Update and improve README.md and makefile text output for pipx

.make/base.make

@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ poetry-install: ## Install standalone Poetry using pipx and create Poetry env. W
     	  	if [ "$(AUTO_INSTALL)" = "true" ]; then \
 				ans="y";\
 			else \
+			  	echo "Looking for pipx version...";\
 			  	pipx --version; \
 					if [ $$? != "0" ]; then \
 						echo""; \
@@ -187,6 +188,8 @@ poetry-install: ## Install standalone Poetry using pipx and create Poetry env. W
 						echo "a different environment, or create a virtual one (ex. venv) to install pipx into it."; \
 						echo "See documentation for more information."; \
 						echo""; \
+						echo "Alternatively, the [make poetry-install-venv] target can also be used"; \
+						echo""; \
     	  				echo -n "Would you like to install pipx and Poetry? [y/N]: "; \
 					else \
 					  	echo""; \
@@ -215,10 +218,12 @@ poetry-install: ## Install standalone Poetry using pipx and create Poetry env. W
 
 .PHONY: poetry-install-venv
 poetry-install-venv: ## Install standalone Poetry and Poetry environment. Will install pipx in $HOME/.pipx_venv
-	python3 -m venv $$HOME/.pipx_venv
+	@echo "Creating virtual environment using venv here : [$$HOME/.pipx_venv]"
+	@python3 -m venv $$HOME/.pipx_venv
+	@echo "Activating virtual environment [$$HOME/.pipx_venv]"
 	@source $$HOME/.pipx_venv/bin/activate
 	@pip3 install pipx
-	make -s poetry-install
+	@make -s poetry-install
 
 .PHONY: poetry-env-info
 poetry-env-info: ## Information about the currently active environment used by Poetry
@@ -314,9 +319,9 @@ poetry-uninstall-pipx: poetry-remove-env ## Uninstall pipx-installed Poetry, the
 
 .PHONY: poetry-uninstall-venv
 poetry-uninstall-venv: ## Uninstall pipx-installed Poetry, the created Poetry environment, pipx and $HOME/.pipx_venv
-	python3 -m venv $$HOME/.pipx_venv
+	@python3 -m venv $$HOME/.pipx_venv
 	@source $$HOME/.pipx_venv/bin/activate
-	make -s poetry-uninstall-pipx
+	@make -s poetry-uninstall-pipx
 	@if [ "$(AUTO_INSTALL)" = "true" ]; then \
 		ans="y";\
 	else \

README.md

@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 # ClimatesetExtension
 
-## Requirements
-
-This project has only been tested in a Linux (Debian based) environment and assumes
-some basic tools for development are already installed.
+## Tools and Makefile structure
 
 The project uses a Makefile to automate most operations. If make is available on your 
 machine there's a good chance this will work.
@@ -19,7 +16,7 @@ The following Makefile files are project or user specific:
 * [Makefile.targets](Makefile.targets) : Shared project targets.
 * [Makefile.private](Makefile.private.example) : User specific variables and targets.
 
-## Basic Information
+### Basic Information
 
 The different targets and their description can be examined by executing the command
 `make targets`
@@ -28,7 +25,12 @@ Ex.
 
 ![](img/make_targets.png)
 
-## Installation
+## Requirements
+
+This project has only been tested in a Linux (Debian based) environment and assumes
+some basic tools for development are already installed.
+
+It also requires that minimally `Python`, `pip` and `venv` are available on your system.
 
 This project assumes environment management will be done with `Conda` or directly through
 `Poetry`. 
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ by most `install` targets.
 
 Currently, the project runs on Python version 3.10.
 
-### Environment management choices
+## Environment management choices
 
 Environment management can become quite complicated. Using Conda allows a certain
 ease of management since the Poetry installation is contained inside the created Conda 
@@ -70,17 +72,17 @@ your system. Using `Conda`, or installing `Poetry` as a standalone tool using `p
 It is not recommended to install `Poetry` in the same environment that will be managed
 by `Poetry` in order to minimize dependency conflicts.
 
-#### Pipx particularities
+### Note about Pipx installation 
 
-**WARNING** : If you want to install `Poetry` using `pipx`, and pipx is not already 
+If you want to install `Poetry` using `pipx`, and pipx is not already 
 installed on your system, it will be installed using `pip`. 
 
 Write access to that environment is required (use `which pip` to learn which 
 environment is active if not sure).
 
 Particularly on remote compute clusters (SLURM), default system `pip` will probably not 
-be writable by users. One way around it is to create a generic virtual environment 
-using `venv` like so (preferably in your $HOME). It can be done manually using the 
+allow users to install packages. One way around it is to create a generic virtual 
+environment using `venv` like so (preferably in your $HOME). It can be done manually using the 
 following commands:
 
 Ex.
@@ -90,18 +92,15 @@ source $HOME/.venv/bin/activate
 pip install pipx
 pipx ensurepath
 pipx install poetry
+deactivate
 ```
 
 This virtual environment can be deactivated afterward, as Poetry will still be 
 available to the user.
 
-```
-deactivate
-```
-
-There are also targets in the [Poetry section](#poetry-targets) that handle this use case.
+There are also targets in the [Poetry section](#using-poetry) that handle this use case.
 
-### Conda targets
+## Using Conda
 
 If you need or want to install Conda:
 ```
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ make conda-poetry-uninstall
 Make sure to activate the conda environment before moving on the 
 [install targets](#install-targets).
 
-### Poetry targets
+## Using Poetry
 
 The following target will first try to install `Poetry` in the active `Conda` 
 environment; if it can't find `Conda`, it will proceed to install via `pipx`
@@ -205,7 +204,7 @@ you will have to use `poetry run python <your_command_or_script_path>` instead o
 Conda's active environment will define the available default `python` executable.
 
 
-### Install targets
+## Installing the python package and it's dependencies
 
 **All `install` targets will first check if `Poetry` is available and try to install
 it with the `make poetry-install-auto` target.**
@@ -251,10 +250,11 @@ The easiest and quickest way to get up and running with Poetry.
 Install pipx and Poetry and activate project environment :
 
 ```
-make poetry-install
+make poetry-install 
 ```
+_can be replaced by `make poetry-install-venv` if needed_
 
-**Or, if Poetry is already available:**
+If Poetry is already available, the environment can be created using:
 
 ```
 make poetry-create-env