---
url: https://docs.cybrosys.com/assista-ide/configuration.md
description: >-
  Download Odoo, create odoo.conf, set up a Python virtual environment and
  configure the debugger with the Odoo Settings forms in Assista IDE.
---

# Set up your Odoo environment

Assista IDE downloads Odoo, writes its configuration file, creates a Python virtual environment and prepares debugging, so you can run a working Odoo project without doing each step by hand. It works with Odoo 11 to 20.

## What you can do

* Download any Odoo version from 11 to 20 into a folder you choose.
* Create or edit an `odoo.conf` file in a form instead of by hand.
* Create a virtual environment with the Python packages your Odoo version needs.
* Add a ready-made debug configuration, then run Odoo from the title bar.
* Open an Odoo project you already have.

## Get started

When you start Assista IDE with no folder open, the [setup wizard](/assista-ide/onboarding) guides you through every step on this page. You can repeat any step later from **Odoo Settings**.

> **Install the prerequisites first.**
>
> Before you set up a project, install Git, a supported Python, PostgreSQL and the system libraries Odoo needs. See [Prerequisites](/assista-ide/prerequisites).

![The setup assistant installing Python packages into the new virtual environment](/assista-ide/img/setup-python.png)

## Use Odoo Settings

Select the **Odoo** icon in the activity bar to open **Odoo Settings**. It has four sections. Each section is a form with one button at the bottom. The same commands are in the Command Palette: **Odoo: Pull Odoo Source Code**, **Odoo: Create Odoo Config File** and **Odoo: Config Odoo Debugger**.

| Section | Icon tooltip | Use it to |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Create Odoo Configuration** | Create Odoo Conf File | Create or edit an `odoo.conf` file |
| **Configure Odoo Debugger** | Configure Debugger | Set the paths that **Run** and debugging use |
| **Pull Odoo Source Code** | Pull Odoo Source Code | Download Odoo, and optionally create its virtual environment |
| **Setup Only Python Virtual Environment** | Virtual Environment Only Setup | Create a virtual environment for Odoo code you already have |

> **One project at a time.**
>
> Odoo Settings works on the first folder open in your workspace. To work with several Odoo versions, keep each in its own folder, for example `Odoo18` and `Odoo19`, each with its own `.venv`.

## Download Odoo

Use **Pull Odoo Source Code** to download Odoo and set it up in one step.

| Field | What to enter |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Odoo Version** | A version from 11.0 to 20.0. Required |
| **Target Directory** | The folder that will hold the new Odoo folder. Required. Select the folder icon to browse. If you leave it empty, Assista uses your open workspace folder |
| **Project Name** | The name of the folder to create. Leave it blank to use `Odoo` plus the major version, for example `Odoo20`. Names that contain `/` or `\`, or are `.` or `..`, are not accepted |
| **Setup virtual environment** | On by default. Creates the Python environment after the download. See [Create a virtual environment](#create-a-virtual-environment) |
| **Open folder in Assista after pull** | On by default. Opens the new project in the current window when setup finishes |

Select **Setup Odoo Environment**.

* Odoo downloads as a shallow copy of the version's branch from the official Odoo repository, so it is much smaller than the full history. Git must be installed, and you need an internet connection.
* A notification shows progress ("Downloading Odoo source code: 40%") and a **Cancel** button.
* If the destination folder exists, Assista asks whether to replace it and then asks you to confirm the permanent deletion. Replacing deletes the old folder. If you decline, nothing changes.
* If the download stalls for 40 seconds, or takes longer than 15 minutes, it stops with a message that asks you to check your connection.
* If **Open folder in Assista after pull** is off, a notification offers **Open in Workspace Folder** when setup finishes.
* Pull does not create `odoo.conf` or a debug configuration. Do those in the next sections.
* Pull does not download Odoo Enterprise. Clone it yourself and add its folder to the **Addons Path**.

## Create the Odoo configuration

Use **Create Odoo Configuration** to write `odoo.conf`.

1. Under **Odoo Configuration File**, select an existing `.conf` file, or **Create new Odoo conf file…** and type a name. The default is `odoo.conf`. The list shows `.conf` files in your project folder and one level below it.
2. Fill in the fields below.
3. Select **Save Configuration**. The file opens in an editor.

| Field | Default | Notes |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Admin Password** | `admin` | The master password for database operations. A blank value is saved as `admin`. Change it before exposing Odoo |
| **Database Name** | None | Optional. Leave it blank and Odoo shows its database manager |
| **Database Port** | `5432` | 1 to 65535 |
| **HTTP Port** | `8069` | Shown as **XML-RPC Port** for Odoo versions before 19. Assista detects the version from your Odoo source |
| **Database Host** | `localhost` | Required |
| **Database User** | `odoo` | Required. See [Create the odoo database user](/assista-ide/prerequisites#create-the-odoo-database-user) |
| **Database Password** | None | Required. The password you chose for the database user |
| **Addons Path** | None | Folders with your own modules, separated by commas, for example `./custom_addons,../enterprise` |

Open **Advanced Fields** for more options. All of them are optional, and a blank field is left out of the file.

| Field | Example |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Log File** | `/var/log/odoo/odoo.log` |
| **Proxy Mode** | True or False |
| **Max Cron Threads** | `2` |
| **Workers** | `0` |
| **Limit Memory Soft (MB)** | `2048` |
| **Limit Memory Hard (MB)** | `2560` |
| **Enable debug logging** | Adds `log_level = debug` |

**Edit an existing file.** When you pick an existing file, Assista fills the form from it and updates it in place. Comments, ordering and settings the form does not know about are kept. Clearing a field removes that line.

