v5.0.0

v5.0.0

21st April 2024

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"Bookworm" o/s now supported!!

See step1-setup-the-Pi-bullseye.md if you have a requirement to access the legacy "Bullseye" for new builds.

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New features

• Bookworm. Added support for new operating system "bookworm", whilst still retaining support for existing installations on "bullseye". Yes, you can upgrade your existing bullseye 4.6.3 (or earlier) to v5.0.0.
• Disable camera USB. Some implementations of the intvlm8r only use its interval functionality, and have no requirement for any USB connection with the camera. In an environment without a USB connection the entire website is slow to respond, as the intvlm8r makes repeated attempts to wake & talk to the camera before giving up. On the /camera page is a new checkbox "Enable camera USB communication" that defaults to on/checked, but will significantly speed page draws if off/unchecked. It's harmless (non-destructive, reversable) so feel free to take it for a test drive without risk.

• Transfer after Copy. By default, the copying of images from the camera and image uploads off-system are independent of each other and occur in parallel if scheduled for the same time, or on bootup. A new "transfer day" option has been added that links them. If you select "after Copy completes", a transfer attempt will immediately follow any automated/scheduled Copy. The Copy Now button on the /transfer page still only performs a Copy, regardless of this setting.

Misc improvements

• Correctly setting the camera's time can be a challenge. Your camera may support multiple methods of doing this, and historically those were processed in a specific order. The /system page now lets you choose from the camera's supported methods. The last method you used (for a given intvlm8r) is now saved as a cookie.
• With no images on the Pi, a placeholder image shows on the /main page. It is no longer clickable.

Documentation update

• Updated to reference Bookworm for new installations.

Setup script

• Major overhaul to detect & support Bookworm.

Bugfixes

• Resolved error where if using a non-default username (i.e. not 'pi'), executing "sudo python3 cameraTransfer.py" would fail.

Known issues

• Thumbnails will not be created from RAW images if running on Bookworm, due to an incompatibility with the Rawpy software that creates them. This will hopefully be resolved in a future update. Workaround: build the Pi with Bullseye as documented here.
• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.6.3

v4.6.3

20th March 2024

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"Bookworm" o/s not yet supported

See step1-setup-the-Pi.md for how to still access "Bullseye".

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Misc improvements

• Added checkbox on the /transfer page to suppress automatic image copy (from the camera) each time the Pi boots
• Added checkbox on the /transfer page to suppress automatic image transfer (upload) each time the Pi boots
• 'Transfer Now' on the /transfer page now returns results faster
• Added help text to default nginx page (useful for incomplete/failed installs)
• Improved getCeleryTasks resiliency
• If thumbnail creation has been disabled, one is created of the newest image for the benefit of the /home page
• tzOffset on the /system page now allows times -23.5 -> +23.5 hours from your local time

Documentation update

• Removed obsolete step 11 in step1-setup-the-Pi.md. Pi OS now automatically resizes the file system on first boot.

Setup script

• No longer installs subversion
• Updated legacy relative /www paths to absolute
• Removes ambiguous comment text in 'dtoverlay=gpio-poweroff' line in /boot/config.txt

Bugfixes

• Fixed bug where setting deleteAfterCopy=No & deleteAfterTransfer=Yes resulted in unexpected behaviour (Bug #156)
• Fixed bug where running the setup script with the “ap” option (when already in that mode) dropped the Wi-Fi network
• Resolved minor leak of some flashed messages when not logged in
• Resolved issue where thumbnails were not being created (Bug #158)

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.6.2

v4.6.2

16th January 2024

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"Bookworm" o/s not yet supported

See step1-setup-the-Pi.md for how to still access "Bullseye".

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Documentation update

• Updated step1-setup-the-Pi.md for new git repo download process. (Replaces Subversion)

Setup script

• Updated setup script for new git repo download process
• Add a shortcut to /var/log/ at the end of 'start' step

Bugfixes

• Removed bad commas separating ServiceFiles in setup script
• Tweaked sfWarning display JS on /intervalometer page. (Was showing incorrectly in some edge cases)
• Fixed invisible bug: 'None' instead of 'pass'
• Fixed bug in display of piDaysFree

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.6.1

v4.6.1

16th December 2023

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"Bookworm" o/s not yet supported

See step1-setup-the-Pi.md for how to still access "Bullseye".

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• Bugfix

  • Fixed issue with the Preview & Apply buttons not working on the /camera page, introduced in v4.6.0. Refer bug #150 .

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.6.0

v4.6.0

11th December 2023

"Bookworm" o/s not yet supported

See the setup docs for how to still access "Bullseye".

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• New feature

  • shootFast. You can now shoot faster than the previous max of 1 frame per minute. Top speed is now twenty images a minute: one every 3 seconds!

Some words of warning:

• the timing isn't super-precise.
• if you go crazy here, the modules that copy images from the camera and upload off-system might not be able to cope. Caveat emptor!! You should definitely set the copy and upload times to be outside of your shooting schedule.
• the system's current consumption will increase significantly, as the camera will never sleep. The high current drain of the shutter needs to be taken into consideration when sizing the power supply and backup battery.

• Misc improvements

  • Added display of nearby WiFi networks to the /network page. (Designed for diagnostics, it’s not in the navigation menu).
  • "Days in" on /main now reports "< 1" if value==0. (Aligns with same info on /intv page).
  • Pressing "Clear Log" (/transfer) and "Wake Camera" (/camera, /main) now trigger an update of the progress table for improved user feedback.
  • Added a <br> at the bottom of each page. Improves usability when running via remote.it on mobile devices.
  • HTML cleanup, closing tags left open.
  • Added a small amount of 'self-healing' protection, should some of the required thumbnail components be missing.

