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logos-tutorial/tutorial-cpp-ui-app.md
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# Tutorial Part 3: Building a C++ UI Module
This is Part 3 of the Logos module tutorial series. In [Part 2](tutorial-qml-ui-app.md) you built a QML UI plugin. Now you'll build a **native C++ Qt widget plugin** that calls `calc_module` through a typed backend class.
**What you'll build:** A `calc_ui_cpp` C++ plugin with two options for the UI:
- **Option A — QML loaded from C++:** A `QQuickWidget` inside the plugin loading the same `Main.qml` as the QML plugin, with `CalcBackend` exposed as a context property — plus dev mode for editing QML without rebuilding
- **Option B — Pure Qt widget:** `QPushButton`, `QLineEdit`, `QLabel` wired directly to a backend class
**Why C++ over QML-only?**
| | QML plugin (Part 2) | C++ UI plugin (Part 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Compilation | No | Yes (CMake) |
| Backend calls | Via `logos.callModule()` IPC bridge | Via `LogosAPI*` directly in C++ |
| Type safety | Weak — all args travel as `QVariant` | Strong — C++ types preserved |
| Sandboxing | Yes | No |
| QML support | Native | Optional via `QQuickWidget` |
The C++ backend class provides type-safe calls via generated SDK wrappers — `int` arguments stay `int` all the way to the module without relying on runtime coercion.
**Prerequisites:**
- Completed [Part 1](tutorial-wrapping-c-library.md) — you have a working `calc_module`
- Nix with flakes enabled
---
## How It Works
```
+----------------------+ CalcBackend::add(3, 5) +-------------------+
| calc_ui_cpp | --------------------------------> | calc_module |
| C++ Qt plugin | LogosAPI* / invokeRemoteMethod | C++ plugin |
| createWidget() | | add(int, int) |
+----------------------+ +-------------------+
^
| loaded by
v
logos-standalone-app / logos-basecamp
```
The plugin implements `createWidget()` which returns a `QWidget*`. The widget is shown in the host app's window. A `CalcBackend` class holds `LogosAPI*` and makes typed calls to `calc_module`.
---
## Step 1: Scaffold
```bash
mkdir logos-calc-ui-cpp && cd logos-calc-ui-cpp
nix flake init -t github:logos-co/logos-module-builder/b6cf87d30e2995e023496fcfc7f06e8127c6ac5b#ui-module
git init && git add -A
```
This gives you:
```
logos-calc-ui-cpp/
├── flake.nix
├── metadata.json
├── CMakeLists.txt
└── src/
├── ui_example_interface.h
├── ui_example_plugin.h
└── ui_example_plugin.cpp
```
Rename the source files to match your module:
```bash
mv src/ui_example_interface.h src/calc_ui_cpp_interface.h
mv src/ui_example_plugin.h src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h
mv src/ui_example_plugin.cpp src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp
```
---
## Step 2: `metadata.json`
`metadata.json` is the single source of truth — it contains both the runtime metadata (embedded into the plugin binary by Qt) and the build configuration (read by `logos-module-builder` via the `nix` section).
```json
{
"name": "calc_ui_cpp",
"version": "1.0.0",
"type": "ui",
"category": "tools",
"description": "Calculator C++ UI — widget frontend for calc_module",
"main": "calc_ui_cpp_plugin",
"icon": "icons/calc.png",
"dependencies": ["calc_module"],
"nix": {
"packages": {
"build": [],
"runtime": []
},
"external_libraries": [],
"cmake": {
"find_packages": [],
"extra_sources": [],
"extra_include_dirs": [],
"extra_link_libraries": []
}
}
}
```
Create the icon directory and add a placeholder icon. The icon is displayed in the `logos-basecamp` sidebar when the module is loaded:
```bash
mkdir -p icons
# Copy any PNG here — or use a placeholder:
convert -size 64x64 xc:'#4a90d9' icons/calc.png 2>/dev/null \
|| printf '\x89PNG\r\n\x1a\n' > icons/calc.png
```
> **Naming convention:** Each entry in `dependencies` must match the `name` field in that module's own `metadata.json`. When adding a dependency as a flake input, the **input attribute name** must also match — e.g., `calc_module.url = "github:logos-co/logos-tutorial/tutorial-v1?dir=logos-calc-module"`. The URL can point to any repo, but the attribute name is how the builder resolves dependencies.
