Language - C: Difference between revisions

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[[File:icon-C++.png|64x64px]] C++ is a general purpose, cross-platform programming language with a vast user base.  
__NOTOC__
[[Category:Language]]
We provide support for the C language in all major operating systems. We also provide instructions on how to get your project started in a number of common development environments. Select your operating system and preferred development environment below, and follow the instructions to get your project running with Phidgets.


__TOC__
If you do not know which development environment you want to use, or your development environment of choice is not listed, we recommend starting with GCC as the simplest path to getting your code running.


==Support==
Once you have set up your development environment to run with Phidgets, we recommend you follow our guide on [[Phidget Programming Basics]]. The guide will showcase the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets, with examples in C.


{{LanguageSupport|C/C++|the complete Phidget API|all Phidget devices.|various Windows compilers (including Borland, Cygwin, and MinGW), Mac OSX, and Linux}}
== Setup Guide ==


==Quick Downloads==
<div class="phd-deck-sequence">
 
{{PT3_C_CHOOSE}}{{PT3_C_WIN_VS}}{{PT3_C_WIN_VS_1}}{{PT3_C_WIN_VS_2}}{{PT3_C_WIN_CB}}
Just need the C/C++ drivers, libraries, and examples?  Here they are:
{{PT3_C_WIN_GCC}}{{PT3_C_MAC_GCC}}{{PT3_C_LNX_GCC}}{{PT3_C_SBC_GCC}}
 
C/C++ API Documentation:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API Manual Download] or [http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/web/cdoc/index.html (HTML online version)]
*[[General API]] (more help on functions common to all Phidgets)
*[[Device List | Device Specific APIs]] (more help on functions specific to your Phidget)
 
C/C++ Example Code:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/VCpp_2.1.8.20110615.zip  Visual Studio for C/C++ Example Code]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/phidget21-c-examples_2.1.8.20110615.tar.gz Generic C/C++ Example Code]
 
Libraries and Drivers:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21-x86_2.1.8.20110615.zip 32 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21-x64_2.1.8.20110615.zip 64 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21bcc_2.1.8.20110615.zip Borland C++ Libraries] (You also need one of the two Windows drivers above)
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/libphidget_2.1.8.20111028.tar.gz General Linux Libraries] ([[OS - Linux | Linux Library Setup Instructions]])
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/Phidget_2.1.8.20111103.dmg General Mac OSX Libraries] ([[OS - Mac OSX | Mac OSX Library Setup Instructions]])
 
==Getting started with C/C++==
 
If you are new to writing code for Phidgets, we recommend starting by running, then modifying existing examples. This will allow you to:
{{ExampleCodeReasons}}
 
Instructions are divided up by operating system. Choose:
*[[#Windows|Windows 2000 / XP / Vista / 7]]
*[[#Mac OSX |Mac OSX]]
*[[#Linux | Linux]] (including PhidgetSBC)
 
==Windows==
 
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21-x86_2.1.8.20110615.zip 32 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21-x64_2.1.8.20110615.zip 64 bit Windows (drivers, with libraries)]
 
C/C++ programs on Windows depend on three files, which the installers above put onto your system:
* Phidget21.dll contains the actual Phidgets library, which is used at run-time.  If you used our installer, it's already correctly placed in C:\Windows\System32.  It can be manually installed - check our [[Manual Installation instructions]].
* Phidget21.lib is used by your compiler to link to the dll.  Your compiler has to know where this file is.  Our installer puts Phidget21.lib into C:\Program Files\Phidgets.  Phidget21.lib is written to be compatible with most compilers - but your specific compiler may need a different format.  Check our documentation for your specific compiler below for details.
* Phidget21.h lists all the Phidget API function calls available to your code.  Your compiler also has to know where this file is.  By default, our installer puts Phidget21.h into C:\Program Files\Phidgets so you can either point your compiler to that location, or copy and link to it in a directory for your project workspace.  We offer some instruction below, by compiler.
 
Running the examples and writing your own code can be fairly compiler-specific, so we include instructions for each compiler below.
 
