Category Archives: Computer

Escape game world generator

A world map generator in php.
This php script selects randomly 3 cities from a CSV file and draws these on a worldmap.
No cities wil be choosen which have could cause a drawing overlap.
Every player can see the same generated worldmap with a countdown timer.

CSV example with places and coordinates (cities.csv)

London,905,412
Amsterdam,929,414
Wellington,1722,867
Costa Rica,524,640
New Delhi,1270,514
New York,567,477
Tokio,1548,500

generate.html

<html><body bgcolor=black>
<header>
  <div class="menu_area"></div>
  <center>
<p id="demo" style="text:white;"></p>
  </center>
</header>
<style>
html, body, header {
    overflow: hidden; /* Hide scrollbars */
    height: 100%;
    text: white;
}
header {
    background-image: url('world.php');
    background-size: cover;
}
  p {
  color: white;
  font-size: large;
  font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;
  font-size: 42px;
 }
</style>
<script>
	Date.prototype.addHours= function(h){
    this.setHours(this.getHours()+h);
    return this;
}

var countDownDate = new Date().addHours(1).getTime();
  var x = setInterval(function() {
  var now = new Date().getTime();
  var distance = countDownDate - now;
  var days = Math.floor(distance / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24));
  var hours = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)) / (1000 * 60 * 60));
  var minutes = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60 * 60)) / (1000 * 60));
  var seconds = Math.floor((distance % (1000 * 60)) / 1000);

  document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = days + "d " + hours + "h "
  + minutes + "m " + seconds + "s ";

  if (distance < 0) {
    clearInterval(x);
    document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = "EXPIRED";
  }
}, 1000);
</script>
</body></html>

Used world image to draw on.

The squares and city names are dynamically drawn using php GD lib.

apt-get install apache2 php php-gd

php example:

// create image from source
$src = imagecreatefromjpeg('world.jpg');
$dest = imagecreatetruecolor(1920, 1080);
// 1920x1080
imagecopy($dest, $src, 0, 0, 0,0, 1920, 1080);
// assign color
$white = imagecolorallocate($dest, 255, 255, 255);
// rectangle example
imagerectangle($dest, $x, $y, $x2, $y2, $white);
// add text
Imagettftext($dest, 24, 0, $x, $y, $white, $font, "Text");
// set header output as image
header('Content-Type: image/jpg');
// output to browser
imagejpeg($dest);
// output to file
imagejpeg($dest, 'generatedworld.jpg');
// Free memory
imagedestroy($dest);
imagedestroy($src);

world.php is included as image, it dynamically generates the map

<?php

putenv('GDFONTPATH=' . realpath('.'));

// Name the font to be used (note the lack of the .ttf extension)
$font = 'tahoma.ttf';
$city1="";
$city2="";
$city3="";

// Create image instances
$src = imagecreatefromjpeg('world.jpg');
$dest = imagecreatetruecolor(1920, 1080);

// Copy
imagecopy($dest, $src, 0, 0, 0,0, 1920, 1080);

$green = imagecolorallocate($dest, 255, 255, 255);



$rows = file("cities.csv");
$len = count($rows);
$rand = [];
while (count($rand) < 1) {
    $r = rand(0, $len-1);
    if (!in_array($r, $rand)) {
        $rand[] = $r;
    }
}
foreach ($rand as $r) {
    $csv = $rows[$r];
    $data = str_getcsv($csv);
    $city1="$data[0]";
    $x1=$data[1];
    $y1=$data[2];
}

imagerectangle($dest, $x1-50, $y1-50, $x1+50, $y1+50, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x1-49, $y1-49, $x1+49, $y1+49, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x1-10, $y1, $x1+10, $y1-1, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x1, $y1-10, $x1-1, $y1+10, $green);
Imagettftext($dest, 24, 0, $x1-50, $y1-60, $green, $font, "$city1");

while($city2 == "") {

$rows = file("cities.csv");
$len = count($rows);
$rand = [];
while (count($rand) < 1) {
    $r = rand(0, $len-1);
    if (!in_array($r, $rand)) {
        $rand[] = $r;
    }
}
foreach ($rand as $r) {
    $csv = $rows[$r];
    $data = str_getcsv($csv);
    $x2=$data[1];
    $y2=$data[2];
    $deltax=abs($x2-$x1);
    $deltay=abs($y2-$y1);
}
if($data[0] != $city1 && $deltax > 100 && $deltay > 100 ){
	$city2=$data[0];
}

