bump version

* update interfaces.py

* fix logging

* update

* update

* fix devpath

* fix returns

* changes

README.md

@@ -1,17 +1,21 @@
 ## Contact - A Console UI for Meshtastic
-### (Formerly Curses Client for Meshtastic)
 
 #### Powered by Meshtastic.org
 
+### Install with:
+```bash
+pip install contact
+```
+
 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.
 
 
 <img width="846" alt="Contact - Main UI Screenshot" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d2996bfb-2c6d-46a8-b820-92a9143375f4">
 
 <br><br>
-The settings dialogue can be accessed within the client or may be run standalone to configure your node by launching `contact --settings` or 'contact -c`
+The settings dialogue can be accessed within the client or may be run standalone to configure your node by launching `contact --settings` or `contact -c`
 
-<img width="441" alt="Contact - Settings Dialogue" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/dd47f52a-d4d8-4e40-8001-9ea53d87f816" />
+<img width="696" alt="Screenshot 2025-04-08 at 6 10 06 PM" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3d5e3964-f009-4772-bd6e-91b907c65a3b" />
 
 ## Message Persistence 
 
@@ -62,4 +66,4 @@ contact --ble BlAddressOfDevice
 To quickly connect to localhost, use:
 ```sh
 contact -t
-```
+```

contact/utilities/interfaces.py

@@ -4,20 +4,39 @@ import contact.globals as globals
 
 def initialize_interface(args):
     try:
+
         if args.ble:
             return meshtastic.ble_interface.BLEInterface(args.ble if args.ble != "any" else None)
+        
         elif args.host:
-            return meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface(args.host)
+            try:
+                if ":" in args.host:
+                    tcp_hostname, tcp_port = args.host.split(':')
+                else:
+                    tcp_hostname = args.host
+                    tcp_port = meshtastic.tcp_interface.DEFAULT_TCP_PORT
+                return meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface(tcp_hostname, portNumber=tcp_port)
+            except Exception as ex:
+                logging.error(f"Error connecting to {args.host}:{tcp_port}. {ex}")
         else:
             try:
-                return meshtastic.serial_interface.SerialInterface(args.port)
+                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:
                 logging.error(f"You probably need to add yourself to the `dialout` group to use a serial connection. {ex}")
             except Exception as ex:
                 logging.error(f"Unexpected error initializing interface: {ex}")
-            if globals.interface.devPath is None:
-                return meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface("meshtastic.local")
-    
+            except OSError as ex:
+                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:
+                    client = meshtastic.tcp_interface.TCPInterface("localhost")
+                except Exception as ex:
+                    logging.error(f"Error connecting to localhost:{ex}")
+
+            return client
+        
     except Exception as ex:
         logging.critical(f"Fatal error initializing interface: {ex}")
     

pyproject.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "contact"
-version = "1.3.3"
+version = "1.3.5"
 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"}