===Visual Studio===
 
Start by downloading the Visual C/C++ Examples.  Our examples were written in Visual Studio 2005, but Visual Studio 2008 / 2010 will easily upgrade them.
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/VCpp_2.1.8.20111028.zip Microsoft Visual C/C++ Examples]
 
'''Note:''' C++/CLI (used to be called Managed C++) is very different from mainstream C/C++.  If you must use C++/CLI, consider calling the .NET library, instead of the C API normally used from C/C++.  We have no documentation for using C++/CLI.
 
Microsoft makes free versions of Visual Studio available known as Express Editions.  The Express editions are somewhat limited in functionality - in practice this does not seem to be a problem for most people.
 
 
====Visual Studio 2010====
 
'''Use Our Examples'''
 
To run the examples, you will download them and unpack them into a folder.  From Visual Studio, to load all projects, go to File > Open > Project / Solution, and open "Visual Studio Phidgets Examples" in the VCpp folder of the examples. A wizard will open and convert the projects to VS2010 format.
 
If you browse around within the opened projects, you'll note that the examples are specific to each Phidget.  So, you'll need to find the source code ''for your specific device'' within the example package. If you aren't sure what the software example for your device is called, check the [[Device List | Getting Started guide for your device]].
 
'''Write Your Own Code'''
 
<span style="color:red;">To be completed, see the Visual Studio 2005 for suggested content (i.e. how to create and link a blank project)</span>
 
 
====Visual Studio 2008====
 
'''Use Our Examples'''
 
To run the examples, you will download them and unpack them into a folder.  From Visual Studio, to load all projects, go to File > Open > Project / Solution, and open "Visual Studio Phidgets Examples" in the VCpp folder of the examples.  A wizard will open and convert the projects to VS2008 format.
 
If you browse around within the opened projects, you'll note that the examples are specific to each Phidget.  So, you'll need to find the source code ''for your specific device'' within the example package.  If you aren't sure what the software example for your device is called, check the [[Device List | Getting Started guide for your device]].
 
'''Write Your Own Code'''
 
<span style="color:red;">To be completed, see the Visual Studio 2005 for suggested content (i.e. how to create and link a blank project)</span>
 
====Visual Studio 2005====
 
'''Use Our Examples'''
 
The Phidget examples were written using Visual Studio 2005, so they will work with no conversion.
 
To run the examples, you first download them [[#Visual Studio|from above]] and unpack them into a folder.  Then from Visual Studio, to load all projects, go to File > Open > Project / Solution, and open "Visual Studio Phidgets Examples" in the VCpp folder of the examples.
 
This will load all of the examples available for C/C++, and then you can set your main project to be the one that matches your device.  If you aren't sure what the software example for your device is called, check the software object listed in the [[Device List | Getting Started guide for your device]].
 
Once you have the C/C++ examples running, we have a [[#Follow The Examples|teaching section]] below to help you follow them.
 
'''Write Your Own Code'''
 
When you are building a project from scratch, or adding Phidget function calls to an existing project, you'll need to configure your compiler / development environment to properly link the Phidget C/C++ libraries.  To link libraries in Visual C++ 2005:
 
* Generate a new C/C++ console project with a descriptive name such as PhidgetTest.
* Open the project properties window.
* Navigate to Configuration Properties | C/C++
* Add "C:\Program Files\Phidgets" to the additional directories field.
* Navigate to Configuration Properties | Linker | Input.
* Edit the additional dependencies and add "C:\Program  Files\Phidgets\phidget21.lib".
 
The project now has access to the Phidget21 function calls and you are ready to begin coding.
 
