Weirdness from a brand new install of PiCroft - installing coin-flip

Plugins & Skills Feedback / Support
1

Hi again,
After running into all sorts of strangeness culminating in the failure of the PS3 Mic, I stared again from scratch, and burnt a new SD card from the image that is on the website, and simply fired it up, and I will report all the weird stuff. like this…

This is a Pi3

  • with an analogue external speaker
  • a PS3 USB camera mic - (listed as a working mic on the site)
  • an HDMI monitor attached (so I could see what happened during initail booting, which, BTW is useless because, by default, the screen blacks out ( screensaver from the OS, presumably) well before the whole initial GIT updating is completed, and without a keyboard attached, there is no way to “wake up” the screen! - That is an oversight somewhere)

After getting it paired and doing/ adding NOTHING at all (except having 3 goes at getting it to play the NPR news - first 2 times I got silence!) , I try the command “Andromeda (that is it’s name from the home.mycroft.ai site) Install coin-flip”
It says “I can’t find a skill called coin-flip” (sorry not the exact phrase, I forgot the exact words)

So I ssh into it and stop the CLI client and type “msm list” and it IS there along with all the other skills

so I type “msm install coin-flip” ( note NO SUDO) and I get the following response from Bash

pi@picroft:~ $ msm install coin-flip
Searching for for ‘coin-flip’…installing
Installing from: GitHub - wligtenberg/coin-flip-skill: Skill for mycroft to flip a virtual coin
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
Cloning into ‘coin-flip-skill’…
remote: Counting objects: 41, done.
remote: Total 41 (delta 0), reused 0 (delta 0), pack-reused 41
Unpacking objects: 100% (41/41), done.
Checking connectivity… done.
Setting up native environment…
Installing requirements…
sudo: pip: command not found
ERROR: Unable to install requirements for ‘coin-flip-skill’, it may not work
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
msm: error 121

NOTE : there is that “pip command not found” error as I mentioned before ( I installed pip for the local environment on my last install, so I won’t this time!) - I honestly have no idea what “pip” does, I am not a programmer! LOL

So here is the rub…
I say “Andromeda, flip a coin” and it makes the sound and it works, despite the error above…

I am going to try to install AVmusic-skill next , which is on the “ok with Python3” list seen here GitHub - MycroftAI/mycroft-skills: A repository for sharing and collaboration for third-party Mycroft skills development.

Let’s see what happens :wink:

(In a previous life, a looooong time ago, I was software QA professional BTW)

2

TRYING TO INSTALL AVmusic-skill
Well that didn’t go very far…

It won’t proceed without git credentials and MY credentials are not good enough.

pi@picroft:~ $ msm install AVmusic-skill
Searching for for ‘AVmusic-skill’…installing
Installing from: https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/AVmusic-skill.git
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
Cloning into ‘AVmusic-skill’…
Username for ‘https://github.com’: XXXXXXXXX
Password for ‘https://XXXXXX@github.com’:
remote: Invalid username or password.
fatal: Authentication failed for ‘https://github.com/NeonGeckoCom/AVmusic-skill.git/’
/home/pi/bin/msm: line 321: cd: AVmusic-skill: No such file or directory
ERROR: Unable to access directory AVmusic-skill!
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
/usr/bin/python: No module named mycroft.messagebus
msm: error 102

Where do I go from here?
HELP!! :slight_smile:

3

OK, a couple of things that I can see here;

I know that Regina from Neon is working on updating that Skill for Python 3, so it might just be a little while.

That explains the errors on that one.

It also looks to me like you’re using the old version of msm - because the error codes you’re getting are for the old version of msm. The current version throws Python errors, not custom error codes.

@forslund - should this be the case? Should Picroft update to the new msm on reboot? Sorry, I should know.

4

Hi,
The quote below is a little disappointing

Because in another thread @forslund said

"An easy mistake to make :wink:

The developers are currently scrambling to get the skills updated. A list of the resubmitted and vetted skills can be seen in the mycroft-skills repo 3 GitHub - MycroftAI/mycroft-skills: A repository for sharing and collaboration for third-party Mycroft skills development. "

I want to get Picroft to do something LOL!!

5

So is there the definitive “Safe for Python3” list of Skills anywhere?

6

Sure - try

7

Thanks Kathy
that is just the readme from the same repository that I had linked to before, That is why I tried to install AVmusic-skill as it is listed there…,. and ran itno the issue as described in this thread…
Sometimes I think my life is a never-ending circle … LOL

So the simple question at this stage is “Does AVmusic skill work with Python3 and if, so where is the repository?”

8

Was there a resolution to this problem?
Really Mycroft is very unfriendly for the average user.

9

Much better now than a year ago, and improving all the time. What is your specific issue. Plenty of people willing to help you through.

10

@pcwii Thanks.
I don’t mean to be critical of a tremendous achievement.
However I think in general that the Mycroft project could benefit from a dedicated rethink on user experience from initial unpack to getting it to ‘do things’.
Although I’m technically aware and can root around to try to fix things, not every consumer will be able to. Maybe I’m expecting too much from a very configurable device that’s probably primarily aimed at those who want to tinker, but there are probably many people concerned about privacy that don’t want Alexa or Siri or Google knowing their every move. These consumers (not tinkerers) want an alternative and Mycroft could be that if it was a smoother experience.
But perhaps it’s not a consumer device and is aimed at hobbyists.
As a specific issue, the AVmusic skill is still listed on the web page but it doesn’t seem able to be installed. There isn’t much documentation and although there is a github page, the skill can’t be installed either by spoken command or by ssh’ing to the Mark 1.
I just think a consumer-level, out-of-the-box package of skills would be really great; and the web page needs kept up to date.
I am a big fan, by the way and want it to succeed. I’m not trying to criticise but make helpful suggestions as a newbie to the product.

