In other posts and white papers, we've highlighted how OpenTAP started out as a body of shared code used by different product groups within Keysight, by Keysight customers and and by Keysight partners, . Later, proponents of open source at the company, as well as at Keysight customer Nokia, saw how organizations across the device manufacturing and hardware test ecosystem (OEMs, integrators et al.) could benefit from the release of the platform as open source software. Today, within Keysight and across the ecosystem, companies and other orgs depend on OpenTAP to streamline test automation.
While most readers probably use OpenTAP as part of a test automation bench or in a testing lab, increasingly systems architects are including richer test capabilities in their company's shipping products. OEMs may initially deploy OpenTAP in development labs and on manufacturing lines, but they are also embedding the test platform in their products, either downloaded directly from the OpenTAP project or using the supported commercial version, the Keysight PathWave Test Automation Deployment System.
One area where deploying full-blown test automation has gained traction is advanced networking and telecommunications, especially in 5G wireless base stations and other infrastructure critical to modern networks. Others include automotive (especially EV battery testing) and IoT device testing.
OEM-Friendly Licensing
The core OpenTAP platform is published under the "OEM-friendly" Mozilla Public License version 2.0 (MPLv2). This choice of non-copyleft licensing simplifies compliance for OEMs, integrators and other (re)distributors of OpenTAP and associated software.
Platform and Plugins
Devices aren't required to embed the entirety of OpenTAP to interface with the platform or to benefit from its capabilities. Most OpenTAP-compatible systems - instruments, DUTs, etc. - just require the creation and integration of OpenTAP plugins. Hundreds of plugins exist for test equipment and other hardware from Keysight and other ecosystem partners. Hundreds of lab devices also gain compatibility from leveraging SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) interfaces, from Keysight and OpenTAP ecosystem partners.
Hardware and Software Test Products Containing OpenTAP
Keysight has disclosed that there are at least 60 off-the-shelf products shipping from Keysight, its partners and its customers that deploy OpenTAP. The applications include a mix of dedicated test equipment and intelligent systems that embed OpenTAP to enhance reliability and maintainability.
The following products from Keysight embed the OpenTAP test automation platform.
Product Listing - Click each for descriptions and details:
Tell Us Your OpenTAP Story!
OpenTAP ecosystem participants, OEMs, instrumentation vendors et al. - if you are embedding OpenTAP in your products and/or creating plugins to support instruments, DUTs, custom reporting, etc., please share your experience with the team at OpenTAP.io at support@opentap.io.