smpc

A CLI tool to automate compiling Crestron SIMPL Windows programs.

Installation

Using Scoop

scoop bucket add norgateav-crestron https://github.com/Norgate-AV/scoop-norgateav-crestron.git
scoop install smpc

Using Go Install

go install github.com/Norgate-AV/smpc@latest

Manual Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/Norgate-AV/smpc.git && cd smpc

2. Build and install the binary:

   make install

   This will compile the smpc binary and place it in your $GOBIN or $GOPATH/bin directory.

Usage

Note: This tool requires administrator privileges. See Administrator Privileges for details.

Compile a SIMPL Windows program:

smpc path/to/your/program.smw

The tool will:

1. Launch SIMPL Windows with the specified file
2. Automatically trigger compilation
3. Handle any dialog prompts
4. Parse and display compilation results (errors, warnings, notices)
5. Close SIMPL Windows automatically

Exit codes:

• 0: Compilation successful (warnings/notices are OK)
• 1: Compilation failed with errors or runtime error

Configuration

Custom SIMPL Windows Path

By default, smpc looks for SIMPL Windows at:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Crestron\Simpl\smpwin.exe

If SIMPL Windows is installed in a different location, set the SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH environment variable:

# PowerShell - Current session only
$env:SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH = "D:\Custom\Path\To\smpwin.exe"

# Or set it permanently (Windows User environment variable)
[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH', 'D:\Custom\Path\To\smpwin.exe', 'User')

# Or add to your PowerShell profile for automatic loading
Add-Content $PROFILE "`n`$env:SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH = 'D:\Custom\Path\To\smpwin.exe'"

:: Command Prompt
set SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH=D:\Custom\Path\To\smpwin.exe

:: Or set it permanently
setx SIMPL_WINDOWS_PATH "D:\Custom\Path\To\smpwin.exe"

Administrator Privileges

This tool requires elevated permissions to:

• Send keystrokes to SIMPL Windows
• Monitor and interact with system dialogs
• Automate the compilation process

Interactive Use

For the best experience, run smpc from an administrator terminal. This allows you to see the compilation output and logs directly in your terminal.

Using sudo for Elevation

The recommended approach for elevation is to use a sudo command, which elevates in the current terminal session and properly returns exit codes:

# Windows native sudo (Windows 11 24H2+)
sudo smpc path/to/your/program.smw

# Or using gsudo (cross-platform, install via scoop)
scoop install gsudo
sudo smpc path/to/your/program.smw

Benefits of using sudo:

• Elevates in the current terminal (no new window)
• Properly propagates exit codes to your shell
• Ideal for scripting and automation
• Works in PowerShell, CMD, and other shells

Auto-Elevation

If you run smpc from a non-elevated terminal without sudo, it will automatically:

• Check if it's running with administrator privileges
• If not, display a UAC (User Account Control) prompt to request elevation
• Relaunch itself with the required permissions in a new elevated terminal window

You may see a UAC prompt asking "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" - click Yes to continue.

Note: When auto-elevation occurs:

• The new terminal window will close immediately after compilation completes
• Exit codes are not propagated back to the original terminal (always returns 0)
• You can view the compilation logs afterward using smpc --logs
• For scripts that need exit codes, use sudo instead

CI/CD Environments

For automated builds in CI/CD pipelines, UAC prompts will block execution. Additionally, UI automation requires access to an interactive desktop session.

Critical Requirement: Interactive Desktop Session

GitHub Actions runners (and most CI agents) typically run as Windows services, which execute in Session 0 (a non-interactive background session). SIMPL Windows launches in an interactive user session (Session 1+), and services in Session 0 cannot detect or interact with UI windows in other sessions due to Windows session isolation.

This will cause UI automation to fail - the runner can launch SIMPL Windows, but cannot detect its window or send keyboard commands.

Recommended CI Runner Setup

For UI automation to work, configure a dedicated runner with interactive session access:

1. Create a dedicated local administrator account for the CI runner (e.g., ci-runner)

2. Do NOT install the runner as a Windows service

   • If already installed as a service, remove it first
   • Interactive session access is incompatible with service execution

3. Configure automatic login for the runner account on boot

4. Start the runner using a Windows scheduled task triggered at user login

   • The task must run with highest privileges in an interactive session
   • Configure the runner to start when the dedicated account logs in

UAC Handling

Configure your CI runner to execute with administrator privileges to automatically approve UAC prompts, or disable UAC on the build machine. Refer to your Windows documentation or system administrator for the appropriate method for your environment.

Alternative: Separate Runner Instances

You can run two runner instances on the same machine:

• Service runner: For standard builds/tests (installed as Windows service)
• Interactive runner: For UI automation (scheduled task with auto-login)

Use different runner names and labels (e.g., runs-on: [self-hosted, windows, ui-automation]) to route UI automation jobs to the interactive runner.

LICENSE

MIT