A more flexible design for MDSplus Device drivers

Abstract

The traditional approach to building MDSplus Device drivers is rigid and lacks the ability to meet changing needs. We introduce a novel paradigm for Device driver development that allows the tree structure to dynamically change. This allows device drivers that can reconfigure to automatically reflect the hardware it represents, or a device that implements a variable number of queries to an external database. We have created a driver using this paradigm that communicates with a digitizer, queries the modules attached, and builds a MDSplus tree structure to utilize them. Additionally, this driver can reconfigure to match changes in the digitizer, by adding or deleting nodes using overwrite and/or delete modes. We also wrote a method for verifying both the setting provided and that the hardware matches the last known state. We have added fields to help validate settings such as min/max limits, and a list of allowed values. The definitions of the nodes which make of the device have been augmented to include help, tool tips and validation ranges. This will facilitate automated user interface generation.