freesewing/chat

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Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

Hi @SimonbJohnson good to have you. We've addedsizes as a way for visitors to try out our platform without the need to create an account.

At the end of the day, we only provide made-to-measure patterns. So when you pick a size, it just preloads a set of measurements.

But all sizes (or custom measurements) use the same pattern.

As for your earlier questions on SVG, patterns are generated in 2 steps. First they are drafted which takea input (measurements and options) and builds an internal representation of a pattern.

Then, patterns are rendered which by default will output SVG but it doesn't have yo.

On our own website for example, we don't render to SVG but use a React component

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

SVG is intended for printing or converting to PDF.

React is more geared for interacting with a pattern in the browser

This might be worth reading: https://freesewing.dev/guides/overview/building-blocks/

SimonbJohnson

@SimonbJohnson

That makes complete sense. Thank you! I worked through the building blocks last night. Thanks again

rrolon47

@rrolon47

Hello, I just came across your project. I am a patternmaker and I am learning how to code. I was dreaming up ways to do what you are doing but instead of starting from scratch I would love to contribute and work on growing my coding skills. I am learning about working in NodeJS, JavaScript and with Angular right now. When I get a chance I am going to look through the code and see what I understand and try and make a pattern and code it up. :)

I also saw that you might need help with someone who can do illustrator stuff. I can help with that too.

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

Hi @rrolon47 that's great to hear. We have docs for developers at https://freesewing.dev/ but don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

We're also in the middle of migrating our chat from Gitter to Discord: https://discord.com/invite/YDV4GvU

You might find you get answers faster there as it's where most contributors are.

We also organise a bi-weekly zoom call with contributors which you're very welcome to join.

We use React for our fronted (rather than Angular) but fot creating patterns, all you neee is JavaScript 😃

rrolon47

@rrolon47

Great! I'll head over to Discord. I was reading about you using React, I am always down to learn something new so I'm sure it wont be too hard. I have also heard React more widespread in terms of use so it will be another thing to add to my tool box.

rrolon47

@rrolon47

When is your next contributor zoom call?

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

@rrolon47 Saturday: freesewing/freesewing#553

tdmpaton

@tdmpaton

The other day we were discussing the "non-trivial" process of getting the development environment set up.
After a lot of trial and error, I got it working on a recently re-installed Linux Mint system.
Perhaps rather than (or alongside) the "follow the link above and install it [node.js] on your system" instruction on the pattern design tutorial, we could have something like the following:

--
FreeSewing is a JavaScript library that runs on Node.js. You need to install software on your system to access the online repositories where the code and templates are stored, and to run the code locally.

Developers are likely to have some or all of these software packages installed already.

On Linux systems that use APT (Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint etc.), install the software using the terminal commands:
sudo apt-get install npm
sudo apt-get install nodejs
sudo apt-get install git

Configure "git" to access the software repositories:
git config --global user.email "your@email.address"
git config --global user.name "your-user-name"

Before setting up the development environment, you will need to create and set permissions for a library directory that the setup script needs to write to:
sudo mkdir /usr/local/lib/node_modules
sudo chmod 777 /usr/local/lib/node_modules/

--
(apologies for not formatting that in any way - I don't know gitter)

Perhaps @docspencer77 could write something similar to help with the Windows installation process based on her recent experience getting started?

tdmpaton

@tdmpaton

(I still haven't progressed very far in building my baby bib pattern - distractions...)

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

@tdmpaton Thanks for your inputs. It's certainly a steep on-ramp for people not familiar with (js) development.
We've been eyeing an online solution. Something like https://www.gitpod.io/ or GitHub's workspaces (for which we're on the waiting list).
The idea is that everything would run in the browser, which remove the pain of having to setup your own environment.
But in the meanwhile, we should provide more guidance for people.
Would it help if we provided a container-based solution? Something you could spin up locally to develop? Or is spinning up a container itself assuming too much prior knowledge?

Stoffsuchti

@stoffsuchti

I will not follow to discord

gaylyndie

@DocSpencer77

Perhaps @docspencer77 could write something similar to help with the Windows installation process based on her recent experience getting started?

gaylyndie

@DocSpencer77

@tdmpaton A timely mention... I'm back to redoing/figuring out some install/upgrade issues just now. I'm glad to share what I figure out, with the caveat that the process needs to be more methodical and reliable than what I've done/experienced so far! I feel that my setting up was more like hacking than installing :smirk: But, yes, let's help people work it out.

