# Party Cam: Instant Thermal Camera & Digital Gallery

A DIY point-and-shoot that prints dithered lo-fi photos on thermal receipt paper and simultaneously uploads captures to a local Rust web server.

---

## Hardware BOM

| Part | Notes |
| :--- | :--- |
| ESP32-CAM (AI-Thinker) | Camera + WiFi module |
| Thermal Printer | TTL serial, 5V–9V |
| 2× 18650 Li-Ion | In series = 7.4V; powers printer directly + 5V buck converter for ESP32 |
| Tactile button | Shutter trigger |
| FTDI adapter or Arduino Uno | For flashing only |

---

## Wiring

| ESP32-CAM Pin | Component | Function |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **5V** | PSU 5V | Power in |
| **GND** | PSU GND | Common ground |
| **GPIO 12** | Button | Shutter (other leg → 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 |

All pin assignments are in `include/config.h`. Change them there if your wiring differs.

---

## Server Setup

Run the server on any machine on the same local network as the camera. It receives uploads and hosts the gallery.

### Option A: Docker Compose (recommended)

```bash
cd server
docker compose up -d
```

Images are saved to `server/party_images/` on the host. To change the gallery password, edit `GALLERY_PASSWORD` in `compose.yml`.

### Option B: Cargo (dev)

```bash
cd server
cargo run --release
```

Requires a `.env` file in the `server/` directory:

```ini
SERVER_HOST=0.0.0.0
SERVER_PORT=3000
GALLERY_PASSWORD=partytime
UPLOAD_DIR=./uploads
```

`GALLERY_PASSWORD` is required — the server panics at startup without it.

---

## Firmware Setup

### 1. Configure

Check `platformio.ini` and make sure `board` matches your actual hardware. The default is `4d_systems_esp32s3_gen4_r8n16` — change it to `ai_thinker_esp32-cam` if using a standard ESP32-CAM. Camera pin definitions in `include/config.h` are pre-set for AI-Thinker.

### 2. Flash (Arduino Uno as bridge)

Wire the Uno as a passthrough:
- Arduino RESET → Arduino GND (bypasses the Uno chip)
- Arduino Pin 0 (RX) → ESP32 U0R
- Arduino Pin 1 (TX) → ESP32 U0T
- **ESP32 IO0 → ESP32 GND** (enables download mode)

Click **Upload** in PlatformIO, then press RST on the ESP32 when "Connecting…" appears.

### 3. Boot

Disconnect IO0 from GND, press RST. The camera boots.

---

## First Boot Configuration

1. Power on. Camera broadcasts WiFi AP: **`PartyCam-Setup`**.
2. Connect your phone — a captive portal opens automatically (or go to `192.168.4.1`).
3. Select the venue WiFi and enter the password.
4. Set the **Upload URL** to `http://<server-machine-ip>:3000/upload`.
5. Adjust contrast/heat to taste. **Save & Reboot.**

The portal times out after 3 minutes. If it closes before you save, the camera boots in offline mode (printing still works, upload disabled).

---

## Settings Page

After first boot the settings page is always reachable at:

```
http://partycam.local
```

(or the camera's IP address on port 80). Use it to adjust contrast, brightness, flip/mirror, heat density, and the upload URL.

---

## Gallery

```
http://<server-ip>:3000/gallery
```

Open from any device on the same network. The browser will prompt for the gallery password. New photos appear automatically — the page polls every 5 seconds.

---

## Customisation

| What | Where |
| :--- | :--- |
| Pin assignments | `include/config.h` |
| Printer baud rate | `include/config.h` → `BAUD_RATE` |
| Default camera settings | `include/settings_service.h` → `AppSettings` struct defaults |
| Gallery password | `compose.yml` or `.env` |
| Capture resolution | `src/camera_service.cpp` → `config.frame_size` (update `IMAGE_WIDTH`/`IMAGE_HEIGHT` in `server/src/main.rs` to match) |