Can DeepSeek write effects? Let’s see…

[grustinkerbel]

I just purchased the mesmerizer. Printed Dave’s frame and connected it to the Wi-Fi. Question is, can a LLM code an effect for me? Here is my prompt.

Now that I shared ledmatrixgfx.cpp, ledmatrixgfx.h, gfxbase.h , please write sample code to display the letters NMH in blue, red, white on the hub 75 led panel.

Please update the first example for a display 32x64

I forgot to mention, working with ESP32.

#include <WiFi.h>
#include "ledmatrixgfx.h"
#include "gfxbase.h"

// Panel configuration
#define PANEL_WIDTH 64
#define PANEL_HEIGHT 32
#define MATRIX_REFRESH_RATE 120  // Hz

LEDMatrixGFX matrix(PANEL_WIDTH, PANEL_HEIGHT);

// WiFi credentials
const char* ssid = "your_SSID";
const char* password = "your_PASSWORD";

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);
  
  // Initialize WiFi
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("\nWiFi connected");
  
  // Initialize matrix with ESP32-specific settings
  matrix.setRefreshRate(MATRIX_REFRESH_RATE);
  matrix.begin();
  matrix.setBrightness(128);  // Start at 50% brightness
  matrix.Clear(CRGB::Black);

  // ESP32-specific power management
  #ifdef ESP32
    // Reduce WiFi power to save energy for LEDs
    WiFi.setTxPower(WIFI_POWER_11dBm);
    // Configure ADC for accurate power monitoring
    analogReadResolution(12);
  #endif
}

void drawNMH() {
  // Font configuration for ESP32 (optimized)
  const uint8_t letterWidth = 8;  // Using font8x13 for better visibility
  const uint8_t letterHeight = 13;
  const uint8_t letterSpacing = 4;
  
  // Calculate centered position
  const int startX = (PANEL_WIDTH - (3*letterWidth + 2*letterSpacing)) / 2;
  const int startY = (PANEL_HEIGHT - letterHeight) / 2;

  // Clear only the area we'll draw in (ESP32 optimization)
  matrix.fillRectangle(startX-2, startY-2, 
                      startX + 3*letterWidth + 2*letterSpacing + 2, 
                      startY + letterHeight + 2, 
                      CRGB::Black);

  // Draw letters with ESP32-optimized colors
  matrix.SetFont(font8x13);
  matrix.DrawString(startX, startY, CRGB(0, 0, 255), "N");  // Blue
  matrix.DrawString(startX + letterWidth + letterSpacing, startY, CRGB(255, 0, 0), "M");  // Red
  matrix.DrawString(startX + 2*(letterWidth + letterSpacing), startY, CRGB(255, 255, 255), "H");  // White
}

void loop() {
  // ESP32-specific power adjustment
  #ifdef ESP32
    // Dynamic brightness based on power source
    if (WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED) {
      matrix.setBrightness(150);  // Lower when on WiFi
    } else {
      matrix.setBrightness(200);  // Brighter when offline
    }
  #endif

  drawNMH();
  
  // ESP32-optimized frame handling
  matrix.PrepareFrame();
  matrix.PostProcessFrame(1, WiFi.status() == WL_CONNECTED ? 1 : 0);
  
  delay(50);  // ~20 FPS (ESP32 can handle faster)
}

[rbergen]

I'll start with a housekeeping note: code in GitHub comments is a lot easier to read if you stick it in a Markdown code block (blocks that start and end with a line containing 3 backticks, the first of which preferably also indicates the language, in this case ```cpp).

In any case, the code you shared is an implementation of the main Arduino setup() and loop() functions, not an effect in the context of NightDriverStrip; those are always a subclass of LEDStripEffect. And for an effect to do anything, it has to be incorporated in the code, as described in the "Adding new effects" section in the project README.

So, putting aside if the code compiles and works (I tested neither), it won't work as an effect within the codebase that makes up this project and thus runs on the Mesmerizer boards.