SoftIOC in a Linux-like environment

Status of Document

DRAFT

This document, in a preliminary state, was created for educational tutorial.

Documentation

https://dls-controls.github.io/pythonSoftIOC/master/index.html

https://dls-controls.github.io/pythonSoftIOC/master/reference/api.html

https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/23.1.x/user-guide/install/macos.html

Python SoftIOC with CONDA

As with all Python projects, it is good practice to create a development environment in which to install all the libraries necessary for testing:

Procedure for CONDA Environment

$ conda create --name <name_of_environment> python=3.8.13
$ conda activate <name_of_environment>
$ pip install cothread==2.20.0
$ pip install softioc==4.5.0

This is the minimal environment for operating a SoftIOC in Python.

It is not possible o use cothread in Windows. In this case it is necessary to use asyncio:

Installing asyncio instead of cothread in Windows

$ pip install asyncio==3.4.3

See https://dls-controls.github.io/pythonSoftIOC/master/how-to/use-asyncio-in-an-ioc.html for an example of softIOC running with asyncio.

It is good practice to exit all environments before activating the desired environment in order to avoid problems.

$ conda deactivate
$ conda activate <name_of_environment>

Test SoftIOC with CS-Studio

To do tests on the IOC you can either use the terminal from which the IOC itself was launched, or you can use CS-Studio Phoebus.

1.Terminal

(epics) $ python test.py 
INFO: PVXS QSRV2 is loaded, permitted, and ENABLED.
Starting iocInit
############################################################################
## EPICS 7.0.7.0
## Rev. 7.0.7.99.0.2
## Rev. Date 7.0.7.99.0.2
############################################################################
iocRun: All initialization complete
Python 3.8.13 (default, Oct 19 2022, 17:54:22) 
[Clang 12.0.0 ] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
(InteractiveConsole)
>>> dbl()
MY-DEVICE-PREFIX:AI
MY-DEVICE-PREFIX:AO