McXtrace 1.7 is released !

McXtrace 1.7 is released

Dear simulators, The team is happy to announce that McXtrace 1.7 is out!

1.7 has been focused mainly on stability and bug-fixes, but also provides
a set of new features. Binary packages are provided for the main
platforms: Debian /Ubuntu, Fedora, Windows 10, Mac OSX (arm and intel
based). As is the presently custom, see
https://github.com/McStasMcXtrace/McCode/tree/master/INSTALL-McXtrace
for specific installation instructions for you platform.

Please also keep an eye out for the for upcoming release of McXtrace
3.0, which is a technology preview release of an improved code-generator
enabling McXtrace to run on GPUs.

Happy simulation!

CHANGES in 1.7

This is mainly a bugfix/update release, but does include the first model
of a beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron.
It also marks a switch for McXtrace to the the GPLv3 license.

1. Improved installation scripts
   1. Installs cleanly on Mac silicon
2. Updated examples:
   1. MAXIV_DanMAX_pxrd2d.instr
3. New examples:
   1. SOLEIL ROCK beamline.
   2. ESRF BM29 skeleton beamline.
   3. Example of Air-scattering block.
   4. Test example for the GROUP langnuage feature
   5. Union demo test example
   6. New Example of Compton scattering union process.
4. Updated Components
   1. PowderN.comp: Fix bug with faulty packing factor logic,
   which lead to wrong intensities when used with SPLIT.
   2. Lens_parab_Cyl_rough.comp, Lens_parab_rough.comp,
   Lens_Kinoform.comp: documentation issues
   3. Mirror.comp: documentation update
   4. Mirror_curved.comp, Mirror_elliptic.comp: Use reflectivity library
   5. Mirror_toroid.comp: Fix for stable handling of reflectivity file
   6. Absorption_sample.comp: Fix inner/outer volume logic
   7. Source_genesis13.comp, Source_simplex.comp: Documentation issues.
   8. Air.comp: Correct scattering amplitude.
   9. New: Laue_crystal_BC.comp: experimental model of a Laue
   crystal available for testing.
5. Updated libraries:
   1. Reflectivity-lib has a series of bugfixes.
6. New tools:
   1. Test tool for component writers' convenience.
   2. Scripts for generating reflectivity files.
7. License change:
   The release includes a switch to the GPLv3-license for McXtrace. The underlying reason for this
   is to help collaboration wih the Debian project.

We provide Debian packages. For other platforms, refer to:

• https://github.com/McStasMcXtrace/McCode/tree/master/INSTALL-McXtrace