[Lcd4linux-devel] Re: Python bindings for lcd4linux?

[Dan F. <tem...@ya...>]

Hi lcd4linux team!

I've been talking to Michael regarding a python plugin to
your cool application. 
I already got a dynamic layout manager written in python but 
it is a bit intrusive to the rest of the C-code, so we will 
be starting off with a simpler python plugin.


On Mon, 2005-05-02 at 16:33 +0200, Michael Reinelt wrote: 
> Hi Dan,
> 
> I've added you to the developer list. Please set up your CVS. If you
> need any assistance, please let me know.
>
Thanx, i got cvs up and running now. 

As for the first step of the python integration....

I've updated your plugin_python.c file in such a way that it:
- has a small footprint (nothing else is changed in the source code)
- is independent of the lcd4linux_wrapper*
- can operate even when main() is in C
- (probably) can co-exist with lcd4linux_wrapper (not tested)*  
- can execute any global python function that takes a string in and
returns a string

*lcd4linux_wrapper.c=whatever_name_we_decide.c

I also cleaned up the example python code a bit.

To make python_plugin.c compile and link i had to add:
DEFS+=$(PYTHON_CPPFLAGS)
LIBS+=$(PYTHON_EXTRA_LIBS)
to the Makefile 

I also had to:

export PYTHONPATH=.

in order to make the lcd4linux executable find the python code.
When things stabilises a bit i will write a install script 
that will put that piece of code under /usr/lib/pythonX.X/site-packages
where python searches by default.

I have not checked in anything of this, I'm just sending you the bits of
code you need to do a peer-review of the code.
 
I think that's it. 
Oh, one more thing. This is an example of what you can put in
your lcd4linux.conf to make it all work..

Widget PythonNetDev {
    class 'Text'
    expression python::exec('lcd4linuxplugins', 'getNetDev', 'eth0')
    prefix 'eth0: '
    width 23
    align 'R'
    update tick
}

don't forget the "export PYTHONPATH=." when testing directly from build
directory :)

/Dan