How to handle disconnected joystick

I managed to get LinuxCNC working on my CNC router, and wanted to try to connect a usb joystick I had no other use for.

Connection as such works fine with "loadusr hal_input.....". My problem is, that connecting the joystick was meant for occasional use, but starting linuxCNC when the joystick is not connected causes an error. This is not surprising since the loadusr hal_input does not find the device it is supposed to look for.

Is there a way to configure my system in such a way that it starts OK without the joystick connected, but with the possibility to connect it at a later point ?

I could imagine adding a button to my UI that triggers the loadusr hal_input when clicked, but have not found a way to do that.

Yes, this is what I am doing right now. I was just wondering if there is another possibility.

you could write a python component that checks to see if the joystick pins are available and if they are connect them, other wise do nothing.

linuxcnc.org/docs/2.7/html/hal/halmodule.html

Chris M

you can also use a button that loads /reloads a postgui hal to include it during runtime

Thanks cmorley, I had a look at the link to the python component manual. It probably is above my limited capacities. I know my way in python but can I use those userspace components for more than just creating input and output pins ? I guess, to check if the joystick pins are available, I first should try to load the "hal_input" within a try-except construct and from there on, if successful, define the rest of the connections to each of the joystick pins. Is it possible to do a "loadusr hal_input" within a python file ?

Thanks, pl7i92. I will definitely give it a try. Did not know if one can still load postgui hal files during runtime.

Geert