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PiFinder v2.4.0 Release Notes

Major New Features

Sky Quality Meter (SQM) - Experimental

A new Sky Quality Meter feature measures sky brightness and displays the corresponding Bortle scale classification. This helps observers assess observing conditions at their location.

  • Real-time SQM measurement with Bortle class display
  • Calibration UI for accurate readings across different camera configurations
  • Camera profiles for IMX296 and other supported sensors
  • Rotating constellation/SQM display in title bar

Camera Auto Exposure

Automatic exposure control using a PID-based algorithm that adapts to changing sky conditions.

  • Asymmetric tuning for responsive exposure adjustments
  • Exposure sweep functionality for calibration
  • SNR-based thresholds derived from camera profiles
  • Visual exposure overlay in preview mode

Cedar-Detect System Service

Cedar-Detect now runs as a dedicated system service rather than a subprocess, improving stability and resource management. This change is transparent to users but provides better crash recovery and memory handling.

Improvements

GPS

  • Configurable baud rate: GPS baud rate can now be configured via the Advanced settings menu (#345)
  • Reorganized GPS settings: GPS options now grouped under Settings > Advanced > GPS Settings
  • GPSD improvements: Fixed lock_type handling for GPSD-based GPS messages (#358)
  • Early dongle fix: Fixed issue where some GPS dongles never reported sky data (#373)

Catalogs

  • WDS catalog: Improved loading speed with background loading for better UI responsiveness (#352, #355)
  • Async search: Search is now asynchronous for improved responsiveness
  • Comet catalog: Better refresh and download handling with non-blocking updates (#353)
  • Bright stars: Fixed off-by-one error in bright stars catalog

User Interface

  • EQ mode: Push-to now uses +/- buttons rather than arrows for clearer directional guidance
  • Settings reorganization: Advanced settings (PiFinder Type, Camera Type, GPS Settings) now grouped under an "Advanced" submenu
  • Preview cleanup: Removed background subtraction and gamma functions from preview
  • Experimental menu: Moved higher in menu structure for easier access

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed preview crash when marking menu items are missing
  • Fixed crash when screenshot title contains a slash
  • Fixed OSX logging levels by applying log config in each subprocess
  • Fixed various solver stability issues with improved error handling
  • Fixed typo in SkySafari documentation
  • Fixed typo in menu

Hardware & Documentation

  • Adjusted GPS antenna holder sizing
  • Improved case tolerances and new dovetail design
  • Updated shroud with tighter tolerance
  • Added instructions to build guide for testing LEDs and buttons
  • Clarified DIY vs Assembled parts in case documentation

Migration Notes

This release includes a migration script (migration_source/v2.4.0.sh) that sets up the Cedar-Detect system service. The migration will run automatically during the update process.

Full Changelog: 40 commits from release to main