Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

C programming, build, interpreter/VM.
Target audience: MicroPython Developers.
Post Reply
ptjm8422
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 7:50 pm

Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

Post by ptjm8422 » Sun May 27, 2018 8:10 pm

Hi, this is probably the worst thing to say when looking for help but I am completely new to C, and micropython. I have been playing around with ESP8266's for a little while, and I began a project where I ended up way over my head, simply writing in the Arduino IDE. As I more or less know python to a useable level, I thought I would solve my problems by creating a micropython module that would suit my needs. This has been far more successful than my other attempts. But I have some data, as a struct that I would like my function to output.
This is the function, with a failed attempt:

STATIC mp_obj_t promisc_getpacket(void) {

mp_obj_t destination;

destination = packetbuffer1.destination;

return MP_OBJ_NEW_list(destination);
}
STATIC MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(promisc_getpacket_obj, promisc_getpacket);



(simple I know; the rest is handled in separate functions)

This was an attempt to output an array from the struct 'packetbuffer1' as defined earlier in the script:


struct packet{
uint8_t destination[6];
uint8_t source[6];
uint8_t channel;
};

struct packet packetbuffer1;


Ideally I would be able to return the strut, into python but every attempt I make seems to fail, either when I compile or crashes Micropython when I test it, rebooting the ESP8266.
Any help would be much appreciated in solving this issue!
Thanks, Peter!

ptjm8422
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 7:50 pm

Re: Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

Post by ptjm8422 » Mon May 28, 2018 10:32 pm

Progress has been made! I have used mp_obj_new_bytearray, however that means I can only output one item from the struct. I have fixed it with a potential workaround but it there is a way to return the items in the struct variable as a python dictionary(?), that would be ideal!

jickster
Posts: 629
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 8:57 pm

Re: Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

Post by jickster » Tue May 29, 2018 1:16 am

ptjm8422 wrote:
Sun May 27, 2018 8:10 pm
I am completely new to C, and micropython.
This statement leads me to this question: are you sure you need to write this in C?

I was experienced in C and it took me time to acclimate to micropython's C-implementation so if you truly are new to C AND micropython, I firmly discourage you from trying to write C-code unless you absolutely need to.

What are you trying to do?
Are you sure there's not a library that does this already?

I'm glad to help you but first answer those two questions.

ptjm8422
Posts: 3
Joined: Sun May 27, 2018 7:50 pm

Re: Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

Post by ptjm8422 » Tue May 29, 2018 10:48 am

I am trying to expose the SDK functions, essentially just promiscuous mode, to be able to read raw packets, from the ESP8266. I unfortunately haven't seen anyone try to do this with Micropython. Therefore I am building my own module. So far semi-successfully. I exaggerate on being completely new, but I am by no means expert, and I very much value the knowledge of people here!

So far I have just created separate functions to return each item from the struct, but this is by no means ideal. But I can then write the rest in Python which is always nice :)

User avatar
dhylands
Posts: 3821
Joined: Mon Jan 06, 2014 6:08 pm
Location: Peachland, BC, Canada
Contact:

Re: Returning a struct or items from a struct (mp_obj_new_struct?!?)

Post by dhylands » Tue May 29, 2018 3:39 pm

You need to return a python object. Now you could create a python object which has the C struct embedded in it. MicroPython functions (that are callable from python) all take objects as parameters and return objects.

A python object has to have an mp_obj_base_t as its first member and the remaining members can be arbitrary. Your python object could contain an embedded structure or a pointer to a structure. For example: https://github.com/micropython/micropyt ... #L124-L132

You could then create an mp_obj_type_t (like: https://github.com/micropython/micropyt ... 1266-L1272) which could have functions for manipulating/accessing the struct.

Post Reply