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3.0 TR122 Software Source Code

Instruments such as the TR122 are only as useful as the software which runs them.

While the software provided with the TR122 makes the instrument very functional in a wide

variety of applications, it is impossible to predict the full range of possible user needs or the

software environment in which the instrument may be installed. Data Design has decided that

the best way to meet as many user needs as possible is to provide a window into the workings of

the instrument. To accomplish this, the source code for the software is published with the

software distribution.

This open source approach provides the user with nearly infinite flexibility. It also

provides the opportunity for many bad headaches. The inner workings of the software are not

for the novice user. Complex tricks and traps exist at every corner with an advanced instrument

such as the TR122. Concepts of multistage pipelines, direct memory address, advanced data

structures, threads, and other complexities must be understood. It is a challenge even for the

most skilled programmer. The good news is that the design is carefully structured and this

section of the manual provides a roadmap to the advanced user.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Information on source code and the source code itself is provided

AS IS and without warranty or support. Data Design is not able to provide technical

assistance to those attempting to modify the source code. It simply would not be possible to

provide the instrument at reasonable cost if such support were included in the price.

Please review the source code license agreement at the end of this manual before using the

source code. That said, however, Data Design does offer design services for hire. Information

can be found on the website at the front of this manual. Also, from time to time, additional

applications and source code will be posted on the website for free download.

It should be noted that this section of the manual covers the workings of a particular code

base for a particular instrument. Any such software works with a hardware-software interface

defined in part by the hardware itself. At the simplest level this interface amounts to writing

various command and configuration registers and reading various data and status registers. Still,

understanding many of the complexities found internal to the code base might require a working

knowledge of the hardware. The hardware itself is not discussed in this manual and is

considered somewhat proprietary to Data Design. While it will become evident in this

discussion that the hardware could also be modified to meet additional unique and complex

requirements, this is substantially beyond the scope of most users’ needs and abilities. As such,

to maximize the usability of the open source environment, the interface to hardware is left

somewhat abstract in order to simplify the discussion. This understanding should be kept in

mind when reviewing the source code and deciding what should or should not be modified.

While there is some discussion of hardware details within the source code itself, the

discussion in this manual is aimed at common reasons why an advanced user would require

access to the source code. These include such tasks as interfacing to a custom top level

application, connecting the instrument to an existing software environment, or using the

instrument in another operating system. As such, the discussion of the top level application

presented in section 2 is also limited, though the source code for that application is also provided.

DDC TR122 User Manual

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