Main, Program Screen basically done, UI Tweaks, backend fixes, start writing testing library

README.md

@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@
     <a href="https://store.janishutz.com/donate" target="_blank"><img src="https://store-cdn.janishutz.com/static/support-me.jpg" width="150px"></a>
 </div>
 
+BiogasControllerApp has just received a major rewrite, where I focused on code-readability, documentation and stability. The documentation in the code is aimed at beginners and does contain some unnecessary extra comments
+
+If you are here to read the code, the files you are most likely looking for can be found in the `biogascontrollerapp/lib` folder. If you want to understand and have a look at all of the application, start with the `biogascontrollerapp.py` file in the `biogascontrollerapp` folder
+
+# Features
+
 ***LOOKING FOR A MacOS BUILD MAINTAINER! You may follow the official build instructions on the kivy.org website. All other materials should already be included in this repository***
 		
 ## FEATURES

biogascontrollerapp/biogascontrollerapp.py

@@ -1,42 +1,61 @@
+# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │              BiogasControllerApp               │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+#
+# So you would like to read the source code? Nice!
+# Just be warned, this application uses Thread and a UI Toolkit called 
+# Kivy to run. If you are unsure of what functions do, consider 
+# checking out the kivy docs at https://kivy.org/doc. 
+# It also uses the pyserial library for communication with the micro-
+# controller with RS232
+#
+# ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
 import os
 import configparser
 from typing import override
 
 from lib.com import Com
 
+
+# Load the config file
 config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-config.read('./config.ini')
+config.read("./config.ini")
 
 # Load config and disable kivy log if necessary
-if config['Dev Settings']['verbose'] == "True":
+if config["Dev Settings"]["verbose"] == "True":
     pass
 else:
     os.environ["KIVY_NO_CONSOLELOG"] = "1"
 
 
-# Load kivy modules
+# Load kivy modules. Kivy is the UI framework used. See https://kivy.org
 # from kivy.core.window import Window, Config
 from kivy.uix.screenmanager import ScreenManager
 from kivy.app import App
 
-# Load other libraries
-# import threading
 
 # Store the current app version
 app_version = f"{config['Info']['version']}{config['Info']['subVersion']}"
 
-#---------#
-# Screens #
-#---------#
 
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │                    Screens                     │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+# Import all the screens (= pages) used in the app 
 from gui.home.home import HomeScreen
 from gui.credits.credits import CreditsScreen
+from gui.program.program import ProgramScreen
 from gui.about.about import AboutScreen
 from gui.main.main import MainScreen
 
-#----------------#
+
-# Screen Manager #
+
-#----------------#
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │                 Screen Manager                 │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+# Kivy uses a screen manager to manage pages in the application
 class BiogasControllerApp(App):
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
@@ -44,14 +63,17 @@ class BiogasControllerApp(App):
 
     @override
     def build(self):
-        com = Com();
+        com = Com()
-        self.icon = './BiogasControllerAppLogo.png'
+        self.icon = "./BiogasControllerAppLogo.png"
-        self.title = 'BiogasControllerApp-' + app_version
+        self.title = "BiogasControllerApp-" + app_version
-        self.screen_manager.add_widget(HomeScreen(com, name='home'))
+        self.screen_manager.add_widget(HomeScreen(com, name="home"))
-        self.screen_manager.add_widget(MainScreen(com, name='main'))
+        self.screen_manager.add_widget(MainScreen(com, name="main"))
-        self.screen_manager.add_widget(CreditsScreen(name='credits'))
+        self.screen_manager.add_widget(ProgramScreen(com, name="program"))
-        self.screen_manager.add_widget(AboutScreen(name='about'))
+        self.screen_manager.add_widget(CreditsScreen(name="credits"))
+        self.screen_manager.add_widget(AboutScreen(name="about"))
         return self.screen_manager
 
+
+# Disallow this file to be imported
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     BiogasControllerApp().run()

biogascontrollerapp/config.ini

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ sizew = 800
 [Dev Settings]
 verbose = True
 log_level = DEBUG
-disableconnectioncheck = False
+disableconnectioncheck = True
 
