QR Studio — Text → QR (GUI)

A small, production‑quality desktop app for generating QR codes from any text or URL.

• Preview instantly and save as PNG (white or transparent background) or SVG.
• Cross‑platform: Windows, macOS, Linux.

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Features

Keyboard shortcuts

Action	Shortcut
Generate	Ctrl+G
Save	Ctrl+S
Clear	Esc

Error correction: L / M / Q / H Backgrounds (PNG): White or Transparent

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Folder Structure

text-to-qr/
├─ pyproject.toml
├─ README.md
├─ .gitignore
└─ src/
   └─ qrstudio/
      ├─ __init__.py
      ├─ main.py          # Allows: python -m qrstudio
      ├─ config.py        # App configuration (dataclass)
      ├─ events.py        # Minimal event bus (Observer)
      ├─ commands.py      # Generate/Save commands (Command pattern)
      ├─ domain/
      │  ├─ __init__.py
      │  ├─ spec.py       # QRSpec + ErrorCorrection (domain model)
      │  └─ backgrounds.py# Background strategies (Strategy)
      ├─ encoding/
      │  ├─ __init__.py
      │  └─ encoders.py   # PNG/SVG encoders (Factory)
      ├─ services/
      │  ├─ __init__.py
      │  └─ qr_service.py # Pure service: build/render/save QR
      └─ ui/
         ├─ __init__.py
         └─ tk_app.py     # Tkinter GUI (thin layer over commands)

If your actual package files are named init.py, rename them to __init__.py to make the packages importable.

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Why this architecture?

• Domain → Services → UI layering keeps logic testable and the UI swappable.
• Command pattern isolates actions; the UI only wires callbacks.
• Strategy for background (white/transparent); Factory for encoders (PNG/SVG).
• EventBus (Observer) decouples logging/console from actions.

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Requirements

• Python ≥ 3.9
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (Tkinter is included in python.org installers)
• Dependencies: qrcode[pil], Pillow (installed via pyproject.toml)

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Quick Start

From the project root (the folder containing pyproject.toml).

1) Create & activate a virtual environment

Windows (PowerShell)

python -m venv .venv
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1

macOS / Linux (bash/zsh)

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate

2) Install in editable mode

python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install -e .

3) Run the app

Option A: module entry

python -m qrstudio

Option B: console script (from pyproject.toml)

qrstudio

The window opens. Enter your text/URL, choose White or Transparent (PNG), click Generate, then Save… to export PNG or SVG.

Launch without an attached console (Windows):

pythonw -m qrstudio

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Usage Notes

• Transparent PNG: choose Transparent (PNG) before generating. Saving as SVG always uses a transparent canvas (vector).

• Error correction:

  • L (≈7%), M (≈15%), Q (≈25%), H (≈30%) — higher = more robust, larger codes.

• Box size & border control pixel density and quiet zone.

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Troubleshooting

• ModuleNotFoundError: qrcode or PIL Re‑run: python -m pip install -e .

• Tkinter errors (e.g., _tkinter / init.tcl) Install Python from python.org (includes Tcl/Tk). On Linux, you may need your distro’s Tk package, e.g.:

  sudo apt-get install python3-tk

• Nothing happens on Save Generate first, then use Save…. Ensure the path ends with .png or .svg.