So, at least for my installation I was able to sort things out. This also included as well re-installing Raspbian, but I just wanted to have a clean installation. The main culprit seem to be the node.js version which is important to be at least from the V7 branch (V8 not tested, my system shows v0.10.x before any installation steps) and an issue with the automated installation script:

Problem in automated installation script:
It tests for node.js V5.1.x and if not or only an earlier version is found, asks to install node.js from the V6 branch. Even with the latest node.js version from V6 the installation of electron fails in a postinstall step due to a problem in the extract-zip package (yes, complicated, indeed).

Indicator for the problem in the electron installation is a missing path.txt file which should be in the electron sub folder and the message “Electron failed to install correctly, please delete node_modules/electron and try installing again” if MM is tried to be started.

Even, if the electron installation is fixed as described before, you will just get a black screen: MM starts, but all areas remain empty which is optically “a black screen”. This (and actually the other problems as well) can be fixed by installing the node.js version of the V7 branch before installation.

Additionally, due to the problems during the installation the final steps, e.g. creating the config file and asking, if the automatic start manager PM2 should be used, are not executed.

Hint: You can check the node.js version by issuing:

node -v

Clean installation steps:

1. Optional: Re-install Raspbian to get a clean system
2. Update Raspbian:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

3. Reboot
4. Update to node.js V7.x (if you have already installed and used node.js of the V8.x branch then you may not like to execute the following lines) as described on node.js project website:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

4. Get and install MagicMirror (without starting it) from the PI home folder:

git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror
cd ~/MagicMirror
npm install

5. Fix complaints about global scripts (may be optional, requires sudo due to the global option as special folders have to be accessed):

sudo npm install --global stylelint
sudo npm install --global coffeescript

7. Execute post installation steps from the automatic installation script to make it perfect:

cp ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js.sample ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js
sudo mkdir /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/splash.png /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/splash.png
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/MagicMirror.plymouth /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/MagicMirror.plymouth
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/MagicMirror.script /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/MagicMirror.script

8. Optional: If you would like to autostart MM and to install the automatic start tool PM2:

sudo npm install -g pm2
sudo su -c "env PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin pm2 startup linux -u pi --hp /home/pi"
pm2 start ~/MagicMirror/installers/pm2_MagicMirror.json
pm2 save

Steps in 7&8 taken from the automatic script: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh

Oh, start MM, if you a directly working on the system (no SSH/Putty connection):

npm start

or while using a SSH/Putty connection:

DISPLAY=:0 nohup npm start &

Regards,
HerrB92

@ruben And if you delve into Javascript development you should consider to use TypeScript. It allows type-safe development and debugging while you develop. It translates into regular Javascript.

Actually, AngularJS is developed using TypeScript. Pretty awesome!

Just my 2 cents.

Regards,

HerrB92

@broberg I am using an 8mm Pilkington Mirropane™ Chrome Spy. I believe it is a surface coated mirror, but the product description is not entirely clear on that point (“special offline coating”, whatever this is).

Hi everyone,

as a very simple solution to reduce power consumption, I have used the external microwave motion sensor of Goobay/Wendtronic in my MagicMirror project (https://www.wentronic.de/en/lighting/installation-und-power-supply/sensors/8697/mikrowellen-bewegungsmelder, can be found easily by searching for goobay microwave motion sensor).

It is a device working independently from a Raspberry and can be used to simply switch on/off the monitor used, if there is some movement in front of the mirror. As it is using microwaves it can be placed behind the glass. The manufacturer specifies a range of 8m, but I am pretty sure it is less if put behind the glass (mine is located in a room with 2m distance to the mirror, so I cannot really tell the maximum distance).

The device is just connected to 220V and provides the power to a connected device, here for example a monitor. Reactivity, keep time and day/night sensitivity can be adjusted.

I am not related to the manufacturer or any vendor, I just wanted to share my experience and if you have questions I am happy to try to answer them.

Best regards,
HerrB92

@michaelb42 Mmmh, good to know. Maybe something has been fixed in node.js V6.x or the ZIP package, which was the actual problem on installing electron (and from there it went further down).

