Shell - API Bindings

The Shell bindings allow you to control Bricks and Bricklets from your shell scripts. The ZIP file for the bindings contains:

  • tinkerforge, a Python script that acts as a shell command
  • tinkerforge-bash-completion.sh, a Bash completion script
  • in examples/ the examples for every Brick and Bricklet

The Shell bindings are based on the Python bindings.

Requirements

  • Python 3.4 or newer

Installation

There are two ways to install the Shell bindings: from our APT repository for Debian based Linux distributions or by manually copying the files to the correct location. But can also be used without installation.

From APT Repository

The bindings are available in our APT repository for Debian based Linux distributions. Follow the setup guide then install the bindings:

sudo apt install tinkerforge-shell

Now you're ready to test an example. The Debian package does not include the examples. Those are available as part of the bindings ZIP file.

Manual Installation

To install the bindings manually copy the tinkerforge file to a folder that is in the PATH. For example, this folder on Linux and macOS:

/usr/local/bin/

On Windows the Scripts/ folder of the Python installation is a good choice:

C:\Python\Scripts\

To be able to call the bindings directly on Windows you have to create a tinkerforge.bat file in the Scripts/ folder with the following content:

@"C:\Python\python.exe" "C:\Python\Scripts\tinkerforge" %*

If your Python is not installed in C:\Python\ then you have to adapt the content of the tinkerforge.bat file accordingly.

Bash Completion

If you're using Bash as your shell then you can use the Bash completion script tinkerforge-bash-completion.sh. If you installed the bindings from our APT repository, then the Bash completion script is already installed correctly and you can skip the following steps.

To install it copy the tinkerforge-bash-completion.sh file to the /etc/bash_completion.d/ an reload the Bash completions with the following command:

. /etc/bash_completion

The Bash completion for tinkerforge can complete options, UIDs, Brick and Bricklet names as well as function and callback names.

Testing an Example

To test a Shell example Brick Daemon and Brick Viewer have to be installed first. Brick Daemon acts as a proxy between the USB interface of the Bricks and the API bindings. Brick Viewer connects to Brick Daemon and helps to figure out basic information about the connected Bricks and Bricklets.

All examples are meant for typical Unix shells such as Bash. They will work on Linux and macOS as they are. There are Bash ports for Windows that allow to run the examples unmodified, too.

As an example let's test the configuration example for the Stepper Brick. For this copy the example-configuration.sh file from the examples/brick/stepper/ folder into a new folder:

example_project/
 -> example-configuration.sh

If you did not install the bindings then you have to copy the tinkerforge file to the example_project/ folder too:

example_project/
 -> tinkerforge
 -> example-configuration.sh

To make the example find the non-installed tinkerforge file all occurrences of the tinkerforge command in the example-configuration.sh file have to be replaced by ./tinkerforge.

The example starts with a comment about changing the network address using the --host and --port option if it differs from localhost:4223. If the Stepper Brick is connected locally to USB then localhost and 4223 is correct.

# connects to localhost:4223 by default, use --host and --port to change it

To control a Stepper Brick that can be found at host foobar and port 5678 the examples has to be changed as follows: each occurrence of the tinkerforge command has to be replaced by this:

tinkerforge --host foobar --port 5678

The UID value has to be changed to the UID of the connected Stepper Brick, which you can figure out using Brick Viewer:

uid=XXYYZZ # Change XXYYZZ to the UID of your Stepper Brick

Now you're ready to test this example:

./example-configuration.sh

API Reference and Examples

Links to the API reference for the IP Connection, Bricks and Bricklets as well as the examples from the ZIP file of the bindings are listed in the following table. Further project descriptions can be found in the Kits section.

