virtualenv is a really handy Python tool that builds "sandboxes" where you can install all the Python modules you want, without affecting your system's Python. Here's how to use it to develop Buildbot.

Getting Started

First, get virtualenv installed. You'll need to install this in your system's site-packages, but it's easy. If your package manager provides a way to do this, use it instead.

sudo easy_install virtualenv

Set yourself up a working directory with a sandbox and some source

mkdir buildbot-work
cd buildbot-work
git clone git://github.com/djmitche/buildbot.git src
virtualenv --no-site-packages sandbox

Activate the sandbox

source sandbox/bin/activate

(you should see a (sandbox) prefixed to your shell prompt)

Install buildbot with the 'develop' option so that you can hack on the active code

cd src
python setup.py develop

Hacking

If necessary, re-activate your sandbox (see above).

Hack away. To run unit tests:

cd src
trial buildbot.test

Running

To run buildbot, you'll need to go through the usual buildbot setup process. First, make sure your sandbox is active (see above). Then set up a master directory:

Master

cd sandbox
buildbot create-master master

edit that up to your liking, then, to start the buildmaster,

buildbot start $VIRTUAL_ENV/master

or, if you want to run it in the foreground,

twistd --nodaemon --no_save -y $VIRTUAL_ENV/master/buildbot.tac

Slave

If you're using the sample config:

• host: localhost:9989
• name will be "buildbot-full"
• password is in the sample config.

  buildbot create-slave slave <host> <name> <password>