API or binding for Tango

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1

Hello,
reading Glossary — Tango Controls 10.0.0 documentation I see the Tango core propose 3 API in C++, Python and Java.
Reading Bindings — Tango Controls 10.0.0 documentation I see bindings exists for C language, Igor Pro, LabView, Matlab and Octave and REST API.

I formerly understood the difference between the bindings and the API is that API is up-to-date and binding maintenance is more random.
However, reading Tango Core: Python — Tango Controls 10.0.0 documentation which say “PyTango - a Python binding to Tango”, and Tango Core: Java — Tango Controls 10.0.0 documentation which say “JTango, the Java binding for Tango Controls”, I wonder if I well understood.

What is the difference between API and binding for Tango?

2

What is the difference between API and binding for Tango?

Let’s start by looking at the definition of language binding, according to wikipedia:

In programming and software design, a binding is an application programming interface (API) that provides glue code specifically made to allow a programming language to use a foreign library or operating system service (one that is not native to that language).

So, a binding is an API. The C++ and Java Tango APIs are using CORBA under the hood natively.
The others are bindings, including PyTango. They are basically using cppTango (the Tango C++ API) under the hood.

I think, we should not say that JTango is the Java binding for Tango Controls. For me, it’s a TANGO Java API for Tango Controls.

3

Thank you Reynald, I understand better.

Perhaps this could be clarified since today, I’m not sure this is ok for everyone.
I do not doubt wikipedia definition but at first, while talking with colleagues, we understand that Python is said API because it’s maintained up-to-date, while for example panorama is probably not.

Perhaps a way to clarify would be to clarify that Java, Python and C++ API are maintained to be up-to-date to be sure anyone could use last functionnalities with those languages if I understand well?

4

we understand that Python is said API because it’s maintained up-to-date

I think this is not linked at all. API has nothing to do with the fact that it is maintained or not.

Java, Python and C++ API are the most actively maintained projects, even though the Java API is a bit behind the 2 others.