perf(fetch): cache ESPN scoreboard windows without the parts nothing reads

The sports scoreboards cache their Recent/Upcoming window as the raw ESPN response, and it stays parsed in the memory tier while fresh. Measured on hdpi, most of it is never drawn: per-team stat leaders, athlete cards (featuredAthletes, probables), team and event links, headlines, video highlights and geo broadcasts. None of those keys is read by core or by any plugin in ledmatrix-plugins. BackgroundDataService now drops them from an ESPN /scoreboard response before caching and delivering it (src/common/espn_payload.py), keeping everything else. On the five hdpi windows that is 10.6MB -> 3.0MB of JSON and ~40MB -> ~12MB of parsed objects, and parsing an expired window gets 3-4x cheaper. submit_fetch_request(slim_payload=False) caches a response whole. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01BkfgXMqqwn2w4NN7LRzhxy
fix(sports): scroll and Vegas cards name the printed date's own weekday (#747 )
2026-10-05 23:05:10 +00:00 · 2026-10-03 22:25:09 -04:00 · 2026-10-03 22:19:05 -04:00 · 2026-10-03 22:18:54 -04:00 · 2026-10-03 22:18:42 -04:00 · 2026-10-03 22:18:31 -04:00
261 changed files with 37350 additions and 3519 deletions
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@
 # Generated by scripts/build_css.py; collapsed in diffs, not hand-edited.
 web_interface/static/v3/tailwind.css linguist-generated=true
 web_interface/static/v3/plugin-frame.css linguist-generated=true
+
+# Installed as an executable (its shebang runs it) by install_service.sh.
+scripts/install/ledmatrix_refresh_units.py text eol=lf
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: "3.13"

      # No dependencies: the script reads src/__init__.py and CHANGELOG.md only.
      - name: Assert the tag, CHANGELOG and src.__version__ agree
@@ -14,8 +14,14 @@ permissions:

 jobs:
  plugin-safety:
-    name: Plugin safety harness + unit tests
+    name: Plugin safety harness + unit tests (Python ${{ matrix.python-version }})
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # The two Pythons the installer supports: Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm ships
+    # 3.11 and Trixie 3.13.
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version: ["3.11", "3.13"]
    env:
      # The bundled fixture plugin gives the harness at least one real plugin
      # to render, and REQUIRE_PLUGINS turns "discovered zero plugins" into a
@@ -29,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
          cache: pip

      - name: Install dependencies
@@ -43,8 +49,13 @@ jobs:
          pytest --no-cov test/plugins/

  unit-tests:
-    name: Core unit tests
+    name: Core unit tests (Python ${{ matrix.python-version }})
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    # Bookworm's Python (3.11) and Trixie's (3.13); see plugin-safety.
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version: ["3.11", "3.13"]
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@11bd71901bbe5b1630ceea73d27597364c9af683 # v4.2.2
        with:
@@ -52,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
          cache: pip

      - name: Install dependencies
@@ -84,7 +95,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: "3.13"
          cache: pip

      - uses: actions/setup-node@49933ea5288caeca8642d1e84afbd3f7d6820020 # v4.4.0
@@ -123,7 +134,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: "3.13"

      # Downloads the pinned standalone Tailwind CLI (SHA-256 checked; no
      # Node), rebuilds static/v3/tailwind.css and plugin-frame.css from the
@@ -142,7 +153,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: "3.13"
          cache: pip

      # The runtime requirements are installed so mypy sees the real types of
@@ -181,7 +192,7 @@ jobs:

      - uses: actions/setup-python@0b93645e9fea7318ecaed2b359559ac225c90a2b # v5.3.0
        with:
-          python-version: "3.12"
+          python-version: "3.13"

      # Stdlib only; exits 0 whatever it finds.
      - name: Report method-family drift across the nine scoreboards
@@ -151,6 +151,11 @@ The system supports live, recent, and upcoming game information for multiple spo
  - **1GB models (Pi 3B / 3B+), the 512MB Pi Zero 2 W and other low-memory boards**: supported, but the `rpi-rgb-led-matrix` C++ build needs more memory than the Pi has. The installer detects this automatically, compiles with fewer parallel jobs, and adds a temporary swapfile for the build which it removes afterwards. Expect that step to take 15-25 minutes instead of 2-5, and leave at least **3GB free** on the SD card. If you manage swap yourself, opt out with `--skip-swap`. To pin the compiler down further, use `--build-jobs 1`. Once running, keep an eye on memory: see [docs/LOW_MEMORY_BOARDS.md](docs/LOW_MEMORY_BOARDS.md).


+### Operating system
+- **Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Trixie (Debian 13) or Bookworm (Debian 12)**, 64-bit recommended. Trixie is the current release and the one to pick for a new SD card; an existing Bookworm install works as it is, no upgrade needed. The installer checks this first and stops with directions on anything else (Bullseye and older, the desktop edition, other distributions).
+- **Python**: whatever the OS ships, 3.13 on Trixie and 3.11 on Bookworm. Don't install a different Python; the installer and the services use the system `python3`.
+- **Networking**: NetworkManager, the default on both. Choosing a WiFi network from the web page and the `LEDMatrix-Setup` hotspot need it; if you switched to dhcpcd in `raspi-config`, switch back (Advanced Options → Network Config → NetworkManager).
+
 ### RGB Matrix Bonnet / HAT
 - [Adafruit RGB Matrix Bonnet/HAT](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3211) – supports one “chain” of horizontally connected displays  
 - [Adafruit Triple LED Matrix Bonnet](https://www.adafruit.com/product/6358) – supports up to 3 vertical “chains” of horizontally connected displays *(use `regular` as hardware mapping)*  
@@ -249,7 +254,7 @@ These are not required and you can probably rig up something basic with stuff yo

 <img width="512" height="361" alt="Step 2 Other " src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/166a22e8-8067-48df-9f80-50c91f573356" />

-5. Then choose Raspbian OS (64-bit) Lite (Trixie)
+5. Then choose Raspbian OS (64-bit) Lite (Trixie). Bookworm Lite (listed as Legacy) also works; see [Operating system](#operating-system) below

 <img width="512" height="361" alt="Step 4 Trixie Lite 64" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3b8590ce-b810-4dfe-9253-26e0d4f8ed1e" />

@@ -174,6 +174,16 @@
    "plugin_system": {
        "plugins_directory": "plugin-repos"
    },
+    "fetch_service": {
+        "enabled": true,
+        "max_wait_seconds": 2,
+        "rate_limits": {
+            "*.espn.com": {
+                "per_second": 20,
+                "burst": 200
+            }
+        }
+    },
    "web-ui-info": {
        "enabled": true,
        "display_duration": 10
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Advanced patterns, examples, and best practices for developing LEDMatrix plugins

 The Display Manager's icon methods — `draw_weather_icon()`, `draw_sun()`,
 `draw_cloud()`, `draw_rain()`, `draw_snow()` and `draw_text_with_icons()` —
-are deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. Draw your own icons instead: render them
+were removed in 3.8.0. Draw your own icons instead: render them
 onto a PIL image and paste it onto `self.display_manager.image`, or ship
 icon images with the plugin. The weather plugin's `WeatherIcons` class is an
 example. See [Deprecated APIs](PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md#deprecated-apis).
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def update(self):
    sport_key = "nhl"
    cache_key = f"{self.plugin_id}_{sport_key}_games"
    
-    # get_background_cached_data() is deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — use get()
+    # get_background_cached_data() was removed in 3.8.0 — use get()
    cached = self.cache_manager.get(cache_key, max_age=60)
    
