The Experimental Physics and Industrial Control Systems - (EPICS) is an extensible set of software components and tools with - which application developers can create a control system. This control - system can be used to control accelerators, detectors, telescopes, or - other scientific experimental equipment. EPICS base is the set of core - software, i.e. the components of EPICS without which EPICS would not - function. EPICS base allows an arbitrary number of target systems, IOCs - (input/output controllers), and host systems, OPIs (operator - interfaces) of various types.+## EPICS Base Release 3.15.6 -
Please check the RELEASE_NOTES file in the distribution for - description of changes and release migration details.+ -
Please review the LICENSE file included in the - distribution for legal terms of usage.+----- -
The list of platforms supported by this version of EPICS base - is given in the configure/CONFIG_SITE file. If you are trying to build - EPICS Base on an unlisted host or for a different target machine you - must have the proper host/target cross compiler and header files, and - you will have to create and add the appropriate new configure files to - the base/configure/os/directory. You can start by copying existing - configuration files in the configure/os directory and then make changes - for your new platforms.+ - [What is EPICS base?](#0_0_1) + - [What is new in this release?](#0_0_2) + - [Copyright](#0_0_3) + - [Supported platforms](#0_0_4) + - [Supported compilers](#0_0_5) + - [Software requirements](#0_0_6) + - [Host system storage requirements](#0_0_7) + - [Documentation](#0_0_8) + - [Directory Structure](#0_0_10) + - [Build related components](#0_0_11) + - [Building EPICS base (Unix and Win32)](#0_0_12) + - [Example application and extension](#0_0_13) + - [Multiple host platforms](#0_0_14) -
This version of EPICS base has been built and tested using the host - vendor's C and C++ compilers, as well as the GNU gcc and g++ compilers. The GNU - cross-compilers work for all cross-compiled targets. You may need the C and C++ - compilers to be in your search path to do EPICS builds; check the definitions - of CC and CCC in base/configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<host> if you have - problems.+### What is EPICS base? -
GNU make+This version of EPICS base has been built and tested using the host +vendor's C and C++ compilers, as well as the GNU gcc and g++ +compilers. The GNU cross-compilers work for all cross-compiled +targets. You may need the C and C++ compilers to be in your search +path to do EPICS builds; check the definitions of CC and CCC in +base/configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<host> if you have problems. -
- You must use GNU make, gnumake, for any EPICS builds. Set your path - so that a gnumake version 3.81 or later is available. +### What is new in this release? -Perl
+Please check the RELEASE\_NOTES file in the distribution for +description of changes and release migration details. -
- You must have Perl version 5.8.1 or later installed. The EPICS configuration - files do not specify the perl full pathname, so the perl executable must - be found through your normal search path.Unzip and tar (Winzip on WIN32 systems)
+### Copyright -
- You must have tools available to unzip and untar the EPICS base - distribution file.Target systems
+Please review the LICENSE file included in the distribution for legal +terms of usage. -
- EPICS supports IOCs running on embedded platforms such as VxWorks - and RTEMS built using a cross-compiler, and also supports soft IOCs running - as processes on the host platform.vxWorks
+### Supported platforms -
- You must have vxWorks 5.5.x or 6.x installed if any of your target systems are - vxWorks systems; the C++ compiler for vxWorks 5.4 is now too old to support. - The vxWorks installation provides the cross-compiler and header files needed to - build for these targets. The absolute path to and the version number of the - vxWorks installation must be set in the - base/configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.vxWorksCommon file or in one of its - target-specific overrides.Consult the vxWorks - 5.x or vxWorks - 6.x EPICS web pages about and the vxWorks documentation for information - about configuring your vxWorks operating system for use with EPICS.
