update hint text for nav hint for first-time flashers; fix spiffs failure for first-time flash boot

examples/companion_radio/MyMesh.cpp

@@ -1240,6 +1240,7 @@ void MyMesh::begin(bool has_display) {
   if (_prefs.autoadd_max_hops > 64) _prefs.autoadd_max_hops = 0;
   if (_prefs.dark_mode > 1) _prefs.dark_mode = 0;
   if (_prefs.portrait_mode > 1) _prefs.portrait_mode = 0;
+  if (_prefs.hint_shown > 1) _prefs.hint_shown = 0;
 
 #ifdef BLE_PIN_CODE // 123456 by default
   if (_prefs.ble_pin == 0) {

examples/companion_radio/NodePrefs.h

@@ -38,4 +38,5 @@ struct NodePrefs {  // persisted to file
   uint8_t dark_mode;              // 0=off (white bg), 1=on (black bg)
   uint8_t portrait_mode;          // 0=landscape, 1=portrait — T5S3 only
   uint8_t auto_lock_minutes;      // 0=disabled, 2/5/10/15/30=auto-lock after idle
+  uint8_t hint_shown;             // 0=show nav hint on boot, 1=already shown (dismiss permanently)
 };

examples/companion_radio/main.cpp

@@ -716,6 +716,12 @@ static void lastHeardToggleContact() {
     int vx, vy;
     touchToVirtual(x, y, vx, vy);
 
+    // Dismiss boot navigation hint on any tap
+    if (ui_task.isHintActive()) {
+      ui_task.dismissBootHint();
+      return 0;
+    }
+
     // --- Status bar tap (top ~18 virtual units) → go home from any non-home screen ---
     // Exception: text reader reading mode uses full screen for content (no header)
     if (vy < 18 && !ui_task.isOnHomeScreen()) {
@@ -1731,6 +1737,21 @@ void setup() {
     if (strcmp(prefs->node_name, defaultName) == 0) {
       MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("setup() - Default node name detected, launching onboarding");
       ui_task.gotoOnboarding();
+      // Show hint immediately overlaid on the onboarding screen
+      if (!prefs->hint_shown) ui_task.showBootHint(true);
+    } else if (!prefs->hint_shown) {
+      // Not a first-time flash (has a name), but hint never dismissed yet
+      // Deferred — will activate after splash screen transitions to home
+      ui_task.showBootHint(false);
+    }
+  }
+  #endif
+
+  #if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
+  {
+    NodePrefs* prefs = the_mesh.getNodePrefs();
+    if (!prefs->hint_shown) {
+      ui_task.showBootHint(false);  // Deferred — after splash
     }
   }
   #endif
@@ -2488,6 +2509,12 @@ void handleKeyboardInput() {
   // Still read the key above to clear the TCA8418 buffer.
   if (ui_task.isLocked()) return;
 
+  // Dismiss boot navigation hint on any keypress
+  if (ui_task.isHintActive()) {
+    ui_task.dismissBootHint();
+    return;  // Consume the keypress (don't act on it)
+  }
+  
   Serial.printf("handleKeyboardInput: key='%c' (0x%02X) composeMode=%d\n", 
                 key >= 32 ? key : '?', key, composeMode);
   

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.cpp

@@ -1238,6 +1238,34 @@ void UITask::showAlert(const char* text, int duration_millis) {
   _next_refresh = millis() + 100;  // trigger re-render to show updated text
 }
 
