Install missing reader libraries on first start

A freshly flashed device needed manual pip work before the reader would
start. It now checks its dependencies, installs whatever is missing, and
carries on.

- bootstrap.py: import check, pip invocation, and a re-check that does not
  trust pip's exit code alone. Installs nothing when the libraries are
  already present, so a normal start does no network work.
- --wheel-dir installs from local wheels with --no-index, for devices with
  no internet. --no-install-deps opts out entirely.
- Outside a venv pip gets --break-system-packages, which Debian and
  Raspberry Pi OS require before touching the system Python.
- reload_library() re-imports rdm6300 when it was installed at runtime, since
  the module-level import already ran and failed.
- A failed install reports exit 2 and the exact manual command rather than
  raising; stdout is flushed so the explanation is not printed after the
  error when piped.

README.md

@@ -30,6 +30,21 @@ $ rdm-card-reader
 (the reader library de-duplicates repeated reads while the card sits on the
 antenna) and once on removal.
 
+### Startup sequence
+
+1. **Check dependencies.** If `rdm6300` / `pyserial` cannot be imported, install
+them automatically and carry on. A fresh device needs no manual `pip` work.
+2. **Find the reader.** Resolve the serial port and open it, identifying the
+adapter by serial number or `by-id` rather than trusting `ttyUSB0`.
+3. **Start reading.** Read frames in a loop; each valid one becomes a card
+event.
+4. **Publish it.** In `--serve` mode the event is latched so a web page can
+claim it whenever it gets around to asking.
+
+Steps 1 and 2 both fail *loudly with a reason* rather than starting up
+half-working, because a reader that silently picks the wrong port or runs
+without its library is worse than one that refuses to start.
+
 ---
 
 ## Install
@@ -73,6 +88,8 @@ Also works as a module: `python -m rdm_card_reader`.
 | `--verbose-ports` | off | With `--list-ports`, show by-id / by-path detail |
 | `--demo` | – | Simulated reads; needs no hardware and no `rdm6300` |
 | `--demo-count` | `3` | Number of simulated reads in `--demo` |
+| `--no-install-deps` | off | Never install missing libraries automatically |
+| `--wheel-dir` | – | Install missing libraries from local wheels (offline) |
 | `--version` | – | Print the version |
 
 With `--serve`: `--host` (`127.0.0.1`), `--bridge-port` (`8765`), `--mode`
@@ -96,13 +113,43 @@ is what you want when piping into another program:
 {"event": "card_removed", "timestamp": "2026-10-01 14:56:54", "id": 12886197, "hex": "0x00C4A0B5", "type": 15, "checksum": 222, "is_valid": true, "port": "/dev/ttyAMA0"}
 ```
 
+### Automatic dependency install
+
+On first start the reader checks that it can import its libraries and installs
+any that are missing, so a freshly flashed device works without manual setup:
+
+```
+Reader library not found - checking dependencies...
+Missing reader dependencies: rdm6300
+Installing from PyPI ...
+Dependencies ready: rdm6300
+```
+
+* Nothing is installed when the libraries are already present, so a normal start
+  does no network work at all.
+* A failed install does not crash: it reports `exit 2` and tells you the exact
+  command to run by hand.
+* Outside a virtualenv pip is given `--break-system-packages`, which Debian and
+  Raspberry Pi OS require before they will touch the system Python.
+
+For a device with **no internet**, put the wheels next to the app and install
+from there — no index is contacted:
+
+```bash
+pip download rdm6300 pyserial -d wheels        # on a machine with internet
+rdm-card-reader --serve --wheel-dir ./wheels
+```
+
+To manage dependencies yourself, pass `--no-install-deps`.
+
 ### Exit codes
 
 | Code | Meaning |
 | --- | --- |
 | `0` | Ran normally, or stopped with Ctrl+C |
 | `1` | No serial port could be opened |
-| `2` | The `rdm6300` library is not installed |
+| `2` | The `rdm6300` library is missing and could not be installed |
+| `3` | The port selector matched more than one adapter (refused to guess) |
 
 ---
 

deploy/rdm-card-reader.service

@@ -18,8 +18,10 @@ Group=dialout
 WorkingDirectory=/opt/rdm-card-reader
 
 # --serve exposes the card on http://127.0.0.1:8765/api/card
+# --port points at the udev alias, so the reader is the same device every boot.
