Project Installation

• If you do not have one, Create a GitHub Account: https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/onboarding/getting-started-with-your-github-account

• Join the GitHub classroom via this link: https://classroom.github.com/a/E1TKoZxM . Only one member of your team (the first to join) needs to make a team in the classroom. Please use the same naming convention as your canvas group.

• Clone the project repository on your local device: copy the HTTPS link from the GitHub Classroom and execute git clone <COPY PASTE HTTPS LINK HERE> inside a terminal in a folder in your user directory.

• You may have already installed Eclipse and the MARBEL plug-in. If so, please check whether you are using the latest version of the plug-in by using the Eclipse menu (Help → Check for Updates). If not, pleasehttps://goalapl.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/GOAL/pages/2143977473/Download+and+Install+the+MARBEL+Plugin.

• Launch Eclipse (You can choose to create a new workspace if you like).

• Go to Window → Preferences (or on Mac: Eclipse → Settings) → MARBEL → Runtime and uncheck the box for `Include initial KR updates’.

• Additionally, navigate to the Logging (should be right above Runtime) and check your logging preferences. The following boxes under Logging should be checked:

  • Under Log Handling “Show an action history whilst debugging”, “Show a console per agent whilst debugging”

  • Under Logging Options “The reasoning cycle separator”, Going to sleep or waking up”, “User-specified actions that have been executed”, “Initializing changes in KR”, “Changes in the KR”

• Import the MARBEL dialog manager project in Eclipse by selecting File → Import → MARBEL Agent Programming → Existing MARBEL Project, clicking Next, browsing to the agent folder dialog_mngr in which you cloned the project, and selecting the dialogmngr-pca2025-basic.mas2g file, clicking Open, and finally, clicking Finish.

Environment Setup Instructions

Follow these steps to set up your environment for the project:

Step 1: Install Redis and PyAudio

1. Install Redis:
   Follow the guide here to do the install:
   How to Install Redis on Your Laptop

2. Install PyAudio:
   Use the instructions provided on the PyPI page:
   PyAudio Installation Guide

3. Install Espeak:
   Use the instructions provided here:
   Espeak Website or with Mac & Homebrew https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/espeak

Step 2: Install Anaconda or Miniconda

• If you don’t already have Conda installed, download and install either:

  • Anaconda: A comprehensive package including Conda and many pre-installed data science libraries.
    Anaconda Installation Guide

  • Miniconda: A lightweight version of Conda with fewer pre-installed packages.
    Miniconda Installation Guide

Step 3: Create the Conda Environment

1. Locate the YAML File:
   The repository contains a pre-configured environment.yaml file for the project.

2. Create the Environment:
   Open a terminal, navigate to the repository folder, and run:

   conda env create -f environment.yaml

3. Activate the Environment:
   Once the environment is created, activate it with:

   conda activate PCA25

Step 4: Open the Repository in an IDE

1. Find the Cloned Repository:
   Navigate to the repository folder on your computer.

2. Use an IDE (Recommended):

   • Open the project in an IDE like PyCharm it is for the best.

   • You can find PyCharm here: PyCharm Download. You could also use https://code.visualstudio.com/ if you really want to…

   Hot Tip: JetBrains offers free professional licenses for students. Learn more and apply here:
   JetBrains Free Student Licenses

3. Set Up the Interpreter in PyCharm:

   • Go to File > Settings > Project > Python Interpreter.

   • Set the interpreter to the Conda environment (PCA25) you created earlier.

Step 5: Verify the Setup

• Check Redis: Ensure Redis is running as per the guide.

• Check Environment Activation: Ensure the environment is activated before running the project.

  conda activate PCA25

• 

Final Steps: Setting Up the Project in Your IDE

Step 1: Open the Terminal in the IDE

1. Launch your IDE (e.g., PyCharm) and open the project folder.

2. Open the terminal within the IDE (see pic above)

Step 2: Ensure the Conda Environment is Activated

1. Check if your Conda environment (PCA25) is activated.
   You should see (PCA25) at the beginning of the terminal prompt. If not, activate it manually:

   conda activate PCA25

Step 3: Navigate to the Directory for social-interaction-cloud

1. Change your directory to the social-interaction-cloud folder:

   cd sic-student-version

2. Install the package using pip:

   pip install .

   • The . tells pip to install the package in the current directory (i.e., social-interaction-cloud).

Step 4: Return to the pca-agent-2025 Directory

1. Navigate back to the pca-agent-2025 directory by moving one level up:

   cd ..

Step 5: Navigate to the sic_applications Directory

1. Change your directory to the sic_applications folder:

   cd sic_applications

2. Install the package using pip:

   pip install .

Now, please go ahead and test your installation. You should be able to run the entire setup (see Run your Conversational Agent). Do keep in mind that the basic agent does only very basic things, but you should expect to get a greeting.