Programming language translator and enabling translation of machine-centric commands for controlling instrument

A computer program product, comprising modules embodied in a computer readable medium, for enabling translation of Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) protocol commands and queries to a programming language for controlling an instrument configured to use SCPI commands and queries, the computer program product comprising:

• a translation module configured to receive computer readable descriptions of SCPI commands and queries identified with respect to the instrument, and to generate programming language routines for translating the SCPI commands and queries to be compatible with the programming language;
• and
• a program library module configured to store the programming language routines, wherein the programming language routines are accessible to a control program written in the programming language for controlling at least one operation of the instrument.

A system for controlling an instrument using Standard Commands for Programmable Instrumentation (SCPI) protocol commands and queries, the system comprising:

• a program library configured to store a plurality of previously generated methods for translating the SCPI protocol commands to a high-level human-centric programming language, each method being associated with execution of one SCPI protocol command or query associated with the instrument and written in the high-level human-centric programming language;
• and
• a processor configured to control operation of the instrument based on a control program written in the high-level programming language, the control program retrieving one of the previously generated methods from the program library and executing the retrieved method to perform one of a SCPI command or query associated with the retrieved method.