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https://github.com/picotech/picosdk-python-wrappers

A set of Python bindings and examples for PicoScope® oscilloscope and PicoLog® data logger products.
https://github.com/picotech/picosdk-python-wrappers

linux macosx picolog picoscope picoscope-oscilloscope python python2 python3 windows

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A set of Python bindings and examples for PicoScope® oscilloscope and PicoLog® data logger products.

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README 

        
# picosdk-python-wrappers



Welcome to the PicoSDK for Python. It allows you to control PicoScope devices in your own Python programs.



## Getting started



To use this code you will need to install the PicoSDK C libraries.



### Microsoft Windows



Please visit [our Downloads page](https://www.picotech.com/downloads) to download the 32-bit or 64-bit PicoSDK C Libraries for Windows. 

Please take care to match the "bitness" of your python to the PicoSDK.



### Linux



Follow the instructions from our [Linux Software & Drivers for Oscilloscopes and Data Loggers page](https://www.picotech.com/downloads/linux) 

to install the required driver packages for your product.



### macOS



Please visit [our Downloads page](https://www.picotech.com/downloads) to download the PicoSDK C Libraries for MacOS.



## Installing the python driver bindings



A `distutils` installer is provided. After you have installed the PicoSDK

driver package (see above), the Python package can be installed using the

following command in the top-level directory:



    pip install .



If you are not using a virtualenv or are not elevated, use:



    python setup.py install

	

=======

For using the AS108 you will need to use the following as well:



	python setupPicosynth.py install

	



On macOS and Linux you will either need to use `sudo` with this command, to

install into the system folders, or to install for the current user only you

can use:



    pip install . --user



Within python, the library for `import` is called `picosdk`.



## Compatibility



This code is written to be compatible with both Python 2.7 and Python 3 (any version).



If you find a compatibility problem please raise an [Issue](https://www.picotech.com/tech-support), listing all the versions you can find (python, numpy, 

picosdk commit hash, etc.) and your error message(s).



## C interface



You can access C driver functions directly (ctypes calls) by their original C name, following the [Programmer's

Guides](https://github.com/picotech/picosdk-python-wrappers#programmers-guides) exactly. Examples are provided in the folders like `psX000[a]Examples/`.



### Programmer's Guides



You can download Programmer's Guides providing a description of the API functions for the relevant PicoScope or 

PicoLog driver from our [Documentation page](https://www.picotech.com/library/documentation).



## Python interface



We are in the process of adding Pythonic wrappers around the C functions. If we haven't got to your feature yet or your device is listed as one of the [unsupported models](https://github.com/picotech/picosdk-python-wrappers#unsupported-models),

let us know that you're waiting in an [Issue](https://www.picotech.com/tech-support)



### Unsupported models



The following drivers and devices are not yet supported:



* `plcm3` - PicoLog CM3 Current Data Logger

* `ps3000` - PicoScope 3204, 3205, 3206, 3223, 3224, 3423 & 3423



### Dependencies



As well as depending on the C libraries, the Python wrappers use some Python libraries like `numpy`. Many of the

examples scripts also use the `matplotlib` plotting library. You can install these dependencies with pip as follows:



    pip install -r requirements.txt

    pip install -r requirements-for-examples.txt



### Driver-agnostic examples



The `anyScopeExamples` folder contains examples in pure python which do the same thing as the C-style examples, but

in a driver-generic way.  These examples are currently not being developed further but are still avaliable to use 

and develop futher yourself.



### Python Classes



#### Library



`picosdk.library.Library` contains a base class for each of the driver classes. It does the job of translating python

types into C ones, and back again, and some unit conversions to get rid of nano, micro and milli-style prefixes. It also

handles any differences in programming API between PicoScope driver versions.



#### Device



`picosdk.device.Device` contains the concrete class which represents a PicoScope with a valid handle. It caches some

information about the device state, like the currently selected voltage ranges of the channels.



It is implemented in terms of the Library class' public interface, and deals almost entirely with python types. The

main exception is its handling of numpy arrays - it (knowing the voltage ranges) is responsible for converting the raw

ADC counts that the driver uses for amplitude into physical units.



## Testing this code



Check which device driver your device uses, and check the constants at the top of test/test_helpers.py to enable the 

relevant drivers for connected-device tests. (most tests use this).



To check which driver your device uses, you can use `picosdk.discover`:



    from picosdk.discover import find_all_units

    

    scopes = find_all_units()

    

    for scope in scopes:

        print(scope.info)

        scope.close()



You should then configure test/test_helpers.py's list of connected devices, so it can run all the tests we have

on your device.



To run the unit tests, you will need to install nose (e.g. `pip install nose`.) Then, run `nosetests` in the root of 

the repo. 



## Obtaining support



Please visit our [Support page](https://www.picotech.com/tech-support) to contact us directly or visit our [Test and Measurement Forum](https://www.picotech.com/support/forum17.html) to post questions.



## Copyright and licensing



See [LICENSE.md](LICENSE.md) for license terms. 



*PicoScope*, *PicoLog* and *PicoSDK* are registered trademarks of Pico Technology Ltd. 



*Windows* is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. 



*macOS* is a registered trademark of Apple Inc. 



*Linux* is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.



Copyright © 2018-2019 Pico Technology Ltd. All rights reserved.