[1.1.0] - 2025-10-21

Added

• Device Name Customization - Users can now customize audio device display names via INI configuration file
• Automatic INI File Management - Plugin creates and maintains device configuration file automatically
• Custom Name Persistence - Device name customizations persist across plugin restarts and InfoPanel sessions
• Enhanced Configuration Loading - Improved initialization sequence to load custom names before container creation
• Dynamic Device Name Updates - Real-time application of custom names from configuration file

Changed

• Improved VU Meter Scaling - Enhanced scaling algorithm for more realistic music response (full volume music now consistently hits 95-100%)
• Enhanced Initialization Process - Restructured plugin initialization to properly handle custom device names
• Better Error Handling - Improved COM marshaling error recovery and device enumeration stability
• Optimized Container Creation - Device containers now created with custom names from the start
• Enhanced Logging Output - More detailed diagnostic messages for configuration loading and device processing

Fixed

• INI File Population Issue - Fixed timing issue where INI file was created before devices were enumerated
• Custom Name Application - Fixed issue where custom names weren't being applied to containers after restart
• Configuration Timing - Resolved initialization order problems that prevented custom names from loading properly
• Container Name Updates - Fixed device name entries not updating with custom names from configuration
• Memory Management - Improved COM object disposal patterns for better stability

What's Changed

• Custom device names by @F3NN3X in #1

New Contributors

• @F3NN3X made their first contribution in #1

Full Changelog: 1.0.0...1.1.0

[1.0.0] - 2025-10-21

Added

• Initial release of InfoPanel Audio Meter Plugin with comprehensive multi-device support
• Multi-device audio monitoring support for all available Windows output devices
• Real-time audio level monitoring with Windows Core Audio API implementation
• Enhanced VU meter functionality with ultra-responsive scaling algorithm
• Professional scaling curves that make music at 100% volume consistently hit 95-100% on meters
• Dynamic default device tracking that follows Windows audio device changes automatically
• Individual device containers with unique device identification and friendly names
• Enhanced device container pattern with separate containers per audio device
• Multi-channel audio support (averages left/right channels for stereo devices)
• High refresh rate monitoring (50ms update intervals / 20 FPS for smooth VU meters)
• Intelligent device caching with proper COM object lifecycle management
• Serilog structured logging integration for comprehensive diagnostics and debugging
• Professional build system with automatic ZIP packaging and deployment
• Comprehensive plugin lifecycle management (Initialize(), Load(), UpdateAsync(), Close())
• Graceful error handling for missing audio devices and COM marshaling issues
• Advanced resource management with proper disposal patterns and memory cleanup

Changed

• Major architecture upgrade from single-device to multi-device audio monitoring
• Replaced NAudio dependency with direct Windows Core Audio API P/Invoke implementation
• Enhanced container structure expanded from single device to comprehensive multi-device pattern
• Optimized VU meter scaling with aggressive curves for realistic music response (0.25-0.4 raw → 90-99% display)
• Improved device management with robust caching, enumeration, and disposal patterns
• Advanced COM interop using CoCreateInstance for reliable Windows audio system access

Fixed

• COM object casting errors that prevented NAudio from working with InfoPanel's audio integration
• Device enumeration crashes caused by improper COM marshaling and pointer handling
• Memory leaks in device caching through proper IDisposable implementation
• VU meter scaling issues where full-volume music only reached 30-90% instead of 95-100%
• Device identification problems with safe string marshaling from COM interfaces
• Plugin stability issues through comprehensive error handling and resource cleanup

Technical Details

• Platform: Built on .NET 8.0-windows with unsafe COM interop support
• Audio System: Direct Windows Core Audio API integration via P/Invoke and CoCreateInstance
• COM Interfaces: IMMDeviceEnumerator, IMMDeviceCollection, IMMDevice, IAudioMeterInformation
• Device Detection: Advanced multi-device enumeration with proper COM object lifecycle management
• Level Reading: Real-time peak value monitoring with enhanced VU meter scaling algorithms
• Architecture: InfoPanel plugin container system with multi-device sensor data exposure
• Memory Management: Comprehensive IDisposable patterns with safe COM object cleanup
• Error Handling: Robust exception handling for COM marshaling and audio system failures
• Naming Conventions: Kebab-case ID conventions (audio-level-meter, default-audio-meter)
• Scaling Algorithm: Ultra-responsive curves designed for realistic music VU meter behavior

Documentation

• Comprehensive README.md with installation and usage instructions
• Detailed copilot instructions for AI development assistance
• InfoPanel plugin development guidelines
• Logging best practices and structured message templates
• Build and deployment documentation

Build System

• Professional MSBuild configuration with advanced packaging and deployment
• Automatic dependency flattening and cleanup for streamlined distribution
• Release ZIP packaging with versioned directories and proper file organization
• PDB and debug symbol management for production debugging capabilities
• Platform-specific optimizations (x64) for Windows audio system compatibility
• Advanced deployment pipeline with automatic InfoPanel plugin directory deployment
• Satellite resource optimization (English only) for reduced package size
• COM interop compilation with unsafe code blocks and Windows-specific targeting

Full Changelog: https://github.com/F3NN3X/InfoPanel.AudioMeter/commits/1.0.0