`pyghidraRun` cannot find virtual environment

[shamefulCake1]

Describe the bug
pyghidraRun cannot find virtual environment when launched from the build directory.

Using Python command: "python3.9"
Virtual environment not found!
Run "gradle prepdev" and try again.

./gradlew prepdev does not help.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. python3 -m venv m_pyghidra-venv
2. source my_pyghidra-venv/bin/activate
3. python3 -m pip install 'jpype1==1.5.2' # uses internet
4. python3 -m pip install --no-index -f ./Ghidra/Features/PyGhidra/build/pypkg/dist pyghidra
5. ./Ghidra/RuntimeScripts/Linux/support/pyghidraRun

Expected behavior
Ghidra starts

Environment (please complete the following information):

• OS: Linux Linux laptop.lockywolf.net 6.12.16 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed Mar 12 07:54:09 CST 2025 x86_64 Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-9880H CPU @ 2.30GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux + glibc-2.42
• Java Version: 21
• Ghidra Version: 12, dev 16350d9 (Dec 15 07:14:19 2025)
• Ghidra Origin: git clone

[shamefulCake1]

Something like this should fix it:

diff --git a/Ghidra/Features/PyGhidra/support/pyghidra_launcher.py b/Ghidra/Features/PyGhidra/support/pyghidra_launcher.py
index 2ad7cb633e..a470a27637 100644
--- a/Ghidra/Features/PyGhidra/support/pyghidra_launcher.py
+++ b/Ghidra/Features/PyGhidra/support/pyghidra_launcher.py
@@ -128,8 +128,10 @@ def get_venv_exe(venv_dir: Path) -> List[str]:
     return [win_python_cmd] if platform.system() == 'Windows' else [linux_python_cmd]
 
 def get_ghidra_venv(install_dir: Path, dev: bool) -> Path:
+    if os.getenv("VIRTUAL_ENV") != '':
+        return Path(os.getenv("VIRTUAL_ENV"))
     return (install_dir / 'build' if dev else get_user_settings_dir(install_dir, dev)) / 'venv'
-    
+
 def create_ghidra_venv(python_cmd: List[str], venv_dir: Path) -> None:
     print(f'Creating Ghidra virtual environment at {venv_dir}...')
     subprocess.run(python_cmd + ['-m', 'venv', venv_dir.absolute()])
@@ -222,6 +224,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     install_dir: Path = Path(os.path.normpath(args.install_dir))
     pyghidra_dir: Path = install_dir / 'Ghidra' / 'Features' / 'PyGhidra'
     dist_dir: Path = pyghidra_dir / 'pypkg' / 'dist'
+    print('venv_dir = get_ghidra_venv(install_dir={}, args.dev={})'.format(install_dir, args.dev))
     venv_dir = get_ghidra_venv(install_dir, args.dev)
     python_cmd: List[str] = find_supported_python_exe(install_dir, args.dev)
       
@@ -238,6 +241,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     if args.dev:
         # If in dev mode, launch PyGhidra from the source tree using the development virtual environment
         if not venv_dir.is_dir():
+            print('venv_dir={}'.format(venv_dir))
             print('Virtual environment not found!')
             print('Run "gradle prepdev" and try again.')
             sys.exit(1)

[ryanmkurtz]

Try ./gradlew prepPyGhidra. This sets up a virtual environment at build/venv and then ./Ghidra/RuntimeScripts/Linux/support/pyghidraRun should work. This environment will also allow you to develop and test the PyGhidra module on the fly.

[shamefulCake1]

Try ./gradlew prepPyGhidra.

This works.

I guess the pyghidraRun should suggest running this, not gradle prepdev?

My trick with if os.getenv("VIRTUAL_ENV") != '': also seems to work though.

[ryanmkurtz]

I guess the pyghidraRun should suggest running this, not gradle prepdev?

You are right. prepdev used to handle it but then some people who didn't have Python installed complained, so i broke it out into its own task. I'll get that fixed up right away...thanks!