 # Autodetect refuses to guess if more than one USB adapter is present, which is
 # the safe behaviour: a wrong guess means authenticating the wrong person.
+# Add --wheel-dir /opt/rdm-card-reader/wheels to install dependencies offline.
 ExecStart=/opt/rdm-card-reader/.venv/bin/rdm-card-reader \
     --serve \
     --port /dev/rdm-reader \

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "rdm-card-reader"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.3.0"
 description = "RDM6300 / EM4100 RFID card reader: prints card events, or serves them over HTTP so a web app can authenticate a card tap."
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"

src/rdm_card_reader/__init__.py

@@ -8,8 +8,12 @@ Two ways to use this package:
 
 The bridge reports card ids only. Deciding which user a card belongs to is the
 server's job - see ``bridge`` for the reasoning.
+
+On first start the reader installs its own libraries if they are missing, so a
+fresh device needs no manual setup - see ``bootstrap``.
 """
 
+from .bootstrap import ensure_dependencies, missing_packages
 from .card import (
     CANDIDATE_PORTS,
     CONFIG_CARD_VALUE,
@@ -26,9 +30,9 @@ from .ports import (
     discover,
     resolve,
 )
-from .reader import available, list_ports, open_reader
+from .reader import available, list_ports, open_reader, reload_library
 
-__version__ = "0.2.0"
+__version__ = "0.3.0"
 
 __all__ = [
     "CANDIDATE_PORTS",
@@ -43,9 +47,12 @@ __all__ = [
     "available",
     "create_server",
     "discover",
+    "ensure_dependencies",
     "format_event",
     "list_ports",
+    "missing_packages",
     "open_reader",
+    "reload_library",
     "resolve",
     "__version__",
 ]

src/rdm_card_reader/bootstrap.py

@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+"""Make sure the reader library is present before we try to use it.
+
+On a fresh device the ``rdm6300`` package may not be installed. Rather than
+dying with "please install this yourself", the reader installs it on first run
+and then carries on - the same behaviour the workstation app had, but without
+shelling out to a bare ``pip`` with no error handling.
+
+Two things this deliberately does *not* do:
+
+* It never installs anything when the library is already importable, so a
+  normal start does no network work at all.
+* It never lets a failed install crash the process. A missing library is a
+  condition to report clearly, not a traceback.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib
+import os
+import subprocess
+import sys
+from typing import Callable, List, Optional, Sequence
+
+#: Import name -> pip requirement. The import name is what we check; the
+#: requirement is what pip is asked for.
+REQUIRED_PACKAGES = (
+    ("rdm6300", "rdm6300>=0.1.1"),
+    ("serial", "pyserial>=3.5"),
+)
+
+#: Shown when an install fails, so the operator knows what to do by hand.
+MANUAL_HINT = (
+    "Install manually with:  {python} -m pip install {requirements}"
+)
+
+
+def missing_packages(
+    packages: Sequence[tuple] = REQUIRED_PACKAGES,
+) -> List[tuple]:
+    """Return the ``(import_name, requirement)`` pairs that cannot be imported."""
+    missing = []
+    for import_name, requirement in packages:
+        try:
+            importlib.import_module(import_name)
+        except ImportError:
+            missing.append((import_name, requirement))
+    return missing
+
+
+def in_virtualenv() -> bool:
+    """True when running inside a venv, where PEP 668 does not apply."""
+    if os.environ.get("VIRTUAL_ENV"):
+        return True
+    return sys.prefix != getattr(sys, "base_prefix", sys.prefix)
+
+
+def _pip_command(requirements: Sequence[str], wheel_dir: Optional[str]) -> List[str]:
+    """Build the pip invocation, handling venv vs system Python."""
+    command = [sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install"]
+
+    if wheel_dir:
+        # Offline install from a local wheel directory: no index, no network.
+        command += ["--no-index", "--find-links", wheel_dir]
+    else:
+        command += ["--disable-pip-version-check"]
+
+    # Outside a virtualenv, pip on Debian/Raspberry Pi OS refuses to touch the
+    # system environment unless told explicitly (PEP 668).
