meshtui 0.1.0

Terminal User Interface for MeshCore companion radios

MeshTUI

MeshTUI: A Textual TUI interface to MeshCore companion radios

Description

MeshTUI is a terminal user interface (TUI) client for interacting with MeshCore companion radios. Built with Textual, it provides an intuitive, keyboard-driven interface for managing mesh networks, sending messages, and monitoring device status.

Unlike the command-line meshcore-cli, MeshTUI offers a visual interface with real-time updates, contact management, and chat functionality all in one terminal window.

Features

• Real-time chat interface with contacts and channels
• Message delivery tracking - ACK tracking, retry logic, and delivery status
• Device management - scan, connect, and monitor MeshCore devices
• Device identification - automatically detects and identifies MeshCore devices
• Contact management - view, add, and manage mesh network contacts
• Channel creation - create custom encrypted channels with auto-hash support
• Node management - remote control of repeaters and room servers
• Message history - browse and search through message history with delivery status
• Async operations - built with asyncio for responsive UI
• Multiple connection types - BLE, TCP, and Serial support
• Command line options - specify connection method and device directly
• Integrated log panel - all logging output displayed in a dedicated panel within the TUI
• Configuration persistence - remembers device connections and settings
• Automatic retry - messages automatically retry with flood routing fallback
• F1 Help - comprehensive in-app help system

Message Delivery Tracking

MeshTUI provides comprehensive message delivery tracking for direct messages:

• ✓ Sent - Message successfully transmitted from your device
• ✓ Heard X repeats - Number of repeaters that acknowledged forwarding the message
• ✗ Delivery failed - No repeaters responded within timeout period
• Automatic retry - Up to 3 send attempts with intelligent flood routing fallback
• Database tracking - All delivery information stored for later analysis

Note: Channel broadcasts show "✓ Sent (broadcast)" and don't have ACK tracking (per MeshCore API design).

Delivery Status Database

All messages are tracked in the database with delivery information:

• ack_code - Unique acknowledgment code for tracking
• delivery_status - Current status: 'sent', 'repeated', 'failed', or 'broadcast'
• repeat_count - Number of repeater acknowledgments received
• last_ack_time - Timestamp of most recent acknowledgment

This allows you to review message delivery history and identify network issues.

Installation

MeshTUI depends on the python meshcore package. You can install it via pip or uv:

uv tool install meshtui

This will install the meshtui command.

Alternatively, for development:

git clone <your-repo-url>
cd meshtui
uv pip install -e .

Requirements

• Python >= 3.10
• A MeshCore-compatible radio device
• BLE support (if using Bluetooth connectivity)

Usage

Launch MeshTUI with:

meshtui

Command Line Options

MeshTUI supports various connection methods via command line arguments:

# Connect via serial (USB)
meshtui --serial /dev/ttyUSB0

# Connect via serial with custom baudrate
meshtui --serial /dev/ttyACM0 --baudrate 9600

# Connect via TCP/IP
meshtui --tcp 192.168.1.100 --port 5000

# Connect via BLE address
meshtui --address C2:2B:A1:D5:3E:B6

# Show help
meshtui --help

Available options:

• -s, --serial SERIAL: Connect via serial port (e.g., /dev/ttyUSB0)
• -b, --baudrate BAUDRATE: Serial baudrate (default: 115200)
• -t, --tcp TCP: Connect via TCP/IP hostname
• -p, --port PORT: TCP port (default: 5000)
• -a, --address ADDRESS: Connect via BLE address or name

Device Identification

MeshTUI automatically identifies MeshCore devices:

• BLE devices: Scans for devices with names starting with "MeshCore-"
• Serial devices: Tests each serial port to identify MeshCore-compatible devices
• Automatic prioritization: Prefers /dev/ttyUSB0 if available, then other serial devices, then BLE devices

When scanning, MeshTUI will show which devices are confirmed MeshCore devices with device information like model and firmware version.

