About this project

Scrolling text on MAX7219 matrix modules, up to 12 of them chained, controlled entirely over HTTP from a Python CLI. Content is a playlist of items — text aligned left, centre, right or scrolling, plus a twinkle effect with its own density and speed — each with a duration, so the rack cycles through them. A one-time notification can be told to delete itself after a set number of plays. Settings, WiFi credentials and the API key persist across reboots. On first power the board raises an access point called WatkinsLabsLEDRackBAR, and the board hotspot address configures the network; after that the device reports its own IP. Every endpoint except /status wants the API key as a header or a query parameter, and the default key ships in the source. A three-times power cycle within 30 seconds triggers a factory reset.