Installing Odoo

Source install

For Odoo developers, source installation (running Odoo from the source code) is recommended. This offers greater control over the environment and facilitates easier debugging.

Development environment setup

Version control

Use Git for version control to manage code changes, collaborate with others, and track your progress.

Virtual environments

Utilize virtual environments like virtualenv or pyenv to isolate project dependencies and prevent conflicts across different Odoo versions.

Virtualenv Documentation

Pyenv Documentation: pyenv lets you easily switch between multiple versions of Python. It's simple, unobtrusive, and follows the UNIX tradition of single-purpose tools that do one thing well

IDE and Plugins

Integrated Development Environment (IDE):

 Choose a Python-compatible IDE like PyCharm or with Odoo-specific plugins for improved code completion, syntax highlighting, and debugging tools.

Odoo-specific plugins:

Install plugins within your IDE to enhance features like automatic module reloading, model browsing, and unit testing. Popular options include Odoo Studio, Odoo Debugger, and Odoo Development Tools.

Code organization:

Custom addons path:

 Create a dedicated directory for your custom Odoo modules outside the main Odoo source code. This ensures cleaner separation and easier maintenance.

Project structure:

 Implement a standard project structure within your custom addons path for consistent organization of files and modules.

Code style

 Follow Odoo's coding style guide for maintainability and code quality.

Odoo Coding Style Guide

Testing and debugging:

Unit testing

 Utilize unit testing frameworks like unittest or pytest to write tests for your modules and ensure code functionality.

Unittest Documentation

Pytest Documentation:

Automated testing

 Implement continuous integration (CI) tools like Travis CI or GitLab CI/CD for automated testing and code coverage reports.

Travis CI Documentation

Debugger

Leverage the Odoo debugger available in your IDE or Odoo's built-in debugger to identify and fix bugs efficiently.

Odoo Debugger Documentation

Additional tools

Command-line interface (CLI):

 Use the Odoo odoo-bin command for various tasks like starting/stopping the server, managing modules, and running scripts.

Development server:

 Utilize the development server for faster iterative development and code reloading.

www.odoo.sh/

Technical documentation:

 Refer to Odoo's extensive documentation for technical guides, API references, and best practices.

​Odoo API Reference​

Security

Keep your Odoo version updated:

 Regularly update Odoo to address security vulnerabilities and access new features.

Odoo Security Best Practices

Use strong authentication:

 Implement secure authentication methods like two-factor authentication to protect your database.

Follow security best practices:

 Adhere to Odoo's security recommendations for data encryption and access control.

Collaboration 

Use a code review platform:

 Utilize a platform like GitHub for code review and collaboration with other developers.

GitHub for Odoo Development

Maintain clear documentation:

 Document your code and development process for easier collaboration and future reference.

Contribute to the Odoo community:

 Participate in the Odoo community forums and contribute to open-source projects to share knowledge and learn from others.

Odoo Community Forum

Customization

Customize your environment:

 Adapt your development environment to your specific workflow and preferences.

Use custom scripts and tools:

Develop custom scripts and tools to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your development process.

Explore Odoo's extensibility:

 Leverage Odoo's flexible architecture to customize and extend the platform to fit your specific needs.