Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System

Michael Davidsaver via Tech-talk <tech-talk at aps.anl.gov> · Thu, 13 May 2021 07:31:29 -0700

On 5/13/21 4:49 AM, Pavel Cheblakov via Tech-talk wrote:
> Hi!

Hello again!

>     Is there any "Getting started with EPICS7" or "EPICS7 for dummies" or such, to get acquainted with version 7 new features?
> 
>         For example, for EPICS3 there are two essential presentations:
> 1. "Introduction to Channel Access Clients"
> https://epics.anl.gov/docs/GSWE/developtools/EPICSTraining.IntroductionToChannelAccessClients.pdf

I don't know of anything written at this level of detail, in part because the PVA
APIs are more expansive than libca.  My recent efforts at documentation of a PVA
client/server APIs can be found at:

https://mdavidsaver.github.io/pvxs/

> 2. "Writing EPICS Drivers (and Device Support)"
> https://epics.anl.gov/meetings/2009-07/talks/em_WritingEPICSDrivers.ppt

The Database APIs (drivers/device support) haven't changed much (yet).
One relevant addition is DBF_INT64/DBF_UINT64 which can be used with
eg. waveformRecord by setting FTVL="INT64".

>     We, the BINP SKIF control system team, plan to use EPICS7 because of its richer type system, namely the following features:
> 1. 64-bit integer and unsigned 32-bit integer types.
> 2. Variable-length arrays.
> 3. Structured types.
> But we are completely lost on how to deal with these novelties at C level.
> 
>     Are there any documents how to get started with C/C++ client API and Driver/Device support API?
> 
> With best regards,
> Pavel Cheblakov
> on behalf of BINP SKIF automation team
> 

Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System

Experimental Physics and
Industrial Control System