Guides for developers

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Guides for developers

Overview: We provide guidelines for developers modifying PASTA-ELN code, including instructions on writing Python test scripts for backend and frontend components like widgets and dialogs. It also covers essential development practices such as code profiling, debugging on Linux using pudb, running pytest, and notes on documentation and general coding.

Notes for Documentation Developers

When updating the documentation, ensure it is professional and concise. Use tools like GitHub Copilot to assist in refining the text. "Can you make the markdown text professional and concise?"

How to write code

How to write small python programs that test code directly

Backend

from pasta_eln.backend import Pasta
pasta = Pasta()
viewProj = pasta.db.getView('viewDocType/x0')
projID1  = [i['id'] for i in viewProj if 'PASTA' in i['value'][0]][0]
pasta.changeHierarchy(projID1)
print(pasta.outputHierarchy())

Frontend: widgets: For testing widgets put this code into "pasta_eln/test.py":

from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication, QMainWindow
from .backend import Backend
from .communicate import Communicate
from .widgetDetails import Details

class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
  def __init__(self):
    super().__init__()
    self.backend = Backend()
    comm = Communicate(self.backend)
    widget = Details(comm)
    self.setCentralWidget(widget)
    comm.changeDetails.emit('m-a23019163b9c4fccb4edaab0feb2b5ee')

app = QApplication()
window = MainWindow()
window.show()
app.exec()

and execute "python -m pasta_eln.test"

Frontend: dialogs: For testing dialogs put this code into "pasta_eln/test.py":

import sys
from PySide6.QtWidgets import QApplication
from .GUI.form import Form
from .backend import Backend
from .guiCommunicate import Communicate
from .GUI.palette import Palette

app = QApplication(sys.argv)
backend = Backend()
palette = Palette(app,'none')
comm = Communicate(backend,palette)
doc = backend.db.getDoc("m-3a43570c4fd84b1ab81a8863ae058fb0")
dialog = Form(comm, doc)
dialog.show()
sys.exit(app.exec())

and execute "python -m pasta_eln.test"

---

Profiling

Begin...

from cProfile import Profile
from pstats import SortKey, Stats
with Profile() as profile:

End...

(Stats(profile).strip_dirs().sort_stats(SortKey.CUMULATIVE).print_stats(100)) #end cProfile

For example: to profile the start of the program

def startMain() -> None:
  """
  Main function to start GUI. Extra function is required to allow starting in module fashion
  """
  from cProfile import Profile
  from pstats import SortKey, Stats
  with Profile() as profile:
    app, window = mainGUI()
    window.show()
  (Stats(profile).strip_dirs().sort_stats(SortKey.CUMULATIVE).print_stats(100)) #end cProfile
  # if app:
  #   app.exec()

Debugging on a conventional install: linux

• 'sudo apt install python3-pudb' (not pip install)

• create small 'temp.py' into any folder, with this content:

  temp.py

  from pasta_eln.gui import startMain
  startMain()
  

• start with 'pudb3 temp.py'

Running pytests (python 3.12)

• python3 -m tests.test_01_3Projects

General notes

• Find qt-awesome icons: qta-browser

• print works great in frontend and backend