Then, in your code, you will need to include the Phidget library:
 
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=cpp>
 
  #include <phidget21.h>
 
</source>
</font>
</div>
</div>


The same [[#Follow The Examples|teaching section]] which describes the examples also has further resources for programming your Phidget.
====Visual Studio 2003====
* How would customer load our examples?  Wizard does not work backwards, I assume.
'''Write Your Own Code'''
<span style="color:red;">To be completed, see the Visual Studio 2005 for suggested content (i.e. how to create and link a blank project)</span>
====Visual Studio 6====
* How would customer load our examples?  Wizard does not work backwards, I assume.
'''Write Your Own Code'''
<span style="color:red;">To be completed, see the Visual Studio 2005 for suggested content (i.e. how to create and link a blank project)</span>
===Borland===
*[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API Reference]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21bcc_2.1.8.20110615.zip Borland C++ Libraries] (You also need one of the two Windows drivers above)
To link libraries in Borland C/C++:
Make sure to download the additional Borland-specific libraries in addition to the drivers you already have through the ''Getting Started'' page [[Device List | for your device]]:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/libraries/phidget21bcc_2.1.8.20110615.zip Borland C++ Libraries]
To compile and link your program:
bcc32 -I"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -L"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" phidget21bcc.lib example.c
===GCC on Windows===
*[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API Reference]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/phidget21-c-examples_2.1.8.20111028.tar.gz Generic C/C++ Examples]
====Cygwin====
To compile and link your program:
gcc example.c -I"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets" -L"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets" -lphidget21
====MinGW====
To compile and link your program:
gcc example.c -I"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -L"C:\Program Files\Phidgets" -lphidget21
===Dev C++===
*[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API Reference]
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/phidget21-c-examples_2.1.8.20111028.tar.gz Generic C/C++ Examples]
In order to control Phidgets with Dev-C++, the library file will need to be in a format that Dev-C++ accepts, as described in the following steps. The following steps works with Dev-C++ 4.9.9.2.
Download the reimp tool(Please download it here), and type the following command to create libphidget21.a.
<br/>
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=bash>
reimp.exe "C:\Program Files\Phidgets\phidget21.lib"
</source>
</font>
</div>
Place libphidget21.a in <Dev-Cpp Install Directory>/lib
<br/>
Open up your project in Dev-C++, and traverse to Project Options->Parameters->Linker, and enter the following to link to the library: <div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=bash>
-lphidget21
</source>
</font>
</div>
Next, the path to phidget21.h will need to be specified.
Traverse to Project Options->Directories->Include Directories, and add the path to the Phidget installation directory:
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=bash>
C:\Program Files\Phidgets
</source>
</font>
</div>
The 64 bit version of phidget21.lib is not supported on Dev C/C++. Please use the 32 bit version of phidget21.lib.
==Mac OSX==
C/C++ has excellent support on Mac OSX through the gcc compiler. 
The first step in using C/C++ on Mac is to install the Phidget libraries.  Compile and install them as explained on the [[Device List|getting started guide for your device]].  Then, the [[OS - Mac OSX]] page also describes the different Phidget files, their installed locations, and their roles.
{{ContentNeeded|The information we say that we say on the OS - Mac OSX page should actually be added there}}
===Use Our Examples===
After installing the Phidget libraries for Linux as above, you're ready to run the examples:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/phidget21-c-examples_2.1.8.20111028.tar.gz Generic C/C++ Examples]
To run the example code, you'll need to find the source code ''for your specific device''.  Then, compile the code under your platform and run it.
The examples assume that the compiled libraries have been set up properly.  To set them up on Mac OSX, follow the ''Getting Started'' page for [[Device List | your specific device]]
To compile, link the Phidget libraries, and build an executable binary on MacOS, do (for example, depending on the Headers location):
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=bash>
  gcc example.c -o example -framework Phidget21 -I/Library/Frameworks/Phidget21.framework/Headers
</source>
</font>
</div>
After using gcc, you will have an executable named <code>example</code> that you can run.
===Write Your Own Code===
When writing your code from scratch, you must include a reference to the library header:
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=cpp>
  #include <phidget21.h>
</source>
</font>
</div>
Then, you would compile your completed C/C++ code the same way as the examples above.
To learn how to write your own code for your Phidget, and to learn more about our API, we have a [[#Follow The Examples|teaching section]] to help you follow the provided C/C++ examples.  Even more help and references are provided from there.
==Linux==
C/C++ has excellent support on Linux through the gcc compiler. 
The first step in using C/C++ on Linux is to install the Phidget libraries.  Compile and install them as explained on the main [[OS - Linux | Linux page]].  That Linux page also describes the different Phidget files, their installed locations, and their roles.
===Use Our Examples===
After installing the Phidget libraries for Linux as above, you're ready to download and run the examples:
*[http://www.phidgets.com/downloads/examples/phidget21-c-examples_2.1.8.20111028.tar.gz Generic C/C++ Examples]
To run the example code, you'll need to find the source code ''for your specific device''.  Then, compile the code under your platform and run it.
To compile, link the Phidget libraries, and build a binary executable on Linux, do the following in a terminal in the directory with <code>example.c</code>:
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=bash>
  gcc example.c -o example -lphidget21
</source>
</font>
</div>
After using gcc, you will have an executable named <code>example</code> that you can run. 
On Linux, if you have not set up [[OS - Linux | your udev rules for USB access]], you will need to run the program '''as root'''.
===Write Your Own Code===
When writing your code from scratch, you start it as you would any C/C++ code on Linux, such as within a text editor like Emacs, Vi, Gedit, or Kate.  In your '''<code>.c</code>''' source code file, you must include a reference to the library header:
<div style="background-color: #f3f3f3; border-color: #1c9edb; border-width:1px; border-style: dashed;">
<font size="3">
<source lang=cpp>
  #include <phidget21.h>
</source>
</font>
</div>
Then, you would compile your completed C/C++ code the same way as the examples above.
To learn how to write your own code for your Phidget, and to learn more about our API, we have a [[#Follow The Examples|teaching section]] to help you follow the provided C/C++ examples.  Even more help and references are provided from there.
==Follow The Examples==


