Unified GUI + LabJack tooling and installer helpers
Project description
amp-benchkit
Unified GUI + LabJack instrumentation helper environment.
Note on v0.3.2 (Maintenance Release): This release restores the repository to the v0.3.1 baseline state to remove unintended changes introduced in subsequent commits. Key improvements include fixing LabJackPython import warnings in test output and updating Ruff configuration to modern format. All CI checks pass cleanly.
Contents
-
unified_gui_layout.py– Main multi‑tab GUI / CLI tool (PySide6/PyQt5, VISA, Serial, LabJack U3). -
amp_benchkit/deps.py– Dependency detection (Qt binding, pyvisa, pyserial, LabJack) + shared helpers. -
amp_benchkit/fy.py– FY32xx function generator helpers (command build, apply, sweep). -
amp_benchkit/tek.py– Tektronix scope SCPI helpers (setup, waveform capture, IEEE block parsing). -
amp_benchkit/dsp.py– DSP helpers (RMS, Vpp, THD FFT, bandwidth knees). -
amp_benchkit/gui/– Incremental extraction of GUI tabs (generator, scope, DAQ extracted). -
amp_benchkit/u3util.py– LabJack U3 safe‑open and feature detection utilities. -
scripts/install_exodriver_alpine.sh– Idempotent installer for Exodriver (liblabjackusb) on Alpine (musl) or glibc. -
patches/exodriver-install-alpine.patch– Patch capturing local enhancement to upstreamexodriverinstall script (for reproducibility / PR prep).
Documentation
The MkDocs site bundles setup recipes, hardware guides, and developer workflow notes:
- Published docs: https://bwedderburn.github.io/amp-benchkit/
- Build locally:
pip install .[docs] mkdocs serve # open http://127.0.0.1:8000
Quick Start
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Build & install Exodriver (USB support)
./scripts/install_exodriver_alpine.sh
# Run CLI selftest (headless)
python unified_gui_layout.py selftest
# Launch GUI (if X / Wayland or VS Code desktop available)
python unified_gui_layout.py gui --gui
Recreate a GUI-Ready Python 3.12 Environment
We ship scripts/bootstrap-venv312.sh to provision the Python 3.12 environment we use for GUI + hardware testing:
# Prereqs (once): brew install pyenv
./scripts/bootstrap-venv312.sh
source .venv312/bin/activate
# Launch GUI / run full suite
python unified_gui_layout.py gui
AMP_HIL=1 pytest -q -rs
The script installs Python 3.12.4 via pyenv, recreates .venv312, installs .[dev,test,gui], and performs a quick Qt sanity check. Re-run it whenever you need a clean GUI-capable environment.
Installed (Package) Usage
After pip install .[gui] you can use console scripts:
amp-benchkit selftest # run selftests (headless)
amp-benchkit diag # dependency diagnostics summary
amp-benchkit gui --gui # launch GUI (or use: amp-benchkit-gui --gui)
amp-benchkit config-dump # show persisted JSON config
amp-benchkit config-reset # reset config to defaults
# Generate frequency sweep (headless list output)
amp-benchkit sweep --start 20 --stop 20000 --points 10 --mode log
Sweep CLI (Headless Frequency Lists)
The sweep subcommand prints a list of frequency points to stdout (one per line) for use in shell pipelines or other tooling.
Arguments:
--start(Hz, float, required)--stop(Hz, float, required)--points(int >= 2, required)--mode(log|linear, default:log)
Spacing rules:
linear: even arithmetic spacing including both endpoints.log: geometric progression including endpoints (requires start > 0, stop > 0).
Example (log spaced 6 points 10 Hz → 10 kHz):
amp-benchkit sweep --start 10 --stop 10000 --points 6 --mode log
Outputs (rounded to 6 decimals, trailing zeros trimmed):
10
46.415889
215.443469
1000
4641.588834
10000
Linear example:
amp-benchkit sweep --start 100 --stop 1000 --points 10 --mode linear
Exit codes:
- 0 on success
- 1 on invalid arguments (e.g. points < 2, stop < start)
Typical usage piping into another tool:
for f in $(amp-benchkit sweep --start 20 --stop 20000 --points 25 --mode log); do \
echo "Would run measurement at $f Hz"; \
done
Future enhancements (planned): optional JSON/CSV output (--format json|csv) and direct KPI sweep command.