The indicator was that in the electron folder no path.txt file was created (which triggers the above error message).

It worked like a charm with V7.x (I even tested it from Raspian scratch). Unfortunately, I have no idea, why the installation result differs that much… ;-)

Regards,
HerrB

@spikeboybebop Hi, maybe my solution posted here may help you: https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/2659/black-blank-screen/11

The main problem (AFAIK) is the need to install and activate a newer version of node.js, as the installation of electron fails with V 6.x.

The automatic installer only tests on node.js V5.x, so V6.x seems to be fine, but you need node.js V7.x, at least.

Regards,
HerrB92

So, at least for my installation I was able to sort things out. This also included as well re-installing Raspbian, but I just wanted to have a clean installation. The main culprit seem to be the node.js version which is important to be at least from the V7 branch (V8 not tested, my system shows v0.10.x before any installation steps) and an issue with the automated installation script:

Problem in automated installation script:
It tests for node.js V5.1.x and if not or only an earlier version is found, asks to install node.js from the V6 branch. Even with the latest node.js version from V6 the installation of electron fails in a postinstall step due to a problem in the extract-zip package (yes, complicated, indeed).

Indicator for the problem in the electron installation is a missing path.txt file which should be in the electron sub folder and the message “Electron failed to install correctly, please delete node_modules/electron and try installing again” if MM is tried to be started.

Even, if the electron installation is fixed as described before, you will just get a black screen: MM starts, but all areas remain empty which is optically “a black screen”. This (and actually the other problems as well) can be fixed by installing the node.js version of the V7 branch before installation.

Additionally, due to the problems during the installation the final steps, e.g. creating the config file and asking, if the automatic start manager PM2 should be used, are not executed.

Hint: You can check the node.js version by issuing:

node -v

Clean installation steps:

1. Optional: Re-install Raspbian to get a clean system
2. Update Raspbian:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

3. Reboot
4. Update to node.js V7.x (if you have already installed and used node.js of the V8.x branch then you may not like to execute the following lines) as described on node.js project website:

curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

4. Get and install MagicMirror (without starting it) from the PI home folder:

git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror
cd ~/MagicMirror
npm install

5. Fix complaints about global scripts (may be optional, requires sudo due to the global option as special folders have to be accessed):

sudo npm install --global stylelint
sudo npm install --global coffeescript

7. Execute post installation steps from the automatic installation script to make it perfect:

cp ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js.sample ~/MagicMirror/config/config.js
sudo mkdir /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/splash.png /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/splash.png
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/MagicMirror.plymouth /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/MagicMirror.plymouth
sudo cp ~/MagicMirror/splashscreen/MagicMirror.script /usr/share/plymouth/themes/MagicMirror/MagicMirror.script

8. Optional: If you would like to autostart MM and to install the automatic start tool PM2:

sudo npm install -g pm2
sudo su -c "env PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin pm2 startup linux -u pi --hp /home/pi"
pm2 start ~/MagicMirror/installers/pm2_MagicMirror.json
pm2 save

Steps in 7&8 taken from the automatic script: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/master/installers/raspberry.sh

Oh, start MM, if you a directly working on the system (no SSH/Putty connection):

npm start

or while using a SSH/Putty connection:

DISPLAY=:0 nohup npm start &

Regards,
HerrB92

Regarding “electron@1.6.10 postinstall”: There is an issue during installation with the extract-zip package which in turn results in a postinstall problem with electron (visible sign: There is no path.txt file in the node_modules/electron folder. Starting MM gives you the error message ‘Electron failed to install correctly, please delete node_modules/electron and try installing again’).

As far as I understand, extract-zip is now version 1.6.4 and with this version, postinstall on electron fails.

This post helped: https://forum.magicmirror.builders/topic/2460/magicmirror-fails-to-install-during-electron-installation/2

I am still struggeling with the black blank screen (and I have to further look into this), but the electron installation can be fixed by issuing (as taken from the referenced post - actually a downgrade of the extract-zip package):

npm uninstall extract-zip
npm install extract-zip@1.6.0
npm install electron

Note: I am a noob, yet… ;-)

Regards,
HerrB92