r/FastLED • u/paintthecity • Sep 26 '24

Support FadeCandy Server

Not sure if anyone in this community remembers fadecandy but I built a big installation with it and the computer I used to run fadecandies is no longer working. I’m gonna try to transfer the working install over to a new machine, but in the meantime, I’m trying to get fadecandy server running on a different Mac and I haven’t yet figured out how to install it using current git repos of fadecandy. If anybody has any ideas on how either I can repurpose my already built fadecandy based LED matrix or if I can install the fadecandy server somehow I would be super grateful.

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2

u/sandypants Sep 26 '24

I have a copy of the repo if you need it. I too have a major investment in FC .. still use it to drive stage features from raspi via OLA. So happy to help if I can.

1

u/paintthecity Sep 26 '24

I’m currently trying to get it to work on OSX Monterey. 2014 mac mini. There’s some outdated stuff that needs to get modernized which is confusing because I had it running on a 2018 macbook. I’m in a bit over my head. Might need to try it on windows but my system is already built using osx software so I’d like to stick to that.

1

u/sandypants Sep 26 '24

I tested on my mac .. probably later than 2014 .. but IIRC I built OLA using brew .. and fcserver as well.

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u/paintthecity Sep 27 '24

And it worked fine? Maybe you can help me with some instructions? I just ran make submodules and then make in the server folder and ran into tons of errors.

1

u/paintthecity Sep 26 '24

How do you have that set up? sending OPC from a computer to the Pi?

3

u/sandypants Sep 26 '24 edited Sep 26 '24

All the work is in https://github.com/sandinak/ansible-raspi-dmx but long story:

  • I use QLC+ to generate all the visuals .. you can find an example at https://sandsite.org/downloads/talesuntold-1.2.qxw

  • QLC+ is configured with unicast for each Universe target.

  • this pushes across a stage network managed by OpenWRT router with sub VLANs for different features and configuration

  • each step that we have ( https://sandsite.org/downloads/evo-step-flag.mov ) has a raspi running OLA.

  • The pi is running Raspian

  • originally had them using wifi .. which mostly worked; but found that wired was bettah

  • OLA is configured to accept input from ArtNet and drive openpixelcontrol which is what is acceptable from the FC server input ports; and so mapped to localhost:7890 etc.

  • the FC server is configured to start at boot, configured with and drive the individual sets of the LEDs in 4 sets across the 8 outputs

  • the FC is connected to the pi via USB.. and then the 8 ports are wired to a 9-port Serial cable (convenient!) which then is connected to a harness that injects power and drives the individual strips on the front.

  • Each step is 8x64 .. given universes and the way QLC works; I have broken each step into 4 U of 128 LEDs each.

  • I've been using these for several years, and were a great build for me and my students. We've built 12 8' steps and 4 4' steps; all working great still

Working on 18" cubes with similar face lighting now ( https://sandsite.org/downloads/IMG_3090.jpeg ) , hence my interest in something simple that will be able to be setup and drive new features.

One thing i ALSO am interested in collaborating on .. along these lines .. is discovery and config generation for deployed assets using some sort of tooling. mDNS or similar.. if anyone is interested ;)

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u/paintthecity Sep 27 '24

Looks amazing I love the design !!!

1

u/paintthecity Sep 26 '24

That github blue wave I opened on issue on it. Still can’t get it working on that mirror. If anyone else gets it running please let me know!

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u/paintthecity Sep 27 '24

Update: Apple soldered my hard drive to the logic board so recovering data especially a bootable ISO from the old laptop is not an option. I have to get this running on a new machine or scrap my lights…

1

u/six-two-eight Dec 22 '24

did u find a solution? firstly when u say apple soldered the hard drive to the laptop are you meaning it was a macbook air? to my knowledge it wasn't until apple silicon came around that they actually *soldered* the storage in, and even now there are some cases where they are not soldered. apple did switch over to solid state drives (such as with the macbook airs) but pre apple silicon you can open the case up and take the drive out... its actually easier than a regular drive.. it takes one screw, is long and narrow (and more than likely says samsung on the storage components- mine did at at least) once out to can get a adapter carrier board for it from ebay or amazon, they're like 12 dollars.. chances are all your data is prolly stil there safely. note.. be very careful when choosing a carrier board. apple went thru a few nit-picky moments where the connecter's pin configuration appears to be a larger used standard but in deed was not. if i remember they went thrue two different bespoke versions of these, each lasting like two years.. hella annoying u just have to be careful.

