Removed legacy driver_api files and introduced new plugin driver structures to support Python-based plugins. Added a simple_modbus.py driver and configuration for Modbus slave integration. Updated plugin_driver.h and python_plugin_bridge.h to support Python plugin bindings and runtime argument passing. Modified plc_main.c to call plugin_driver_init instead of plugin_driver_start. Updated plugins.conf to use the new Python Modbus plugin.

Accordingly with the documentation, python header should be the first called and for security, we have to define PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN

Everything accordingly BARR Standard

everything accordingly BARR standard

deleting python cycle function since it will be running async

for some reason, when init is called it can successfully link buffers and function address between runtime and plugin, but when the same previous parsed "struct" is called within start function, the buffer pointer was no longer pointing to the right address.

Corrects how bool_output buffer values are read and written by accessing the actual value via .contents.value instead of the pointer. Updates example plugin to use SafeBufferAccess for safer buffer operations and improves output logging.

Stop is already being called within destroy function

Eliminated the _runtime_args_capsule global variable and related code from example_python_plugin.py, simplifying state management and usage of runtime arguments.

Moved plugin thread creation to Python side and removed native thread management for Python plugins. Updated function names in python_binds_t for clarity. Improved plugin start, stop, and cleanup logic to use Python-side functions and ensured proper GIL handling. Cleaned up resource management and removed unused thread fields from plugin_instance_t.

Improves Python GIL state management in plugin_driver by using a static variable and ensuring proper acquisition/release during plugin lifecycle. Moves plugin driver cleanup earlier in plc_main to avoid double destruction and adds more informative logging during plugin stop.

The plugin's main loop now runs in a background thread using Python's threading module. Added a stop event to allow graceful termination of the loop in stop_loop, improving plugin lifecycle management and preventing blocking the main thread.

Replaces manual ctypes structure and buffer access with type-safe wrappers from python_plugin_types. Updates OpenPLCModbusDataBlock to use SafeBufferAccess for reading and writing coil values, improving safety and error handling. Refactors plugin initialization and server startup for better diagnostics and reliability.

Revised README to clarify plugin type values, enhance Python plugin type safety, and document usage of the new python_plugin_types.py module. Added examples for thread-safe buffer access, advanced Modbus implementation, and improved plugin initialization with structure validation and error handling.

Made plugin_mutex_take and plugin_mutex_give functions public in plugin_driver.h and used them to protect buffer access in the PLC cycle thread. Also refactored plugin_driver variable to be global in plc_main.c for thread safety.

…er-contracts

Task/rtop 57 implement driver contracts

* thread safe and dump access in the same function

* adding batch functions that allows multiple reads/writes

* Providing wrappers for IS, IR and HR

* avoiding magical numbers

* avoiding generic exception handling

…ython-plugins

…parser