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Install mwp on a Windows computer for Linux noobs

stronnag edited this page Mar 30, 2019 · 10 revisions

This will install mwptools on Ubuntu (a Linux variant) in a virtual machine using VM VirtualBox on a windows computer. All is freeware.

freshly install Ubuntu on VM virtualBox

for instructions, see https://www.lifewire.com/install-ubuntu-linux-windows-10-steps-2202108

recommend at least 15GB virtual harddisk size, for the rest, just use the defaults.

once you can log into Ubuntu, it's time to install mwptools

Install mwptools

see also https://vimeo.com/256052320

start VirtualBox / Ubuntu

In Ubuntu, open a terminal (right click anywhere on the desktop, and select open terminal

create a Projects directory, by typing the following commands (the grey lines) in the terminal

mkdir Projects

cd Projects

if not yet installed, install git

sudo apt install git

clone the mwptools from github. This will get all the files from github, and put the in the Projects/mwptools directory. it doesn't install it yet.

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/stronnag/mwptools

change into mwptools directory

cd mwptools/

and run the script (this will take some time). Answer Y on all questions.

sudo bash docs/ubuntu-deps.txt

if you'd rather not have the interactive questions (post 2019-03-30)

sudo bash docs/ubuntu-deps.txt Y

search for current version of libvala

apt search libvala.*-dev

find the version of libvala-x.xx-dev and install it, replacing x.xx with the current version (in this example, 0.40)

sudo apt -y install libvala-0.40-dev

and make + install mwptools (this will create a lot of warnings.... that's ok).

make && sudo make install

once this is completed, you should be able to start mwptools

mwp

when running, the MWP icon should show up on the left side... by right-click, and selecting Add to favorites, you can lock it there, so it is easier to start next time without going into the terminal window

Bluetooth connection

to connect to your FC using bluetooth, first bind the bluetooth adapter in ubuntu, go into bluetooth settings. it should see the adapter. click on it, and enter your password (usually 1234) it will change from 'Not set up' into 'Disconnected'

now, start mwp again. With your bluetooth adapter connected to the FC, it should show the adapter in the top right corner of mwp, and allow to connect

USB cable connection

when first connecting the cable, a /dev/ttyACM0 device should show up in the device field in mwp. However, it will probably refuse connection

first, you need to set permissions as follows. close mwp, and go back to terminal. type the following

sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

before the new permissions work, you need to logout from Ubuntu (or restart Ubuntu) and login again now, when opening mwp, it should allow you to connect using the cable as well.

Using the bluetooth dongle, I didn't need to set any permissions. However, when directly connected using a USB cable, I first need to set permissions.

Please note: in VirtualBox, it may be required to connect the bluetooth module (from the laptop) or the USB cable, to the virtual machine (Ubuntu) first (rather then to Windows), before you can connect any bluetooth / usb devices. Just find it in Devices menu (of VM VirtualBox), and enable it.

Blackbox logs

when you want to review blackbox logs, the following steps are also required (from the terminal)

cd ~/Projects/mwptools

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/cleanflight/blackbox-tools/

cd blackbox-tools

make && sudo cp obj/blackbox_decode obj/blackbox_render /usr/local/bin/

now, when opening mwp, the replay blackbox log and load blackbox log menu items (under file in mwp) should be selectable

Updating mwptools

whenever a new version is available on github, updating mwp is as follows (from terminal)

cd ~/Projects/mwptools

git pull && make && sudo make install

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