[gsoc] Simulink import

[Clément DAVID]

Hi,

> Hi,
> I was thinking about developing Scilab -> Xcos translator as GSoC
> project. Unfortunately the wiki page on this idea is empty. So maybe I
> will describe the idea in a few words. I think it can be a good first
> step to create my proposal .
> 
> The main aim of this idea is to create module(?), that will allow user
> to import model from simulink (mdl) files to Xcos (xcos file). This
> can be done in 3 main steps:
> 
> - creating simulink file parser. (Is the C/C++ obligatory? this look
> really easy using  Pyparsing
> http://www.fauskes.net/nb/parsing-simulink/ )

You can also take a look at
http://conqat.cs.tum.edu/index.php/Simulink_Library which is a java
implementation of an MDL parser.

Another way is to start writing a new parser but be careful about the
MDL format as The Mathworks says that the format may change in the
future
[http://www.mathworks.com/access/helpdesk/help/toolbox/simulink/slref/f22-7548.html].

> - reformating parsed data into .xcos (this is the hardest and most
> time consuming part I think. There is a lot of Xcos blocks, new
> toolboxes for Xcos can show up (that already exist in simulink) so it
> should be fairly easy to create a simulink -> xcos 'migration' schema
> for new toolboxes etc.
> - testing! After GSoC the Simulink import function should be usable
> for most users. But I think that even after GSoC ends, I will be able
> to maintain this module and kill some bugs from time to time.
> 

Right approach there. I suppose that some Simulink evaluation functions
differs on Xcos/Scicos and others may not be  present. For the latest,
they can be easily implemented on Xcos but for the GSoC it may not be
easy to implement them all.

At the end of the GSoC, we wish to have a working infrastructure with
compatibility matrix and limitation highlighting.

> There is a lot of work ahead of me to prepare good propoal, that's why
> I really count on your suggestions!

I will update the wiki page soon.

Thanks for your interest.

--
Clément DAVID (davidcl)