}


imagerectangle($dest, $x2-50, $y2-50, $x2+50, $y2+50, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x2-49, $y2-49, $x2+49, $y2+49, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x2-10, $y2, $x2+10, $y2-1, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x2, $y2-10, $x2-1, $y2+10, $green);
Imagettftext($dest, 24, 0, $x2-50, $y2-60, $green, $font, "$city2");


while($city3 == "") {

$rows = file("cities.csv");
$len = count($rows);
$rand = [];
while (count($rand) < 1) {
    $r = rand(0, $len-1);
    if (!in_array($r, $rand)) {
        $rand[] = $r;
    }
}
foreach ($rand as $r) {
    $csv = $rows[$r];
    $data = str_getcsv($csv);
    $x3=$data[1];
    $y3=$data[2];
    $deltax=abs($x3-$x1);
    $deltay=abs($y3-$y1);
    $deltax1=abs($x3-$x2);
    $deltay1=abs($y3-$y2);
}
if($data[0] != $city1 && $data[0] != $city2 && $deltax > 100 && $deltay > 100 && $deltax1 > 100 && $deltay1 > 100 ){
	$city3=$data[0];
}
}
imagerectangle($dest, $x3-50, $y3-50, $x3+50, $y3+50, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x3-49, $y3-49, $x3+49, $y3+49, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x3-10, $y3, $x3+10, $y3-1, $green);
imagerectangle($dest, $x3, $y3-10, $x3-1, $y3+10, $green);
Imagettftext($dest, 24, 0, $x3-50, $y3-60, $green, $font, "$city3");


// Output and free from memory
header('Content-Type: image/jpg');
imagejpeg($dest);
imagejpeg($dest, 'generatedworld.jpg');


imagedestroy($dest);
imagedestroy($src);
?>

Movie to txt in dutch

In the past i’ve converted some VHS movies speech to text, using all kinds of tools.
Lets use some opensource tools!

pip install moviepy
pip install SpeechRecognition

Create a python script with the following:
(Called mine wav2txt.py)

import math, contextlib
import speech_recognition as sr
from moviepy.editor import AudioFileClip
movie_audio_file_name = "movieadiofile.wav"
with contextlib.closing(wave.open(movie_audio_file_name,'r')) as f:
    frames = f.getnframes()
    rate = f.getframerate()
    duration = frames / float(rate)
total_duration = math.ceil(duration / 60)
r = sr.Recognizer()
for i in range(0, total_duration):
    with sr.AudioFile(movie_audio_file_name) as source:
        audio = r.record(source, offset=i*60, duration=60)
    f = open("transcription.txt", "a")
    f.write(r.recognize_google(audio, language="nl-NL"))
    f.write(" ")
f.close()

Now convert a movie to wav using below.

ffmpeg -i /fileserver/path/koolhoven.mkv movieaudiofile.wav

run python3 wav2txt.py

output
(Note .. these are not timestamped for subtitles)
I only needed the things being said in the home movie recordings as text.

Ik zit hier in de film The James Dean aan de
wereld voorstelde en daarmee de tienerfilm ingeleverd introduceren zelden werden onrustige 10 asiel zo mooi blootgelegd als ik deze film van Nicolas bij en dat wordt dan meteen toevallig even de mooiste
titels ooit wel eens autocross vanavond kijken we naar de kom ik nog even veel zomer dat je voor het eerste meisje Zoem de eerste baantje

etc..

Connect the wires puzzle

As part of my internet based escape room.

I took the idea from the Keep-talking-and-nobody-explodes game.

When starting up, is gets the configuration from a Mqtt Topic.
So i can create a different setup over the internet.

The result is also send back via MQTT.

(example play, all players are on different locations)

  • Player 1 figures out the wires.
  • Player 2 connects the wires.
  • Player 3 sees the result (correct or not) and next puzzle opens up for Player 3

I used a wire with a line. Multiple colors for jacks and sockets.
It’s also possible to connect a jack to a jack.
Loads of possibilities.

Todo:

Wifi and Mqtt part
Debounce software or hardware

Serial link between MSDos and Linux troubles

In post https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/25/disk-troubles-or-missing-old-skool-hardware/ i mentioned the serial connectors i’ve bought to connect the Laser XT to my Workstation to transfer files.

