new app "XXL Messages" - need coding advice

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2023-03-23 by gfric

I made an app that replaces the MessagesUI app for people with bad eyesight. So it just displays new messages with a large font and when you push the button, you return to the clock.
Here's the beta-app:
https://kungphoo.github.io/BangleApps/?q=xxl
Here's the code:
https://github.com/KungPhoo/BangleApps/tree/master/apps/xxlmessage

My issues are:

1. When the message scrolls and another message arrives, I think, both messages are displays simultaneously, which causes a slowdown.
2. g.setFont('6x8:5x9') is slow, maybe? Is there a way skip loading the font again and again for each frame to render?
3. Bangle.on('touch', function (b, xy) { xxl.stop(); }); does not really work. I think the drawing keeps the CPU too busy.
4. Must I undo the setWatch(xxl.stop, BTN1) when I leave the listener with load()?
5. I put all code inside a xxl {} structure. Is there a better way to do this? I was afraid of using global variables in a listener function.
6. Is there any way to speed things up?

[espruino-discuss2]

Posted at 2023-03-24 by @gfwilliams

g.setFont('6x8:5x9') is slow, maybe

It shouldn't be - the call itself will be fast, and upscaling the built-in font should be reasonably quick

Bangle.on('touch', function (b, xy) { xxl.stop(); }); does not really work.

It should - maybe add some prints to the rendering function and see if it really is taking ages.

Must I undo the setWatch

Not with load(), no. You'd asked on another post about vars, but basically load() tears everything down so you don't have to worry.

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Posted at 2023-03-24 by gfric

My drawing routine can do about 30 fps, so somewhere there is a bottleneck.