**Replace a file.** If you create a new file with a name that already exists, Assista asks you to confirm. Replacing keeps only what is in the form.

## Create a virtual environment

Assista creates a Python virtual environment and installs the packages your Odoo version needs. You can do it as part of **Pull Odoo Source Code**, or on its own with **Setup Only Python Virtual Environment** for Odoo code you already have.

| Field | What to enter |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Odoo Version** | The version of the Odoo source. Required |
| **Target Directory** | The project folder. The environment is created inside it |
| **Python Path** | The interpreter to use. The list shows every Python Assista finds on your machine |
| **Virtual Environment Folder Name** | `.venv` (default), `venv`, `.env` or `env` |

Select **Create Virtual Environment Only**.

* **Prebuilt packages.** Assista installs ready-made packages for your Odoo and Python versions, so most packages do not need compiling. Setup needs an internet connection and usually takes a few minutes.
* **Unsupported Python.** If your Python is not supported for the Odoo version, a warning appears: "Pre-built venv/wheels not available for Odoo X on Python Y". Assista still creates an empty environment and skips the packages. Install them yourself, or choose a supported Python. See the [version table](#supported-python-versions).
* **Odoo 11.0.** It has no prebuilt packages. Assista creates an empty environment and you install the requirements yourself.
* **Replacing.** If the folder already exists, Assista asks twice before deleting it.
* **Timeout.** Creating the environment is cancelled after 120 seconds. Antivirus scanning is the usual cause.

> **Windows.**
>
> There are no prebuilt packages for Odoo 12.0 and 13.0 on Windows, or for Odoo 19.0 with Python 3.10 on Windows. Setup stops with a "branch was not found" message. Choose a different version or Python.

## Configure the debugger

Use **Configure Odoo Debugger** to tell Assista how to start Odoo.

| Field | Example |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Python Path** | `/path/to/odoo/.venv/bin/python` (on Windows, `.venv\Scripts\python.exe`) |
| **Odoo-bin Path** | `/path/to/odoo/odoo-bin` |
| **Odoo Configuration Path** | `/path/to/odoo.conf` |

All three fields are required. Typing in **Python Path** or **Odoo Configuration Path** suggests matching files. Select **Enable development mode** to start Odoo with `--dev=reload,qweb,xml,assets`, so code, template, XML and asset changes reload automatically.

1. Select **Test Configuration** to check the paths. It reports whether the Python and `odoo-bin` run, and whether `odoo.conf` has `db_host`, `db_user` and `db_password`.
2. Select **Save Configuration**. A notification confirms the change and offers **Open launch.json**.

Saving adds an **Odoo Debug** entry to `.vscode/launch.json`. Other entries in the file are kept. The paths inside your project are saved relative to the folder, so the project keeps working if you move it. If the file cannot be read, Assista asks before replacing it.

To start Odoo, see [Run and debug Odoo](/assista-ide/debugging).

## Supported Python versions

Pick a Python that your Odoo version supports.

| Odoo version | Supported Python |
| :--- | :--- |
| 20.0 | 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 |
| 19.0 | 3.10, 3.12, 3.13 |
| 18.0 | 3.10, 3.12 |
| 17.0 | 3.10, 3.12 |
| 16.0 | 3.8, 3.10, 3.12 |
| 15.0 | 3.8, 3.10, 3.12 |
| 14.0 | 3.8, 3.10 |
| 13.0 and 12.0 | 3.8 |
| 11.0 | None. You install the requirements yourself |

## Troubleshooting

| What you see | What to do |
| :--- | :--- |
| "Git is not installed or not found in the system PATH" | [Install Git](/assista-ide/prerequisites#install-git) and try again |
| "Please select a Python interpreter" | Pick one in **Python Path**, or turn off **Setup virtual environment** |
| "No Python versions found" | [Install a supported Python](/assista-ide/prerequisites#install-python) and reopen the form |
| "Enter a valid port number (1-65535)" | Fix the **Database Port** or **HTTP Port** |
| "Conf file missing fields: …" in **Test Configuration** | Add `db_host`, `db_user` and `db_password` to `odoo.conf` |
| "Odoo-bin not executable" in **Test Configuration** | Check the **Python Path** and **Odoo-bin Path**. The Python must be able to run `odoo-bin` |
| Odoo cannot connect to the database | Check the database user, password, host and port. See [Prerequisites](/assista-ide/prerequisites#create-the-odoo-database-user) |
| Download stalls or times out | Check your internet connection, proxy and certificate settings |

## Next steps

* [Run and debug Odoo](/assista-ide/debugging).
* [Create modules and files](/assista-ide/module-creation).
* [Ask Assista Coder for help](/assista-ide/features/assista-coder).