How it works

This script is inspired by BenRoe's rpi-magic-mirror-eink, but is fully implemented in python.

The python script uses pyppeteer (Python implementation of Chromium's instrumentation API) to take a screenshot of a website (usually a locally running instance of MagicMirror²) and then renders the screenshot on Waveshare's 7.5" 3-color display.

Requirements

• Raspbian Buster (Python 3.6+)
• Waveshare 7.5 3-color epaper display
• Ikea RIBBA frame (13x18cm)

Installation

• Enable the SPI is enabled by uncommenting the following line in /boot/config.txt:

  dtparam=spi=on
  

• Install some packages:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt install git python3.7-venv python3-venv libatlas-base-dev -y
  # Make sure to check the script before executing the next part! You are about to pipe a script from the world wide web to bash! At least it's not root...
  curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.34.0/install.sh | bash
  nvm install --lts

• We need an older version of chrome (as there are problems with the current puppeteer version and Chromium 74):
  • Create a sources list for stretch:

    sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/stretch.list

  • Add the following two lines:

    deb http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/ stretch main ui 
    deb-src http://archive.raspberrypi.org/debian/ stretch main ui
    

  • Add a default apt settings file:

    sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/default

  • Set the default apt release to buster by adding the following line:

    APT::Default-Release "buster";
    

  • Install the chromium version from the stretch repo:

    sudo apt update && sudo apt-get install -t stretch chromium-browser -y

• Install MagicMirror²:

  mkdir repos
  cd repos
  git clone https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror
  cd MagicMirror
  npm install
  # Ignore the electron install error (if it occurs) and install the vendor and font packages manually:
  npm run install
  npm run install-fonts

• Clone this repository:

  cd ~/repos
  git clone https://github.com/alexrashed/rpi-magicmirror-eink.git

• Setup the Python environment:

  cd rpi-magicmirror-eink
  python3.7 -m venv .venv
  source .venv/bin/activate
  pip install -r requirements.txt

• Copy the MagicMirror² config, CSS and fonts into the MagicMirror directory:

  cp -r ./magicmirror-files/. ~/repos/MagicMirror

• Install the MagicMirror modules:

  cd ~/repos/MagicMirror/modules
  git clone https://github.com/alexrashed/calendar_monthly.git

• Adjust the config to your needs (set calendars, weather info,...):

  nano ~/repos/MagicMirror/config/config.js

• Intall PM2:
  • Install the package globally:

    npm install -g pm2
    pm2 startup

  • Make sure to execute the command which is printed (DO NOT JUST COPY THIS, IT WILL BE DIFFERENT):

     sudo env PATH=$PATH:/home/pi/.nvm/versions/node/v10.16.3/bin /home/pi/.nvm/versions/node/v10.16.3/lib/node_modules/pm2/bin/pm2 startup systemd -u pi --hp /home/pi

• Setup the automatic startup on boot for MagicMirror:

  # Make sure to execute the command which is printed
  # Adjust the path (if MagicMirror is not directly in your home)
  nano ~/repos/MagicMirror/installers/pm2_MagicMirror.json
  # Adjust the path (if MagicMirror is not directly in your home) and replace the command with `node serveronly`
  nano ~/repos/MagicMirror/installers/mm.sh
  # If your user is not 'pi' checkout these lines before:
  # https://github.com/MichMich/MagicMirror/blob/master/installers/raspberry.sh#L223
  pm2 start ~/repos/MagicMirror/installers/pm2_MagicMirror.json
  pm2 save

• Setup the automatic startup on boot for the python script:

  sudo cp ~/repos/rpi-magicmirror-eink/rpi-magicmirror-eink.service /etc/systemd/system/rpi-magicmirror-eink.service
  sudo chmod 644 /etc/systemd/system/rpi-magicmirror-eink.service
  sudo systemctl enable rpi-magicmirror-eink
  sudo systemctl start rpi-magicmirror-eink
  sudo systemctl status rpi-magicmirror-eink

Configuration

Currently the script is configured by modifying the global variables at the top of main.py. The cron schedule can be adjusted in the run.sh script.

Resources

• Reused the Cherry bitmap font files by marin converted to ttf with Bits'N'Picas by BenRoe
• The waveshare epaper library
• The project uses the Original Library written by Waveshare. It can be downloaded here.