Hacking FMPy

You want to learn more about FMPy, debug it or contribute? Here's how to get started.

Setup your Python environment

Alternative 1: Create a a new Conda environment (recommended)

If you don't have conda yet you can either install Anaconda which includes the most common Python packages or Miniconda which only contains the conda package manager and Python.

To create a new conda environment named "py36_64" enter

conda create -q -n py36_64 -c anaconda python=3.6 dask lxml matplotlib numpy pyqt pyqtgraph pywin32 requests

on Linux and macOS the pywin32 package is not required but you might need to prepend sudo to the command depending on your permissions. If you want a 32-bit Python environment you have to enter set CONDA_FORCE_32BIT=1 before creating the environment. Note that in order to simulate FMUs the Python environment has to match the platforms supported by the FMU. I.e. you need a 64-bit Python on Windows to simulate an FMU that only supports win64. To activate the environment run activate py36_64 on Windows or source activate py36_64 on Linux and macOS and deactivate to deactivate it.

Alternative 2: Use an existing Python environment

If you want to use an existing Python you can install the necessary dependencies with conda

conda install dask lxml matplotlib numpy pyqt pyqtgraph pywin32 requests

or pip

python -m pip install dask lxml matplotlib numpy pyqt pyqtgraph pywin32 requests

The package pywin32 is only required on Windows.

Clone the repository

Go the directory where you want to clone the repository and enter

git clone https://github.com/CATIA-Systems/FMPy.git

or use your favorite Git tool to clone it. To checkout the latest development branch change to the directory and enter

git fetch
git checkout -b develop origin/develop

Install FMPy

To install or update FMPy without changing the dependencies of your python environment change to the folder where you cloned FMPy and run

python -m pip install --upgrade --no-deps .

To use the sources directly, install FMPy in develop mode using the --editable option

python -m pip install --no-deps --editable .

Create a PyCharm project

Download and install PyCharm Community Edition. On the welcome screen click Create New Project or select File > New Project....

As Location select the FMPy directory you just cloned. Expand Project Interpreter, check Existing Interpreter and select the environment you created. You might need to add your interpreter first using the cogwheel button. After clicking Create a dialog pops up asking if you want to create a project from existing sources. Click Yes.

Debug the "coupled_clutches" example

Open FMPy > fmpy > examples > coupled_clutches.py from the project view and put a breakpoint in def simulate_coupled_clutches() by left-clicking between the line number and the code. To start debugging right-click on coupled_clutches.py and select Debug 'coupled_clutches'. Use the buttons in the debug view to step through the code.

Debug the GUI

Click on the drop-down box on the top-right and select Edit Configurations.... In the dialog click on the + button and select Python to add a new run configuration. Fill in the following values:

Option	Value
Name	FMPy GUI
Script path	fmpy.gui
Python interpreter	the environment you've created
Interpreter options	-m

Now you can set breakpoints and start debugging by clicking on the debug button on the top right.