Removing of libsplash dependency

[psychocoderHPC]

I will remove the dependency libsplash latest on 31.10.2020.

The following plugins should be updated before:

• PhaseSpace - will be updated by @franzpoeschel
• ParticleCalorimeter @franzpoeschel
• Radiation - should be updated by @PrometheusPi
• HDF5Writer - will be removed, please use new plugin openPMDWriter
• density profile see: libSplash still used in HDF5 density profile #3515 @sbastrakov
• plugin MacroParticleCounter @franzpoeschel

@PrometheusPi @HighIander Who can do this, who knows the plugin best?

[PrometheusPi]

@psychocoderHPC I will do the radiation plugin - ParticleCalorimeter is probably best handled by @n01r - but he has no time.

[sbastrakov]

We discussed offline with @psychocoderHPC , I could take on some work on this, at start of October. Do not have a particular preference.

[sbastrakov]

Good note on updating the docs when all this is implemented: #3361 (comment)

[steindev]

libsplash does not compile anymore against a recent version of the HDF5 library. We really should get this done. Volunteers?

[franzpoeschel]

If there are still unassigned plugins to convert, I think I can take one. Which one would be the best?

[steindev]

If there are still unassigned plugins to convert, I think I can take one. Which one would be the best?

Wonderful! How about ParticleCalorimeter? Thank you so much!

[steindev]

UPDATE: Just chatted with @PrometheusPi. He is working on the Radiation Plugin.

[sbastrakov]

So with these updates only density profile is not assigned? If so, i will take it

[franzpoeschel]

How about ParticleCalorimeter

Ok, sounds good. I'll have a look.

[psychocoderHPC]

@franzpoeschel There is also a very simple plugin which used libsplash MacroParticleCounter for supercells

[sbastrakov]

(Nevermind my deleted message, I can't read)

[PrometheusPi]

@psychocoderHPC what will happen to PICToSplash after libSplash has been removed. Will it be still available and usable, as e.g. here?

[psychocoderHPC]

@psychocoderHPC what will happen to PICToSplash after libSplash has been removed. Will it be still available and usable, as e.g. here?

This helper will be removed, there is an openPMD equivalent converter available.

[psychocoderHPC]

@sbastrakov What ist he progress for the rewrite of the density profile?

[sbastrakov]

@psychocoderHPC I still haven't done it. I made an example file to test the old implementation, but couldn't make it work actually due to missing attributes I don't understand. I guess I could skip that part and just replace it with openPMD using the PNG example you shared with me, that seems rather straightforward.

[sbastrakov]

So 5/6 now.

[steindev]

Note, once this is finished, we should also rewrite the dependency section of the manual (https://picongpu.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install/dependencies.html)

[psychocoderHPC]

closed with #3744