🚀 Project Weekly Update (May 12 - May 18, 2025) 🚀

[ongxeno]

Here's a summary of the major developments and features added last week:

✨ New User Experience & Setup:

• Welcome Splash Screen: The app now starts with a splash screen for smoother loading and to prepare things on first launch.
• First-Time Setup Guide: If you're new or haven't set up the PC connection, the app will now guide you:
  • It asks if you have the PC companion software.
  • If not, it provides instructions and a special link (opened on your PC via the app) to download it.
  • Helps you connect by finding your PC automatically or letting you type in the address.

✨ Screens & Interface:

• New "About" Screen: You can find app version, license info, and project links under Settings.
• New "Manage Macros" Screen:
  • View a list of all available button actions (Macros).
  • Easily search for specific Macros by their name.
• The connection speed display on the main screen has been improved.

💡 New Features & Layouts:

• New "Auto Drag & Drop" Layout:
  • A new layout designed to automate mouse dragging on your PC.
  • Set a start point, an end point, and then trigger the drag action.
• Default layouts (like "Flight Controls") are now set up more consistently when you first use the app.

💾 Behind the Scenes & PC Software:

• Improved Layout Storage: We've updated how your layouts and buttons are saved, making it more reliable and efficient.
• PC Companion Software Installer: The software for your Windows PC now comes with an easy-to-use installer.
• Many other internal improvements have been made for better performance and stability.

⚙️ Technical Summary (May 12 - May 18, 2025):

• Database Migration & Layout Persistence:
  • Migrated layout and button data storage from DataStore (JSON) to Room DB (LayoutEntity, ButtonEntity, LayoutDao, ButtonDao). AppDatabase version incremented; DAOs integrated via Hilt.
  • LayoutRepository refactored extensively to use Room, manage default layout creation (addDefaultLayoutsIfFirstLaunch), and handle CRUD via DAOs. selectedLayoutIndex remains in DataStore.
  • Removed old LayoutDefinition DTO; added LayoutEntity.toLayoutInfo() / toManageLayoutInfo() extensions.
• New User Onboarding & Setup Flow:
  • Introduced SplashScreen (SplashViewModel) to handle first-launch checks and direct users to a new multi-step SetupStartScreen (SetupViewModel) if network config is missing.
  • Setup flow includes PC server installation query, instructions (serving pc_server_setup.html via AppLocalWebServer), and network configuration (NSD & manual).
  • AppLocalWebServer (formerly PcImportWebServer) generalized with ServerMode to serve both layout imports and server setup assistance.
• New Features & UI:
  • Added "About" screen (AppScreenRoute.About) with app/license/repo info, accessible from Settings.
  • Implemented "Auto Drag & Drop" layout type (LayoutType.AUTO_DRAG_AND_DROP) with AutoDragAndDropLayoutViewModel and new UDP commands (CAPTURE_MOUSE_POSITION, AUTO_DRAG_LOOP_COMMAND).
  • Created "Manage Macros" screen (ManageMacrosViewModel) with search functionality (substring/ordered char match, debounced).
  • Connection response time display on MainScreen refined.
• PC Server & Build:
  • Added Inno Setup script (StarButtonBoxServer_Installer.iss) for Windows PC server installer.
  • PC server mDNS registration improved; centralized app data directory handling.
  • Comprehensive INSTALLATION.md and BUILDING_FROM_SOURCE.md documentation added.
• Android App Internal Refinements:
  • MainViewModel refactored for layout handling (using enabledLayoutsFlow mapped to LayoutInfo).
  • Minor refactoring in SplashViewModel for default layout population.