hardware-control 3.0.0__tar.gz → 3.1.0__tar.gz

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/.gitignore

@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 __pycache__
 *.pyc
 hardware-control.egg-info/
-hardware_control/_version.py
+src/hardware_control.egg-info/
+src/hardware_control/_version.py
 build/
 dist/
 python/.eggs/

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/.pre-commit-config.yaml

@@ -7,12 +7,12 @@ repos:
     -   id: debug-statements
     -   id: check-merge-conflict
 -   repo: https://github.com/asottile/pyupgrade
-    rev: v3.3.1
+    rev: v3.14.0
     hooks:
     -   id: pyupgrade
-        args: ["--py36-plus"]
+        args: ["--py39-plus"]
 -   repo: https://github.com/psf/black
-    rev: 23.1.0
+    rev: 23.9.1
     hooks:
       - id: black
         language_version: python3

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/.readthedocs.yaml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ build:
   apt_packages:
     - qmake6
   tools:
-    python: "3.8"
+    python: "3.11"
 
 sphinx:
    configuration: docs/source/conf.py

{hardware-control-3.0.0/docs/source → hardware_control-3.1.0}/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,43 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [3.1.0] 2024-04-13
+
+### Fixed
+- automatic update in App.py of instrument parameters was not working correctly
+- Keysight 3600 power supply UI: remove on/off buttons for E3631A mode (only global on/off available)
+- Adam6015: detect offline mode in case command times out
+- plotbase: define variables in init
+- Picoscope: setting larger voltage ranges
+- MWController: added display of actual power level
+- TPI: by default show -9 to +9 dBm, option to override this
+- TPI: fix use in dummy mode
+
+### Added
+- Keysight 3600 power supply: add readout of persona
+- Picoscope: readout of scope parameters
+- Add ZMQ channel to allow other programs to request instrument parameters
+
+### CHANGED
+- changed to src/ layout
+- move setup.{cfg,py} into pyproject.toml
+- require python >= 3.9 (minimum version for numpy)
+- updated pre-commit versions and run on all files
+- updated pipelines and readthedocs python versions
+- MWController: changed order of widgets
+- MultiPowerSupply: better on/off buttons, better status icons
+
+## [3.0.1] 2023-02-18
+
+### CHANGED
+- updated docs
+- Removed auto_update from HCPushButton since it connects to a command not a parameter
+
+### FIXED
+- HCLabel: force convertion to string, so that call to .rjust works all the time
+- TPI: several fixes
+- Fix quering for a serial device
+
 ## [3.0.0] 2023-02-18
 
 The main new feature is updating to pyqt6.

