In Ptolemy 0.6 and later, we have developed a framework for interfacing code generation targets with other targets (simulation or code generation). In this section we will detail how to support this new framework for a code generation target. To learn how to develop applications within Ptolemy that use multiple targets that support this new framework, refer to the Interface Issues section in the User's Manual - CG Domain chapter.

As with Wormholes, we have developed a way to interface N targets without requiring N2 specialized interfaces. We do this by generating a customized interface (analogous to the universal EventHorizon in wormholes) that is automatically built by using communication stars supplied by each code generation target. This interface is generated in C (using the CGC domain) and runs on the Ptolemy host workstation.

To support this infrastructure, a target writer needs to define two pairs of communication stars and add target methods which return each of these pairs. The framework will then build the interface by splicing in these stars as is shown in figure 13-1. These same actors are used when constructing an interface to a Ptolemy simulation target as shown in figure 13-2.

These communication stars, described in section 13.4.2, are a specialized form of send/receive stars. In addition to the previous assumptions in section 13.4.2, send/receive for this infrastructure must also define C code to control the target for operations such as downloading, initializing and (if applicable) terminating the generated executable.

One pair of communication stars must communicate from the target to the CGC code that will run on the Ptolemy host workstation. The other pair must communicate in the opposite direction. The CGC send/receive stars are typically defined from a common base communication star specific for each target. This common base defines the C code to control a target that was discussed in the previous paragraphs. Examples of send/receive stars that support this infrastructure can be found in:

For the S56XTarget (Ariel S-56X DSP card):