TITLE OF PAPER:     
URL OF PRESENTATION:    _URL_of_powerpoint_presentation_
PRESENTED BY:           George Belotsky
REPRESENTING:           Open Light Software

CONFERENCE:             PyCON 2004
DATE:                   20040325
LOCATION:               Amphitheater

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Commercial Python users:
  - (three companies, missed them)
  
Prediction: the PC will go the way of the mainframe; embedded systems will dominate; the Space Odyssey comes to life. ("A swarm of micro-monoliths" -- zero maintenance, self-contained devices)

Small systems
    embedded linux is the high end
    typical is 8-bit processors, a few K ROM, <1K RAM
    real-time requirements common

where does python fit in?
    doesn't run on the embedded device (?), runs on the dev PC
    bridge between PC and embedded devices, embedded networks
    important development tool
    python performance not an issue -- constraints are on embedded device

Development
    PC -> cross compiler -> 'programmer' device or RS-232 serial line -> target device
    Python for build env, code gen, unit tests, debugging, rapid prototyping
    
Deployment
    [diagram of network(s) and devices]
    Python for control panels, troubleshooting, internationalization, gateway
    
Example tools
    MSPGCC (GCC port to MSP 430 microcontroller)
        Python to load firmware onto device
        PyJTAG and PyBSL -- tools for firmware loading(?)
    PySerial
        x-plat serial io module, allows commo to embedded device
    wxPython
        for building complex UIs
        Tkinter for simpler UIs

Std Python Modules (that are especially useful)
    ConfigParser- lots of configuration on the PC side for test suites, host interfaces
    re- many protocols are ASCII-based
    unittest- particularly vital for embedded systems (quantity, difficulty of update)

Success story
    Carmanah Technologies
        wireless solar lighting systems
        advanced power management is critical
    Python at Carmanah
        glue for dev tool chain
        stress and unit tests
        device simulators and control panels
    example apps
        crosswalk traffic beacon
        airfield lighting systems

Demo of crosswalk simulator
    hardware does not (fully) exist when development starts
    sim allows dev w/minimal hardware
    great for demos to non-tech people

Credits
    Carmanah,
    Open Light Software (presenter),
    openphoto.net (creative commons source for photos) (his slide backgrounds)

Demo
    rendering of prototype
        flashing red lights on screen and from an attached real device
        start flashing from PC or from device and other responds

Q: what kind of link, 802.11b?
A: straight RS-232

Q: did the company have any pushback about using python?
A: in beginning, skepticism about whole open source tool chain. Most important for pitch: they don't have to throw out all their existing skills; no vendor, forced upgrades, etc -- non-threatening.

Q: most PCs and laptops don't have rs-232 ports -- do usb to serial adapters work?
A: yes, no problem (audience member: can also buy a $1 hardware adapter)

Q: timing -- how is control flow in python handled under realtime demands?
A: a lot of things are not real-time (ex: airfield lighting system). Also points out that your OS (eg, Linux) is most likely not real-time either -- specialized OSes for RT.

Q: Linux 2.6 scheduler allows RT scheduling?
A: Kernel effort is nice, but a lot of the other stuff (eg, GUI) is not RT

Q: Do they [customers] accept PyUnit tests as part of the dev process?
A: They realize they need unit testing -- pyunit makes it very easy -- had good response.

Q: Does PyUnit replace traditional tests?
A: No, they keep their old tests too -- pyunit is useful for the developers.


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