    if cached:
@@ -596,8 +596,8 @@ def update(self):

 ```python
 def update(self):
-    # get_enabled_plugins() is deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — check the
-    # instance's `enabled` flag instead
+    # get_enabled_plugins() was removed in 3.8.0 — check the instance's
+    # `enabled` flag instead
    weather_plugin = self.plugin_manager.get_plugin("weather")
    if weather_plugin is not None and weather_plugin.enabled:
        # Use weather data
@@ -41,23 +41,30 @@ each other. They share three things:

 | State | Where | Written by | Read by |
 |---|---|---|---|
-| On-demand request | cache `display_on_demand_request` | web: `start_on_demand_display()` / `stop_on_demand_display()` in [`api_v3/display.py`](../web_interface/blueprints/api_v3/display.py) | display: `_poll_on_demand_requests()` |
+| On-demand command | control socket `/run/ledmatrix/control.sock` ([IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)) | web: `start_on_demand_display()` / `stop_on_demand_display()` in [`api_v3/display.py`](../web_interface/blueprints/api_v3/display.py), via [`src/ipc/client.py`](../src/ipc/client.py) | display: [`src/ipc/server.py`](../src/ipc/server.py) acks; the render thread applies it in `_poll_on_demand_requests()` |
+| On-demand request (fallback) | cache `display_on_demand_request` | web, when the socket fails; four plugins write it directly | display: `_poll_on_demand_requests()` |
 | On-demand state | cache `display_on_demand_state` | display: `_publish_on_demand_state()` | web: `/api/v3/display/on-demand/status` |
 | Current screen | cache `display_current_state` | display | web: `/api/v3/display/current-status` |
 | Plugin errors | cache `plugin_error_snapshot` | display: `ErrorSnapshotPublisher` ([`src/error_aggregator.py`](../src/error_aggregator.py)) | web: `read_error_report()` for `/api/v3/errors/*` |
 | Error clear | cache `plugin_error_clear_request` | web | display |
 | Font usage | cache `font_usage_snapshot` | display: `FontUsagePublisher` ([`src/font_usage.py`](../src/font_usage.py)) | web: Fonts tab |
+| Fetch statistics (requests per plugin and host) | cache `fetch_stats_snapshot` | display: `FetchStatsPublisher` ([`src/common/fetch_service.py`](../src/common/fetch_service.py)), at most once a minute on change | web: `read_fetch_stats()` for `/api/v3/plugins/fetch-stats` |
 | Plugin health | cache `plugin_health:<id>` | display (web writes on reset) | web: `/api/v3/plugins/health` |
 | Plugin runtime (loaded, state, last error, version) | cache `plugin_runtime_snapshot` | display: `PluginRuntimePublisher` ([`src/plugin_system/plugin_runtime.py`](../src/plugin_system/plugin_runtime.py)) | web: `read_plugin_runtime()` for `/api/v3/plugins/installed`, `/plugins/state`, reconciliation |
-| Preview frame | `/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png` | display: `DisplayManager`, gated by [`snapshot_policy`](../src/common/snapshot_policy.py) | web: display SSE stream, `/api/v3/health` (file age) |
-| Preview viewer marker | `/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer` | web, while a preview is open | display: writes full-rate snapshots only while it is fresh |
+| Preview frame | `/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png` | display: `DisplayManager`, gated by [`snapshot_policy`](../src/common/snapshot_policy.py): a changed frame at most once a second with a viewer, every 30 s without | web: display SSE stream (checks the mtime every 0.25 s), `/api/v3/health` (file age) |
+| Preview viewer marker | `/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer` | web, about once a second while a preview is open | display: writes viewer-rate snapshots only while it is fresh (5 s) |
 | Hardware init status | `/tmp/led_matrix_hw_status.json` | display | web: `/api/v3/hardware/status` |
 | Render-loop heartbeat | `/run/ledmatrix/display-heartbeat.json` (tmpfs) | display: the render thread, via [`display_watchdog`](../src/display_watchdog.py) | web: `/api/v3/health` (`checks.display_loop`); the update health check |

 The on-demand start route starts `ledmatrix.service` when it is not running
-(`start_service`, on by default) but never restarts a running one: the display
-reads the mailbox every `ON_DEMAND_POLL_INTERVAL` (0.25s), from its dwell
-sleep, its render loops and Vegas's interrupt check as well as the main loop.
+(`start_service`, on by default) but never restarts a running one. The routes
+send the command over the display's control socket and get an ack; when that
+fails (a stopped display, one older than the socket) they write the mailbox
+instead, which the display reads every `ON_DEMAND_POLL_INTERVAL` (0.25s), from
+its dwell sleep, its render loops and Vegas's interrupt check as well as the
+main loop. Both ways end in the same handler, `_handle_on_demand_request()`.
+The socket's handlers only queue; see [IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)
+for the protocol, the permission model and the plan to retire the mailboxes.

 ### Web and display processes: who runs plugins

@@ -79,7 +86,8 @@ How a web-side change reaches the running plugins:
 | Plugin enabled or disabled | `ConfigService` → `_controller_config_change` flags a reconcile; `_reconcile_enabled_plugins` loads it (fresh from disk) or unloads it on the render thread |
 | Plugin uninstalled (config removed) | the removed section flips its `enabled` flag, and the reconcile unloads it |
 | Plugin installed, not enabled | nothing to do until it is enabled, which loads it |
-| Plugin installed while already enabled, updated while enabled, or uninstalled with its config kept | **not picked up**: the display keeps running what it loaded. The route answers `restart_required: true` and the UI shows its restart banner |
+| Plugin updated while enabled | the update route asks the display over the control socket (`plugin.reload`) to reload it on the render thread, and answers `restart_required: false` once the new code runs. Without the socket, as the next row |
+| Plugin installed while already enabled, updated while enabled and not reloaded, or uninstalled with its config kept | **not picked up**: the display keeps running what it loaded. The route answers `restart_required: true` and the UI shows its restart banner |

 `display_restart_required()` in `plugin_catalog.py` holds that last rule;
 routes return it as `restart_required` (with the banner's wording in
@@ -103,9 +111,11 @@ other web-UI action runs its script as a subprocess. A later, explicit
 **plugin web-entry contract** -- a declared entry point for plugin web code
 -- replaces that function.

-Next stages: a **control socket** from the web process to the display
-(reload one plugin, ask for its state) in place of `restart_required` and
-the cache-key mailboxes, and the plugin web-entry contract above.
+The **control socket** from the web process to the display
+([IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)) carries on-demand
+commands and reloads an updated plugin; its next stages stream the
+display's state and retire the cache-key mailboxes. The plugin web-entry
+contract above is still to come.

 ### Plugin state: desired, observed, and who owns it

@@ -181,7 +191,8 @@ the scheduler), and sets up Vegas mode.
 enable/disable, poll on-demand requests, run scheduled plugin updates, check
 the on/off schedule and brightness, then show one screen. Priority is
 on-demand, then WiFi status messages, then live priority, then Vegas mode,
-then normal rotation.
+then normal rotation. [RUN_LOOP_REDESIGN.md](RUN_LOOP_REDESIGN.md) is the
+plan for restructuring this loop and lists its golden trace tests.

 - **Rotation.** `available_modes` is the ordered list of display modes;
  `current_mode_index` advances after each screen.
@@ -203,7 +214,10 @@ then normal rotation.
  to it, rotating between several live games.
 - **Schedule and dim schedule.** `_check_schedule()` reads `schedule`;
  `_check_dim_schedule()` reads `dim_schedule` and
-  `display.hardware.brightness`. Both are re-evaluated once a minute.
+  `display.hardware.brightness`. Both are re-evaluated once a minute, and
+  both windows are half-open: on (or dimmed) from the start time, off at
+  the end time. When an on-demand session ends, the on/off schedule is
+  re-checked at once rather than at the next minute.
 - **Long screens.** While a screen is showing (a dwell, a scroll, a Vegas
  iteration), `_service_pending_changes()` repeats the on-demand, schedule
  and brightness checks every 0.25 s, so a change does not wait for the
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ tooling against it.
 | `start_time` / `end_time` | `"HH:MM"`, `07:00`–`23:00` | Global-mode on/off times |
 | `days.<weekday>.{enabled,start_time,end_time}` | per-day objects | Per-day-mode overrides |

+The display is on from `start_time` up to, but not including, `end_time`:
+with `07:00`–`23:00` it turns on at 07:00 and off at 23:00. An end earlier
+than the start crosses midnight (`22:00`–`07:00` is on overnight). In
+per-day mode, the entry for the current day decides. An on-demand session
+keeps the display on during off hours; once it ends or is stopped, the
+display blanks within about a second.
+
 Read by `DisplayController._check_schedule()` (`src/display_controller.py`).
 Managed in the web UI under Schedule.

@@ -44,7 +51,9 @@ Same shape as `schedule` (the template sets its `mode` to `"global"`), plus:

 Read by `DisplayController._check_dim_schedule()` (`src/display_controller.py`;
 saved via `POST /api/v3/config/dim-schedule`). The display returns to
-`display.hardware.brightness` outside the window.
+`display.hardware.brightness` outside the window. The window has the same
+boundaries as `schedule`: dimmed from `start_time` up to, but not including,
+`end_time`.

 ## `display.hardware` — matrix panel hardware

@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@

 Generated by `scripts/plugin_api_usage.py` — do not edit by hand; re-run it (see [How to re-run](#how-to-re-run)).

- Scanned: 2026-09-30, core 3.7.0
- Monorepo: [ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins](https://github.com/ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins) (main @ 4327c2e4), 46 plugins
+- Scanned: 2026-10-01, core 3.7.0
+- Monorepo: [ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins](https://github.com/ChuckBuilds/ledmatrix-plugins) (main @ 4de1d134), 46 plugins
 - Third-party plugins: 8 with their own repo in `plugins.json` (f1-live, gif-player, pga-tour-leaderboard, plex-marquee, ledmatrix-dresden-departures, tidbyt-baseball-scoreboard, sleeper-fantasy, ledmatrix-nascar)

 **37 deprecated methods: 36 unused, 1 still used, 0 need review.**
@@ -78,19 +78,19 @@ File paths are relative to the plugin's directory (core: the repo root).
 | `CacheManager.get_memory_cache_stats` | core tests | test/test_cache_manager_memory_tier.py:63 | test call | `assert cm.get_memory_cache_stats()["last_cleanup"] >= before` |
 | `CacheManager.get_memory_cache_stats` | core tests | test/test_cache_manager_memory_tier.py:68 | test call | `stats = cm.get_memory_cache_stats()` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_sun` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:417 | unrelated | `def draw_sun(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | core | src/display_manager.py:1356 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_rain`) | `self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | core | src/display_manager.py:1371 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_snow`) | `self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | core | src/display_manager.py:1359 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_rain`) | `self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | core | src/display_manager.py:1374 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_snow`) | `self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:421 | unrelated | `def draw_cloud(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16, color: Tuple[int, int, int] = (200, 200, 200)):` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_cloud` | ledmatrix-weather | weather_icons.py:184 | unrelated | `def draw_cloud(draw: ImageDraw, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16, color: tuple = (200, 200, 200)):` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_rain` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:425 | unrelated | `def draw_rain(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_snow` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:429 | unrelated | `def draw_snow(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | core | src/display_manager.py:1515 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_text_with_icons`) | `self.draw_weather_icon(icon_type, icon_x, icon_y)` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | core | src/display_manager.py:1518 | internal (in `DisplayManager.draw_text_with_icons`) | `self.draw_weather_icon(icon_type, icon_x, icon_y)` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:510 | unrelated | `def draw_weather_icon(self, condition: str, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None:` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:533 | unrelated | `self.draw_weather_icon(icon_type, icon_x, icon_y)` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:76 | unrelated | `def draw_weather_icon(image, icon_code, x, y, size):` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1265 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, icon_code, icon_x, icon_y,` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1544 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, forecast['icon'], icon_x, icon_y, icon_size)` |
-| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1635 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, forecast['icon'], icon_x, icon_y, icon_size)` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:84 | unrelated | `def draw_weather_icon(image, icon_code, x, y, size):` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1280 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, icon_code, icon_x, icon_y,` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1559 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, forecast['icon'], icon_x, icon_y, icon_size)` |
+| `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | manager.py:1650 | unrelated | `WeatherIcons.draw_weather_icon(img, forecast['icon'], icon_x, icon_y, icon_size)` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_weather_icon` | ledmatrix-weather | weather_icons.py:168 | unrelated | `def draw_weather_icon(image: Image.Image, icon_code: str, x: int, y: int, size: int = DEFAULT_SIZE):` |
 | `DisplayManager.draw_text_with_icons` | core | src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py:526 | unrelated | `def draw_text_with_icons(self, text: str, icons: List[tuple] = None,` |
 | `FontManager.get_font_catalog` | core tests | test/test_deprecation.py:229 | test call | `assert fm.get_font_catalog() == fm.font_catalog` |
@@ -106,12 +106,12 @@ File paths are relative to the plugin's directory (core: the repo root).

 | Source | Group | Python files | Hits |
 |---|---|---|---|
-| core | core | 164 | 20 |
-| core tests | core-tests | 323 | 17 |
+| core | core | 172 | 20 |
+| core tests | core-tests | 347 | 17 |
 | 7-segment-clock | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
-| afl-scoreboard | monorepo | 34 | 0 |
-| baseball-scoreboard | monorepo | 60 | 0 |
-| basketball-scoreboard | monorepo | 48 | 0 |
+| afl-scoreboard | monorepo | 35 | 0 |
+| baseball-scoreboard | monorepo | 61 | 0 |
+| basketball-scoreboard | monorepo | 49 | 0 |
 | birdnet-go | monorepo | 2 | 0 |
 | blackjack | monorepo | 7 | 2 |
 | calendar | monorepo | 5 | 1 |
@@ -121,37 +121,37 @@ File paths are relative to the plugin's directory (core: the repo root).
 | cricket-scoreboard | monorepo | 8 | 0 |
 | f1-scoreboard | monorepo | 15 | 0 |
 | fantasy-blitz | monorepo | 13 | 0 |
-| football-scoreboard | monorepo | 73 | 0 |
+| football-scoreboard | monorepo | 74 | 0 |
 | geochron | monorepo | 10 | 0 |
 | hello-world | monorepo | 2 | 0 |
-| hockey-scoreboard | monorepo | 51 | 0 |
+| hockey-scoreboard | monorepo | 52 | 0 |
 | incoming-packages | monorepo | 8 | 0 |
 | jellyfin-now-playing | monorepo | 4 | 0 |
-| lacrosse-scoreboard | monorepo | 39 | 0 |
+| lacrosse-scoreboard | monorepo | 40 | 0 |
 | ledmatrix-elections | monorepo | 12 | 0 |
-| ledmatrix-flights | monorepo | 45 | 0 |
+| ledmatrix-flights | monorepo | 48 | 0 |
 | ledmatrix-leaderboard | monorepo | 9 | 0 |
 | ledmatrix-music | monorepo | 11 | 0 |
 | ledmatrix-stocks | monorepo | 7 | 0 |
-| ledmatrix-weather | monorepo | 14 | 6 |
+| ledmatrix-weather | monorepo | 15 | 6 |
 | march-madness | monorepo | 4 | 0 |
 | masters-tournament | monorepo | 10 | 0 |
 | mqtt-notifications | monorepo | 4 | 0 |
 | news | monorepo | 6 | 0 |
 | nfl-draft | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
 | nfl-stat-leaders | monorepo | 8 | 0 |
-| nrl-scoreboard | monorepo | 29 | 0 |
+| nrl-scoreboard | monorepo | 30 | 0 |
 | odds-ticker | monorepo | 9 | 0 |
 | of-the-day | monorepo | 14 | 0 |
 | olympics | monorepo | 16 | 1 |
 | on-air | monorepo | 2 | 0 |
 | pomodoro-timer | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
-| soccer-scoreboard | monorepo | 46 | 0 |
+| soccer-scoreboard | monorepo | 47 | 0 |
 | static-image | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
 | stock-news | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
 | text-display | monorepo | 4 | 0 |
 | tide-display | monorepo | 3 | 0 |
-| ufc-scoreboard | monorepo | 34 | 0 |
+| ufc-scoreboard | monorepo | 38 | 0 |
 | web-ui-info | monorepo | 2 | 0 |
 | youtube-stats | monorepo | 5 | 0 |
 | f1-live | third-party | 10 | 0 |
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ rows = self.layout.bounds.inset(1).split_v(3, 1, gap=1)
 self.draw_fit("12:34", rows[0])                 # largest crisp font that fits
 self.draw_image(logo, rows[1], mode="fill_height", crop_to_ink=True)

-# Weather icons: draw_weather_icon() is deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 —
-# draw your own icons (the weather plugin ships WeatherIcons)
+# Weather icons: draw_weather_icon() was removed in 3.8.0 — draw your
+# own icons (the weather plugin ships WeatherIcons)

 # Scrolling state
 display_manager.set_scrolling_state(True)
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ strategy = cache_manager.get_cache_strategy("weather")
 ```

 `get_background_cached_data()` (use `get()`) and `get_sport_live_interval()`
-are deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See
+were removed in 3.8.0. See
 [Deprecated APIs](PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md#deprecated-apis).

