Visit our Popular Forums

rgleason · 18-10-2021, 13:37

See this about the javascript_pi.
https://github.com/OpenCPN/OpenCPN/issues/2353

@Mgrouch
Seriously Sirius, Lightning notices are more about weather and not to be thrown into this basket please.

rgleason · 22-10-2021, 11:05

OpenCPN bdbcat added Extended WP information to the API in OpenCPN Beta Version 5.5.1015 Released. See item 32 in this announcement.

FS#2803 - PlugIn_Waypoint class: Additional attributes needed for the API

Javascript_pi scripts

Send active route script which is used to Shadowing OpenCpn on iNavx
List Duplicate routes and Wpts
Javascript_pi Manual
Javascript_pi minor update to v4.1

Also see Convert incoming xxWPL and xxRTE to waypoints and routes #2353

Steve Adlers "Playing with synchronizing waypoints"

Hakan · 22-10-2021, 11:23

Just an opinion:
OCPN is a program for navigational aid. On oceans and other places often without internet connection. There are some tools in OCPN to view weather related info cached by a satellite or shortwave.

But If you're sailing in areas with internet connection why not simply use good dedicated program for a weather forecast?

rgleason · 22-10-2021, 16:35

Update Extended Route/WP API

rgleason · 23-10-2021, 07:04

Ocpn_Draw and Extended Waypoint Manipulation API

rgleason · 24-10-2021, 04:32

API WP Extension Add IconDescription field to PlugIn_Wayoint_Ex

teppokurki · 31-10-2021, 00:50

With focus on Interoperability (and less on Devices): what if O would expose not only in process plugin API, but an API that is usable from outside O, even over network?

This thread has reiterated the use case of coordinating the route/waypoint status between different O instances (nav station & helm). The suggested solution of syncing files between computers is ..how do I say this politely...very inward looking, tied to low level implementation details.

What if O would
- broadcast navigation status "navigating route xyz (accessible remotely at http so and so), next point is 6", for example as a JSON message over UDP broadcast
- provide an http api for reading and modifying routes

Since most already know that I am heavily involved with Signal K it is rather obvious where I am going: this is the type of problem that SK attempts to solve.

In fact we are are right now further specifying the Course API in Signal K https://github.com/SignalK/specification/pull/629

I imagine this message reaches people with experience of the nitty gritty details of course and navigation management. From my viewpoint the O course API is not so very far away from the SK one - please chime in with your experiences!

So how about it: would this be a good time to start providing a Signal K API in O?

Imho this would also play towards improving O and Devices interoperability, allowing people without C++ knowledge to build their own integrations and hopefully share them. The JavaScript plugin is a commendable step in this direction, but imho we as a community could be more open, with open APIs. Python is also really popular in this space, and sidesteps the platform specific compilation problems.

Antipole · 31-10-2021, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by teppokurki

This thread has reiterated the use case of coordinating the route/waypoint status between different O instances (nav station & helm). The suggested solution of syncing files between computers is ..how do I say this politely...very inward looking, tied to low level implementation details.

What if O would
- broadcast navigation status "navigating route xyz (accessible remotely at http so and so), next point is 6", for example as a JSON message over UDP broadcast
- provide an http api for reading and modifying routes

Since most already know that I am heavily involved with Signal K it is rather obvious where I am going: this is the type of problem that SK attempts to solve.
[...]
The JavaScript plugin is a commendable step in this direction, but imho we as a community could be more open, with open APIs.[...]

As author of the JavaScript plugin I am interested in the SignalK issue. If you look in the plugin user manual, you will find there is an API OCPNgetNavigationK() which was an early attempt by me to make it SignalK friendly. You could run this script to see what it does:

Code:

print(OCPNgetNavigationK(), "\n");

But I am not a SignalK user nor familiar with it and it was heading for extra complications for non-SignalK use so I took it no further.
I am mulling over the possibility of adding http/udp capability in a future version (not the next). I would be happy to discuss (best by direct message) what you might need of the JS plugin to advance this.
Right now the next, as yet unreleased, version of the JS plugin is being used to test and debug new APIs in the forthcoming OCPN update.
In my opinion, it would be better to experiment and develop these ideas via the plugin and then make any case for integration into the OPCPN core later once the requirements were settled.

Auspicious · 31-10-2021, 04:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by teppokurki

Python is also really popular in this space, and sidesteps the platform specific compilation problems.

Popularity doesn't mean good. Interpreted languages lead to systems that are slow and solutions that include "just buy faster hardware." Python has the disadvantages of both interpretation (slow) and object-oriented (high overhead therefore slow(er)). There needs to be a better justification for its use than "people know it."

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

I don't donate code to OpenCPN so discount my opinion as you will.

teppokurki · 31-10-2021, 08:15

Please, let's not go to prog language pros and cons in this thread. I tried to make a point about interoperability and open APIs, that you can use from ANY programming language.

Auspicious · 31-10-2021, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by teppokurki

Please, let's not go to prog language pros and cons in this thread. I tried to make a point about interoperability and open APIs, that you can use from ANY programming language.

What you did was specifically raise Python as an inherent good. I responded.

mgrouch · 31-10-2021, 10:16

There was SignalK c++ implementation

https://github.com/raffmont/signalk-server-cpp

Might be that code can be used in OpenCPN. Instead of doing JavaScript