# Installation

Install `can` with `pip`:

    $ pip install python-can

As most likely you will want to interface with some hardware, you may also have to install platform dependencies. Be sure to check any other specifics for your hardware in CAN Interface Modules.

## GNU/Linux dependencies

Reasonably modern Linux Kernels (2.6.25 or newer) have an implementation of `socketcan`. This version of python-can will directly use socketcan if called with Python 3.3 or greater, otherwise that interface is used via ctypes.

## Windows dependencies

### Kvaser

To install `python-can` using the Kvaser CANLib SDK as the backend:

1. Install the latest stable release of Python.
2. Install Kvaser’s latest Windows CANLib drivers.
3. Test that Kvaser’s own tools work to ensure the driver is properly installed and that the hardware is working.

### PCAN

Download and install the latest driver for your interface from PEAK-System’s download page.

Note that PCANBasic API timestamps count seconds from system startup. To convert these to epoch times, the uptime library is used. If it is not available, the times are returned as number of seconds from system startup. To install the uptime library, run `pip install uptime`.

This library can take advantage of the Python for Windows Extensions library if installed. It will be used to get notified of new messages instead of the CPU intensive polling that will otherwise have be used.

### IXXAT

To install `python-can` using the IXXAT VCI V3 SDK as the backend:

1. Install IXXAT’s latest Windows VCI V3 SDK drivers.
2. Test that IXXAT’s own tools (i.e. MiniMon) work to ensure the driver is properly installed and that the hardware is working.

### NI-CAN

Download and install the NI-CAN drivers from National Instruments.

Currently the driver only supports 32-bit Python on Windows.

### neoVI

See neoVI Interface.

## Installing python-can in development mode

A “development” install of this package allows you to make changes locally or pull updates from the Mercurial repository and use them without having to reinstall. Download or clone the source repository then:

    python setup.py develop