Gooey (Beta) ===== Turn (almost) any Python 2 or 3 Console Program into a GUI application with one line
Table of Contents ----------------- - [Gooey](#gooey) - [Table of contents](#table-of-contents) - [Latest Update](#latest-update) - [Quick Start](#quick-start) - [Installation Instructions](#installation-instructions) - [Usage](#usage) - [Examples](#examples) - [What It Is](#what-is-it) - [Why Is It](#why) - [Who is this for](#who-is-this-for) - [How does it work](#how-does-it-work) - [Internationalization](#internationalization) - [Global Configuration](#global-configuration) - [Layout Customization](#layout-customization) - [Run Modes](#run-modes) - [Full/Advanced](#advanced) - [Basic](#basic) - [No Config](#no-config) - [Menus](#menus) - [Input Validation](#input-validation) - [Using Dynamic Values](#using-dynamic-values) - [Showing Progress](#showing-progress) - [Customizing Icons](#customizing-icons) - [Packaging](#packaging) - [Screenshots](#screenshots) - [Contributing](#wanna-help) - [Image Credits](#image-credits) ---------------- ## Quick Start ### Installation instructions The easiest way to install Gooey is via `pip` pip install Gooey Alternatively, you can install Gooey by cloning the project to your local directory git clone https://github.com/chriskiehl/Gooey.git run `setup.py` python setup.py install **NOTE:** Python 2 users must manually install WxPython! Unfortunately, this cannot be done as part of the pip installation and should be manually downloaded from the [wxPython website](http://www.wxpython.org/download.php). ### Usage Gooey is attached to your code via a simple decorator on whichever method has your `argparse` declarations (usually `main`). from gooey import Gooey @Gooey <--- all it takes! :) def main(): parser = ArgumentParser(...) # rest of code Different styling and functionality can be configured by passing arguments into the decorator. # options @Gooey(advanced=Boolean, # toggle whether to show advanced config or not language=language_string, # Translations configurable via json show_config=True, # skip config screens all together target=executable_cmd, # Explicitly set the subprocess executable arguments program_name='name', # Defaults to script name program_description, # Defaults to ArgParse Description default_size=(610, 530), # starting size of the GUI required_cols=1, # number of columns in the "Required" section optional_cols=2, # number of columbs in the "Optional" section dump_build_config=False, # Dump the JSON Gooey uses to configure itself load_build_config=None, # Loads a JSON Gooey-generated configuration monospace_display=False) # Uses a mono-spaced font in the output screen ) def main(): parser = ArgumentParser(...) # rest of code See: [How does it Work](#how-does-it-work) section for details on each option. Gooey will do its best to choose sensible widget defaults to display in the GUI. However, if more fine tuning is desired, you can use the drop-in replacement `GooeyParser` in place of `ArgumentParser`. This lets you control which widget displays in the GUI. See: [GooeyParser](#gooeyparser) from gooey import Gooey, GooeyParser @Gooey def main(): parser = GooeyParser(description="My Cool GUI Program!") parser.add_argument('Filename', widget="FileChooser") parser.add_argument('Date', widget="DateChooser") ... ### Examples Gooey downloaded and installed? Great! Wanna see it in action? Head over the the [Examples Repository](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyExamples) to download a few ready-to-go example scripts. They'll give you a quick tour of all Gooey's various layouts, widgets, and features. [Direct Download](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyExamples/archive/master.zip) What is it? ----------- Gooey converts your Console Applications into end-user-friendly GUI applications. It lets you focus on building robust, configurable programs in a familiar way, all without having to worry about how it will be presented to and interacted with by your average user. Why? --- Because as much as we love the command prompt, the rest of the world looks at it like an ugly relic from the early '80s. On top of that, more often than not programs need to do more than just one thing, and that means giving options, which previously meant either building a GUI, or trying to explain how to supply arguments to a Console Application. Gooey was made to (hopefully) solve those problems. It makes programs easy to use, and pretty to look at! Who is this for? ---------------- If you're building utilities for yourself, other programmers, or something which produces a result that you want to capture and pipe over to another console application (e.g. *nix philosophy utils), Gooey probably isn't the tool for you. However, if you're building 'run and done,' around-the-office-style scripts, things that shovel bits from point A to point B, or simply something that's targeted at a non-programmer, Gooey is the perfect tool for the job. It lets you build as complex of an application as your heart desires all while getting the GUI side for free. How does it work? ----------------- Gooey is attached to your code via a simple decorator on whichever method has your `argparse` declarations. @Gooey def my_run_func(): parser = ArgumentParser(...) # rest of code At run-time, it parses your Python script for all references to `ArgumentParser`. (The older `optparse` is currently not supported.) These references are then extracted, assigned a `component type` based on the `'action'` they provide, and finally used to assemble the GUI. #### Mappings: Gooey does its best to choose sensible defaults based on the options it finds. Currently, `ArgumentParser._actions` are mapped to the following `WX` components. | Parser Action | Widget | Example | |:----------------------|-----------|------| | store | TextCtrl | | | store_const | CheckBox | | | store_true| CheckBox | | | store_False | CheckBox| | | append | TextCtrl | | | count| DropDown | | | Mutually Exclusive Group | RadioGroup | |choice | DropDown | | ### GooeyParser If the above defaults aren't cutting it, you can control the exact widget type by using the drop-in `ArgumentParser` replacement `GooeyParser`. This gives you the additional keyword argument `widget`, to which you can supply the name of the component you want to display. Best part? You don't have to change any of your `argparse` code to use it. Drop it in, and you're good to go. **Example:** from argparse import ArgumentParser .... def main(): parser = ArgumentParser(description="My Cool Gooey App!") parser.add_argument('filename', help="name of the file to process") Given then above, Gooey would select a normal `TextField` as the widget type like this:
However, by dropping in `GooeyParser` and supplying a `widget` name, you can display a much more user friendly `FileChooser` from gooey import GooeyParser .... def main(): parser = GooeyParser(description="My Cool Gooey App!") parser.add_argument('filename', help="name of the file to process", widget='FileChooser') **Custom Widgets:** | Widget | Example | |----------------|------------------------------| | DirChooser, FileChooser, MultiFileChooser, FileSaver, MultiFileSaver | | | DateChooser | | | PasswordField | | | Listbox | ![image](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyImages/raw/images/readme-images/31590191-fadd06f2-b1c0-11e7-9a49-7cbf0c6d33d1.png) | | BlockCheckbox | ![image](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyImages/raw/images/readme-images/46922288-9296f200-cfbb-11e8-8b0d-ddde08064247.png)
TABBED | SIDEBAR |
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Both views present each action in the `Argument Parser` as a unique GUI component. It makes it ideal for presenting the program to users which are unfamiliar with command line options and/or Console Programs in general. Help messages are displayed along side each component to make it as clear as possible which each widget does. **Setting the layout style:** Currently, the layouts can't be explicitely specified via a parameter (on the TODO!). The layouts are built depending on whether or not there are `subparsers` used in your code base. So, if you want to trigger the `Column Layout`, you'll need to add a `subparser` to your `argparse` code. It can be toggled via the `advanced` parameter in the `Gooey` decorator. @gooey(advanced=True) def main(): # rest of code -------------------------------------------- ### Basic The basic view is best for times when the user is familiar with Console Applications, but you still want to present something a little more polished than a simple terminal. The basic display is accessed by setting the `advanced` parameter in the `gooey` decorator to `False`. @gooey(advanced=False) def main(): # rest of code
---------------------------------------------- ### No Config No Config pretty much does what you'd expect: it doesn't show a configuration screen. It hops right to the `display` section and begins execution of the host program. This is the one for improving the appearance of little one-off scripts.
-------------------------------------- ### Menus ![image](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyImages/raw/images/readme-images/47250909-74782a00-d3df-11e8-88ac-182d06c4435a.png) >Added 1.0.2 You can add a Menu Bar to the top of Gooey with customized menu groups and items. Menus are specified on the main `@Gooey` decorator as a list of maps. ``` @Gooey(menu=[{}, {}, ...]) ``` Each map is made up of two key/value pairs 1. `name` - the name for this menu group 2. `items` - the individual menu items within this group You can have as many menu groups as you want. They're passed as a list to the `menu` argument on the `@Gooey` decorator. ``` @Gooey(menu=[{'name': 'File', 'items: []}, {'name': 'Tools', 'items': []}, {'name': 'Help', 'items': []}]) ``` Individual menu items in a group are also just maps of key / value pairs. Their exact key set varies based on their `type`, but two keys will always be present: * `type` - this controls the behavior that will be attached to the menu item as well as the keys it needs specified * `menuTitle` - the name for this MenuItem Currently, three types of menu options are supported: * AboutDialog * MessageDialog * Link **About Dialog** is your run-of-the-mill About Dialog. It displays program information such as name, version, and license info in a standard native AboutBox. Schema * `name` - (_optional_) * `description` - (_optional_) * `version` - (_optional_) * `copyright` - (_optional_) * `license` - (_optional_) * `website` - (_optional_) * `developer` - (_optional_) Example: ``` { 'type': 'AboutDialog', 'menuTitle': 'About', 'name': 'Gooey Layout Demo', 'description': 'An example of Gooey\'s layout flexibility', 'version': '1.2.1', 'copyright': '2018', 'website': 'https://github.com/chriskiehl/Gooey', 'developer': 'http://chriskiehl.com/', 'license': 'MIT' } ``` **MessageDialog** is a generic informational dialog box. You can display anything from small alerts, to long-form informational text to the user. Schema: * `message` - (_required_) the text to display in the body of the modal * `caption` - (_optional_) the caption in the title bar of the modal Example: ```python { 'type': 'MessageDialog', 'menuTitle': 'Information', 'message': 'Hey, here is some cool info for ya!', 'caption': 'Stuff you should know' } ``` **Link** is for sending the user to an external website. This will spawn their default browser at the URL you specify. Schema: * `url` - (_required_) - the