---
## Step 3: `CMakeLists.txt`
```cmake
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14)
project(CalcUiCppPlugin LANGUAGES CXX)
if(DEFINED ENV{LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT})
include($ENV{LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT}/cmake/LogosModule.cmake)
else()
message(FATAL_ERROR "LogosModule.cmake not found. Set LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT.")
endif()
logos_module(
NAME calc_ui_cpp
SOURCES
src/calc_ui_cpp_interface.h
src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h
src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp
src/calc_backend.h
src/calc_backend.cpp
)
find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets)
target_link_libraries(calc_ui_cpp_module_plugin PRIVATE Qt6::Widgets)
```
> For Option A (QML inside the plugin) you will add `Quick QuickWidgets` and `qt_add_resources` — covered in [Step 7](#step-7-option-a--qml-loaded-from-c).
---
## Step 4: Interface Header (`src/calc_ui_cpp_interface.h`)
```cpp
#ifndef CALC_UI_CPP_INTERFACE_H
#define CALC_UI_CPP_INTERFACE_H
#include <QObject>
#include <QString>
#include "interface.h"
class CalcUiCppInterface : public PluginInterface
{
public:
virtual ~CalcUiCppInterface() = default;
};
#define CalcUiCppInterface_iid "org.logos.CalcUiCppInterface"
Q_DECLARE_INTERFACE(CalcUiCppInterface, CalcUiCppInterface_iid)
#endif // CALC_UI_CPP_INTERFACE_H
```
---
## Step 5: Plugin Header (`src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h`)
Replace the scaffolded plugin header. This header is the same for both Option A and Option B — only the `.cpp` implementation differs:
```cpp
#ifndef CALC_UI_CPP_PLUGIN_H
#define CALC_UI_CPP_PLUGIN_H
#include <QObject>
#include <QWidget>
#include <QVariantList>
#include "calc_ui_cpp_interface.h"
class LogosAPI;
class CalcUiCppPlugin : public QObject, public CalcUiCppInterface
{
Q_OBJECT
Q_PLUGIN_METADATA(IID CalcUiCppInterface_iid FILE "metadata.json")
Q_INTERFACES(CalcUiCppInterface PluginInterface)
public:
explicit CalcUiCppPlugin(QObject* parent = nullptr);
~CalcUiCppPlugin() override;
QString name() const override { return "calc_ui_cpp"; }
QString version() const override { return "1.0.0"; }
Q_INVOKABLE void initLogos(LogosAPI* api);
Q_INVOKABLE QWidget* createWidget(LogosAPI* logosAPI = nullptr);
Q_INVOKABLE void destroyWidget(QWidget* widget);
signals:
void eventResponse(const QString& eventName, const QVariantList& args);
private:
LogosAPI* m_logosAPI = nullptr;
};
#endif // CALC_UI_CPP_PLUGIN_H
```
---
## Step 6: Backend Class
The backend class is the key addition over the QML plugin. It holds a `LogosModules*` wrapper — a typed C++ SDK generated at build time from `metadata.json` — and exposes `Q_INVOKABLE` methods that call `calc_module` through it. Because the calls go through a generated typed class, argument types are preserved at compile time — no runtime coercion needed.