hardware_control-3.1.0/PKG-INFO

@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+Metadata-Version: 2.1
+Name: hardware-control
+Version: 3.1.0
+Author-email: Arun Persaud <apersaud@lbl.gov>, Ariel Amsellem <ajamsellem@lbl.gov>, Brian Mak <brianmak@lbl.gov>, Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta <mayllonu@lbl.gov>, Brian Wynne <bwynne@lbl.gov>, Grant Giesbrecht <ggiesbrecht@lbl.gov>, Timo Bauer <TimoBauer@lbl.gov>, Zhihao Qin <zqin@lbl.gov>, Arfon Smith <arfon.smith@gmail.com>, Sara Matsuo Saib <smsaib@lbl.gov>, Caroline Egan <cegan@lbl.gov>, Schuyler Freeman <skyfreeman@lbl.gov>
+License: Copyright (c) 2019, The Regents of the University of California,
+        through Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (subject to receipt of
+        any required approvals from the U.S. Dept. of Energy). All rights
+        reserved.
+        
+        Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+        modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+        met:
+        
+        (1) Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+        
+        (2) Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+        notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+        documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+        
+        (3) Neither the name of the University of California, Lawrence
+        Berkeley National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy, nor the names of
+        its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived
+        from this software without specific prior written permission.
+        
+        THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+        "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+        LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+        A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+        OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+        SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+        LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+        DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+        THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+        (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+        OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+        
+        You are under no obligation whatsoever to provide any bug fixes,
+        patches, or upgrades to the features, functionality or performance of
+        the source code ("Enhancements") to anyone; however, if you choose to
+        make your Enhancements available either publicly, or directly to
+        Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, without imposing a separate
+        written license agreement for such Enhancements, then you hereby grant
+        the following license: a non-exclusive, royalty-free perpetual license
+        to install, use, modify, prepare derivative works, incorporate into
+        other computer software, distribute, and sublicense such enhancements
+        or derivative works thereof, in binary and source code form.
+        
+Project-URL: documentation, https://hardware-control.readthedocs.io/
+Project-URL: homepage, https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control
+Project-URL: issues, https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control/issues
+Project-URL: changelog, https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control/src/main/CHANGELOG.md
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3
+Classifier: Operating System :: OS Independent
+Classifier: Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable
+Classifier: License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License
+Classifier: Intended Audience :: Science/Research
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12
+Classifier: Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Physics
+Requires-Python: >=3.9
+Description-Content-Type: text/markdown
+License-File: LICENSE
+Requires-Dist: docopt
+Requires-Dist: matplotlib
+Requires-Dist: nidaqmx>=0.6.4
+Requires-Dist: numpy
+Requires-Dist: pandas
+Requires-Dist: picoscope
+Requires-Dist: pymodbus>=3.0.0
+Requires-Dist: PyQt6
+Requires-Dist: pyqtgraph
+Requires-Dist: pytest
+Requires-Dist: PyVISA
+Requires-Dist: qtconsole>=5.3.2
+Requires-Dist: recommonmark
+Requires-Dist: scipy
+Requires-Dist: setuptools
+Requires-Dist: setuptools-scm
+Requires-Dist: Sphinx
+Requires-Dist: sphinx_rtd_theme
+Requires-Dist: pyzmq
+
+[![read-the-docs](https://readthedocs.org/projects/hardware-control/badge/?style=flat)](https://readthedocs.org/projects/hardware-control/)
+[![PyPI version](https://badge.fury.io/py/hardware-control.svg)](https://badge.fury.io/py/hardware-control)
+[![pre-commit](https://img.shields.io/badge/pre--commit-enabled-brightgreen?logo=pre-commit&logoColor=white)](https://github.com/pre-commit/pre-commit)
+[![Code style: black](https://img.shields.io/badge/code%20style-black-000000.svg)](https://github.com/psf/black)
+[![DOI](https://joss.theoj.org/papers/10.21105/joss.02688/status.svg)](https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.02688)
+
+## What is this repository for?
+
+The goal is to provide reusable code for hardware control using python and Qt.
+
+Documentation can be found at [Read the Docs](https://readthedocs.org/projects/hardware-control/).
+
+## How do I get set up?
+
+The easiest way is to pip install the software:
+
+    pip install hardware-control
+
+## Examples
+
+If you want to have a quick look at some basic functionality, you can
+run the demos in the example directory. If you have the same hardware
+that is used in the example, you will have to update the connection
+address, e.g. ip address. Otherwise, you can still run the examples by
+providing the `--dummy` command line argument that will simulate
+instrument output. The logging level can also be redirected to the
+terminal using `--console` and the log-level changed by providing
+`--info` or `--debug` options on the command line.
+
+## Tests
+
+We use `pytest` to provide some simple tests for some of the
+functionallity of the package. However, to check if an instrument is
+really working, one needs to have the instrument connected, which
+makes testing harder. When the instruments are not available some
+functionallity, such as the Qt layout, can still be tested using
+"--dummy" mode. In this mode instrument parameters can return a
+predefined value or the result of a function.
+
+To run the tests use:
+
+    python -m pytest
+
+
+## Contribution guidelines
+
+Feel free to contribute new drivers for hardware or other changes.
+
+We use black to format the code, so please format your code
+accordingly. The easiest way to achieve this is to install pre-commit
+and use the config file we provide:
+
+    pip install pre-commit
+    # cd into repo
+    pre-commit install
+
+## How to cite this package
+
+Please use the following [citation](https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.02688).
+
+```
+@article{Giesbrecht2022,
+  doi = {10.21105/joss.02688},
+  url = {https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.02688},
+  year = {2022},
+  publisher = {The Open Journal},
+  volume = {7},
+  number = {72},
+  pages = {2688},
+  author = {Grant Giesbrecht and Ariel Amsellem and Timo Bauer and Brian Mak and Brian Wynne and Zhihao Qin and Arun Persaud},
+  title = {Hardware-Control: Instrument control and automation package},
+  journal = {Journal of Open Source Software}
+}
+```
+
+## Who do I talk to?
+
+If you have questions, please contact Arun at apersaud@lbl.gov.
+
+## Copyright and License
+
+See the files COPYRIGHT and LICENSE in the top level directory

