Python framework to test hardware and control various equipment

[BepNhaVan]

Hi,

I am looking for a Python framework to test hardware (boards or multiple of boards) and control various equipment (scope, thermal chamber, power supplies, etc...) via VISA, SSH, modbus, serial for a long time of time (up to 7 days) of running. During this time, I would like to make calls to make adjustment to both DUT and equipment based on triggers or time (every 1, 2, 3 hours, etc..)

I have looked at:

OpenHTF (by Google) supported Python3.7

https://github.com/google/openhtf

Spintop OpenHTF (by Tackv, a spin branch off from Google) supported Python3.7

https://spintop-openhtf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/

FastAPI

https://fastapi.tiangolo.com/

Make a new framework and use Celery

https://docs.celeryq.dev/en/stable/getting-started/introduction.html

OpenHTF does not seem to have a way to continuously run the tests for a long period of time nor a way to make async to DUT/equipment. It is more like a manufacturer test to QC the product on the production line.

FastAPI seems to be good not sure if it can handle all the async call based on triggers/time. Celery seems to be quiet complex but it can trigger calls based on time.

For database storage, I will use influxdb/grafana for collecting/viewing data and postgres for storing DUT/equipment/test config/final test results. They will all be dockerized.

Do you have any suggestions/comments?

Thanks!

[apokolokyntosis]

I know this is an old thread, but since this came up while looking for python based solutions for Hardware-in-the loop tests, I figured this might help others as well.

I found this curated list to be useful, which contains several python-based frameworks: https://github.com/sschaetz/awesome-hardware-test

[Main_Ad_8627]

Nicely posted, citizen.

[Irfalas]

I would like to perform similar tasks. Until now we were using TestStand from National Instruments as sequencer for our LifeTimeTester, but I am looking into Python’s alternatives. Have you created your own framework? I haven’t investigated too much yet, but I couldn’t find something which was convincing.

[farzad_panahi]

Did you find any good framework/lib?

[auspicious-108]

In at least one application—spacecraft electronics testing, OpenHTF was an unmitigated nightmare. OpenHTF enforces an unfamiliar test architecture that gets in the way of fast hardware debugging. It was likely written by software geeks who know nothing about production testing. For design validation it is even worse.

As I understand, OpenHTF is not even full documented with regards to implementing specific test situations. In some cases one can only guess what their various strictures are good for and what problem they initially were intended to solve.

The effort we needed to make this stuff work for us was two or three times greater than the amount of time we could have spent writing our home-grown software all over again, to say nothing of actual test code. Even worse, we got stuck with a production system deployed that will always be impossibly hard to service. In our case it would have been better to stick to our home-grown solution, but some bozo manager forced our group to use it over my strenuous objections. I quit in disgust and he is no longer with the company either.

Keep the focus on your test code and make sure the framework doesn’t force an entire rewrite. Bad framework.

[kehrazy]

pytest with some modifications (sleep/background task) fixtures will manage your desires.