### How the generated SDK works
When `metadata.json` declares `"dependencies": ["calc_module"]` and `calc_module` is passed as a flake input via `flakeInputs`, the build system runs `logos-cpp-generator` before compilation. This produces:
- `logos_sdk.h` / `logos_sdk.cpp` — the `LogosModules` umbrella class with one typed member per dependency
- `calc_module_api.h` / `calc_module_api.cpp` — the per-module wrapper included by `logos_sdk.h`
`LogosModules` is constructed with a `LogosAPI*` and provides a member named after each declared dependency (snake_case). All IPC routing happens inside the generated code — your backend just calls methods directly:
```cpp
m_logos->calc_module.add(3, 5) // typed: int add(int, int) over IPC
```
### `src/calc_backend.h`
```cpp
#ifndef CALC_BACKEND_H
#define CALC_BACKEND_H
#include <QObject>
#include <QString>
#include "logos_sdk.h" // generated at build time from metadata.json dependencies
class LogosAPI;
class CalcBackend : public QObject
{
Q_OBJECT
public:
explicit CalcBackend(LogosAPI* api, QObject* parent = nullptr);
Q_INVOKABLE int add(int a, int b);
Q_INVOKABLE int multiply(int a, int b);
Q_INVOKABLE int factorial(int n);
Q_INVOKABLE int fibonacci(int n);
Q_INVOKABLE QString libVersion();
private:
LogosModules* m_logos; // generated umbrella wrapper
};
#endif // CALC_BACKEND_H
```
### `src/calc_backend.cpp`
```cpp
#include "calc_backend.h"
CalcBackend::CalcBackend(LogosAPI* api, QObject* parent)
: QObject(parent), m_logos(new LogosModules(api)) {}
int CalcBackend::add(int a, int b) { return m_logos->calc_module.add(a, b); }
int CalcBackend::multiply(int a, int b) { return m_logos->calc_module.multiply(a, b); }
int CalcBackend::factorial(int n) { return m_logos->calc_module.factorial(n); }
int CalcBackend::fibonacci(int n) { return m_logos->calc_module.fibonacci(n); }
QString CalcBackend::libVersion() { return m_logos->calc_module.libVersion(); }
```
`LogosModules` is constructed once with `LogosAPI*`. Each member (`calc_module`) is a generated proxy that routes calls to the corresponding module process over Qt Remote Objects IPC. No raw `invokeRemoteMethod`, no string method names, no manual `QVariant` unwrapping.
---
## Step 7: Option A — QML Loaded from C++
The plugin loads `src/qml/Main.qml` into a `QQuickWidget` and exposes `CalcBackend` as a QML context property. The QML is identical in structure to `logos-calc-ui/Main.qml` (Part 2), but calls `backend.*` methods directly instead of routing through the `logos.callModule()` IPC bridge — so argument types are preserved and there is no sandboxing overhead.
### 7.1 Add the QML file
Create `src/qml/Main.qml`. The structure mirrors `logos-calc-ui/Main.qml` exactly; the only difference is that buttons call `backend.*` methods directly instead of routing through `logos.callModule(...)`:
```qml
import QtQuick
import QtQuick.Controls
import QtQuick.Layouts
Item {
id: root
property string result: ""
property string errorText: ""
ColumnLayout {
anchors.fill: parent
anchors.margins: 24
spacing: 16
// ── Title ──────────────────────────────────────────────
Text {
text: "Logos Calculator (C++ backend)"
font.pixelSize: 20
color: "#ffffff"
Layout.alignment: Qt.AlignHCenter
}
// ── Two-operand operations ─────────────────────────────
RowLayout {
spacing: 12
Layout.fillWidth: true
TextField { id: inputA; placeholderText: "a"; Layout.preferredWidth: 80; validator: IntValidator {} }
TextField { id: inputB; placeholderText: "b"; Layout.preferredWidth: 80; validator: IntValidator {} }
Button {
text: "Add"
onClicked: root.result = String(backend.add(inputA.text, inputB.text))
}
Button {
text: "Multiply"
onClicked: root.result = String(backend.multiply(inputA.text, inputB.text))
}
}
// ── Single-operand operations ──────────────────────────
RowLayout {
spacing: 12
Layout.fillWidth: true
TextField { id: inputN; placeholderText: "n"; Layout.preferredWidth: 80; validator: IntValidator { bottom: 0 } }
Button { text: "Factorial"; onClicked: root.result = String(backend.factorial(inputN.text)) }
Button { text: "Fibonacci"; onClicked: root.result = String(backend.fibonacci(inputN.text)) }
Button { text: "libcalc version"; onClicked: root.result = backend.libVersion() }
}
// ── Result display ─────────────────────────────────────
Rectangle {
Layout.fillWidth: true
height: 56
color: root.errorText.length > 0 ? "#3d1a1a" : "#1a2d1a"
radius: 8
Text {
anchors.centerIn: parent
text: root.errorText.length > 0 ? root.errorText
: (root.result.length > 0 ? root.result : "Enter values and press a button")
color: root.errorText.length > 0 ? "#f85149" : "#56d364"
font.pixelSize: 15
}
}
Item { Layout.fillHeight: true }
}
}
```
### 7.2 Update `CMakeLists.txt`
Add `Quick` and `QuickWidgets`, and embed the QML as a Qt resource:
```cmake
cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.14)
project(CalcUiCppPlugin LANGUAGES CXX)
if(DEFINED ENV{LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT})
include($ENV{LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT}/cmake/LogosModule.cmake)
else()
message(FATAL_ERROR "LogosModule.cmake not found. Set LOGOS_MODULE_BUILDER_ROOT.")