The null modem i’ve made is like mentioned on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Null_modem

I’ve used the loopback handshaking using 3 wires. ( Only using a DB25 and a DB9 on the other end )

So i configured the Linux side as follows.

I’ve tried two usb to serial converters.

Both when trying on windows 10 are not supported any more

Dec 14 17:34:40 zspot kernel: [ 1082.299607] usb 1-4: pl2303 converter now attached to ttyUSB0

sudo stty -F /dev/ttyUSB0 9600

Then i start dosbox.
To enable a com port i have to enter:

serial1=directserial realport:ttyUSB0

Starting Norton Commander and selecting COM1

After a few seconds i got this ..

What else is there to check?
At least i’ve still got the Flux Engine!

Locate and delete file copies

A simple script to locate files and select which to delete.
Uses md5sum to compare
(just be sure locatedb is up to date!)

./locatemd5 VID_20130926_211302.mp4
1 : 125a65e830c1f3654714daa0f8a41699  /tank/Backup/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
2 : 125a65e830c1f3654714daa0f8a41699  /tank/Backup/rclonegdrive/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
3 : 125a65e830c1f3654714daa0f8a41699  /tank/Private/Henri/_All online drives/Google Drive Henri/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
4 : 125a65e830c1f3654714daa0f8a41699  /tank/Private/gfx/Gsm/GSM Henri/nexus/2013/20130926/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
5 : 125a65e830c1f3654714daa0f8a41699  /tank/Private/Work Directory/Sorted/movies/own/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
6 : 82cd340b2b54d3ef65a02c8f31b04970  /tank/Private/www/cutshort/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
---------- which to delete ---------------
1 2 3 5
delete 1 /tank/Backup/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
rm: remove regular file '/tank/Backup/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4'? y
delete 2 /tank/Backup/rclonegdrive/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
rm: remove regular file '/tank/Backup/rclonegdrive/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4'? y
delete 3 /tank/Private/Henri/_All online drives/Google Drive Henri/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
rm: remove regular file '/tank/Private/Henri/_All online drives/Google Drive Henri/Nae Bother Drive/Movies/VID_20130926_211302.mp4'? y
delete 5 /tank/Private/Work Directory/Sorted/movies/own/VID_20130926_211302.mp4
rm: remove regular file '/tank/Private/Work Directory/Sorted/movies/own/VID_20130926_211302.mp4'? y

Bash Script

#!/bin/bash
# below gets array from subshell
shopt -s lastpipe

nr=1
locate "$1" | while read file ; do
        md5sum=$(md5sum "$file")
        echo  "$nr : $md5sum"
        myArray[$nr]="$file"
        (( nr++ ))
done
echo  "---------- which to delete ---------------"
read numbers
for f in $numbers ; do
 echo "delete $f ${myArray[$f]}"
 rm -i "${myArray[$f]}"
done

Magic Mirror no more .. lets reuse the display

I never look in the mirror, so why do i need one?
The mirror foil was already ugly in the corners.
There were bumps.
Never finished a proper interface

This one was made using a touch screen, so there are always fingerprints you could see

I’m going to use the display for an in-house small Escape Room idea i have.

Only the time part still worked, but i could not find the right cables for the touch part. The buttons displayed are meaningless anyway 🙂
Just a mockup

Mirror part was done using a Safety/One way mirror foil.
Cut a part as large as you screen, spray a little water and stick it on.

At some point i displayed Dashticz on there.
Apparently i started playing with a magic mirror setup in 2015, according some timestamps of code on my fileserver.

Migrating some old Sonoff S20 smart plugs

(From ESPEASY to ESPHOME without soldering)

I previously had these smartplugs flashed with EspEasy (I hate cloud enabled devices)
I will post something about flashing these and others.
Maybe … because you can find a lot of information on the internet.
But i’ve used several tools, and made tools for this process.
( Raspberry Zero mobile tool and 3D printed PCB holder for example)

Well ..

I was using these devices in our previous home using curl commands and on a main wifi network.
So i have to change the SSID and migrate from Espeasy to ESPhome so i can use these devices with Home Assistant.

Step 1 : Start in Access Point mode and migrate to my current Wifi Iot network.

Using my phone i made the necessary changes.

Goto HomeAssistant and ESPhome (you need to install this first via HACS)
Press the green + Add device and give it a name

Next select the device type (Sonoff S20 in this case)

Press install and select manual download

Above will compile a binary for the Sonoff device.

