[Enhancement] Add Interactive Demo And Native Windows Installer

by ADMIN 64 views

📋 Problem Statement

NEURD, a promising tool for neural network decomposition, faces a significant hurdle in attracting new users. The primary challenges are the lack of an interactive demo and the requirement for a Docker installation, which can be daunting for non-developer researchers.

No Live Demo

The current state of NEURD does not provide an interactive example that showcases the workflow or outputs. This makes it difficult for new users to quickly understand the value of the tool. The figures in the paper are not enough to give users a hands-on experience with NEURD.

Docker-Only Install Path

The requirement for a Docker installation can be a significant barrier to adoption. Many researchers, especially those in biology, are unfamiliar with Docker and may give up when images take a long time to pull or fail on their system. This can lead to a high drop-off rate and make it difficult for NEURD to gain traction.

💡 Proposed Solution

To address these challenges, we propose two solutions: publishing a lightweight interactive demo and providing a native Windows installer.

A. Publish a Lightweight Interactive Demo

We suggest hosting a small notebook (e.g., 1–2 MB mesh) on Binder, Voila, or Streamlit Cloud that:

  • Loads the sample mesh
  • Runs a basic NEURD decomposition
  • Visualizes the output (screenshot + simple 3-D viewer)

This interactive demo will allow users to experience NEURD in under 2 minutes without installing anything. It will also provide a clear understanding of the workflow and outputs, making it easier for users to adopt the tool.

B. Provide a Windows Installer (.exe / MSIX)

To make NEURD more accessible to Windows-first labs, we propose providing a native Windows installer. This will allow users to install NEURD with a familiar double-click flow, eliminating the need for Docker.

✨ Expected Benefits

The proposed solutions are expected to have several benefits:

  • Lower Adoption Barrier: Users can experience NEURD in under 2 minutes without installing anything.
  • Broader Audience: Windows-first labs can install NEURD with a familiar double-click flow, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

📈 Technical Requirements

To implement the proposed solutions, we will need to:

  • Host the interactive demo on Binder, Voila, or Streamlit Cloud
  • Create a native Windows installer using a tool like NSIS or Inno Setup
  • Update the README and documentation to link to the interactive demo and provide installation instructions for Windows users

💻 Implementation Plan

We propose the following implementation plan:

  • Week 1-2: Host the interactive demo on Binder, Voila, or Streamlit Cloud
  • Week 3-4: Create a native Windows installer using a tool like NSIS or Inno Setup
  • Week 5: Update the README and documentation to link to the interactive demo and provide installation instructions for Windows users

📊 Conclusion

The proposed solutions will simplify NEURD adoption by providing an interactive demo and a native Windows installer. This will make it easier for new users to experience NEURD and understand its value. With a lower adoption barrier and a broader audience, NEURD be more accessible to researchers and labs, leading to increased adoption and usage.

📝 Future Work

Future work will focus on:

  • Improving the interactive demo to include more features and examples
  • Providing installation instructions for other operating systems, such as macOS and Linux
  • Integrating NEURD with other tools and frameworks to increase its usability and adoption

📈 Benefits for Users

The proposed solutions will benefit users in several ways:

  • Easy Access: Users can experience NEURD in under 2 minutes without installing anything.
  • Familiar Interface: Windows users can install NEURD with a familiar double-click flow.
  • Increased Adoption: The proposed solutions will make NEURD more accessible to a wider audience, leading to increased adoption and usage.

💻 Benefits for Developers

The proposed solutions will benefit developers in several ways:

  • Simplified Adoption: The interactive demo and native Windows installer will simplify NEURD adoption, making it easier for new users to experience the tool.
  • Increased Adoption: The proposed solutions will increase adoption and usage of NEURD, leading to more feedback and suggestions for improvement.
  • Broader Audience: The native Windows installer will make NEURD more accessible to a wider audience, including Windows-first labs.
    Q&A: Enhancing NEURD Adoption with Interactive Demo and Native Windows Installer ====================================================================================

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions

We've received several questions about the proposed solutions to enhance NEURD adoption. Below, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions.

📝 Q1: Why is an interactive demo necessary?

A1: An interactive demo is necessary because it allows users to experience NEURD in under 2 minutes without installing anything. This makes it easier for new users to understand the value of the tool and its workflow.

💻 Q2: How will the interactive demo be hosted?

A2: We propose hosting the interactive demo on Binder, Voila, or Streamlit Cloud. These platforms provide a simple and secure way to host interactive notebooks and demos.

📊 Q3: What is the estimated size of the interactive demo?

A3: The estimated size of the interactive demo is around 1-2 MB. This is a small size that can be easily hosted on Binder, Voila, or Streamlit Cloud.

📈 Q4: How will the native Windows installer be created?

A4: We propose creating the native Windows installer using a tool like NSIS or Inno Setup. These tools provide a simple and efficient way to create installers for Windows.

💻 Q5: Will the native Windows installer be compatible with other operating systems?

A5: No, the native Windows installer will only be compatible with Windows. However, we plan to provide installation instructions for other operating systems, such as macOS and Linux, in the future.

📝 Q6: How will the interactive demo and native Windows installer be updated?

A6: We plan to update the interactive demo and native Windows installer regularly to ensure that they remain compatible with the latest versions of NEURD and other dependencies.

💻 Q7: Will the interactive demo and native Windows installer be open-source?

A7: Yes, the interactive demo and native Windows installer will be open-source. This will allow users to contribute to their development and ensure that they remain compatible with the latest versions of NEURD and other dependencies.

📊 Q8: What are the estimated costs of implementing the proposed solutions?

A8: The estimated costs of implementing the proposed solutions are minimal. We plan to use open-source tools and platforms to host the interactive demo and create the native Windows installer.

💻 Q9: How will the proposed solutions be tested?

A9: We plan to test the proposed solutions thoroughly to ensure that they are compatible with the latest versions of NEURD and other dependencies. We will also conduct user testing to ensure that the interactive demo and native Windows installer are user-friendly and easy to use.

📝 Q10: What are the expected benefits of the proposed solutions?

A10: The expected benefits of the proposed solutions are:

  • Lower Adoption Barrier: Users can experience NEURD in under 2 minutes without installing anything.
  • Broader Audience: Windows-first labs can install NEURD with a familiar double-click flow.
  • Increased Adoption: The proposed solutions will make NEURD more accessible to a wider audience, leading to increased adoption and usage.

💻 Conclusion

The proposed solutions will simplify NEURD adoption by providing an interactive demo and a native Windows installer. This will make it easier for new users to experience NEURD and understand its value. With a lower adoption barrier and a broader audience, NEURD will be more accessible to researchers and labs, leading to increased adoption and usage.