Python bindings for BlyncLight on Mac & Linux [V 0.11.0]

[jnyjny]

I've written Python language bindings to control BlyncLight devices using Mac OS and Linux. I'm reasonably certain that python on Windows could be made to work and pull requests to fix that would be most welcome.


git clone http://github.com/JnyJny/blynclight.git
The package is also available on PyPI and can be installed using:


pip install blynclight
Please use the GitHub issue tracker to report bugs or request features.

[mirriam]

Exactly what I was after.

Thanks jnyjny

[jnyjny]

I've updated the python blynclight module with improved (working) Linux support, version 0.1.6 @ github.com/JnyJny/blynclight.git

$ pip install blynclight

[jnyjny]

I've released a new version of the python blynclight module, 0.2.0.
Source is available on GitHub.com/JnyJny/blyncligt.git and installable via pip.

This new version uses the open source Signal 11 HID API to send commands to the light. Tip of the hat to Offbeatmammal for his node.js bindings from which I unabashedly cribbed.

[that guy]

jnyjny - I don't see your changes with hidapi. The blynclight.py still shows usb.core being used.

[fbellom]

I'm hitting this error when run this in MacOS
usb.core.USBError: [Errno 13] Access denied (insufficient permissions)

And when try it on Debian (RaspberryPI Strecth) I got an error on the line 189 of blynclight.py regarding a Sytax error

What do I miss here?

[jnyjny]

First, my apologies for not seeing these bug reports. Github is the best way to raise issues with the software since I don't check here very often.


Second, the usb.core.USBError errno13 problem is something I ran into personally when I updated to macOS Mojave (10.14). It seems that Apple clamped down on USB device access thru libusb. I've re-written the python blynclight module (again) to use HIDAPI instead, which is somewhat less convenient than PyUSB but it works on Linux, MacOS and presumably Windows. Installing HIDAPI is relatively straightforward and is detailed at github.com/signal11/hidapi.

Thirdly, while re-writing i found lots of little bugs, like the syntax error in line 189 above, that have been addressed. I've added more testing via pytest to catch more bugs quicker.

Finally, version 0.4.3 is now available vi PyPI or clone it directly from GitHub:

$ pip3 install -U blynclight

$ git clone github.com/jnyjny/blynclight.git

There are a number of scripts in the contrib directory which demonstrate how the module can be used:

contrib/fli.py : flash light impressively
contrib/rainbow.py : smoothly transitions colors in a rainbow sequence
contrib/throbber.py : cycles color intensity

Again, for more timely responses to issues or enhancement requests, please use GitHub's issue tracker.

Have fun!

[jnyjny]

I released version 0.4.6 of my python blynclight module earlier today.

I've learned how to package scripts so they are installed automatically when the package is installed:

- fli : Flash Lights Impressively
- rainbow: Smooth color transitions in a rainbow sequence.
- throbber : Cyclicly ramps color intensity in a menacing manner.
- blync: Provides command-line access to a light's function.

Raise issues on GitHub @ github.com/JnyJny/blynclight.git

[dusty]

Not sure where to ask for help, so trying here. Sorry to muddy up the thread.

Running the test scripts or my own I cannot get the light to work. I'm on MacOS 10.14 / Python 3.7.3 (brew) with hidapi installed. If I use the Embrava client, the light seems to work fine in manual mode. I have my script outputting the status of what it thinks the light is doing:

Light Status:
Device: 0x2c0d:0x000c
0x0000 : red
0x0000 : blue
0x00ff : green
0x0000 : off
0x0000 : dim
0x0000 : flash
0x0000 : speed
0x0000 : music
0x0000 : play
0x0000 : repeat
0x0000 : volume
0x0000 : mute
0x0001 : immediate

I see the values change, but once again the light isn't triggered. Not sure if I'm missing something?  Looking for pointers on how to debug.  No exceptions thrown.

UPDATE:  I have opened an issue on Git Hub, as I should have initially.  

[jnyjny]

Thanks to Dusty's bug report, I've fixed a bug in my python package that should enable more devices.

See github.com/JnyJny/blynclight/releases/tag/0.4.7 for more information.

[jnyjny]

I've updated my blynclight python package: 0.7.1 and should support Windows, Mac, and Linux.

github.com/JnyJny/blynclight.git for more information.

If you already have the package installed:

$ python3 -m pip install -U blynclight
$ blync --help
Usage: blync [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]...

 Control your Embrava BlyncLight from the command-line!

 Use the `blync` utility to directly control your Embrava BlyncLight:

 ```console
 $ blync -R        # turn the light on with red color and leave it on
 $ blync --off     # turn the light off
 $ blync -RG --dim # turn the light on with yellow color and dim
 $ blync -RBG      # turn the light on with white color
 ```

 Colors can be specified by values between 0 and 255 using the lower-case
 color options or using the upper-case full value options.

 ```console
 $ blync -r 127                # half intensity red
 $ blync -r 255                # full intensity red
 $ blync -R                    # also full intensity red
 $ blync -r 255 -b 255 -g 255  # full intensity white
 $ blync -RBG                  # full intensity white
 ```

 If that's not enough fun, there are three builtin color modes: `fli`,
 `throbber`, and `rainbow`. All modes continue until the user terminates
 with a Control-C or platform equivalent.

 ```console
 $ blync fli
 $ blync throbber
 $ blync rainbow
 ```

 Installation

 ```console
 $ python3 -m pip install blynclight
 $ python3 -m pip install git+https://github.com/JnyJny/blynclight.git # latest
 ```

 This module depends on [hidapi](https://github.com/libusb/hidapi), which
 supports Windows, Linux, FreeBSD and MacOS. Check your favorite package
 managers before attempting to download and build the library from source.

Options:
 -l, --light-id INTEGER  Light identifier  [default: 0]
 -r, --red INTEGER       Red color value range: 0 - 255  [default: 0]
 -b, --blue INTEGER      Blue color value range: 0 - 255  [default: 0]
 -g, --green INTEGER     Green color value range: 0 - 255  [default: 0]
 -R, --RED               Full value red [255]
 -B, --BLUE              Full value blue [255]
 -G, --GREEN             Full value green [255]
 -o, --off / -n, --on    Turn the light off/on.  [default: False]
 -d, --dim               Toggle bright/dim mode.  [default: False]
 -f, --flash             Enable flash mode.
 -p, --play INTEGER      Select song: 1-15
 --repeat                Repeat the selected song.  [default: False]
 --volume INTEGER        Set the volume: 1-10  [default: 5]
 -a, --list-available
 -v, --verbose
 -V, --version
 --install-completion    Install completion for the current shell.
 --show-completion       Show completion for the current shell, to copy it or
                         customize the installation.

 --help                  Show this message and exit.

Commands:
 fli       Flash Light Impressively.
 rainbow   BlyncLights Love Rainbows.
 throbber  BlyncLight Intensifies.

[jnyjny]

The latest version, 0.11.0, of the python BlyncLight bindings greatly simplified installation. The user no longer needs to install HIDAPI before being able to use this package. Just install it with pip and enjoy.