VI scripting for FPGA programming

[totolemalino]

I didn't find something related to this, so I hope it's a new idea.

I use frequently VI scripting on LabVIEW, it is very useful for example to generate template VI's.

but this feature doesn't exist under FPGA, I mean some code is specific to this module, and I think it would be great to be able to generate FPGA VI's programmatically. For example in my job we make FPGA programming for Magnet Security. Even if global structure is the same for all magnets, we have to adapt a lot of things depending on type of magnet and instrumentation available. The idea would be to create ourself a kind of Magnet Safety Editor based on VI scripting specific for FPGA in order to allow non-programmers, but Magnet specialists, to generate themselves an adapted security system.

It's just an example, but when we see powerful of VI scripting for LabVIEW, it would give great results if it extends to FPGA, and even Real-Time  module, why not? 

[DFGray]

LabVIEW scripting works for FPGA and Real-Time (the FPGA Wizard uses it to create projects and VIs), but FPGA nodes are not supported, since they use a different technology than standard LabVIEW nodees.  The best way to get them is to create a template containing the code you want and move that to your block diagram.

[totolemalino]

Hi DFGray,

Thanks for your reply. Effectively, I use already such method in FPGA programming, but, and unfortunately, as you answered me, it is not possible to have access on special features relative to FPGA as, of course FPGA nodes.I find It's a pity...

Antoine

[DFGray]

My original take was that you didn't know you could use scripting on the FPGA context.  However, it is now obvious you want a scripting interface to the FPGA API.  English is a funny language, but this gets my kudo.

[totolemalino]

Thanks for kudos 

Don't worry, be sure misunderstanding is certainly due to that I am not really fluent in english: unfortunately as a lot of french people by the way...

cheers

Antoine

[lordexod]

Already exists "FPGA Scripting": National Instruments\LabVIEW xxx\vi.lib\rvi\ClientSDK\Core\Script .

[Dragis]

The APIs @lordexod mentioned are for internal use only, so if you use them just know that future LabVIEW versions could break your code : )

I'm curious exactly what needs to be scripted for your applications. Now that the FPGA compiler supports a subset of Classes and various other powerful "generic" programming techniques, we have found internally that we rarely need to actually script any VIs. Instead, we write pluggable blocks that can be composed using standard LabVIEW features. The only thing you would need to script at that point might be the top-level constants that determine which blocks get used.

[totolemalino]

Hello Dragis,

thanks for your reply

perhaps may I say mistakes concerning need of VI scripting, but for example, if we keep in mind the idea of safety system editor, I would like to be able to generate such code below via scripting. The idea is users ( non-programmers) could set amount of analog inputs required, DI, DO and so on, and on our side we can generate a Project with correponding modules in FPGA, and relative code to read write AI, DI, DO.....

Hope It's more clear

Cheers

Antoine 

[Dragis]

That does make sense. The image you showed wouldn't be possible to do generically if you didn't know up front now many I/O channels you would need. Being able to do that from the diagram without scripting would be a great feature to have. Until then, expanding the scripting could be a useful thing to have.

[Intaris]

I'd like to be able to generate automatically certain repetetive parts of my code (outlined HERE) but alas although I have looked at the functions Lordexod pointed out, I cannot script a register of a specific datatype (let's say FXP +25,0).

I'd love to have full Scripting support for that.

Found a VI to do what I want, so never mind.  Still, native scripting support would be nice.

[MaxJoseph]

I find myself also needing scripting capability for FPGA-specific functions. Any update on availability of this?