Bluez Ubuntu 20.04 - Shell-Bash

Introduction

Bluez is an open source Bluetooth stack for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It provides support for the core Bluetooth protocols and layers, as well as for applications and utilities using the Bluetooth API.

This tutorial will focus on using Bluez in Ubuntu 20.04 using Shell-Bash, a popular Unix shell and command language. We will cover the main features of Bluez, how to install it on Ubuntu 20.04, and how to use it in your own projects.

Installation

To install Bluez on Ubuntu 20.04, you can use the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install bluez

This will install the Bluez package and all its dependencies.

Features

Bluez provides a variety of features and APIs for working with Bluetooth devices, including:

• Support for Bluetooth low energy (BLE) devices
• A command line tool (bluetoothctl) for configuring and managing Bluetooth devices
• A D-Bus API for communicating with Bluetooth devices and services
• A set of C-based libraries for developing Bluetooth applications
• Support for standard Bluetooth profiles, such as A2DP and HFP

Usage

Bluetoothctl

Bluetoothctl is a powerful command line tool that allows you to manage Bluetooth devices and services. You can use it to:

• Scan for nearby Bluetooth devices
• Pair and connect to Bluetooth devices
• Configure Bluetooth devices and services
• Monitor Bluetooth events and activity

To launch bluetoothctl in your terminal, simply type:

bluetoothctl

This will launch the bluetoothctl shell, where you can enter commands and interact with Bluetooth devices.

D-Bus API

The D-Bus API provides a way for applications and services to communicate with Bluez and manage Bluetooth devices and services. It offers a variety of methods and interfaces for interacting with Bluetooth devices, such as:

• org.bluez.Adapter1 - for managing Bluetooth adapters
• org.bluez.Device1 - for managing Bluetooth devices
• org.bluez.MediaControl1 - for controlling media streams over Bluetooth

To use the D-Bus API in your own projects, you will need to have a basic understanding of D-Bus and how to use it in your programming language of choice.

C Libraries

Bluez provides a set of C-based libraries that you can use to develop Bluetooth applications. These libraries include:

• libbluetooth - for implementing Bluetooth networking functions
• libgatt - for implementing BLE GATT profiles
• libobexftp - for implementing OBEX (Object Exchange) over Bluetooth

To use these libraries in your own projects, you will need to be familiar with C programming and the Bluez API.

Conclusion

Bluez is a powerful Bluetooth stack for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. It provides a wide range of features and APIs for working with Bluetooth devices, making it a popular choice for both hobbyists and professional developers.

In this tutorial, we covered how to install Bluez on Ubuntu 20.04, its main features and APIs, and how to use it in your own projects. Whether you're developing a simple Bluetooth application or a complex Bluetooth system, Bluez has everything you need to get started.