endif()
logos_module(
NAME calc_ui_cpp
SOURCES
src/calc_ui_cpp_interface.h
src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h
src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp
src/calc_backend.h
src/calc_backend.cpp
)
find_package(Qt6 REQUIRED COMPONENTS Widgets Quick QuickWidgets)
target_link_libraries(calc_ui_cpp_module_plugin PRIVATE
Qt6::Widgets
Qt6::Quick
Qt6::QuickWidgets
)
qt_add_resources(calc_ui_cpp_module_plugin "qml_resources"
PREFIX "/"
FILES
src/qml/Main.qml
)
```
### 7.3 `createWidget()` — load QML
Replace `calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp` with:
```cpp
#include "calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h"
#include "calc_backend.h"
#include "logos_api.h"
#include <QDebug>
#include <QDir>
#include <QQuickWidget>
#include <QQmlContext>
#include <QUrl>
CalcUiCppPlugin::CalcUiCppPlugin(QObject* parent) : QObject(parent) {}
CalcUiCppPlugin::~CalcUiCppPlugin() {}
void CalcUiCppPlugin::initLogos(LogosAPI* api)
{
m_logosAPI = api;
}
QWidget* CalcUiCppPlugin::createWidget(LogosAPI* logosAPI)
{
auto* backend = new CalcBackend(logosAPI);
auto* quickWidget = new QQuickWidget();
quickWidget->setResizeMode(QQuickWidget::SizeRootObjectToView);
quickWidget->rootContext()->setContextProperty("backend", backend);
// Dev mode: set QML_PATH to the directory containing Main.qml to load
// from the filesystem without rebuilding. Example: export QML_PATH=$PWD/src/qml
QString devSource = qgetenv("QML_PATH");
QUrl qmlUrl = devSource.isEmpty()
? QUrl("qrc:/src/qml/Main.qml")
: QUrl::fromLocalFile(QDir(devSource).filePath("Main.qml"));
quickWidget->setSource(qmlUrl);
if (quickWidget->status() == QQuickWidget::Error) {
qWarning() << "CalcUiCppPlugin: failed to load QML";
for (const auto& e : quickWidget->errors())
qWarning() << e.toString();
}
return quickWidget;
}
void CalcUiCppPlugin::destroyWidget(QWidget* widget)
{
delete widget;
}
```
### 7.4 Dev Mode
When `QML_PATH` is set, the plugin loads `Main.qml` from disk instead of the embedded resource. You can edit QML layout, styling, and property bindings without a Nix rebuild — just restart the app to pick up changes.
```bash
# Run with dev mode enabled
QML_PATH=$PWD/src/qml \
nix run .
```
> **What still requires a rebuild:**
> - Changes to `.cpp` / `.h` files (backend logic, plugin interface)
> - Changes to `CMakeLists.txt` or `metadata.json`
>
> **What does not require a rebuild:**
> - Any `.qml` change — layout, styling, property bindings, JS logic
---
## Step 8: Option B — Pure Qt Widget
The plugin creates a standard Qt widget using layouts and connects button clicks to the backend. No QML, no additional Qt modules — just `Qt6::Widgets`.
