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How to install and run BlueSky

Python

BlueSky is built upon Python 2.x. You need to have a operation Python environment to run this simulator. To install Python properly on your computer (Windows, Linux, Mac OS) please refer to the following guide:

http://docs.python-guide.org/en/latest/starting/installation/

Not a geek?
If you are not experienced command line user, you can checkout the following package solution:

• Python(x,y): https://python-xy.github.io/
• Anaconda: https://www.continuum.io/downloads
• or, refer to this python website: https://www.python.org/download/alternatives/

Extra python libraries

Following core libraries are required before starting BlueSky:

• scipy
• numpy
• matplotlib
• pygame
• PyQt4 or PyQt5 (built with Python 2, NOT Python 3)

In most of the Python distributions, you can install those packages with PyPi (pip):
pip install PACKAGE_NAME

How to install Qt5 with Python 2.x
Get Python 2 and Qt5 working can be a bit complicated. Follow the guides blew to install or built Python2/Qt on different operating systems:

• For windows: simply pip install python-qt5
• For Linux: http://github.com/pyqt/python-qt5/wiki/Compiling-PyQt5-on-Ubuntu-12.04.
• For Mac OS: https://www.tuomassalmi.com/how-to-compile-and-install-pyqt5-to-python-2-7-osx/

Anaconda users

• conda install -c spyder-ide pyqt5

MacPort users

• sudo port install py27-pyqt5

BlueSky

1. Simple checkout the code from master branch of this repository:
   git clone https://github.com/ProfHoekstra/bluesky.git

2. run checkup script: python check.py. Install missing package if there is any.

3. Run main program: python BlueSky.py

4. First time the main program will create an setting file settings.cfg, and generating data files for graphic rendering. This make take a couple of minutes.