Fern's recent updates and renaming of 'features' to
'NativeCAM' (short name ncam) has been greeted with much
enthusiasm by users who have waited a long time for
this excellent conversational/CAM interface.
Fern has a github repository for the code. Using the code
requires that a user download a zip file (or do a git
checkout from his repository) and then run scripts to
install (or uninstall) into system directories using
superuser (root) privileges. Additional steps are needed to
run with a RIP (Run-In-Place) build.
About a year ago, a test branch (first named
bringin_features then features_preview_3) was added to the
LinuxCNC git repository so I have updated it with a new
branch named ncam_for_2.7. The updates were made by first
rebasing to the current 2.7 branch and then copying/renaming
ncam-specific files based on commit bf8d6fc (2016-10-09)
from Fern's NativeCAM repository on github.
I have lightly tested this branch both as a RIP and from a
locally built deb on debian/jessie/uspace/64bit
and it seems to start ok for me (i have not used it
much but the example projects for the axis gui opened ok).
This branch is available immediately for users making a RIP
build or (soon, see note) from a scratch deb obtained from
the buildbot per instructions at buildbot.linuxcnc.org
I believe that this branch can be merged to 2.7 if users
want it and if Fern is willing to make git updates to this
new Linuxcnc branch (ncam_for_2.7). Help with git is
available from experienced LinuxCNC developers.
Note that the 2.7 branch is appropriate because:
1) Code and supporting files are added only for ncam
functionality and no changes are made to other code
or scripts in the linuxcnc git tree.
2) Infrastructure changes are minor and readily assessed for risk:
a) new: lib/python/gladevcp/ncam.py
include NCam in: lib/python/gladevccp/hal_pythonplugin.py
b) most ncam files are localized to a new directory:
share/lib/ncam/
c) src/Makefile -- provides an ncam executable and
the new directories in share/lib/ncam/...
b) debian/linuxcnc.in -- populates /usr/share/ncam/
Ongoing forum discussions at:
https://forum.linuxcnc.org/forum/40-subroutines-and-ngcgui/31659-nativecam-is-features-renamed
indicate positive results with NativeCAM although there are
complications due to the use of custom install scripts and
the assumptions in provided sim configs that are based on the
development branch (master not 2.7).
I believe that NativeCAM incorporation can be expedited by
using and updating this ncam_for_2.7 test branch with a goal
of a merge to 2.7 for the next 2.7 release.
Note:
The buildbot has failed with an armhf slave-lost exception
so buildbot debs for ncam_for_2.7 will not be available
until there is a restart. The more common architectures ran
successfully for this new branch.
--
Dewey Garrett
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