Re: Any Progress on an AI Related Screen-Reader?

On 8/7/25 18:08, Chime Hart wrote:
> Well Aaron, in running your fist command, I get this error
> /usr/bin/python3: No module named piper.download_voices
> Thanks in advance
> Chime
>
Okay, I looked up pipx. This is a tool I'm not familiar with. I use venv 
and conda for virtual environments. This does things in a whole weird 
way with an emphasis on installing applications, not modules or 
packages. So your default python at /usr/bin/python doesn't know 
anything about what pipx has done and `python -m piper.download_voices` 
fails. I was able to get the command to run using:

user@computer:~$ ~/.local/pipx/venvs/piper-tts/bin/python -m 
piper.download_voices

I was also able to activate the virtual environment using:

user@computer:~$ . ~/.local/pipx/venvs/piper-tts/bin/activate

which then allowed me to use

(piper-tts) user@computer:~$ python -m piper.download_voices

(piper-tts) user@computer:~$ python -m piper.download_voices 
en_US-arctic-medium

Once I had the voice downloaded, I was able to deactivate the 
environment, and as long as I have /home/user/.local/bin in my path 
(export PATH="$PATH:/home/user/.local/bin") I am able to run the piper 
command:

user@computer:~$ echo "Hello world!" | piper -m en_US-arctic-medium -s 2 
--output-raw | aplay -r 22050 -f S16_LE

So, here is a transcript of my final session (leaving out all the 
experiments and mistakes):

user@computer:~$ sudo apt install pipx
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
...
Selecting previously unselected package pipx.
Preparing to unpack .../31-pipx_1.1.0-1_all.deb ...
Unpacking pipx (1.1.0-1) ...
...
user@computer:~$ pipx install piper-tts
   installed package piper-tts 1.3.0, installed using Python 3.11.2
   These apps are now globally available
     - piper
⚠️  Note: '/home/user/.local/bin' is not on your PATH environment variable.
     These apps will not be globally accessible until your PATH is 
updated. Run
     `pipx ensurepath` to automatically add it, or manually modify your 
PATH in
     your shell's config file (i.e. ~/.bashrc).
done! ✨ 🌟 ✨
user@computer:~$ export PATH="$PATH:/home/user/.local/bin"
user@computer:~$ ~/.local/pipx/venvs/piper-tts/bin/python -m 
piper.download_voices en_US-arctic-medium
INFO:__main__:Downloaded: en_US-arctic-medium
user@computer:~$ echo "Hello world!" | piper -m en_US-arctic-medium -s 2 
--output-raw | aplay -r 22050 -f S16_LE
Playing raw data 'stdin' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 22050 Hz, Mono

I hope that helps
-Aaron