Go back to your Sonoff interface and go to the tools tab.
We can reflash the device without connecting this with wires to our computer.

Press Firmware load and select your downloaded binary

Back in HA it should say “online”

Pressing edit gives us a config page. Nothing works .. yet
We need to add some yaml entries.
( use https://esphome.io/devices/sonoff_s20.html )

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO0
      mode:
        input: true
        pullup: true
      inverted: true
    name: "Sonoff S20 Button"
  - platform: status
    name: "Sonoff S20 Status"
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO2
    name: "Sonoff S20 Sensor"


switch:
  - platform: gpio
    name: "Sonoff S20 Relay"
    pin: GPIO12

output:
  # Register the green LED as a dimmable output ....
  - platform: esp8266_pwm
    id: s20_green_led
    pin:
      number: GPIO13
      inverted: true

light:
  # ... and then make a light out of it.
  - platform: monochromatic
    name: "Sonoff S20 Green LED"
    output: s20_green_led

Now press install

Now we can use wirelessly to upload the config

After this the device can be discovered by HA

Click add, and use the encryption key found in the yaml config to add

Success!

Fluxengine disk reader

I’ve build a drawbridge disk reader in the past:
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/04/26/started-to-build-a-drawbridge/
I found an even more interesting project.

I was looking for a solution to my XT laser problem.
https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2022/11/25/disk-troubles-or-missing-old-skool-hardware/

And found this! The fluxengine
https://github.com/davidgiven/fluxengine

An open source project using a small controller board.
“Flashing” some software on the board and soldering a pinheader was easy.
When connecting a flat cable and a floppy drive, you end up with a device which can read many formats. Including dos 1.44/720 and amiga.

Nice package it came in

Using the power from a sata/ide harddisk adaptor

Reading and writing a MSDOS disk, no problem.
Imaging an amiga disk .. easy!

You need to compile some software, but it was well documented

Security cam ftp search major changes in images.

Weird title i know.

I have several ip cameras which monitor movement in and around our home.

I’m using Zoneminder and other home automation systems but i want to scan through a bunch of files uploaded by the security cameras to my secondary fileserver.

So what is interesting?

  • Major movement compared to a base image
  • Movement compared to a previous uploaded image
  • Setting a threshold when to output information (note the 65% mark)
| 76 % | 1438 | SDAlarm_20221129-213515.jpg | 3145 | .......-.......................X.....................................................................
| 76 % | 1439 | SDAlarm_20221129-213517.jpg | 3661 | ..............-.....................X................................................................
| 76 % | 1440 | SDAlarm_20221129-213519.jpg | 3739 | ...........-.........................X...............................................................
| 77 % | 1441 | SDAlarm_20221129-213521.jpg | 3704 | .....-...............................X...............................................................

Looking at the output we see:
At 76% of the captured images (image 1438) the threshold was above 3000 and the minus gives us the information of the difference between this image and the previous, the X marks the difference between current image and the baseline.
| percent | image number | filename | difference | graphbar

Bash script:

#!/bin/bash
threshold=3000
baseline=$( ls  SDAlarm*jpg | head -1)
previous=$( ls  SDAlarm*jpg | head -1)
total=$( ls *.jpg |wc -l)
echo "Number of files : $total"
nr=1
ls *jpg | while read; do
graph="....................................................................................................."
diff=$(compare -verbose -metric MAE $baseline $REPLY /dev/null  2>&1 | grep all | awk '{ print $2 }' | cut -f1 -d. )
prevdiff=$(compare -verbose -metric MAE $previous $REPLY /dev/null  2>&1 | grep all | awk '{ print $2 }' | cut -f1 -d. )
line=$( echo "100 / $total * $nr" | bc -l | cut -f1 -d.)
line=$(( $line + 1))
#echo -n "$line | $nr | $REPLY | "
#echo $diff
draw1=$(( $diff / 100 + 1))
draw2=$(( $prevdiff / 100 + 1))
graph=$(echo $graph | sed "s/./X/$draw1")
graph=$(echo $graph | sed "s/./-/$draw2")
if [ $diff -gt $threshold ] ; then
printf "| %4s %% | %3s | %30s | %5s | %102s \n" $line  $nr $REPLY $diff $graph
fi
nr=$(( $nr +1 ))
previous=$REPLY
done

Want to see only difference with previous image?

change:

if [ $diff -gt $threshold ] ; then
into
if [ $prevdiff -gt $threshold ] ; then