Python bindings to i2c-dev

[mds4@verizon.net (Mark Studebaker)]

what was the motivation for this?
do you have any interesing i2c Python programs to share with us?

Mark M. Hoffman wrote:
> Hi:
> 
> (cc James, who IIRC is a Python guy...)
> 
> After a couple false starts and some hair-pulling, here is a Python module
> which allows SMBus access through the I2C /dev interface.  I would like to
> eventually add this to the lm_sensors project.
> 
> 	http://members.dca.net/mhoffman/sensors/python/
> 
> To build it and use it in place, start with this:
> 
> 	$ python setup.py build
> 
> Then, e.g. (as root):
> 
> 	# python
> 	(...)
> 	>>> from smbus import SMBus
> 	>>> b = SMBus(0) # 0 indicates /dev/i2c-0
> 	>>> b.read_byte_data(0x2f,0x58)
> 	114
> 
> If there's no device to ack the address, or in case of any other bus
> error, it raises an exception:
> 
> 	>>> b.write_quick(0x2e)
> 	Traceback (most recent call last):
> 	  File "<stdin>", line 1, in ?
> 	IOError: [Errno 1] Operation not permitted
> 
> TODO: the rest of the bus transactions, and the capabilities query.
> 
> WARNING: I have managed to lock up my machine's SMBus more than once, so
> the usual caveats apply.  If you lock up your bus (such that write_quick
> commands to known good addresses start to fail) you may need to COMPLETELY
> power off your machine, including physically removing the plug from the
> power supply.  In my case, the machine fails the BIOS POST until I do that.
> Of course, this is no worse than what is possible from i2c-dev directly.
> 
> Which reminds me...  Khali: Is i2c-dev safe (ruin-proof) for people with
> IBM laptops?  Or would that check need to be built in to this?
> 
> Comments and suggestions are welcome.
> 
> Regards,
>