# Slicer 5.0: Summary, Highlights and Changelog

**URL:** <https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-5-0-summary-highlights-and-changelog/23754>\
**Category:** Release Notes\
**Created:** [July 28, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-5-0-summary-highlights-and-changelog/23754 "2022-07-28T14:12:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sam\_Horvath](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.slicer.org/sam_horvath/32/3092_2.png) [@Sam\_Horvath](https://discourse.slicer.org/u/Sam_Horvath)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 2:12pm UTC](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-5-0-summary-highlights-and-changelog/23754/2 "2022-07-28T14:12:58Z")

</div>

# Changelog

- [Core](#heading--core)
  - [Application](#heading--application)
  - [Extension](#heading--extension)
  - [Scripting](#heading--scripting)
  - [Internationalization/Localization](#heading--internationalizationlocalization)
  - [Installation](#heading--installation)
  - [IO](#heading--io)
  - [Rendering and display](#heading--rendering-and-display)
  - [Registration](#heading--registration)

- [New Modules](#heading--new-modules)
  - [Text](#heading--text)
  - [Sequences](#heading--sequences)
  - [Lights](#heading--lights)

- [Improved Modules](#heading--improved-modules)
  - [Markups](#heading--markups)
  - [DICOM](#heading--dicom)
  - [Models](#heading--models)
  - [Segmentations](#heading--segmentations)

- [Infrastructure](#heading--infrastructure)
  - [Build system](#heading--build-system)
  - [Platform support](#heading--platform-support)
  - [Dependencies](#heading--dependencies)

- [Extensions](#heading--extensions)
  - [New](#heading--extensions-new)
  - [Updated](#heading--extensions-updated)
  - [Removed](#heading--extensions-removed)

## Core

### Application

- [Revamped module finder!](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-finder-for-selecting-modules/12356)
- [Improved touch screen and trackpad support](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/touchscreen-and-trackpad-interactions/7557)

### Extension

- [New feature: Automatic update of extensions](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-automatic-update-of-extensions/24416)

### Scripting

- [Slicer now uses Python 3!](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/use-full-power-of-python-in-slicer/7162)
- Slicer’s python is now binary-compatible with pypi packages
- Users can install most packages using `slicer.util.pip_install`

### Installation

- [Slicer installation is now fully portable](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-is-now-fully-portable/15410)
- [User-space install on Windows](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-can-be-installed-without-administrator-privileges-on-windows/7137)

### Internationalization/Localization

- [Improved support for utf-8 character strings](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/slicer-switches-to-utf-8-everywhere/10374)

### IO

- [Compressed video support](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/compressed-video-support-in-slicer/9194)
- [Export nodes from data module](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-export-functionality/20950)

### Rendering & Display

- [New support for basic physically based rendering (PBR)](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-basic-support-for-physically-based-rendering-pbr/21725)
- [Interactive Slice Intersections](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/interactive-slice-intersections/21677)
- [Updated Color Scalar Bar](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/color-scalar-bar-reworked-and-upgraded-now-it-s-called-color-legend/21567)
- [Volume display presets](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-configurable-volume-display-presets-in-right-click-menu-and-volumes-module/20640)
- [Improved RGB volume rendering](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/color-rgb-volume-rendering/19732)
- [View maximization](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-maximize-view/19581)
- [3D view tilt lock](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/tilt-lock-in-3d-view/18801)
- [Surface rendering with ambient shadows](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-surface-rendering-with-ambient-shadows-for-improved-depth-perception/16903)
- [Improved curved planar reformat](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/how-to-make-fiducial-points-placed-in-curved-planar-reformatted-image-appear-in-the-original-image/12189)
- [New lightbox image mode in Screen Capture](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-lightbox-contact-image-mode-in-screen-capture-module/10840)
- [3D view watermark](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/watermark-feature/8252)
- [Improved window/level management](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/recent-improvements-in-window-level-management/7284)

### Registration

- [Partial Surface Registration Videotutorial](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/partial-surface-registration-tutorial/21118/4)

## New Modules

### Text

- [Texts module](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-texts/9196)

### Sequences

- [Sequences module moved into Slicer core](https://github.com/Slicer/Slicer/pull/4810)

### Lights

- [Lights module to customize lighting in 3D view](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-to-customize-lighting-in-3d-view/8804)