+    if not in_virtualenv():
+        command.append("--break-system-packages")
+
+    command += list(requirements)
+    return command
+
+
+def install(
+    requirements: Sequence[str],
+    wheel_dir: Optional[str] = None,
+    logger: Optional[Callable[[str], None]] = None,
+    timeout: int = 300,
+) -> bool:
+    """Run pip. Returns True on success; never raises for a failed install."""
+    say = logger or (lambda message: None)
+    command = _pip_command(requirements, wheel_dir)
+    say("   $ {}".format(" ".join(command)))
+
+    try:
+        result = subprocess.run(
+            command,
+            capture_output=True,
+            text=True,
+            timeout=timeout,
+        )
+    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+        say("   x install timed out after {}s".format(timeout))
+        return False
+    except OSError as exc:
+        say("   x could not run pip: {}".format(exc))
+        return False
+
+    if result.returncode != 0:
+        # pip writes the useful part to stderr; show the tail of it.
+        tail = (result.stderr or result.stdout or "").strip().splitlines()[-6:]
+        for line in tail:
+            say("   | {}".format(line))
+        return False
+
+    return True
+
+
+def ensure_dependencies(
+    packages: Sequence[tuple] = REQUIRED_PACKAGES,
+    wheel_dir: Optional[str] = None,
+    auto_install: bool = True,
+    logger: Optional[Callable[[str], None]] = None,
+) -> bool:
+    """Check for the reader libraries and install them if they are missing.
+
+    Returns True when everything is importable at the end - either because it
+    already was, or because the install worked. Returns False when something is
+    still missing, so the caller can decide what to do.
+    """
+    say = logger or (lambda message: None)
+
+    missing = missing_packages(packages)
+    if not missing:
+        return True
+
+    requirements = [requirement for _, requirement in missing]
+    names = ", ".join(name for name, _ in missing)
+    say("Missing reader dependencies: {}".format(names))
+
+    if not auto_install:
+        say("Automatic install is disabled (--no-install-deps).")
+        say(MANUAL_HINT.format(
+            python=sys.executable, requirements=" ".join(requirements)))
+        return False
+
+    if wheel_dir:
+        say("Installing from local wheels in {} ...".format(wheel_dir))
+    else:
+        say("Installing from PyPI ...")
+
+    install(requirements, wheel_dir=wheel_dir, logger=say)
+
+    # Re-check rather than trusting pip's exit code alone.
+    still_missing = missing_packages(packages)
+    if still_missing:
+        say("Still missing: {}".format(
+            ", ".join(name for name, _ in still_missing)))
+        say(MANUAL_HINT.format(
+            python=sys.executable, requirements=" ".join(requirements)))
+        return False
+
+    say("Dependencies ready: {}".format(
+        ", ".join(name for name, _ in missing)))
+    return True

src/rdm_card_reader/cli.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import threading
 from typing import Optional, Sequence
 
 from . import __version__
+from .bootstrap import ensure_dependencies
 from .bridge import (
     DEFAULT_HOST,
     DEFAULT_PORT,
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ from .card import (
 )
 from .demo import run_demo
 from .ports import AmbiguousPort, PortNotFound, discover, resolve
-from .reader import available, explain_error, list_ports, open_reader
+from .reader import available, explain_error, list_ports, open_reader, reload_library
 
 EXIT_OK = 0
 EXIT_NO_PORT = 1
@@ -94,12 +95,40 @@ def _resolve_port(args) -> str:
     return device
 
 
+def _ensure_library(args) -> bool:
+    """Make sure the reader library is importable, installing it if needed.
+
+    A fresh device should not need manual pip work, so this installs on first
+    run. It is skipped entirely when the library is already present.
+    """
+    if available():
+        return True
+
+    print("Reader library not found - checking dependencies...", flush=True)
+    installed = ensure_dependencies(
+        wheel_dir=args.wheel_dir,
+        auto_install=not args.no_install_deps,
+        logger=print,
+    )
+    if installed:
+        # The import happened at process start, so refresh it now.
