How to develop CAN plugin while debugging

[federdalla]

Hi everybody!

I would like to develop a canbus plugin, to be compatible with Qt interface of QCanBusDevice .
To do so i created a project, in which main folder I have this *.pro file:

TEMPLATE = subdirs
SUBDIRS = can canusb_vcp
can.depends = canusb_vcp

then i have two subdirectories, one named can, that is simply the canbus example for qt, but with *.pro file modified like so:

QT += serialbus widgets serialport
requires(qtConfig(combobox))

TARGET = can
TEMPLATE = app
CONFIG += debug_and_release

SOURCES += \
    bitratebox.cpp \
    connectdialog.cpp \
    main.cpp \
    mainwindow.cpp \
    sendframebox.cpp

HEADERS += \
    bitratebox.h \
    connectdialog.h \
    mainwindow.h \
    sendframebox.h

FORMS   += mainwindow.ui \
    connectdialog.ui \
    sendframebox.ui

RESOURCES += can.qrc

include(../canusb_vcp/canusb_vcp.pri)

as you can see i am including the plugin i am trying to implement

and then the can plugin has one *.pro file, and one *.pri file:

canusb_vcp.pro

QT += serialbus serialport

TEMPLATE = lib
CONFIG += shared
CONFIG += debug_and_release

TARGET = canusb_vcp

SOURCES += \
    canusbvcpplugin.cpp \
    canusbvcpbackend.cpp

HEADERS += \
    canusbvcpplugin.h \
    canusbvcpbackend.h \
    canusbvcpbackend_p.h

DISTFILES += \
    plugin.json

canusb_vcp.pri

LIBTARGET = canusb_vcp
BASEDIR   = $${PWD}
INCLUDEPATH *= $${BASEDIR}/canusb_vcp
LIBS += -L$${DESTDIR} -lcanusb_vcp

this way, after compilation of the project, i can copy the canusb_vcp.dll and put it in the folder of can example executable.
Then, it runs ok.

At this point, i would like to continue with the development, but at the same time i would like to debug.
Can anyone tell me how could i debug a plugin, having a project structured like this? Maybe i should structure it differently?

Thanks in advance

[aha_1980]

Hi @federdalla,

I'm the maintainer of QtCanBus, and I'd love to integrate this plugin in the official repo. Do you have any plans open-sourcing it?

Regarding your problem: I think it should be enough to add LIBS += -L<path/to/compiled-plugin> to the can.pro file. Qt Creator then setup the library search path so when running the CAN Example, the plugin can be loaded.

You have already set up the dependencies correctly, so the plugin should be rebuild after changes before starting the example.

Best regards, and I hope we can integrate your plugin into Qt soon :)

Regards

[federdalla]

Hi @aha_1980

thank you for your answer, I will try your solution as soon as I can.

I think it would be ok for me to open source it.
If you could provide me info on how I can contribute, it would be easier.

Maybe we can get in touch with private messages.

Regards,

Federico

[aha_1980]

Hi @federdalla,

I'll be very glad to help you - just feel free ping me. I'll just be a bit busy this week...

I think you should get something up and running first before we talk about the steps to get the plugin merged.

Best regards