Update node/electron and implement proper IPC

.eslintrc.json

@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
     "node/no-extraneous-require": "off",
     "node/no-unsupported-features/node-builtins": "off",
     "no-empty": "warn",
-    "no-mixed-spaces-and-tabs": "warn"
+    "no-mixed-spaces-and-tabs": "warn",
+    "no-multiple-empty-lines": ["error", { "max": 1, "maxEOF": 0, "maxBOF": 0 }],
+    "no-trailing-spaces": "error",
+    "padded-blocks": ["error", "never"],
+    "eol-last": ["error", "always"]
   }
 } 

.gitignore

@@ -5,5 +5,6 @@ logs/
 dist/
 release/
 bin/
-/release-builds
-/logs/*.log
+release-builds/
+logs/*.log
+dev/agents/

AGENTS.md

@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+Mini4wdChrono is a Mini4wd lap timer program with race management. It is aimed at Mini4wd clubs who want to host races.
+It is a standalone program which is meant to be paired with a hardware lap timer.
+
+## Your role
+- You are a backend developer, expert in plain javascript and electron.
+- Your job is to help upgrading parts of the program and to develop new features.
+
+## Project knowledge
+- **Tech Stack:** Electron with vanilla javascript. Plain html with Bulma for css.
+- **Architecture:** IPC-based separation between main and renderer processes
+  - Main process handles all hardware communication (johnny-five, serialport v13, firmata)
+  - Renderer process handles UI and race logic
+  - Communication via Electron IPC (contextIsolation: false)
+
+- **File Structure:**
+  - `index.html` - main frontend
+  - `window.js` - Electron main process entry point (handles IPC, hardware, file system)
+  - `preload.js` - Exposes IPC APIs to renderer via `window.electronAPI`
+  - `js/` – Application source code (renderer process)
+  - `js/main.js` – Renderer initialization and IPC event handlers
+  - `js/client.js` - Race handling logic and program orchestrator
+  - `js/chrono.js` - Lap timer logic with microsecond-precision timestamps (DO NOT change this file)
+  - `js/ui.js` - Frontend rendering logic
+  - `js/led_managers/` - LED abstraction layer (talks to main process via IPC)
+
+## Boundaries
+- Only change code in the `js/` folder, and other javascript files in the root directory.
+- Do not change `js/chrono.js` which contains battle-tested lap timer logic.
+- Do not change the `index.html` and css files.
+- Hardware operations must go through IPC - never use johnny-five or serialport directly in renderer
+- Timestamps for lap timing are captured in main process at sensor trigger for accuracy
+
+## Lap timer hardware
+Mini4wdChrono connects via usb to a physical lap timer. The lap timer looks like a bridge over the three lanes of a mini4wd track. It is powered by an arduino with firmata firmware, and has 3 light sensor to detect the cars passing under the lap timer. It also sports an rgb led strip for visual feedback and a buzzer for alerts.

i18n/en.json

@@ -82,13 +82,10 @@
 	"label-best-speed-km": "Best speed km/h",
 	"label-custom-title": "Your team/club name",
 	"label-starting-tab": "Starting screen",
-	"label-led-type": "LED type",
 	"label-led-animation": "LED animation at race start (only for RGB strip)",
 	"button-led-animation-full": "Animation + countdown",
 	"button-led-animation-cd": "Countdown only",
 	"button-led-animation-off": "None",
-	"button-led-type-normal": "3 single LEDs",
-	"button-led-type-strip": "Multicolor LED strip",
 	"label-usb-port": "USB Port",
 	"label-direction": "Direction",
 	"label-reverse": "Invert left-right",

i18n/i18n.js

@@ -1,20 +1,26 @@
 'use strict';
 