Interface Layout

MeshTUI features a three-panel layout:

• Left Panel (Contacts): Shows available mesh network contacts
• Center Panel (Tabbed): Contains Chat and Node Management tabs
• Right Panel (Logs): Displays all application logs and connection status

Node Management

MeshTUI includes comprehensive remote node management capabilities for repeaters and room servers:

Node Management Tab Features:

• Node Discovery: Automatically discovers available nodes in the mesh network
• Node Login/Logout: Authenticate with repeaters and room servers
• Command Execution: Send commands to remote nodes (no acknowledgment)
• Status Monitoring: Request and display node status information
• Real-time Feedback: All operations logged in the integrated log panel

Node Management Workflow:

1. Refresh Nodes: Click "Refresh Nodes" to scan for available nodes
2. Login: Enter node name and password, then click "Login"
3. Send Commands: Use the command input to send instructions to logged-in nodes
4. Check Status: Click "Get Status" to retrieve node information
5. Logout: Use the logout command when finished

Supported Node Types:

• Repeaters: Extend network coverage by relaying messages
• Room Servers: Provide shared messaging spaces (BBS-style)
• Other Nodes: Any meshcore-compatible remote device

Creating Custom Channels

MeshTUI allows you to create encrypted channels for group communication:

How to Create a Channel:

1. Click the "+" button next to the "Channels" header in the sidebar
2. Enter a channel slot (1-7, slot 0 is reserved for Public channel)
3. Enter a channel name:
   • Use # prefix (e.g., #mychannel) for auto-generated hash-based secret
   • Or enter a custom name without # for manual secret management
4. Click "Create" to create the channel
5. The new channel appears in your channels list

Channel Security:

• Channels with # prefix automatically generate a 16-byte secret from the hash of the channel name
• Other devices can join by using the same channel name with # prefix
• Custom channels require manual secret exchange (16 bytes)
• All channel messages are encrypted using the channel secret

Example:

Creating a channel named #team will:

• Generate a consistent secret from hash("#team")
• Allow anyone with #team to decrypt messages
• Secure from others who don't know the channel name

Key Bindings

• Ctrl+C - Quit the application
• Ctrl+R - Refresh current view
• F1 - Show help
• Tab - Navigate between UI elements
• Enter - Send message or activate button

First Time Setup

1. Auto-connect: MeshTUI attempts to connect automatically on startup
2. Manual scan: Click "Scan Devices" to manually search for devices
3. Command line: Specify device directly with command line options
4. Start chatting: Use the input field to send messages or commands

Connection Process

When you specify a serial device (e.g., --serial /dev/ttyUSB0), MeshTUI:

1. Opens the serial connection at the specified baudrate (default: 115200)
2. Sends a device query to verify the device is a MeshCore-compatible radio
3. Retrieves device information (model, firmware version, capabilities)
4. Sets up event handlers for real-time contact and message updates
5. Refreshes the contact list from the device's memory

Why Contacts Don't Appear

Empty contact list is normal for several reasons:

• Single device setup: If you're testing with only one MeshCore device, there are no other devices to communicate with
• Fresh device: New or factory-reset devices have no saved contacts
• Network isolation: Devices must be within radio range and on the same frequency/channel
• No prior communication: Contacts are only created after successful message exchanges

How to Populate Contacts

To see contacts in the list:

1. Add multiple devices to your mesh network
2. Send messages between devices - this automatically creates contact entries
3. Use the same frequency/channel settings across devices
4. Ensure devices are powered on and within communication range
5. Wait for advertisements - devices periodically announce themselves

Device Status Indicators

• Connection successful: Device info appears in logs (model, firmware, etc.)
• Zero contacts: Normal for single-device or new network setups
• Communication working: Messages sent/received successfully

Troubleshooting

Serial Port Permissions (Linux/macOS)

If you get permission errors when connecting via serial port, you need to add your user to the appropriate group:

Linux:

# Add your user to the dialout group
sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

# Log out and log back in for changes to take effect
# Or use: newgrp dialout

macOS:

# macOS typically doesn't require special permissions
# If you encounter issues, check /dev/tty.* or /dev/cu.* devices
ls -l /dev/tty.* /dev/cu.*

Verify access:

# Check group membership
groups

# Test device access (replace with your device path)
ls -l /dev/ttyUSB0

Common error messages indicating permission issues:

• "Permission denied" when opening serial port
• "Could not open port /dev/ttyUSB0"
• "Access denied"

Log Files for Debugging

All application logs are automatically saved to a log file for postmortem analysis:

• Location: $HOME/.config/meshtui/meshtui.log
• Content: Includes DEBUG level logs with detailed connection and event information
• Rotation: Automatically rotates when reaching 5MB (keeps 3 backup files)
• Usage: Check this file when the application behaves unexpectedly or for detailed debugging

Example log entries:

2024-01-15 10:30:15 - meshtui - INFO - MeshTUI started - logging to ~/.config/meshtui/meshtui.log
2024-01-15 10:30:16 - meshtui.connection - INFO - Connected to Heltec V3 via serial. Found 2 contacts
2024-01-15 10:30:17 - meshtui.connection - DEBUG - 📡 EVENT: New contact detected: {'name': 'Device2', 'id': 123}

Common Issues

• Serial port permission denied: Add your user to the dialout group (Linux) - see above
• No contacts appearing: See "Why Contacts Don't Appear" above
• Connection fails: Check serial port permissions and device power
• Device not found: Ensure the device is connected and appears in /dev/ttyUSB* or /dev/ttyACM*
• Logs not updating: Ensure the log panel is visible in the TUI
• Performance issues: Check log file size and rotate if necessary

Configuration

Configuration files are stored in $HOME/.config/meshtui/

Per-Device Databases

MeshTUI creates a separate database for each connected device to prevent data collision:

• Location: $HOME/.config/meshtui/devices/{device_pubkey}.db
• Automatic: Database is created on first connection to each device
• Isolated: Each device has its own messages, contacts, and settings
• Seamless: Switching devices automatically uses the correct database

When you connect to a device for the first time, a new database is created using the device's unique public key. This ensures that messages and contacts from one device don't mix with another device's data.

Other Configuration Files

• Device connections: Preferences and last-used BLE address are saved
• Message history: All conversations persist between sessions
• Log files: All application logs are saved to meshtui.log for postmortem analysis
  • Location: $HOME/.config/meshtui/meshtui.log
  • Includes DEBUG level logs for detailed troubleshooting
  • Automatically rotates when reaching 5MB (keeps 3 backup files)
  • Use for debugging issues after the application closes

Connection Types

MeshTUI supports the same connection methods as meshcore-cli:

• BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy): Default for most companion radios
• TCP/IP: For network-connected devices
• Serial: For direct serial connections

Commands and Features

MeshTUI provides access to all MeshCore functionality through an intuitive interface:

• Messaging: Send direct messages or broadcast to channels
• Contacts: Manage your mesh network contacts
• Device Info: View device status, telemetry, and configuration
• Channels: Join and participate in mesh channels
• Repeaters: Connect through mesh repeaters
• Administration: Device management and configuration

Development

To contribute or modify MeshTUI:

1. Clone the repository
2. Create a virtual environment: uv venv
3. Activate: source .venv/bin/activate (Linux/Mac) or .venv\Scripts\activate (Windows)
4. Install dependencies: uv pip install -e .
5. Run: python -m meshtui

Project Structure

src/meshtui/
├── app.py           # Main Textual application (UI layer)
├── app.css          # UI styling
├── connection.py    # Connection orchestration and lifecycle
├── transport.py     # BLE, Serial, TCP transport layers
├── contact.py       # Contact/node management
├── channel.py       # Channel operations
├── room.py          # Room server handling
├── database.py      # SQLite message and contact persistence
├── __init__.py      # Package initialization
└── __main__.py      # Entry point

docs/
└── meshcore-api/    # MeshCore API reference (copied from installed package)
    ├── README.md    # API documentation and examples
    ├── commands/    # Command modules (messaging, contacts, device)
    └── *.py         # Core API files

API Reference

For MeshCore API reference, see docs/meshcore-api/README.md. This includes:

• Complete API documentation
• Command examples for messaging, contacts, and device management
• Event types and handling
• Room server administration
• Contact type definitions

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests.

Related Projects

• meshcore-cli - Command-line interface
• meshcore_py - Python library for MeshCore
• Textual - TUI framework used by MeshTUI </edit_description>