linuxpy

Human friendly interface to linux subsystems using python.

Provides python access to several linux subsystems like V4L2, GPIO, Led, thermal, input and MIDI.

There is experimental, undocumented, incomplete and unstable access to USB.

Requirements:

• python >= 3.11
• Fairly recent linux kernel
• Installed kernel modules you want to access

And yes, it is true: there are no python libraries required! Also there are no C libraries required. Everything is done here through direct ioctl, read and write calls. Ain't linux wonderful?

Installation

From within your favorite python environment:

$ pip install linuxpy

To run the examples you'll need:

$ pip install linuxpy --group=examples

To develop, run tests, build package, lint, etc you'll need:

$ pip install linuxpy --group=dev

Subsystems

GPIO

from linuxpy.gpio import Device

with Device.from_id(0) as gpio:
    info = gpio.get_info()
    print(info.name, info.label, len(info.lines))
    l0 = info.lines[0]
    print(f"L0: {l0.name!r} {l0.flags.name}")

# output should look somethig like:
# gpiochip0 INT3450:00 32
# L0: '' INPUT

Check the GPIO user guide and GPIO reference for more information.

Input

import time
from linuxpy.input.device import find_gamepads

pad = next(find_gamepads())
abs = pad.absolute

with pad:
    while True:
	    print(f"X:{abs.x:>3} | Y:{abs.y:>3} | RX:{abs.rx:>3} | RY:{abs.ry:>3}", end="\r", flush=True)
	    time.sleep(0.1)

Check the Input user guide and Input reference for more information.

Led

from linuxpy.led import find

caps_lock = find(function="capslock")
print(caps_lock.brightness)
print(caps_lock.max_brightness)

Check the LED user guide and LED reference for more information.

MIDI Sequencer

$ python

>>> from linuxpy.midi.device import Sequencer, event_stream

>>> seq = Sequencer()
>>> with seq:
        port = seq.create_port()
        port.connect_from(14, 0)
        for event in seq:
            print(event)
 14:0   Note on              channel=0, note=100, velocity=3, off_velocity=0, duration=0
 14:0   Clock                queue=0, pad=b''
 14:0   System exclusive     F0 61 62 63 F7
 14:0   Note off             channel=0, note=55, velocity=3, off_velocity=0, duration=0

Check the MIDI user guide and MIDI reference for more information.

Thermal and cooling

from linuxpy.thermal import find
with find(type="x86_pkg_temp") as tz:
    print(f"X86 temperature: {tz.temperature/1000:6.2f} C")

Check the Thermal and cooling user guide and Thermal and cooling reference for more information.

Video

Video for Linux 2 (V4L2) python library

Without further ado:

>>> from linuxpy.video.device import Device
>>> with Device.from_id(0) as cam:
>>>     for i, frame in enumerate(cam):
...         print(f"frame #{i}: {len(frame)} bytes")
...         if i > 9:
...             break
...
frame #0: 54630 bytes
frame #1: 50184 bytes
frame #2: 44054 bytes
frame #3: 42822 bytes
frame #4: 42116 bytes
frame #5: 41868 bytes
frame #6: 41322 bytes
frame #7: 40896 bytes
frame #8: 40844 bytes
frame #9: 40714 bytes
frame #10: 40662 bytes

Check the V4L2 user guide and V4L2 reference for more information.