+The list of platforms supported by this version of EPICS base is given +in the configure/CONFIG\_SITE file. If you are trying to build EPICS +Base on an unlisted host or for a different target machine you must +have the proper host/target cross compiler and header files, and you +will have to create and add the appropriate new configure files to the +base/configure/os/directory. You can start by copying existing +configuration files in the configure/os directory and then make +changes for your new platforms. -RTEMS
+### Supported compilers -
- For RTEMS targets, you need RTEMS core and toolset version 4.9.2 or later.GNU readline or Tecla library
-
- GNU readline and Tecla libraries can be used by the IOC shell to - provide command line editing and command line history recall and edit. - GNU readline (or Tecla library) must be installed on your target system - when COMMANDLINE_LIBRARY is set to READLINE (or TECLA) for that target. - EPICS (EPICS shell) is the default specified in CONFIG_COMMON. A - READLINE override is defined for linux-x86 in the EPICS distribution. - Comment out COMMANDLINE_LIBRARY=READLINE in - configure/os/CONFIG_SITE.Common.linux-x86 if readline is not installed - on linux-x86. Command-line editing and history will then be those - supplied by the os. On vxWorks the ledLib command-line input library is - used instead.
The compressed tar file is approximately 1.6 MB in size. The - distribution source tree takes up approximately 12 MB. Each host target will - need around 40 MB for build files, and each cross-compiled target around 20 - MB.+**GNU make** +You must use GNU make, gnumake, for any EPICS builds. Set your path so +that a gnumake version 3.81 or later is available. -
EPICS documentation is available through the - EPICS website at Argonne. -+**Perl** +You must have Perl version 5.8.1 or later installed. The EPICS +configuration files do not specify the perl full pathname, so the perl +executable must be found through your normal search path. -Release specific documentation can also be found in the base/documentation - directory of the distribution.
+``` -Distribution directory structure:
+**Unzip and tar (Winzip on WIN32 systems)** +You must have tools available to unzip and untar the EPICS base +distribution file. -+**Target systems** +EPICS supports IOCs running on embedded platforms such as VxWorks and +RTEMS built using a cross-compiler, and also supports soft IOCs +running as processes on the host platform. + +**vxWorks** +You must have vxWorks 5.5.x or 6.x installed if any of your target +systems are vxWorks systems; the C++ compiler for vxWorks 5.4 is now +too old to support. The vxWorks installation provides the +cross-compiler and header files needed to build for these targets. The +absolute path to and the version number of the vxWorks installation +must be set in the base/configure/os/CONFIG\_SITE.Common.vxWorksCommon +file or in one of its target-specific overrides. + +Consult the [vxWorks 5.x](https://epics.anl.gov/base/tornado.php) or +[vxWorks 6.x](https://epics.anl.gov/base/vxWorks6.php) EPICS web pages +about and the vxWorks documentation for information about configuring +your vxWorks operating system for use with EPICS. + +**RTEMS** +For RTEMS targets, you need RTEMS core and toolset version 4.9.2 or +later. + +**GNU readline or Tecla library** +GNU readline and Tecla libraries can be used by the IOC shell to +provide command line editing and command line history recall and edit. +GNU readline (or Tecla library) must be installed on your target +system when COMMANDLINE\_LIBRARY is set to READLINE (or TECLA) for +that target. EPICS (EPICS shell) is the default specified in +CONFIG\_COMMON. A READLINE override is defined for linux-x86 in the +EPICS distribution. Comment out COMMANDLINE\_LIBRARY=READLINE in +configure/os/CONFIG\_SITE.Common.linux-x86 if readline is not +installed on linux-x86. Command-line editing and history will then be +those supplied by the os. On vxWorks the ledLib command-line input +library is used instead. + +### Host system storage requirements + +The compressed tar file is approximately 1.6 MB in size. The +distribution source tree takes up approximately 12 MB. Each host +target will need around 40 MB for build files, and each cross-compiled +target around 20 MB. + +### Documentation + +EPICS documentation is available through the [EPICS +website](https://epics.anl.gov/) at Argonne. + +Release specific documentation can also be found in the +base/documentation directory of the distribution. + +### Directory Structure + +#### Distribution directory structure: + +``` base Root directory of the base distribution base/configure Operating system independent build config files base/configure/os Operating system dependent build config files base/documentation Distribution documentation base/src Source code in various subdirectories base/startup Scripts for setting up path and environment -+``` -Install directories created by the build:
