# FBDASH - lightweight dashboard for the RaspberryPi without X (using framebuffer only)

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## Get the sources
In order to setup the dashboard start with cloning this repo ;)

    git clone https://git.klelifo.de/flo/fb-dash
    cd fb-dash

## Connect the display to the RaspberryPi
Here is some info on how to wire the display to the RaspberryPi.

### Full connection diagram (9 wires needed)
Wire the display connector according to the connector scheme below.\
**NOTE:** The 56 Ohm resistor is suggested for safety reasons - but it also seems to work fine wihtout it

    ILI9341                         RaspberryPi
    ===============================================================
    SDO/MISO ---------------------- MISO | GPIO 9  | PIN 21
    LED ----------| 56 Ohm |------- PWM  | GPIO 18 | PIN 12 
    SCK --------------------------- SCLK | GPIO 11 | PIN 23
    SDI/MOSI ---------------------- MOSI | GPIO 10 | PIN 19
    DC/RS -------------------------      | GPIO 24 | PIN 18
    RESET -------------------------      | GPIO 25 | PIN 22
    CS ---------------------------- CE0  | GPIO 8  | PIN 24
    GND --------------------------- GND  |         | PIN 9,14,20,25
    VCC --------------------------- 3,3V |         | PIN 1,17

### Minimal connection diagram (7 wires needed)
Wire the display connector according to the connector scheme below.\
**NOTE:** The 56 Ohm resistor is suggested for safety reasons - but it also seems to work fine wihtout it

    ILI9341                         RaspberryPi
    ===============================================================
    SDO/MISO ---------------------- MISO | GPIO 9  | PIN 21
    LED ----------| 56 Ohm |------- VCC (soldered directly onto the display connector)
    SCK --------------------------- SCLK | GPIO 11 | PIN 23
    SDI/MOSI ---------------------- MOSI | GPIO 10 | PIN 19
    DC/RS -------------------------      | GPIO 24 | PIN 18
    RESET ------------------------- VCC (soldered directly onto the display connector)
    CS ---------------------------- CE0  | GPIO 8  | PIN 24
    GND --------------------------- GND  |         | PIN 9,14,20,25
    VCC --------------------------- 3,3V |         | PIN 1,17

### Some explanation
          |---------> Power
    GND --|
    VCC --|

          |---------> SPI Interface (data transfer)
    MISO -| 
    MOSI -|
    SCK --|
    CS ---|
          
          |---------> Data/Command switch
    DC/RS |           (indicates whether the transfered data is a command or display data)

          |---------> Power to the backgroud lighting
    LED --|

          |---------> Resets the display controller when pulled low
    RESET |

## Configure the display
**TL;DR** just run ```make rpi-config```

Some work is needed before we can actually use the ILI9341 display with the RaspberryPi.\
Essentially we need to
* Enable the SPI interface
* Load the fbtft_device kernel module with the correct parameters
to get a working /dev/fb1 framebuffer device.

### Enable SPI interface on the raspberry pi
    echo "dtparam=spi=on" | sudo tee -a /boot/config

### Activate modules to be loaded at boot
    echo "spi_bcm2835" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
    echo "fbtft_device" | sudo tee -a /etc/modules
    echo "options fbtft_device name=rpi-display gpios=reset:25,dc:24,led:18" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/fbtft_device.conf




## Setup fbdash binary
**TL;DR** just run ```sudo apt install -y libmariadb2 && make install```

After the display is setup we can build and install the fbdash binary.

### Build the sources
    sudo apt install libmariadb2
    make

### Install in /usr/bin
    sudo make install

### Test it 
    fbdash



## Use systemd for regular updates
While we could also use cron for regular execution of the fbdash binary I opted to use systemd this time.\
The future is now ... ;)

### Install unit files
**TL;DR** just run ```make systemd-config```

The following files use systemd to setup a regular update of the dashboard screen (60s by default).\
If you like to change the default, just edit the ```fbdash.timer``` file before reloading systemctl

    sudo cp setup/fbdash.service setup/fbdash.timer /etc/systemd/system
    sudo systemctl daemon-reload
    sudo systemctl enable fbdash.timer
    sudo systemctl start fbdash.timer

### Check timers
    systemctl list-timers
    NEXT                          LEFT       LAST                          PASSED      UNIT                         ACTIVATES
    Wed 2022-05-04 14:16:10 CEST  28s left   Wed 2022-05-04 14:15:10 CEST  31s ago     fbdash.timer                 fbdash.service
    ...