TUAW link

Thanks to TUAW, The Unofficial Apple Weblog for the recent link to my blog for information relating to LCDproc.

LCDproc compile update

Since upgrading to Xcode 2.4.1, I have noticed some problems compiling LCDproc. However, they are not difficult to overcome.

cd into the folder of the latest LCDproc source. and run the following commands:

1. ./configure
2. make
   At some point this will return an error about nested functions.
3. make CFLAGS=-fnested-functions
   This will finish compiling past the previous error.

If you just run make CFLAGS=-fnested-functions, without running a standard make first, you will get an error trying to dynamically link bayrad.so. Hopefully there will be a fix for this soon.

In other news, LCDproc included some new source I wrote to get the top processes and the internet interface statistics. This means that all of the lcdproc client features are now supported in Mac OS X!

Update!

There are no longer any nested functions in LCDproc. As a result, you can now just run:

1. ./configure
2. make

to compile LCDproc.

Mac OS X USB LCD Info

Since I haven't had any LCD Kits available for a while, I thought I would clear up some details about the kit for people who want to try it on their own.

The LCD is a HD44780 compatible character LCD. It is connected to the Mac USB port using a Belkin F5U002 USB Parallel adapter. Make sure to get the correct version that uses a separate USB cable.

The pinout I used for the kit and the Mac OS X USB LCD Command Line Tool is available here: Beyond Logic Interfacing Example. With some minor changes to get power from the parallel port, the final pinout is:

Centronics
Parallel    LCD
30             1
13,14          2
30             3
36             4
29             5
1              6
2              7
3              8
4              9
5             10
6             11 
7             12
8             13
9             14

Following this pinout should allow you to use the Mac OS X USB LCD Command Line Tool on your own cable and LCD.

GrowLCDproc Pre-release now available!!

Here is the new Growl Display plugin that will send Growl notifications to an LCDproc server. This will allow you to view Growl notifications on any character LCD supported by LCDproc, or on any UNIX or linux terminal using the curses or text drivers. Because it uses LCDproc's TCP/IP connection protocol, you can send your notifications almost anywhere!

Using this plugin, I was able to forward my notifications to my wireless Zaurus PDA running in another room.

Download the latest version now.

Check out a screenshot.

GrowLCDisplay 1.1 now available!!

Major Update to the GrowLCDisplay plugin just posted. Due to insufficient testing, some bugs had slipped through the previous release. I finally had some time to rewrite parts of the plugin. As a result it is much more stable and reliable with some added new features.

Download the latest version now.

Check out a screenshot.

GrowLCDproc Display

I just finished working on a Growl Display plugin that will send Growl notifications to an LCDproc server. It works very well! I will hopefully have a download available soon. This will allow you to view Growl notifications on any character LCD supported by LCDproc, or on any linux machine if you run the curses or text drivers. Because it uses LCDproc's TCP/IP connection protocol, you can send your notifications almost anywhere!

Check out the screenshot. Notice the LCDproc server running a text based curses display in the terminal.

POS Display with iTunes Movie

Here is a Quicktime Movie of the POS Display with iTunes. It shows some of the features of the script. It also reveals some of the limitations of the Display:

• no extended characters
• 40 character limit on scrolling text
• 24 hour clock only

Even with these limitations, it serves its purpose well, and it was cheap compared to a normal serial VFD.

POS Display with iTunes

I recently managed to get my EMAX POS pole to display my current iTunes Tracks. I will post a video soon. It uses a simple AEDEX command set.

Here is a link to the code: AEDEX iTunes Code

Make sure to save it as an application and select "Keep running." Then put it in your iTunes Scripts folder.

Requires a working serial port (edit the script to specify which) and: SerialPort X 1.0 OSAX

Zaurus as an LCDproc display

Here is something I tried out today after I finally received my Zaurus CF wifi card. I installed SSH on my Zaurus, then logged into my Powerbook. I ran the LCDproc daemon on my Mac from the Zaurus using curses as a display, and lo and behold, my Zaurus was a wireless LCDproc display!

It is hard to see, but the Z is displaying the status of the hard drives on my Mac. It rotates through about 8 screens, displaying the time, system load, etc.

Group Buy is Closed...

Thanks!