programs can be loaded from external py files

[dr3y]

I wanted to allow custom programs to be integrated a bit better into the workflow.

Now you can have programs in external .py files!

This is still ultraWIP(TM) so many things might be bad or unfinished.

Consequences:

1. programs in the CustomProgram if statement no longer work
2. "input parameters" is no longer loaded automatically (if you want to do this you can do it in the program .py file)
3. using importlib to import a programname.py file every time you run CustomProgram(M), so any variables in the program which aren't stored in sysData are not saved
4. your program file must have ##CHI_BIO_PROGRAM on the first line
5. your program file must have a def main(M,sysData,api): function
6. funcapi is a class which exposes many functions to the programs (but not all of them because I am lazy)
7. the html now displays the names of programs in the Custom Programs dropdown, which get updated every time you reload the page
8. at reset index() now checks the current folder for any valid programs and stores them in sysData["CustomPrograms"]={"programname":"\\path\\to\\programname.py","programname2" etc}
9. a few 'example' programs are included, including a copy of the "C1" program

WARNING: UNTESTED ON REAL CHI.BIOs!! use at own risk tested and it works :)

[HarrisonSteel]

Look like very interesting and useful changes. It's a much more rigorous/modular approach to custom programs than what is there currently.

What was your motivation for the usecomms flag? Do you have use-cases where you want the UI to run but without any interaction with the devices? I can't see that this will break it, but may add extra complexity for 98% of users if they are not going to be trying to operate without the appropriate communication toolboxes installed. The most recent software install version I have on the Chi.Bio site actually flashes the whole linux distro (including all required packages), so it would ensure that the I2C/GPIO packages are always installed...

[dr3y]

Thanks!
I made the usecomms flag because I wanted to test the GUI on my desktop computer.

[viktorht]

Hi!

Are there any plans to merge this PR?

Best
Viktor

[HarrisonSteel]

To be honest, I had not had time to go through it line by line to see whether it might cause any issues with the broader OS. Is it something that would be useful to you? If there are multiple users who would benefit from it then (at first glance) I don't see why not merge it.

[viktorht]

Hi Harrison, thank you for the reply! I just wanted to get back to you to let you know that after some scoping of the Chi.bio system, we decided to use another system for our fermentations. So, in the end, I will not have any immediate use for it.