# Party Cam: Instant Thermal Camera & Digital Gallery

A DIY point-and-shoot camera that prints dithered lo-fi photos on thermal receipts and instantly uploads high-res copies to a local Rust server.

## Hardware BOM

- **ESP32-CAM**
- **Thermal Printer** (TTL Serial, 5V-9V)
- **Batteries** (Recommended: 2x 18650 Li-Ion in series = 7.4V, powering printer directly + buck converter to 5V for ESP32)
- **Button** (Tactile switch)
- **Programmer**: FTDI Adapter or Arduino Uno (for flashing)

## Wiring

### 1. Camera & Printer

| ESP32-CAM Pin     | Component  | Function                           |
| :---------------- | :--------- | :--------------------------------- |
| **5V**            | PSU 5V     | Power In                           |
| **GND**           | PSU GND    | Common Ground                      |
| **GPIO 12**       | Button     | Trigger (Connect other leg to GND) |
| **GPIO 14** (U1T) | Printer RX | Data TO Printer                    |
| **GPIO 15** (U1R) | Printer TX | Data FROM Printer                  |
| **GPIO 4**        | Flash LED  | (Optional) Built-in Flash          |

### 2. Flashing (Using Arduino Uno as Bridge)

_See "How to Flash" section below._

---

## Setup Guide

### A. The Server (Rust)

The server receives images and hosts the gallery for guests.

1.  **Install Rust:** `curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh`
2.  **Configure:**
    Create a `.env` file in the `server` folder:
    ```ini
    SERVER_HOST=0.0.0.0
    SERVER_PORT=3000
    GALLERY_PASSWORD=partytime
    UPLOAD_DIR=./uploads
    ```
3.  **Run:**
    ```bash
    cd server
    cargo run --release
    ```
    _Server will listen on port 3000._

### B. The Camera (Firmware)

1.  **Open Project:** Open this folder in VS Code with the PlatformIO extension.
2.  **Flash Mode Wiring (Arduino Uno Method):**
    - **Arduino RESET** -> **Arduino GND** (Bypasses Arduino chip).
    - **Arduino Pin 0 (RX)** -> **ESP32 U0R** (Direct passthrough).
    - **Arduino Pin 1 (TX)** -> **ESP32 U0T** (Direct passthrough).
    - **ESP32 IO0** -> **ESP32 GND** (Enables Download Mode).
3.  **Upload:**
    - Connect via USB.
    - Click "Upload".
    - Press the **RST** button on ESP32 when "Connecting..." appears.
4.  **Run Mode:**
    - **Disconnect IO0 from GND.**
    - Press **RST** to boot.

---

## Configuration (First Boot)

1.  **Power on** the camera.
2.  Connect your phone to the WiFi network: `PartyCam-Setup`.
3.  A captive portal should open (or go to `192.168.4.1`).
4.  **WiFi:** Select the venue's WiFi (or your phone hotspot).
5.  **Server URL:** Enter your laptop's IP (e.g., `http://192.168.1.15:3000/upload`).
6.  **Settings:** Adjust Contrast/Heat if the print is too faint or dark.
7.  **Save & Reboot.**

The camera is now live!