Infinity — Python CAN Debug Tool

A desktop GUI application for monitoring, debugging, and sending CAN bus messages. Built with PySide6 and python-can, developed during an internship at Ather Energy.

---

Features

• Multi-interface support — PCAN (USB), ACAN (custom serial @ 1Mbps), and UDP socket server
• Live message table — real-time CAN frame display with ID, DLC, data bytes, direction, and timestamp
• Overwrite mode — shows only the latest frame per CAN ID (like a live signal monitor)
• DBC decoding — load a .dbc file to decode signal values inline in the message table
• Send frames — manually send CAN frames with configurable ID, DLC, and data bytes (keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+0)
• FPS counter — live frames-per-second display
• Autoscroll — optionally follow the latest incoming message

---

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• PySide6
• python-can
• cantools
• pyserial

Install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

---

Setup

1. Clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/Ashok-Kumar17/Python-based-can-debug-tool.git
cd Python-based-can-debug-tool

2. Copy the example config and edit it for your machine:

cp can_config.example.json can_config.json

Edit can_config.json to match your CAN interface. For example, on Linux with a SocketCAN interface:

{
    "linux": { "channel": "can0", "bus_type": "socketcan" },
    "bus_config": { "bitrate": 500000 }
}

3. Run the application:

python infinity.py

---

Connection Modes

Mode	Description
PCAN	PEAK USB CAN adapter via python-can. Uses can_config.json for channel and bitrate.
ACAN	Custom serial-over-USB protocol at 1Mbps. Select your COM/tty port from the dropdown. Frame format: 0xAA [4B timestamp] [1B DLC] [4B CAN ID] [8B data] 0xBB
UDP Server	Listens for CAN frames sent over UDP. Configure IP and port in the Connections tab.

---

File Structure

├── infinity.py              # Entry point
├── main_window.py           # Top-level QMainWindow
├── can_message_ui.py        # Main widget — tabs, controls, message processing
├── can_message_table.py     # CAN message table model and view
├── connection_manager.py    # Handles PCAN / ACAN / UDP connections
├── connection_window.py     # Connection dialog
├── dbc_manager.py           # DBC file loading and signal decoding
├── send_frame_manager.py    # CAN frame transmission logic
├── can_enums.py             # Enums for connection type, capture state, etc.
├── can_config.example.json  # Template config — copy to can_config.json
├── styles.qss               # Qt stylesheet
└── requirements.txt

---

Author

Ashok Kumar Meena
Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras
Intern — Embedded Software, Ather Energy (Summer 2025)