-const { app } = require('electron').remote;
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 let loadedLanguage;
 
 module.exports = i18n;
 
 function i18n() {
-    const tnpath = path.join(__dirname, app.getLocale().substring(0, 2) + '.json');
-    // tnpath = path.join(__dirname, 'it.json'); // uncomment this line to force italian language
-    if (fs.existsSync(tnpath)) {
-        loadedLanguage = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(tnpath), 'utf8');
-    }
-    else {
-        loadedLanguage = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'en.json'), 'utf8'));
+    // Load English by default, we'll try to get the proper locale asynchronously
+    loadedLanguage = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, 'en.json'), 'utf8'));
+
+    // Try to load the correct locale asynchronously
+    if (window.electronAPI && window.electronAPI.getAppLocale) {
+        window.electronAPI.getAppLocale().then(locale => {
+            const tnpath = path.join(__dirname, locale.substring(0, 2) + '.json');
+            // tnpath = path.join(__dirname, 'it.json'); // uncomment this line to force italian language
+            if (fs.existsSync(tnpath)) {
+                loadedLanguage = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(tnpath), 'utf8');
+            }
+        }).catch(err => {
+            console.warn('Could not load locale, using English:', err);
+        });
     }
 }
 

i18n/it.json

@@ -86,9 +86,6 @@
 	"button-led-animation-full": "Animazione + conto alla rovescia",
 	"button-led-animation-cd": "Solo conto alla rovescia",
 	"button-led-animation-off": "Nessuna",
-	"label-led-type": "Tipo di LED",
-	"button-led-type-normal": "3 LED singoli",
-	"button-led-type-strip": "Striscia LED multicolore",
 	"label-usb-port": "Porta USB",
 	"label-direction": "Senso di marcia",
 	"label-reverse": "Inverti destra-sinistra",

index.html

@@ -494,18 +494,6 @@
 						</p>
 					</div>
 
-					<div class="field">
-						<label class="label tn" data-tn="label-led-type">LED type</label>
-						<div class="field is-grouped is-grouped-multiline">
-							<div class="control">
-								<div class="buttons has-addons">
-									<span id="js-led-type-0" class="button js-led-type tn" data-tn="button-led-type-normal" data-led-type="0">3 LEDs</span>
-									<span id="js-led-type-1" class="button js-led-type tn" data-tn="button-led-type-strip" data-led-type="1">LED strip</span>
-								</div>
-							</div>
-						</div>
-					</div>
-
 					<div class="field">
 						<label class="label tn" data-tn="label-led-animation">LED animation</label>
 						<div class="field is-grouped is-grouped-multiline">
@@ -681,6 +669,13 @@
 
 </body>
 
+<script>
+// Load jQuery and Underscore before main.js loads using nodeRequire from preload
+window.$ = window.jQuery = window.nodeRequire('jquery');
+window._ = window.nodeRequire('underscore');
+// Make require available as alias to nodeRequire for the modules
+window.require = window.nodeRequire;
+</script>
 <script src="js/main.js"></script>
 
 </html>

js/chrono.js

@@ -71,11 +71,13 @@ const init = (track, playerIds, cars) => {
 };
 
 // method called when a sensor receives a signal
-const addLap = (lane) => {
-    // current time in milliseconds
-    const timestamp = new Date().getTime();
+const addLap = (lane, timestamp) => {
+    // Use provided timestamp (captured at hardware level) or fallback to current time
+    if (!timestamp) {
+        timestamp = new Date().getTime();
+    }
 
-    console.log(`======= got signal for lane ${lane} at time ${timestamp}`);
+    console.log(`${timestamp} sensor triggered for lane ${lane}`);
     // console.log(JSON.stringify(rCars, null, 2));
 
     // find all cars that may have passes under this lane sensor
@@ -92,11 +94,11 @@ const addLap = (lane) => {
 
     // false sensor read
     if (rTempCar === null) {
-        console.log(`error: no valid car for signal on lane ${lane}`);
+        console.error(`${timestamp} no valid car found`);
         return;
     }
     else {
-        console.log(`ok: valid car ${rTempCar.startLane}`);
+        console.log(`${timestamp} valid car found (start lane ${rTempCar.startLane})`);
     }
 
     // handle the correct car