-+#### Install directories created by the build: + +``` bin Installed scripts and executables in subdirs cfg Installed build configuration files db Installed data bases @@ -159,37 +160,37 @@ lib Installed libraries in arch subdirectories lib/perl Installed perl modules templates Installed templates --
+### Build related components -+### Building EPICS base (Unix and Win32) -base/documentation directory - contains setup, build, and install - documents
-+#### base/documentation directory - contains setup, build, and install documents + +``` README.1st Instructions for setup and building epics base README.html html version of README.1st README.darwin.html Installation notes for Mac OS X (Darwin) RELEASE_NOTES.html Notes on release changes KnownProblems.html List of known problems and workarounds -+``` -base/startup directory - contains scripts to set environment and path
-+#### base/startup directory - contains scripts to set environment and path + +``` EpicsHostArch Shell script to set EPICS_HOST_ARCH env variable unix.csh C shell script to set path and env variables unix.sh Bourne shell script to set path and env variables win32.bat Bat file example to configure win32-x86 target windows.bat Bat file example to configure windows-x64 target -+``` -base/configure directory - contains build definitions and rules
-+#### base/configure directory - contains build definitions and rules + +``` CONFIG Includes configure files and allows variable overrides CONFIG.CrossCommon Cross build definitions CONFIG.gnuCommon Gnu compiler build definitions for all archs - CONFIG_ADDONS Definitions for <osclass> and DEFAULT options + CONFIG_ADDONS Definitions for <osclass> and DEFAULT options CONFIG_APP_INCLUDE CONFIG_BASE EPICS base tool and location definitions CONFIG_BASE_VERSION Definitions for EPICS base version number @@ -209,175 +210,167 @@ RULES_EXPAND RULES_FILE_TYPE RULES_TARGET - RULES_TOP Rules specific to a <top> dir (uninstall and tar) + RULES_TOP Rules specific to a <top> dir (uninstall and tar) Sample.Makefile Sample makefile with comments -+``` -base/configure/os directory - contains os-arch specific definitions
-- CONFIG.<host>.<target> Specific host-target build definitions - CONFIG.Common.<target> Specific target definitions for all hosts - CONFIG.<host>.Common Specific host definitions for all targets +#### base/configure/os directory - contains os-arch specific definitions + +``` + CONFIG.<host>.<target> Specific host-target build definitions + CONFIG.Common.<target> Specific target definitions for all hosts + CONFIG.<host>.Common Specific host definitions for all targets CONFIG.UnixCommon.Common Definitions for Unix hosts and all targets CONFIG.Common.UnixCommon Definitions for Unix targets and all hosts CONFIG.Common.vxWorksCommon Specific host definitions for all vx targets - CONFIG_SITE.<host>.<target> Site specific host-target definitions - CONFIG_SITE.Common.<target> Site specific target defs for all hosts - CONFIG_SITE.<host>.Common Site specific host defs for all targets -+ CONFIG_SITE.<host>.<target> Site specific host-target definitions + CONFIG_SITE.Common.<target> Site specific target defs for all hosts + CONFIG_SITE.<host>.Common Site specific host defs for all targets +``` -
+#### Unpack file -+It is recommended that you do a "gnumake clean uninstall" at the +root directory of an EPICS directory structure before each complete +rebuild to ensure that all components will be rebuilt. -Unpack file
-Unzip and untar the distribution file. Use WinZip on Windows - systems. -+systems. -Set environment variables
--Files in the base/startup directory have been provided to - help set required path and other environment variables. +#### Set environment variables -+**LD\_LIBRARY\_PATH** +R3.15 shared libraries and executables normally contain the full +path to any libraries they require. However, if you move the EPICS +files or directories from their build-time location then in order +for the shared libraries to be found at runtime LD\_LIBRARY\_PATH +must include the full pathname to +$(INSTALL\_LOCATION)/lib/$(EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH) when invoking +executables, or some equivalent OS-specific mechanism (such as +/etc/ld.so.conf on Linux) must be used. Shared libraries are now +built by default on all Unix type hosts. -EPICS_HOST_ARCH
+Files in the base/startup directory have been provided to help set +required path and other environment variables. -
- Before you can build or use EPICS R3.15, the environment variable - EPICS_HOST_ARCH must be defined. A perl script EpicsHostArch.pl in the - base/startup directory has been provided to help set EPICS_HOST_ARCH. - You should have EPICS_HOST_ARCH set to your host operating system - followed by a dash and then your host architecture, e.g. solaris-sparc. - If you are not using the OS vendor's c/c++ compiler for host builds, - you will need another dash followed by the alternate compiler name - (e.g. "-gnu" for GNU c/c++ compilers on a solaris host or "-mingw" - for MinGW c/c++ compilers on a WIN32 host). See configure/CONFIG_SITE - for a list of supported EPICS_HOST_ARCH values.PERLLIB