- Lights module enables [Surface rendering with ambient shadows](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-surface-rendering-with-ambient-shadows-for-improved-depth-perception/16903):

## Improved Modules

### Markups

- New, better widget infrastructure
- New line, curve, angle markups, and more
- [Markups UI improvements](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/changes-to-the-markups-module/19871)
- [Markups pluggable infrastructure](https://github.com/Slicer/Slicer/pull/5349) - easily create new markups types in other modules

### DICOM

- [New DICOMWeb features](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-dicomweb-features-launch-slicer-from-web-browser-and-download-upload-data-sets-to-the-cloud-using-dicomweb/17811)
- [Reworked DICOM browser](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-dicom-browser-is-ready/8819) to make it more responsive and display more relevant information. Additionally, the browser is now [embedded in the layout](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/dicom-browser-layout/8148) rather than as a popup window.
- [New GE Invenia ABUS plugin](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/load-ge-invenia-abus-images-from-dicom/15067/11)

### Models

- [Revamp of Models module with improved model hierarchies](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/improvements-in-atlas-management-model-hierarchy-refactoring/8512)
- [Boolean mesh operations](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-experimental-feature-boolean-operations-union-intersection-difference-on-meshes/16048)
- [New mesh decimation methods](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-decimation-methods-added-quadric-and-fast-quadric/12729)
- [Dynamic Modeler - many new mesh operations](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-dynamic-modeler-parametric-surface-editing-for-biomedical-applications/11759)
  - [Select by Points](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-dynamic-modeler-tool-select-by-points/22165/1)

- [Models are saved in LPS coordinate system by default](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/model-files-are-now-saved-in-lps-coordinate-system/10446)

### Segmentations

- [New vertical toolbar layout](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-segment-editor-layout-vertical-effect-toolbar/19649)
- [Apply operations to all segments support](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-apply-to-all-segments-checkbox-available-in-margin-hollow-smoothing-and-scissors-effect/18587)
- [Compute cross section area of segments](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-for-cross-section-area-measurement/11429)
- [New statistics added](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-segment-statistics-oriented-bounding-box-diameter-and-more/10203)
- [Histogram based thresholding](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-histogram-for-setting-threshold-range-in-segment-editor/9221)
- [Shared label maps](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-shared-labelmap-segmentations/8814)
- [Search and filter segments in table](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-feature-search-and-filter-in-segments-table/7827)
- Introduction of new segment editor effects
  - [Split volume](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-segment-editor-feature-added-split-volume/7324)
  - [Local threshold](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-segment-editor-effect-local-threshold/9233)
  - [Create solid segments](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/fill-or-extract-cavities-in-segmentations-using-the-new-wrap-solidify-effect/11248)
  - [Text engrave/emboss](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-text-engrave-emboss-effect-in-segment-editor/12013)
  - [Smoothing brush](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-segment-editing-feature-smoothing-brush/14577)

## Infrastructure

### Build System

- Embrace C++11 for coding style
- Remove last remnants of TCL support. See details in [dependencies](#heading--dependencies)

### Platform Support

- Support for building on newer Mac OSX (10.15+) and newer Linux builds (Ubuntu 18.04+)

### Dependencies

- Python wheels integration

- Updated dependencies

- New dependencies

- Updated build-time dependencies

- Removed dependencies

## Extensions

_Listed below are extensions added, removed or updated since the `4.10.2` release._

The Slicer [extensions manager](https://slicer.readthedocs.io/en/latest/user_guide/extensions_manager.html) enables Slicer users to install more than 150 extensions written and contributed by their peers from around the world.

### New

- Segmentation
  - [RVXLiverSegmentation](https://github.com/R-Vessel-X/SlicerRVXLiverSegmentation)
  - [DensityLungSegmentation](https://github.com/pzaffino/SlicerDensityLungSegmentation)
  - [SegmentGeometry](https://github.com/jmhuie/Slicer-SegmentGeometry)
  - [Breast DCE-MRI FTV](https://github.com/rnadkarni2/SlicerBreast_DCEMRI_FTV)
  - [TITAN](https://github.com/SlicerMicro/Slicer-TITAN)
  - [T1\_ECVMapping](https://github.com/RivettiLuciano/SlicerT1_ECVMapping)
  - [BrainVolumeRefinement](https://www.slicer.org/wiki/Documentation/Nightly/Extensions/BrainVolumeRefinement)

