Installation Guide
Installing LOPs
Section titled “Installing LOPs”This guide explains the automated installation process for LOPs (Language/Learning/Logic/Latent Operators) in TouchDesigner.
System Requirements
Section titled “System Requirements”- TouchDesigner (current recommended version: 2023.11000 or newer)
- Windows 10/11 or macOS 10.15+
- Python 3.11+ (Python 3.11.9 recommended for PC users)
- Minimum 8GB RAM (16GB+ recommended for larger models)
- Internet connection for API-dependent operators
macOS Compatibility: Most LOPs features have been tested and are functional on macOS.
Automated Installation Process
Section titled “Automated Installation Process”LOPs features a guided installation system that walks you through the setup via message boxes and automates most of the technical steps:
1. First-Time Usage
Section titled “1. First-Time Usage”The installation process is triggered automatically when LOPs needs to use the Python environment:
- When you first attempt to use any LOPs functionality that requires Python libraries (like accessing LLM APIs)
- The system detects that no LOPs installation exists
- A popup appears with the message “No LOPs Installation Detected!”
- Click “Setup / Install” to proceed
2. Python Virtual Environment Setup
Section titled “2. Python Virtual Environment Setup”After clicking “Setup / Install”:
- A folder selection dialog appears
- Create or select a folder where LOPs will store its Python environment
- This folder will be used across all TouchDesigner projects that use LOPs
- Similar to other extensions like Stream Diffusion or ComfyTD
- The system will automatically:
- Create a Python virtual environment in the selected folder
- Install necessary dependencies (including LiteLLM)
- Configure paths for future use
3. Direct Installation from the Main Operator
Section titled “3. Direct Installation from the Main Operator”If you want to set up the environment before using any features:
- Select the
dot_lops
container component - In the parameters panel, find the “Install LOPs Environment” pulse button
- Click the pulse button to start the installation process
- Follow the same folder selection and setup process as described above
4. API Key Configuration
Section titled “4. API Key Configuration”Once installation completes:
- Navigate to the Model section to set up API service connections
- For each service you want to use (OpenAI, OpenRouter, Groq, etc.):
- Click the “Find API Key” button for the service
- Follow the link to create an account if needed
- Generate an API key on the service’s website
- Copy and paste the key into the appropriate field
- The system will securely store your API keys
Verification and Troubleshooting
Section titled “Verification and Troubleshooting”After installation:
- “First use may freeze the project briefly” as noted in the installation message
- The “Python Venv” parameter on the Config page will point to your selected installation folder
- If dependencies are missing, LOPs will automatically prompt you to install them
Common Messages
Section titled “Common Messages”The system may display these messages during operation:
- “No LOPs Installation Detected!” - Indicates first-time setup is needed
- “LOPs Installation Found at: [path]” - Shows an existing installation was detected
- “Installation Complete” - Confirms successful installation
- “API Key Stored” - Confirms an API key was successfully saved
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”If you encounter any issues:
- Click the “Install OpenAI” or “Install LOPs” button to rerun the installation wizard
- For Python issues, use the “Download Python 3.11” option in the installation dialog
- If an “API Key is not defined” error appears, re-enter your API key
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”Once installation is complete:
- Read the Introduction to LOPs guide
- Learn about LOPs Stubs & Updates for optimizing performance
- Explore the SideCar Service for additional functionality
- Check the operators reference for detailed information on each component