Week 14

Individual Assignment: write an application that interfaces a user with an input &/or output device that you made

I thank Ms.Zina and my friend Ngawang Pemo whose documentation guided me through the process

My friend Ngawang found Ms.Zina's documentation very helpful and easy to comprehend, so I refered to both of their documentations and also decided to create a GUI with Tkinter as my framework to control my LED on my board from embedded programming week.

Tkinter

What is Tkinter?

Tkinter is a standard Python library for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It provides a set of tools and widgets to create windows, buttons, labels, textboxes, menus, and more. Tkinter is based on the Tk GUI toolkit, which originated as the GUI extension for the Tcl scripting language.

Key Points about Tkinter:

• Cross-platform: Tkinter is included with most Python installations on various platforms like Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a cross-platform solution for GUI development.
• Simple and Easy to Use: Tkinter's API is straightforward and relatively easy to learn, making it accessible for beginners to create basic GUI applications.
• Extensible: While Tkinter provides a set of basic widgets, it can be extended with additional third-party packages like ttk (Themed Tkinter), which offers modern-looking widgets, and other libraries for more advanced functionality.
• Integration with Python: Since Tkinter is part of the Python standard library, it integrates seamlessly with Python code, allowing developers to leverage Python's extensive libraries and tools for GUI development.

To begin,download python with your prefered settings.

To check whether python was successfully installed on your device, open "command prompt" on your device.

Use the command below and get the information on the version of python installed on your device.

python

Getting strted with Tkinter

Start with creating a python file in VS Code To do that, start by opening VS Code, and then click "ctrl+s" and an option of saving it will pop out. Set the name as whatever you want to call it, then choose python as your file type.

Since, this was my first time getting to know Tkinter I watched a beginner's course on python GUI development

Some fundamental codes I learned from the tutorial would be:

Importing Tkinter:

import tkinter as tk

Creating a main window:

root = tk.Tk()

Adding widgets:

label = tk.Label(root, text="Hello, Tkinter!")
button = tk.Button(root, text="Click me!")

Organizing widgets using geometry managers:

Pack manager:

label.pack()
button.pack()

Grid manager:

label.grid(row=0, column=0)
button.grid(row=1, column=0)

Configuring widget properties:

label.config(font=("Arial", 12), fg="blue")
button.config(bg="green", command=some_function)

Defining event handlers:

def some_function():
    print("Button clicked!")

Running the main event loop:

root.mainloop()

To run a Tkinter code for a basic application, you need a python extention that can be downloaded in VS Code.

The code below ran successfully and the basic application showed up.

import tkinter as tk
root = tk.Tk()
root.mainloop()

Now, I would like to try designing my own GUI before continuing with the LED switch

Getting to know GUI

So, to get to know GUI better, I decided to make a GUI where it receives the DOB of a person and displays their age.

Run the Tkinter python code below

        import tkinter as tk
        from tkinter import ttk
        from datetime import datetime
            
        def calculate_age(dob):
            today = datetime.today()
            age = today.year - dob.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (dob.month, dob.day))
            return age
            
        def action():
            username = name_var.get()
            user_dob_str = dob_var.get()
            user_gender = gender_var.get()
            
            # Calculate age based on DOB
            try:
                dob = datetime.strptime(user_dob_str, "%Y-%m-%d")
                age = calculate_age(dob)
                age_text = f"{age} years old"
            except ValueError:
                age_text = "Invalid DOB"
            
            result_text = f"Name: {username}\nDOB: {user_dob_str}\nGender: {user_gender}\nAge: {age_text}"
            result_label.config(text=result_text)
            
            with open('file.txt', 'a') as f:
                f.write(f'{username},{user_dob_str},{user_gender},{age_text}\n')
            
            name_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            dob_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            name_label.configure(foreground='#991E1E')
            submit_button.configure(foreground='Blue')
            
        win = tk.Tk()
        win.title('Age Calculator')
            
        header_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Age Calculator', font=('Arial', 18, 'bold'))
        header_label.pack()
            
        name_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your name')
        name_label.pack()
            
        name_var = tk.StringVar()
        name_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=name_var)
        name_entrybox.pack()
            
        dob_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)')
        dob_label.pack()
            
        dob_var = tk.StringVar()
        dob_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=dob_var)
        dob_entrybox.pack()
            
        gender_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Select your gender')
        gender_label.pack()
            
        gender_var = tk.StringVar()
        gender_combobox = ttk.Combobox(win, width=38, textvariable=gender_var, state='readonly')
        gender_combobox['values'] = ('Male', 'Female', 'Other')
        gender_combobox.current(0)
        gender_combobox.pack()
            
        submit_button = tk.Button(win, text='Submit', command=action, width=20, bg='blue', fg='white')
        submit_button.pack()
                
        result_label = ttk.Label(win, text='', font=('Arial', 12))
        result_label.pack()
                
        win.mainloop()
        