Name API Examples
Miscellaneous    
IP Connection API Examples
     
Bricks    
ESP32 API  
ESP32 Ethernet API  
HAT API Examples
HAT Zero API Examples
IMU 2.0 API Examples
Master API Examples
RED API  
Silent Stepper API Examples
     
Bricks (Discontinued)    
DC API Examples
IMU API Examples
Servo API Examples
Stepper API Examples
     
Bricklets    
Accelerometer 2.0 API Examples
Air Quality API Examples
Ambient Light 3.0 API Examples
Analog In 3.0 API Examples
Analog Out 3.0 API Examples
Barometer API Examples
Barometer 2.0 API Examples
CAN API Examples
CAN 2.0 API Examples
CO2 2.0 API Examples
Color API Examples
Color 2.0 API Examples
Compass API Examples
DC 2.0 API Examples
Distance IR API Examples
Distance IR 2.0 API Examples
Distance US 2.0 API Examples
DMX API Examples
Dual Button 2.0 API Examples
Dust Detector API Examples
E-Paper 296x128 API Examples
Energy Monitor API Examples
GPS 2.0 API Examples
GPS 3.0 API Examples
Hall Effect API Examples
Hall Effect 2.0 API Examples
Humidity 2.0 API Examples
IMU 3.0 API Examples
Industrial Analog Out 2.0 API Examples
Industrial Counter API Examples
Industrial Digital In 4 2.0 API Examples
Industrial Digital Out 4 API Examples
Industrial Digital Out 4 2.0 API Examples
Industrial Dual 0-20mA API Examples
Industrial Dual 0-20mA 2.0 API Examples
Industrial Dual AC In API  
Industrial Dual AC Relay API Examples
Industrial Dual Analog In 2.0 API Examples
Industrial Dual Relay API Examples
Industrial PTC API Examples
Industrial Quad Relay 2.0 API Examples
IO-16 API Examples
IO-16 2.0 API Examples
IO-4 2.0 API Examples
Isolator API Examples
Joystick API Examples
Joystick 2.0 API Examples
Laser Range Finder 2.0 API Examples
LCD 128x64 API Examples
LCD 20x4 API Examples
LED Strip 2.0 API Examples
Line API Examples
Linear Poti API Examples
Linear Poti 2.0 API Examples
Load Cell 2.0 API Examples
Motion Detector 2.0 API Examples
Motorized Linear Poti API Examples
Multi Touch API Examples
Multi Touch 2.0 API Examples
NFC API  
OLED 128x64 2.0 API Examples
OLED 64x48 API Examples
One Wire API Examples
Outdoor Weather API Examples
Particulate Matter API Examples
Performance DC API Examples
Piezo Speaker API Examples
Piezo Speaker 2.0 API Examples
Real-Time Clock API Examples
Real-Time Clock 2.0 API Examples
Remote Switch 2.0 API Examples
RGB LED 2.0 API Examples
RGB LED Button API Examples
Rotary Encoder 2.0 API Examples
Rotary Poti API Examples
Rotary Poti 2.0 API Examples
RS232 API Examples
RS232 2.0 API Examples
RS485 API Examples
Segment Display 4x7 API Examples
Segment Display 4x7 2.0 API Examples
Servo 2.0 API Examples
Silent Stepper 2.0 API Examples
Solid State Relay 2.0 API Examples
Sound Intensity API Examples
Sound Pressure Level API Examples
Temperature API Examples
Temperature 2.0 API Examples
Temperature IR 2.0 API Examples
Thermal Imaging API Examples
Thermocouple 2.0 API Examples
Tilt API Examples
UV Light 2.0 API Examples
Voltage/Current 2.0 API Examples
XMC1400 Breakout API Examples
     
Bricklets (Discontinued)    
Accelerometer API Examples
Ambient Light API Examples
Ambient Light 2.0 API Examples
Analog In API Examples
Analog In 2.0 API Examples
Analog Out API Examples
Analog Out 2.0 API Examples
CO2 API Examples
Current12 API Examples
Current25 API Examples
Distance US API Examples
Dual Button API Examples
Dual Relay API Examples
GPS API Examples
Humidity API Examples
Industrial Analog Out API Examples
Industrial Digital In 4 API Examples
Industrial Dual Analog In API Examples
Industrial Quad Relay API Examples
IO-4 API Examples
Laser Range Finder API Examples
LCD 16x2 API Examples
LED Strip API Examples
Load Cell API Examples
Moisture API Examples
Motion Detector API Examples
NFC/RFID API Examples
OLED 128x64 API Examples
Piezo Buzzer API Examples
PTC API Examples
PTC 2.0 API Examples
Remote Switch API Examples
RGB LED API Examples
RGB LED Matrix API  
Rotary Encoder API Examples
Solid State Relay API Examples
Temperature IR API Examples
Thermocouple API Examples
UV Light API Examples
Voltage API Examples
Voltage/Current API Examples