Replace `src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp` with:
### `src/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.cpp`
```cpp
#include "calc_ui_cpp_plugin.h"
#include "calc_backend.h"
#include "logos_api.h"
#include <QDebug>
#include <QHBoxLayout>
#include <QVBoxLayout>
#include <QLabel>
#include <QLineEdit>
#include <QPushButton>
CalcUiCppPlugin::CalcUiCppPlugin(QObject* parent) : QObject(parent) {}
CalcUiCppPlugin::~CalcUiCppPlugin() {}
void CalcUiCppPlugin::initLogos(LogosAPI* api)
{
m_logosAPI = api;
}
QWidget* CalcUiCppPlugin::createWidget(LogosAPI* logosAPI)
{
auto* backend = new CalcBackend(logosAPI);
auto* widget = new QWidget();
auto* layout = new QVBoxLayout(widget);
layout->setContentsMargins(24, 24, 24, 24);
layout->setSpacing(16);
// ── Title ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
auto* title = new QLabel("Logos Calculator (C++)");
title->setAlignment(Qt::AlignHCenter);
layout->addWidget(title);
// ── Two-operand row ────────────────────────────────────────
auto* twoOpRow = new QHBoxLayout();
auto* inputA = new QLineEdit(); inputA->setPlaceholderText("a"); inputA->setMaximumWidth(80);
auto* inputB = new QLineEdit(); inputB->setPlaceholderText("b"); inputB->setMaximumWidth(80);
auto* addBtn = new QPushButton("Add");
auto* mulBtn = new QPushButton("Multiply");
twoOpRow->addWidget(inputA);
twoOpRow->addWidget(inputB);
twoOpRow->addWidget(addBtn);
twoOpRow->addWidget(mulBtn);
twoOpRow->addStretch();
layout->addLayout(twoOpRow);
// ── Single-operand row ─────────────────────────────────────
auto* oneOpRow = new QHBoxLayout();
auto* inputN = new QLineEdit(); inputN->setPlaceholderText("n"); inputN->setMaximumWidth(80);
auto* facBtn = new QPushButton("Factorial");
auto* fibBtn = new QPushButton("Fibonacci");
auto* verBtn = new QPushButton("libcalc version");
oneOpRow->addWidget(inputN);
oneOpRow->addWidget(facBtn);
oneOpRow->addWidget(fibBtn);
oneOpRow->addWidget(verBtn);
oneOpRow->addStretch();
layout->addLayout(oneOpRow);
// ── Result display ─────────────────────────────────────────
auto* resultLabel = new QLabel("Enter values and press a button");
resultLabel->setAlignment(Qt::AlignHCenter);
layout->addWidget(resultLabel);
layout->addStretch();
// ── Wire up buttons ────────────────────────────────────────
auto show = [resultLabel](const QString& v) { resultLabel->setText(v); };
QObject::connect(addBtn, &QPushButton::clicked, [=] {
show(QString::number(backend->add(inputA->text().toInt(), inputB->text().toInt())));
});
QObject::connect(mulBtn, &QPushButton::clicked, [=] {
show(QString::number(backend->multiply(inputA->text().toInt(), inputB->text().toInt())));
});
QObject::connect(facBtn, &QPushButton::clicked, [=] {
show(QString::number(backend->factorial(inputN->text().toInt())));
});
QObject::connect(fibBtn, &QPushButton::clicked, [=] {
show(QString::number(backend->fibonacci(inputN->text().toInt())));
});
QObject::connect(verBtn, &QPushButton::clicked, [=] {
show(backend->libVersion());
});
return widget;
}
void CalcUiCppPlugin::destroyWidget(QWidget* widget)
{
delete widget;
}
```
---
## Step 9: `flake.nix`
Since `metadata.json` declares `"type": "ui"`, `mkLogosModule` automatically wires up `apps.default` (i.e. `nix run`) for free — no manual `apps` block or `logosStandalone` parameter required. The standalone app runner is bundled with `logos-module-builder`.
