] Monitor_nD pixel id and buffer fix by @mads-bertelsen in #2002
  • [Bugfix] Add exit attenuation to Incoherent.comp for finite order scattering by @Lomholy in #2042
  • [Bugfix] Updates to Monochromator_bent from @Lomholy by @willend in #2059 and #2058

McXtrace specific:

  • [Features and bugfixes] McXtrace fluorescence:
    • McXtrace: fix header doc in fluo sample (powder and SX) by @farhi in #1974
    • McXtrace fluo fix pow 0 by @farhi in #1979
    • McXtrace fluo fix 2 by @farhi in #1988
    • McXtrace fluo fix : fix in powder select - use gaussian line shape by @farhi in #1994
    • McXtrace: samples: fluo: add M-lines via XrayLib Kissel CSb calls by @farhi in #2004
    • McXtrace: samples: fluo: fix again the Fluo share by @farhi in #2005
    • McXtrace add fluo mcdisplay by @farhi in #2015
    • McXtrace fluo add detector 0 by @farhi in #2029
  • [Bugfix] Fix compilation of McXtrace Test_PowderN instr by @willend in #2000
  • [Bugfixes] McXtrace various example instrument updates by @farhi in
  • [Bugfix] cif2hkl: update to solve F^2 for Xrays using latest CrysFML by @farhi in #2021
  • [Feature]McXtrace: add SWING BL at SOLEIL by @farhi in #2036

Full Changelog: https://github.com/mccode-dev/McCode/compare/v3.5.27...v3.5.32

April 29th, 2025: McStas and McXtrace 3.5.27 released

Dear all,
McStas and McXtrace release 3.5.27 is now available.
McXtrace installation instructions are found on GitHub .

What's Changed - common McStas/McXtrace highlights:

  • [Feature] McStas and McXtrace are now fully on conda-forge also for Windows, since MCPL 2.0 arrived.
    This means that we now recommend to install via this mechanism on Windows. See the instructions for details.
  • [Feature] mcrun/mxrun have a new -y switch which runs a given instrument using its default parameters.
  • [BUGFIX] mcplot/mxplot should now deal better with negative / very small numbers in 'log' mode plotting.
  • [Feature] mcgui/mxgui improved tooltips on the run dialogue.
  • [Feature] rootmccode works with newer versions of ROOT
  • [BUGFIX] The KISS random number generator was earlier running with systematically different random numbers (and a shorter period) on Windows.
    Identical instruments now run with identical random numbers across platforms, when using identical seed.
  • [CI, packaging, platform support] Lots of work behind the scenes for portability, packaging, and improved CI of the code on GitHub.
    Better standard solutions and easier possibility of spotting when/if we make errors!

What's Changed - McXtrace specific highlights:

  • [Feature] New components for Fluorescence + Single_crystal and Fluoresence + Powder.
    Come with corresponding new test instruments.

What's Changed - McStas specific highlights:

  • [BUGFIX] As reported on mcstas-users, reflective/transmissive polarisers/analysers could sometimes lead to |P|>1.
    This is now fixed by ellimination of "non-up-down" polarisation components when measuring an "up-down" polarisation.
  • [Feature] Contributed component Source_custom by @pablogila, useful features for simulatiung e.g. CANS and other pulsed sources.
    Comes with corresponding new test instrument.
For a full list of changes, please consult the CHANGES or GitHub release notes

April 6th, 2025: Component doc pages back online

We are now in the air with new server hardware.

Among other things this means that component mxdoc pages are back online - by popular demand!

April 5th, 2025: Ongoing webserver upgrade

We are in the process of upgrading the webserver for McStas, McXtrace and other sites. Please bear with us if you experience service interruptions. :-)

February 19th, 2025: McStas and McXtrace 3.5.24 released

Dear all,
McStas and McXtrace release 3.5.24 is now available - McXtrace installation instructons on GitHub .

What's Changed

Important note

  • McStas and McXtrace will soon change organisation-name on GitHub - from McStasMcXtrace -> mccode-dev

User interfaces and tools

Components and instruments

Core simulation toolkit

Interfaces and interoperability with other codes

NCrystal

mccode-antlr

  • Thanks to @g5t for ping-pong on this :)
  • [Feature] mccode-antlr is an alternative code-generator for McStas and McXtrace - a new development by @g5t and based on ANTLR instead of lex/yacc. The new tool is mainly written in python and thus has a lower barrier for changes in language syntax and code generation. The tool implementations mcstas-antlr and mcxtrace-antlr are thus a candidate implementations to potentially replace the classic mcstas and mcxtrace code generators in the future. Current status is that
    • McStas: mcstas-antlr is fully feature complete wrt. mcstas for CPU simulations and close to complete for GPU simulations
    • McXtrace: Not all instruments will compile using mcxtrace-antlr but basic functionality is in place
    • To try:
      1. Install mccode-antlr from conda-forge or via pip
      2. Adapt your configuration to use e.g. mcstas-antlr by
        • Setting the new --cogen=mcstas-antlr option in mcrun
        • Enable or edit the MCCOGEN field of mccode_config.json using the new Save/Edit configuration in mcgui
        • (The antlr tools default to download comps etc. to an internal cache: Add e.g. -I${MCSTAS} to prefer ingredients fromyour local library)
      3. Use the mcrun-antlr/mxrun-antlr tools provided directly by mccode-antlr

Platform support

  • Debian/Ubuntu
  • Windows
    • [Feature] NCrystal is now available with McStas on Windows
    • [Info] Windows via cross-compiled .exeinstaller from mccode.org: Please place the MCPL-related .bat files from the extras folder in e.g. c:\mcstas-3.5.24\bin to enable MCPL (May require giving your user 'full access' permissions to the bin folder)
    • [Info] Windows via conda-forge: MCPL is not yet available but expected during the spring

Full Changelog: https://github.com/mccode-dev/McCode/compare/v3.5.16...v3.5.24

2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and older News mailto:webmaster@mcxtrace.org

Last Modified: Wednesday, 07-Jan-2026 16:02:25
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