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Interfacing with Other Languages

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Interfacing MUMPS with other programming languages can significantly enhance the capabilities of your applications by leveraging the strengths of multiple languages. This module will cover the basics of how to interface MUMPS with other languages, focusing on practical examples and exercises.

Key Concepts

  1. Interfacing Methods:

    • System Calls: Using system commands to execute scripts or programs written in other languages.
    • File-Based Communication: Exchanging data through files.
    • Sockets and Network Communication: Using network protocols to communicate between programs.
    • APIs and Web Services: Leveraging APIs to interact with other languages.

  2. Common Languages for Interfacing:

    • Python
    • Java
    • C/C++
    • JavaScript

System Calls

System calls allow MUMPS to execute external programs or scripts. This is useful for running scripts written in languages like Python or shell scripts.

Example: Calling a Python Script

; MUMPS code to call a Python script
SET command="python3 /path/to/script.py"
OPEN "pipe":(command:"R"):5
USE "pipe"
READ result
CLOSE "pipe"
WRITE "Result from Python script: ", result, !

Explanation:

  • SET command="python3 /path/to/script.py": Defines the command to run the Python script.
  • OPEN "pipe":(command:"R"):5: Opens a pipe to execute the command.
  • USE "pipe": Directs subsequent I/O operations to the pipe.
  • READ result: Reads the output from the Python script.
  • CLOSE "pipe": Closes the pipe.
  • WRITE "Result from Python script: ", result, !: Outputs the result.

File-Based Communication

File-based communication involves writing data to a file from one language and reading it from another.

Example: Writing Data to a File in MUMPS and Reading it in Python

MUMPS Code:

; MUMPS code to write data to a file
OPEN "data.txt":"W"
USE "data.txt"
WRITE "Hello from MUMPS", !
CLOSE "data.txt"

Python Code:

# Python code to read data from a file
with open('data.txt', 'r') as file:
    data = file.read()
    print("Data from MUMPS:", data)

Explanation:

  • MUMPS writes "Hello from MUMPS" to data.txt.
  • Python reads the content of data.txt and prints it.

Sockets and Network Communication

Sockets allow for real-time communication between programs over a network.

Example: MUMPS Client and Python Server

Python Server Code:

import socket

server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
server_socket.bind(('localhost', 65432))
server_socket.listen()

print("Server is listening...")

conn, addr = server_socket.accept()
with conn:
    print('Connected by', addr)
    data = conn.recv(1024)
    if data:
        print("Received from MUMPS:", data.decode())
        conn.sendall(b'Hello from Python')

MUMPS Client Code:

; MUMPS code to connect to a Python server
OPEN "socket":("TCP":65432:"localhost"):5
USE "socket"
WRITE "Hello from MUMPS", !
READ response
CLOSE "socket"
WRITE "Response from Python server: ", response, !

Explanation:

  • The Python server listens on port 65432 and waits for a connection.
  • The MUMPS client connects to the server, sends a message, and reads the response.

APIs and Web Services

APIs and web services provide a standardized way to interact with other languages over HTTP.

Example: Calling a REST API from MUMPS

Python Flask API:

from flask import Flask, jsonify

app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/api/greet', methods=['GET'])
def greet():
    return jsonify(message="Hello from Python API")

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run(port=5000)

MUMPS Code:

; MUMPS code to call a REST API
SET url="http://localhost:5000/api/greet"
OPEN "pipe":("curl -s "_url:"R"):5
USE "pipe"
READ response
CLOSE "pipe"
WRITE "Response from API: ", response, !

Explanation:

  • The Python Flask API provides a simple endpoint that returns a greeting.
  • MUMPS uses curl to call the API and reads the response.

Practical Exercise

Exercise: Interfacing MUMPS with a Python Script

  1. Write a Python script that takes a number as input, squares it, and prints the result.
  2. Write MUMPS code to call this Python script, pass a number to it, and read the result.

Python Script (square.py):

import sys

number = int(sys.argv[1])
result = number ** 2
print(result)

MUMPS Code:

; MUMPS code to call the Python script
SET number=5
SET command="python3 /path/to/square.py "_number
OPEN "pipe":(command:"R"):5
USE "pipe"
READ result
CLOSE "pipe"
WRITE "Square of ", number, " is ", result, !

Solution Explanation:

  • The Python script reads a number from the command line, squares it, and prints the result.
  • The MUMPS code sets a number, constructs the command to call the Python script with the number, and reads the result.

Summary

In this module, we explored various methods to interface MUMPS with other programming languages, including system calls, file-based communication, sockets, and APIs. By leveraging these techniques, you can enhance your MUMPS applications with the capabilities of other languages. The practical examples and exercises provided should help you get started with interfacing MUMPS with other languages in your projects.

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