microsoft/Qcodes v0.55.0

QCoDeS 0.55.0

Repository: microsoft/Qcodes

Tag: v0.55.0

Published: 2026-02-25T12:17:18Z

Prerelease: no

Release notes: QCoDeS 0.55.0 (2026-02-25) ==========================

Breaking Changes: -----------------

• The functionality to export qcodes datasets to XArray/netcdf4 has been significantly improved for datasets where the shape of the data is known from metadata e.g. using dond or similar:

• The memory overhead of exporting the data has been reduced.
• The coordinate order is maintained such that data is stored in the order it was measured. Previously data was implicitly sorted by coordinates during the export.
• When exporting Datasets to xarray where the shape is known, either by the use of utilities such as `dond` or manually specified, inferred parameters related to the setpoints and measured parameters are now included in the XArray Dataset.

These changed were previously part of `0.54.0 but reverted in 0.54.1` since the change in coordinate sorting was not announced. (#7546)

Improved: ---------

• The `InstrumentModule and its alias InstrumentChannel now take an optional generic argument allowing you to specify the type of the parent instrument for type checking. (#7659)
• The `ChannelTuple class now has multi_parameter and multi_function` methods that

provide type-safe access to parameters and functions on all channels in the tuple. These methods allow accessing attributes with proper type information, improving IDE integration and type checking. The return type annotation of `__getattr__ has been changed to Any reflecting the fact that this is not a type safe interface and it is impossible for a static type checker to infer the type of the dynamic attribute. multi_parameter, multi_function and get_channel_by_name` should be used when a more specific type is requested. (#7686)

• The InterDependencies_ class is now frozen during the performance of a measurement so it cannot be modified.

This enables caching of attributes on the class significantly reducing the overhead of measurements. (#7712`)

• The QCoDeS Parameter classes `ParameterBase, Parameter, ParameterWithSetpoints, DelegateParameter, ArrayParameter and MultiParameter` now

takes two Optional Generic arguments to allow the data type and the type of the instrument the parameter is bound to to be fixed statically. This enables the type of the output of `parameter.get(), input of parameter.set() and value of parameter.instrument` to be known statically such that type checkers and IDE's can make use of this information. (#7730)

• The table created by experiments_widget() now has a column of buttons by which individual datasets can be exported as ASCII files. This is a user-friendly way to use the qcode.dataset.export() method.

To demo this feature, run > experiments_widget(sort_by="timestamp") in Jupyter, and click on one of the cells in the "Export" column. (#7772`)

• All arguments to `ParameterBase.__init__ except name` are now keyword-only.

For backwards compatibility, passing them as positional arguments is still allowed but will emit a `FutureWarning. Passing the same argument both positionally and as a keyword argument raises a TypeError`. (#7839)

Improved Drivers: -----------------

• Added blocking function to DynaCool PPMS driver that waits for temperature

state to be stable before allowing other functions to be called when setting the temperature. (#7534)

• The `KeysightE4980A driver now names the correction submodule correctly as correction` reflecting the public attribute to access the module.

This also means that in the snapshot `correction is used as the module name rather than _correction (#7659)

• Improved sim YAML for Cryomagnetics TM620 and added default terminator. (#7666)
• The `RohdeSchwarzZNBBase, MiniCircuitsRCSPDT, and TektronixTPS2012` drivers now have

explicit type annotations on their `channels` submodule, enabling better type checking and IDE integration. (#7686)

• In the Rohde Schwarz ZNB drivers QCoDeS functions have been converted to regular methods. This ensures that methods are type checked and can be discovered by IDEs. (#7715`)
• On Keithly3706A, allow users to cache forbidden channels in order to bypass unnecessary _validator() calls when closing channels.

Added a cache for _validator() results. Both of these changes results in significant time savings when running measurements with repeated calls to close_channel(). (#7771)

• Fixed bug in Lakeshore driver that was causing blocking_t

to periodically hang indefinitely: a 0.5 seconds post delay was added to setpoint parameter to ensure that the setpoint value propagated to the instrument when the set of the setpoint parameter returns. (#7796)

• Several instrument drivers now make better use of the newly added generic datatype and instrument arguments to ParameterBase and subclasses.

• AlazarTech ATS: `TraceParameter` now uses generic type parameters.
• CopperMountain M5xxx: `FrequencySweepMagPhase, PointMagPhase, and PointIQ now use generic type parameters. Removed unnecessary assert isinstance calls. Fixed timeout handling when timeout is None`.
• Keysight 344xxA: `Keysight344xxATrigger, Keysight344xxASample, Keysight344xxADisplay and TimeTrace now use generic type parameters. Refactored _acquire_time_trace` to use explicit context managers instead of a list of parameter settings. .. gitleaks:allow
• Keysight B1500: Added `MeasurementModeDict TypedDict. IVSweepMeasurement corrected instrument type and now uses generic type parameters. KeysightB1500Module` now uses generic type parameters.
• Keysight B1517A: `KeysightB1500IVSweeper, _ParameterWithStatus, _SpotMeasurementVoltageParameter, and _SpotMeasurementCurrentParameter now use generic type parameters. Removed unnecessary cast` calls. .. gitleaks:allow
• Keysight B1520A: `KeysightB1500CVSweeper and KeysightB1500CVSweepMeasurement now use generic type parameters. Added root_instrument property to KeysightB1500CVSweepMeasurement`. .. gitleaks:allow
• Keysight B1500 sampling measurement: `SamplingMeasurement now uses generic type parameters and has a root_instrument property. Fixed timeout handling when timeout is None`.
• Keysight B1500 message builder: Improved type annotations using `ParamSpec and TypeVar. Made CommandList` generic.

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