feat: Initial support for fan-, progress-, & pointer-sensors (#8)

* feat: support progress, fan, pointer sensor types Initial implementation, not yet fully working. * only use one rendering layer per sensor type instead one per sensor Each layer uses > 1 MB and a panel can contain easily over 20 sensors! * support custom panels with --panels cli argument This includes one or more additional custom panels into the base configuration. Multiple --panels arguments are supported * update docs
2025-08-24 17:12:59 +02:00
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+# asterctl Documentation
+
+> Aster: Greek for star and similar to AOOSTAR.
+
+Currently, the project includes a proof-of-concept demo application that loads an image, draws rectangles, and writes
+text over the image.
+
+A work-in-progress "panel-mode" mimics the AOOSTAR-X software and uses the same configuration files for rendering sensor
+panels with dynamic sensor values.
+
+By default, the original LCD USB UART device `416:90A1` is used. See optional parameters to specify a different device.
+
+```
+./asterctl --help
+AOOSTAR WTR MAX and GEM12+ PRO screen control
+
+Usage: asterctl [OPTIONS]
+
+Options:
+  -d, --device <DEVICE>
+          Serial device, for example "/dev/cu.usbserial-AB0KOHLS". Takes priority over --usb option
+
+  -u, --usb <USB>
+          USB serial UART "vid:pid" in hex notation (lsusb output). Default: 416:90A1
+
+      --on
+          Switch display on and exit. This will show the last displayed image
+
+      --off
+          Switch display off and exit
+
+  -i, --image <IMAGE>
+          Image to display, other sizes than 960x376 will be scaled
+
+  -c, --config <CONFIG>
+          AOOSTAR-X json configuration file to parse.
+          
+          The configuration file will be loaded from the `config_dir` directory if no full path is specified.
+
+  -p, --panels <PANELS>
+          Include one or more additional custom panels into the base configuration.
+          
+          Specify the path to the panel directory containing panel.json and fonts / img subdirectories.
+
+      --config-dir <CONFIG_DIR>
+          Configuration directory containing configuration files and background images specified in the `config` file. Default: `./cfg`
+
+      --font-dir <FONT_DIR>
+          Font directory for fonts specified in the `config` file. Default: `./fonts`
+
+      --sensor-path <SENSOR_PATH>
+          Single sensor value input file or directory for multiple sensor input files. Default: `./cfg/sensors`
+
+      --demo
+          Run a demo
+
+  -o, --off-after <OFF_AFTER>
+          Switch off display n seconds after loading image or running demo
+
+  -w, --write-only
+          Test mode: only write to the display without checking response
+
+  -s, --save
+          Test mode: save changed images in ./out folder
+
+      --simulate
+          Simulate serial port for testing and development, `--device` and `--usb` options are ignored
+
+  -h, --help
+          Print help (see a summary with '-h')
+
+  -V, --version
+          Print version
+```
+
+## Demo Mode
+
+```shell
+cargo run --release -- --demo --config monitor.json
+```
+
+The `--config` parameter is optional. It loads the official configuration file and displays the defined sensors in the
+first panel.
+
+### Parameters
+
+- `--device /dev/ttyACM0` — Specify the serial device.
+- `--usb 0403:6001` — Specify the USB UART device by USB **VID:PID** (hexadecimal, as shown by `lsusb`).
+- `--help` — Show all options.
+
+## Sensor Panel Mode
+
+```shell
+asterctl --config monitor.json
+```
+
+## Control Commands
+
+The following control commands are available to switch the display off or display a static image.
+
+**Switch display on:**
+
+```shell
+asterctl --on
+```
+This will display the last image that was shown before the display was switched off.
+This image is stored in the display firmware and not sent by `asterctl`.
+
+**Switch display off:**
+
+```shell
+asterctl --off
+```
+
+Switching the display off is also possible with pure [shell commands](shell_commands.md).
+
+**Display an image:**
+
+```shell
+asterctl --image img/aybabtu.png
+```
+
+This expects a 960 × 376 image (other sizes are automatically scaled and the aspect ratio is ignored).
+See Rust image crate for [supported image formats](https://github.com/image-rs/image?tab=readme-ov-file#supported-image-formats).