**Important — `flakeInputs`:** Because `metadata.json` declares `"dependencies": ["calc_module"]`, the build system runs `logos-cpp-generator` before compiling your C++ sources. The generator introspects `calc_module`'s built plugin to produce `logos_sdk.h` / `logos_sdk.cpp` (and per-module `calc_module_api.h` / `calc_module_api.cpp`). These are the files your backend includes as `#include "logos_sdk.h"`. For this to work, `calc_module` must be available as a built Nix package at code-generation time — that is what `flakeInputs` provides (the builder discovers dependency inputs by matching their names against the `dependencies` array in `metadata.json`). Without it, the build fails with `'logos_sdk.h' file not found`.
```nix
{
description = "Calculator C++ UI plugin for Logos - widget frontend for calc_module";
inputs = {
logos-module-builder.url = "github:logos-co/logos-module-builder/b6cf87d30e2995e023496fcfc7f06e8127c6ac5b";
calc_module.url = "github:logos-co/logos-tutorial/tutorial-v1?dir=logos-calc-module";
};
outputs = inputs@{ logos-module-builder, calc_module, ... }:
logos-module-builder.lib.mkLogosModule {
src = ./.;
configFile = ./metadata.json;
flakeInputs = inputs;
};
}
```
Because `metadata.json` declares `"type": "ui"`, `mkLogosModule` automatically wires up `apps.default`. It stages the compiled plugin alongside `metadata.json` and any icon files into a Nix store directory, bundles all module dependencies (direct and transitive) from their LGX packages, then produces a shell script that calls `logos-standalone-app` with that directory — exactly what `nix run` executes. All required backend modules are self-contained; no external setup is needed.
---
## Step 10: Build and Test
### 10.1 Build
```bash
git add -A
nix build --override-input calc_module path:../logos-calc-module
```
Inspect the output with `lm` (the module inspector from `logos-module`):
```bash
nix build 'github:logos-co/logos-module/337223f2a72710d8052ca750510cd25d33e05047#cli' --out-link ./lm-cli
./lm-cli/bin/lm ./result/lib/calc_ui_cpp_plugin.dylib
```
You should see `createWidget` and `destroyWidget` in the methods list.
### 10.2 UI only (layout preview)
```bash
nix run . --override-input calc_module path:../logos-calc-module
```
The widget opens. No backend connected yet, so button clicks will silently return 0 (CalcBackend logs a warning when `calc_module` is not connected).
> **When do you need `--override-input`?** `calc_module.url` in `flake.nix` points to the published GitHub URL. If your local `logos-calc-module` has unpushed changes or differs from what is on GitHub, you must use `--override-input calc_module path:../logos-calc-module` so nix uses your local copy. If your `calc_module` is already pushed and matches the GitHub URL, you can run `nix build` / `nix run` without the override. This is the same mechanism `ws build --local` / `ws build --auto-local` uses throughout the workspace.
### 10.3 Full functionality (with modules)
The `capability_module` is loaded automatically by the standalone app. You only need to install `calc_module`:
```bash
nix build 'github:logos-co/logos-package-manager/e5c25989861f4487c3dc8c7b3bc0062bcbc3221f#cli' --out-link ./pm
mkdir -p modules
# Bundle and install calc_module (from Part 1)
cd ../logos-calc-module
nix build '.#lgx'
cd ../logos-calc-ui-cpp
./pm/bin/lgpm --modules-dir ./modules install --file ../logos-calc-module/result/*.lgx
nix run . --override-input calc_module path:../logos-calc-module -- --modules-dir ./modules
```
---
## Step 11: Load in `logos-basecamp`
### 11.1 Create LGX packages
```bash
# Package calc_module (from Part 1)
cd ../logos-calc-module
nix build '.#lgx'
nix build '.#lgx-portable'
# Package the C++ UI plugin
cd ../logos-calc-ui-cpp
nix build '.#lgx'
nix build '.#lgx-portable'
```
> For more bundling options (standalone bundler syntax, cross-platform packaging), see the [Developer Guide — Bundling with nix-bundle-lgx](logos-developer-guide.md#32-bundling-with-nix-bundle-lgx).
### 11.2 Build and run logos-basecamp
Build logos-basecamp, launch it once to preinstall its bundled modules, then install your modules.
> **Note:** `logos-basecamp` does not accept `--modules-dir` or `--ui-plugins-dir` CLI flags. It manages its own data directory and preinstalls bundled modules (main_ui, package_manager, etc.) on first launch.