 ## Plugin Manager Quick Methods
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ are deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See
 # Get plugins
 plugin = plugin_manager.get_plugin("plugin-id")
 all_plugins = plugin_manager.get_all_plugins()
-# get_enabled_plugins() is deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — check `enabled`
-# on the entries in plugin_manager.plugins
+# get_enabled_plugins() was removed in 3.8.0 — check `enabled` on the
+# entries in plugin_manager.plugins

 # Get info
 info = plugin_manager.get_plugin_info("plugin-id")
@@ -17,13 +17,13 @@ The LEDMatrix emulator allows you to run and test LEDMatrix displays on your com
 ## Prerequisites

 ### System Requirements
- Python 3.10 or higher
+- Python 3.11 or higher (3.11 and 3.13 are tested)
 - Windows, macOS, or Linux
 - At least 2GB RAM (4GB recommended)
 - Internet connection for plugin downloads

 ### Required Software
- Python 3.10+
+- Python 3.11+
 - pip (Python package manager)
 - Git (for plugin management)

@@ -13,10 +13,9 @@
 BDF fonts in `assets/fonts/`, registers fonts that plugins ship, and records
 which plugin uses which font so the web UI can show it.

-Several methods are deprecated and will be removed in LEDMatrix 3.8.0; they
-log a warning on first call. They are listed in
-[Deprecated methods](#deprecated-methods) below, and the full set is pinned in
-[`test/test_deprecation.py`](../test/test_deprecation.py).
+Several methods were removed in LEDMatrix 3.8.0 after a release of
+deprecation warnings; [Removed methods](#removed-methods) below lists them
+with what to use instead.

 ## Getting the FontManager

@@ -128,8 +127,8 @@ font = self.font_manager.resolve_font(

 `resolve_font()` still honours `config/font_overrides.json` (a map of
 element key to `family` and/or `size_px`), which is read once at start-up.
-The methods that edit it — `set_override()`, `remove_override()`,
-`get_overrides()` — are deprecated, and there is no web UI or REST endpoint
+The methods that edited it — `set_override()`, `remove_override()`,
+`get_overrides()` — were removed in 3.8.0, and there is no web UI or REST endpoint
 for overrides (the override editor and `/api/v3/fonts/overrides` were
 removed). To let users choose a font, add a field to your plugin's config
 schema.
@@ -207,9 +206,10 @@ Current methods:
 | `clear_cache()` | Drop cached fonts and metrics |
 | `font_catalog` (attribute) | Family name → file path |

-### Deprecated methods
+### Removed methods

-Removed in 3.8.0. Each logs a warning on first call.
+Removed in 3.8.0, after logging a deprecation warning on first call since
+3.5.0.

 | Method | Use instead |
 |---|---|
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ This guide will help you set up your LEDMatrix display for the first time and ge
 - Power supply (5V, 4A minimum recommended)
 - MicroSD card (16GB minimum)

+**Software:**
+- Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Trixie (Debian 13) or Bookworm (Debian 12). Trixie
+  is the current release; Bookworm is listed as Legacy in Raspberry Pi
+  Imager. No other system is supported, and the installer says so up front.
+- The OS's own Python: 3.13 on Trixie, 3.11 on Bookworm
+
 **Network:**
 - WiFi network (or Ethernet cable)
 - Computer with web browser on same network
@@ -28,7 +34,8 @@ This guide will help you set up your LEDMatrix display for the first time and ge
 There is no prebuilt SD card image — you install LEDMatrix onto stock
 Raspberry Pi OS Lite yourself:

-1. Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite to the MicroSD card (Raspberry Pi Imager)
+1. Flash Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie, or Bookworm) to the MicroSD card
+   (Raspberry Pi Imager)
 2. Connect the LED matrix to your Raspberry Pi, insert the card, and
   power on
 3. SSH into the Pi and run the one-shot installer:
@@ -39,6 +46,17 @@ Raspberry Pi OS Lite yourself:
   [README Installation Steps / Quick Install](../README.md#installation-steps)
   for full details

+   The one-shot installer installs the newest release (the **stable** update
+   channel). To run the newest, unreleased code from `main` instead (the
+   **beta** channel), put `LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta` in front of `bash`:
+   ```bash
+   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChuckBuilds/LEDMatrix/main/scripts/install/one-shot-install.sh | LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta bash
+   ```
+   A manual clone starts on `main`; add `--beta` to `first_time_install.sh`
+   to stay on it, or leave it off and the first update after the next
+   release moves the device onto releases. You can switch channels later on
+   the General tab.
+
 **Expected Behavior after install:**
 - LED matrix will light up
 - A fresh install ships only the bundled `starlark-apps` and
@@ -170,6 +170,31 @@ pytest test/test_config_manager.py
 pytest
 ```

+### Web UI JavaScript Tests
+
+The suites in `test/js` need node; the DOM ones also need jsdom and a running
+web interface (details in [`test/js/README.md`](../test/js/README.md)):
+
+```bash
+npm install --no-audit --no-fund --prefix test/js   # jsdom; node_modules is gitignored
+EMULATOR=true python3 web_interface/app.py           # in another shell
+BASE=http://localhost:5000 REQUIRE_DOM=1 node test/js/run_all.js
+```
+
+`pytest test/test_js_unit_suites.py` runs just the unit suites.
+
+### Plugin Config Form Parity
+
+`test/test_field_model_parity.py` checks `build_field_model` against the
+`render_field` macro for every plugin schema it finds
+([WEB_FRONTEND_ARCHITECTURE.md](WEB_FRONTEND_ARCHITECTURE.md)). It always
+covers `plugin-repos/` and the test fixtures; point it at a checkout of the
+official plugins to cover those too:
+
+```bash
+LEDMATRIX_MONOREPO_PLUGINS=../ledmatrix-plugins/plugins pytest test/test_field_model_parity.py
+```
+
 ### Debug a Failing Test