Here is how, I got an idea of how GUI works

I got a little carried away, and I tried my friend's trial GUI code and combined it with mine

Here is her code(to make a GUI where it receives the DOB of a person and displays their zodiac sign)

        import tkinter as tk
        from tkinter import ttk
        from datetime import datetime
            
        def calculate_zodiac_sign(dob):
            month, day = dob.month, dob.day
            if (month == 3 and day >= 21) or (month == 4 and day <= 19):
                return "Aries"
            elif (month == 4 and day >= 20) or (month == 5 and day <= 20):
                return "Taurus"
            elif (month == 5 and day >= 21) or (month == 6 and day <= 20):
                return "Gemini"
            elif (month == 6 and day >= 21) or (month == 7 and day <= 22):
                return "Cancer"
            elif (month == 7 and day >= 23) or (month == 8 and day <= 22):
                return "Leo"
            elif (month == 8 and day >= 23) or (month == 9 and day <= 22):
                return "Virgo"
            elif (month == 9 and day >= 23) or (month == 10 and day <= 22):
                return "Libra"
            elif (month == 10 and day >= 23) or (month == 11 and day <= 21):
                return "Scorpio"
            elif (month == 11 and day >= 22) or (month == 12 and day <= 21):
                return "Sagittarius"
            elif (month == 12 and day >= 22) or (month == 1 and day <= 19):
                return "Capricorn"
            elif (month == 1 and day >= 20) or (month == 2 and day <= 18):
                return "Aquarius"
            else:
                return "Pisces"
            
        def action():
            username = name_var.get()
            user_dob_str = dob_var.get()
            user_gender = gender_var.get()
            
            # Calculate zodiac sign based on DOB
            try:
                dob = datetime.strptime(user_dob_str, "%Y-%m-%d")
                zodiac_sign = calculate_zodiac_sign(dob)
            except ValueError:
                zodiac_sign = "Invalid DOB"
            
            result_text = f"Name: {username}\nDOB: {user_dob_str}\nGender: {user_gender}\nZodiac Sign: {zodiac_sign}"
            result_label.config(text=result_text)
            
            with open('file.txt', 'a') as f:
                f.write(f'{username},{user_dob_str},{user_gender},{zodiac_sign}\n')
            
            name_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            dob_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            name_label.configure(foreground='#991E1E')
            submit_button.configure(foreground='Blue')
            
        win = tk.Tk()
        win.title('Zodiac Sign Calculator')
            
        header_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Zodiac Sign Calculator', font=('Arial', 18, 'bold'))
        header_label.pack()
            
        name_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your name')
        name_label.pack()
            
        name_var = tk.StringVar()
        name_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=name_var)
        name_entrybox.pack()
            
        dob_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)')
        dob_label.pack()
            
        dob_var = tk.StringVar()
        dob_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=dob_var)
        dob_entrybox.pack()
            
        gender_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Select your gender')
        gender_label.pack()
            
        gender_var = tk.StringVar()
        gender_combobox = ttk.Combobox(win, width=38, textvariable=gender_var, state='readonly')
        gender_combobox['values'] = ('Male', 'Female', 'Other')
        gender_combobox.current(0)
        gender_combobox.pack()
            
        submit_button = tk.Button(win, text='Submit', command=action, width=20, bg='blue', fg='white')
        submit_button.pack()
                
        result_label = ttk.Label(win, text='', font=('Arial', 12))
        result_label.pack()
                
        win.mainloop()
        

Here is the combined code(to make a GUI where it recieves the DOB of a persona nd displays their age and zodiac sign)

        import tkinter as tk
        from tkinter import ttk
        from datetime import datetime
        
        def calculate_age(dob):
            today = datetime.today()
            age = today.year - dob.year - ((today.month, today.day) < (dob.month, dob.day))
            return age
        
