run bbim_translations.py without bpy

src/blenderbim/Makefile

@@ -697,10 +697,8 @@ endif
 	cp -r blenderbim/libs/desktop dist/blenderbim/libs/
 
 	# generate translations module for BBIM build
-	# note that bpy is typically available only for current Blender python version
-	pip install bpy
 	git clone https://github.com/IfcOpenShell/blenderbim-translations.git dist/working
-	python blenderbim/scripts/bbim_translations.py -i "dist/working" -o "dist/blenderbim/translations.py"
+	python blenderbim/scripts/bbim_translations.py -i "dist/working" -o "dist/blenderbim"
 	rm -rf dist/working
 
 	# Remove dependencies also bundled with Blender

src/blenderbim/scripts/bbim_translations.py

@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
+try:
     import bpy
+    import bl_i18n_utils
     import addon_utils
+    BPY_IS_LOADED = True
+except ModuleNotFoundError:
+    BPY_IS_LOADED = False
+
 import shutil
 import tempfile
 import importlib
 import os
-import sys
 import re
-import bl_i18n_utils
 from pathlib import Path
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Dict
@@ -22,7 +26,6 @@ bl_info = {
     "category": "System",
 }
 
-context = bpy.context
 # NOTE: list of available languages in Blender can be retrieved
 # by the command below:
 # bpy.context.preferences.view.language = "test"
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ def is_addon_loaded(addon_name) -> bool:
 
 
 def get_branches_directory():
-    return Path(context.preferences.filepaths.i18n_branches_directory)
+    return Path(bpy.context.preferences.filepaths.i18n_branches_directory)
 
 
 def get_addon_directory() -> Path:
@@ -326,7 +329,7 @@ def dump_addon_messages(module_name, do_checks, settings):
 
     return pot
 
-
+if BPY_IS_LOADED:
     class SetupTranslationUI(bpy.types.Operator):
         bl_idname = "bim.setup_translation_ui"
         bl_label = "Setup Translation UI"