Note: Direct invocation via
python unified_gui_layout.py ...still works but is considered a legacy path. Prefer the installed console scripts (amp-benchkit,amp-benchkit-gui) for forward compatibility; future releases may relocate the legacy file.
Add `--verbose` to any of the above to elevate logging to DEBUG.
### Logging
A central logger (`amp_benchkit.logging`) is initialized by the CLI. It emits to stderr and a rotating file (`benchkit.log`) under `XDG_STATE_HOME` / `XDG_CACHE_HOME` (fallback `~/.cache/amp-benchkit`). Levels:
* INFO: High‑level actions (applied FY settings, captured scope block, etc.)
* DEBUG: Detailed SCPI / serial commands (enable with `--verbose`)
* WARNING/ERROR: Dependency or runtime issues
You can integrate programmatically:
```python
from amp_benchkit.logging import setup_logging, get_logger
setup_logging(verbose=True)
log = get_logger()
log.info("Starting scripted acquisition")
Config Persistence
User preferences (FY port/protocol, last scope resource) persist to:
~/.config/amp-benchkit/config.json (XDG‑style). Functions:
from amp_benchkit.config import load_config, save_config, update_config
cfg = load_config()
update_config(fy_port="/dev/ttyUSB0")
CLI helpers: config-dump, config-reset.
Corrupt config files are ignored gracefully and overwritten on next save.
Programmatic Use (Headless Helpers)
from amp_benchkit.fy import fy_apply
from amp_benchkit.tek import tek_capture_block, TEK_RSRC_DEFAULT
from amp_benchkit.u3util import open_u3_safely
# Apply a 1 kHz 2 Vpp sine on FY CH1 (auto port detection)
fy_apply(freq_hz=1000, amp_vpp=2.0, wave="Sine", ch=1)
# Capture a waveform from a Tek scope (returns t, volts, raw)
t, v, raw = tek_capture_block(TEK_RSRC_DEFAULT, ch=1)
# Open LabJack U3 safely
try:
d = open_u3_safely()
ain0 = d.getAIN(0)
print("AIN0=", ain0)
finally:
try: d.close()
except Exception: pass
If LabJack USB still not detected on Alpine (musl) add:
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/usr/local/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
Exodriver (LabJack USB Driver)
We vendor a minimal, source‑only snapshot of Exodriver under exodriver/ (no .git, no compiled objects). See EXODRIVER.md for rationale, update procedure, and upstream attribution. For a full clone (e.g. to inspect history or contribute upstream), run:
git clone https://github.com/labjack/exodriver.git
Then either build directly or point our helper script at it:
EXO_DIR=exodriver ./scripts/install_exodriver_alpine.sh
Health Check (after install)
python -c "import u3; print('u3 import OK')" || echo "LabJack Python import failed"
To probe a device (will fail gracefully if none):
python scripts/check_labjack_usb.py
Make Targets (after Makefile added)
Planned:
make install-exodriver– run wrapper.make check-usb– run health script.make gui– launch GUI.make selftest– run headless integrations.
Development Hygiene
Install and enable pre-commit hooks to catch style and oversized file issues early:
pip install pre-commit
pre-commit install
pre-commit run --all-files # optional first full pass
Hooks block committing virtualenvs / site-packages and large (>5MB) binaries, and run ruff, formatting, and mypy.
make selftest– headless tests.- See
ROADMAP.mdfor planned milestones and how to propose new items (edit a single table row per PR).
Development (Lint / Format / Type)
We use ruff (lint), mypy (types). Formatting is kept Black-compatible (you can optionally run ruff format in newer versions).
Manual invocations:
ruff check . # lint
ruff check . --fix # autofix simple issues
mypy . # type check
pytest -q # tests
If you add a Makefile target locally, suggested grouping:
make lint # ruff check
make type # mypy
make test # pytest
make ci-local # run all of the above
Pre-commit is configured; enable with:
pre-commit install
Then commits will auto-run ruff / mypy (if configured) on changed files.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Could not load the Exodriver driver |
liblabjackusb not on search path |
Run installer; set LD_LIBRARY_PATH |
No module named numpy |
Dependencies not installed | pip install -r requirements.txt (future) |
| GUI won’t launch | Missing Qt binding / no display | Install PySide6; ensure DISPLAY set or use VS Code desktop |
Permission denied running script |
Not executable | chmod +x script.sh |
Future Improvements
Implemented so far:
- Phase 1 & 2 modularization: dependencies, instruments (FY / Tek / U3) extracted
- Core pytest suite (FFT THD, IEEE block decode, config roundtrip)
- Logging subsystem and JSON config persistence
- GitHub Actions CI (Python 3.11 / 3.12)
- DSP module extraction (
amp_benchkit.dsp) - GUI tab modularization (generator + scope + DAQ + automation + diagnostics extracted into
amp_benchkit.gui) - Version 0.2.0 released – full GUI tab extraction, shared Qt helper, removal of deprecated DSP wrappers.