+void UITask::showBootHint(bool immediate) {
+  if (immediate) {
+    // Activate now — used when hint should overlay the current screen (e.g. onboarding)
+    _hintActive = true;
+    _hintExpiry = millis() + 8000;  // 8 seconds auto-dismiss
+    _pendingBootHint = false;
+    _next_refresh = millis() + 100;
+    Serial.println("[UI] Boot hint activated (immediate)");
+  } else {
+    // Defer until after splash screen — actual activation happens in gotoHomeScreen()
+    _pendingBootHint = true;
+    Serial.println("[UI] Boot hint pending (will show after splash)");
+  }
+}
+
+void UITask::dismissBootHint() {
+  if (!_hintActive) return;
+  _hintActive = false;
+  _hintExpiry = 0;
+  // Persist so hint never shows again
+  if (_node_prefs) {
+    _node_prefs->hint_shown = 1;
+    the_mesh.savePrefs();
+  }
+  _next_refresh = millis() + 100;
+  Serial.println("[UI] Boot hint dismissed");
+}
+
 void UITask::notify(UIEventType t) {
 #if defined(PIN_BUZZER)
 switch(t){
@@ -1426,6 +1454,7 @@ void UITask::setCurrScreen(UIScreen* c) {
   curr = c;
   _alert_expiry = 0;  // Dismiss any active toast — prevents stale overlay from
                        // triggering extra 644ms e-ink refreshes on the new screen
+  if (_hintActive) dismissBootHint();  // Dismiss hint when navigating away
   _next_refresh = 100;
 }
 
@@ -1600,6 +1629,14 @@ void UITask::loop() {
   }
 #endif
 
+  if (c != 0 && curr) {
+    // Dismiss boot hint on any button input (boot button on T5S3)
+    if (_hintActive) {
+      dismissBootHint();
+      c = 0;  // Consume the press
+    }
+  }
+
   if (c != 0 && curr) {
     curr->handleInput(c);
     _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;   // extend auto-off timer
@@ -1721,7 +1758,41 @@ if (curr) curr->poll();
         }
 #endif
 
-        if (millis() < _alert_expiry) {
+        if (_hintActive && millis() < _hintExpiry) {
+          // Boot navigation hint overlay — multi-line, larger box
+          _display->setTextSize(1);
+          int w = _display->width();
+          int h = _display->height();
+          int boxX = w / 8;
+          int boxY = h / 5;
+          int boxW = w - boxX * 2;
+          int boxH = h * 3 / 5;
+          _display->setColor(DisplayDriver::DARK);
+          _display->fillRect(boxX, boxY, boxW, boxH);
+          _display->setColor(DisplayDriver::LIGHT);
+          _display->drawRect(boxX, boxY, boxW, boxH);
+          int cx = w / 2;
+          int lineH = 11;
+          int startY = boxY + 6;
+#if defined(LilyGo_T5S3_EPaper_Pro)
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY, "Swipe: Navigate");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH, "Tap: Select");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 2, "Long Press: Action");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 3, "Boot Btn: Home");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 4 + 4, "[Tap to dismiss hint]");
+#else
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY, "M:Msgs  C:Contacts");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH, "S:Settings  E:Reader");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 2, "N:Notes  W/S:Scroll");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 3, "A/D:Cycle Left/Right");
+          _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 4 + 4, "[X to dismiss hint]");
+#endif
+          _next_refresh = _hintExpiry;
+        } else if (_hintActive) {
+          // Hint expired — auto-dismiss
+          dismissBootHint();
+          _next_refresh = millis() + 200;
+        } else if (millis() < _alert_expiry) {
           _display->setTextSize(1);
           int y = _display->height() / 3;
           int p = _display->height() / 32;
@@ -1737,7 +1808,33 @@ if (curr) curr->poll();
       }
 #else
       int delay_millis = curr->render(*_display);
-      if (millis() < _alert_expiry) {  // render alert popup
+      if (_hintActive && millis() < _hintExpiry) {
+        // Boot navigation hint overlay — multi-line, larger box
+        _display->setTextSize(1);
+        int w = _display->width();
+        int h = _display->height();
+        int boxX = w / 8;
+        int boxY = h / 5;
+        int boxW = w - boxX * 2;
+        int boxH = h * 3 / 5;
+        _display->setColor(DisplayDriver::DARK);
+        _display->fillRect(boxX, boxY, boxW, boxH);
+        _display->setColor(DisplayDriver::LIGHT);
+        _display->drawRect(boxX, boxY, boxW, boxH);
+        int cx = w / 2;
+        int lineH = 11;
+        int startY = boxY + 6;
+        _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY, "M:Msgs  C:Contacts");
+        _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH, "S:Settings  E:Reader");
+        _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 2, "N:Notes  W/S:Scroll");
+        _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 3, "A/D:Cycle Left/Right");
+        _display->drawTextCentered(cx, startY + lineH * 4 + 4, "[X to dismiss]");
+        _next_refresh = _hintExpiry;
+      } else if (_hintActive) {
+        // Hint expired — auto-dismiss
+        dismissBootHint();
+        _next_refresh = millis() + 200;
+      } else if (millis() < _alert_expiry) {  // render alert popup
         _display->setTextSize(1);
         int y = _display->height() / 3;
         int p = _display->height() / 32;
@@ -2248,6 +2345,15 @@ void UITask::gotoHomeScreen() {
   }
   _auto_off = millis() + AUTO_OFF_MILLIS;
   _next_refresh = 100;
+
+  // Activate deferred boot hint now that home screen is visible
+  if (_pendingBootHint) {
+    _pendingBootHint = false;
+    _hintActive = true;
+    _hintExpiry = millis() + 8000;  // 8 seconds auto-dismiss
+    _next_refresh = millis() + 100;
+    Serial.println("[UI] Boot hint activated");
+  }
 }
 
