Starting deCONZ without GUI on Windows

General
1

So I’m trying to startup deCONZ in headless mode (ie without GUI)

Looking at https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/wiki/deCONZ-command-line-parameters#available-debug-parameters it gives me the information

platform minimal
In case you want to start headless, use this parameter.
Example: /usr/bin/deCONZ --platform minimal --auto-connect=1

The example is for unix, so adapting it for Windows 10 machine I created a shortcut to the “deCONZ.exe” executable and added parameter to the Target line.

“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --platform minimal --auto-connect=1

When click my shortcut I get a deCONZ error dialog with the message
“This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initalized. Reinstalling the applications may fix this problem. Available platform plugins are: windows.”

The error message also appears if I use an alternate Target Line
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” -platform minimal -auto-connect=1

Any ideas on what might be wrong or other suggestions to run deCONZ headless on Windows ?

2

I can just add a little more info

  • ‘deCONZ with GUI’ operates ok on my windows machine,
  • the program’s bin folder contains seven 7 dll’s starting Qt5***** including Qt5Core.dll and Qt5Gui.dll.
  • this bin folder is where the shortcut Starts In.
3

“Example: /usr/bin/deCONZ --platform minimal --auto-connect=1”

seems like you took an “-” to much and thats why it doesn´t work.
-platform minimal --auto-connect=1

4

Replying to Guatama:

I had already tried
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” -platform minimal -auto-connect=1
but it didn’t work (gave same error)

Using
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” -platform minimal --auto-connect=1
as you suggested likewise gave the same error message

Using “C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --auto-connect=1
works fine but of course it’s open deCONZ with the GUI

the problem occurs when I try to use -platform minimal or --platform minimal
David

5

Using
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --platform anyoldtext --auto-connect=1
produces the 'no Qt platform error
but using
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --anyoldparam anyoldtext --auto-connect=1
doesn’t give the no Qt error and opens deCONZ with GUI ok
So deCONZ (on Windows) doesn’t like --platform followed by a space

Working with this I tried some other variations that I thought might possibly work
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --platform=minimal --auto-connect=1
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --platform-minimal=1 --auto-connect=1
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --minimal --auto-connect=1
“C:\More Programs\deCONZ\bin\deCONZ.exe” --minimal=1 --auto-connect=1
These don’t produce the no Qt platform plugin error, but they all open deCONZ with the GUI
(ie still not headless).

6

But the headless mode is possible on windows ?

7

I was unclear Smanar if you’re
a) making a statement “the headless mode is possible on windows”
or b) questioning whether the headless mode is actually possible at all on windows

So far I haven’t been able to get headless mode to work on Windows. Does anyone have a foolproof method of successfully starting deCONZ in headless mode on a Windows machine ?

8

In my mind it’s not possible on windows, but from my memory there is an issue somewhere to start it minimised.

9

I have consulted with Manup.
The parameter was first wrong ( --platform minimal instead of -platform minimal), this was corrected directly.
The problem is actually the missing Qt platform plugin. This will be integrated in the next version of us.