{"id":32663,"date":"2026-10-19T12:32:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/?p=32663"},"modified":"2026-10-19T12:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T19:32:22","slug":"using-the-waveforms-sdk-with-python","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digilent.com\/blog\/using-the-waveforms-sdk-with-python\/","title":{"rendered":"WaveForms SDK With Python: When, Why, and Where to Start"},"content":{"rendered":"

Running the same measurement 500 times, logging data overnight, or feeding captured samples directly into a Python analysis pipeline is where the <\/span>WaveForms<\/a> graphical application may start to fall short.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The WaveForms SDK gives you programmatic control of Digilent test and measurement devices from your own scripts. It is a C-callable API that Python can access through ctypes<\/code>, making it useful for automation, data logging, and integration with other tools. You get access to the same instruments without needing someone to operate them manually.<\/p>\n

If you already know that you want ready-to-run code, head directly to the Getting Started With WaveForms SDK<\/a> reference guide. It covers installation, device connection, oscilloscope capture, waveform generation, DMM readings, logic analysis, and UART, SPI, and I2C protocol control.<\/p>\n

Still deciding whether the SDK fits your project? Keep reading.<\/p>\n

What Is the WaveForms SDK, and What Isn\u2019t It?<\/h2>\n

The WaveForms SDK is the public, C-callable API for Digilent test and measurement devices. It is included with the WaveForms installer. Python programs access it through ctypes<\/code>, which loads the DWF dynamic library and calls its functions directly.<\/p>\n

It is not a separate product, a REST service, or a casual replacement for the graphical interface. It is a programming interface.<\/p>\n

Think of the WaveForms application and the SDK as two doors into the same hardware. The application provides graphical instrument panels, while the SDK makes those instruments available as callable functions. Both communicate with the device through the DWF library, so settings that can be adjusted with controls in the GUI can also be configured with function calls in your code.<\/p>\n

The primary difference is control. The SDK allows you to script, loop, schedule, and integrate measurements in ways the GUI cannot. That flexibility also means you are responsible for writing and maintaining the program logic instead of clicking through the application.<\/p>\n

Supported Devices at a Glance<\/h2>\n

The WaveForms SDK supports a wide range of Digilent test and measurement devices, including:<\/p>\n