By following the instructions for your operating system and compiler above, you probably now have a working example and want to understand it better so you can change it to do what you want.  This teaching section has resources for you to learn from the examples and write your own.
== Quick Downloads ==


===Example Flow===
If you already know what you're doing and just need the files, you can find them all below.


{{ExamplePseudocode|In C/C++, you can name these '''event''' functions whatever you like.  You will then pass them as function pointers to the Phidget library below in the Main Code section.  This hooks them into the actual events when they occur. <br>
=== Documentation ===
In the example code, the event functions common to all Phidgets are called things like '''AttachHandler()''' and '''DetachHandler()''', etc.<br><br>
Some event functions will be specific to each device, like when a tag is read on an RFID board, or when a sensor value changes on an Interface Kit.
Other functions are given in the examples to show you more detail on using your Phidget.  For example, '''DeviceInitialize()''' will show what needs to be set up for your Phidget before using it.
|Creating a Phidget software object in C is specific to the Phidget.  For a Phidget Spatial, for example, this would involve creating an object with the <code>CPhidgetSpatialHandle</code> type, and then initializing it using the <code>CPhidgetSpatial_create</code> function.  The examples show how to do this and other API functions.<br><br>
Other C calls follow a similar syntax - <code>CPhidgetXXX_function</code>, where XXX is the name of your device, and function is an action available from the API for your specific Phidget.|
[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API]}}


===Our Complete C/C++ API===
*{{Phidget22API}}  (select C from the drop-down menu)


When changing the examples to do what you want, or writing your own code, you will probably find these API resources useful because they outline the C/C++ functions that you can use:
=== Example Code ===


{{UsingAPhidgetInCodeGeneral|both of which are available in C/C++|[http://www.phidgets.com/documentation/Phidget21_C_Doc.zip C/C++ API]}}
*{{SampleCode|C|C Examples}}


==Common Problems and Solutions/Workarounds==
===Libraries===


Here you can put various frequent problems and our recommended solutions.
{{AllQuickDownloads}}

Latest revision as of 16:13, 15 March 2021

We provide support for the C language in all major operating systems. We also provide instructions on how to get your project started in a number of common development environments. Select your operating system and preferred development environment below, and follow the instructions to get your project running with Phidgets.

If you do not know which development environment you want to use, or your development environment of choice is not listed, we recommend starting with GCC as the simplest path to getting your code running.

Once you have set up your development environment to run with Phidgets, we recommend you follow our guide on Phidget Programming Basics. The guide will showcase the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets, with examples in C.