 ```bash
@@ -0,0 +1,633 @@
+# Control socket (web → display)
+
+The display process serves a Unix socket that the web interface uses to send
+it commands and get an answer back. It replaces the cache-file "mailboxes" on
+the SD card one command at a time. Stage 1 carries on-demand start, stop and
+status. Stage 2 makes those commands land within a frame on every kind of
+screen, and adds `brightness.set` and `plugin.reload`. Stage 3 adds a state
+stream (`state.get`, `state.subscribe`), so the web interface reads what the
+display is doing from the socket instead of from cache files the display
+wrote to the SD card. The file mailbox and the cache keys stay as a fallback
+for one release.
+
+| | |
+|---|---|
+| Socket | `/run/ledmatrix/control.sock` (tmpfs) |
+| Served by | the display process ([`src/ipc/server.py`](../src/ipc/server.py)), started by `DisplayController.run()` |
+| Used by | the web interface ([`src/ipc/client.py`](../src/ipc/client.py)): `POST /api/v3/display/on-demand/start` and `/stop`, `POST /api/v3/plugins/update` (reload), `POST /api/v3/config/main` (brightness); and through [`web_interface/display_state.py`](../web_interface/display_state.py) (the state stream), `GET /api/v3/display/current-status`, `/display/on-demand/status`, `/plugins/installed` (`runtime`), `/plugins/state` and the reconciliations, `/health` (`display_loop`) |
+| Contract | [`src/ipc/contract.py`](../src/ipc/contract.py): messages, versions, framing and the socket path; both sides import it |
+| Override | `LEDMATRIX_CONTROL_SOCKET=/some/path.sock` for both processes, or `=off` to disable it |
+
+## Why
+
+Before the socket, the web interface sent commands by writing a cache key
+(`display_on_demand_request`) that the display read every 0.25 s.
+
+- **No acknowledgement.** The route answered "success" once the file was
+  written, whether or not a display was running to read it.
+- **Lost requests.** The display had to read the request and then delete it.
+  A request written between those two steps could be thrown away (see
+  `_consume_on_demand_request`). The cache has no atomic claim to prevent it.
+- **Fragile.** Each channel repeated its own permission, atomic-write,
+  staleness and in-memory-cache rules. Two of them caused bugs: a `memory_ttl`
+  bug ignored every on-demand request after the first for an hour, and a
+  stopped display was still reported as "active" for two minutes.
+
+The socket answers every command, carries one request per message (so nothing
+can overwrite it), and belongs to the display process. If the display is not
+running, the socket does not exist, and the web interface knows right away.
+
+## Protocol (version 1)
+
+Stage 3 is still version 1: `state.get` and `state.subscribe` are new
+commands, and a stage-2 display answers them `unknown_command`, which the
+web interface treats as "no socket" and falls back from.
+
+
+**Framing.** One JSON object per line (newline-delimited JSON), UTF-8, at
+most 64 KiB per line (`MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES`). Senders encode with
+`ensure_ascii`, so a newline never appears inside a message. A connection
+can carry several requests. Each request gets exactly one response, in order.
+
+**Request**
+
+```json
+{"v": 1, "id": "5f0c…", "cmd": "on_demand.start",
+ "args": {"plugin_id": "clock", "mode": null, "duration": 30, "pinned": false}}
+```
+
+- `v` is the protocol version.
+- `id` is a printable string of 1-128 characters. It is echoed back in the
+  response, and for on-demand commands it is also the on-demand `request_id`.
+- `cmd` is a command name.
+- `args` is an object. It may be omitted when a command takes no arguments.
+
+**Response**
+
+```json
+{"v": 1, "id": "5f0c…", "ok": true,  "result": {"accepted": true, "request_id": "5f0c…", "queued": 1}}
+{"v": 1, "id": "5f0c…", "ok": false, "error": {"code": "busy", "message": "…"}}
+```
+
+`id` is `null` only when the request could not be parsed far enough to have
+one. Clients branch on `error.code`, never on the message text.
+
+**Commands**
+
+| `cmd` | `args` | `result` | Kind |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `hello` | `{versions: [int], client?: str}` | `{version, versions, commands, max_message_bytes, server}` | answered directly |
+| `ping` | — | `{pong: true}` | answered directly |
+| `on_demand.start` | `{plugin_id?, mode?, duration?, pinned?}` (at least one of `plugin_id` and `mode`) | ack | queued |
+| `on_demand.stop` | — | ack | queued |
+| `on_demand.status` | — | `{on_demand: {...}, current_mode, display_active}` | answered directly |
+| `brightness.set` | `{brightness: int 0-100}` | `{brightness, panel_brightness, dimmed, display_active}` | queued, awaited (2 s) |
+| `plugin.reload` | `{plugin_id}` | `{plugin_id, reloaded: true, version, modes}` | queued, awaited (10 s) |
+| `state.get` | `{since?, epoch?}` | a state snapshot (see "The state stream") | answered directly |
+| `state.subscribe` | — | a state snapshot, then pushed `state` / `tick` events | answered directly, then a stream |
+
+`duration` is a number of seconds, or a numeric string. `0`, `null` or `""`
+mean "until stopped". `pinned` must be a real boolean: the REST route has
+already converted strings like `"false"` before it sends the command. The
+`on_demand` object in `on_demand.status` is the same dict the display
+publishes to `display_on_demand_state`.
+
+`brightness.set` sets the panel's normal brightness. It is transient: it
+writes nothing to `config.json`, and the next config the display's watcher
+loads (or a restart) puts the configured value back. The web interface
+sends it after it has saved the setting, so the two agree. The dim schedule
+still applies on top, so `panel_brightness` is the dim level while the
+schedule dims. While the schedule has the display off, the new level is
+kept for when it comes back on.
+
+`plugin.reload` loads a plugin the display is running again from disk,
+manifest included: the steps of disabling it live and enabling it again,
+with its modes kept in their place in the rotation. Only a running plugin
+can be reloaded (`not_loaded` otherwise), so the id never makes the display
+import anything new. A plugin loaded only for an on-demand session gets
+`busy`. A new version that fails to load gets `failed` and stays out of the
+rotation, as it would after a restart. The load runs off the render thread,
+so the panel keeps scrolling while it happens (see below).
+
+**Acknowledgements.** A queued on-demand command is *accepted*, not *done*.
+`{"accepted": true, "request_id": …}` means the command is waiting in the
+render thread's queue. Since stage 2 the render thread waits on that queue
+instead of sleeping, so it applies the command within one frame on every
+kind of screen (see below). Any outcome is published as before
+(`display_on_demand_state`, and `status`/`error` for a bad plugin or mode),
+and it can be read with `on_demand.status`.
+
+**Awaited commands.** `brightness.set` and `plugin.reload` are answered only
+once the render thread has applied them, with their result or their error.
+The connection thread waits for that (2 s and 10 s, `AWAIT_SECONDS` in the
+contract); the render thread never waits for a client. When the render thread
+has not got to the command in time, the answer is `pending`: the command
+stays queued and is still applied, so a client treats `pending` as "not known
+to be done", not as a refusal. The client's own timeout is one second longer
+than the display's wait, so `pending` arrives before the client gives up.
+
+**Versions.** Every request carries `v`. For any command except `hello`, a
+`v` the display does not speak gets `unsupported_version`. `hello` is checked
+by its `versions` list instead, and its result names the highest version both
+sides share, so a client can find out what a display supports before it
+relies on anything newer. The client sends `v: 1` and falls back to the
+mailbox when the display refuses it. It does not send `hello` first, which
+saves a round trip.
+
+New commands are added within a version, so stage 2 is still version 1. A
+display that does not know a command answers `unknown_command`, which the
+web interface treats like any other socket failure and falls back from, and
+`hello` lists the commands a display knows. The version changes only when the
+envelope or the meaning of an existing command changes.
+
+**Events.** `state.subscribe` is the one command with more than one message
+in reply. After its response, the display pushes events on the same
+connection until either side hangs up:
+
+```json
+{"v": 1, "id": "<the subscribe id>", "event": "state", "result": {...a state snapshot...}}
+{"v": 1, "id": "<the subscribe id>", "event": "tick",  "result": {"version": 7, "epoch": "…", "pid": 812, "served_at": 1790000000.1, "changed": false, "loop": {...}, "volatile": {"display": {"last_updated": 1790000000.0}, "...": "..."}}}
+```
+
+An event has `event` where a response has `ok`, which is how a reader tells
+them apart. The client sends nothing after the subscribe; anything it does
+send is ignored.
+
+**Error codes:** `bad_json`, `bad_request`, `message_too_large`,
+`unsupported_version`, `unknown_command`, `invalid_args`, `busy` (queue full,
+or too many connections), `forbidden` (peer credentials refused), `internal`.
+Stage 2 adds `pending` (accepted, not applied in time, still queued),
+`not_loaded` (`plugin.reload` of a plugin the display is not running) and
+`failed` (the render thread tried, and it did not work).
+
+Try it on a device:
+
+```bash
+python3 - <<'EOF'
+from src.ipc import client          # run from the project directory
+print(client.on_demand_status())
+print(client.brightness_set(60))
+EOF
+```
+
+## The state stream (stage 3)
+
+Before stage 3 the web interface learned what the display was doing by
+reading files the display kept writing:
+
+| What | Written by the display | How often | Medium |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| current mode, plugin, `is_display_active`, `on_demand_active` | `display_current_state` | every mode change, every flag change, and every 30 s | cache (SD card) |
+| on-demand session | `display_on_demand_state` | on each on-demand event | cache (SD card) |
+| plugin runtime snapshot (#690) | `plugin_runtime_snapshot` | on a change (at most every 10 s), else every 60 s | cache (SD card) |
+| render-loop liveness (#687) | `display-heartbeat.json` | every 5 s | tmpfs |
+
+Now the display also keeps the same state in memory and serves it on the
+socket.
+
+**The snapshot.** `state.get` and `state.subscribe` answer with one object:
+
+```json
+{"schema": 1, "version": 42, "epoch": "3f9c0d1e2a4b5c6d", "pid": 812,
+ "served_at": 1790000000.1, "changed": true,
+ "loop": {"heartbeat_age_seconds": 1.8, "armed": true, "stale_after": 60.0},
+ "state": {
+   "display":    {"mode": "nfl_live", "plugin_id": "football-scoreboard", "mode_index": 3,
+                  "total_modes": 9, "on_demand_active": false, "is_display_active": true,
+                  "last_updated": 1790000000.0},
+   "on_demand":  {"active": false, "status": "idle", "...": "as display_on_demand_state"},
+   "brightness": {"brightness": 80, "panel_brightness": 40, "dimmed": true},
+   "plugins":    {"schema": 1, "running": true, "published_at": 1789999998.5, "...": "as plugin_runtime_snapshot"},
+   "loop":       {"heartbeat_age_seconds": 1.8, "armed": true, "stale_after": 60.0}
+ }}
+```
+
+- `display` and `on_demand` are the dicts the cache keys hold, `plugins` is
+  the runtime snapshot (`build_runtime_snapshot`), and `brightness` is the
+  configured level, what the panel shows now, and whether the dim schedule
+  has it dimmed. A section not published yet is `null`.
+- `loop` is not published: the display measures it when it answers, from
+  the render thread's last beat in memory (`RenderWatchdog.liveness()`),
+  the same beat that writes the heartbeat file. So it keeps ageing while the
+  render thread is stuck, and the socket's connection threads still answer.
+  `heartbeat_age_seconds` is `null` until the loop has drawn its first frame.
+- `version` goes up whenever a section changes, ignoring the timestamps that
+  move on every publish (`last_updated`, `remaining`, `published_at`). It
+  counts within an `epoch`, one run of the display process, so a reader that
+  sees a new `epoch` has a restarted display.
+- `state.get` with `since` and `epoch` from an earlier answer gets just
+  `{changed: false, version, epoch, pid, served_at, loop, volatile}` while
+  nothing has changed. `volatile` is `{section: {key: value}}`: the current
+  values of those ignored timestamps, which the reader merges into the copy
+  it has. They don't make a new version, but they are still news:
+  `display.last_updated` is how a reader knows the render thread is still
+  publishing, and `plugins.published_at` the runtime publisher. Without
+  them a reader's copy kept the timestamps of the last real change, so a
+  mode on screen for over 120 s read as unknown.
+- A snapshot that would not fit in a message (hundreds of plugins) is sent
+  without `plugins`, and `truncated: ["plugins"]` says so. Readers then use
+  the cache for that section only.
+
+**The stream.** `state.subscribe` answers with the snapshot, then:
+
+- a `state` event (a full snapshot) whenever the version changes, and
+- a `tick` at least every 5 s (`SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS`) when nothing
+  changed. It is the short `changed: false` answer, so it carries `loop`
+  (a stalled render loop shows up within one tick) and `volatile` (the
+  timestamps stay as fresh as the writers keep them), and it tells the
+  reader the connection is alive.
+
+A slow reader is never sent a backlog: each event is the latest version, so
+one that falls behind skips the versions in between. A reader that has heard
+nothing for 15 s (three keepalives) stops trusting its copy.
+
+**Who publishes, and when.** All of it is in memory, with no disk writes:
+
+- the render thread, at the places it already published the cache keys:
+  `display` and `brightness` on every pass of
+  `_publish_current_mode_state_if_changed()` (every loop pass, and every
+  `_service_pending_changes()` in a dwell, a scrolling screen or Vegas), and
+  `on_demand` in `_publish_on_demand_state()`. Every pass refreshes
+  `display.last_updated`, so a reader can tell when the render thread has
+  stopped publishing, just as the cache key's 120 s `max_age` does.
+- the plugin runtime publisher's thread, on every 5 s tick: the snapshot is
+  rebuilt when the state machine changed, otherwise only its `published_at`
+  moves. A change reaches subscribers within a tick, without the cache's
+  10 s throttle.
+
+Publishing is a hand-off, as the command queue is in the other direction.
+The hub (`StateHub` in [`src/ipc/server.py`](../src/ipc/server.py)) holds a
+lock only to swap a dict reference, compare it with the last one and bump the
+version. Every socket write happens on the subscriber's own connection
+thread. The render thread never waits for a reader.
+
+### Readers in the web interface
+
+[`web_interface/display_state.py`](../web_interface/display_state.py) holds
+one `state.subscribe` connection per web process
+(`src.ipc.client.StateSubscription`, a daemon thread, started on the first
+read and reconnecting with a backoff of 1 s up to 30 s). A route answers
+from the latest pushed snapshot in memory. Before the subscription has one,
+the route asks once with `state.get` (0.5 s timeout). When neither works, it
+reads the cache keys and the heartbeat file as before:
+
+| Route | From the socket | Fallback |
+|---|---|---|
+| `GET /api/v3/display/current-status` | `state.display` | `display_current_state` |
+| `GET /api/v3/display/on-demand/status` | `state.on_demand`, with `remaining` worked out from `expires_at` now | `display_on_demand_state` |
+| `GET /api/v3/plugins/installed` (`runtime`), `/plugins/state`, `POST /plugins/state/reconcile` and the startup reconciliation | `state.plugins` + `state.loop` | `plugin_runtime_snapshot` + `display-heartbeat.json` |
+| `GET /api/v3/health` (`checks.display_loop`) | `state.loop` | `display-heartbeat.json` |
+
+Each answer says where it came from: `source: "socket" | "cache"` (or
+`"heartbeat_file"` for the health check).
+
+The SSE display stream (`/api/v3/stream/display`) reads the preview frame
+file, not a cache key, so it does not change.
+
+**The same verdicts either way.** The socket's answers are judged by the
+rules the cache readers apply (#726):
+
+- the runtime view is `stalled` when the render loop's heartbeat age is at
+  least `HEARTBEAT_STALE_SECONDS` (60 s, the health check's threshold), and
+  then reports no per-plugin facts;
+- it is `stale` when the snapshot is older than its `stale_after` (the
+  publisher thread stopped);
+- with no beat yet, the snapshot is judged on its own;
+- there is no pid check, because the display that answered is alive;
+- a `display` section the render thread has not refreshed for 120 s reads
+  as unknown, as the cache key does once it ages out.
+
+The age a reader uses is the age the display measured, plus the time since
+the snapshot arrived.
+
+### Fewer SD writes
+
+The cache keys are still written, for one release, as the fallback. While
+the socket serves the readers, the display writes two of them less often.
+"Serves the readers" means a subscriber is connected, or a `state.get` came
+within the last 60 s (`StateHub.readers_active()`):
+
+- `display_current_state` is no longer written on every mode change: once
+  every 60 s (`CURRENT_STATE_RELAXED_REFRESH_SECONDS`, inside the readers'
+  120 s `max_age`), and at once when `is_display_active` or
+  `on_demand_active` changes.
+- `plugin_runtime_snapshot`'s refresh goes from 60 s to 120 s
+  (`RELAXED_REFRESH_INTERVAL`), and the snapshot says so in its own
+  `refresh_interval` and `stale_after` (360 s). Changes are still written at
+  once, at most every 10 s.
+
+`display_on_demand_state` is written only on events, so it is unchanged.
+The heartbeat file is on tmpfs, so it costs no SD writes, and it stays: the
+automatic update's health check reads it.
+
+This is safe because the relaxed rate only applies while readers are using
+the socket. If they stop (the web interface loses the socket, or is stopped),
+the next publish after the reader window writes a changed mode at once, and
+the runtime refresh goes back to 60 s. A fallback reader in that window sees
+a mode up to 60 s old, never one older than its `max_age`.
+
+Measured with fake clocks (`test_cache_writes_per_minute_with_and_without_socket_readers`
+in `test/test_state_stream_readers.py`), for a rotation of 15 s screens:
+
+| Key | Writes/min, no socket readers | Writes/min, socket readers |
+|---|---|---|
+| `display_current_state` | 4.0 | 1.0 |
+| `plugin_runtime_snapshot` | 1.0 | 0.5 |
+| Total | 5.0 | 1.5 |
+
+That is 70% fewer writes for these keys: about 2,200 a day instead of 7,200.
+Shorter screens save more, because the old rate followed the mode changes.
+A display that rarely changes mode (one plugin, a long live game) saves less. Plugin
+data caches, the error snapshot and font usage are written by other code
+and are not affected.
+
+## How the display applies a command
+
+The server's threads never touch rendering. A connection thread parses the
+request, validates it against the contract, and then does one of two things:
+
+- For a command that changes the panel, it puts a `QueuedCommand` on a
+  bounded queue (16 entries) and answers with the ack, or, for an awaited
+  command, with the outcome the render thread reports back through the
+  command's `CommandOutcome`.
+- For a query, it answers from a status snapshot the display provides
+  (`DisplayController._control_status`). The snapshot only reads attributes.
+
+The render thread drains the queue in `_poll_on_demand_requests()`, the same
+place it reads the mailbox:
+
+- An on-demand command goes to `_handle_on_demand_request()`, which is the
+  mailbox's own handler. The two paths share all of their code: activation,
+  the processed-id guard, error publishing, and resuming the rotation
+  afterwards.
+- `brightness.set` is applied there and then (`_apply_control_brightness`),
+  and the current frame is pushed again so the panel shows it.
+- `plugin.reload` starts at the top of the next loop pass, the place where
+  plugins are enabled and disabled live, because there no `display()` and no
+  Vegas iteration is on the stack (`_apply_pending_plugin_reloads`). Until
+  then the current screen ends early, as it does for a WiFi notice: the
+  frame loops, the dwell and Vegas's interrupt check all treat a pending
+  reload as a reason to stop (`_screen_preempted`).
+- Only the quick half of the reload runs on the render thread
+  (`_start_plugin_reload`): the plugin's modes leave the rotation, its
+  config subscription is dropped, and `PluginManager.detach_plugin` takes
+  the instance out of `plugins`. After that nothing new calls the old
+  instance: no `update()`, and no Vegas fetch. The rotation then advances
+  (Vegas resumes its strip), and frames keep coming.
+- The slow half runs on a `plugin-reload-<id>` thread (`_PluginReloadJob`).
+  It waits for the plugin's lock, then tears the old instance down
+  (`unload_detached_plugin`) and loads the new one (`reload_plugin`). The
+  lock can be held for seconds by a Vegas render of the old instance. On
+  ledpi the render thread used to wait for it here, and a football reload
+  froze the panel for 3.0 s.
+- The new instance joins the rotation between two frames
+  (`_finish_plugin_reloads`, from `_service_pending_changes` or the top of
+  the loop). Its modes go back to their old places, Vegas is told to fetch
+  it again, and the command is answered.
+- While the plugin reloads, it is out of the rotation. Vegas scrolls what
+  its strip already holds of it. An on-demand request for it gets
+  `plugin-reloading`. A config reconcile neither loads it a second time nor
+  unloads it mid-load; a disable saved meanwhile is applied once the
+  reload is done. A second reload of the same plugin runs after the first.
+
+The 0.25 s floor on the mailbox read does not apply to the queue, because
+draining it costs no disk read. A queued command also lets
+`_service_pending_changes()` skip its own floor.
+
+### Waking the render thread (stage 2)
+
+Stage 1 made the socket answer, but not land sooner: a queued command waited
+for the same polls the mailbox does. Measured on ledpi (Pi 4, 24 fps Vegas),
+a start took 1.02 s on a static screen and about 0.4 s in Vegas either way.
+Now the queue wakes the render thread:
+
+- **The waits.** The server sets a `threading.Event` whenever it queues a
+  command. The render thread waits on it (`ControlServer.wait_for_command`)
+  where it used to sleep: the static screen's 1 s frame sleep
+  (`_wait_frame_interval`) and the dwell's 0.25 s ticks
+  (`_sleep_with_plugin_updates`, which also covers scheduled-off and the
+  empty-rotation pause). On a wake it applies the command at once. A command
+  that does not end the screen, such as a brightness, does not cut the frame
+  short: the wait carries on to the end of the interval, so the plugin is
+  still drawn once a second.
+- **Vegas.** The coordinator still runs its interrupt check every 10 frames,
+  and now also at any frame where `urgent()` is true. The display passes
+  "a control socket command is queued", which is one `Event.is_set()` per
+  frame.
+- **Scrolling screens** already service pending changes every frame.
+
+So a command lands within a millisecond or so on a static screen and in a
+dwell, and within one frame in Vegas and on a scrolling screen. The mailbox
+keeps its old delays. Commands still run only on the render thread: the
+connection threads only queue them and set the event. The one exception is
+the slow half of `plugin.reload` (tearing down and loading the plugin),
+which runs on its own thread. Every change to the display's state still
+happens on the render thread.
+
+The waits are timed `Event.wait()` calls: no polling, and no more wake-ups
+than the sleeps they replace when nothing arrives. Measured under WSL
+(Python 3.12, 20 s runs in the order before, after, after, before, with the
+socket's accept thread up), the idle process used 0.015–0.018% of a core
+before and 0.019–0.021% after on a static screen, and 0.035–0.037% before and
+0.047% after in a dwell: about 25 µs more per wait, from `Event.wait`'s own
+bookkeeping. A client's send to the render thread waking took 0.72 ms median
+(1.04 ms max), and a whole `brightness.set` round trip 0.64 ms median.
+
+Without a socket (Windows, `LEDMATRIX_CONTROL_SOCKET=off`) the waits are the
+plain sleeps they were.
+
+**Exactly once.** A command and a mailbox write for the same request share
+one `request_id`. If the client times out after the display queued the
+command and then also writes the mailbox, the display processes the request
+once. The existing `on_demand_request_id` and processed-id checks drop the
+second copy.
+
+## Robustness
+
+All of this runs inside the display process, so nothing a client does may
+block the render loop or crash it:
+
+- **Bounded connections.** Each connection gets its own daemon thread, with
+  at most 8 at once. One more is answered `busy` and closed.
+- **Timeouts.** Each read and write times out after 2 s. A message must
+  arrive whole within 5 s of its first byte. An idle connection is closed
+  after 10 s. A slow or stuck client costs one thread for a few seconds.
+- **Malformed input.** A line that is not JSON gets `bad_json`, and the
+  connection carries on. A line longer than 64 KiB gets `message_too_large`,
+  and the connection is closed, because the next message boundary cannot be
+  found. A client that disconnects mid-message is dropped silently. No
+  exception from a handler leaves the connection thread.
+- **Full queue.** When the queue is full, the client gets `busy` and falls
+  back to the mailbox. A full queue means the render thread is stuck, and the
+  systemd watchdog deals with that.
+- **Awaited commands.** The wait for an awaited command's outcome happens on
+  its connection thread and is bounded (`AWAIT_SECONDS`), so a stuck render
+  thread costs that client `pending` and one connection slot for at most
+  10 s. The render thread settles an outcome without blocking; one nobody is
+  waiting for any more is simply dropped.
+- **Startup.** The server binds under a temporary name, sets the mode and the
+  group, then renames the socket into place, so it never appears with the
+  umask's permissions. It removes a stale socket (a file that nothing is
+  listening on). It never removes a live socket or a file that is not a
+  socket. `close()` removes the socket only if it is still the one this
+  process created.
+- **Never fatal.** If the server cannot start (Windows, no `AF_UNIX`, a bind
+  failure, `LEDMATRIX_CONTROL_SOCKET=off`), it logs that and the display runs
+  as before. The web interface then uses the mailbox, and reads the cache
+  keys and the heartbeat file.
+- **Subscribers (stage 3).** A `state.subscribe` connection gives its request
+  slot back and takes one of 4 subscriber slots (`MAX_SUBSCRIBERS`). A fifth
+  gets `busy`. So a few browsers' web processes holding streams can never
+  use up the 8 slots that commands need. Each subscriber has its own thread.
+  A send that cannot finish within the 2 s IO timeout (a reader that stopped
+  reading) drops that subscriber. Nothing else waits for it, and the render
+  thread only publishes to the hub. `close()` wakes every subscriber, so
+  they end at once.
+
+## Security model
+
+The display runs as root and the web interface as the installing user (see
+[PERMISSIONS.md](PERMISSIONS.md)). The socket admits exactly those two, plus
+anything else in the group they share:
+
+1. **The directory.** `/run/ledmatrix` is created by `RuntimeDirectory=ledmatrix`
+   in `ledmatrix.service` (#687): root-owned, `0755`, on tmpfs, and removed
+   when the display stops. Under an older unit, the display creates the
+   directory itself as root, as it does for the heartbeat. No installer
+   change is needed.
+2. **The socket file.** The file is `root:<shared group>` with mode `0660`,
+   and the kernel refuses `connect()` to anyone without write permission on
+   it. The shared group is the cache directory's group whenever that
+   directory is group-writable. That is `ledmatrix` on an installed device
+   (`/var/cache/ledmatrix` is `root:ledmatrix 2775`), and it is the same rule
+   DiskCache uses for every file the two services share. Otherwise the group
+   is the project directory's (`get_shared_group_gid()`, which config files
+   use). With neither, the mode is `0600` and only root can connect.
+3. **Peer credentials.** Where the kernel reports them (`SO_PEERCRED`, on
+   Linux), the server checks every connection again. It accepts root, the
+   display's own user, or a member of the shared group: the peer's primary
+   gid, or a supplementary group read from `/proc/<pid>/status`. If `/proc`
+   is unreadable, it uses the group database. Any other peer gets `forbidden`
+   and is disconnected. This covers a socket mode that someone loosened by
+   hand.
+
+The commands are deliberately narrow. They start or stop on-demand display,
+read its state, set the brightness, and reload a plugin the display is
+already running, all of which anyone who can reach the web UI can already do
+(the last by restarting the display). Nothing on the socket runs a shell,
+writes a file, or names a path, and `plugin.reload` cannot make the display
+import a plugin it was not running. Stages 2 and 3 changed none of the
+access rules above. The state stream carries what the cache keys already
+held, and those are readable by the same group. A subscriber goes through
+the same connect-time and peer-credential checks as any other connection.
+
+**Development.** A display that is not root and cannot write to
+`/run/ledmatrix`, such as `python3 run.py -e` from a checkout, serves the
+socket at `$TMPDIR/ledmatrix-<uid>/control.sock`. That directory is private
+(`0700`), and the server refuses it if another user owns it. The web
+interface, run by the same user, looks there after `/run/ledmatrix`. The test
+suite sets `LEDMATRIX_CONTROL_SOCKET=off` (`test/conftest.py`), so a run on a
+device never touches the live display.
+
+## Stage plan
+
+1. **On-demand, with acks (done, #706).** Contract, server, client.
+   `on_demand.start`/`stop`/`status`, `hello`, `ping`. The REST routes try the
+   socket first and report `transport: "socket" | "mailbox"` (plus
+   `socket_error` on fallback). The mailbox is unchanged, and the plugins that
+   write it directly (birdnet-go, mqtt-notifications, on-air, pomodoro-timer)
+   keep working.
+2. **Commands that were restarts or polls (done).**
+   - The render thread waits on the queue instead of sleeping, and Vegas
+     checks it every frame, so a command lands within a frame on every kind
+     of screen (see "Waking the render thread").
+   - `brightness.set`, transient and with no `config.json` write. `POST
+     /api/v3/config/main` sends it after saving a brightness and reports
+     `brightness_transport`; without the socket the config watcher applies
+     the saved value, as before.
+   - `plugin.reload`, which replaces the `restart_required` answer from #688
+     for a store update of an enabled plugin. `POST /api/v3/plugins/update`
+     answers `restart_required: false, reloaded: true` once the new code
+     runs, and falls back to the restart banner (with `reload_error`)
+     otherwise.
+   - `config.reload` was left out. Its only gain over the config watcher
+     would be skipping the watcher's 2 s mtime poll, and the one setting
+     where those seconds show, brightness, now has its own command. Plugin
+     settings already reach the running plugin through the watcher, and the
+     "which sections changed" ack had no reader: the web interface knows
+     what it saved. A reload from the socket thread would also run every
+     config subscriber on a second thread beside the watcher's.
+3. **A state stream (done).** `state.get` (a versioned snapshot) and
+   `state.subscribe` (the snapshot, then pushed changes and keepalive ticks)
+   carry the current mode, the on-demand state (including the outcome of an
+   acked on-demand command), the brightness, the plugin runtime snapshot and
+   the render loop's liveness, all served from memory (see "The state
+   stream"). The web interface's readers use it and fall back to the cache
+   keys and the heartbeat file. `display_current_state` and
+   `plugin_runtime_snapshot` are written less often while it serves them.
+   The keys remain for one release.
+   - Left for later: the outcome of a `plugin.reload` that answered
+     `pending` is visible only as the plugin's new `loaded_version` in
+     `state.plugins`, not as an event of its own.
+   - Left for later: the SSE display stream reads the preview frame, not
+     state, so nothing relays the stream to the browser yet. A browser still
+     polls the REST routes, which now answer from memory.
+   - Left for later: the store's install of an already-enabled plugin, and
+     an uninstall that keeps its config, still answer `restart_required`.
+     They can now use a load/unload command and report the result the same
+     way the update route does.
+4. **Retire the mailboxes.** After a release in which every device has had the
+   socket, the web interface stops writing `display_on_demand_request`, and
+   the display stops polling it, logging the plugins that still write it so
+   they can move to an in-process `request_display()`. The other cache keys
+   used as messages (`plugin_error_clear_request` and the remaining
+   `display_*` keys) move to the socket or to tmpfs. The display also stops
+   writing `display_current_state`, `display_on_demand_state` and
+   `plugin_runtime_snapshot` once the web interface no longer falls back to
+   them.
+
+## Checking it on a device
+
+```bash
+ls -l /run/ledmatrix/control.sock                 # srw-rw---- root ledmatrix
+sudo journalctl -u ledmatrix | grep "Control socket"
+curl -s -X POST localhost:5000/api/v3/display/on-demand/start \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"plugin_id":"clock","duration":20}'
+# ... "transport": "socket"
+```
+
+If the response says `"transport": "mailbox"`, `socket_error` gives the
+reason. `no_socket` means the display is stopped or predates the socket.
+`refused` usually means the web user is not in the socket's group, which
+takes effect when the web service restarts after the user is added.
+
+Brightness and a plugin reload:
+
+```bash
+curl -s -X POST localhost:5000/api/v3/config/main \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"brightness":40}'
+# ... "brightness_transport": "socket"
+curl -s -X POST localhost:5000/api/v3/plugins/update \
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"plugin_id":"clock-simple"}'
+# after a real update of an enabled plugin: "restart_required": false, "reloaded": true
+sudo journalctl -u ledmatrix | grep -E "Brightness set|Reload(ing|ed) plugin"
+```
+
+`unknown_command` in `brightness_socket_error` or `reload_error` means the
+display runs a stage-1 build: restart it once to pick up this one.
+
+The state stream:
+
+```bash
+curl -s localhost:5000/api/v3/display/current-status    # ... "source": "socket"
+curl -s localhost:5000/api/v3/health | python3 -m json.tool | grep -A3 display_loop
+python3 - <<'EOF'
+from src.ipc import client          # run from the project directory
+snap = client.state_get()
+print(snap['version'], snap['epoch'], snap['loop'], snap['state']['display'])
+EOF
+```
+
+`"source": "cache"` means the web interface could not use the socket: the
+display is stopped, predates stage 3, or the web user is not in the
+socket's group.
@@ -29,8 +29,13 @@ in again (services pick them up on restart).
 | `assets/` | web user | dirs `755`, files `644` | Root writes downloaded logos regardless |
 | `/var/cache/ledmatrix/` | `root:ledmatrix` | `2775` (setgid) | Shared cache: see below |
 | Cache files | creator : `ledmatrix` | `660` | |
+| `/run/ledmatrix/` | `root` | `755` | tmpfs; `RuntimeDirectory=` in `ledmatrix.service`, removed when the display stops |
+| `/run/ledmatrix/control.sock` | `root` : cache directory's group (`ledmatrix`) | `660` | The display's control socket; only root and that group can connect. See [IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md#security-model) |
 | `scripts/fix_perms/safe_plugin_rm.sh`, `safe_pip_install.sh` | `root:root` | `755` | Run as root through sudo, so the web user must not be able to edit them |
 | `/etc/sudoers.d/ledmatrix_web`, `ledmatrix_wifi` | `root` | `440` | |
+| `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units` | `root:root` | `755` | Copy of `scripts/install/ledmatrix_refresh_units.py`, installed by `install_service.sh`. Outside the project so the web user cannot edit what sudo runs |
+| `/var/lib/ledmatrix/unit-backup/` | `root` | `700` | The units the last refresh replaced, for the automatic update's rollback |
+| `/etc/systemd/system/ledmatrix*.service`, `.path` | `root:root` | `644` | Readable so the web interface can compare them with the templates after an update |

