Quick Start

Install pylibftdi

See the installation instructions for more detailed requirements, but hopefully things will work by just running the following:

$ pip install pylibftdi

Connect and enumerate FTDI devices

Connect the FTDI device to a free USB port. Run the list_devices example to enumerate connected FTDI devices:

$ python -m pylibftdi.examples.list_devices

For each connected device, this will show manufacturer, model identifier, and serial number. With a single device connected, the output maybe something like the following:

FTDI:UM232H:FTUBIOWF

Though hopefully with a different serial number, or else you’ve either stolen mine, or you are me...

Test some actual IO

Output example

Connect an LED between D0 of your bit-bang capable device and ground, via a 330 - 1K ohm resistor as appropriate.

Test the installation and functioning of pylibftdi with the following:

$ python -m pylibftdi.examples.led_flash

The LED should now flash at approximately 1Hz.

Input example

To test some input, remove any connections from the port lines initially, then run the following, which reads and prints the status of the input lines regularly:

$ python -m pylibftdi.examples.pin_read

The pin_read example is a complete command line application which can be used to monitor for particular values on the attached device pins, and output an appropriate error code on match. Repeat the above with a trailing --help for info.