A clean Git history is the key to successful teamwork and quick bug fixes. Errors can only be successfully tracked down if it is always possible to trace when and where code was changed by whom and for what reason.
🥴 However, in the rush of the battle, the changes that are packaged in a commit are sometimes not taken very seriously. Who has never experienced this? A change that is actually unrelated to the current work package has made it into the commit because the file has already been saved temporarily.
💡The solution: With an "interactive add" (git add -i), you can pack partial changes ("hunks") into a commit and specify line by line what should be included in the next commit.
We at ZERO GmbH have completed our first prototype to display our own content in vehicle on-board systems. The touch function of the display can also be used to write ZERO in the most beautiful font ✍️ 😅
So...why all this? With the help of our AMPS platform, our customer can easily show new designs or functions in a vehicle and bring them to life - without having to access the series components directly.
And "easily" really means "easily":
Connect computer viaHDMI => switch on via button or CAN => be happy 🥳
Curious about our ArtNet based light control system?
We've created a web GUI that enables easy access to various typical vehicle lighting scenarios. The operator gets instant feedback about the currently activated scenario.
Our layering concept allows prioritizing lighting animations and stacking them on top of each other.
By the way: Animations are provided as CSV files. You're free in choosing the tool to generate these.
We are making progress with our new ArtNet-based lighting control system!
The most important ArtNet frames are now implemented. We have also successfully tested the implementation of our new layering concept: Multiple animations (for example flashing and a "Welcome" animation) can now be prioritized and stacked on top of each other. In the video, the flashing has a higher priority and thus overlays the "Welcome" animation.
There are still bugs hidden here and there, but we are looking forward to presenting a first complete version soon!
As you may know, at ZERO we equip show cars with lights and lighting control systems, so that they shine just as their designers have envisioned.
Since more lights with more complex animations need to be controlled, we are gradually reaching the technical limits of our CAN-based solutions. In our search for alternatives, we once again stumbled across the topic of ArtNet/DMX:
What works on stages can also work in a show car, right?
So we decided to develop a prototype for a new lighting control. We use an ArtNet <-> SPI translator, which enables us to transmit control signals from our own software to the light with low latency and without hassle. We have also adapted our software so that it is ArtNet-compatible and, compared to the old version, can also reliably display complex lighting scenarios.
It is currently still a very early prototype - so for the time being you can only see a simple blinker animation.
We can't wait to show you more spectacular animations!
If you've followed our recent posts, you already know that we gave Shorewall a try to tidy up our VPN firewall rules and gain full overview about our configuration. Our migration to Shorewall has been successful and we'd like to share some insights in our configuration:
Shorewall by Tom Eastep is just perfect for small to mid size firewall deployments that are mostly static and not too complex. One of our developers uses OpnSense and PfSense for more complex scenarios in his private projects.
Which firewall / configuration tool do you use and why?
Hey Fediverse , have you heard of Wireguard VPN networks?
No worries - we're not trying to trick you into subscribing to another scammy VPN provider that you don't need 😉
Wireguard is an Open Source VPN protocol and implementation for lightweight VPN connections that "just work". We've been using this technology to connect our ZERO #AMPS nodes across the internet and to our office. It enables us to monitor and update AMPS devices remotely without any client interaction.
To make sure that sensitive customer data does not leak, we've come up with a security concept for our VPN server. We share a part of our implementation in our latest blog post:
Johannes Sendtner worked on a fascinating piece of technology last year. Today, we would like to share some details with you.
The box depicted is called the "ZERO Microkiller," and its task is to recharge Qi-equipped smartphones wirelessly while simultaneously disinfecting them using UV radiation. To that end, UV LEDs are attached to the sides and the lid so that various items can be cleaned, and mirrors help avoid disinfection shadows.
It is dimensioned so that even larger smartphones can fit inside comfortably, while the outer shell is small enough to be integrated into the center armrest of a car.
While the idea is convincingly simple, and the Microkiller's function was proven in a laboratory, there are several technologically advanced ideas that we wanted to patent. Unfortunately, Ford Motor Company filed a similar application a few months before us.
Hey show technicians and DMX fans, we have something for you!
In our #showcar projects and demonstrators, we often need to control various types of lighting. Setting moods or attracting the attention of passers-by are just two examples of use-cases. The industry standard for this application is the DMX protocol, and there is a vast ecosystem of controllers, software applications, and lights that follow this standard. Our super-flexible LightNode does not natively "speak" DMX, but we have developed a DMX to CAN translator. The video briefly demonstrates how the moving faders of "Q Light Controller" control the color transitions of a light strip connected to our #AMPS LightNode. Of course, this can also be automated! If you want to learn more, just get in touch!
The Hugo static site generator is making this a breeze! 👍
Not only is it relatively simple to add new functionality, but also we don't need to worry about web service security. Hosting is done by our supplier and there is no CMS that needs updates or has security flaws introduced by badly maintained plugins 💪
Static site generators are not for every use case - but they are just perfect for small sites that are updated infrequently. Most Wordpress-based small business websites could also be a static website generated by a tool like Hugo.