Python interface to FlexLib API

Mark Erbaugh

Is anyone aware of / working on a Python interface to the FlexLib API? This would be quite useful. I'm a competent Python programmer, but haven't dabbled in .NET.

N7BCP

The Flex libraries should be compatible with IronPython.

Bill - K7UOP

I remember when I was working with Python on the Raspberry Pi (uses a variation of Debian Linux) that .NET libraries are available. Don't know how extensive they are but would be worth looking into (maybe you already have (?).

Python compatibility might open up some apps on those smaller platforms.

Mark Erbaugh

I've not worked with .net, but I found a ,net add-on for Python. The examples showed how to interact with Office. I'm guessing it wouldn't be that hard to use the Flexlib API. I assume that the C++ code would have to be compiled into a DLL, or is that DLL already part of SmartSDR? I've not worked with Iron Python, but that's another option. The thing about standard Python is that there are so many add on libraries and some aren't fully compatible with Iron Python. Martin Ewing published a Python based for the Beable **** in a recent QST. It would be nice to be able to integrate that with Flexlib.

Mark Erbaugh

Another thought: would it make more sense for The Python library totalk directly to the Flex using. Python TCP/UDP library?

James Whiteway

The Flexlib api is written in C#. When I downloaded it, I had to recompile it to use the dll's.
Once I did that, all was well. Other than I'm still, trying to actually connect to my 6300 and
have not quite succeeded yet!!! :-)
But, then again, I'm not a C# guru and have been attempting to do it in VB.Net. Such fun!
james
WD5GWY
 

Mark Erbaugh

Update: I was able to access the FlexLib API .DLLs from C Python 2.7.9 using PythonDotNet at https://github.com/geographika/PythonDotNet. The problem with original Python for .NET at http://pythonnet.sourceforge.net/ is that it seems to be only form 32-bit versions.

I used the version for WIndow2012 and it works with Windows 7. One gotcha that took me a while to figure out was that for the clr.pyt and PythonRuntime.dll files, you need to open the file properties and click "UNBLOCK" for .NET to allow them, since they were downloaded.

I just put the clr.pyt, PythonRuntime.dll and the FlexLib API DLLs the DLLs folder of my Python installation.

w1smc

Does anyone have a completed example of using the API with Python?

I'm using PyCharm as an IDE and cannot figure out how to use the FLEXAPI.

Where do I place the DLL's in my Project?

And what code is used to access the DLL's?