+**EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH** +Before you can build or use EPICS R3.15, the environment variable +EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH must be defined. A perl script EpicsHostArch.pl in +the base/startup directory has been provided to help set +EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH. You should have EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH set to your +host operating system followed by a dash and then your host +architecture, e.g. solaris-sparc. If you are not using the OS +vendor's c/c++ compiler for host builds, you will need another dash +followed by the alternate compiler name (e.g. "-gnu" for GNU c/c++ +compilers on a solaris host or "-mingw" for MinGW c/c++ compilers on +a WIN32 host). See configure/CONFIG\_SITE for a list of supported +EPICS\_HOST\_ARCH values. -
- On WIN32, some versions of Perl require that the environment - variable PERLLIB be set to <perl directory location>.PATH
+**PERLLIB** +On WIN32, some versions of Perl require that the environment +variable PERLLIB be set to <perl directory location>. -
- As already mentioned, you must have the perl executable and you may - need C and C++ compilers in your search path. For building base you - also must have echo in your search path. For Unix host builds you also - need ln, cpp, cp, rm, mv, and mkdir in your search path and /bin/chmod - must exist. On some Unix systems you may also need ar and ranlib in - your path, and the C compiler may require as and ld in your path. On - solaris systems you need uname in your path.LD_LIBRARY_PATH
-
+**PATH** +As already mentioned, you must have the perl executable and you may +need C and C++ compilers in your search path. For building base you +also must have echo in your search path. For Unix host builds you +also need ln, cpp, cp, rm, mv, and mkdir in your search path and +/bin/chmod must exist. On some Unix systems you may also need ar and +ranlib in your path, and the C compiler may require as and ld in +your path. On solaris systems you need uname in your path. - R3.15 shared libraries and executables normally contain the full path - to any libraries they require. - However, if you move the EPICS files or directories from their build-time - location then in order for the shared libraries to be found at runtime - LD_LIBRARY_PATH must include the full pathname to - $(INSTALL_LOCATION)/lib/$(EPICS_HOST_ARCH) when invoking executables, or - some equivalent OS-specific mechanism (such as /etc/ld.so.conf on Linux) - must be used. - Shared libraries are now built by default on all Unix type hosts.Do site-specific build configuration
-+#### Do site-specific build configuration -Site configuration+**Target configuration** +To configure each target system, you may override the default +definitions by adding a new file in the configure/os directory with +override definitions. The new file should have the same name as the +distribution file to be overridden except with CONFIG in the name +replaced by CONFIG\_SITE. This step is necessary even if the host +system is the only target system. -
- To configure EPICS, you may want to modify the default definitions - in the following files: -+**Site configuration** +To configure EPICS, you may want to modify the default definitions +in the following files: + +``` configure/CONFIG_SITE Build choices. Specify target archs. configure/CONFIG_SITE_ENV Environment variable defaults configure/RELEASE TORNADO2 full path location -+``` - Host configuration
- To configure each host system, you may override the default - definitions by adding a new file in the configure/os directory with - override definitions. The new file should have the same name as the - distribution file to be overridden except with CONFIG in the name - changed to CONFIG_SITE. +**Host configuration** +To configure each host system, you may override the default +definitions by adding a new file in the configure/os directory with +override definitions. The new file should have the same name as the +distribution file to be overridden except with CONFIG in the name +changed to CONFIG\_SITE. -- configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<host> Host build settings - configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.Common Host common build settings -+``` + configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<host> Host build settings + configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.Common Host common build settings +``` -Target configuration
- To configure each target system, you may override the default - definitions by adding a new file in the configure/os directory with - override definitions. The new file should have the same name as the - distribution file to be overridden except with CONFIG in the name - replaced by CONFIG_SITE. This step is necessary even if the host system - is the only target system. -- configure/os/CONFIG.Common.<target> Target common settings - configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<target> Host-target settings --Build EPICS base