+        reload_library()
+
+    if available():
+        return True
+
+    # Flush stdout first: stderr is unbuffered while stdout is block-buffered
+    # when piped, so without this the explanation can appear after the error.
+    sys.stdout.flush()
+    print("\nERROR: the 'rdm6300' library is not available.", file=sys.stderr)
+    print("       Retry with network access, or run with --demo to see the"
+          " output format.", file=sys.stderr)
+    return False
+
+
 def _run_bridge(args) -> int:
     """Serve what the reader sees over HTTP for a web app to consume."""
-    if not available():
+    if not _ensure_library(args):
-        print("ERROR: the 'rdm6300' library is not installed.", file=sys.stderr)
-        print("       Install it with:  pip install rdm6300", file=sys.stderr)
-        print("       Or run with --demo to see the output format.", file=sys.stderr)
         return EXIT_NO_LIBRARY
 
     if not args.allow_remote and args.host not in ("127.0.0.1", "::1", "localhost"):
@@ -197,6 +226,11 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
                         help="simulate card reads (needs no hardware or library)")
     parser.add_argument("--demo-count", type=int, default=3,
                         help="number of simulated reads in --demo (default: %(default)s)")
+    parser.add_argument("--no-install-deps", action="store_true",
+                        help="do not install missing reader libraries automatically")
+    parser.add_argument("--wheel-dir", metavar="DIR",
+                        help="install missing libraries from local wheels in DIR "
+                             "instead of PyPI (offline install)")
 
     bridge = parser.add_argument_group("HTTP bridge (--serve)")
     bridge.add_argument("--serve", action="store_true",
@@ -236,10 +270,7 @@ def main(argv: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> int:
     if args.serve:
         return _run_bridge(args)
 
-    if not available():
+    if not _ensure_library(args):
-        print("ERROR: the 'rdm6300' library is not installed.", file=sys.stderr)
-        print("       Install it with:  pip install rdm6300", file=sys.stderr)
-        print("       Or run with --demo to see the output format.", file=sys.stderr)
         return EXIT_NO_LIBRARY
 
     print_event = _make_printer(args.json)

src/rdm_card_reader/reader.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ that ``--demo`` and the unit tests keep working without it installed.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import importlib
 import os
 from typing import Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence
 
@@ -29,6 +30,23 @@ def available() -> bool:
     return rdm6300 is not None
 
 
+def reload_library() -> bool:
+    """Re-attempt the import, for when the library was installed at runtime.
+
+    The module-level import above runs once at process start, so installing
+    afterwards is invisible until this is called.
+    """
+    global rdm6300
+    if rdm6300 is not None:
+        return True
+    try:
+        rdm6300 = importlib.import_module("rdm6300")
+    except ImportError:
+        rdm6300 = None
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
 def _make_reader_class(callback: EventCallback):
     """Build a ``BaseReader`` subclass that reports events via *callback*."""
     if rdm6300 is None:

tests/test_bootstrap.py

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+"""Tests for the dependency bootstrap.
+
+The behaviour that matters: a normal start must not touch the network, a
+missing library should be installed once, and a failed install must report
+clearly instead of crashing.
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+SRC = os.path.join(
+    os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))), "src"
+)
+if SRC not in sys.path:
+    sys.path.insert(0, SRC)
+
+import pytest  # noqa: E402
+
+from rdm_card_reader import bootstrap  # noqa: E402
+from rdm_card_reader.bootstrap import (  # noqa: E402
+    _pip_command,
+    ensure_dependencies,
+    install,
+    missing_packages,
+)
+
+
+class FakeCompleted:
+    def __init__(self, returncode=0, stdout="", stderr=""):
+        self.returncode = returncode
+        self.stdout = stdout
+        self.stderr = stderr
+
+
+# -- detection --------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_nothing_missing_for_installed_packages():
+    assert missing_packages([("sys", "sys")]) == []
+
+
+def test_importable_name_is_reported_missing():
+    result = missing_packages([("definitely_not_a_real_module_xyz", "pkg>=1")])
+    assert result == [("definitely_not_a_real_module_xyz", "pkg>=1")]
+
+
+# -- pip command ------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_pip_command_uses_this_interpreter():
+    command = _pip_command(["pkg>=1"], wheel_dir=None)
+    assert command[:3] == [sys.executable, "-m", "pip"]
+    assert "pkg>=1" in command
+
+
+def test_pip_command_prefers_local_wheels_when_given():
+    command = _pip_command(["pkg>=1"], wheel_dir="/opt/wheels")
+    assert "--no-index" in command
+    assert "--find-links" in command
+    assert "/opt/wheels" in command
+
+
+def test_pip_command_adds_break_system_packages_outside_venv(monkeypatch):
+    """Debian's pip refuses to touch system Python without this flag."""
