Bump version to 1.6.9 in pyproject.toml

- Updated `initialize_runtime_interface` to accept `stdscr` for better integration with the UI.
- Modified `initialize_interface` to include a status callback for improved user feedback during connection attempts.
- Refactored `draw_splash` to dynamically display status messages, improving user experience during startup.

contact/__main__.py

@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def interface_is_ready(interface: object) -> bool:
 
 def initialize_runtime_interface_with_retry(stdscr: curses.window, args: object):
     while True:
-        interface = initialize_runtime_interface(args)
+        interface = initialize_runtime_interface(args, stdscr)
         if getattr(args, "demo_screenshot", False) or interface_is_ready(interface):
             return interface
 
@@ -162,10 +162,12 @@ def initialize_globals(seed_demo: bool = False) -> None:
     load_messages_from_db()
 
 
-def initialize_runtime_interface(args: object):
+def initialize_runtime_interface(args: object, stdscr=None):
     if getattr(args, "demo_screenshot", False):
         configure_demo_database()
         return build_demo_interface()
+    if stdscr is not None:
+        return initialize_interface(args, status_callback=lambda status: draw_splash(stdscr, status))
     return initialize_interface(args)
 
 

contact/settings.py

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def main(stdscr: curses.window) -> None:
 
             parser = setup_parser()
             args = parser.parse_args()
-            interface = initialize_interface(args)
+            interface = initialize_interface(args, status_callback=lambda status: draw_splash(stdscr, status))
 
             if interface.localNode.localConfig.lora.region == 0:
                 confirmation = get_list_input(

contact/ui/splash.py

@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import curses
+import textwrap
 from contact.ui.colors import get_color
 
 
-def draw_splash(stdscr: object) -> None:
+def draw_splash(stdscr: object, status: str = "connecting...") -> None:
     """Draw the splash screen with a logo and connecting message."""
     curses.curs_set(0)
 
@@ -13,16 +14,20 @@ def draw_splash(stdscr: object) -> None:
     message_1 = "/ Λ"
     message_2 = "/ / \\"
     message_3 = "P W R D"
-    message_4 = "connecting..."
 
     start_x = width // 2 - len(message_1) // 2
-    start_x2 = width // 2 - len(message_4) // 2
     start_y = height // 2 - 1
     stdscr.addstr(start_y, start_x, message_1, get_color("splash_logo", bold=True))
     stdscr.addstr(start_y + 1, start_x - 1, message_2, get_color("splash_logo", bold=True))
     stdscr.addstr(start_y + 2, start_x - 2, message_3, get_color("splash_logo", bold=True))
-    stdscr.addstr(start_y + 4, start_x2, message_4, get_color("splash_text"))
-    stdscr.move(start_y + 5, start_x2)
+    status_lines = []
+    for line in status.splitlines():
+        status_lines.extend(textwrap.wrap(line, max(1, width - 4)) or [""])
+    for offset, line in enumerate(status_lines):
+        row = start_y + 4 + offset
+        if row >= height - 1:
+            break
+        stdscr.addstr(row, max(1, (width - len(line)) // 2), line, get_color("splash_text"))
 
     stdscr.attrset(get_color("window_frame"))
     stdscr.box()

contact/utilities/interfaces.py

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 import logging
+import contextlib
+import io
 import time
 import meshtastic.serial_interface, meshtastic.tcp_interface, meshtastic.ble_interface
 
@@ -25,7 +27,7 @@ def interface_is_connected(interface) -> bool:
     return getattr(interface, "localNode", None) is not None
 
 
-def initialize_interface(args):
+def initialize_interface(args, status_callback=None):
     try:
 
         if args.ble:
@@ -43,7 +45,10 @@ def initialize_interface(args):
                 logging.error(f"Error connecting to {args.host}. {ex}")
         else:
             try:
-                client = meshtastic.serial_interface.SerialInterface(args.port)
+                # The library prints its fallback notice directly to stdout,
+                # which would overwrite the curses splash screen.
+                with contextlib.redirect_stdout(io.StringIO()):
+                    client = meshtastic.serial_interface.SerialInterface(args.port)
             except FileNotFoundError as ex:
                 logging.error(f"The serial device at '{args.port}' was not found. {ex}")
             except PermissionError as ex:
@@ -56,6 +61,8 @@ def initialize_interface(args):
                 logging.error(f"The serial device couldn't be opened, it might be in use by another process. {ex}")
             if client.devPath is None:
                 try:
+                    if status_callback:
+                        status_callback("No serial device found.\nConnecting via TCP to localhost…")
                     client = meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface("localhost")
                 except Exception as ex:
                     logging.error(f"Error connecting to localhost:{ex}")

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "contact"
-version = "1.6.7"
+version = "1.6.9"
 description = "This Python curses client for Meshtastic is a terminal-based client designed to manage device settings, enable mesh chat communication, and handle configuration backups and restores."
 authors = [
     {name = "Ben Lipsey",email = "ben@pdxlocations.com"}