Quality of life (#50)

* updated requirements.txt according to GRIMM's instructions

* added launch configuration and build tasks for VS Code

* updated build scripts and documentation

Generator/README.md

@@ -1,3 +1,40 @@
+# Install a development environment
+
+## Install VSCode
+
+Download and install VSCode: https://code.visualstudio.com/
+
+VS Code is a free, open source, cross-platform code editor.  It is a great tool for editing and debugging python code.  It also has a built-in terminal that can be used to run commands.
+## Install python 
+
+If using VSCode, you can install the Python extension to get started: [VS Marketplace Link](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python)
+
+If not, you may need to install python 3.8.5.  If you are using Windows, you can download it here: https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-385/
+
+## Create a python virtual environment
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Python: create environment" command.
+
+If not, run the following command in the root of the project: `python -m venv .\Generator\venv`
+
+## Install python dependencies
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Run task: " command and choose the "Install the Python requirements" task.
+
+If not, type `install-requirements.bat` in a terminal.
+
+## Build the mission generator
+
+If using VSCode, you can use the ">Run task: " command and choose the "Build the Mission Generator" task.
+
+If not, type `build.bat` in a terminal.
+
+## Run the mission generator
+
+Using VS Code, you can use the provided launch configuration to run the mission generator.  
+
+Otherwise, you can run the following command in a terminal: `python .\Generator\MissionGenerator.py`	
+
 # Building the exe with build.bat
 
 **Use build.bat to compile the UI files and build the exe.**

Generator/build.bat

@@ -1,4 +1,15 @@
-call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+IF EXIST ".\venv" (
+  call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+) ELSE (
+  IF EXIST "..\.venv" ( 
+    rem try to activate venv from root directory (VS Code default)
+    call ..\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+  ) ELSE (
+    echo "venv not found. Please create a virtual environment and activate it."
+    pause >nul
+    exit
+  )
+)
 echo activated python venv.
 
 pyuic5 -x MissionGeneratorUI.ui -o MissionGeneratorUI.py
@@ -10,4 +21,6 @@ echo compiled ui resource files.
 echo building exe with pyinstaller...
 pyinstaller MissionGenerator.spec --distpath ..\ --clean
 
-pause >nul
+if not %1=="-nopause" (
+  pause >nul
+) 

Generator/install-requirements.bat

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+IF EXIST ".\venv" (
+  call .\venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+) ELSE (
+  IF EXIST "..\.venv" ( 
+    rem try to activate venv from root directory (VS Code default)
+    call ..\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
+  ) ELSE (
+    echo "venv not found. Please create a virtual environment and activate it."
+    pause >nul
+    exit
+  )
+)
+echo activated python venv.
+
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+echo installed python requirements.
+
+if not %1=="-nopause" (
+  pause >nul
+)