refactor: migrate from submodules to multi-root workspace for plugins (#198)

* refactor: migrate from submodules to multi-root workspace for plugins

- Updated LEDMatrix.code-workspace to include all plugin repos as root folders
- Removed symlinks from plugin-repos/ and plugins/ directories
- Updated .gitignore to reflect new plugin management approach
- Added setup_plugin_repos.py script for managing plugin symlinks (if needed)
- Added MULTI_ROOT_WORKSPACE_SETUP.md documentation

Plugins are now managed as independent repositories via multi-root workspace,
allowing for easier development and independent updates without modifying
the LEDMatrix project structure.

* Fix MULTI_ROOT_WORKSPACE_SETUP.md and add JSON error handling

- Remove deprecated clone_plugin_repos.py command reference
- Add language tag to directory tree code fence (fixes MD040)
- Add JSONDecodeError handling in setup_plugin_repos.py with user-friendly error messages

---------

Co-authored-by: Chuck <chuck@example.com>

scripts/setup_plugin_repos.py

@@ -0,0 +1,151 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+Setup plugin repository references for multi-root workspace.
+
+This script creates symlinks in plugin-repos/ pointing to the actual
+plugin repositories in the parent directory, allowing the system to
+find plugins without modifying the LEDMatrix project structure.
+"""
+
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+# Paths
+PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+PLUGIN_REPOS_DIR = PROJECT_ROOT / "plugin-repos"
+GITHUB_DIR = PROJECT_ROOT.parent
+CONFIG_FILE = PROJECT_ROOT / "config" / "config.json"
+
+
+def get_workspace_plugins():
+    """Get list of plugins from workspace file."""
+    workspace_file = PROJECT_ROOT / "LEDMatrix.code-workspace"
+    if not workspace_file.exists():
+        return []
+    
+    try:
+        with open(workspace_file, 'r') as f:
+            workspace = json.load(f)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+        print(f"Error: Failed to parse workspace file {workspace_file}: {e}")
+        print("Please check that the workspace file contains valid JSON.")
+        return []
+    
+    plugins = []
+    for folder in workspace.get('folders', []):
+        path = folder.get('path', '')
+        if path.startswith('../') and path != '../ledmatrix-plugins':
+            plugin_name = path.replace('../', '')
+            plugins.append({
+                'name': plugin_name,
+                'workspace_path': path,
+                'actual_path': GITHUB_DIR / plugin_name,
+                'link_path': PLUGIN_REPOS_DIR / plugin_name
+            })
+    
+    return plugins
+
+
+def create_symlinks():
+    """Create symlinks in plugin-repos/ pointing to actual repos."""
+    plugins = get_workspace_plugins()
+    
+    if not plugins:
+        print("No plugins found in workspace configuration")
+        return False
+    
+    # Ensure plugin-repos directory exists
+    PLUGIN_REPOS_DIR.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
+    
+    created = 0
+    skipped = 0
+    errors = 0
+    
+    print(f"Setting up plugin repository links...")
+    print(f"  Source: {GITHUB_DIR}")
+    print(f"  Links:  {PLUGIN_REPOS_DIR}")
+    print()
+    
+    for plugin in plugins:
+        actual_path = plugin['actual_path']
+        link_path = plugin['link_path']
+        
+        if not actual_path.exists():
+            print(f"  ⚠️  {plugin['name']} - source not found: {actual_path}")
+            errors += 1
+            continue
+        
+        # Remove existing link/file if it exists
+        if link_path.exists() or link_path.is_symlink():
+            if link_path.is_symlink():
+                # Check if it points to the right place
+                try:
+                    if link_path.resolve() == actual_path.resolve():
+                        print(f"  ✓  {plugin['name']} - link already exists")
+                        skipped += 1
+                        continue
+                    else:
+                        # Remove old symlink pointing elsewhere
+                        link_path.unlink()
+                except Exception as e:
+                    print(f"  ⚠️  {plugin['name']} - error checking link: {e}")
+                    link_path.unlink()
+            else:
+                # It's a directory/file, not a symlink
+                print(f"  ⚠️  {plugin['name']} - {link_path.name} exists but is not a symlink")
+                print(f"      Skipping (manual cleanup required)")
+                skipped += 1
+                continue
+        
+        # Create symlink
+        try:
+            # Use relative path for symlink portability
+            relative_path = os.path.relpath(actual_path, link_path.parent)
+            link_path.symlink_to(relative_path)
+            print(f"  ✓  {plugin['name']} - linked")
+            created += 1
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(f"  ✗  {plugin['name']} - failed to create link: {e}")
+            errors += 1
+    
+    print()
+    print(f"✅ Created {created} links, skipped {skipped}, errors {errors}")
+    
+    return errors == 0
+
+
+def update_config_path():
+    """Update config to use absolute path to parent directory (alternative approach)."""
+    # This is an alternative - set plugins_directory to absolute path
+    # Currently not implemented as symlinks are preferred
+    pass
+
+
+def main():
+    """Main function."""
+    print("🔗 Setting up plugin repository symlinks...")
+    print()
+    
+    if not GITHUB_DIR.exists():
+        print(f"Error: GitHub directory not found: {GITHUB_DIR}")
+        return 1
+    
+    success = create_symlinks()
+    
+    if success:
+        print()
+        print("✅ Plugin repository setup complete!")
+        print()
+        print("Plugins are now accessible via symlinks in plugin-repos/")
+        print("You can update plugins independently in their git repos.")
+        return 0
+    else:
+        print()
+        print("⚠️  Setup completed with some errors. Check output above.")
+        return 1
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    sys.exit(main())