README Raspbian

The simplyCAN software package is delivered as .tar.gz archive, which includes the following components:

  • simplyCAN library (so, static lib)

  • Header file

  • busmonitor

  • Demo applications for C and Python

  • API documentation

  • License

Installation

  • The USB interface is automatically installed when plugged in, without a driver installation. By default the device will be mapped to /dev/ttyACMx. To specify a different name, the following udev rule can be defined:

    SUBSYSTEM=="tty", ATTRS{idVendor}=="08d8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="001d", SYMLINK+="SIMPLY_CAN"
    
  • If the modemmanager is installed on your system, it may grab the device after plugged in. During this time, the device cannot be used by your application. To prevent the modem manager to grab the device, the following udev rule can be defined:

    ATTRS{idVendor}=="08d8", ATTRS{idProduct}=="001d", ENV{ID_MM_DEVICE_IGNORE}="1"
    
  • Create the udev file in /etc/udev/rules.d, typically named 60-simplyCAN.rules (root access required). See also: https://wiki.debian.org/udev

  • To activate the new rules, execute the following command: udevadm control --reload-rules

  • If user rights for using the simplyCAN device are missing, add your user name to the dialout group:

    sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
    

Usage of the Demo Applications

The demo applications are available for C and Python. First the serial port has to be adapted according to your hardware setup. To determine the used serial port, you can:

  • use the simplyCAN bus monitor

  • use the command ls -l /dev/serial/by-id

  • use a udev rule (see above)

  • use the function retrieve_serial_port() (C and Python)

C Demo

  • Adapt the k_SERIAL_PORT and k_BAUDRATE defines in demo.c according to your hardware setup:

    #ifdef __unix__
    #define k_SERIAL_PORT      "/dev/ttyACM0"
    #else
    #define k_SERIAL_PORT      "COM1"
    #endif
    #define k_BAUDRATE         (250)
    
  • Compile the demo with make and run the executable located in bin/

Python Demo

  • The Python wrapper simply_py.so is built for Python 3.7 (32 bit).

  • Adapt the COM port in demo.py according to your hardware setup:

    # main(simply_can.retrieve_serial_port())
    # main("/dev/ttyACM0", 250)    # for Linux
    main("COM6", 250)         # for Windows
    

    The value 250 is the used baudrate in kBaud.

  • Run the demo with python3 demo.py.