[Hamlib-developer] hamlib-1.1.0 release note

[Frank S. <vk...@ix...>]

Hi fellow linux fans,

Not sure if you got htis or not, so here goes :-)

73's de vk3fcs/km5ws



Hamlib 1.1.0 Project Release
============================

Introduction
------------

Application programmers: Do you dream for a common API to
control any type of HAM Radio equipment that has a control
port?

Are you waiting to build the next cool GUI program to
really drive all that HAM gear you or others have?

Well, this project is here to help you get there :-)

hamlib-1.1.0 finally released (alpha). The purpose of this project 
is to develop stable, flexible, shared libraries that enable 
quicker development of Amateur Radio Equipment Control 
Applications. It will (eventually) run on various flavors 
of Unix, Linux, and Windows. It is based on a shared library 
frontend abstraction layer/backend approach. 

Application programmers will see a common frontend (abstraction
layer) API, and backend shared libs can be loaded on demand when
an application wishes to control a certain radio type. Seeking 
contributor help for a really cool project. 

Although alpha code, proof of concept has been tested 
against FT747, FT847 and IC706 rigs. 

It has gone through a major rework since its inception and
testing on my poor old FT747 (smoke test :)

Where to find it
----------------

Here is the main page and links to CVS, major releases
and links to news groups.

See http://sourceforge.net/projects/hamlib 

for details. 

There exists a mailing list for developers at

 ham...@li...


Example code:
------------

This "C" code snippet sets any rig to 21,235.175 Mhz USB, 
Normal bandwidth.

/* 15m USB */

retcode = rig_set_freq(my_rig, RIG_VFO_CURR, 21235175); /* 15m  */
retcode = rig_set_mode(my_rig, RIG_VFO_CURR,
RIG_MODE_USB,RIG_PASSBAND_NORMAL);

see hamlib/tests/testrig.c for an example.


Help Wanted
-----------

Get on board and help us write the frontend and backend 
libs for all the rigs out there. If we can talk to it, 
we want to control it !! 

If you have a rig to test with thats cool, but not
essential. I currently develop on Linux 2.2 kernel,
but keen to get cross compilation via autoconf to
most OS's out there .

Status
------

Although considered alpha code, it does work for the few
backends we have written so far. Not all API is
implemented, but just enough to prove our design, and
to select VFO and frequencies etc..

API Documentation is kind of sparse (contributors welcome) but
dont let that throw you :-) Currently there is no web site, apart
from project site on source forge at

http://sourceforge.net/projects/hamlib

But there is always help on the mailing list :)

Our aim is to firm up our API, and get some more backends
underway.

73's de Frank Singleton (vk3fcs/km5ws)
   and  Stephane Fillod (f4cfe)