  The STAR experiment has been delivering significant physics results for more
than 20 years. Stable operation of the experiment was achieved by using a
robust controls system based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control
System (EPICS). Now an object-oriented approach with Python libraries, adapted
for EPICS software, is going to replace the procedural-based EPICS C libraries
previously used at STAR. Advantages of the new approach include stability of
operation, code reduction and straightforward project documentation. The first
two sections of this paper introduce the STAR experiment, give an overview of
the EPICS architecture, and present the use of Python for controls software.
Specific examples, as well as upgrades of user interfaces, are outlined in the
following sections.