1 Like
11

Hi @roy, thanks for your feedback.

We’re definitely working hard to transition Mycroft from an Advanced Prototype to a Consumer-Ready Device, and aim to be there within about six months or so.

Part of that, as you say, is focusing on the overall user experience - which includes things like unboxing, documentation and customer support.

In regard to your specific feedback;

  • Documentation - we have fairly extensive documentation - our challenge at the moment is that the product is moving faster than the documentation can keep pace, which in a way is a good problem to have. We warmly welcome contributions from the Community to documentation - you can see the documentation repo here. If there are gaps in the documentation, you’re very welcome to suggest amendments.

  • Smoother experience - I’m going to make an assumption here that you’re on a Picroft Device - our CTO @steve.penrod has done an enormous amount of work recently on reworking the Picroft image, and a brand new Picroft image was recently released, which might be worth checking out. It’s deliberately designed to make it easier to support audio devices.

  • AV Music Skill - I believe the issue with the AV Music Skill is specific to Picroft - I assisted w[ith replicating this - and there is a workaround available.

Best, Kathy

1 Like
12

Hi Kathy
Thanks for your reply.
I am running a Mycroft Mark 1 but had to download the image because it didn’t work.
I tried the workaround for AVmusic but get the following error.

(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $ WARNING - Failed to update repo: GitException(Git command failed: GitCommandErro                                          r(['git', 'config', 'remote.origin.url', 'https://github.com/MycroftAI/mycroft-s                                          kills'], 255, b'error: could not lock config file .git/config: Permission denied                                          ', b''))
-bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $ INFO - Downloading skill: https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic
-bash: INFO: command not found
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $ CloneException:
-bash: CloneException:: command not found
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $   stderr: 'Cloning into '/tmp/tmp5_uhqofs'...
> fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic/': gnutls_handsha                                          ke() failed: Close notify
> '
-bash: stderr:: command not found
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $
13

Hi Roy, I think the command here has become a little garbled.

Once you are in the virtual environment (you should have (mycroft-core) in your prompt), then you should be able to run the command;

msm install https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic

14

Hi Kathy

I think that’s what I typed. I’ve cut and pasted your command and this is what happens:

pi@mark_1:~ $ source /opt/venvs/mycroft-core/bin/activate
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $ msm install GitHub - reginaneon/AVmusic: Provides the video/audio playback of music requested by the user.
WARNING - Failed to update repo: GitException(Git command failed: GitCommandError([‘git’, ‘config’, ‘remote.origin.url’, ‘GitHub - MycroftAI/mycroft-skills: A repository for sharing and collaboration for third-party Mycroft skills development.’], 255, b’error: could not lock config file .git/config: Permission denied’, b’'))
INFO - Downloading skill: GitHub - reginaneon/AVmusic: Provides the video/audio playback of music requested by the user.
CloneException:
stderr: 'Cloning into ‘/tmp/tmpxiuwl83h’…
fatal: unable to access ‘GitHub - reginaneon/AVmusic: Provides the video/audio playback of music requested by the user.’: gnutls_handshake() failed: Close notify
’
(mycroft-core) pi@mark_1:~ $

15

Hi. I can’t get any further with this. Anyone have a clue? Is there something I can tweak or amend directory permissions or something?
Thanks

16

@roy, So my goto for updating / installing skills on the rpi is.
pi@picroft:~ $ sudo su
root@picroft:/home/pi# source /opt/venvs/mycroft-core/bin/activate
(mycroft-core) root@picroft:/home/pi# msm update
or
(mycroft-core) root@picroft:/home/pi# msm install https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic.git

after this you need to ensure that the installed directory in the skills folder has the correct permissions.

1 Like
17

Apologies, I missed this one - the forum’s getting quite busy!
Yes, try the solution @pcwii provided and let us know how you go.

18

I will hopefully soon. Mycroft is “Updating” and it’s been going on for about half an hour.
I’ll post back the results when I can.

19

Mycroft remained ‘uodating’ for a whole day. Eventually I pulled the power and when it came back it asked me to register again.
Funny, after doing this it retained the new name I’d given it for wakeup word. So it accepts Hey Jarvis and not Hey Mycroft.
Anyway, I tried a verbal install of the skill but it still couldn’t find it.
I will try the cli ssh option.

20

@KathyReid @pcwii

Tried to install using ssh again. Still not finding the repo.

> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi# msm install https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic.git
> WARNING - Failed to update repo: GitException(Git command failed: GitCommandError(['git', 'fetch'], 128, b"fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/MycroftAI/mycroft-skills/': gnutls_handshake() failed: Close notify", b''))
> INFO - Downloading skill: https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic.git
> CloneException:
>   stderr: 'Cloning into '/tmp/tmpe36upq0r'...
> fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic.git/': gnutls_handshake() failed: Close notify
> '
> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi#
> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi#
> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi#
> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi# msm install https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic
> WARNING - Failed to update repo: GitException(Git command failed: GitCommandError(['git', 'fetch'], 128, b"fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/MycroftAI/mycroft-skills/': gnutls_handshake() failed: Close notify", b''))
> INFO - Downloading skill: https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic
> CloneException:
>   stderr: 'Cloning into '/tmp/tmp4gjuvjey'...
> fatal: unable to access 'https://github.com/reginaneon/AVmusic/': gnutls_handshake() failed: Close notify
> '
> (mycroft-core) root@mark_1:/home/pi#