```bash
# Build logos-basecamp
nix build 'github:logos-co/logos-basecamp/70169584a44d954f638e34842bcfebf741e6bcfe' -o basecamp-result
# Launch once to preinstall bundled modules, then close it
./basecamp-result/bin/logos-basecamp
```
Basecamp creates its data directory on first launch. To find where it is, check the log output for `plugins directory` or look for the directory that contains `modules/` and `plugins/` subdirectories:
```bash
# macOS (typical path, may vary):
ls ~/Library/Application\ Support/Logos/
# Linux (typical path, may vary):
ls ~/.local/share/Logos/
```
The dev build directory is named `LogosBasecampDev` (portable builds use `LogosBasecamp`).
Install your modules using `lgpm` (substitute `BASECAMP_DIR` with the actual path you found above):
```bash
# Build lgpm CLI
nix build 'github:logos-co/logos-package-manager/e5c25989861f4487c3dc8c7b3bc0062bcbc3221f#cli' --out-link ./pm
# Install core module
./pm/bin/lgpm --modules-dir BASECAMP_DIR/modules \
install --file ../logos-calc-module/result/*.lgx
# Install UI plugin
./pm/bin/lgpm --modules-dir BASECAMP_DIR/plugins \
install --file result/*.lgx
# Launch basecamp -- your modules appear alongside the built-in ones
./basecamp-result/bin/logos-basecamp
```
### 11.3 Install via logos-basecamp UI
Instead of using `lgpm` on the command line, you can install modules through the basecamp UI:
1. Launch `logos-basecamp`
2. Go to **Package Manager**
3. Click **Install from file**
4. Select `../logos-calc-module/result/*.lgx` — installs `calc_module`
5. Repeat for `result/*.lgx` — installs `calc_ui_cpp`
The "Calculator" tab appears in the sidebar.
---
## Known Limitations
### QML changes not appearing after rebuild (Option A only)
Qt caches compiled QML on disk. If you update your `Main.qml`, rebuild and reinstall the `.lgx`, but the old UI still appears, the cache is stale. Fix by disabling the cache before launching:
```bash
QML_DISABLE_DISK_CACHE=1 ./basecamp-result/bin/logos-basecamp
```
### UI module not loading or basecamp behaving unexpectedly
When switching between portable and dev builds of basecamp, or running multiple basecamp instances, the data directory can get into a bad state (stale modules, mixed variants, corrupted preinstall). Clear it and let basecamp re-preinstall on next launch:
```bash
# Remove basecamp's data directory (find yours under Application Support or .local/share)
# macOS (typical):
rm -rf ~/Library/Application\ Support/Logos/LogosBasecampDev
# Linux (typical):
# rm -rf ~/.local/share/Logos/LogosBasecampDev
# Relaunch — basecamp will re-preinstall its bundled modules
./basecamp-result/bin/logos-basecamp
```
Then reinstall your custom modules.
---
## Recap: Three Module Types
| | Core (Part 1) | QML UI (Part 2) | C++ UI (Part 3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | C++ | QML / JS | C++ (+ optional QML) |
| Compilation | Yes | No | Yes |
| Backend calls | Exposed via `Q_INVOKABLE` | `logos.callModule()` IPC | `LogosAPI*``invokeRemoteMethod()` |
| Type safety | Strong | Weak (QVariant/QString) | Strong |
| Async support | — | `logos.callModuleAsync()` | `LogosAPIClient::invokeRemoteMethodAsync()` |
| Sandboxed | No | Yes | No |
| QML support | — | Native | Via `QQuickWidget` |
| Template | `#default` | `#ui-qml-module` | `#ui-module` |
## What's Next
- **Generated type-safe wrappers** — instead of raw `invokeRemoteMethod`, use `logos-cpp-generator` to generate a typed `CalcModuleClient` class. See [Developer Guide](logos-developer-guide.md) Section 6.2
- **Events** — core modules emit `eventResponse` signals; connect to them from your backend class via `LogosAPIClient`
- **Use the Logos Design System** in Option B QML — `import Logos.Theme` and `import Logos.Controls` are available when running inside `logos-basecamp`