LIN Workflow

The efforts of the LIN consortium were not just restricted to definition of the physical data transmission and communication protocol. A uniform workflow was also created with the purpose of facilitating easier and quicker development using a seamless tool chain. The LIN Description File (LDF) and the Node Capability File (NCF) were developed for this purpose.

A LIN network is described with the help of the LDF. The LDF is used, first, to generate the relevant communication software, and second to analyze the data traffic and/or simulate LIN nodes. The LIN Configuration Language Specification provides the syntax for creating a LDF. This is so simple that it is possible to manually create such LDFs without any problems.

The goal, however, is to create the LDF automatically with the help of a so-called "system defining tool". This requires that all LIN slaves be described uniformly. The syntax (LIN Node Capability Language) of the "Node Capability Language Specification" makes this possible.