Where to Start - Newbie

Developer's Corner General Dev Discussions
1

I see people talking about code in XML files and different code references in the wiki such as, "
local lul_temp=luup.variable_get(“urn:upnp-org:serviceId:TemperatureSensor1”,“CurrentTemperature”,3)
if( (tonumber(lul_temp)<26.6
and tonumber(lul_temp)>25)
or tonumber(lul_temp)<23 ) then
return false
end
"

I now see that things like the Trane thermostat, IP cameras and other items aren’t FULLY functional when Vera adds them.

Thus, my question(s):
What is the function of XML files?
Where are they located?
Are you needing to make tweaks to the Luup code to incorporate features of the third party devices you are adding?
Are Luup files added automatically when you add a Luup plug-in.

I’m also wondering in general terms how all the files relate to eachother and if they create the Vera UI dynamically like you would do with Java/Pearl to build web pages.

I’m willing to work for this, but the support and documentation really sucks!!

Thanks,
Byron ???

2

Hi Byron,

  1. Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a simple, very flexible text format derived from SGML (ISO 8879). Originally designed to meet the challenges of large-scale electronic publishing, XML is also playing an increasingly important role in the exchange of a wide variety of data on the Web and elsewhere.

  2. They are located on your Vera, in /etc/cmh-lu/ folder (core files), and /etc/cmh-ludl/ folder (downloaded, installed plugins). Here are archived with .lzo extension. If you want to view them, go to Setup/Devices/Luup plugins/Luup files and click View on each file.

  3. Only if you want, or the device is not listed as supported. For some you need to make some tweaks.

  4. Yes, Luup files are added automatically when you add a plugin.

The UI is written in HTML, PHP, JS(AJAX) and CGI. When you modify something in your Vera, the modified values are stored in the browser’s cache. If you reload the page without saving, all the modifications will be lost. When you click the Save button, commands are sent to the core system of Vera and are executed. You get the status of each command on the UI, for success or fail.