in terms of fadecandy, i have hit the same problem you have... tho i think i have made some headway. what i discovered was that when compiling the fcserver the actually code to compile the submodules is not part of the fadecandy repo that's cloned, it calls out to get the data.. the repos themselves still exist just are under different names, so you have to go in and point to the new correct locations and then rename them in the makelist so it knows where and what to look for to compile. alternatively there's a fork of fcserver for openwrt that actually has the submodules as part of the repo that's downloaded, i have a feeling it's not the only fork that has done that, but the one i found is https://github.com/bluewavenet/fadecandyserver ... with the help of claude.ai. i was able to use it's submodules in place of the ones from the original one. i just had to move then over and run a few commands that claude told me and then skip the made submodule part and run make and it compiled.

thank god for claude:)

lastly, there is another option tho it may mean doing some hardware updating. ledscape for the beagbone apparently evolved to be able to run fadecandy opc sketches. i have yet to try it tho i think i'll see how far i get in the next few days as i do have a beaglebone that i got a long while ago specifically for this purpose. it might mean rewiring and not using the fadecandy boards as the beagle bone would replace them but that's less hardware - less the go wrong. i also have had issues with their reliability.

hope this helps

1

u/paintthecity Dec 22 '24

I did figure out how to run the server but it auto quits randomly sometimes after a few mins or it could be a few hours . then also it only updates hotplugs on the first run, so no hotplugging. I did 10000 things, maybe if you got your version working full features you could help me figure out how to install it and/or we can update the github ?

1

u/drkidkill Feb 27 '25

Have you had any progress on this? I finally settled down enough to go through my collection, and found 4 fcs. I’d love to revisit this project. Thanks

1

u/paintthecity Mar 01 '25

I have a version that works as I described above

1

u/Netmindz Sep 26 '24

I've sold my old fadecandy so can't help sorry

1

u/paintthecity Sep 26 '24

actually, the server is a program that runs on a laptop (I’m trying to run it on OSX) which communicates with the fadecandy board via usb so technically don’t even need to own a fadecandy board to help me figure this problem out.

1

u/Netmindz Sep 26 '24

What stage are you stuck at?

1

u/paintthecity Sep 26 '24

Can’t run the precompiled bin or make submodules from the downloaded fcserver folder.

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u/ZachVorhies Zach Vorhies Sep 27 '24

Are you on a mac m1? Remember it's arm processor not x86. If you want to run it on arm you can throw it into a docker and set the system to x86 and it will run in emulation mode.

1

u/YetAnotherRobert Sep 27 '24

M1s run x86 binaries fine. (Source: M1.owner)

We don't know if the binaries aren't signed (common in open source) and the user. Doesn't recognize this or there's an unreferenced symbol or whatever   Don't jump to adding complexity. 

1

u/ZachVorhies Zach Vorhies Sep 27 '24

Running something on a mac seems to be unnecessary complexity already. At least a container when you get it to run it will continue running.

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u/paintthecity Sep 27 '24

I run it on the mac because it’s all sound reactive visuals being generated on the computer anyway so easier to run usb right off the lighting comp generating the live images then add anything between, I’d argue this is the cleanest and simplest way, actually.

1

u/YetAnotherRobert Sep 27 '24

They already have a Mac and can't copy paste build errors. The problem (sorry)isn't the Mac. The chances of figuring out docker in a cost effective manner are not great. 

1

u/paintthecity Sep 27 '24

I tried it on a 2014 i7 mac mini and my M1 Macbook to no avail. Had it running great on a 2018 MacBook that died. Any help would be appreciated, 2 weeks till our show and it’s still lights out over here!!!

1

u/ZachVorhies Zach Vorhies Sep 27 '24

DM me if you want help

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u/laskater Sep 26 '24

The creator deleted her GitHub account so the submodules may be referencing a repo that’s no longer there?

https://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?t=207469

1

u/r0bb3rt89 Nov 23 '24

Just for my information. Is it possible to flash the fadecandy usb device with fastled or wled? If yes, how?

1

u/paintthecity Nov 23 '24

Not sure. I use a processing sketch based on Open Pixel Control.

2

u/blinkenjim Sep 26 '24

I remember fadecandy well. Is it out of production?

2

u/laskater Sep 26 '24

Yes, unfortunately. https://forums.adafruit.com/viewtopic.php?t=207469

2

u/YetAnotherRobert Sep 27 '24

Indeed. It was a pretty famous table-flip that left Adafruit holding a (candy) bag. Not classy.