This Month in MPF March 2019

31 Mar 2019 - jab

What happened in MPF-land in March 2019? This post will highlight changes in MPF, MPF-MC, MPF monitor, documentation and the rest of the ecosystem.

0.52 release

We released MPF 0.52.1 and MPF-MC 0.52.1.

Changes/New features

• No changes

Bugfixes

• Fix crash after config error - jab based on report by Wilder (backport)

Documentation

• No changes

Dev release (future 0.53)

We pushed MPF 0.53.0-dev.15 and MPF-MC 0.53.0-dev.0.

Changes/New features

• Spike-MPF bridge in Rust - jab
• Use new Spike-MPF bridge in MPF - jab
• Use a better default for max_servo_value on PD-LEDs - jab
• Allow reverse sorted highscore categories - yensho
• Light batching in Spike for better light sync - jab based on request by Dave
• Read ticks_per_second per node for Spike - jab
• Reliable speed/flow control in Spike - jab
• Initial Spike 2 support for the mpf-spike bridge - jab
• Limit light batch size in Spike to prevent bus desync - jab
• Ignore duplicate handler warnings during init - avanwinkle
• Add support for steppers in Spike - jab
• Support Spike 2 backlight - jab
• Support Spike 1 and Spike 2 backlight in bridge - jab
• Servo and Steppers as Diverters - jab

Bugfixes

• Fix crash in debug message for duplicate priorities - jab based on report from Dave
• Fix crash after config error - jab based on report by Wilder
• Properly use priority in widget_player when the slide is not active and becomes active later - avanwinkle
• Do not crash when failing to read stepper position in Spike - jab

Documentation

• Document new Spike bridge - jab
• Document steppers and add images - colemanomartin
• Image an image of a servo - colemanomartin
• Better stepper example code - colemanomartin
• Details about PD-LED servo fine tuning - colemanomartin
• Clarify monitorable servo properties - colemanomartin
• Document showcreator - jab
• Fix typo - cfbenn
• Docs for named_colors and example for dynamic widgets - avanwinkle based on request by Philip
• Better examples for sequence_shots - colemanomartin
• More text for the showcreator - jab
• Light_player examples - jab
• How to use shows in shows - jab
• Windows install error and fix - jab based on error from Jordan
• Document common logic block questions - jab based on question in forum from iizi
• Document servos and steppers as diverters - jab based on question in forum
• Document parameters of extra ball events - avanwinkle

Have a look at the dev documentation. Do you have an example which is missing there? Please send it to us!

Open PRs/Not landed yet

• Multiply volumes instead of overwriting them in sound_player and sound_loop_player - qcapen (breaking change)
• Multi display updates improvements - qcapen

Upcoming changes

• Stern Spike 2 support - wolfmarsh and jab
• Full support for LISY35 - jab and bontango

Do you want to contribute?

A list of things where we would love contributions (not exclusive):

• Pictures for the following devices: pop bumpers, incandescant bulbs, GI bulbs, GI LEDs, data east optos, dual wound coils, coils, orbits, kickbacks, kicking targets, accelerometer, playfield, flashers, flippers, score reels, diverters, trough with optos - please only send us picture where the rights belong to you
• add an initial stepper device howto
• Document asset pools such as video_pools, image_pools or show_pools
• Create an electronical drawing for mechanical switches in matrix and on direct inputs
• Document motors
• Add an example or howto for timed switches
• Add an example or howto for ball holds
• Add an example or howto for combo switches
• Add an example or howto for diverters
• Add an example or howto for shot_profiles
• Adding more devices to the built-in service mode
• More good first issues in MPF
• More TODOs in the documentation

Other contributions are welcome as well. Those are meant as starting point. Let us know in the forum if you want to work on something or got questions.

New contributors

Welcome yensho.

Did we forget anything? Please let us know! Discussions in MPF-Users.