Posts made by doctorwhen

An updated release of MirrorCommand is available at https://gitlab.com/doctorfree/MirrorCommand/-/releases/v4.0.1r1

Version 4.0.1 Release 1 of MirrorCommand replaces the use of module MMM-DarkSkyForecast with module MMM-OpenWeatherForecast. Apple bought DarkSky and is removing free access to the API.

See the MirrorCommand README for additional info.

The Mirror Command Line project provides scripts to enable command line control of the MagicMirror system over a local network.
The MirrorCommand Debian and RPM format package installation scripts perform automatic installation and configuration of a MagicMirror including:

• Automated installation of the MagicMirror software if not already installed
• Automated configuration of the MagicMirror
• Automated installation and configuration of several MagicMirror modules
• PM2 process manager installation and configuration
• Semi-automated key management to enable a single source for adding, storing, and managing the several keys necessary to activate many MagicMirror modules
• Hundreds of MagicMirror configuration files preconfigured with layouts for both portrait and landscape mode displays and module activation

The mirror command can be installed on your MagicMirror to issue MagicMirror commands. Currently the command line MagicMirror control scripts include support for:

• Specifying the MagicMirror configuration file to activate
• Starting, stopping, and restarting the MagicMirror
• Display of various system info
  • Temperature
  • Memory
  • Disk
  • Usb
  • Network
  • Wireless
  • Screen
• List active/installed MagicMirror modules
• List available MagicMirror configuration files
• Rotate the MagicMirror screen
• Get or set the brightness level
• Control MagicMirror video playback
  • Start/Stop video play
  • Replay video
  • Play next video
  • Hide video playback module
  • Show video playback module
• Control the MagicMirror audio output volume level
• Get MagicMirror status
• Update the MagicMirror installation or update installed modules
• Auto generation of new MagicMirror configuration files
• Interactive mode via menu dialogs
  • Invoked with no arguments the mirror command displays a command menu.

MirrorCommand has been successfully deployed and tested on a Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 400 running Raspbian Buster. It has also been deployed and tested on Ubuntu Linux 20.04 and Fedora Linux 35 with generic x86_64 hardware.

@FlatPepsi Good to see you are ahead of the game as DarkSky is shutting down next year. Did you consider the successor to DarkSky, WeatherKit ? I have not yet checked it out and it is currently in Beta. I am happy with OpenWeather, just curious about WeatherKit.

@bugsounet Sorry, i am not sure i understand. Is it your wish that people not mention your modules on this forum? If so, I was unaware and apologize.

But, I don’t understand why. It is certainly not part of the MIT license under which your modules are distributed. Still, I suppose out of courtesy one might wish to conform to your request. Anyway, I’m a bit confused and perplexed and sorry if I did something wrong.

@halpi-thousand Your HAL 9000 setup looks very cool. Nice!

Yes, both the Siri and Google Assistant voice control works on the Raspberry Pi. It was an oversight on my part not to mention that in the articles.

I do not know how to customize the voice triggers for either Siri or GA. I think for Siri it is not possible. Maybe GA has a way.
Nor do I know how to customize the voice. Again, I think for Siri your choices are limited to what Apple supports. Maybe there is a way with GA.

Neither setup is easy, the GA setup being the more difficult. However, the instructions are pretty clear, just complicated, so it’s doable. Good luck!

I’ve published a couple of articles on how to enable voice control of MagicMirror using either Apple Siri or Google Assistant. These guides can be found in the MirrorCommand Wiki at:

• Mirror Voice Commands with Siri
• Mirror Voice Commands with Google Assistant

These are not simple setups. I would consider these DIY projects for the tinkering minded. They do, however, work - at least in my environment. Both methods of voice control rely on the installation and configuration of a MagicMirror command line interface provided by the MirrorCommand Package. In addition to providing the convenience of voice control of MagicMirror, the MirrorCommand package enables automation of MagicMirror actions and the ease/simplicity of command line control.

Siri voice control of MagicMirror relies on the “Run script over SSH” option for Apple Scripting Shortcuts. on an iOS device. The Shortcut runs a shell command via SSH. Enabling and configuring SSH pose the highest hurdle for most.

Google Assistant voice control of MagicMirror requires a MagicMirror with the MMM-GoogleAssistant and MMM-Detector modules activated and configured properly. Setup for this method is considerably more difficult but once accomplished results in a superior quality setup with far more ease and flexibility of use.

MirrorCommand releases can be installed on Debian based Linux systems, RPM based Linux systems, and a Raspberry Pi. Debian and RPM format packages are provided for easy deployment.