Planned / open:
- Continue GUI tab extraction: diagnostics
- Additional error handling (timeouts around VISA / serial)
- Test extras & packaging polish
- Optional hardware-in-loop stage (conditional)
- Type hint expansion & static checks
- Potential REST / WebSocket automation bridge
Support references: LabJack Exodriver repo https://github.com/labjack/exodriver
Changelog
See CHANGELOG.md for a full list of versions and changes. Highlight 0.2.0: all GUI tabs modular, deprecated DSP wrappers removed, shared lazy Qt import helper.
Release & Publishing
Steps to cut a release (example for 0.2.0 already performed):
- Update version in
pyproject.toml& confirm tests pass. - Update
CHANGELOG.md(add new heading, date, notes). - Commit:
git commit -am "release: vX.Y.Z". - Tag locally:
git tag vX.Y.Z(lightweight or annotated-a). - Build artifacts locally (optional pre-check):
python -m build --sdist --wheel. - Push branch and tag:
git push && git push origin vX.Y.Z. - GitHub Actions CI will build & test; if a publish workflow exists with
PYPI_API_TOKEN(an API token from PyPI stored as an Actions secret), it will upload. - Draft GitHub Release, attach release notes (can pull from changelog), verify assets.
- Post-release: bump version to next dev (e.g., 0.2.1.dev0) if ongoing changes expected.
Dry-run publish (validate metadata):
python -m build
twine check dist/*
Install from a specific tag directly:
pip install git+https://github.com/bwedderburn/amp-benchkit@v0.2.0
Next Steps / Roadmap
-
Add
requirements.txtorpyproject.tomlfor pinned dependencies. -
Continuous Integration: GitHub Actions workflow to run
make selftestand build Docker image. -
Optional hardware-in-loop stage (tagged, skipped by default) for real LabJack tests.
-
Improve
unified_gui_layout.pymodularity (further split GUI/automation logic – Phase 1 & 2 complete: deps + instruments extracted). (Logging + config persistence now implemented.)Public API (Stability: Beta)
The following functions / symbols are considered part of the provisional public API and will aim to avoid breaking changes without a minor version bump:
Instrument helpers:
amp_benchkit.fy.build_fy_cmds(freq_hz, amp_vpp, off_v, wave, duty=None, ch=1)amp_benchkit.fy.fy_apply(...)amp_benchkit.fy.fy_sweep(port, ch, proto, start=None, end=None, t_s=None, mode=None, run=None)amp_benchkit.tek.tek_capture_block(resource, ch=1)amp_benchkit.tek.scope_capture_calibrated(resource, timeout_ms=15000, ch=1)amp_benchkit.tek.scope_screenshot(filename, resource=..., timeout_ms=15000, ch=1)amp_benchkit.u3util.open_u3_safely()
Diagnostics / utilities:
amp_benchkit.deps.find_fy_port()amp_benchkit.logging.setup_logging(verbose=False, file_logging=True)amp_benchkit.config.load_config()/save_config(cfg)/update_config(**kv)
DSP / analysis (
amp_benchkit.dsp):vrms(v)vpp(v)thd_fft(t, v, f0=None, nharm=10, window='hann')find_knees(freqs, amps, ref_mode='max', ref_hz=1000.0, drop_db=3.0)
Exceptions:
amp_benchkit.fy.FYError,FYTimeoutErroramp_benchkit.tek.TekError,TekTimeoutError
Items not listed above should be treated as internal and are subject to change.
-
Add type hints & mypy pass for critical modules.
-
Provide wheel / PyPI packaging for headless CLI mode.
-
Add a simple REST or WebSocket bridge for remote automation control.
-
Extend Makefile with
format/linttargets (black, ruff, mypy). -
Optional plugin architecture for new instrument tabs.
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