 [License]
 show = 1

biogascontrollerapp/gui/home/home.py

@@ -1,30 +1,49 @@
 from kivy.uix.screenmanager import Screen
 from kivy.lang import Builder
-from gui.popups.popups import QuitPopup, SingleRowPopup, TwoActionPopup
+from gui.popups.popups import QuitPopup, TwoActionPopup
 from lib.com import Com
 
+import configparser
+
+config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+config.read('./config.ini')
+
+# This is the launch screen, i.e. what you see when you start up the app
 class HomeScreen(Screen):
     def __init__(self, com: Com, **kw):
         self._com = com;
         super().__init__(**kw)
 
+    # Go to the main screen if we can establish connection or the check was disabled 
+    # in the configs
     def start(self):
-        if self._com.connect(19200):
+        if config[ 'Dev Settings' ][ 'disableconnectioncheck' ] != "True":
+            if self._com.connect():
+                self.manager.current = 'main'
+                self.manager.transition.direction = 'right'
+            else:
+                TwoActionPopup().open('Failed to connect', 'Details', self.open_details_popup)
+                print('ERROR connecting')
+        else:
             self.manager.current = 'main'
             self.manager.transition.direction = 'right'
-        else:
-            TwoActionPopup().open('Failed to connect', 'Details', self.open_details_popup)
-            print('ERROR connecting')
 
+    # Open popup for details as to why the connection failed
     def open_details_popup(self):
+        # TODO: Finish
         print( 'Details' )
 
+    # Helper to open a Popup to ask user whether to quit or not
     def quit(self):
         QuitPopup(self._com).open()
 
+    # Switch to about screen
     def to_about(self):
         self.manager.current = 'about'
         self.manager.transition.direction = 'down'
 
 
+# Load the design file for this screen (.kv files)
+# The path has to be relative to root of the app, i.e. where the biogascontrollerapp.py 
+# file is located
 Builder.load_file('./gui/home/home.kv')

biogascontrollerapp/gui/main/main.kv

@@ -74,25 +74,7 @@
             on_text: root.switch_mode(mode_selector.text)
             background_color: (255,0,0,0.6) if self.state == "normal" else (0,0,255,0.6)
         Button:
-            text: "Read Data"
+            text: "Configuration"
-            size_hint: 0.15, 0.1
-            pos_hint: {"x":0.3, "y":0.2}
-            background_color: (255, 0, 0, 0.6)
-            on_release:
-                root.end()
-                app.root.current = "read"
-                root.manager.transition.direction = "down"
-        Button:
-            text: "Temperature"
-            size_hint: 0.15, 0.1
-            pos_hint: {"x":0.5, "y":0.2}
-            background_color: (255, 0, 0, 0.6)
-            on_release:
-                root.end()
-                app.root.current = "temperature"
-                root.manager.transition.direction = "down"
-        Button:
-            text: "Change all Data"
             size_hint: 0.15, 0.1
             pos_hint: {"x":0.7, "y":0.2}
             background_color: (255, 0, 0, 0.6)
@@ -101,7 +83,7 @@
                 app.root.current = "program"
                 root.manager.transition.direction = "down"
         Label:
-            id: frequency
+            id: status
-            text: "Frequency will appear here"
+            text: "Status will appear here"
             font_size: 10
             pos_hint: {"x":0.4, "y": 0.3}

biogascontrollerapp/gui/main/main.py

@@ -1,25 +1,200 @@
+from ctypes import ArgumentError
+from time import time
+from typing import List, override
 from kivy.uix.screenmanager import Screen
 from kivy.lang import Builder
+from gui.popups.popups import SingleRowPopup, TwoActionPopup, empty_func
+from kivy.clock import Clock, ClockEvent
+import queue
+import threading
 
+# Load utilities
+from lib.instructions import Instructions
 from lib.com import Com
+from lib.decoder import Decoder
 
