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| 1 | +Debugging Bonsai |
| 2 | +================ |
| 3 | + |
| 4 | +This is a mini-guide to setting up an IDE and configuring it to debug Bonsai |
| 5 | +more easily. It is currently specific to this writers own system (Ubuntu) but |
| 6 | +this can be expanded by others. |
| 7 | + |
| 8 | +1. **Install VSCode/VSCodium**: This will be system specific. I used the |
| 9 | + available snap package. |
| 10 | + |
| 11 | + .. code-block:: bash |
| 12 | +
|
| 13 | + sudo snap install --classic codium |
| 14 | +
|
| 15 | + I chose VSCodium to avoid Microsoft telemetry and data harvesting, but |
| 16 | + VSCode is going to be similar, and even a bit easier (i.e. step 3). |
| 17 | + |
| 18 | +2. **Activate Python language support**: Start VSCode/VSCodium, open the |
| 19 | + Extensions tab, find the Python language support and activate it. |
| 20 | + |
| 21 | +3. **Install Blender Addon**: This step depends on which IDE you chose. |
| 22 | + |
| 23 | + a. VSCode |
| 24 | + |
| 25 | + Open up the Extensions tab on the left, and search for the *Blender |
| 26 | + Development* extension. Select it, and click Install. |
| 27 | + |
| 28 | + I haven't actually tested this, but this should install the |
| 29 | + *ms-vscode.cpptools* dependancy for you. If not, you may need to search |
| 30 | + for, and install, this extension too. |
| 31 | + |
| 32 | + b. VSCodium |
| 33 | + |
| 34 | + It seems VSCodium is not allowed to direct access the Marketplace, and |
| 35 | + due to licensing it is not possible to install the *Blender Development* |
| 36 | + extension because of the *ms-vscode.cpptools* dependancy. |
| 37 | + |
| 38 | + VSCodium's equivalent Marketplace does not (and could not due to |
| 39 | + licensing) provide a functioning *Blender Development* extension. (Or I'm |
| 40 | + an idiot... entirely possible). |
| 41 | + |
| 42 | + I've created an alternative *Blender Development* extension with the |
| 43 | + *ms-vscode.cpptools* dependancy removed. |
| 44 | + |
| 45 | + .. note:: |
| 46 | + This alternative should also work in VSCode, but you may as well save |
| 47 | + yourself the hassle, and just use the original one. |
| 48 | + |
| 49 | + Download the *Blender Development* ``.vsix`` file from my GitHub fork |
| 50 | + using your browser from `this <https://github.com/sboddy/blender_vscode>`_ |
| 51 | + repository. The ``.vsix`` is available on the Releases page. |
| 52 | + |
| 53 | + In VSCodium's Extensions sidebar install it with "**...**" -> |
| 54 | + "**Install from VSIX...**" |
| 55 | + |
| 56 | + If you are squeamish about downloading my ``.vsix``, you can review the |
| 57 | + single commit, clone the repo and create your own. |
| 58 | + |
| 59 | +4. **Set the Blender config directory**: In **Settings** -> **Extensions** -> |
| 60 | + **Blender** -> "**Environment Variables**" |
| 61 | + edit the json file to set the ``BLENDER_USER_RESOURCE`` to the config folder |
| 62 | + you installed Bonsai to. *For me*: |
| 63 | + |
| 64 | + .. code-block:: json |
| 65 | +
|
| 66 | + { |
| 67 | + "blender.environmentVariables": { |
| 68 | + "BLENDER_USER_RESOURCES": "/home/steve/.config/blender/4.2bonsai" |
| 69 | + } |
| 70 | + } |
| 71 | +
|
| 72 | + .. warning:: |
| 73 | + You `must` change that path to the correct value for your system. |
| 74 | + |
| 75 | +5. **Unset the Just My Code flag**: In **Settings** -> **Extensions** -> |
| 76 | + **Blender** -> "**Just My Code**" by unchecking the box. |
| 77 | + |
| 78 | + Again, this was advice found searching around in a github issue. If not |
| 79 | + done, the breakpoints do not work for me. |
| 80 | + |
| 81 | +6. **Open the folder in VSCode/VSCodium**: This is the same folder set in step |
| 82 | + 5. Again, *for me*: |
| 83 | + |
| 84 | + ``/home/steve/.config/blender/4.2bonsai`` |
| 85 | + |
| 86 | + This was a key point for me. Do `not` go deeper in the folder structure - |
| 87 | + that just doesn't work. (Thanks @theoryshaw) This feels a little like |
| 88 | + using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, and there might be a better, "proper" |
| 89 | + way of setting this up. If there is I'd love to hear it. |
| 90 | + |
| 91 | +7. **Start Blender**: In VSCode/VSCodium press ``Ctrl+Shift+P``, and |
| 92 | + search/select **Blender: Start**. |
| 93 | + |
| 94 | +8. **Set the Blender binary path**: The first time you try to start Blender the |
| 95 | + addon will ask for the path of the binary. Navigate to your Blender binary |
| 96 | + and select it. *For me*: |
| 97 | + |
| 98 | + ``/home/steve/Software/blender-git/build_linux/bin/blender`` |
| 99 | + |
| 100 | + .. warning:: |
| 101 | + Do `not` try to use a binary installed using snap - it will `not` work. |
| 102 | + Either install a debian package of Blender, or build it from source, and |
| 103 | + use that. |
| 104 | + |
| 105 | + All being well, Blender should start and show the usual Bonsai UI. |
| 106 | + |
| 107 | +9. **Ensure Blender is behaving**: Exercise the interface a bit to be sure |
| 108 | + Bonsai is working normally. Add a demo project, add some walls, etc. |
| 109 | + |
| 110 | + One issue I ran in to was opening the wrong folder in step 7. Due to the |
| 111 | + way VSCode/VSCodium works, I was getting two Bonsai plugins conflicting, |
| 112 | + and failing in interesting ways. One symptom of this was the modal user |
| 113 | + interface when adding walls was completely missing. Oh, and the debugger |
| 114 | + completely failed to work. |
| 115 | + |
| 116 | + If you are happy, quit Blender, and try setting some breakpoints in |
| 117 | + VSCode/VSCodium then run Blender again, and try to trigger them. I set one |
| 118 | + on the ``bim.add_sheet`` operator at: |
| 119 | + ``extensions/.local/lib/python3.11/site-packages/bonsai/bim/module/drawing/operator.py:1456`` |
| 120 | + |
| 121 | + .. note:: |
| 122 | + I made the mistake of setting the breakpoint on the ``_execute`` |
| 123 | + methods ``def`` line, which did not work. This probably helped confuse |
| 124 | + me when trying to get the addon to work. |
| 125 | + |
| 126 | +If you get to this point, congratulations! You will now be 1000% more effective |
| 127 | +when troubleshooting issues, and able to make many more contributions, fixes |
| 128 | +and patches. |
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