Setup Guide

C - Select Development Environment

Select your Development Environment:

Windows

MacOS

Linux

PhidgetSBC

Language - C

Windows with Visual Studio

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

Visual Studio is an IDE provided by Microsoft that can be used to develop code in a wide variety of programming languages, including C/C++.

Requirements

First, make sure you have the following installed:

● Phidgets Drivers for Windows (see Part 1 of this user guide)

● Microsoft Visual Studio

Using Phidgets in Your Programs

There are two ways you can use Phidgets in Visual Studio. You can either start from a sample project provided by our code sample generator, or you can start a new project from scratch.

Select your preferred method below for instructions:

«
»

Visual Studio Code Sample

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the Visual Studio Project button under Downloads.

Using the Code Samples

Extract the files and open the .sln file.

Then start the example by pressing the Start button:

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

«
»

Visual Studio New Project

Setting up a New Project

When using Phidgets in a Visual Studio project, you need to properly link the Phidget C library.

1. First, create a new Win32 Console Application:

Setting up a New Project

2. Select an empty project and Finish:

Setting up a New Project

3. If you are using a 64-bit machine, select x64, otherwise, select x86:

Setting up a New Project

4. Next, right click on the source folder and click New Item:

Setting up a New Project

5. Give the source file a name and click Add:

Setting up a New Project

6. Right click your project and access its properties:

Setting up a New Project

7. Go to Configuration Properties -> C/C++ -> General and add this to the additional include directories:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets\Phidget22

Setting up a New Project

8. Go to Configuration Properties -> Linker -> Input and add the appropriate line to additional dependencies:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets\Phidget22\phidget22.lib (for 64-bit systems)

C:\Program Files\Phidgets\Phidget22\x86\phidget22.lib (for 32-bit systems)

Setting up a New Project

9. Lastly, include the Phidget library at the beginning of your program:

#include < phidget22.h >

Success! The project now has access to Phidgets.

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

«
»

Language - C

Windows with Code::Blocks

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

Code::Blocks is a free, open source cross-platform IDE that can be used for C and C++.

Requirements

First, make sure you have the following installed:

● Phidgets Drivers for Windows (see Part 1 of this user guide)

Code::Blocks

Setting up a New Project

When you are building a project from scratch, or adding Phidget functionality to an existing project, you'll need to configure your development environment to properly link the Phidget C library.

To start, open Code::Blocks, and go to Settings -> Compiler as shown in the image below:

Setting up a New Project

From the Global compiler settings screen, go to Search directories -> Compiler and add:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets\Phidget22

Setting up a New Project

Next, select Search directories -> Linker and add the following directory:

C:\Program Files\Phidgets\Phidget22\x86

Setting up a New Project

Next, go to Linker settings and add the following line:

phidget22

Setting up a New Project

Next, create a new Console Application project, as follows:

Setting up a New Project

Name your project, and finish creating the project.

Setting up a New Project

Now your project is created, and you can open the generated main.c to begin coding.

To include the Phidget C library, add the following line to your code:

#include <phidget22.h>

Your project now has access to the Phidget libraries.

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the copy button and paste the code into your new project.

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

«
»

Language - C

Windows with GCC

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

GCC is a compiler system for originally written for GNU, and is the standard compiler on unix-like operating systems. It is available on Windows by using tools like MinGW or Cygwin to allow compilation of C programs from the command line.

Requirements

First, make sure you have the following installed:

● Phidgets Drivers for Windows (see Part 1 of this user guide)

● One of the following:

- MinGW

- Cygwin

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the Download Example button under Downloads.

Compile and Run

Go to the folder where your code is and open the command prompt by typing 'cmd' in the address bar.

The specific command you will use depends on your compiler of choice:

Cygwin x86:

gcc example.c -o example -I"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22"-L"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22/x86" -lphidget22

Cygwin x64:

gcc example.c -o example -I"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22" -L"/cygdrive/c/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22" -lphidget22

MinGW:

gcc example.c -o example -I"C:/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22" -L"C:/Program Files/Phidgets/Phidget22/x86" -lphidget22

Compile and Run

After running the commands above for either Cygwin or MinGW, an executable file called example.exe will be created. Enter the following command to run the program:

example.exe

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

«
»

Language - C

MacOS with GCC

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

GCC is a compiler system for originally written for GNU, and is the standard compiler on unix-like operating systems. It is available on Windows by using tools like MinGW or Cygwin to allow compilation of C programs from the command line.