- Infrastructure / Utilities
  - [SlicerBatchAnonymize](https://github.com/hina-shah/SlicerBatchAnonymize)
  - [SlicerPipelines](https://www.kitware.com/introducing-slicerpipelines-a-coding-free-way-to-create-simple-modules-in-3d-slicer/)
  - [LanguagePacks](https://github.com/Slicer/SlicerLanguagePacks)
  - [Parallel Processing](https://github.com/pieper/SlicerParallelProcessing)
  - [SlicerPRISM](https://githubcomets-vis-interactiveslicerprismrendering.readthedocs.io)
  - [ImageCompare](https://www.slicer.org/wiki/Documentation/Nightly/Extensions/ImageCompare)
  - [OpenAnatomy](https://github.com/PerkLab/SlicerOpenAnatomy)
  - [Osirix ROI importer](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/import-osirix-roi-as-segmentation/10719)
  - [StyleTester](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-developer-feature-styletester/15509)
  - [FreeSurfer support moved to extension](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-extension-slicerfreesurfer/12751)
  - [RawImageGuess - loading data in unknown formats](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-extension-rawimageguess-for-loading-of-images-from-unrecognized-file-format/9219)
  - [New module for user statistics](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-for-measuring-user-statistics/9220)

- Markups
  - [MRUSLandmarking](https://github.com/koegl/SlicerMRUSLandmarking)
  - [SurfaceMarkup](https://github.com/SlicerHeart/SlicerSurfaceMarkup/tree/master)
    - [Discourse](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/extending-the-markups-module/14882/12)

  - [Centerline extraction in SlicerVMTK](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-extract-centerline-in-slicervmtk-extension/12117)

- IGT
  - [Mandibular reconstruction planning and custom surgical guides](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-3d-slicer-extension-for-planning-and-surgical-guide-generation-for-mandibular-bone-reconstruction/17638)
  - [SlicerAblationPlanne](https://github.com/naterex23/SlicerAblationPlanner)r
  - [OrthodonticAnalysis](https://github.com/OrthodonticAnalysis/SlicerOrthodonticAnalysis)
  - [BreastImplantAnalyzer](https://github.com/lancelevine/SlicerBreastImplantAnalyzer#breastimplantanalyzer)
  - [Auto3dgm](https://toothandclaw.github.io)
  - [SlicerCMF](https://cmf.slicer.org/)
  - [KidneyStoneCalculator](https://www.slicer.org/wiki/Documentation/Nightly/Extensions/KidneyStoneCalculator)
  - [SlicerHeart - Baffle Planner](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-module-baffle-planner-for-designing-surface-patches/16799)
  - [Lung CT Analyzer](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-lungctanalyzer-extension-for-lung-ct-segmentation-and-analysis-for-covid-19-assessment/15006)

- Machine learning
  - [SlicerPyTorch](https://github.com/fepegar/SlicerPyTorch)
  - [SlicerAIGT](https://github.com/SlicerIGT/aigt)
  - [TorchIO](https://torchio.readthedocs.io/interfaces/slicer.html)
  - [NVIDIA Ai assisted segmentation](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/ai-assisted-segmentation-extension/9536)

- Registration
  - [SlicerNetstim](https://github.com/netstim/SlicerNetstim)
  - [SlicerANTS](https://github.com/netstim/SlicerANTs)

- Hardware support
  - [SlicerLookingGlass](https://github.com/KitwareMedical/SlicerLookingGlass)
  - [Arduino Controller](https://discourse.slicer.org/t/new-extension-arduinocontroller/12156)

- Web/Cloud
  - [FlywheelSlicerConnect](https://flywheel.io/2019/09/06/flywheel-connect-3d-slicer-extension/)

- Dosimetry
  - [OpenDose](https://gitlab.com/opendose/OpenDose3D)

### Updated

_Referenced below are new features added to existing extensions. Note all the existing extensions have been maintained and updated to account for API and build environment changes._

- IGT

- Web/Cloud

### Removed

List of archived extensions is documented at [Slicer/ExtensionsIndex/ARCHIVE/README.md](https://github.com/Slicer/ExtensionsIndex/blob/main/ARCHIVE/README.md)

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