hardware_control-3.1.0/bitbucket-pipelines.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+pipelines:
+  default:
+    - parallel:
+      - step:
+          name: Test_3.9
+          image: python:3.9
+          caches:
+            - pip
+          script:
+            - apt-get update -y
+            - apt-get install -y python3-pyqt6 mesa-common-dev libglu1-mesa-dev
+            - pip install -U pip
+            - pip install .
+            - pytest -v tests/* --junitxml=test-reports/report.xml
+      - step:
+          name: Test_3.10
+          image: python:3.10
+          caches:
+            - pip
+          script:
+            - apt-get update -y
+            - apt-get install -y python3-pyqt6 mesa-common-dev libglu1-mesa-dev
+            - pip install -U pip
+            - pip install .
+            - pytest -v tests/* --junitxml=test-reports/report.xml
+      - step:
+          name: Test_3.11
+          image: python:3.11
+          caches:
+            - pip
+          script:
+            - apt-get update -y
+            - apt-get install -y python3-pyqt6 mesa-common-dev libglu1-mesa-dev
+            - pip install -U pip
+            - pip install .
+            - pytest -v tests/* --junitxml=test-reports/report.xml
+      - step:
+          name: Test_3.12
+          image: python:3.12
+          caches:
+            - pip
+          script:
+            - apt-get update -y
+            - apt-get install -y python3-pyqt6 mesa-common-dev libglu1-mesa-dev
+            - pip install -U pip
+            - pip install .
+            - pytest -v tests/* --junitxml=test-reports/report.xml

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0/docs/source}/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,43 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+## [3.1.0] 2024-04-13
+
+### Fixed
+- automatic update in App.py of instrument parameters was not working correctly
+- Keysight 3600 power supply UI: remove on/off buttons for E3631A mode (only global on/off available)
+- Adam6015: detect offline mode in case command times out
+- plotbase: define variables in init
+- Picoscope: setting larger voltage ranges
+- MWController: added display of actual power level
+- TPI: by default show -9 to +9 dBm, option to override this
+- TPI: fix use in dummy mode
+
+### Added
+- Keysight 3600 power supply: add readout of persona
+- Picoscope: readout of scope parameters
+- Add ZMQ channel to allow other programs to request instrument parameters
+
+### CHANGED
+- changed to src/ layout
+- move setup.{cfg,py} into pyproject.toml
+- require python >= 3.9 (minimum version for numpy)
+- updated pre-commit versions and run on all files
+- updated pipelines and readthedocs python versions
+- MWController: changed order of widgets
+- MultiPowerSupply: better on/off buttons, better status icons
+
+## [3.0.1] 2023-02-18
+
+### CHANGED
+- updated docs
+- Removed auto_update from HCPushButton since it connects to a command not a parameter
+
+### FIXED
+- HCLabel: force convertion to string, so that call to .rjust works all the time
+- TPI: several fixes
+- Fix quering for a serial device
+
 ## [3.0.0] 2023-02-18
 
 The main new feature is updating to pyqt6.

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/docs/source/index.rst

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Welcome to Hardware-control's documentation!
 Hardware-control is a Python package designed to simplify creating
 instrument control programs (for example for power supplies,
 oscilloscopes, etc.). By using reusable front ends (widgets) and
-instrument drivers hardware-control tries to minimize the
+instrument drivers. Hardware-control tries to minimize the
 effort and code required to communicate with instruments in the lab.
 
 Hardware-control uses a few basic constructs to organize its

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/docs/source/installation.rst

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Installation
 ============
 
-Hardware control requires python ≥ 3.6.
+Hardware control requires python ≥ 3.7.
 
 The code is available on `PyPi
 <https://pypi.org/project/hardware-control>`_ and therefore can be

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/docs/source/instrument_index.rst

@@ -33,3 +33,4 @@ drivers for the NI-DAQ modules and picoscopes.
    instruments/siglent
    instruments/srs
    instruments/tdkl
+   instruments/trinity_power

hardware_control-3.1.0/docs/source/instruments/picotech.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+Picotech
+========
+
+hardware_control.instruments.picotech.Picoscope module
+------------------------------------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: hardware_control.instruments.picotech.Picoscope
+   :members:
+   :undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:

hardware_control-3.1.0/docs/source/instruments/trinity_power.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Trinity Power
+=============
+
+hardware_control.instruments.trinity_power.tpi module
+-----------------------------------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: hardware_control.instruments.trinity_power.TPI
+   :members:
+   :undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/docs/source/outlook.md

@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ Plans for the future include (but are not limited to):
 - Adding more instrument drivers
 - Expanding the instrument drivers we have to implement more parameters/commands
 - Modifying the auto-update functionality of the main app to be more flexible, e.g. custom timeout for each instrument
-- Looking into using binary ZMQ messages and sending for example numpy arrays over ZMQ instead of strings
+- Looking into using binary ZMQ messages and sending for example numpy arrays over ZMQ instead of strings (e.g., using msgpack)
 - Create a custom widget that shows all logging messages and lets you filter them on the fly (by loglevel and instrument driver, etc.)
 - Code improvement:
    - adding more type hints
    - adding more tests (e.g. figuring out how to test Qt apps)
-   - improving the code base (running linters such as pylint)
-   - update to Qt6
+   - improving the code base (running linters such as pylint, ruff)
    - replace some logging instances with raising an exception where appropiate (currently we only use logger.error)
+   - in the instrument drivers switch from commands (no argument) and parameters (one argument) to something that can handle multiple arguments