fully qualified URL to visit Example: ```python { 'type': 'Link', 'menuTitle': 'Visit Out Site', 'url': 'http://www.example.com' } ``` **A full example:** Two menu groups ("File" and "Help") with four menu items between them. ```python @Gooey( program_name='Advanced Layout Groups', menu=[{ 'name': 'File', 'items': [{ 'type': 'AboutDialog', 'menuTitle': 'About', 'name': 'Gooey Layout Demo', 'description': 'An example of Gooey\'s layout flexibility', 'version': '1.2.1', 'copyright': '2018', 'website': 'https://github.com/chriskiehl/Gooey', 'developer': 'http://chriskiehl.com/', 'license': 'MIT' }, { 'type': 'MessageDialog', 'menuTitle': 'Information', 'caption': 'My Message', 'message': 'I am demoing an informational dialog!' }, { 'type': 'Link', 'menuTitle': 'Visit Our Site', 'url': 'https://github.com/chriskiehl/Gooey' }] },{ 'name': 'Help', 'items': [{ 'type': 'Link', 'menuTitle': 'Documentation', 'url': 'https://www.readthedocs.com/foo' }] }] ) ``` --------------------------------------- ### Input Validation >:warning: >Note! This functionality is experimental. Its API may be changed or removed alltogether. Feedback/thoughts on this feature is welcome and encouraged! Gooey can optionally do some basic pre-flight validation on user input. Internally, it uses these validator functions to check for the presence of required arguments. However, by using [GooeyParser](#gooeyparser), you can extend these functions with your own validation rules. This allows Gooey to show much, much more user friendly feedback before it hands control off to your program. **Writing a validator:** Validators are specified as part of the `gooey_options` map available to `GooeyParser`. It's a simple map structure made up of a root key named `validator` and two internal pairs: * `test` The inner body of the validation test you wish to perform * `message` the error message that should display given a validation failure e.g. ``` gooey_options={ 'validator':{ 'test': 'len(user_input) > 3', 'message': 'some helpful message' } } ``` **The `test` function** Your test function can be made up of any valid Python expression. It receives the variable `user_input` as an argument against which to perform its validation. Note that all values coming from Gooey are in the form of a string, so you'll have to cast as needed in order to perform your validation. **Full Code Example** ``` from gooey.python_bindings.gooey_decorator import Gooey from gooey.python_bindings.gooey_parser import GooeyParser @Gooey def main(): parser = GooeyParser(description='Example validator') parser.add_argument( 'secret', metavar='Super Secret Number', help='A number specifically between 2 and 14', gooey_options={ 'validator': { 'test': '2 <= int(user_input) <= 14', 'message': 'Must be between 2 and 14' } }) args = parser.parse_args() print("Cool! Your secret number is: ", args.secret) ``` With the validator in place, Gooey can present the error messages next to the relevant input field if any validators fail. --------------------------------------- ## Using Dynamic Values >:warning: >Note! This functionality is experimental. Its API may be changed or removed alltogether. Feedback on this feature is welcome and encouraged! Gooey's Choice style fields (Dropdown, Listbox) can be fed a dynamic set of values at runtime by enabling the `poll_external_updates` option. This will cause Gooey to request updated values from your program everytime the user visits the Configuration page. This can be used to, for instance, show the result of a previous execution on the config screen without requiring that the user restart the program. **How does it work?** At runtime, whenever the user hits the Configuration screen, Gooey will call your program with a single CLI argument: `gooey-seed-ui`. This is a request to your program for updated values for the UI. In response to this, on `stdout`, your program should return a JSON string mapping cli-inputs to a list of options. For example, assuming a setup where you have a dropdown that lists user files: ``` ... parser.add_argument( '--load', metavar='Load Previous Save', help='Load a Previous save file', dest='filename', widget='Dropdown', choices=list_savefiles(), ) ``` Here the input we want to populate is `--load`. So, in response to the `gooey-seed-ui` request, you would return a JSON string with `--load` as the key, and a list of strings that you'd like to display to the user as the value. e.g. ``` {"--load": ["Filename_1.txt", "filename_2.txt", ..., "filename_n.txt]} ``` Checkout the full example code in the [Examples Repository](https://github.com/chriskiehl/GooeyExamples/blob/master/examples/dynamic_updates.py). Or checkout a larger example in the silly little tool that spawned this feature: [SavingOverIt](https://github.com/chriskiehl/SavingOverIt). ------------------------------------- ## Showing Progress Giving visual progress feedback with Gooey is easy! If you're already displaying textual progress updates, you can tell Gooey to hook into that existing output in order to power its Progress Bar. For simple cases, output strings which resolve to a numeric representation of the completion percentage (e.g. `Progress 83%`) can be pattern matched and turned into a progress bar status with a simple regular expression (e.g. `@Gooey(progress_regex=r"^progress: (\d+)%$")`). For more complicated outputs, you can pass in a custom evaluation expression (`progress_expr`) to transform regular expression matches as needed. Output strings which satisfy the regular expression can be hidden from the console via the `hide_progress_msg` parameter (e.g. `@Gooey(progress_regex=r"^progress: (\d+)%$", hide_progress_msg=True)`. **Regex and Processing Expression** ```python @Gooey(progress_regex=r"^progress: (?P