Plugin Loader

[luciorgomes]

Hi
This is an application that helps to load LV2 and VST plugins as standalone apps (using carla-single or jalv as hosts).
It connects the plugin’s JACK ports to the hardware audio and MIDI inputs/outputs (option that don't work with some plugins with custom name ports).
Requirements: Python 3, wxPython, JACK/PipeWire, Carla, Jalv (optional).

https://github.com/luciorgomes/plugin_loader

[sunrat]

Works fine in Debian Bookworm. Had to install wxpython-tools.
I have used jalv with jalv-select before, and Carla GUI and also carla-single. I don't often use plugins as standalone though. This makes it easier to actually find plugins.
Also it doesn't look so pretty on my KDE Plasma dark theme.

[luciorgomes]

Also it doesn't look so pretty on my KDE Plasma dark theme.

wxPython uses GTK3.
Try some alternative option on KDE configuration (GNOME/GTK style theme).

[sunrat]

Also it doesn't look so pretty on my KDE Plasma dark theme.

wxPython uses GTK3.
Try some alternative option on KDE configuration (GNOME/GTK style theme).

It doesn't make it unusable, just white text on a light background. It doesn't need to be pretty. I'm not worried about it at all, and not going to change my desktop theme for it.

plugin_loader_s.png (51.2 KiB) Viewed 734 times

[LAM]

Nice project.

Played a bit with it and I stumbled upon some limitations as far I can see:

• Plugins without a GUI, like Airwindows ones, have no way for the user to interact with them (I know this is a limitation of carla-single)

• Terminal (Console) can be chosen from a dropdown menu, if my terminal (urxvt) is not among the choices I can't use the console

• As with every application outside session managers, all the plugins launched from the program and their connection can't be saved

[Axel-Erfurt]

You can set the terminal name in the .config file.

[LAM]

You can set the terminal name in the .config file.

Thank you for the suggestion, if I am using a GUI application I would expect the option to be there in the GUI though, that's what I meant.

[Axel-Erfurt]

adding x-terminal-emulator in wxglade_layout.py could be a solution, that should use the right terminal.

Code: Select all

        self.combo_box_terminal = wx.ComboBox(self.notebook_1_pane_setup, wx.ID_ANY, choices=["-", "x-terminal-emulator", "uxterm", "xterm", "konsole"], style=wx.CB_DROPDOWN)

[LAM]

Sure, it's a good idea, at least for Debian (and Debian based), not sure about other distros.

Problem is if you force choices with a dropdown you better either do autodetection of the terminals available on the system and/or at least let the user insert a custom entry.

[luciorgomes]

[*]Terminal (Console) can be chosen from a dropdown menu, if my terminal (urxvt) is not among the choices I can't use the console

I implemented an option to add other terminal choices.
Type the executable name in the Terminal (Console) combo and press Enter to add and select it (will be saved in .config)

[Axel-Erfurt]

Code: Select all

prefix_console = self.terminal + ' -e '

is not working for me in LMDE6 (Debian 12, gnome-terminal) with jalv,
-- works

Code: Select all

        else:  #lv2
            prefix_console = ''
            if self.terminal != '-':
                prefix_console = self.terminal + ' -- '

[LAM]

I implemented an option to add other terminal choices.
Type the executable name in the Terminal (Console) combo and press Enter to add and select it (will be saved in .config)

Great!

[luciorgomes]

Code: Select all

prefix_console = self.terminal + ' -e '

is not working for me in LMDE6 (Debian 12, gnome-terminal) with jalv,
-- works

Code: Select all

        else:  #lv2
            prefix_console = ''
            if self.terminal != '-':
                prefix_console = self.terminal + ' -- '

The gnome-terminal is a bit odd. Prints a message that the '-e' parameter is obsolete. But the '--help-terminal-options' says that it must be used.
I included it in the original combobox and made some ajustments on the code to use it (remove it from the .config file or it will be duplicated in the combobox).
Not every terminal app will be compatible. If it not uses the '-e' to execute a command will not work.
I've made an alteration in the combo to make clear that it can be used without a terminal (selecting 'None'). But for the plugins without a GUI you will not receive an error message.

Code: Select all

[luciorg@lucio-dellg155530 Build]$ gnome-terminal --help-terminal-options
Uso:
  gnome-terminal [OPÇÃO…] [-- COMANDO …]

Opções do terminal; se utilizadas antes do primeiro argumento --window ou --tab, definem o padrão para todos os terminais:
  -e, --command                     Executa o argumento para esta opção dentro do terminal
  --profile=NOME-PERFIL             Usa o perfil fornecido em vez de usar o perfil padrão
  -t, --title=TÍTULO                Define o título inicial do terminal
  --working-directory=DIRETÓRIO     Define o diretório de trabalho
  --wait                            Aguarde até o processo filho sair
  --fd=Descritor de arquivo         Encaminhar descritor de arquivo
  --zoom=FATOR                      Define o fator de ampliação do terminal (1.0 = tamanho normal)

[Axel-Erfurt]

If the terminal is only required for error messages, you could also use subprocess.check_output and display error messages in a wx MessageBox.

[tseaver]

@Axel-Erfurt

If the terminal is only required for error messages, you could also use subprocess.check_output and display error messages in a wx MessageBox.

subproces.check_output actually blocks until the process exits, and raises an error if the return code is non-zero: the caller is not able to access the process' stdout or stderr until completion. That might not be a fit for @luciorgomes' use case.