 bool UITask::isEditingHomeScreen() const {

examples/companion_radio/ui-new/UITask.h

@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ class UITask : public AbstractUITask {
   NodePrefs* _node_prefs;
   char _alert[80];
   unsigned long _alert_expiry;
+  bool _hintActive = false;          // Boot navigation hint overlay
+  unsigned long _hintExpiry = 0;     // Auto-dismiss time for hint
+  bool _pendingBootHint = false;     // Deferred hint — show after splash screen
   int _msgcount;
   unsigned long ui_started_at, next_batt_chck;
   uint8_t _low_batt_count = 0;  // Consecutive low-voltage readings for debounce
@@ -186,6 +189,9 @@ public:
 #endif
   void showAlert(const char* text, int duration_millis) override;
   void forceRefresh() override { _next_refresh = 100; }
+  void showBootHint(bool immediate = false);  // Show navigation hint overlay on first boot
+  void dismissBootHint();  // Dismiss hint and save preference
+  bool isHintActive() const { return _hintActive; }
   // Wake display and extend auto-off timer. Call this when handling keys
   // outside of injectKey() to prevent display auto-off during direct input.
   void keepAlive() {

merge_firmware.py

@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 """
-PlatformIO post-build script: merge bootloader + partitions + firmware
+PlatformIO post-build script: merge bootloader + partitions + firmware + SPIFFS
 into a single flashable binary.
 
+Includes a pre-formatted empty SPIFFS image so first-boot doesn't need to
+format the partition (which takes 1-2 minutes on 16MB flash).
+
 Output: .pio/build/<env>/firmware_merged.bin
 Flash:  esptool.py --chip esp32s3 write_flash 0x0 firmware_merged.bin
 
@@ -12,6 +15,87 @@ Add to each environment (or the base section):
 
 Import("env")
 