 
+# TODO: Consider consolidating start and stop button
+
+
+# Queue with data that is used to synchronize
+synced_queue: queue.Queue[List[str]] = queue.Queue()
+
+
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │           Data Reading Thread Helper           │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+# Using a Thread to run this in parallel to the UI to improve responsiveness
+class ReaderThread(threading.Thread):
+    _com: Com
+    _decoder: Decoder
+    _instructions: Instructions
+
+    # This method allows the user to set Com object to be used.
+    # The point of this is to allow for the use of a single Com object to not waste resources
+    def set_com(self, com: Com):
+        """Set the Com object to be used in this
+
+        Args:
+            com: The com object to be used
+        """
+        self._com = com
+        self._run = True
+        self._decoder = Decoder()
+
+    # This method is given by the Thread class and has to be overriden to change
+    # what is executed when the thread starts
+    @override
+    def run(self) -> None:
+        self._run = True
+        if self._com == None:
+            raise ArgumentError("Com object not passed in (do using set_com)")
+        # Hook to output stream
+        if self._instructions.hook("", ["\n", " ", " ", " "]):
+            # We are now hooked to the stream (i.e. data is synced)
+            synced_queue.put(["HOOK"])
+
+            # making it exit using the stop function
+            while self._run:
+                # Take note of the time before reading the data to deduce frequency of updates
+                start_time = time()
+
+                # We need to read 68 bytes of data, given by the program running on the controller
+                received = self._com.receive(68)
+
+                # Store the data in a list of strings
+                data: List[str] = []
+
+                # For all sensors connected, execute the same thing
+                for i in range(4):
+                    # The slicing that happens here uses offsets automatically calculated from the sensor id
+                    # This allows for short code
+                    data.append(
+                        f"Tadc: {
+                            self._decoder.decode_float(received[12 * i:12 * i + 4])
+                        }\nTemperature: {
+                            self._decoder.decode_float(received[12 * i + 5:12 * i + 11])
+                        }\nDuty-Cycle: {
+                            self._decoder.decode_float_long(received[48 + 5 * i: 52 + 5 * i]) / 65535.0 * 100
+                        }%"
+                    )
+                # Calculate the frequency of updates
+                data.append(str(1 / (time() - start_time)))
+        else:
+            # Send error message to the UI updater
+            synced_queue.put(["ERR_HOOK"])
+            return
+
+    def stop(self) -> None:
+        self._run = False
+
+
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │                Main App Screen                 │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+# This is the main screen, where you can read out data
 class MainScreen(Screen):
+    _event: ClockEvent
+
+    # The constructor if this class takes a Com object to share one between all screens
+    # to preserve resources and make handling better
     def __init__(self, com: Com, **kw):
-        self._com = com;
+        # Set some variables
+        self._com = com
+        self._event = None
+
+        # Prepare the reader thread
+        self._reader = ReaderThread()
+        self._reader.setDaemon(True)
+        self._reader.set_com(com)
+        self._has_connected = False
+
+        # Call the constructor for the Screen class
         super().__init__(**kw)
 
+    # Start the connection to the micro-controller to read data from it.
+    # This also now starts the reader thread to continuously read out data
     def start(self):
-        pass
+        self.ids.status.text = "Connecting..."
+        if self._com.connect():
+            self._has_connected = True
+            # Start communication
+            self._reader.start()
+            Clock.schedule_interval(self._update_screen, 0.5)
+        else:
+            self.ids.status.text = "Connection failed"
+            TwoActionPopup().open(
+                "Failed to connect. Do you want to retry?",
+                "Cancel",
+                empty_func,
+                "Retry",
+                self.start,
+            )
 
+    # End connection to micro-controller and set it back to normal mode
     def end(self):
-        pass
+        # Set micro-controller back to Normal Mode when ending communication
+        # to make sure temperature control will work
+        if self._has_connected:
+            if self._event != None:
+                self._event.cancel()
+            self._reader.stop()
+            try:
+                self._com.send("NM")
+            except:
+                pass
+            self._com.close()
+            self.ids.status.text = "Connection terminated"
 
