Feature suggestion: preprocessing and postprocessing scripts

[djrrb]

I ❤ Batch and I wouldn't want to use anything else. However there are a few things that I like to do that are specific to my workflow, such as dealing with double encodings that the FDK strips from the UFO, etc. Right now I have to run them as a separate step, but would love to incorporate it into my generating process.

Would you consider allowing users to add an optional preprocessing and postprocessing script to Batch? I think it would be as easy as letting the user select these scripts in the UI, and then providing a way for the scripts to access the source UFO and the generated font (and the designspace, if applicable).

(I considered making my own version of Batch, but then I have to keep it up to date and distribute it to anyone else generating my fonts. Adding a custom preprocessing/postprocessing preferences seems like a cleaner solution.)

Feel free to close this issue if you’re not interested, and thanks for hearing me out!

[typemytype]

this would be indeed a welcome addition :)

I would rather propose to either use the already embedded RoboFont notifications: fontWillGenerate and fontDidGenerate

If this is not sufficient Batch could add his own notifications before and after generating binaries.

[djrrb]

Thank you for reminding me about these notifications! I will give it a go, and submit a pull request if I come up with something respectable. ;-)

Looking forward, would be cool for these notifications to also contain a designspace attribute if one is being used in the generation process.

[typemytype]

would be cool for these notifications to also contain a designspace attribute if one is being used in the generation process.

maybe Batch should add his own notifications and send the additional data like design space docs objects.

[djrrb]

I just made a first attempt a postprocessor, and it works when I use RoboFont’s File > Generate. But is it just me or is Batch not providing a fontDidGenerate notification?

from mojo.events import addObserver

class Postprocessor:
    
    def __init__(self):
        addObserver(self, "didGenerateObserver", "fontDidGenerate")
    
    def didGenerateObserver(self, info):
        print 'POSTPROCESS!!!!!!!'
Postprocessor()

[djrrb]

Hope I am not being a bother, just following up on the status of the fontDidGenerate notification,which at the moment still doesn't appear to fire when I generate a font with Batch (but fires as expected when I use File > Generate). Thanks for whatever advice you're able to give!

[typemytype]

Batch 2.0 is almost there

is there still a need to post notifications and maybe subscriber notifications specific from Batch?

something like batchDidGenerateFont(ufo/ufoOperator, binaryPath)