+def find_spiffs_partition(partitions_bin):
+    """Parse compiled partitions.bin to find SPIFFS partition offset and size.
+    
+    ESP32 partition entry format (32 bytes each):
+      0xAA50 magic, type, subtype, offset(u32le), size(u32le), label(16), flags(u32le)
+    SPIFFS: type=0x01(data), subtype=0x82(spiffs)
+    """
+    import struct
+
+    with open(partitions_bin, "rb") as f:
+        data = f.read()
+
+    for i in range(0, len(data) - 32, 32):
+        magic = struct.unpack_from("<H", data, i)[0]
+        if magic != 0xAA50:
+            continue
+        ptype = data[i + 2]
+        subtype = data[i + 3]
+        offset = struct.unpack_from("<I", data, i + 4)[0]
+        size = struct.unpack_from("<I", data, i + 8)[0]
+        label = data[i + 12:i + 28].split(b'\x00')[0].decode("ascii", errors="ignore")
+        if ptype == 0x01 and subtype == 0x82:  # data/spiffs
+            return offset, size, label
+    return None, None, None
+
+
+def build_spiffs_image(env, size):
+    """Generate an empty formatted SPIFFS image using mkspiffs."""
+    import subprocess, os, tempfile, glob
+
+    build_dir = env.subst("$BUILD_DIR")
+    spiffs_bin = os.path.join(build_dir, "spiffs_empty.bin")
+
+    # If already generated for this build, reuse it
+    if os.path.isfile(spiffs_bin) and os.path.getsize(spiffs_bin) == size:
+        return spiffs_bin
+
+    # Find mkspiffs in PlatformIO packages
+    pio_home = os.path.expanduser("~/.platformio")
+    mkspiffs_paths = glob.glob(os.path.join(pio_home, "packages", "tool-mkspiffs*", "mkspiffs*"))
+    if not mkspiffs_paths:
+        # Also check platform-specific tool paths
+        mkspiffs_paths = glob.glob(os.path.join(pio_home, "packages", "tool-mklittlefs*", "mkspiffs*"))
+    
+    mkspiffs = None
+    for p in mkspiffs_paths:
+        if os.path.isfile(p) and os.access(p, os.X_OK):
+            mkspiffs = p
+            break
+
+    if not mkspiffs:
+        print("[merge] WARNING: mkspiffs not found, skipping SPIFFS image")
+        return None
+
+    # Create empty data directory for mkspiffs
+    data_dir = os.path.join(build_dir, "_empty_spiffs_data")
+    os.makedirs(data_dir, exist_ok=True)
+
+    # SPIFFS block/page sizes — ESP32 Arduino defaults
+    block_size = 4096
+    page_size = 256
+
+    cmd = [
+        mkspiffs,
+        "-c", data_dir,
+        "-b", str(block_size),
+        "-p", str(page_size),
+        "-s", str(size),
+        spiffs_bin,
+    ]
+
+    print(f"[merge] Generating empty SPIFFS image ({size // 1024} KB)...")
+    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+    if result.returncode == 0 and os.path.isfile(spiffs_bin):
+        print(f"[merge] SPIFFS image OK: {spiffs_bin}")
+        return spiffs_bin
+    else:
+        print(f"[merge] mkspiffs failed: {result.stderr}")
+        return None
+
+
 def merge_bin(source, target, env):
     import subprocess, os
 
@@ -52,8 +136,18 @@ def merge_bin(source, target, env):
         "0x10000", firmware,
     ]
 
+    # Try to include a pre-formatted SPIFFS image (eliminates 1-2 min first-boot format)
+    spiffs_offset, spiffs_size, spiffs_label = find_spiffs_partition(partitions)
+    if spiffs_offset and spiffs_size:
+        spiffs_bin = build_spiffs_image(env, spiffs_size)
+        if spiffs_bin:
+            cmd.extend([f"0x{spiffs_offset:x}", spiffs_bin])
+            print(f"[merge] Including SPIFFS image at 0x{spiffs_offset:x} ({spiffs_size // 1024} KB)")
+    else:
+        print("[merge] No SPIFFS partition found in partition table, skipping SPIFFS image")
+
     print(f"\n[merge] Creating merged firmware for {env_name}...")
-    print(f"[merge] {' '.join(cmd[-6:])}")
+    print(f"[merge] {' '.join(cmd[-8:])}")
 
     result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
     if result.returncode == 0: