How to Test Plugins?

[rgleason]

Development Environment - Plugins

After:
1. Used git clone to create the plugin repository in the opencpn-git/plugin directory.
2. Follow README document and cmake --build . -successful result.
3. Start MS VC++ 2010 Express Opencpn.sln project.
4. In dropdown "Release" and "Win32", Then select Debug > Build -successful result.
5. Then what? Do I look for a weatherfax_pi.dll for example and copy that to the plugin directory of a version 3.1.1405 for example?

[Hakan]

I do have nearly the same question or more specific:
How can I debug a plugin and run it debug mode to able to use a breakpoint to see what's happening?
If I debug OCPN it runs without plugins. Can force it to load a plugin also in debug mode?

[nohal]

Yes, you can. The easiest is to edit https://github.com/OpenCPN/OpenCPN/b...nager.cpp#L184
to read something like

m_plugin_location = _T("C:\\a\\directory\\where\\my\\debug\\plugin\\dll\\is\\built\\");

Note that the double backslashes are obligatory.
For example on my Windows machine, for the GE plugin, this path is "C:\work\OpenCPN\build\plugins\gecomapi_pi\DEB UG\"

Like this you can debug just one plugin at a time. If you need more, you have to copy them to the same directory.

Pavel

[Hakan]

Pavel.. Great! Many thanks. Works like a charm.

If you've the time to share knowledge: How is this evaluated?

if((now - m_LastAlarmTime).GetSeconds() < m_iRepeatSeconds  || !m_iRepeatSeconds)

If the m_iRepeatSeconds reads 10 I think the comparison is made since the second part of OR is then not evaluated. But if it reads 0 how is !0 compared?
This is Seans code in Watchman_pi and sometimes far beyond my basic skills. but it's fun to try learning.
Håkan

[bcn]

Would read it this way:

if (time since last alarm < repeat_seconds) OR (repeat seconds = 0) then
do something......

|| !m_iRepeatSeconds
OR NOT (repeatSeconds)

! (NOT Operator) = if the operand evaluates as NONZERO then ! returns "FALSE" --> 0 yields "TRUE"

Hubert

going to school as well....

[Hakan]

bcn.. Yes of course, as simple as that... I was reading:

if lastalarmtime < (repeateseconds OR !repeatseconds)

That's mixing apples and pears and base for the Q.
It should of course be read:

if (lastalarmtime < repeateseconds) OR !repeatseconds

Time for a stand in the corner? Have to check there for some coffee and come back.
Thanks Håkan

[tidefalling]

Any hints on debugging a plugin in linux? I've read all pages in the Development Debugging Environment, as well as this thread. Right now the opencpn site is down so I can't double check the instructions. (edit) it's back online. too much use???)

It's been 10 years since I've used the debugger in unix so I'm a little unsure. I also have never run ddd

When I close opencpn I get a segfault.

When I disable my plugin and close opencpn I don't get a segfault.

gdb returns

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
0xb7c8cf6d in ?? () from /usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libwx_gtk2u_core-2.8.so.0

ddd returns

/home/ ....... engine_pi/src/d1-debug.c: No such file or directory

I'm thinking that I may need to compile my plugin with some debug info?

Also, when I looked at the troubleshooting page on the opencpn website, the

command line interface section describing the -p option, the link is broken


Anything to point me in a direction would be appreciated

Owen

[nohal]

Owen...
By far the easiest is to use the same approach as in Windows - Point OpenCPN to the plugin in your build directory (Modify PluginManager::LoadAllPlugins or the place where it is called in chart1.cpp to point to /yourtree/build/plugins/yourplugin_pi)
I use CodeBlocks to have it all easy and integrated, after

 cmake -G "CodeBlocks - Unix Makefiles" ..

I simply open the generated .cbp file in the IDE, do the forementioned change in the code and am happy... The same is possible with KDevelop and Eclipse if you for some reason prefer these.

Pavel

[tidefalling]

OK thank you. I'm coding like I did years ago with a text editor or geany as an editor at best and then building from the command line.

I'll take your suggestion and get with the modern times. That will at least allow me to have the same environment as all of you guys and make some of my issues go away

thanks for the advice.

Owen