+    monkeypatch.delenv("VIRTUAL_ENV", raising=False)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "in_virtualenv", lambda: False)
+    assert "--break-system-packages" in _pip_command(["pkg"], None)
+
+
+def test_pip_command_omits_flag_inside_venv(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "in_virtualenv", lambda: True)
+    assert "--break-system-packages" not in _pip_command(["pkg"], None)
+
+
+def test_in_virtualenv_detects_env_var(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv("VIRTUAL_ENV", "/tmp/venv")
+    assert bootstrap.in_virtualenv() is True
+
+
+# -- install ----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_install_reports_success(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap.subprocess, "run", lambda *a, **k: FakeCompleted(0)
+    )
+    assert install(["pkg"]) is True
+
+
+def test_install_returns_false_on_nonzero_exit(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap.subprocess, "run",
+        lambda *a, **k: FakeCompleted(1, stderr="ERROR: no matching distribution"),
+    )
+    lines = []
+    assert install(["pkg"], logger=lines.append) is False
+    assert any("no matching distribution" in line for line in lines)
+
+
+def test_install_survives_timeout(monkeypatch):
+    def boom(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise bootstrap.subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd="pip", timeout=1)
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap.subprocess, "run", boom)
+    assert install(["pkg"]) is False
+
+
+def test_install_survives_pip_being_unrunnable(monkeypatch):
+    def boom(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise OSError("no such file or directory")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap.subprocess, "run", boom)
+    assert install(["pkg"]) is False
+
+
+# -- ensure_dependencies ----------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_no_install_when_everything_present(monkeypatch):
+    """A normal start must not shell out to pip at all."""
+    called = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "missing_packages", lambda packages=None: [])
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "install", lambda *a, **k: called.append(1))
+    assert ensure_dependencies() is True
+    assert called == []
+
+
+def test_installs_when_missing(monkeypatch):
+    state = {"installed": False}
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap, "missing_packages",
+        lambda packages=None: [] if state["installed"] else [("rdm6300", "rdm6300>=0.1.1")],
+    )
+
+    def fake_install(requirements, wheel_dir=None, logger=None, timeout=300):
+        state["installed"] = True
+        return True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "install", fake_install)
+    assert ensure_dependencies() is True
+
+
+def test_reports_failure_when_still_missing(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap, "missing_packages",
+        lambda packages=None: [("rdm6300", "rdm6300>=0.1.1")],
+    )
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "install", lambda *a, **k: False)
+    lines = []
+    assert ensure_dependencies(logger=lines.append) is False
+    assert any("Install manually with" in line for line in lines)
+
+
+def test_no_install_flag_reports_manual_hint(monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap, "missing_packages",
+        lambda packages=None: [("rdm6300", "rdm6300>=0.1.1")],
+    )
+    called = []
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "install", lambda *a, **k: called.append(1))
+    lines = []
+    assert ensure_dependencies(auto_install=False, logger=lines.append) is False
+    assert called == []                      # never shelled out
+    assert any("disabled" in line for line in lines)
+
+
+def test_wheel_dir_is_passed_through(monkeypatch):
+    seen = {}
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        bootstrap, "missing_packages",
+        lambda packages=None: [] if seen.get("done") else [("x", "x")],
+    )
+
+    def fake_install(requirements, wheel_dir=None, logger=None, timeout=300):
+        seen["wheel_dir"] = wheel_dir
+        seen["done"] = True
+        return True
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(bootstrap, "install", fake_install)
+    ensure_dependencies(wheel_dir="/opt/wheels")
+    assert seen["wheel_dir"] == "/opt/wheels"