Re: Newbie to xPL

["Tom Van den Bon" <tvdbon@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gerry,

> Welcome to xPL -- I think you're going to like developing with it.
I'm enjoying it alot sofar and I've got like a million ideas that I
want to try with.

> I'm glad you're figuring it out OK.  I haven't written as much
documentation
> for it as I'd like, but with luck, the examples should help get you
boostrapped.
The examples have been helping me out sofar, and I've started making
some notes that I would like to convert into some kind of API
documentation, unless your already busy with that?

> I'm also a heavy linux user, though have been shifting over to Java
because
> I'm just plain sick and tired of 1) losing everything when I change
> platforms and 2) writing complex things that a lot of people can't
use since
> their not on the same platform.
You have some valid points on using java, but to be totally honest I
don't really like java (personal preference), so I'll mostly be
concentrating on programming just for linux. But, I'm glad that their
is such a wide variety of options for the new user, it really makes
everything more accesible for new users regardless of their preffered
platform.

> You're understanding of xPLHAL and it's xPLHAL Manager are pretty
spot on.
>
> There are parts that can basically do about the same under linux (or
> anything else -- Java based).  A tool called "DCM" allows
you to
configure
> xPL devices just like xPLHal allows.  The xPL scripting engine in
xPL4Java
> allows you to very easily write complex (or simple) scripts to
execute.  It
> comes with built in primitives for having timed events (periodic
(i.e. every
> 5 minutes) or scheduled (every weekday at 5PM)) if you want those
sorts of
> things.  You can also use it to knit together xPL devices (I have a
very
> simple script that, when I hears the HomeVision knows we're away,
lowers the
> thermostats after 30 minutes) with just a few lines.
But these timed events and scripting events "server" is only
available
for java, right? What I would like to do is to write the linux side of
things. IE, a server very similiar to xPLHal and to your xPL Java
server. I'm currently busy planning it and I'll be starting with it
this weekend.

> If you're interested in pursuing this, I'd be happy to help (there
is no
> requirement such a front end would have to be written on Java, so
pick your
> strong suite).
Cool, I thinking of going into one of two directions for a gui for the
linux server. Either

(a) a webinterface using php interfacing with the server, but then you
don't really have realtime updates
(b) A application for X that interfaces with server.

I'm not sure yet with which I'm planning on starting with, but I think
that I'll eventually do both interfaces.

> I'm also working (early stages) on a tool to create graphical
control panels
> that are xPL aware (more of a toolkit and designer).
This sounds very interesting, I can't wait to see something like this
in action.

> allow dynamic control over xPL devices.  But it's pretty early yet
-- I have
> to finish my xPL->UPB module first.
What does the xPL->UPB do ? I'm not sure what UPB means?

> > * Are there any python libraries available for working with xPL ?
>
> I think there is -- check out the frameworks downloads at the xPL
site.
I'll have a look again, but I can't remember seeing anything like
this. Except for in the FAQ where it says something about python.

> > * I also started on a xPL - K8000 gateway(?) last night, does
> > something like this exist or can I continue.
>
> Not sure what a K8000 is, but I don't recall seeing it mentioned
before.
> For curiosities sake, what is it?
The k8000 is a Velleman electronics kit. The kit interfaces to your
parallel port and has like 16 digital io, and a couple of analog io. I
use it for interfacing to my home alarm, doorbel, gate motor and some
relay's for switching various devices. Check it out here:
http://www.velleman.be/common/product.Aspx?lan=1&id=9383

> > * I saw that there is xPL messages for sending configuration
messages,
> > how does that work?
>
> This is where I have to apologize on xPL4linux -- I've never
completely
> finished the configuration stuff there (the framework for
configuration is
> all in place and I should probably complete it as I've been through
the
> entire process in Java before).
I see, but doesn't the configuration messages has a schema? So I'm
thinking that it should be the responsibility of the xPL application
to send out the configuration heart beats and respond to the
configuration query messages ? Or am I misunderstanding how the
messages are being sent?

> Feel free to ask any questions and if you want to pursue the schema
thing,
> let me know -- there are some older messages that were posted (in
October
> and just a week ago) about this and should be in the archives along
with an
> initial proposal for the schema XML file spec (which is based in
large part
> on the vendor plugin spec, if you are wondering about the genesis of
some
> terminology as you read it :-)
Thanks for all the help so far, I really appreciate it.

Regards,
Tom