Seeking Advice Re: MM Update

[Grizz952]

Recently resurrected MM (without Mirror) project (originally started back in 2020). Paired an old laptop screen with RPi 3B+ running Raspian (Bullseye). Original Micro SD card (from 2020) is still operational, and Raspian has been updated/upgraded (15Nov2023). My setup appears to be functional. However, current software versions are out of date.
MM: 2.18.0
node: 12.22.5
My MM header indicates…
“!MagicMirror2 update available.”
“The current installation is 251 commits behind on the master branch.”
A scan of the forum seems to indicate several (perhaps expected) minor pitfalls with upgrades. Can you recommend the most painless to bring my installation current?

[sdetweil]

@Grizz952 use my script

see

https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror_scripts

note: it’s two part, test no change
then actually do…

back up first.

maybe these will help
https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror-backup-restore

but, maybe node 18 or 20 need more os support

[Grizz952]

@Grizz952 Thanks sdetweil. Ran the script this morning. All upgraded and running - no adverse events. Slick. Thanks

[sdetweil]

@Grizz952 awesome. thanks for the feedback

[Grizz952]

@sdetweil So, following (presumably) successful MM update. I’ve proceeded to adjust/manipulate my modules. Noted a couple potential issues.

• I can no longer summon a menu from the MM display by typing ‘Alt’. In previous version ‘Alt’ would bring up a menu, and File>Quit could be selected. Is the menu still available?

• On MM startup, there appear to be some Errors. Not sure if these are critical. My MM display seems OK once startup is complete. [Not sure how best to share the startup info-showing Errors. Please advise.]

• I have been starting MM manually (“npm run start”). I note that MM running from the Terminal cmd line, the Terminal remains open in background. During module adjustment, starting and stopping through SSH is convenient. However, SSH to MM seems to stall when my primary computer goes to ‘sleep’.

• Finally, I do not find my ‘log’ file. Can someone point me to the location.

Thanks,

[sdetweil]

@Grizz952 the log is the output where you do npm start (‘run’ is not required for start)

terminal shutting down mm

you could have installed process manager (aka pm2)

it will start and run mm, without need for ssh, or a terminal window. and it will capture the output

as you didn’t select this during install you can run the separate script from my scripts page fixuppm2, the last script listed on the page.
then the commands are
pm2 logs, and
pm2 start/stop/ restart
see pm2 – help

you can copy/paste the errors here.

yes, electron decided to change the key handling, alt alone no longer works.

alt-spacebar does. ( but not on Wayland based systems starting w bookworm on pi4), there u need alt-tab.

[Grizz952]

@sdetweil Thanks sdetweil. Appreciate the recommendations. I’ll continue to push my way up the ‘learning curve’.

[sdetweil]

@Grizz952 learning curve! indeed. we all face it every day. everything is constantly changing.