Introducing OpenPlotter project and a kplex GUI approach

[Sailoog]

Hi Keith and everyone,

As we talked a year ago approx. we were planning to implement kplex in an open source project and finally this is the result.

As you can see there is a simple kplex GUI written in python. Not all the multiple and great features of kplex are implemented in this GUI, only those that the project needs. In case someone would want to develop a more accurate kplex GUI from this code, I could extract only the needed parts and create and standalone repository on github. Let me know if someone is interested.

http://www.sailoog.com/en/openplotter

Thanks!

[Sailoog]

What is OpenPlotter?

There are people who buy boats but there are also people who build them, why not build your own electronics too? OpenPlotter is a combination of software and hardware to be used as navigational aid on small and medium boats. It works on ARM computers like the Raspberry Pi and is open-source, low-cost and low-consumption. Its design is modular, so you just have to implement what your boat needs. Do it yourself.

Features

• Chartplotter. With OpenCPN, a navigation software with useful plugins.
• Weather Forecast. Download and visualize GRIB files with zyGrib.
• NMEA 0183 Multiplexer. Multiplex and filter data inputs from any number of serial and network interfaces. Send and filter to any number of outputs.
• Signal K (beta). OpenPlotter is ready for Signal K, the new, free and open source universal marine data exchange.
• NMEA 0183 Inspector. Check the data traffic to avoid conflicts and overlaps between sources.
• WiFi Access Point. Share data (NMEA 0183, Signal K, remote desktop) with laptops, tablets and phones on board. Connect to internet on port through the same device.
• Remote Desktop. Access to OpenPlotter desktop from the cockpit through your mobile devices.
• SDR-AIS. Receive and decode AIS with cheap DVB-T dongles. Calibration tools Included.
• Magnetic Variation. Calculate magnetic variation for date and position.
• Electronic Compass. Calculate magnetic heading with an IMU sensor. Tilt compensated. Calibration tools Included.
• True Heading. Calculate true heading from magnetic variation and magnetic heading.
• True Wind. Calculate true wind from apparent wind and either speed through water (speed log) or speed over ground (GPS).
• Barograph and Thermograph. From pressure and temperature sensors. Save logs and display graphs to see trends.
• System Time Tools. Set the system time from NMEA data and set the time zone easily.
• Startup Programs. Select some program parameters to launch at start.

http://sailoog.gitbooks.io/openplotter-documentation/content/en/index.html

[Sailoog]

[joachim bakke]

Hi,

I just installed it and it looks good. I will work with openplotter and try to import the features from my boat rpi. It is certainly very nice to have the overview of the menus, and I see you have added more documentation from the first time I checked. 

Where would you like me to ask questions and suggest additions?

Joachim

[Keith Young]

I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet but it looks great and I like the open source software / sell tested hardware concept.

As you can see there is a simple kplex GUI written in python. Not all the multiple and great features of kplex are implemented in this GUI, only those that the project needs. In case someone would want to develop a more accurate kplex GUI from this code, I could extract only the needed parts and create and standalone repository on github. Let me know if someone is interested.

Once the current kplex 1.3.1 beta is made a full release (next week unless problems reported?)  I intend pursuing a strategy to allow any GUI front end to query the options available, their defaults, and the current configuration and make changes without re-starting kplex.  It's just an idea for now but it should mean that people writing a GUI front end don't have to update it to support new features.  The config file syntax will hopefully stay the same so as not to break anything currently written.

[Sailoog]

Once the current kplex 1.3.1 beta is made a full release (next week unless problems reported?)  I intend pursuing a strategy to allow any GUI front end to query the options available, their defaults, and the current configuration and make changes without re-starting kplex.  It's just an idea for now but it should mean that people writing a GUI front end don't have to update it to support new features.  The config file syntax will hopefully stay the same so as not to break anything currently written.

That would be great. Thanks!

[Sailoog]

Yes, we are developing and writing documentation but we are a very small team :)
If you want to export features to another system it may be useful this little howto: https://github.com/sailoog/openplotter/wiki

OpenPlotter was born in a Spanish forum but definitely we need an English site so I have just opened one post on cruisers forum: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f13/openplotter-project-152754.html

Thanks!

El dimecres, 9 setembre de 2015 8:49:19 UTC+2, joachim bakke va escriure: