I don't know where to begin with CEP development.

Question

I've searched for information for a long time, but I really don't know how to solve the problem.

I followed the project Getting-Started-guides and completed steps 1 to 5, but then I don't understand how to do step 6 at all, 'Window > Extensions > My First Panel.' I don't understand how it suddenly jumps to this step. I have no idea where the project files from steps 1-5 should be placed or how to use them.

I have two entries in my registry, CSXS.11 and CSXS.12. I don't know why there are two. I don't know if this is because I installed Photoshop and Illustrator, so two appear. I also don't know which one I should choose, and I don't know which version of CSInterface.js I should use in the client folder.

I don't understand why a hidden .debug file is needed, and that the operation requires specific software such as Sublime Text to create it. In fact, the ones I create with Sublime and VS Code are not hidden. I also tried using 'copy con .debug' and 'Ctrl+Z', but the command line seems to freeze or not freeze, I don't understand. Although I created .debug, I have no idea if the created .debug is correct.

I filled in the .debug file created using the above method according to the Getting-Started-guides and modified the ID, but it didn't work. I still can't access anything with 'http://localhost:8088/'. So many questions and unknowns make it impossible for me to troubleshoot where the problem is.

ErinF · Accepted Answer

Hopefully you're talking about this particular CEP Getting Started Guide?

I followed the project Getting-Started-guides and completed steps 1 to 5, but then I don't understand how to do step 6 at all, 'Window > Extensions > My First Panel.' I don't understand how it suddenly jumps to this step. I have no idea where the project files from steps 1-5 should be placed or how to use them.

In Step 1, Steve writes "You will need to decide where to save your extension code first. Your extension can be saved either at the root level or at the user level, depending on who’s allowed to use the extension (refer to CEP 8 HTML Extension Cookbook for the actual paths)."

Admittedly, this could be more clear, and CEP 8 has since been updated to CEP 12, here's the CEP 12 link: https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/CEP-Resources/blob/master/CEP_12.x/Documentation/CEP%2012%20HTML%20Extension%20Cookbook.md#extension-folders

So in steps 1-5 Steve is telling you how to create the files pictured in the image in Step 1.

I have two entries in my registry, CSXS.11 and CSXS.12. I don't know why there are two. I don't know if this is because I installed Photoshop and Illustrator, so two appear. I also don't know which one I should choose, and I don't know which version of CSInterface.js I should use in the client folder.

CSXS just means CEP. At this time not every desktop app has CEP 12 yet, so you need to look at this chart and decide which verions of apps you're targeting: https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/CEP-Resources/blob/master/CEP_12.x/Documentation/CEP%2012%20HTML%20Extension%20Cookbook.md#applications-integrated-with-cep

I don't understand why a hidden .debug file is needed...

You need the debug file for 'http://localhost:8088/' to work.

and that the operation requires specific software such as Sublime Text to create it. In fact, the ones I create with Sublime and VS Code are not hidden. I also tried using 'copy con .debug' and 'Ctrl+Z', but the command line seems to freeze or not freeze, I don't understand.

You likely don't need a special text app or even VS Code to create it... I'm not confident it needs to be invisible. I don't know why your command line is freezing.

I filled in the .debug file created using the above method according to the Getting-Started-guides and modified the ID, but it didn't work. I still can't access anything with 'http://localhost:8088/'. So many questions and unknowns make it impossible for me to troubleshoot where the problem is.

It sounds like you didn't make it to Part 2: https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/Getting-Started-guides/tree/master/Client-side%20Debugging

Although I created .debug, I have no idea if the created .debug is correct.

If you see your panel in localhost the debug is working. Also, you can share the contents of the file here.

The bigger underlying question is "Why are you creating a Photoshop CEP plugin in 2024?" Photoshop is slowly dropping support for CEP, it doesn't work on M1 (and up) Macs. Presumably, you want to make something that will work with both Photoshop and Illustrator.

Photoshop has moved on to UXP, but there is currently no timeline for Illustrator to release UXP, so admittedly, you are in a difficult spot.

James Lockman Enterprise · Answer

You might consider starting with the BOLT CEP framework. It takes the voodoo out of setting up a project and lets you get straight to coding. https://github.com/hyperbrew/bolt-cep

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