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Dev Log: v0.2.0 Release & RF Hardware Validation (2026-05-03)

This session focused on validating the HAL against high-end Keysight X-Series hardware and standardizing the Spectrum Analyzer suite for the v0.2.0 release.

Hardware Integration & Fixes

Keysight PXA N9030A (Spectrum Analyzer)

  • Binary Trace Support: Implemented 32-bit floating point trace transfers using :FORM REAL,32.
  • Endian Swap Fix: Resolved an issue where X-Series instruments returned data in Big-Endian while the HAL expected Little-Endian. Fixed by implementing :FORM:BORD SWAP in the base Keysight driver.
  • Auto-Discovery Hardening: Refined the AUTO resolution logic to handle instruments that do not broadcast via VXI-11, ensuring fallback to TCPIP0 strings is seamless.

Keysight MXG/EXG (Signal Generator)

  • Sweep Capabilities: Added support for Frequency and Power sweeps.
  • Modulation Control: Standardized AM, FM, and Pulse modulation toggles.
  • Verification: Successfully replayed a complex sweep session using the Golden Master engine, achieving 100% data fidelity without physical hardware.

HAL Reliability & Testing

Emergency Interface Fixes

  • Abstract Method Enforcement: Discovered that new required methods (get_center_freq, get_span) were missing in several drivers.
  • Compliance: Updated SimulatedSpectrumAnalyzer, RigolDSA, RohdeSchwarzSA, and AnritsuSA to implement these methods, restoring 100% unit test pass rate.
  • Station Loading: Fixed a bug where Station would fail if a station.toml was missing from the working directory; it now gracefully initializes an empty station.

Golden Master Refinement

  • Transparent Proxy: Re-engineered the RecordingWrapper to use a more robust proxy pattern, ensuring it captures all SCPI traffic regardless of the driver's internal implementation.

Visualization & Tooling

  • Matplotlib Integration: Created a dedicated plotting utility for Spectrum Analyzers. It automatically handles trace formatting, peak detection, and dark-mode styling for professional laboratory reports.
  • CI/CD Hardening: Updated the release workflow to handle PyPI asset conflicts gracefully and prioritize GitHub Release uploads.

Status: v0.2.0 is fully released and stable. All core RF drivers are now validated against real-world hardware.