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

@joostdecock I'm trying to be more socially active in general (to get out of my head), I'd like to help out with the Windows deploy/build/etc work that needs to be done whenever that's coming down the pipeline. I'll be able to help with the Linux stuff if needed too. Just an FYI for what I might be able to help with

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

Thanks Blurr :)

gaylyndie

@DocSpencer77

@tdmpaton and @IAmTheBlurr I took the time yesterday to read documentation/support stuff, uninstall, reinstall (x3), change versions, etc., etc. I'm glad to document my discoveries and try to help the folks wielding Windows get past some obstacles. From my perspective, the biggest issues are that the "how to" instructions are not in one place, and there are several choices with several pieces of the process that you don't know you've made till after it doesn't work (or blows up).

I haven't walked through the MS guide on the process
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/javascript/tutorial-nodejs?view=vs-2019
but will do that. It's Visual Studio-centric, and I've been using VS Code for the Node.JS stuff, but in general I've used Visual Studio lots more that VS Code.

@joostdecock Should we put together a "How to" and link it from the "Setting up your Development Environment"? And maybe we want to take this conversation over to discord?

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

I'll have to spend some time this weekend familiarizing myself with the existing install process/requirements. I'll have a better conception of everything after going through that at least once.

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

@DocSpencer77 I have my own node/express app project which I deploy both to a production linux server and run locally for testing on a Windows 10 machine. The instructions on microsofts website can be simplified, the requirement for using VS Code, Visual Studio, or any IDE (I use WebStorm and all other JetBrains IDEs personally) can be subtracted from a well written tutorial.

I spend a hell of a lot of time writting documentation for various purposes, and I find it a joyful activity personally, so I should be able to be useful where needed.

@joostdecock @DocSpencer77 Perhaps this should be moved over to the Discord server as Doc suggests, perhaps there is call for a "documentation" channel there?

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

Oh! I almost forgot, I have a Medium account and I'm a part of their partner program. If there is interest, I'd totally be willing to publish whatever how-to's and tutorials there with everything linking back to FreeSewing.org, etc. @joostdecock, let me know if this is something you want.

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

I'm all for it 🙂 but first, we should make sure it works without too many pain points, thrn document it

gaylyndie

@DocSpencer77

@IAmTheBlurr Right.... to the Discord server! Posted some "setting up" stuff there a bit ago, and maybe it should have gone in the "Development" box... but alas, I did it. :grimacing: @joostdecock Should I try to move those responses or something?

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

@joostdecock Agreed, test first write documentation after.

Btw, I don't know if I mentioned this when we spoke before but my day job is as a test automation architect. I write frameworks, infrustructure, and interfaces to test systems (in the Quality Assurance sense).

When you're ready to start thinking about serious QA efforts, let me know. I've been doing QA professionally in one capacity or another for 21 years.

I spend a hell of a lot of my time working with automating the testing of web UI systems currently (at my day job).

Just FYI

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

Thanks @IAmTheBlurr that good to know. We use GitHub actions on our monorepo to test our packages: https://github.com/freesewing/freesewing/actions

And we use cypress to test our fronted: https://www.cypress.io/

But especially the frontend is fast-moving so keeping tests uo to date and relevant is a challenge

Jonathan Craig

@IAmTheBlurr

That can be a challenge, keeping tests up to date. Cypress.io is a great framework, crazy fast. Have they solved cross browser support though or is it all only Chrome testing?

SebastianSew

@SebastianSew

Hi, how can i participate from de meeting

Emmanuel Nyachoke

@enyachoke

Is the meeting still on got a bit held up?

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

@SebastianSew Sorry about that, I didn't see your message in time. You can join the next meeting via https://meet.freesewing.org/ (which will redirect to the correct Zoom link)

We've also moved our chat to discord, which you can get to via: https://chat.freesewing.org

Genevieve Roberts

@clevervieve_twitter

Joost - I think you'll remember me. I attended the meeting earlier in September. Is there a way to PM with you?

nutation

@nutation

Genevieve... I think everyone moved over to discord this link will redirect you there https://chat.freesewing.org/ direct messages are easier there but it’s also about 9pm where Joost is so not sure if he’s around

Wouter van Wageningen

@woutervdub

You can also hover over the icon of Joost on the top-right in this windows and select 'chat privately'

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

I'm also joost@decock.org should it come to that

But yes, we're sort of mid-way though moving to Discord. We're planning the release of 2.9 for next Saturday, which is when we'll put up a message here.
In the meanwhile, we're still updating links and whatnot.

Joost De Cock

@joostdecock

This chat room is deprecated

We have moved to Discord. Please join us at https://chat.freesewing.org/

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