PreciseTracking

Fine grained Dynamic updating for Mathematica

Introduction

Dynamic can only track symbols mutations so if you move the slider in:

asso = <|"a" -> 1, "b" -> 1|>;

Slider@Dynamic@asso["a"]

Dynamic[Print@"a"; asso["a"]]
Dynamic[Print@"b"; asso["b"]]

You will see "a" and "b" printed together. It is a real problem for larger applications.

Here is a prototype solution that handles 'track expression' + 'update object' instead of e.g. creating artificial symbols to manage the binding.

User does not need to worry about that, only to specify what should be tracked:

<< PreciseTracking`

asso = <|"a" -> 1, "b" -> 1|>;

ToTrackedAssociation @ asso;  (*now asso[key] = value will try to update associated dynamics *)

Slider@Dynamic@asso["a"]

PreciseDynamic[Print@"a"; asso["a"], asso["a"]] (*second argument serves like a 'TrackedTarget'*)
PreciseDynamic[Print@"b"; asso["b"], asso["b"]]

TODO

• support for simple 'flat' associations
• track many targets
• do not update if value didn't change
• two-way PreciseDynamic, e.g. proper behavior for Slider @ PreciseDynamic @ ...
• handle kernel quit/restart
• support for nested associations
• robustness measures, don't reapply ToTrackedAssociation etc

Installation

Manually

Go to 'releases' tab and download appropriate .paclet file.

Run PacletInstall @ path/to/the.paclet file

or using MPM` package

If you don't have MPM` yet, run:

Import["https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubapod/mpm/master/install.m"]

and then:

Needs @ "MPM`"    
MPM`MPMInstall["kubapod", "PreciseTracking"]