cross-platform serial communication applications with GUI
A cross-platform application for serial communication with graphical user interface requires
- a cross-platform language
- a cross-platform serial library
- a cross-platform graphic library
cross-platform serial libraries
| language | serial library | serial library licence | GNU/ Linux |
Apple Mac OS X |
Microsoft Windows |
remarks |
| C++ | CTB (communication toolbox) | free, open | • | • | By iftools.com. Non-blocking access. | |
| C++ | Boost.Asio | Boost Software License (free, open) | • | • | • | |
| C++ | QextSerialPort | New BSD License | • | • | • | |
| C++ | QSerialDevice | GPL | • | • (?) | • | |
| Java | Java Communications | GNU GPL + supplemental terms | • | Last updated 2003. Actually deprecated. | ||
| Java | GiovynetSerialPort | GNU GPL | • | • | ||
| Java | RXTX | GNU LGPL | • | • | • | Used e.g. by Arduino.cc and Processing.org. Useful Serial.list() class. |
| Java | Serialio SerialPort | commercial | • | • | • | Applications may be distributed without royalties. |
| Perl | Device::SerialPort | • | ||||
| Perl | Win32::SerialPort | • | ||||
| Python | CTB (communication toolbox) | free, open | • | • | By iftools.com. Non-blocking access. | |
| Python | pySerial | Python Software Foundation License | • | • | • | |
| Ruby | Ruby/SerialPort | GNU GPL | • | • | • |
The most popular solution for serial access from Java on Mac OS X has been the open-source javax.comm API implementation at rxtx.org. A commercial packaging of the javax.comm API with support is also available from SerialIO.com.
cross-platform graphic libraries
| language | graphic library | graphic library type | GNU/ Linux |
Apple Mac OS X |
Microsoft Windows |
remarks |
| C++ | Qt | LGPL | • | • | • | |
| C++ | wxWidgets | free, open | • | • | • | Consider wxCtb. |
| Java | SWT | free, open | • | • | • | |
| Perl | xwPerl | free, open | • | • | • | |
| Python | xwPython | free, open | • | • | • | Consider wxCtb. |
| Ruby | wxRuby | free, open | • | • | • |
free serial communication tools
Here you can find a list of some freeware applications that might be useful to your serial communication design.
serial communication monitors
- Free Serial Port Monitor (serial-port-monitor.com)
Monitor and analyze your serial port communication data
terminal emulators
Apple Mac OS X
- ZTerm by Dave Alverson (homepage.mac.com/dalverson)
Mac OS X modem communications
GNU/Linux
- CuteCom (cutecom.sourceforge.net)
graphical serial terminal - HTerm (der-hammer.info/terminal/)
terminal programm for Windows and Linux with inputs and outputs in Ascii, hexadecimal, bynary and decimal formats. - minicom (alioth.debian.org/projects/minicom)
menu driven communications program (emulates ANSI and VT102 terminals).
Microsoft Windows
- HTerm (der-hammer.info/terminal/)
terminal programm for Windows and Linux with inputs and outputs in Ascii, hexadecimal, bynary and decimal formats. - IVT VT 220 freeware (planet.nl)
alternate site (softwarevoordelig.nl)
telnet/ssh VT220 emulator - TeraTerm Pro Web (ayera.com/teraterm)
tool for connecting with remote Telnet and SSH hosts - Terminal GA-System (ga-systemhaus.de)
terminal software for serial communications (freeware version) - Termite (compuphase.com)
a simple RS232 terminal for Microsoft Windows
USB-to-UART protocol converters
| manufacturer | article | virtual communications port (VCP) drivers | URLs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exar Corporation | XR21V1414 XR21V1412 XR21V1410 XR21B1411 |
Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | |
| Future Technology Devices International (FTDI), Limited |
FT232H |
Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | |
| Microchip Technology, Inc. | MCP2200 | Linux, Windows | |
| Prolific Technology, Inc. | PL-2303HX | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | |
| Silicon Laboratories (SiLabs), Inc. | CP210x CP2101 CP2102 CP2103 CP2104 CP2105 CP2110 |
Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | |
| Texas Instruments Incorporated | TUSB3410 | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows |
product page |