Open Lighting Architecture

Link: http://code.google.com/p/linux-lighting/
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OLA (Open Lighting Architecture) is a framework that allows applications to send and receive DMX512, using various hardware devices and 'DMX over IP' protocols. It enables software controllers talk to DMX hardware.

OLA allows DMX sent using various DMX over IP protocols to be converted from one format to another. This enables devices from different manufacturers to talk to each another (for example a Strand Console can send DMX to an Enttec EtherGate). When combined with a physical DMX interface such as the DMX USB Pro, OLA can send and receive data from traditional wired DMX networks.

OLA can run on Linux and on Mac OS X. A port to Windows is feasible if someone wants to add the necessary platform-dependent code for plug-ins and create an installer.

Bugs: Check the bug tracker at http://code.google.com/p/linux-lighting/issues/list

Questions: See the news group at http://groups.google.com/group/open-lighting

Supported Devices/Protocols:

Device / Protocol	Linux	Mac OS X
Arduino RGB Mixer	Yes	Yes
ArtNet	Yes	Yes
DMX 4 Linux	Yes	-
DMX USB Pro	Yes	Yes
DMX-TRI	Yes	Yes
DMXking USB DMX512-A	Yes	Yes
E1.31 / ACN	Yes	Yes
ESP Net	Yes	Yes
Open DMX USB	Yes	-
Pathport	Yes	Yes
Sandnet	Yes	Yes
ShowNet	Yes	Yes
StageProfi	Yes	Ethernet version only

Getting Started

Start here if you've never used OLA before and read these in order.

• Download OLA
• OLA on OS X or OLA on Linux - How to get it compiled.
• Using OLA - A basic introduction
• OLA Command Line Tools - Documentation for the tools in ola-examples
• OLA Device Specific Configuration
• OLA Tips & Tricks

Advanced Topics:

• OLA Merging Algorithms
• OLA DiffServ support (QOS settings)

Developer Documentation:

• OLA developer info - about the source code and structure
• OLA Client API - the C++ API
• OLA Python API - easy DMX programming
• Build OLA Mac Packages - notes for building the .dmg images
• Building OLA for Windows - Notes on Windows support (in progress)
• Using OLA with Xcode - on a Mac, in Objective-C++

Tutorials, these refer to the previous release but parts of them are still relevant.

• LLA Sandnet Tutorial - Setup Horizon using Sandnet and LLA
• LLA and Q Light Controller Ubuntu Tutorial - Setup LLA on Ubuntu/Debian-type distro with QLC
• LLA and Q Light Controller OSX Tutorial - Setup LLA on Mac OS X with QLC

Deprecated Documentation

• OLA 0.3 - Release Notes

OLA can also run on a wireless access point. [1]

There is a project underway to build packages for OpenWrt. See http://lists.culturebase.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/lla-openwrt for more details.