Installation

Install Python and Pip

This library (obviously) requires a Python language runtime - the OpenXC library currently works with Python 2.6 and 2.7, but not Python 3.x.

  • Mac OS X and Linux

    Mac OS X and most Linux distributions already have a compatible Python installed. Run python --version from a terminal to check - you need a 2.7.x version, such as 2.7.8.

  • Windows

    1. Download and run the [Python 2.7.x MSI installer](https://www.python.org/download/releases/2.7.8/). Make sure to select to option to Add python.exe to Path.
    2. Add the Python Scripts directory your PATH: PATH=%PATH%;c:\Python27\Scripts. If you aren’t sure how to edit your PATH, see this guide for all versions of Windows. Log out and back in for the change to take effect.
    3. Install [pip](https://pip.pypa.io/en/latest/installing.html#install-pip), a Python package manager by saving the get-pip.py script to a file and running it from a terminal.
  • Cygwin

    From the setup.exe package list, select the python and python-setuptools packages. Then, inside Cygwin install pip using easy_install:

    $ easy_install pip
    

Install the openxc Package

You can install or upgrade the OpenXC library from the Python Package Index (PyPI) with pip at the command line:

$ [sudo] pip install -U openxc

USB Backend

If you intend to use the library to connect to a vehicle interface via USB, you must also install a native USB backend - libusb-1.0 is the recommended library.

  • Mac OS X

    First install Homebrew, then run:

    $ brew install libusb
    
  • Ubuntu

    libusb is available in the main repository:

    $ sudo apt-get install libusb-1.0-0
    
  • Arch Linux

    Install libusb using pacman:

    $ sudo pacman -S libusbx
    
  • Windows

    Download and install the OpenXC VI USB driver. You must install the driver manually through the Device Manager while the VI is plugged in and on - either running the emulator firmware so it never turns off, or plugged into a real car.

  • Cygwin

    Install the VI USB driver as in a regular Windows installation.

    If you get the error Skipping USB device: [Errno 88] Operation not supported or unimplemented on this platform when you run any of the OpenXC Python tools, make sure you do not have the libusb Cygwin package installed - that is explicitly not compatible.

Using the development version

You can clone the repository and install the development version like so:

$ git clone https://github.com/openxc/openxc-python
$ cd openxc-python
$ pip install -e .

Any time you update the clone of the Git repository, all of the Python tools will be updated too.