This section is a compilation of notes and advice about how to develop the ``beat.editor`` project, aimed at those less familiar with web development but familiar with Python.
Important Concepts
Preparing the package for development
=====================================
The requirements for installing and preparing the ``beat.editor`` package for development are as following:
#. Linux or MacOS
#. Working internet connection
#. Useable Conda setup (see `Bob's documentation on it <https://www.idiap.ch/software/bob/docs/bob/bob/master/install.html>`_)
#. Up-to-date Firefox and Chrome browsers (both need headless support, a relatively recent feature)
#. Docker installed and available to the current user
#. A relatively recent version of `NodeJS & NPM <http://nodejs.org/>`_.
#. Activate the created environment and use the ``buildout`` command from ``bob.buildout`` in the new environment to generate the executables for ``beat.editor``: ::
$ conda activate beatedit
$ buildout
#. Note for development mode: Add the line ``dependent-scripts = true`` then use the ``buildout`` command to ensure to generate all the executables in the ``bin/``
folder even ``beat`` for ``beat.editor``: ::
$ buildout
#. In ``bin/`` you should several new executables for the project. The Python setup part is done.
#. Go into the root folder for the Javascript and install the dependencies via NPM: ::
$ cd conda/js
$ npm install
#. Test the JS to make sure everything is working properly: ::
$ npm test
#. Assuming the tests pass, you can start the development webpack server: ::
$ npm start
#. In a separate terminal tab/window, go back to the root of the ``beat.editor`` project and run the web server in development mode: ::
$ ./bin/beat editor serve --dev
#. You should now be able to go ``localhost:9101`` in your browser to see the ``beat.editor`` web app, now served by the webpack dev server.
Important Concepts
==================
Before developing for ``beat.editor``, you'll need to familiarize yourself with at least the following concepts/tools:
This package provides a web server to manage and edit BEAT objects locally. The users can make new objects or new versions of existing ones using the graphical interface provided by this server and the editor produces the correct JSON_ format for the corresponding objects. In case of new objects it also provides a Python template as well. This is the package used as the graphical interface in :ref:`tutorial`.
In the following sections different parts of the graphical interface will be explained in details. The developers interested in developing this package can find the information in :ref:`beat-editor-development`.
