Genereate RQT graph from command line

[alsora]

This is a feature request.

As far as I know, rqt_graph only runs as a GUI application as part of rqt.
I think it would be very valuable to have this also work as a command line tool.

The purpose is to have a script that is run automatically and that is used to generate a pdf/image showing the ROS nodes graph.

Is this something that would be possible to add?

[alsora]

@mjeronimo @wjwwood do you have any thoughts on this? I really don't know anything about the rqt architecture, but I feel that this would be a very useful feature.

[wjwwood]

It would be reasonable, in my opinion, to have a button in the GUI to save the image, and also a command line option to the rqt_graph CLI tool that saves an image and exits.

[alsora]

There's already a save image button in the GUI.
Do you have an example for specifying plugin-specific command line options? Or should I create a separate CLI tool for this?

[wjwwood]

Oh ok, uh I don't know one off the top of my head, let me look. Having a separate CLI tool (maybe via ros2 node or something new) would also be fine. It could share an implementation (or most of one) with rqt_graph.

[wjwwood]

I don't see any examples. I haven't used rqt enough to say even what's available in the "context" you get. I wouldn't be surprised in cli arguments are in there. Maybe with a little digging you can find more or maybe another person watching here can give a hint.

Otherwise another cli tool might be the easiest thing.

[GeFrIt42]

Hello,
Is this feature being developed/planned in rqt_graph ?
or another cli tool was developed?
Best Regards

[alsora]

Hi @GeFrIt42, unnfortunately we haven't had time to look into this yet.
We were hoping for a quick solution, but it looks like implementing it requires at the very least to become more familiar with the current ROS 2 CLI and rqt architectures.

I don't have any estimate on whether we will be able to pick this item up, so feel free to contribute to it if you are interested!

[felixdivo]

I'd add that having a command line tool for this would be nice, e.g. to generate documentation in a more automated fashion.