Hi,

I try to use python to make dbus calls to the multimedia framework mafw. (all this is n900 related, dont know if other devices use this framework).

All dbus calls are working from the commandline with dbus-send command.
For example
com.nokia.mafw.playlist.list_playlists returns a list of playlists
com.nokia.mafw.playlist.get_name returns the name of a playlist
com.nokia.mafw.playlist.get_items returns a list of items of a playlist.
(these are only the interface methods, you have to use proper destination,objects-path and arguments like
dbus-send --session --print-reply --typer=method_call --dest=com.nokia.mafw.playlist /com/nokia/mafw/playlist com.nokia.mafw.playlist.list_playlists
)

Now the problem:
All the method calls are working from within python, too and return the right values except the last one. The errormessage:
org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoReply: Message did not receive a reply (timeout by message bus)

Does anyone knows why I cannot use this method or why I dont receive a reply. I m wondering about the message "timeout by message bus", as the python call returns immeditly without any delay, what is meant with timeout?

regards nicolai

Another idea might be to directly use the python-mafw library, could perhaps save going through d-bus

+1

please don't use the dbus methods directly, but the bindings for the mafw instead. This API is meant to be stable, the dbus API not necessarily. Further you can break things by not using the dbus API correctly. So please try to use the framework, with a stable API and further descriptions.

Daniel

Are you working with this? Do you have an application as an example.
It seems the mafw python bindings are in an early development status. And Im not sure which functions are actually useable.

nicolai

Thank you for those links, I already know this API and how to use it from within c-code.
But my question is more technical, which relates to python - dbus.

It is possible to make method calls with the dbus-send command, but some calls doesn't work from within python. (like the above example com.nokia.mafw.playlist.get_items)


nicolai

I began working on it after your first post, out if interest and because I have a little pet project I would like to do sometime anyway ("CarMode" widget that enables Bluetooth and FM transmitter first, then starts playing a certain playlist).
Unfortunately, I've come to the same conclusion as you
Best thing would be to contact Andrea Grandi who did the initial python-mafw version (or download it and take a look at the source)