The FrogPad
 
A forum to get help or talk about Roastmaster…or anything else coffee.

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21
Wish List / Re: Default curve selection in Roast Console
« Last post by Danny Hall on July 20, 2020, 02:37:37 PM »
Hi Trey

Great suggestion! Actually, this is on my to-do list to look at when I start official internal testing - probably this coming Monday. Since I've redesigned that area of the console, the old "reasons" why it is that way are no necessarily valid anymore. And I want to make sure that portion is honed for the reasons you mention.

You are correct...Roastmaster lets you reorder your data curves. It actually relies on it, because it considers the first curve to be the one you're most interested in. THat's the one it uses for the metrics of reports, and the temperature information it display lower down in that table view. For data logging users, that's typically Bean Mass. For sample roasters, though, it might be a control curve.

Whatever the case, the main reason I select the first curve in code, is so that you can see the drop temp at a glance...that's important to most people. A secondary reason, though, is that folks new to the app who don't yet understand the workflow, would probably be confused if they create a curve and bound it to a probe, and when that view reappears are not greeted with any type of temperature or curve related feedback. Since the curve would be empty, it would appear as if nothing had happened.

So, I want to be careful about what I show, and when. But, flip-style comparison like you mention is important. I've put some thought into that for this update...one of the reason I removed a lot of the hokey animations. They were designed to show users WHAT was tappable, but become annoying when flipping through roasts. But I digress.

I really like your idea. Now that I've offloaded all the old criteria selector buttons and graph controls to a separate screen, I have room for more informative text. What I will probably do, is...IFF the roast is complete, and more than one curve exists, forgo the manual selection. Otherwise, keep as is. That "makes sense" to me...and I think it would to users as well. I've added it to the backlog for the beta. The code changes will be easy and I can squeeze it in. I may also lighten the reference curves when no curve is selected - similar to the analyzer.

This is really an awesome idea...and a great observation that sometimes I'm not in the best position to make for myself. I really appreciate you mentioning this...and your other thoughts!!!!
22
Wish List / Default curve selection in Roast Console
« Last post by Trey D on July 19, 2020, 03:50:32 PM »
Hi,

Currently it seems the default is whichever data curve is at the top of the list in the Data Curve section for that roast. What I like to see when I'm tapping through my completed roasts is how the readings compare to the references. When a curve is selected all the nodes and the area under the curve light up. This obscures the other curves, especially when they are very close together and I find myself tapping on every roast graph until no curves are selected.
I'd like to request a way to set the default curve selection to 'none' for the graph on the roast console.
If there's already a way to do this, please let me know.

Thanks,
Trey
23
Support / Re: Last effort to try to use roastmaster on ipad
« Last post by Danny Hall on July 17, 2020, 12:43:33 PM »
Hi Dave

I have no control over sales or refunds...you'll have to take that up with Apple...https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204084

This is the first I’m hearing from you. Don’t hesitate to ask for support. The use of Phidgets can sometimes involve troubleshooting WiFi issues. I’d imagine the process is easier in Artisan, which benefits from hard-wired USB. iOS does not have that luxury, so it requires the extra step of a WiFi bridge.

That is why I always recommend the ThermaQ Blue to users for K type thermocouples. It’s Bluetooth LE…turn it on and it’s linked. Doesn’t get any easier than that. And also the reason I've designed my own Bluetooth LE hardware in the early manufacturing stages. Phidgets are tough...made for DIY tinkerers. They work great, but I am looking toward new technology...not legacy stuff.

The 1048 you mention is an old, legacy device. Roastmaster still supports it - and will continue to, but there are easier ways with their newer VINT devices. If you must stay with Phidgets, I’d recommend:

VINT Temp Sensor (readings)
SBC4 and Wireless Adapter (bridge to WiFi)

Even with their legacy hardware, most users opt for an SBC, instead of relying on a laptop. Roastmaster supports that as well.

I’m not sure what you mean by “wireless usb sensor”…do you mean their Wireless VINT Hub? That essentially replaces the SBC - making things a lot easier If so, Roastmaster will support that in the next release due in the fall. That is in beta right now with several users testing that particular hardware. It’s working great for them, and for me in internal testing. It’s cheaper, and easier because it usually requires no configuration at all. If that is what you’ve purchased, let me know and I can set you up on the beta so you can use it now without waiting for the official release.

Otherwise, I’ll try and help with your current configuration. Please send me screenshots of the following to support@rainfroginc.com

1) The probe definition screen in Roastmaster
2) The Network Server panel of the Phidget Control Panel app on your laptop

I’ll see if I can spot any immediate configuration problems. If not, we can look at your log to see why Phidgets isn’t communicating with your network. That’s usually a firewall problem.

As for misleading…I have to disagree. There is a big orange warning on the purchase screen, with pictures and diagrams of exactly what you need to connect with Roastmaster.