-After configuring the build you should be able to build - EPICS base by issuing the following commands in the distribution's root - directory (base): --+``` + configure/os/CONFIG.Common.<target> Target common settings + configure/os/CONFIG.<host>.<target> Host-target settings +``` + +#### Build EPICS base + +After configuring the build you should be able to build EPICS base +by issuing the following commands in the distribution's root +directory (base): + +``` gnumake clean uninstall gnumake -+``` - The command "gnumake clean uninstall" - will remove all files and directories generated by a previous build. - The command "gnumake" will build and install everything for the - configured host and targets. +The command "gnumake clean uninstall" will remove all files and +directories generated by a previous build. The command "gnumake" +will build and install everything for the configured host and +targets. -It is recommended that you do a "gnumake clean uninstall" at the - root directory of an EPICS directory structure before each complete - rebuild to ensure that all components will be rebuilt. -
A perl tool, makeBaseApp.pl is included in the distribution - file. This script will create a sample application that can be built - and then executed to try out this release of base. +### Example application and extension -+Instructions for building and executing the 3.15 example application +can be found in the section "Example Application" of Chapter 2, +"Getting Started", in the "IOC Application Developer's Guide" for this +release. The "Example IOC Application" section briefly explains how to +create and build an example application in a user created <top> +directory. It also explains how to run the example application on a +vxWorks ioc or as a process on the host system. By running the example +application as a host-based IOC, you will be able to quickly implement +a complete EPICS system and be able to run channel access clients on +the host system. -- Instructions for building and executing the 3.15 example application - can be found in the section "Example Application" of Chapter 2, - "Getting Started", in the "IOC Application Developer's Guide" for this - release. The "Example IOC Application" section briefly explains how to - create and build an example application in a user created <top> - directory. It also explains how to run the example application on a - vxWorks ioc or as a process on the host system. - By running the example application as a host-based IOC, you will be - able to quickly implement a complete EPICS system and be able to run channel - access clients on the host system. +A perl tool, makeBaseApp.pl is included in the distribution file. This +script will create a sample application that can be built and then +executed to try out this release of base. -
- A perl script, - makeBaseExt.pl, is included in the distribution file. This script will - create a sample extension that can be built and executed. The - makeBaseApp.pl and makeBaseExt.pl scripts are installed into the - install location bin/<hostarch> directory during the base build. -
You can build using a single EPICS directory structure on - multiple host systems and for multiple cross target systems. The - intermediate and binary files generated by the build will be created in - separate subdirectories and installed into the appropriate separate - host/target install directories. EPICS executables and perl scripts are - installed into the $(INSTALL_LOCATION)/bin/<arch> directories. - Libraries are installed into $(INSTALL_LOCATION)/lib/<arch>. - The default definition for $(INSTALL_LOCATION) is $(TOP) - which is the root directory in the distribution directory structure, - base. Created object files are stored in O.<arch> source - subdirectories, This allows objects for multiple cross target - architectures to be maintained at the same time. To build EPICS base - for a specific host/target combination you must have the proper - host/target C/C++ cross compiler and target header files and the - base/configure/os directory must have the appropriate configure files. -- - +A perl script, makeBaseExt.pl, is included in the distribution file. +This script will create a sample extension that can be built and +executed. The makeBaseApp.pl and makeBaseExt.pl scripts are installed +into the install location bin/<hostarch> directory during the base +build. + +### Multiple host platforms + +You can build using a single EPICS directory structure on multiple +host systems and for multiple cross target systems. The intermediate +and binary files generated by the build will be created in separate +subdirectories and installed into the appropriate separate host/target +install directories. EPICS executables and perl scripts are installed +into the `$(INSTALL_LOCATION)/bin/