 What keeps it that way at runtime:

@@ -84,6 +89,20 @@ password:
 - `journalctl -u ledmatrix.service *`, `-u ledmatrix *`, `-t ledmatrix *`,
  tagged `NOEXEC`: journalctl opens a pager on a terminal, and a shell
  escape from that pager would be a root shell
+- `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units ""` and
+  `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units --restore` — exactly these two
+  command lines (`""` means "no arguments"). After an update the first
+  installs the systemd units whose templates changed and runs
+  `systemctl daemon-reload`; the automatic update's rollback runs the second
+  to put the previous units back. The helper takes nothing from the caller:
+  the project folder and the web user come from the installed, root-owned
+  `ledmatrix.service` and `ledmatrix-web.service`. It only replaces the four
+  units `install_service.sh` installs, only if they are already installed,
+  and refuses a template that would change a unit's `User=` (root for the
+  display, the web user for the rest) or `WorkingDirectory=`, or that is a
+  symlink, not a regular file, or over 64 KB. It grants nothing new: the
+  templates are files the web user can edit, but so is `run.py`, which the
+  display service already runs as root.

 ### `/etc/sudoers.d/ledmatrix_wifi`

@@ -134,7 +153,9 @@ directory.
 | `safe_plugin_rm.sh`, `safe_pip_install.sh` | — | Called by the web interface through sudo | Not for manual use |

 To reinstall the sudoers rules, run
-`./scripts/install/configure_web_sudo.sh` (web rules) or
+`./scripts/install/configure_web_sudo.sh` (web rules; the
+`ledmatrix-refresh-units` rules also need the helper itself, which
+`sudo ./scripts/install/install_service.sh` installs) or
 `./scripts/install/configure_wifi_permissions.sh` (WiFi rules and polkit) as
 the web user, not with `sudo`.

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ Complete API reference for plugin developers. This document describes all method
 - [Display Manager](#display-manager)
 - [Cache Manager](#cache-manager)
 - [Plugin Manager](#plugin-manager)
+- [Fetching data](#fetching-data)
 - [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis)

 ---
@@ -628,18 +629,6 @@ self.display_manager.update_display()

 This is the canonical way to render arbitrary images.

-### Weather Icons (deprecated)
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — draw your own icons (the weather plugin
-> ships `WeatherIcons`). See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
- `draw_weather_icon(condition, x, y, size=16)` — icon for a condition
-  string such as `"clear"`, `"clouds"`, `"rain"`, `"snow"`, `"storm"`
- `draw_sun(x, y, size=16)`, `draw_cloud(x, y, size=16, color=(200, 200, 200))`,
-  `draw_rain(x, y, size=16)`, `draw_snow(x, y, size=16)`
- `draw_text_with_icons(text, icons=None, x=None, y=None, color=(255, 255, 255))`
-  — text plus a list of `(icon_type, x, y)` icons; calls `update_display()`
-
 ### Scrolling State Management

 For plugins that implement scrolling content, use these methods to coordinate with the display system.
@@ -730,20 +719,6 @@ Process any deferred updates if not currently scrolling. Called automatically by

 **Note**: Plugins typically don't need to call this directly.

-#### `get_scrolling_stats() -> dict`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get current scrolling statistics for debugging.
-
-**Returns**: Dictionary with scrolling state information
-
-**Example**:
-```python
-stats = self.display_manager.get_scrolling_stats()
-self.logger.debug(f"Scrolling: {stats['is_scrolling']}, Deferred: {stats['deferred_count']}")
-```
-
 ### Available Fonts

 The Display Manager provides several pre-loaded fonts:
@@ -873,27 +848,6 @@ Get data with automatic strategy detection from cache key.
 data = self.cache_manager.get_with_auto_strategy("nhl_live_scores")
 ```

-#### `get_background_cached_data(key: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — use `get()`. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get background service cached data with sport-specific intervals.
-
-**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `sport_key` (str, optional): Sport identifier (e.g., 'nhl', 'nba') for live interval lookup
-
-**Returns**: Cached data, or `None` if not found or stale
-
-**Example**:
-```python
-# Uses sport-specific live_update_interval from config
-games = self.cache_manager.get_background_cached_data(
-    "nhl_games",
-    sport_key="nhl"
-)
-```
-
 ### Strategy Methods

 #### `get_cache_strategy(data_type: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]`
@@ -912,23 +866,6 @@ strategy = self.cache_manager.get_cache_strategy("sports_live", sport_key="nhl")
 max_age = strategy['max_age']  # Get configured max age
 ```

-#### `get_sport_live_interval(sport_key: str) -> int`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get the live_update_interval for a specific sport from config.
-
-**Parameters**:
- `sport_key` (str): Sport identifier (e.g., 'nhl', 'nba')
-
-**Returns**: Live update interval in seconds
-
-**Example**:
-```python
-interval = self.cache_manager.get_sport_live_interval("nhl")
-# Returns configured live_update_interval for NHL
-```
-
 #### `get_data_type_from_key(key: str) -> str`

 Extract data type from cache key to determine appropriate cache strategy.
@@ -938,17 +875,6 @@ Extract data type from cache key to determine appropriate cache strategy.

 **Returns**: Inferred data type string

-#### `get_sport_key_from_cache_key(key: str) -> Optional[str]`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Extract sport key from cache key for sport-specific strategies.
-
-**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
-
-**Returns**: Sport identifier, or `None` if not found
-
 ### Utility Methods

 #### `clear_cache(key: Optional[str] = None) -> None`
@@ -986,30 +912,6 @@ for file_info in files:
    self.logger.info(f"Cache: {file_info['key']}, Age: {file_info['age_display']}")
 ```

-### Metrics Methods (deprecated)
-
-#### `get_cache_metrics() -> Dict[str, Any]`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get cache performance metrics.
-
-**Returns**: Dictionary with cache statistics (`total_requests`, `cache_hit_rate`, `background_hit_rate`, `api_calls_saved`, `average_fetch_time`, etc.)
-
-**Example**:
-```python
-metrics = self.cache_manager.get_cache_metrics()
-self.logger.info(f"Cache hit rate: {metrics['cache_hit_rate']:.2%}")
-```
-
-#### `get_memory_cache_stats() -> Dict[str, Any]`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get memory cache statistics.
-
-**Returns**: Dictionary with memory cache stats (size, max_size, etc.)
-
 ---

 ## Plugin Manager
@@ -1048,14 +950,6 @@ for plugin_id, plugin in all_plugins.items():
    self.logger.info(f"Plugin {plugin_id} is loaded")
 ```

-#### `get_enabled_plugins() -> List[str]`
-
-> Deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — check `enabled` on the instances in `plugin_manager.plugins`. See [Deprecated APIs](#deprecated-apis).
-
-Get list of enabled plugin IDs.
-
-**Returns**: List of plugin identifier strings
-
 #### `get_plugin_info(plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`

 Get plugin information including manifest and runtime info.
@@ -1137,6 +1031,103 @@ if weather is not None and weather.enabled:

 ---

+## Fetching data
+
+Use the core helpers for HTTP rather than a `requests.Session` of your own:
+`APIHelper` (`from src.common import APIHelper`) for JSON APIs, and
+`fetch_espn_scoreboard()` (`src.common.espn_dates`) or
+`BackgroundDataService` for ESPN scoreboards. Since the release after 3.7.0
+these go through the core **fetch service** (`src/common/fetch_service.py`),
+so a plugin that uses them gets the following with no code change. Return
+values, exceptions and retries are what they were.
+
+- **Shared connections.** Core sessions with the same retry policy share one
+  connection pool per host, instead of one pool per helper.
+- **Merged requests.** Identical GETs in flight at the same time (same URL
+  and query, headers, timeout and retry policy) go to the network once, and
+  every caller gets its own copy of the response, or the same exception.
+- **Host budgets.** A host can have a token-bucket budget. A request past it
+  waits for a token, but never longer than `max_wait_seconds` (2 s by
+  default). Only ESPN hosts have one by default (20 requests a second, burst
+  200), which normal use never reaches.
+- **Conditional GET.** When a server sends `ETag` or `Last-Modified`, the
+  next identical request revalidates, and a `304 Not Modified` comes back to
+  your code as the original `200` with its body. ESPN currently sends
+  neither, so this does nothing there.
+- **Response cache.** A response whose server says `Cache-Control:
+  max-age=N` answers an identical GET for those N seconds without a
+  request (ESPN sends 1 to ~500 s). It never hands you a response older
+  than you accept: pass `cache_max_age=<your TTL>` to `fetch_get()` or
+  `fetch_espn_scoreboard()` (0 always asks the network); without it a
+  response is reused for at most 30 seconds.
+- **Counters.** Requests, merged requests, bytes, 304s, errors and time spent
+  waiting, and requests answered without the network (`memo_hits` from the
+  response cache, `cache_hits` from a shared scoreboard cache entry), are
+  counted per plugin and per host, and published for the web UI
+  at `GET /api/v3/plugins/fetch-stats` (see
+  [REST_API_REFERENCE.md](REST_API_REFERENCE.md#get-fetch-statistics)). A
+  request is counted against your plugin when it runs inside your
+  `update()`/`display()`, your constructor or `on_enable()`, or anywhere in
+  code under your plugin's directory, including threads you start.
+
+What is not covered yet: requests a plugin makes with its own `requests.get()`
+or `Session.get()` calls. They work as before but are invisible to the
+budgets and counters.
+
+### One cache key per ESPN scoreboard
+
+Cache an ESPN scoreboard under `espn_scoreboard_cache_key(sport, league,
+dates)` (`src.common.espn_dates`), not a key of your own, so every plugin
+showing that league shares one fetch and one cached copy. `sport` and
+`league` are ESPN's path segments (`football`, `college-football`), and
+`dates` is what you send as `dates=` (`"20261004"`, `"202610"`,
+`"20260925-20261016"`, a `date`, or `None` for the undated scoreboard).
+
+```python
+from src.common.espn_dates import get_espn_scoreboard
+
+data = get_espn_scoreboard(
+    self.session, "football", "nfl", "20261004",
+    cache_manager=self.cache_manager,
+    max_age=300,                       # your TTL: nothing older comes back
+    legacy_keys=["my_old_key_20261004"],  # read once while upgrading
+)
+```
+
+`get_espn_scoreboard` returns a cached copy at most `max_age` seconds old,
+whoever wrote it, and otherwise fetches with `fetch_espn_scoreboard`
+(`limit=500`, ranges split the way ESPN requires) and caches the result
+without a ttl, so each reader applies its own age limit. `max_age=0` always
+fetches but still leaves the copy for others. For a two-step read, use
+`read_espn_scoreboard_cache()` and `store_espn_scoreboard_cache()` around
+your own fetch. Scoreboards built on `SportsFetchMixin` get
+`_schedule_cache_key(datestring)` and `_cached_schedule(key, legacy_keys)`
+for their schedule windows. All of this is in the core release after 3.8.0.
+
+The settings live in `config.json` under `fetch_service`, read when the
+display starts and on a config reload:
+
+```json
+"fetch_service": {
+    "enabled": true,
+    "max_wait_seconds": 2,
+    "rate_limits": {
+        "*.espn.com": {"per_second": 20, "burst": 200},
+        "api.example.com": {"per_second": 1, "burst": 5}
+    }
+}
+```
+
+`rate_limits` keys are a host or a `*.domain` pattern (which also matches
+the bare domain); `"per_second": 0` removes a budget. `"enabled": false`
+turns the whole service into a plain `session.get()`. Two further switches,
+`"single_flight": false` and `"conditional_get": false`, turn off merging and
+revalidation. `"response_cache": {"enabled": false}` turns off the response
+cache; its `default_max_age` (30) is the limit for callers that pass no
+`cache_max_age`.
+
+---
+
 ## Best Practices

 ### Caching
@@ -1221,13 +1212,19 @@ if weather is not None and weather.enabled:

 ## Deprecated APIs

-These still work but log a warning the first time they are called
-(`journalctl -u ledmatrix` shows which one), and are **removed in 3.8.0**
-(first announced for 3.7.0, which shipped with them still in place).
-[DEPRECATIONS_3.8.md](DEPRECATIONS_3.8.md) is the usage scan behind that
-decision: which of these the official plugins, the registry's third-party
-plugins and core still call or override. Only methods that scan reports unused
-are removed in 3.8.0; the rest stay until their callers migrate.
+A deprecated method still works but logs a warning the first time it is
+called (`journalctl -u ledmatrix` shows which one), until the release that
+removes it. [DEPRECATIONS_3.8.md](DEPRECATIONS_3.8.md) is the usage scan
+behind each removal: which of the deprecated methods the official plugins,
+the registry's third-party plugins and core still call or override. Only
+methods that scan reports unused are removed; the rest stay until their
+callers migrate.
+
+### Removed in 3.8.0
+
+Deprecated in 3.5.0 with a warning on first call, and gone in 3.8.0:
+the scan found no caller in any official or third-party plugin. Calling one
+now raises `AttributeError`.

 | Object | Methods | Instead |
 |---|---|---|
@@ -519,15 +519,12 @@ When developing plugins, you'll need to use the APIs provided by the LEDMatrix s
 - `draw_text()` - Text rendering. For images, paste directly onto
  `display_manager.image` (a PIL Image) and call `update_display()`;
  there is no `draw_image()` helper method.
- `draw_weather_icon()`, `draw_sun()`, `draw_cloud()` - Weather icons
-  (deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — draw your own icons)
 - `get_text_width()`, `get_font_height()` - Text utilities
 - `set_scrolling_state()`, `defer_update()` - Scrolling state management

 **Cache Manager** (`self.cache_manager`):
 - `get()`, `set()`, `delete()` - Basic caching
 - `get_cached_data_with_strategy()` - Advanced caching with strategies
- `get_background_cached_data()` - deprecated, removed in 3.8.0 — use `get()`

 **Plugin Manager** (`self.plugin_manager`):
 - `get_plugin()`, `get_all_plugins()` - Access other plugins
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ Going deeper:
 ## Contributing to LEDMatrix itself

 - [ARCHITECTURE.md](ARCHITECTURE.md) — processes, display loop, plugin system, web UI; where to start reading
+- [WEB_FRONTEND_ARCHITECTURE.md](WEB_FRONTEND_ARCHITECTURE.md) — the web UI's ES modules, page lifecycle and form model, and the page-by-page migration to them
+- [IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md) — the display's control socket: protocol, security model, stage plan
 - [DEVELOPMENT.md](DEVELOPMENT.md) — environment setup
 - [HOW_TO_RUN_TESTS.md](HOW_TO_RUN_TESTS.md) — running the test suite
 - [MULTI_ROOT_WORKSPACE_SETUP.md](MULTI_ROOT_WORKSPACE_SETUP.md) — multi-repo workspace
@@ -165,6 +165,14 @@ the web UI shows its restart banner on the flag. (Plugin sections saved
 through this route reach the running plugin live, like
 `POST /plugins/config`.)

+A saved `brightness` is the exception: it reaches the panel without a
+restart. The route also sends it to the running display over the control
+socket (`brightness.set`), which puts it on the panel at once, and the
+response adds `"brightness_transport": "socket"`. Otherwise it is
+`"config"`, with `brightness_socket_error` giving the reason, and the
+display's config watcher applies the saved value within a few seconds, as
+before.
+
 Invalid values (e.g. an out-of-range `target_fps`, a hardware option the
 Raspberry Pi 5 driver cannot use) are rejected with `400` and nothing is
 saved.
@@ -323,12 +331,19 @@ by the display process (stale after 120 seconds).
  "data": {
    "mode": "nfl_live",
    "plugin_id": "football-scoreboard",
-    "last_updated": 1234567890.123
+    "last_updated": 1234567890.123,
+    "source": "socket"
  }
 }
 ```

-When nothing has been published, every field is `null`.
+When nothing has been published, every field is `null`. `source` is
+`socket` when the answer came from the display's state stream over the
+control socket ([IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)), and `cache`
+when it came from the `display_current_state` cache key (no socket: the
+display is stopped or older, or this is Windows). A display whose render
+loop has not refreshed its state for 120 seconds is reported with every
+field `null`, either way.

 ### List Display Modes

@@ -405,11 +420,16 @@ Get the current on-demand display state.
      "returncode": 0,
      "stdout": "active",
      "stderr": ""
-    }
+    },
+    "source": "socket"
  }
 }
 ```

+`source` is `socket` (the display's state stream, with `remaining` worked
+out at the time of the request) or `cache` (the `display_on_demand_state`
+cache key).
+
 With no on-demand request, `state` is
 `{"active": false, "status": "idle", "last_updated": null}`.

@@ -447,13 +467,24 @@ Request a specific plugin to display on-demand.
    "mode": "nfl_live",
    "duration": 45,
    "pinned": true,
-    "service": { "active": true, "returncode": 0, "stdout": "", "stderr": "" }
+    "service": { "active": true, "returncode": 0, "stdout": "", "stderr": "" },
+    "transport": "socket"
  }
 }
 ```

 `service` is `null` when `start_service` is false.

+`transport` says how the request reached the display: `"socket"` means the
+display's control socket acknowledged it (it is queued for the render thread,
+which wakes for it and applies it within a frame; see
+[IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)), `"mailbox"` means it was
+written to the cache mailbox the display polls, as before the socket existed.
+With `"mailbox"`, `socket_error` gives the reason the socket was not used
+(`no_socket` when the display is stopped or predates the socket, `timeout`,
+`refused`, `busy`, ...). Either way the request is applied the same way;
+`request_id` is the same id in both.
+
 ### Stop On-Demand Display

 **POST** `/api/v3/display/on-demand/stop`
@@ -476,11 +507,14 @@ Stop the current on-demand display.
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "request_id": "uuid-here",
-    "service": null
+    "service": null,
+    "transport": "socket"
  }
 }
 ```

+`transport` and `socket_error` are as for start.
+
 ---

 ## Plugins
@@ -529,7 +563,9 @@ List all installed plugins with their status and metadata.
      "status": "live",
      "published_at": 1790000030.0,
      "age_seconds": 12.4,
-      "stale_after": 180.0
+      "stale_after": 180.0,
+      "heartbeat_age_seconds": 2.1,
+      "source": "socket"
    }
  }
 }
@@ -550,10 +586,18 @@ until the display restarts. A plugin a live snapshot does not list is
 `loaded: false`, `state: "unloaded"`.

 `runtime.status` says whether to believe them: `live` (fresh snapshot from
-a running display), `stale` (not refreshed within `stale_after` seconds: the
-display is hung or died), `stopped` (the display shut down) or `unknown`
+a running display), `stalled` (fresh snapshot, but the same process's
+render-loop heartbeat is 60 s or older -- the render loop is hung, as
+[`/health`](#health-check)'s `display_loop: stalled` says), `stale` (not refreshed
+within `stale_after` seconds, or the process that wrote it no longer exists:
+the display is hung or died), `stopped` (the display shut down) or `unknown`
 (nothing published yet). Unless it is `live`, every one of those fields is
-`null`. Health and metrics are at [`/plugins/health`](#get-plugin-health)
+`null`. `heartbeat_age_seconds` is the heartbeat's age when it was taken into
+account, `null` otherwise (no heartbeat, as on the dev server, or one from
+another process). `runtime.source` is `socket` when the snapshot and the
+heartbeat age came from the display's state stream over the control socket,
+and `cache` when they came from the `plugin_runtime_snapshot` cache key and
+the heartbeat file; the rules above are the same for both. Health and metrics are at [`/plugins/health`](#get-plugin-health)
 and `/plugins/metrics`.