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/docs/source/supported_instruments.rst

@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ provide a pull request.
      * - `Siglent SDG Series <https://www.siglent.eu/waveform-generators>`_ (LAN)
        - .. image:: /images/SDG1000X.png
            :height: 100
+     * - `Trinity Power TPI <https://rf-consultant.com/products/tpi-1001-b-signal-generator/>`_ (USB)
+       - .. image:: /images/TPI.jpg
+           :height: 100
 
 
 - IOModule:

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/examples/Single_Instrument_Demos/RGA_demo.py

@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ hc.setup_logging_docopt(logger, commands)
 
 class RGA_CIS(hc.HCMainWindow):
     def __init__(self, dummy):
-
         super().__init__(dummy=dummy)
 
         # set title of window

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0}/examples/Single_Instrument_Demos/TempMonitor_demo.py

@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ hc.setup_logging_docopt(logger, commands)
 
 class TemperatureMonitor(hc.HCMainWindow):
     def __init__(self, dummy):
-
         super().__init__(dummy=dummy)
 
         # set title of window

hardware_control-3.1.0/pyproject.toml

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=61.0", "setuptools_scm[toml]>=6.2"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "hardware-control"
+dynamic = ["version"]
+authors = [
+   { name = "Arun Persaud", email = "apersaud@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Ariel Amsellem", email = "ajamsellem@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Brian Mak", email = "brianmak@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Mauricio Ayllon Unzueta", email = "mayllonu@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Brian Wynne", email = "bwynne@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Grant Giesbrecht", email = "ggiesbrecht@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Timo Bauer", email = "TimoBauer@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Zhihao Qin", email = "zqin@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Arfon Smith", email = "arfon.smith@gmail.com" },
+   { name = "Sara Matsuo Saib", email = "smsaib@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Caroline Egan", email = "cegan@lbl.gov" },
+   { name = "Schuyler Freeman", email = "skyfreeman@lbl.gov" },
+]
+readme = "README.md"
+license = {file = "LICENSE"}
+requires-python = ">=3.9"
+dependencies = [
+    "docopt",
+    "matplotlib",
+    "nidaqmx >= 0.6.4",
+    "numpy",
+    "pandas",
+    "picoscope",
+    "pymodbus >= 3.0.0",
+    "PyQt6",
+    "pyqtgraph",
+    "pytest",
+    "PyVISA",
+    "qtconsole >= 5.3.2",
+    "recommonmark",
+    "scipy",
+    "setuptools",
+    "setuptools-scm",
+    "Sphinx",
+    "sphinx_rtd_theme",
+    "pyzmq",
+]
+classifiers = [
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3",
+    "Operating System :: OS Independent",
+    "Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable",
+    "License :: OSI Approved :: BSD License",
+    "Intended Audience :: Science/Research",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11",
+    "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12",
+    "Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Physics",
+]
+
+[project.urls]
+documentation = "https://hardware-control.readthedocs.io/"
+homepage = "https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control"
+issues = "https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control/issues"
+changelog = "https://bitbucket.org/berkeleylab/hardware-control/src/main/CHANGELOG.md"
+
+[tool.setuptools.packages.find]
+where = ["src"]
+
+[tool.setuptools.package-data]
+"*" = ["icons/*svg"]
+
+[tool.setuptools_scm]
+write_to = "src/hardware_control/_version.py"
+
+[tool.pylint.FORMAT]
+max-line-length="88"
+
+[tool.pylint."MESSAGES CONTROL"]
+# bad-continuation: Black does the job, no need to check.
+disable = "bad-continuation, logging-fstring-interpolation, line-too-long"
+
+[tool.pylint.MASTER]
+extension-pkg-whitelist="PyQt6"
+jobs=4
+
+[tool.pylint.TYPECHECK]
+# zmq.{LINGER,REQ,ROUTER,NOBLOCK} are dynamically generated and so pylint
+# doesn't see them, causing false positives.
+generated-members=[
+	"REQ",
+	"REP",
+	"RCVTIMEO",
+	"PUB",
+	"SUB",
+	"NOBLOCK",
+	"AF_INET",
+	"SOCK_STREAM",
+	"TCP_NODELAY",
+	"SOCK_DGRAM",
+	"IPPROTO_TCP",
+	]