+    # A helper function to update the screen. Is called on an interval
+    def _update_screen(self):
+        update = synced_queue.get()
+        if len(update) == 1:
+            if update[0] == "ERR_HOOK":
+                self.ids.status.text = "Hook failed"
+                self.end()
+            elif update[0] == "HOOK":
+                self.ids.status.text = "Connected to controller"
+        else:
+            self.ids.sensor1.text = update[0]
+            self.ids.sensor2.text = update[1]
+            self.ids.sensor3.text = update[2]
+            self.ids.sensor4.text = update[3]
+            self.ids.status.text = "Connected, f = " + update[4]
+
+    # Reset the screen when the screen is entered
     def reset(self):
-        pass
+        self.ids.sensor1.text = ""
+        self.ids.sensor2.text = ""
+        self.ids.sensor3.text = ""
+        self.ids.sensor4.text = ""
+        self.ids.status.text = "Status will appear here"
 
-    def back(self):
+    # Switch the mode for the micro-controller
-        pass
+    def switch_mode(self, new_mode: str):
+        # Store if we have been connected to the micro-controller before mode was switched
+        was_connected = self._reader.is_alive
+
+        # Disconnect from the micro-controller
+        self.end()
+        self.ids.status.text = "Setting mode..."
+
+        # Try to set the new mode
+        try:
+            if new_mode == "Normal Mode":
+                self._com.send("NM")
+            else:
+                self._com.send("FM")
+        except:
+            SingleRowPopup().open("Failed to switch modes")
+            return
+
+        # If we have been connected, reconnect
+        if was_connected:
+            self.start()
 
 
-Builder.load_file('./gui/main/main.kv')
+# Load the design file for this screen (.kv files)
+# The path has to be relative to root of the app, i.e. where the biogascontrollerapp.py
+# file is located
+Builder.load_file("./gui/main/main.kv")

biogascontrollerapp/gui/popups/popups.py

@@ -4,9 +4,15 @@ from kivy.lang import Builder
 
 from lib.com import Com
 
+
+# Just an empty function
 def empty_func():
     pass
 
+#          ╭────────────────────────────────────────────────╮
+#          │                     Popups                     │
+#          ╰────────────────────────────────────────────────╯
+# Below, you can find various popups with various designs that can be used in the app
 class QuitPopup(Popup):
     def __init__(self, com: Com, **kw):
         self._com = com;
@@ -50,4 +56,8 @@ class TwoActionPopup(Popup):
         self.action_two = action_two
         return super().open(*_args, **kwargs)
 
+
+# Load the design file for this screen (.kv files)
+# The path has to be relative to root of the app, i.e. where the biogascontrollerapp.py 
+# file is located
 Builder.load_file('./gui/popups/popups.kv')

biogascontrollerapp/gui/program/program.kv

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+<ProgramScreen>:
+    name: "program"
+    on_pre_enter: self.config_loader = root.load_config()
+    canvas.before:
+        Color:
+            rgba: (50,50,50,0.2)
+        Rectangle:
+            size: self.size
+            pos: self.pos
+    FloatLayout:
+        Label:
+            text: "Configuration"
+            font_size: 40
+            color: (0, 113, 0, 1)
+            bold: True
+            pos_hint: {"y":0.4}
+        GridLayout:
+            size_hint: 0.8, 0.5
+            pos_hint: {"x":0.1, "y":0.2}
+            cols: 4
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 1, a:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s1_a
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 1, b:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s1_b
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 1, c:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s1_c
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 1, Temp:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s1_t
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 2, a:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s2_a
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 2, b:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s2_b
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 2, c:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s2_c
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 2, Temp:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s2_t
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 3, a:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s3_a
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 3, b:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s3_b
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 3, c:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s3_c
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 3, Temp:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s3_t
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 4, a:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s4_a
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 4, b:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s4_b
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 4, c:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s4_c
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+            Label:
+                text: "Sensor 4, Temp:"
+            TextInput:
+                id: s4_t
+                multiline: False
+                input_filter: "float"
+        Button:
+            text: "Back"
+            size_hint: 0.1, 0.1
+            pos_hint: {"x":0.1, "y":0.1}
+            background_color: (255, 0, 0, 0.6)
+            on_release:
+                app.root.current = "main"
+                root.manager.transition.direction = "up"
+        Button:
+            text: "Save"
+            size_hint: 0.2, 0.1
+            pos_hint: {"x":0.6, "y":0.1}
+            background_color: (255, 0, 0, 0.6)
+            on_release:
+                root.save()

