Chemical-PFD Web Desktop

Overview

Chemical-PFD Web Desktop is a cross-platform system designed to create, edit, and manage Chemical Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs). The project provides both Web and Desktop applications, powered by a shared backend, ensuring consistency, scalability, and flexibility across different user workflows.

The system is intended for chemical engineering visualization, academic use, and industrial process modeling, with a unified data model across platforms.

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Platform Breakdown

🌐 Web Application

• Technology: React.js
• Browser-based interface for quick access and collaboration
• Dashboard-driven workflow for creating and managing diagrams
• Ideal for lightweight usage, demonstrations, and remote access

🖥️ Desktop Application

• Technology: PyQt5
• High-performance native desktop editor
• Designed for detailed diagram editing and advanced interactions
• Suitable for offline usage and heavy engineering workflows

🔗 Backend Service (Common for Web & Desktop)

• Technology: Python + Django REST Framework

• Acts as a centralized API layer

• Handles:

  • User authentication
  • Diagram creation, storage, and retrieval
  • Component management
  • Validation of diagram data

Both Web and Desktop applications communicate with the backend using REST APIs, enabling seamless data sharing between platforms.

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System Architecture

The project is structured into three main modules:

• Web Application Browser-based interface focused on accessibility, dashboard-driven workflows, and quick diagram interactions.

• Desktop Application High-performance, offline-capable editor designed for detailed engineering workflows.

• Backend Service Centralized service responsible for authentication, diagram persistence, and data validation.

All modules operate on a shared JSON-based diagram schema, ensuring consistency across platforms.

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Repository Structure

Chemical-PFD-Web-Desktop/
 ├── web-frontend/        # Web Application
 ├── desktop-frontend/    # Desktop Application
 ├── backend/             # Backend Service

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Getting Started

1. Clone the repository
2. Navigate to the required module
3. Follow setup instructions in the module-specific README

• Web App: web-frontend/README.md
• Desktop App: desktop-frontend/README.md
• Backend: backend/README.md

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Project Status

🚧 Under active development

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Ownership & Contribution

This project is maintained as part of an academic/industrial development initiative. Contributions follow defined module-level guidelines.