5. Block construction

A new block can be constructed as a Super Block (by interconnection of basic blocks) and compiled. As for a new basic block, it can be defined by a pair of functions:

• an Interfacing function for handling the user-interface
• a Computational function for specifying its dynamic behavior.

The Interfacing function is always written as a Scilab function. See Scilab functions in <SCIDIR>/macros/scicos_blocks for examples. The Computational function can be written in C or Fortran. See <SCIDIR>/routines/scicos for examples. But it can also be written in Scilab language. C and Fortran routines dynamically linked or permanently interfaced with Scilab give the better results as far as simulation performance is concerned.

The Scifunc, GENERIC, C_block and Fortran_block blocks provide generic Interfacing functions, very useful for rapid prototyping and testing user-developed Computational functions.