Requirements

First, make sure you have the following installed:

● Phidgets Drivers for macOS (see Part 1 of this user guide)

● gcc


You likely have gcc installed on your macOS machine already, but if not, you can easily get it by downloading Xcode.

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the Download Example button under Downloads.

Compile and Run

To compile the program, enter the following command in the terminal, substituting "example" for the name of your C file:

gcc example.c -o example -F /Library/Frameworks -framework Phidget22 -I /Library/Frameworks/Phidget22.framework/Headers

Finally, run the program by entering the following command in the terminal:

./example

Success! The project is now running with Phidgets.

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

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Language - C

Linux with GCC

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

GCC is a compiler system for originally written for GNU, and is the standard compiler on unix-like operating systems. It is available on Windows by using tools like MinGW or Cygwin to allow compilation of C programs from the command line.

Requirements

First, make sure you have the following installed:

● Phidgets Drivers for Linux (see Part 1 of this user guide)

● gcc


You likely have gcc installed on your Linux machine already, but if not, you can easily get it by entering the following command in the terminal:

apt-get install gcc

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the Download Example button under Downloads.

Compile and Run

To compile the program, enter the following command in the terminal, substituting "example" for the name of your C file:

gcc example.c -o example -lphidget22

After compiling, you can run the program by entering the following command in the terminal:

./example

Success! The project is now running with Phidgets.

What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

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Language - C

PhidgetSBC with GCC

Welcome to using Phidgets with C! By using C, you will have access to the complete Phidget22 API, including events.

GCC is a compiler system for originally written for GNU, and is the standard compiler on unix-like operating systems. It is available on Windows by using tools like MinGW or Cygwin to allow compilation of C programs from the command line.

Requirements

If you haven't already, check out the user guide in order to set up the following:

● Networking

● Administrator password


This guide will cover development using an external machine. For development using the SBC itself, go back and select GCC - Linux as your environment.

Introduction

To begin, this video will help you get started:

Developing With An External Computer

There are two main ways in which you can access your SBC from an external computer:

● SBC Web Interface

● Secure Shell (SSH)


Since the SBC User Guide covers the web interface in detail, this guide will cover SSH.

SSH

If you are unfamiliar with SSH, it is a simple yet powerful tool that allows you to log into a remote machine in order to execute commands. You can also transfer files using the associated SCP tool.

In order to use SSH, you need the following:

● The SBC's IP address (e.g. 192.168.3.195) or the link local address (e.g. phidgetsbc.local)

● The administrator password

● SSH enabled on the SBC

SSH

You can enable SSH on the SBC Web Interface as shown below:

SSH on Windows

To use SSH on Windows, we recommend PuTTY. Use the images below as a guide for configuring PuTTY (use the IP address or the link local address interchangeably):

SSH on Windows

After clicking open, simply login as root and provide the administrator password:

To transfer files between your SBC and Windows machine, we recommend either of these programs:

WinSCP

PuTTY PSCP

You will follow a similar process to access the SBC as described for SSH.

SSH on Linux and macOS

SSH is available on Linux and macOS by default. To run SSH, open the terminal and type:

ssh root@phidgetsbc.local

Or, something like this (you will need to know the IP address of your SBC):

ssh root@192.168.3.195

You will then be prompted for the password in order to gain access to the SBC:

SSH on Linux and macOS

To copy a file from the SBC to your development machine using SCP, open the terminal and type:

scp root@phidgetsbc.local:/path/to/source /path/to/destination

You can reverse this if you want to transfer a file from your development machine to your SBC:

scp /path/to/source root@phidgetsbc.local:/path/to/destination

Installing Packages For Development

Now that you are connected, you may want to start developing on the SBC.

Go to System->Packages, check Include full Debian Package Repository and click Install.