        def calculate_zodiac_sign(dob):
            month, day = dob.month, dob.day
            if (month == 3 and day >= 21) or (month == 4 and day <= 19):
                return "Aries"
            elif (month == 4 and day >= 20) or (month == 5 and day <= 20):
                return "Taurus"
            elif (month == 5 and day >= 21) or (month == 6 and day <= 20):
                return "Gemini"
            elif (month == 6 and day >= 21) or (month == 7 and day <= 22):
                return "Cancer"
            elif (month == 7 and day >= 23) or (month == 8 and day <= 22):
                return "Leo"
            elif (month == 8 and day >= 23) or (month == 9 and day <= 22):
                return "Virgo"
            elif (month == 9 and day >= 23) or (month == 10 and day <= 22):
                return "Libra"
            elif (month == 10 and day >= 23) or (month == 11 and day <= 21):
                return "Scorpio"
            elif (month == 11 and day >= 22) or (month == 12 and day <= 21):
                return "Sagittarius"
            elif (month == 12 and day >= 22) or (month == 1 and day <= 19):
                return "Capricorn"
            elif (month == 1 and day >= 20) or (month == 2 and day <= 18):
                return "Aquarius"
            else:
                return "Pisces"
        
        def action():
            username = name_var.get()
            user_dob_str = dob_var.get()
            user_gender = gender_var.get()
        
            # Calculate age based on DOB
            try:
                dob = datetime.strptime(user_dob_str, "%Y-%m-%d")
                age = calculate_age(dob)
                age_text = f"{age} years old"
            except ValueError:
                age_text = "Invalid DOB"
        
            # Calculate zodiac sign based on DOB
            try:
                zodiac_sign = calculate_zodiac_sign(dob)
            except ValueError:
                zodiac_sign = "Invalid DOB"
        
            result_text = f"Name: {username}\nDOB: {user_dob_str}\nGender: {user_gender}\nAge: {age_text}\nZodiac Sign: {zodiac_sign}"
            result_label.config(text=result_text)
        
            with open('file.txt', 'a') as f:
                f.write(f'{username},{user_dob_str},{user_gender},{age_text},{zodiac_sign}\n')
        
            name_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            dob_entrybox.delete(0, tk.END)
            name_label.configure(foreground='#991E1E')
        
        win = tk.Tk()
        win.title('Age and Zodiac Sign Calculator')
        
        header_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Age and Zodiac Sign Calculator', font=('Arial', 18, 'bold'))
        header_label.pack()
        
        name_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your name')
        name_label.pack()
        
        name_var = tk.StringVar()
        name_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=name_var)
        name_entrybox.pack()
        
        dob_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Enter your DOB (YYYY-MM-DD)')
        dob_label.pack()
        
        dob_var = tk.StringVar()
        dob_entrybox = tk.Entry(win, width=40, textvariable=dob_var)
        dob_entrybox.pack()
        
        gender_label = ttk.Label(win, text='Select your gender')
        gender_label.pack()
        
        gender_var = tk.StringVar()
        gender_combobox = ttk.Combobox(win, width=38, textvariable=gender_var, state='readonly')
        gender_combobox['values'] = ('Male', 'Female', 'Other')
        gender_combobox.current(0)
        gender_combobox.pack()
        
        submit_button = tk.Button(win, text='Submit', command=action, width=20, bg='blue', fg='white')
        submit_button.pack()
        
        result_label = ttk.Label(win, text='', font=('Arial', 12))
        result_label.pack()
        
        win.mainloop()
        

I fed my inner childness, hehe.

Moving to the LED switch

After being able to code for the age calculator, I tried making a interface to control my LED on my embedded programming week's board.

Firstly upload the following code on Arduino IDE using a programmer, I uploaded the below to my board using Arduino as ISP.

        int led = 2;
        char mydata = 0;
        
        // the setup routine runs once when you press reset:
        void setup() {                
          // initialize the digital pin as an output.
          pinMode(led, OUTPUT);     
          Serial.begin(9600);
        }
        
        // the loop routine runs over and over again forever:
        void loop() {
          mydata = int(Serial.read());
        
          if (mydata == '1') 
            digitalWrite(led, HIGH);   // turn the LED on (HIGH is the voltage level)
        
          if (mydata == '0')
            digitalWrite(led, LOW);    // turn the LED off by making the voltage LOW
        }
        

change the line,

int led = 2;

accordingly to which pin your LED is connected to.

Then connected your board to the laptop with FTDI cable.

And run this code the code below like before in VS Code for the GUI

    import serial
    from tkinter import *
    
    def led_on():
        arduino_data.write(b'1')
    
    def led_off():
        arduino_data.write(b'0')
    
    led_control_window = Tk()
    led_control_window.title('LED Control')
    
    btn_on = Button(led_control_window, text='Turn LED On', command=led_on)
    btn_on.pack(pady=10)
    
    btn_off = Button(led_control_window, text='Turn LED Off', command=led_off)
    btn_off.pack(pady=10)
    
    arduino_data = serial.Serial('COM18', 9600)
    
    led_control_window.mainloop()
    

change the line,

arduino_data = serial.Serial('COM18', 9600)

accordingly to which COM Port FTDI is connected

The results