biogascontrollerapp/gui/program/program.py

@@ -1,20 +1,94 @@
+from typing import List
 from kivy.uix.screenmanager import Screen
 from kivy.lang import Builder
+from lib.decoder import Decoder
+from lib.instructions import Instructions
+from gui.popups.popups import SingleRowPopup, TwoActionPopup, empty_func
+from lib.com import Com
+from kivy.clock import Clock
 
 
-class HomeScreen(Screen):
+# The below list maps 0, 1, 2, 3 to a, b, c and t respectively
+# This is used to set and read values of the UI
+name_map = [ "a", "b", "c", "t" ]
+
+
+class ProgramScreen(Screen):
     def __init__(self, com: Com, **kw):
-        self._com = com;
+        self._com = com
+        self._instructions = Instructions(com)
+        self._decoder = Decoder()
         super().__init__(**kw)
 
-    def start(self):
+    def load_config(self):
-        pass
+        Clock.schedule_once(self._load)
 
-    def quit(self):
+    # Load the current configuration from the micro-controller
-        pass
+    def _load(self, dt: float):
+        if self._instructions.hook("RD", ["\n", "R", "D", "\n"]):
+            config: List[List[str]] = []
 
-    def to_settings(self):
+            # Load config for all four sensors
-        pass
+            for _ in range(4):
+                # Receive 28 bytes of data
+                received = self._com.receive(28)
+
+                # Create a list of strings to store the config for the sensor
+                # This list has the following elements: a, b, c, temperature
+                config_sensor_i: List[str] = []
+
+                # Create the list
+                for j in range(4):
+                    config_sensor_i.append(str(self._decoder.decode_float(received[7 * j:7 * j + 6])))
+
+                # Add it to the config
+                config.append(config_sensor_i)
+        else:
+            TwoActionPopup().open(
+                "Failed to connect to micro-controller, retry?",
+                "Cancel",
+                empty_func,
+                "Retry",
+                lambda: self._load(0),
+            )
+
+    # Set the elements of the UI to the values of the config
+    def _set_ui(self, config: List[List[str]]):
+        for sensor_id in range(4):
+            for property in range(4):
+                self.ids[f"s{sensor_id + 1}_{name_map[property]}"].text = config[sensor_id][property]
+
+    # Read values from the UI. Returns the values as a list or None if the check was infringed
+    def _read_ui(self, enforce_none_empty: bool = True) -> List[float] | None:
+        data: List[float] = []
+        
+        # Iterate over all sensor config input fields and collect the data
+        for sensor_id in range(4):
+            for property in range(4):
+                value = self.ids[f"s{sensor_id + 1}_{name_map[property]}"].text
+
+                # If requested (by setting enforce_none_empty to True, which is the default)
+                # test if the cells are not empty and if we find an empty cell return None
+                if enforce_none_empty and value == "":
+                    return
+                data.append(float(value))
+
+        return data
+
+    # Transmit the changed data to the micro-controller to reconfigure it
+    def save(self):
+        data = self._read_ui()
+        if data == None:
+            SingleRowPopup().open("Some fields are missing values!")
+        else:
+            try:
+                self._instructions.change_config(data)
+            except:
+                SingleRowPopup().open("Could not save data!")
+            SingleRowPopup().open("Data saved successfully")
 
