Software Overview: Difference between revisions

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Phidgets can run on a variety of Operating Systems, and be driven by a variety of Programming Languages.
Phidgets’ philosophy is that you do not have to be an electrical engineer in order to do projects that use devices
like sensors, motors, motor controllers, and interface boards. All you need to know is how to program.  


On [[OS - Windows|Windows]] and [[OS - Mac OSX|Mac OSX]], we provide graphical tools to simply plug a Phidget in to your computer and display basic data to your computer screen.
We have developed a complete set of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that are supported for many different [[#Operating System Support|operating systems]], and which can be used through many different [[#Language Support | programming languages]].


But to '''work directly''' with a Phidget and do things with the data you collect from it, you will need to write code.   
We suggest starting with the <span style="color:red;">Getting Started guide for your device</span>.  This will help you get a basic example running to check your hardware and drivers.  The next step would be to choose your [[#Operating System Support|operating system below]], and from there [[#Language Support|choose a language]], learn about [[General Phidget Programming|how to write code for your Phidget]], and get API references for your [[[[#Language Support|programming language]] and your <span style="color:red;">specific device</span>.
 
To control a Phidget via code, you will need:
#The Phidget '''Core Drivers''' and libraries for [[#Operating System Support|your operating system]]
#'''Libraries''' for your [[#Language Support|programming language]]
 
We also provide help for using the drivers and libraries:
#'''Example Code''' in your [[#Language Support|programming language]]
#An '''API Reference''' list of functions you can use in [[#Language Support|your language]]  
#A list of the '''Specific API''' calls you can use with your device, as found on your [[Device Main Page|device page]]
 
This Software Overview is the first step in writing code to work with your Phidget. 
 
Here you can find links to operating system pages with drivers, language pages with code libraries, and references for using Phidgets in each language.  After you have the core drivers and language libraries, you can learn more about [[General Phidget Programming|designing code for your Phidget]], as well as read more in-depth into our [[General API]]
 
==Map==
 
Lost?  Here's how you can learn to write code for your Phidget:
 
:;<span style="color:green;">(You are here, at the start)</span>
# Pick your [[Software Overview#Operating System Support|Operating System]]
#:Download core drivers
# Learn about Phidget libraries
#:Learn ways to design your code
#:Learn about the general API
# Pick your Programming Language
#:Learn about libraries for your specific language
#:Compile and Run examples
# Learn about functions for your specific device
# Ready to do anything with Phidgets!


== Operating System Support ==
== Operating System Support ==

Revision as of 16:45, 8 November 2011

Phidgets’ philosophy is that you do not have to be an electrical engineer in order to do projects that use devices like sensors, motors, motor controllers, and interface boards. All you need to know is how to program.

We have developed a complete set of Application Programming Interfaces (API) that are supported for many different operating systems, and which can be used through many different programming languages.

We suggest starting with the Getting Started guide for your device. This will help you get a basic example running to check your hardware and drivers. The next step would be to choose your operating system below, and from there choose a language, learn about how to write code for your Phidget, and get API references for your [[programming language and your specific device.

Operating System Support

This section describes how to set up your operating system to write and run code for Phidgets. Getting your operating system ready is the first step toward writing code.

On the pages linked below, you will find the core drivers and libraries for using your Phidget either directly through USB or remotely via the Phidget Webservice.

The Webservice controls a Phidget by connecting to a host computer and its Phidget over a network. So, the host computer must be able to run a Phidget directly.

The Windows and Mac OSX pages also include a graphical program to view and run basic tests on your Phidget. On other operating systems, only code is available, although ready-to-compile examples are provided for every language.

Phidgets can run directly or be driven remotely on these operating systems:

Phidgets can be only driven remotely by these operating systems:

Language Support

This section outlines what languages you can write code in for Phidgets and how to set them up.

We provide a variety of supported languages for using Phidgets. Each language has its own libraries, which may be found on the language pages below. Many languages also depend on the core drivers being installed as well. These drivers can be found on the operating system pages above.

Phidgets can be controlled using our high level API which allows for either an event driven style of code design, or by traditional logic code. All languages below support logic code. Most - but not all - languages support our complete API, which includes support for event-driven design.

If you are flexible on what language you can use, we suggest choosing a language which supports event-driven code.

When you visit the page below for your language, make sure you download:

  1. Software libraries
  2. Example code
  3. The specific API

Phidgets have libraries to support event driven design in the following languages:


Phidgets have libraries to support only logic code in the following languages:

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