PCBNew: Stuttering move of component @4k resolution

[DDuck007]

Moving a component in PCBNew (act. master-build) is stuttering at 4k resolution (3840x2160). Using 1920x1080 it moves smoothly.
In Version 5.1.4 there is a smooth movement also at 4k resolution.

- Windows 10 64bit - 1903
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX1080TI, latest driver

Kicad-version:

Application: KiCad
Version: (5.99.0-76-g3bd38ec24), release build
Libraries:
    wxWidgets 3.0.4
    libcurl/7.61.1 OpenSSL/1.1.1 (WinSSL) zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.6 libidn2/2.0.5 libpsl/0.21.0 (+libidn2/2.1.1) nghttp2/1.34.0
Platform: Windows 8 (build 9200), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
    wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
    Boost: 1.68.0
    OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
    Curl: 7.61.1
    Compiler: GCC 8.2.0 with C++ ABI 1013

Build settings:
    KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
    KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
    BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
    KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
    KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
    KICAD_SPICE=ON

[Patrik Bachan (xorly)]

Hi, I might have similar problem. In my case, when I move component in PCBnew, it is stuttering when there is also eeschema window opened and schematic itself is more complex. When I try to move component which comes from some simple hierarchical schematic, stuttering seems to be gone or at least minimal. Closing eeschema removes problem.

Can you "solve" that component stuttering during move by closing eeschema too?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Hi,
there is no difference if EESchema is closed or open - what resolution do you have?

[Patrik Bachan (xorly)]

2560x1440, so it seems like a different bug.

[Michael Kavanagh (michaelkavanagh)]

Is it possible you could upload the project/board to help with testing?

[Seth Hillbrand (sethh)]

Do you have Supersampling x4 enabled in your anti-alias settings?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

I have tested all items in anti-aliasing settings without any difference regarding stuttering while moving part. It is also present if I select standard-graphics.

The testboard attached and all of the 10 other tested boards show the effect with actual master but not with 5.1.4.

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

additional info:
Selecting a wire and moving with key "m" the movement is also stuttering.
Selecting the same wire with "d" or "g" (pull) the wire can be pulled over the whole board with very fluent moving.

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

It seems that Bug #1843177 and this bug are nevertheless somehow connected. My "stuttering" could not be solved by closing EESchema like it was at #1843177, but fix at 44a1cf9f made the movement more fluent. It is not like in 5.1.4, but much better.
What I just found out: The more pins are part has, the more "stuttering" can be seen.

[Michael Kavanagh (michaelkavanagh)]

You have some complex zones mimicking teardrops. Does the performance improve if you delete these?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Removing teardrops does not change the behaviour - the only thing that improved it was the bugfix in 44a1cf9f.

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

@DDuck007, I pushed another fix which *might* improve performance a bit (although it's specific to rectangular pads).

Let me know if it helps any....

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

Fixed in revision 8dd8740fa367d633198ecd965b7abd79d200468f
https://git.launchpad.net/kicad/patch/?id=8dd8740fa367d633198ecd965b7abd79d200468f

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Thank you :-) - I will try the nightly build tomorrow

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Just saw there was already a new version yesterday afternoon (8dd8740fa). I tested it, but unfortunately it did not improve the situation. Compared to 5.1.4 there is still an unusual stuttering while moving components.
Recent master also mentions performance improve - will compile it and test after work ...

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

I built and tested version b5742d09 - no difference.
Fix at 44a1cf9f was the only significant improvement.
I am quite sure: Increasing pins of a part and higher number of parts on a PCB make stuttering worse (everything tested against 5.1.4 where all combinations work fluent).

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

@DDuck007, when you're dragging the footprint, do the ratsnest lines get update as you drag?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

@jeyjey: Yes the lines get updated - both in master and in 5.1.4

[Jeff Young (jeyjey)]

@DDuck007, can you try setting the ratsnest lines to straight instead of curved?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

@jeyjey, I did not have curved ratsnest lines active - now I tried both => unfortunately no difference

[Seth Hillbrand (sethh)]

@DDuck007- Does the stutter happen in the following cases (please use no antialiasing for now):

1) 3840x2160, pcbnew window full screen
2) 3840x2160, pcbnew window 1/4 screen size
3) 1920x1080, pcbnew window full screen
4) 1920x1080, pcbnew window 1/4 screen size

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

@sethh - Just tested (without antialiasing):

1) 3840x2160, pcbnew window full screen
2) 3840x2160, pcbnew window 1/4 screen size
==> no difference between full screen and 1/4: stuttering like reported

3) 1920x1080, pcbnew window full screen
4) 1920x1080, pcbnew window 1/4 screen size
==> also no difference between full screen and 1/4: much better, but directly compared to 5.1.4 still a little bit stuttering (5.1.4 moves in one flow ...)

[Seth Hillbrand (sethh)]

@DDuck007- Can you look at the video in lp:1833834 and let us know if your movement stutter looks the same?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

@sethh: Yes it look like at the beginning of the video when the part was selected and moved.
Moving a wire and/or via does not show the movement stutter.

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Please find attached a video showing "move component" both in master and 5.1.4.

[Ian McInerney (imcinerney)]

@Dduck007, does it behave this way if the ratsnest is completely hidden?

[DDuck007 (dduck007.01)]

Yes, it also behaves this way if ratsnest is completely disabled.

[KiCad Janitor (kicad-janitor)]

KiCad bug tracker has moved to Gitlab. This report is now available here: https://gitlab.com/kicad/code/kicad/-/issues/1817