I’ll look for your email.

Danny
24
Support / Last effort to try to use roastmaster on ipad
« Last post by roasterdave on July 17, 2020, 09:16:05 AM »
Hello Danny,

Would like to request for a refund for the app purchase and data logging fee we had to pay for. Unless of course we suceed at making this work one last time.. Have read many other solutions but all don't work.

Personally found the experience horrible and tedious unfortunately. We bought a wireless usb sensor as well as tried working it out with the phidget 1048 on the giesen with the ipad. We realised a laptop is needed to first be the host in order to sent the readings to the ipad which makes this process kind of unnecessary and troublesome. We thought we could just get readings straight to the ipad.

Would prefer to work with artisan instead. We have been trying to dig our brains on how to link up our roasters with the ipad app but I think it is rather misleading that it can link up directly. Hope to hear from you soon.
25
Wish List / Re: Color Picker
« Last post by Danny Hall on July 14, 2020, 02:01:35 PM »
Hi...good idea, actually.

That color picker is gone now...may it RIP. I was never happy with it either. That was the only chunk of code in Roastmaster that I didn't actually write. I found an open-source color picker, thinking I'd saved myself time to devote to roasting-related code. It's been a thorn in my side ever since...I've wasted more time keeping it up to date with its clunky UI code than I ever saved. So, I ditched it and wrote something nicer looking and better suited to the purpose for the coming update.

Roastmaster operates on the HSL color model - it's better suited to choosing colors for contrast. This is even more important in the new color picker, because there's a preview portion - showing the color as it will appear in both light and dark modes (since Roastmaster now darkens and lightens them somewhat for optimal contrast). RBG is easy for folks to understand, but I fear that HSL would be nonsensical numbers.

I'm thinking a "recent colors" panel would be a better choice. You could pick the color visually, or invoke a list of unique recent colors and choose from that. Would that satisfy your brand OCD? I think it would satisfy my brand. :)
26
Wish List / Re: Database Sync with multiple devices
« Last post by Danny Hall on July 14, 2020, 01:52:18 PM »
Firstly - you can send your database to another device via AirDrop from the homsescreen very easily...4 taps to send, 1 tap to receive. Open the drum door and choose "Utilities > Export Current Database", and choose the device. The receiving device will import it, asking if you want to replace the current database. Also, you can do this manually and send it to a file storage service instead, like iCloud Files, Dropbox, etc. The process is the same as above, just choose the file service you use instead of a nearby device. To load it on the target device, navigate to the file in the file storage app you use, and choose "Copy to Roastmaster". It will import the same as with AirDrop.

Beyond that...yes, I do want to expand this area. But, let me be clear...iCloud sync is NOT currently in my plans. Apple's paradigm here is "One person, multiple devices". In many Roastmaster installations, however, the working paradigm is "Multiple people, multiple devices". These are roasting facilities that employ several roasters, on several iPads...often in multiple shifts. Even ignoring the paradigm conflict, iCloud was never designed to handle situations of this complexity. It seems to choke on anything more than a simple Document-type data store. I fear Roastmaster's complex relational data model would wreak havoc.

That being said, yes...I do want to look into the Dropbox API's surrounding automatic backup. Every time I roast, I backup my own database. I subject it to a lot of abuse during development cycles...upgrades, backtrack, sample data entry, testing, etc., so I'm meticulous about always backing it up to iCloud Files.

I'd love to be able to skip that step...knowing that it was being done for me, and that if I needed it on another device, I could replace it easily.

So, long story short (too late)...yes a more automated approach to this is in my product backlog list.
27
Wish List / Re: Database Sync with multiple devices
« Last post by Trey D on July 13, 2020, 03:52:14 PM »
Seconded!  :D

Edit:  I know there already exists the functionality to export/import the database, but this request, if I understand it correctly, is a slightly different case.

 - Trey
28
Wish List / Database Sync with multiple devices
« Last post by thb2006 on July 10, 2020, 08:27:19 PM »
I was wondering if there are any plans to allow sharing of databases between devices? I have an iPad and an iPhone and would love to be able to tweak things in my database from my phone whenever I am away from my iPad.

If that is not possible, then I suppose the next best thing would be the ability to automatically backup to cloud storage such as iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox, or OneDrive...
29
Wish List / Color Picker
« Last post by thb2006 on July 10, 2020, 08:21:01 PM »
I am okay with the current color picker (style), but I was wondering if there was a way to also be able to input the numbers directly. I guess you could say that I am a little bit obsessive/compulsive about things not matching up perfectly.
30
Wish List / Re: Edit profile/program reference curve graphically
« Last post by Danny Hall on July 07, 2020, 08:18:03 PM »
Hmmm...never say never, but I doubt it...too far along in the testing cycle at this point.

But, we could work on that as a beta thing. I've done some of the best features with that paradigm...it's a two heads are better than one kind of thing.
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