Let me know how to improve these how-to guides and what better ways you might suggest for voice control of MagicMirror. Perhaps you have suggestions for easier use of the Google Assistant SDK to provide voice control or maybe Home Assistant has some cool way to do this. Enjoy!

The MirrorCommandLine package was introduced here in a previous post describing its features and installation. MirrorCommandLine has been renamed MirrorCommand with many new features added and installation packages available in Debian and RPM formats. This post is to announce the availability of MirrorCommand Version 3.0.0 Release 1

See the MirrorCommand README to learn more about command line control of MagicMirror and the automated installation and configuration of MagicMirror with the MirrorCommand package.

This major release of MirrorCommand introduces support for multiple monitors, switching MagicMirror screen display between monitors and full support for both portrait and landscape mode displays.

Voice commands for screen switching have been added via the
MMM-GoogleAssistant module recipe file MirrorCommand.js.

To install:

Download the latest Debian or RPM format packages

NOTE: The automated configuration requires access to some X11 graphical
utilities. Depending upon your system’s X11 configuration, it may be necessary
to grant the root user access to the display. To do so, prior to installation
issue the command:

xhost +si:localuser:root

or grant everyone access with

xhost +

Install the package on Debian based systems by executing the command

sudo apt install ./MirrorCommand_3.0.0-1.deb

Install the package on RPM based systems by executing the command

sudo yum localinstall ./MirrorCommand-3.0.0-1.noarch.rpm

Removal of the package on Debian based systems can be accomplished by issuing the command:

sudo apt remove mirrorcommand

Removal of the package on RPM based systems can be accomplished by issuing the command:

sudo yum remove MirrorCommand

Post installation, configure /usr/local/MagicMirror/etc/mirrorkeys with any keys used by your modules. Once keys are configured, execute the command:

/usr/local/bin/showkeys

@sdetweil I should also add that some of the automated MagicMirror installation and configuration in MirrorCommandLine drew upon your previous work at https://github.com/sdetweil/MagicMirror_scripts

I should add a note about your contribution to the automated installation and configuration in the MirrorCommandLine README. Thanks!

@sdetweil I’ve successfully deployed and tested MirrorCommandLine on a Raspberry Pi 4 running Raspbian Buster and Ubuntu 20.04 on a couple of systems. The installation package format is Debian so the automated installation and configuration is limited to systems that support the Debian packaging format. However, it should deploy on most Debian based Linux environments. I do not know about Pi Zero or Pi 3. I would appreciate any feedback from folks who use those systems. I have a Pi 400 I can test on and will report the results.

I’ll add a Compatibility section to the README.

The MirrorCommandLine project provides scripts to enable command line control of the MagicMirror system over a local network.

The MirrorCommandLine Debian format package installation scripts perform automatic installation and configuration of a MagicMirror including:

• Automated installation of the MagicMirror software if not already installed
• Automated configuration of the MagicMirror
• Automated installation and configuration of several MagicMirror modules
• PM2 process manager installation and configuration
• Semi-automated key management to enable a single source for adding, storing, and managing the several keys necessary to activate many MagicMirror modules
• Hundreds of MagicMirror configuration files preconfigured with layouts for both portrait and landscape mode displays and module activation

The mirror command can be installed on your MagicMirror to issue MagicMirror commands. Currently the command line MagicMirror control scripts include support for:

• Specifying the MagicMirror configuration file to activate
• Starting, stopping, and restarting the MagicMirror
• Display of various system info
  • Temperature
  • Memory
  • Disk
  • Usb
  • Network
  • Wireless
  • Screen
• List active/installed MagicMirror modules
• List available MagicMirror configuration files
• Rotate the MagicMirror screen
• Get or set the brightness level
• Control MagicMirror video playback
  • Start/Stop video play
  • Replay video
  • Play next video
  • Hide video playback module
  • Show video playback module
• Control the MagicMirror audio output volume level
• Get MagicMirror status
• Auto generation of new MagicMirror configuration files
• Interactive mode via menu dialogs
  • Invoked with no arguments the mirror command displays a command menu.

NOTE: The automated configuration requires access to some X11 graphical utilities. Depending upon your system’s X11 configuration, it may be necessary to grant the root user access to the display. To do so, prior to installation issue the command:

xhost +si:localuser:root

or grant everyone access with

xhost +

Visit the MirrorCommandLine Git Repository to learn more about this project, read the articles and documentation at the MirrorCommandLine Wiki, or download and install the MirrorCommandLine Debian format package.

@mmrize no, pcmanfm cannot run an application in the desktop background layer, just a wallpaper image. so, i take my comment back, i did not fully understand what you are talking about. but, now i want to try running magicmirror as my desktop background!