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= Goal = | = Goal = | ||
− | + | Provide an open source, programmable rs232 smart terminal in particular for use with microcontrollers like the arduino. Document it well enough so people can relatively easily extend and adapt the program. Make it easy to download and use even for those without a desire to dive into the code. Will assume some knowledge of Python, and a Python Enivronment to run it in. Currently Python 2.7 | |
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− | + | = What/Why = | |
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Almost all my Arduino and other microcontroller projects use serial communications for a least debugging. And in many cases I pair the Arduino with a Raspberry Pi for a very flexible system. A good serial monitor, or terminal program is useful in this sort of project. Because I wanted features not in most terminals and the ability to program it myself, I started one from scratch using Python. | Almost all my Arduino and other microcontroller projects use serial communications for a least debugging. And in many cases I pair the Arduino with a Raspberry Pi for a very flexible system. A good serial monitor, or terminal program is useful in this sort of project. Because I wanted features not in most terminals and the ability to program it myself, I started one from scratch using Python. | ||
− | The program is also designed to be a stand alone data logging, environmental monitoring program. In this case it will kick off and run without an operator. Data | + | The program is also designed to be a stand alone data logging, environmental monitoring program. In this case it will kick off and run without an operator. Data will be access over the web. I will largely leave a discussion of these features to another page, but probably about half the code is devoted to these features. |
− | Currently the terminal waits for a | + | Currently the terminal waits for a cr ( or lf i will check ) until it displays ( or make available for processing ) the received string. This make sense for my application, it help the processing. This may not work best for you, let me know. |
So what are the features? | So what are the features? | ||
* Free open source | * Free open source | ||
− | * Runs across OSs Linux ( inc | + | * Runs across OSs Linux ( inc Raspberry Pi ), Mac or Windows |
* Python | * Python | ||
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* Easily adjusted serial communications parameters | * Easily adjusted serial communications parameters | ||
* Multiple, preloaded with data entry fields. | * Multiple, preloaded with data entry fields. | ||
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* Copy all or part of receive area. | * Copy all or part of receive area. | ||
* Programmable | * Programmable | ||
− | + | * Database Interface | |
− | * Database Interface | ||
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* Easily Modified or Replaceable GUI | * Easily Modified or Replaceable GUI | ||
* Parameter file for wide range of modifications of program behavior. | * Parameter file for wide range of modifications of program behavior. | ||
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* Uses standard Python logging class. | * Uses standard Python logging class. | ||
* Includes some advanced data logging features in addition to database data logging. | * Includes some advanced data logging features in addition to database data logging. | ||
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A much earlier version of this terminal was described in my instructable [[http://www.instructables.com/id/Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/ Python Terminal for Cheap Pi Arduino Connection]] It may have some information that is useful, but the program has grown a lot since then. | A much earlier version of this terminal was described in my instructable [[http://www.instructables.com/id/Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/ Python Terminal for Cheap Pi Arduino Connection]] It may have some information that is useful, but the program has grown a lot since then. | ||
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== My Environment/Your Environment == | == My Environment/Your Environment == | ||
− | The program has a better chance of running if your environment is not too much different from mine. The most important is that it is Python | + | The program has a better chance of running if your environment is not too much different from mine. The most important is that it is Python 2.7 or compatible. |
Before you begin to install you should know a bit about the environment that I have used to build, test and run the terminal. If your environment differs too much you may have trouble getting it to run. | Before you begin to install you should know a bit about the environment that I have used to build, test and run the terminal. If your environment differs too much you may have trouble getting it to run. | ||
− | I run Python mostly using the install that comes with Anaconda Spyder and often use the IDE it installs. This is not necessary, it is just an nice install that downloads a lot of stuff that technical folks find useful. I have use conda and pip to add to this install and do not know offhand all that is in it. | + | I run Python mostly using the install that comes with Anaconda Spyder and often use the IDE it installs. This is not necessary, it is just an nice install that downloads a lot of stuff that technical folks find useful. I have use conda and pip to add to this install and do not know offhand all that is in it. It is Python 2.7. You can look at the include statements to get some idea of what you might need to add. Or you can just keep running it and add the packages it complains about. |
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== Download == | == Download == | ||
− | + | I have not quite decided where to host the source code ( it is Python and you can run directly from the source ) so email me ( use this link [[User:Russ_hensel]] ) to get access. | |
You will get a zip file, unzip it and you should get: | You will get a zip file, unzip it and you should get: | ||
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.... whatever --| | .... whatever --| | ||
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− | |-- | + | |-- SmartTerminal |
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Put them in your system making "....whatever" anything convenient for your Python ( that is move the files to where you keep your Python source ). | Put them in your system making "....whatever" anything convenient for your Python ( that is move the files to where you keep your Python source ). | ||
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== Command Line Arguments == | == Command Line Arguments == | ||
− | If you run with the command line parameters=paramaters_b then after the regular parameters file | + | If you run with the command line parameters=paramaters_b then after the regular parameters file run, the system looks for parameters_b.py and uses that to override values that you might want to tweak ( or completely redo. There are two examples in the directory follow the pattern in them and you should be fine ). |
This can be especially useful if you want to run two copies connected to different ports and possibly running in different modes. In this case it is also nice to change ( its in parameters ) the '''icon''' and '''color''' for each instance of the program. You can write or use the little bat file to start them ( although this leaves a dos console hanging around ) Command line arguments can also be placed in shortcuts. In either case they may take some tweaking to run in/from your file locations. | This can be especially useful if you want to run two copies connected to different ports and possibly running in different modes. In this case it is also nice to change ( its in parameters ) the '''icon''' and '''color''' for each instance of the program. You can write or use the little bat file to start them ( although this leaves a dos console hanging around ) Command line arguments can also be placed in shortcuts. In either case they may take some tweaking to run in/from your file locations. | ||
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= Design = | = Design = | ||
− | + | [[Python Smart Terminal Technical]] | |
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= Additional Info = | = Additional Info = | ||
*Click on the category smart terminal below ( and perhaps the others as well ) | *Click on the category smart terminal below ( and perhaps the others as well ) | ||
− | + | *[[Smart Terminal as Smart Data Logger]] obsolete | |
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− | *[[Smart Terminal as Smart Data Logger]] obsolete | ||
*[[Smart Terminal GUI]] | *[[Smart Terminal GUI]] | ||
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*[ https://github.com/russ-hensel/python_smart_terminal python_smart_terminal at git hub] | *[ https://github.com/russ-hensel/python_smart_terminal python_smart_terminal at git hub] | ||
*[http://www.instructables.com/id/Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/ Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/] Info on much earlier version may or may not be useful. | *[http://www.instructables.com/id/Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/ Python-Terminal-for-Cheap-Pi-Arduino-Connection/] Info on much earlier version may or may not be useful. | ||
− | + | [[category:Russ]] [[Category:Arduino/RaspberryPi]] [[Category:SmartTerminal]] |