DICOMator Contributor Notes

Repository Overview

Purpose: Blender 4.2+ add-on that voxelizes mesh objects and exports them as CT-style DICOM series, optionally layering synthetic artifacts.
Key modules:
- ```
__init__.py
```
  – Blender registration entry point and exported API.
- ```
properties.py
```
  –
```
bpy.types.PropertyGroup
```
  definitions backing the add-on UI.
- ```
panels.py
```
  /
```
operators.py
```
  – UI panels and operators exposed in the 3D Viewport sidebar.
- ```
voxelization.py
```
  – Mesh voxelization helpers that populate voxel grids and estimate selection bounds.
- ```
artifacts.py
```
  – Synthetic artifact generators (noise, streaks, rings, partial volume, motion). Artifacts should be grounded by physical models where possible.
- ```
dicom_export.py
```
  – Writes voxel grids to DICOM slices via pydicom when available.
- ```
constants.py
```
  – Core HU constants and optional imports (pydicom, Dataset helpers).
- ```
utils.py
```
  – Lightweight helpers for property access and UI refresh.
- ```
download_wheels.py
```
  /
```
wheels/
```
  – Optional vendor wheels for Blender’s bundled Python.

Target Python 3.11 (matches Blender 4.2 runtime).
Follow PEP 8 conventions: 4-space indentation, descriptive naming, and module-level docstrings. Keep public helpers exported through
```
__all__
```
lists when the surrounding module already uses them.
Prefer explicit type hints (
```
-> None
```
, concrete collection types) and keep docstrings concise but informative. Use f-strings for string interpolation.
Blender-specific code (
```
bpy
```
,
```
mathutils
```
) should remain importable without running inside Blender. Avoid executing Blender ops at import time; confine them to functions/operators.
When updating release metadata, remember to keep
```
bl_info
```
in
```
__init__.py
```
and
```
blender_manifest.toml
```
in sync.
Avoid committing large binary assets. The
```
wheels/
```
directory already contains prebuilt dependencies; keep additions minimal and justify them in commit messages.
Use python modules packaged with Blender where possible and avoid using third party modules which need to be packaged using wheels.
Ensure the code is written and structured in a way that is easily understandable by a medical physicist.

The repository does not ship automated unit tests. Before committing changes, run:
```
python -m compileall DICOMator
```
This catches syntax errors without requiring Blender.
For features that touch Blender interaction, perform a quick manual smoke test inside Blender if possible (not enforced here, but recommended).

Update
```
README.md
```
when you add or remove user-facing features or major workflow changes.
Keep commit messages and PR descriptions focused on functionality and testing (mention manual Blender verification when applicable).

Purpose: Blender 4.2+ add-on that voxelizes mesh objects and exports them as CT-style DICOM series, optionally layering synthetic artifacts.

Key modules:

```
__init__.py
```
– Blender registration entry point and exported API.
```
properties.py
```
–
```
bpy.types.PropertyGroup
```
definitions backing the add-on UI.
```
panels.py
```
/
```
operators.py
```
– UI panels and operators exposed in the 3D Viewport sidebar.
```
voxelization.py
```
– Mesh voxelization helpers that populate voxel grids and estimate selection bounds.
```
artifacts.py
```
– Synthetic artifact generators (noise, streaks, rings, partial volume, motion). Artifacts should be grounded by physical models where possible.
```
dicom_export.py
```
– Writes voxel grids to DICOM slices via pydicom when available.
```
constants.py
```
– Core HU constants and optional imports (pydicom, Dataset helpers).
```
utils.py
```
– Lightweight helpers for property access and UI refresh.
```
download_wheels.py
```
/
```
wheels/
```
– Optional vendor wheels for Blender’s bundled Python.

Target Python 3.11 (matches Blender 4.2 runtime).

Follow PEP 8 conventions: 4-space indentation, descriptive naming, and module-level docstrings. Keep public helpers exported through

__all__

lists when the surrounding module already uses them.

Prefer explicit type hints (

-> None

, concrete collection types) and keep docstrings concise but informative. Use f-strings for string interpolation.

Blender-specific code (

bpy

mathutils

) should remain importable without running inside Blender. Avoid executing Blender ops at import time; confine them to functions/operators.

When updating release metadata, remember to keep

bl_info

__init__.py

and

blender_manifest.toml

in sync.

Avoid committing large binary assets. The

wheels/

directory already contains prebuilt dependencies; keep additions minimal and justify them in commit messages.

Use python modules packaged with Blender where possible and avoid using third party modules which need to be packaged using wheels.

Ensure the code is written and structured in a way that is easily understandable by a medical physicist.

The repository does not ship automated unit tests. Before committing changes, run:

python -m compileall DICOMator

This catches syntax errors without requiring Blender.

For features that touch Blender interaction, perform a quick manual smoke test inside Blender if possible (not enforced here, but recommended).