• Arduino

  • Related code for shootFast

• Setup script

  • Updated remote.it presence detection test.

• Bugfixes

  • none

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.5.5

v4.5.5

25th October 2023

• New feature

  • Added 'piShutdownIn' countdown timer & Extend button to /system. (Hidden if the Arduino isn't >= 4.5.5)
  • Added new /network page. (Designed for diagnostics, it’s not in the navigation menu)

• Misc improvements

  • Added 'retries' to commenceRsync(). (Similar to what was added to dropbox in v4.5.4)
  • Improved rsync exit messaging
  • "Days in" on /intervalometer now reports "< 1" if value==0

• Arduino

  • Related code for query of 'piShutdownIn' and Extend

• Setup script

  • Improved libgphoto2 upgrade process
  • Added more 'test' messaging for WiFi connections (both as client and AP)

• Bugfixes

  • Fixed row not showing in red when cameraBattery == "Low"
  • Fixed display bug where progress message was incorrectly red
  • Fixed lingering error after disabling Google uploads (setup script)

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.5.4

v4.5.4

12th July 2023

• FUTURE feature

  • Added 'piShutdownIn' countdown timer & Extend button to /system - temporarily hidden pending further debugging
  • Voltmeter display. Currently hidden pending further testing. NB: will require additional hardware

• Misc improvements

  • Dropbox transfers will no longer inelegantly abort if 'needupload' vanishes mid-process (usually as a result of a simultaneous 'rename on copy')
  • Improved logging in copy_files & piTransfer
  • Added display of Pi timezone to /system page
  • Cosmetic: relocated 'Pi info' table towards bottom of /system page

• Arduino

  • Changed default Pi run time to 'always on'. (Only applies to new builds)
  • Related code for query of 'piShutdownIn' and Extend
  • Voltmeter as mentioned above. This code is wrapped in "#ifdef" so does not compile without further deliberate action. To come

• Setup script

  • Improved on-screen text during the installation of python-gphoto2, rawpy & libgphoto2

• Bugfixes

  • Camera images now have a more accurate timestamp (for /transfer 'rename on copy'). (Possibly still derailed by camera timezone settings)

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.5.3

v4.5.3

1st June 2023

• Possibly breaking change

  • Removed the previously hard-coded leading slash in the rsync folder name.

  if rsync now breaks for you, just add a leading '/' to the folder on the /transfer page.

• New feature

  • Created new 'myIP' service to report IP address to screen. (Aids new provisioning)

• Misc improvements

  • Improved rsync reliability, especially if the Pi shuts down mid-transfer. Old images no longer back up on the Pi if deleteOnTransfer is active.
  • De-duplicated error and info messages (at the top of the screen).
  • Messages now appear as a drop-down list, prioritised with errors first. If > 1 message, a drop-down arrow will appear.
  • Improved Dropbox error logging.
  • Improved rsync logging.
  • The default image is no longer counted in the "images on Pi" list on the /home page.

• Arduino

  • None.

• Bugfixes

  • Preview image (/thumbnail page) now generates correctly for CR2 & NEF.

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.

v4.5.2

v4.5.2

16th April 2023

• New feature

  • The /system page now lets you choose a timezone offset (saved per system in a cookie) for setting the time on an intvlm8r in a different timezone.
  • Added an 'Alt camera time mode' checkbox when setting the camera time/date. (Normally hidden, it reveals itself when you check 'Set camera date/time'). Should resolve issues when the camera comes up in UTC rather than your selected time.

• Removed feature

  • Hard-coded 'Google Drive' to appear as 'uninstalled' now that Google has discontinued the "OAuth out-of-band (OOB) flow". [Reference]. There is no apparent work-around for 'headless' devices at this time.
  • Updated documentation to reference the dropping of the feature.

• Misc improvements

  • Added more logging to Dropbox uploads.

• Setup script

  • Removed Google from the upload options menu & choices.

• Arduino

  • None.

• Bugfixes

  • Nothing worth mentioning.

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.
• What should be the preview file from a Nikon (.NEF) RAW is currently its thumbnail.

v4.5.1

v4.5.1

Released 14th February 2023

• New feature

  • SetCameraTime now sync's to the Pi (if supported by the camera).

• Setup script

  • Fixed bugs in detection process at the top of install_apps(). Was previously not handling repeated runs through the setup step. Also added a test & failure message if neither intvlm8r.py.new or intvlm8r.py found.
  • Fixed bug #131 where SFTP wasn't showing as installed on the 'Select Upload/Transfer options' menu
  • Lock bcrypt to <4.0.0. Temporary(?) fix for Bug #129
  • Added "--upgrade pip" step. Should suppress some warning messages peppered throughout the install process.

• Arduino

  • None.

• Bugfixes

  • Changed default ArduinoVersion from None to '0' in def thermal(). Previous code has started throwing packaging.version.InvalidVersion: Invalid version: 'None'

Known issues

• If upgrading from a release prior to 4.5.0, it will take 24 hours for the historical temperature display on the /thermal page to settle and become accurate. Rubbish values will be reported prior to that.
• What should be the preview file from a Nikon (.NEF) RAW is currently its thumbnail