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What is OpenCAN?

OpenCAN is a software platform for interacting with various Controller Area Network (CAN or CANbus) devices. It provides an abstract C++ interface that can be used to control CAN devices. Support for specific devices can be written as plugins, and then loaded through a simple API call. Each component is cross-platform, enabling the efficient development of CAN software on Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.  And you are free to use and extend it according to the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL).

Benefits

Simplifies adding CAN support to software
Add new CAN devices without changing application code or recompiling
Write one set of code for multiple devices and/or OSes
Reduces maintenance time and cost
Enables backward and forward compatibility with CAN devices and APIs
OpenCAN is LGPL so you can use free and proprietary CAN drivers together

Features

Supports Windows, Linux and Mac OS X
Light-weight and simple API encapsulation
API documentation using Doxygen
Device support can be compiled in or as dynamically-loaded plugins
Includes plugins for LinCAN and PCAN devices

Testbench

Testbench, included in the OpenCAN distribution, is a GUI for monitoring and sending messages on a CAN network and is written with the OpenCAN API.

Download

OpenCAN v0.7 source code: OpenCAN-0.7.tar.gz

Requirements

Qt 4.6+ (http://qt.nokia.com)
   The library only requires the QtCore component
   Testbench requires the QtGui component
CAN device with installed driver (support for LinCAN and PCAN devices included)
Windows XP/Vista/7, Linux or Mac OS X (32/64-bit)

Status

OpenCAN is near production-ready. No issues are known to exist in the OpenCAN API core and plugins. Issues may remain in Testbench, but no major issues are known to exist. Unless critical, API changes will only be in the form of additions.

Current tasks are to:
  Fix any major issues that may come up
  Increase the flexibility of the binary compatibility between plugins
  Add more plugins to support more devices
  Possible feature additions to Testbench

License

OpenCAN is distributed under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) version 2.1.

Testbench is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 3.0.

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