microsoft / microsoft/Qcodes

Naming conventions to increase usability and lower entrance hurdle to QCoDes

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Dominant language
Python
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Avg merge
3d 6h
Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

As a newcomer to QCodes I had some difficulties to get started with some simple instruments. One difficulty was owed to non-stringent naming of quantities. As an example consider the line
```
loop = qc.Loop(dac.ch03.v.sweep(0, 5, 0.1), delay=0.001).each(dmm.volt)
```
Here we loop over a channel of the QDac and read values with the Keysight34465A. I find it quite confusing that we are once using "volt" and once "v" and in other places "voltage".
I suggest we make a naming convention for commonly used properties, so that the drivers form a more integral code base.

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Research direction

Start by reviewing the driver APIs represented by `dac.ch03.v.sweep(0, 5, 0.1)` and `dmm.volt`, then compare their use of `v`, `volt`, and `voltage`. Define the scope of a consistent naming convention across commonly used properties before identifying the affected drivers. Done means the convention is agreed and applied consistently across the relevant driver interfaces.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
python
Domain
developer-experience
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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