= ChimeraX Developer Meeting =

Attendance: Greg, Zach, Tom, Eric

July 8, 2024

= Agenda =

* Can Linux ChimeraX be installed without root permissions?
* Toolbar icons for dark mode.
* Should we update to Python 3.12 for ChimeraX 1.9?
* Work in progress reports
* Chimera 1.18 release.
* Make Chimera end-of-life bug report and registration changes.
* Back up the Chimera build machine to a solid state drive, Windows 7.
* ChimeraX Ideas milestone clean-up.


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= Discussion =

* Linux ChimeraX install without root
 - Dependencies have to install as root for RPM and .deb distributions.
 - The flatpak system requires root to install but after installed, users can install and get new flatpak environments without root.
 - Redhat has flatpak in the distribution, but Ubuntu does not.
 - Greg will add some info about installing without root linked from ChimeraX download page.

* ChimeraX dark mode
 - Looks pretty usable in dark mode with Greg's current changes.
 - May be some issues on Windows or Mac.  Greg tested on Linux.
 - Greg's changes are in daily build.
 - Greg added white outlines around some dark mode icons that are black and white to improve visibility.

* Python 3.12
 - Decided not to update Python 3.11 to 3.12 in ChimeraX 1.9.
 - Updating Python every two years seems the right cadence.
 - Need to allow third-party binary packages ChimeraX relies on to update to new Python releases.

* Should we backup Chimera Windows 7 build machine disk?
 - Greg suggests we make VMware virtual machine from the existing disk, says there is some technology to do that.
 - Other options is direct disk copy.  May not be able to find the disk copy if needed in the future.
 - Greg will look into options.

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= Action Items =

* Zach remove direct use of pip in Makefile.bundle.  Use something like $(PYTHON) -m pip so the correct Python is used.
* Greg will make Chimera 1.18 release.