Version 2.6.5 brings a host of small UI improvements—both aesthetic and functional. Internally, it's primarily focused on refactoring the source code. A start has also been made on providing a better/searchable online help site. Note the new application icon at top left.
To assist with future maintenance and enhancements, the applications components have been decomposed into a collection of modules. The end-user deployment conveniently remains a single runnable file, but it is now a Python zipapp (a runnable zip archive format introduced in Python 3.5). Packagers should note this changes how the application should be packaged.
During the refactoring process I've tidied up the various dialogs, created more consistent icons, and enabled laptop support by default. Several nice usability improvements have been contributed by Mohammed Elsayed Ahmed (@MohammedEl-sayedAhmed).
Deprecated and disabled options:
You may wish to comment on these changes.
- The weather feature is deprecated and may be removed from the next version. I don't think this feature is widely used. Where I'm located, I've not found the weather lookups to be sufficiently reliable, timely, or accurate. Your experience may differ, so I'm seeking feedback. If you rely on this feature and wish to keep it, please comment on issue #133.
- The protect-nvram feature has been made mandatory. Given what we appear to have discovered about NVRAM life span in older displays, it seems unsafe. Additionally, gradual transitions never seemed that smooth. If you rely on disabling protect-nvram, please comment on issue #132.
New DIY download and installation instructions
Those doing DIY installs should note that the installation instructions have been updated to describe installing the .pyz file.
Version 2.6.5 summary of changes
- The required minimum python3 version has risen from 3.8 to 3.9.
- vdu_controls now defaults to a single-instance mode. Subsequent launches focus the existing window. Uncheck the single-instance option to override. Contributed by Mohammed Elsayed Ahmed.
- The ambient-light-level slider behaves better when dragged after sunset and when dragged beyond the estimated solar lux level.
- The laptop-panel option now defaults to enabled.
- The Settings-Dialog global-options have been grouped under subheadings.
- The Settings-Dialog offers more popup-guidance on dependencies between options.
- The Light-Metering-Dialog includes two profile starter-templates.
One for older monitors and one for newer monitors. - The layout of the Preset and Light-Metering dialogs better reflect the new style of the main panel.
- The system-tray icon is now primarily monochrome.
- The program-icon and splash-screen icons have been redesigned and reimplemented as scalable vector graphics. The new program-icon is theme aware.
- Tick marks on control-sliders are now optional, see Settings-Dialog -> tick-marks.
- The right-mouse action that could irretrievably hide the toolbar has been disabled.
- An Online-Help button has been added to the Help-Dialog and About-Dialog.
- When parsing monitor metadata, if the same VCP-feature-code is defined multiple times, the first definition is kept and any following definitions are logged (rather than silently overwriting the first). This allows some monitors with incorrect metadata to work out-of-the-box.Contributed by Mohammed Elsayed Ahmed.
- When parsing monitor metadata, well known "Continuous" VCP-feature definitions, such as brightness, will always be regarded as "Continuous".Any attached 'Value:' metadata that implies otherwise will be ignored(with a warning logged). Contributed by Mohammed Elsayed Ahmed.This allows some monitors with incorrect metadata to work out-of-the-box.
- The protect NVRAM option has been made mandatory.
- The weather related Preset settings are only visible when the weather option is enabled.
- A cascade-guard has been added to protect NVRAM from cascading writes due to application, driver, or hardware bugs (or cats on keyboards). If the application or user sets a VDU feature more than 20 times in 65 seconds an error-popup blocks further attempts until dismissed.
- The script's source code has been refactored into multiple source files.
- The executable is now a Python zipapp containing the source hierarchy.
- The included set of language-translations has been expanded. All of the translations have been generated for testing purposes and may not be accurate.
What's Changed
- Experimental restructure by @digitaltrails in #125
- Parser: handle duplicate and spurious-valued Feature: entries by @MohammedEl-sayedAhmed in #128
- Single-instance guard: raise existing window instead of starting a duplicate by @MohammedEl-sayedAhmed in #130
New Contributors
- @MohammedEl-sayedAhmed made their first contribution in #128
Full Changelog: v2.6.0...v2.6.5