hardware_control-3.1.0/setup.cfg

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[egg_info]
+tag_build = 
+tag_date = 0
+

hardware_control-3.1.0/src/hardware_control/_version.py

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# file generated by setuptools_scm
+# don't change, don't track in version control
+TYPE_CHECKING = False
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from typing import Tuple, Union
+    VERSION_TUPLE = Tuple[Union[int, str], ...]
+else:
+    VERSION_TUPLE = object
+
+version: str
+__version__: str
+__version_tuple__: VERSION_TUPLE
+version_tuple: VERSION_TUPLE
+
+__version__ = version = '3.1.0'
+__version_tuple__ = version_tuple = (3, 1, 0)

{hardware-control-3.0.0 → hardware_control-3.1.0/src}/hardware_control/base/App.py

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import logging
 from pathlib import Path
 import threading
 import time
-from typing import Union, Optional, Callable, Any, List
+from typing import Union, Optional, Callable, Any
 from datetime import datetime
 
 from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QApplication
@@ -100,8 +100,12 @@ class App(QApplication):
             self.ipaddress = ipaddress
         self.zmq_publisher_address = f"tcp://{self.ipaddress}:1234"
         self.zmq_context = zmq.Context()
+        # to talk to all the instruments
         self.zmq_publisher = self.zmq_context.socket(zmq.PUB)
         self.zmq_publisher.bind(self.zmq_publisher_address)
+        # to handle queries from other programs
+        self.zmq_info = self.zmq_context.socket(zmq.REP)
+        self.zmq_info.bind(f"tcp://{self.ipaddress}:1235")
 
         self.dummy = dummy
         self.additional_save_formats = {}
@@ -123,6 +127,7 @@ class App(QApplication):
         # a timer to check ZMQ messages
         self.zmq_timer = QTimer(self)
         self.zmq_timer.timeout.connect(self.parse_message_from_instruments)
+        self.zmq_timer.timeout.connect(self.handle_request)
         self.zmq_timer.start(100)
 
         # a timer to requests updates from instruments
@@ -143,6 +148,51 @@ class App(QApplication):
         for t in self.threads:
             t.join()
 
+    def handle_request(self):
+        """Handle requests from other programs.
+
+        This provides an interface for other programs to get
+        values. In principle this could also enable remote control in
+        the future.
+
+        To make use of this, the other program has to setup a ZMQ REQ
+        socket. For example using:
+
+        > import zmq
+        > c = zmq.Context()
+        > s = c.socket(zmq.REQ)
+        >
+        > s.connect("tcp://127.0.0.1:1235")
+        > s.send_string('get_instrument_parameter(ADAM_6024,CH0_READ_VOLTAGE)')
+        >
+        > s.recv_string()
+        > '1.0'
+
+        We implement the get_instrument_parameter function and perhaps should
+        also support similar other function in the future.
+
+        The value will be returned directly as a string.
+
+        """
+        while True:
+            try:
+                msg = self.zmq_info.recv_string(flags=zmq.NOBLOCK)
+                logger.debug(f"App got request '{msg}'")
+
+                if msg.startswith("get_instrument_parameter"):
+                    msg = msg.replace("get_instrument_parameter", "")
+                    msg = msg[1:-1]  # remove ()
+
+                    name, parameter = msg.split(",")
+                    name = name.strip().replace("'", "")
+                    parameter = parameter.strip().replace("'", "")
+
+                    value = self.get_instrument_parameter(name, parameter)
+
+                self.zmq_info.send_string(str(value))
+            except zmq.ZMQError:
+                break
+
     @ensure_instrument_exists
     def register_parameters_and_commands(
         self, instrument: str, read_parameters, set_parameters, commands
@@ -325,7 +375,7 @@ class App(QApplication):
                 continue
             online = self.get_instrument_parameter(instrument, "ONLINE")
             if online is None or online == "False":
-                return
+                continue
             if callable(parameter_or_function):
                 parameter_or_function()
             else:
@@ -617,11 +667,11 @@ class App(QApplication):
         self.additional_save_formats[format_name] = save_fxn
 
     @ensure_instrument_exists
-    def list_instrument_parameters(self, instrument) -> List[str]:
+    def list_instrument_parameters(self, instrument) -> list[str]:
         """Compile a list of all the parameters for a specified instrument."""
         return [parameter for parameter in self._data[instrument]]
 
-    def list_instruments(self) -> List[str]:
+    def list_instruments(self) -> list[str]:
         """Compile a list of all the instruments in the app."""
         if not self._data:
             return []