A Linux driver from Pico Labs allows programmers to control the company's PicoScope 2000 Series and PicoScope 3000 Series scopes using their own software.

With the driver, Linux programmers can now have access to Pico's full range of entry-level and general-purpose oscilloscopes.

"Linux is widely used in the embedded computing, medical and scientific fields because it is stable, open-source and easy to modify, and can run a wide variety of applications," said Alan Tong, managing director of Pico Technology.

So with a PC and a spare USB port you can download and use the driver free of charge and with no licensing restrictions.

The driver is supplied as an RPM package that has been tested with Fedora 8, Ubuntu 8.04 and openSUSE 10.4, and is accompanied by example programs in C and full instructions.

See http://www.picotech.com