Developer Install

The developer install puts the QtPyVCP source code in ~/dev/qtpyvcp and runs it from a Python virtual environment in ~/dev/venv. Changes you make to the source take effect the next time QtPyVCP starts.

An installer script does the work. Use the one for your Debian release:

Debian release

Installer

QtPyVCP branch

Python

13 Trixie

qtpyvcp-trixie-installer

pyside6 (Qt 6)

3.13

12 Bookworm

qtpyvcp-bookworm-installer

main (Qt 5)

3.11

The virtual environment is built from the Python the Debian release ships, so there is nothing to choose.

Both installers ask whether to install QtPyVCP only, or both QtPyVCP and Probe Basic.

Note

If you only want to run QtPyVCP or Probe Basic, the apt install is simpler and updates with your system.

Debian 13 Trixie

1. Install LinuxCNC

On a new machine the easiest start is the LinuxCNC 2.9.10 ISO. It installs Debian 13 Trixie with LinuxCNC and the realtime kernel:

https://www.linuxcnc.org/iso/linuxcnc_2.9.10-amd64.hybrid.iso

If Debian 13 is already installed without LinuxCNC, the installer offers to install it for you.

2. Get the installer

sudo apt install git
mkdir -p ~/dev
cd ~/dev
git clone https://github.com/Lcvette/qtpyvcp-trixie-installer.git

3. Run the installer

cd ~/dev/qtpyvcp-trixie-installer
./install_for_qtpyvcp.sh

It asks for your password, then:

  • If QtPyVCP or Probe Basic is installed from apt, it offers to remove them. Choose REMOVE AND CONTINUE – the two installs conflict.

  • If LinuxCNC is missing, it offers to install it.

  • Choose QTPYVCP for QtPyVCP only, or BOTH to add Probe Basic.

  • At the end it asks to reboot. Reboot before using QtPyVCP.

Debian 12 Bookworm

1. Install LinuxCNC

Download the LinuxCNC package for your machine:

Install it, then restart your computer. On a Pi use the arm64 file name:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install ./linuxcnc-uspace_2.9.10_amd64.deb

2. Remove any apt install of QtPyVCP

Skip this if you have never used the QtPyVCP apt repository.

The apt install and the developer install conflict, so remove the apt one first. This also removes Probe Basic, TurboNC and MonoKrom if they came from apt:

curl -fsSL https://repository.qtpyvcp.com/uninstall.sh | sudo sh

3. Get the installer

sudo apt install git zenity
mkdir -p ~/dev
cd ~/dev
git clone https://github.com/Lcvette/qtpyvcp-bookworm-installer.git

4. Run the installer

cd ~/dev/qtpyvcp-bookworm-installer
./install_for_qtpyvcp.sh

  • Choose QTPYVCP for QtPyVCP only, or BOTH to add Probe Basic.

  • At the end it asks to reboot. Reboot before using QtPyVCP.

If you chose QTPYVCP, run this once so new terminals use the virtual environment. BOTH does it for you:

echo "source ~/dev/venv/bin/activate" >> ~/.bashrc

Check the Install

Open a new terminal and run:

qtpyvcp -h

It prints the command line options. If it says command not found, the virtual environment is not active in that terminal. Run source ~/dev/venv/bin/activate and try again.

Using the Developer Install

  • Start LinuxCNC from a terminal. The terminal has the virtual environment active. The desktop menu does not, so LinuxCNC started from the menu cannot find your development copy of QtPyVCP.

  • Sim configs to try it with: see Basic Usage.

  • Edit a VCP in Qt Designer with editvcp: see Edit VCP.

Updating

From the installer folder:

cd ~/dev/qtpyvcp-trixie-installer
./updater.sh

On Bookworm use qtpyvcp-bookworm-installer. This pulls the latest source and rebuilds it.

Uninstall

Delete the folders the installer created, and remove its line from ~/.bashrc:

rm -rf ~/dev/venv ~/dev/qtpyvcp ~/dev/qtpyvcp-trixie-installer
sed -i '/[Dd]ev\/venv\/bin\/activate/d' ~/.bashrc

On Bookworm use qtpyvcp-bookworm-installer in the first line. If you also installed Probe Basic, add ~/dev/probe_basic to it.

Anything else in ~/dev, LinuxCNC itself, and your configs in ~/linuxcnc are not touched.