Finding Code Samples

To find the code sample to use for your Phidget, navigate to the Code Samples page and select your device from the drop-down menu.

Once you select your device, the code sample generator will give you a working code sample, and a selection of options to customize it to your needs.

Using the Code Samples

If it's unclear what any of the options do, click on the nearby '?' for more info.

Once you've made your selections, click the Download Example button under Downloads.

Setting up a New Project

When you are building a project from scratch, or adding Phidget functionality to an existing project, you'll need to configure your development environment to properly link the Phidget C library.

When developing on an external computer, you will write, compile, and test your programs on that machine. When you are ready, you will then upload your programs to the SBC to compile and run them.

Setting up a New Project

Once your code is written, follow these steps to get your program running on the SBC:

1. Using the SBC Web Interface, create a new project:

Setting up a New Project

2. Transfer all the project files from the development machine to the SBC, either using the SBC Web Interface or a tool like WinSCP.

The project directory will be:

/usr/userapps/ProjectName

Setting up a New Project

3. Use SSH to access the SBC terminal and go to the project folder:

cd /usr/userapps/ProjectName

Then compile the example by entering the following command in the terminal, replacing "example" with the name of your C file:

gcc example.c -o example -lphidget22

You can now run the program with the command:

./example

Success! The program is running on your SBC.

Running a Program Automatically

Click on the sections below for various automation options:

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Running a Program from the SBC Web Interface

To quickly test whether a program can be run automatically, you can try starting it from the SBC Web Interface.

1. To start the program, navigate to Projects->ProjectName->Startup Settings in the SBC Web Interface.

2. Select your program in the drop-down menu labeled Executable/Class Name.



3. Click the Start button on the SBC web interface.


4. You'll note that as it runs, there are two links below the Stop button which can be used to view the program output:

  • stdout: view the program output like you would in a terminal or command prompt
  • stderr: view the program error output

Run on Boot

Running on boot ensures that your program will never miss an event. As long as the SBC is running, your code will be running. This section assumes you have written and compiled your program on an external computer, and have uploaded it to the SBC Web Interface.


To have your program run on boot, navigate to Projects->ProjectName->Startup Settings in the SBC Web Interface. After selecting your project, copy the settings from the image below:



We will review some of the options that are shown in the image above:

  • Startup Order: lower numbers boot first. Booting later means more programs are available for use, booting earlier means other programs can use your program.
  • Run as a daemon: starts the program as a daemon. Unless you have explicitly written your program as a daemon, leave this checked, or else your SBC may hang on boot.
  • Executable/Class name: your main Java class or C file.
  • Arguments: any command line arguments the program needs.

After saving your changes, your program will run automatically whenever your SBC boots.


Run on a Schedule

Running your program on a schedule allows you to perform your task once a week, or once a minute without worrying about memory management issues or instability problems that may arise. It executes, and then gets cleaned up. To run your program on a schedule, we recommend using Cron. Cron can automatically schedule programs (known as jobs, or cron jobs). Cron simply reads a crontab file and runs whatever programs are listed, with whatever timing they are listed with. Cron runs continuously in the background, but the cron jobs only run as long as they naturally would, and then they exit.


Let's set up your first cron job. We will use nano to edit the crontab file, but feel free to use whatever editor you prefer.


First, set your editor to nano:

export EDITOR=nano

Next, edit your crontab file:

crontab -e

Finally, schedule your cron job:

#cron job that will run at 5AM every week:
0 5 * * 1 /root/code/myprogram argument1


After entering your task, simply save and exit the file.


What's Next?

Now that you've set up Phidgets in your C programming environment, you should read our guide on Phidget Programming Basics to learn the fundamentals of programming with Phidgets.

In particular, you should ensure that you familiarize yourself with how error handling is done in C, because it's not automatically implemented like in other programming languages. Once you've added error handling to your code, you can use the Error Code List to anticipate and handle various errors.

Continue down below for advanced information and troubleshooting for your device.

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Quick Downloads

If you already know what you're doing and just need the files, you can find them all below.

Documentation

Example Code

Libraries