v1.5.0 — Action API, Physical Button & WiFi Improvements
⚡ New: Unified `/action` API:
- New `/action` endpoint replaces individual `/set_*` endpoints (legacy endpoints still supported)
- Device control via HTTP GET or POST: messages, brightness, navigation, timers, toggles, and more
- Toggle behavior: sending a parameter without a value toggles it and jumps to the relevant mode
- Explicit value behavior: sending `=0` or `=1` sets without disrupting the display
- All boolean settings now controllable via API: `twelvehour`, `dayofweek`, `showdate`, `colon_blink`, `humidity`, `weatherdesc`, `units`, `countdown`, `flip`, `clock_only_dimming`
- Navigation actions: `next_mode`, `prev_mode`, `go_to_mode` (by number or name)
- Brightness actions: `brightness`, `brightness_up`, `brightness_down`, `display_off`
- Rotation control: `enable_rotation` — freeze or resume automatic mode rotation
- System actions: `save`, `restart`, `clear_message`, `language`
- Timer actions: `timer`, `timer_stop`, `timer_cancel`, `timer_pause`, `timer_resume`, `timer_start`, `timer_restart`
- Message aliases: `scrolltimes`, `scrolls`, `scroll_times` all accepted
- `clear_message` correctly restores the persistent Web UI message
🔘 New: Physical Button Template
- Optional physical button support — disabled by default, uncomment to enable
- Short press: advance to next mode (customizable)
- Long press (800ms): toggle display on/off (customizable)
- Uses internal pull-up — no external resistor needed
- Any action from the `/action` API can be assigned to either press
- Full documentation and wiring guide added to README
📶 Improved: WiFi Reconnection
- New exponential backoff reconnection system
- Reconnect attempts: 5s → 10s → 20s → 40s → 80s → 160s → 300s (caps at 5 min)
- Prevents hammering the router with rapid reconnection attempts
- `WiFi.setAutoReconnect(false)` — manual backoff now handles all reconnection
- ESP8266 uses `WiFi.begin(ssid, password)` for reconnection (ESP32 uses `WiFi.reconnect()`)
- Logs connection loss, reconnection attempts, and successful reconnection
- mDNS restarts automatically after reconnection
- Weather fetch deferred briefly after reconnection to let network stabilize
🌐 ESPTimeCast Companion Extension
- New browser extension available on the Chrome Web Store
- Automatically detects and displays media titles from YouTube, Spotify, Prime Video, Twitch, Vimeo, Dailymotion, and SoundCloud
- Control brightness, modes, and rotation directly from the popup
- Cast to multiple ESPTimeCast devices simultaneously
- Requires **v1.5.0 or later** (uses the new `/action` endpoint)
🎨 Font Changes
- `mfactoryfont.h` is now bundled directly with the firmware following the license change
- No separate font download required — the custom font is included out of the box
- Basic Font has been removed — all builds now use the full `mfactoryfont.h`
- All icons, weather symbols, and custom glyphs available on all installations
📜 License Change
- ESPTimeCast is no longer licensed under GPL-3.0
- New license: Source-available for personal, non-commercial use only
- Personal use includes home, hobby, and small non-commercial settings
- Forking permitted with license retained
- Commercial licensing available — contact mario.felipe.tf@gmail.com
- Previous versions (v1.4.2 and earlier) remain under GPL-3.0
### 📖 Documentation
- Full API reference added to README covering all `/action` parameters
- Physical button wiring guide and customization examples
- WiFi reconnection behavior documented
- Timer documentation added (moved from HA section to standalone section)
- Chrome Extension section added to README
- Legacy endpoint note added for `/set_custom_message` and `/set_brightness`
Time Zone Update
•Added updated rule for: Atlantic/Canary → WET0WEST,M3.5.0/1,M10.5.0
•Ensures correct DST handling for Canary Islands region.
ESP32-S2 Adjustment
ESP32-S2 builds have been temporarily moved to HTTP-only mode.
This change improves stability due to SSL/TLS issues observed on certain boards (yes… looking at you, Wemos S2 Mini 👀).
Brand New Web UI
•Complete UI refinement for improved structure and clarity.
•Advanced settings reorganized into modular categories.
•Cleaner hierarchy and better consistency with the web installer.
•Improved micro-interactions and visual polish.