 
-Builder.load_file('./gui/home/home.kv')
+# Load the design file for this screen (.kv files)
+# The path has to be relative to root of the app, i.e. where the biogascontrollerapp.py
+# file is located
+Builder.load_file("./gui/program/program.kv")

biogascontrollerapp/lib/com.py

@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ import serial.tools.list_ports
 
 
 class Com:
-    def __init__(self, filters: Optional[list[str]] = None) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, baudrate: int = 19200, filters: Optional[list[str]] = None) -> None:
         self._serial: Optional[serial.Serial] = None
         self._filters = filters if filters != None else [ 'USB-Serial Controller', 'Prolific USB-Serial Controller' ]
         self._port_override = ''
-        self._baudrate = 19200
+        self._baudrate = baudrate
         self._err = None
 
     def set_port_override(self, override: str) -> None:
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class Com:
         except:
             pass
 
-        return ''
+        return ""
 
     def _open(self) -> bool:
         comport = self.get_comport()
@@ -63,9 +63,8 @@ class Com:
         else:
             return False
 
-    def connect(self, baud_rate: int) -> bool:
+    def connect(self) -> bool:
         """Try to find a comport and connect to the microcontroller. Returns the success as a boolean"""
-        self._baudrate = baud_rate
         return self._connection_check()
 
     def close(self) -> None:

biogascontrollerapp/lib/instructions.py

@@ -1,61 +1,100 @@
-import lib.com
+from lib.com import Com
 import lib.decoder
 import time
 
 # TODO: Load filters (for comport search)
-com = lib.com.Com()
 decoder = lib.decoder.Decoder()
 
-class Instructions:
-    def set_port_override(self, override: str) -> None:
-        com.set_port_override(override)
 
-    def _hook(self, instruction: str, sequence: list[str]) -> bool:
+# Class that supports sending instructions to the microcontroller,
+# as well as hooking to data stream according to protocol
+class Instructions:
+    def __init__(self, com: Com) -> None:
+        self._com = com
+
+    # Set a port override (to use a specific COM port)
+    def set_port_override(self, override: str) -> None:
+        self._com.set_port_override(override)
+
+    # Helper method to hook to the data stream according to protocol.
+    # You can specify the sequence that the program listens to to sync up,
+    # as an array of strings, that should each be of length one and only contain
+    # ascii characters
+    def hook(self, instruction: str, sequence: list[str]) -> bool:
+        # Add protection: If we cannot establish connection, refuse to run
+        if not self._com.connect():
+            return False
+
         # Send instruction to microcontroller to start hooking process
-        com.send(instruction)
+        # If instruction is an empty string, do not send instruction
+
+        if instruction != "":
+            self._com.send(instruction)
 
         # Record start time to respond to timeout
         start = time.time()
 
-        # Check for timeout
+        # The pointer below points to the element in the array which is the next expected character to be received
         pointer = 0
-        sequence_max = len(sequence) - 1
+
+        # Simply the length of the sequence, since it is both cheaper and cleaner to calculate it once
+        sequence_max = len(sequence)
+
+        # Only run for a limited amount of time
         while time.time() - start < 5:
-            if ( decoder.decode_ascii( com.receive(1) ) ) == sequence[pointer]:
+            # If the decoded ascii character is equal to the next expected character, move pointer right by one
+            # If not, jump back to start
+            if (decoder.decode_ascii(self._com.receive(1))) == sequence[pointer]:
                 pointer += 1
             else:
                 pointer = 0
 
+            # If the pointer has reached the end of the sequence, return True, as now the hook was successful
             if pointer == sequence_max:
                 return True
 
+        # If we time out, which is the only way in which this code can be reached, return False
         return False
 
-    def _change_data(self, instruction: str, readback: list[str], data: list[float], readback_length: int) -> None:
+    # Private helper method to transmit data using the necessary protocols
+    def _change_data(
+        self,
+        instruction: str,
+        readback: list[str],
+        data: list[float],
+        readback_length: int,
+    ) -> None:
         # Hook to stream
-        if self._hook(instruction, readback):
+        if self.hook(instruction, readback):
+            # Transmit data
             while len(data) > 0:
-                if com.receive(readback_length) != '':
+                # If we received data back, we can send more data, i.e. from this we know
-                    com.send_float(data.pop(0))
+                # the controller has received the data
+                # If not, we close the connection and create an exception
+                if self._com.receive(readback_length) != "":
+                    self._com.send_float(data.pop(0))
                 else:
-                    com.close()
+                    self._com.close()
-                    raise Exception('Failed to transmit data. No response from controller')
+                    raise Exception(
-            com.close()
+                        "Failed to transmit data. No response from controller"
+                    )
+            self._com.close()
         else:
-            com.close()
+            self._com.close()
-            raise ConnectionError('Failed to hook to controller data stream. No fitting response received')
+            raise ConnectionError(
+                "Failed to hook to controller data stream. No fitting response received"
+            )
 
+    # Abstraction of the _change_data method specifically designed to change the entire config
     def change_config(self, new_config: list[float]) -> None:
-        self._change_data('PR', ['\n', 'P', 'R', '\n'], new_config, 3)
+        try:
+            self._change_data("PR", ["\n", "P", "R", "\n"], new_config, 3)
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise e
 
+    # Abstraction of the _change_data method specifically designed to change only the configured temperature
     def change_temperature(self, temperatures: list[float]) -> None:
-        self._change_data('PT', ['\n', 'P', 'T', '\n'], temperatures, 3)
+        try:
-
+            self._change_data("PT", ["\n", "P", "T", "\n"], temperatures, 3)
-    def enable_fastmode(self) -> None:
+        except Exception as e:
-        com.send('FM')
+            raise e
-        com.close()
-
-    def disable_fastmode(self) -> None:
-        com.send('NM')
-        com.close()
-

biogascontrollerapp/lib/test/com.py

@@ -1,36 +1,55 @@
 """
 Library to be used in standalone mode (without microcontroller, for testing functionality)
+It simulates the behviour of an actual microcontroller being connected
 """
 
 from typing import Optional
 import queue
+import random
+
+# This file contains a Com class that can be used to test the functionality
+# even without a microcontroller. It is not documented in a particularly
+# beginner-friendly way, nor is the code written with beginner-friendliness
+# in mind. It is the most complicated piece of code of the entire application
+
+# All double __ prefixed properties are not available in the actual one
 
 
 class Com:
     def __init__(self) -> None:
         # Initialize queue with values to be sent on call of recieve (add like three or so at a time)
-        self._port_override = ''
+        self._port_override = ""
+        self.__mode = ""
+        self.__simulated_data = queue.Queue()
 
     def set_port_override(self, override: str) -> None:
         """Set the port override, to disable port search"""
         self._port_override = override
 
     def get_comport(self) -> str:
-        return 'test' if self._port_override != '' else self._port_override
+        return "test" if self._port_override != "" else self._port_override
 
-    def connect(self, baud_rate: int, port_override: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
+    def connect(self) -> bool:
-        return True # TODO: For testing, make cases where there is no successful connection, i.e. we return false
+        # TODO: For testing, make cases where there is no successful connection, i.e. we return false
+        # Randomly return false
+        if random.randint(0, 20):
+            return False
+        return True
 
     def close(self) -> None:
         pass
 
-    def receive(self, byte_count: int) -> None:
+    def receive(self, byte_count: int) -> bytes:
         # TODO: Make it return simulated data
-        pass
+        return bytes("A", "ascii")
 
     def send(self, msg: str) -> None:
         # TODO: Use LUT to find what should be added to the queue for read
+        # Using LUT to reference
         pass
 
     def send_float(self, msg: float) -> None:
         pass
+
+    def _generate_random_value(self, precision: int) -> bytes:
+        return bytes(str(round(random.random() * precision) / precision), "ascii")

changelog

@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 ***CHANGELOG***
 
+V3.0-beta
+- Redesigned GUI
+- Consolidated multiple previously separate screens
+- Completely rewritten backend
+- Improved stability
+- Cleaned, documented code
+
+OLD VERSIONS
+------------
+
 DEVELOPMENT VERSIONS
 	
 dev-V2rev1:
@@ -104,3 +114,4 @@ V2.3
 - ADDS some settings through a config file
 - CHANGED License from NONE to GPL V3
 - BUGFIXES
+