 `vegas_participation` is what Vegas mode does with the plugin: `"scroll"`,
@@ -799,8 +843,29 @@ Update a plugin to the latest version. Runs synchronously.
 ```

 `update_status` is `updated`, `up_to_date` or `local_only`.
-`restart_required` is true when the plugin changed and is enabled: the
-running display keeps the code it loaded until it restarts.
+
+When the plugin changed and is enabled, the route asks the running display
+to reload it over the control socket (`plugin.reload`, see
+[IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md](IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md)). Once the new code is
+running, the answer is:
+
+```json
+{
+  "status": "success",
+  "message": "Plugin football-scoreboard updated to version 2.1.0; the display is running the new version",
+  "restart_required": false,
+  "reloaded": true,
+  "reloaded_version": "2.1.0"
+}
+```
+
+If the display could not reload it, `restart_required` is true (the running
+display keeps the code it loaded until it restarts) and `reload_error` says
+why: `no_socket` (the display is stopped or predates the socket),
+`unknown_command` (a display older than this command), `not_loaded`,
+`failed` (the new version did not load; it is out of the rotation),
+`pending` (not done within 10 s; it will still be reloaded), or another
+transport reason.

 An update this core cannot run answers `409` with `Plugin update refused:`
 and the reason; the installed version is left as it was.
@@ -967,6 +1032,76 @@ Metrics for one plugin; `data` has the same fields as one entry above.

 Reset metrics for a plugin.

+### Get Fetch Statistics
+
+**GET** `/api/v3/plugins/fetch-stats`
+
+Network requests made through the core fetch service
+(`src/common/fetch_service.py`), per plugin and per host, cumulative since
+the display started. Read-only. The display publishes the counters at most
+once a minute when they change (every 10 minutes otherwise), so they can be
+up to a minute old. Requests a plugin makes with its own `requests` calls,
+outside `APIHelper`, `espn_dates`, `BackgroundDataService` and
+`BaseOddsManager`, are not counted yet.
+
+`data.status` is `live`, `stale` (no publish for longer than
+`stale_after`), `stopped` (the display exited; the last counters are kept)
+or `unknown` (nothing published; `data.data` is `null`).
+
+**Response**:
+```json
+{
+  "status": "success",
+  "data": {
+    "status": "live",
+    "age_seconds": 12.4,
+    "data": {
+      "schema": 1,
+      "running": true,
+      "published_at": 1790000000.0,
+      "stale_after": 720.0,
+      "since": 1789990000.0,
+      "totals": {"requests": 412, "merged": 3, "not_modified": 0,
+                 "errors": 1, "http_errors": 2, "retries": 0,
+                 "throttled": 0, "overruns": 0, "bytes": 18234011,
+                 "wait_seconds": 0.0, "memo_hits": 21, "cache_hits": 40,
+                 "legacy_cache_hits": 2},
+      "plugins": {
+        "football-scoreboard": {"requests": 240, "merged": 2, "bytes": 9120330,
+                                "hosts": {"site.api.espn.com": 180,
+                                          "sports.core.api.espn.com": 62},
+                                "...": "the other counters, as in totals"}
+      },
+      "hosts": {
+        "site.api.espn.com": {"requests": 301, "...": "as in totals"}
+      },
+      "validators": {"entries": 0, "bytes": 0},
+      "response_cache": {"entries": 3, "bytes": 412004},
+      "config": {"enabled": true, "single_flight": true,
+                 "conditional_get": true, "max_wait_seconds": 2.0,
+                 "rate_limits": {"*.espn.com": {"per_second": 20.0, "burst": 200.0}},
+                 "response_cache": true, "default_max_age": 30.0}
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+`requests` counts round trips sent (retries inside the HTTP adapter are in
+`retries`), `merged` requests answered by an identical one already in
+flight, `not_modified` 304s served from the stored body, `errors` transport
+failures and `http_errors` responses with status 400 or above. `bytes` is the
+decoded body size. `core` is everything no plugin made.
+
+Three counters are requests that never reached the network: `memo_hits`
+were answered from the short response cache (a response still inside the
+`Cache-Control: max-age` its server gave it), and `cache_hits` were
+scoreboard fetches answered from a shared ESPN scoreboard cache entry
+(`espn_scoreboard_cache_key`). `legacy_cache_hits` counts reads served from a
+key that predates the shared one; it should fall to zero within a day of an
+upgrade. A plugin's `hosts` counts are requests plus merged requests,
+`memo_hits` and `cache_hits`: everything it asked for.
+`response_cache` is the size of the response cache now.
+
 ### Get/Set Plugin Limits

 **GET** `/api/v3/plugins/limits/<plugin_id>`
@@ -1038,7 +1173,7 @@ it is neither installed nor configured).
      "last_updated": "2025-01-15T10:30:00"
    }
  },
-  "runtime": {"status": "live", "published_at": 1790000030.0, "age_seconds": 12.4, "stale_after": 180.0}
+  "runtime": {"status": "live", "published_at": 1790000030.0, "age_seconds": 12.4, "stale_after": 180.0, "heartbeat_age_seconds": 2.1}
 }
 ```

@@ -2146,7 +2281,10 @@ display snapshot. `data.status` is `healthy` or `degraded`, with
 (with `heartbeat_age_seconds`), `stalled` (no heartbeat for 60s: the panel is
 frozen even if the service is active; the status turns `degraded`), or
 `not_reported` when the display writes none (not started yet, the dev server,
-Windows), which does not affect the status.
+Windows), which does not affect the status. Its `source` is `socket` when the
+age came from the display's state stream over the control socket (measured
+in memory by the display) and `heartbeat_file` when it came from
+`/run/ledmatrix/display-heartbeat.json`.

 Open even when the web login is on, for uptime monitors; a caller that is not
 logged in (and has no token) then gets only `{"status": "success", "data":
@@ -0,0 +1,346 @@
+# Restructuring `DisplayController.run()`
+
+`run()` in [`src/display_controller.py`](../src/display_controller.py) decides
+what the panel shows and runs it. This document is the plan for turning it
+from one long loop into three parts with clear jobs: an **Arbiter** that
+decides, a **ScreenRunner** that runs one screen, and **Sources** that each
+know about one kind of content. It covers the target design, the stages that
+get there, and how each stage is checked.
+
+The goal is to change how the control flow is organised, not to move code
+into more files. Each stage ships as its own PR, and none of them changes
+what the panel shows unless that PR says so and updates the golden traces
+on purpose.
+
+## Why
+
+- **The priority order is written in branch order, twice.** It is
+  Follower, on-demand, WiFi notice, live priority, Vegas, rotation. In
+  `run()` that order exists only as the order of `if` blocks. Vegas
+  repeats part of it in its interrupt callback (`_check_vegas_interrupt`).
+- **Preemption is found by re-checking.** A screen ends early when
+  something else changed `current_display_mode` or `is_display_active`
+  underneath it. `run()` notices with five separate
+  `current_display_mode != active_mode` checks: after an empty pass, in each
+  of the two frame loops, after the frame loops, and before rotating.
+- **Most recent fixes were ordering bugs** between these branches (#618,
+  #644, #649, #652): a lost mode switch, rotating past an on-demand request,
+  spinning when every mode is empty.
+- **It could not be tested** without threads, real sleeps and stopping the
+  loop by raising from a patched method.
+
+## What `run()` does today
+
+Each pass, in order:
+
+1. `loop_pass()` (watchdog). Apply a pending plugin enable/disable, then
+   any plugin reloads the control socket asked for
+   (`_apply_pending_plugin_reloads`; a pending reload ends the screen
+   before it, like a WiFi notice, through `_screen_preempted`). The static
+   screen's frame sleep and the dwell wait on the socket's queue instead of
+   sleeping (`_wait_frame_interval`, `_sleep_with_plugin_updates`); without
+   a socket, as in the golden traces, they are the plain sleeps.
+2. With no modes: dwell 1 s, next pass.
+3. Poll on-demand requests and expiry, release plugins loaded only for
+   on-demand, tick plugin updates, drop an expired WiFi notice, evaluate
+   the schedule (an on-demand session overrides scheduled-off), apply the
+   brightness target. Then gather the Arbiter's inputs
+   (`_arbiter_inputs`) and call `Arbiter.decide()`, which picks one of
+   steps 4-6 or returns `LEGACY` for steps 7-9 (stage 2).
+4. **Scheduled off:** blank, dwell up to 60 s. `_blank_while_scheduled_off`
+5. **Follower:** render one frame from the leader. `_run_follower_frame`
+6. **WiFi notice** (unless on-demand): draw it, dwell 0.5 s. `_show_wifi_notice`.
+   It is also polled mid-screen (`_wifi_notice_pending`): the frame loops,
+   the dwell sleep and an interrupted Vegas iteration end within about a
+   second when one arrives, and a screen cut short resumes after it.
+7. **Live priority** (unless on-demand, or Vegas keeps live content in the
+   ticker): switch to the next live mode, or resume the rotation. A game
+   that goes live during a screen is caught sooner, by
+   `_check_live_takeover` in the frame loops and the dwell sleep (at most
+   once a second, and not while a live mode is showing).
+8. **Vegas** (unless on-demand, or live content preempts it): run one
+   iteration of up to `max_cycle_duration`. A completed iteration ends the
+   pass, and so does one that yielded for a WiFi notice or the schedule.
+   Any other interrupted one falls through to step 9 in the same pass.
+9. **One screen:** pick the mode (`_resolve_active_mode`), the plugin
+   (`_plugin_for_mode`), draw the first frame through the executor
+   (`_dispatch_first_frame`). On no content, rotate at once
+   (`_note_empty_pass`, `_skip_failed_plugin_modes`). Otherwise work out the
+   bounds (`_track_dynamic_cycle`, `_resolve_durations`,
+   `_clamp_to_on_demand`) and the frame rate (`_needs_high_fps`), run the
+   125 Hz or 1 Hz frame loop, make up the minimum duration, then pick the
+   next mode (`_advance_after_screen`).
+
+The helpers named above were extracted in stage 1 without changing
+behaviour. Since stage 2 the choice between steps 4, 5, 6 and the rest is
+made by `Arbiter.decide()` in `src/display_arbiter.py`. The frame loops, the
+Vegas branch and every early exit are still inline in `run()`.
+
+## Target design
+
+```python
+def run(self):
+    while True:
+        inputs = self._drain_inputs()                 # requests, schedule, config, sync
+        plan = self.arbiter.decide(self.state, inputs, clock.now())
+        outcome = self.runner.run(plan)               # ExitReason + elapsed
+        self.state = self.state.after(plan, outcome)  # rotation, on-demand index, live resume
+```
+
+### Sources
+
+Each kind of content is a Source. A Source looks at the state and the
+inputs and either offers a screen or passes. The Arbiter asks them in this
+order:
+
+| Order | Source | Offers a screen when | Today |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| gate | ScheduledOff | the schedule is off and no on-demand session overrides it | step 4 |
+| 1 | Follower | a sync leader is driving this panel | step 5 |
+| 2 | OnDemand | a session is active (its mode list, index, expiry and pin) | `_resolve_active_mode` |
+| 3 | Wifi | a status message is pending and on-demand is not active | step 6 |
+| 4 | Live | a live-priority plugin has live content (round-robin across several) | step 7 |
+| 5 | Vegas | Vegas is enabled and nothing above wants the panel | step 8 |
+| 6 | Rotation | always: `available_modes[current_mode_index]` | step 9 |
+
+ScheduledOff is a gate in front of the Sources because that is how it works
+today: a scheduled-off panel stays blank even for a follower, and only an
+on-demand session overrides it.
+
+### Arbiter
+
+```python
+Arbiter.decide(state, inputs, now) -> ScreenPlan
+```
+
+`decide` is a pure function: it does no I/O, takes no locks and does not
+sleep. It can be tested with plain tables of (state, inputs, now) mapped to
+an expected plan. It returns a `ScreenPlan`:
+
+| Field | Meaning |
+|---|---|
+| `source` | which Source won |
+| `mode`, `plugin` | what to draw (None for a blank or follower plan) |
+| `min_duration`, `max_duration` | from `_resolve_durations` and `_clamp_to_on_demand` |
+| `dynamic` | run until the plugin's cycle completes, between min and max |
+| `frame_policy` | today `_needs_high_fps` (125 Hz or 1 Hz); see stage 5 |
+| `preemptible_by` | the Sources allowed to interrupt this plan mid-screen |
+
+### ScreenRunner
+
+```python
+ScreenRunner(clock: FrameClock).run(plan) -> Outcome(exit_reason, elapsed)
+```
+
+The ScreenRunner draws the first frame (`_dispatch_first_frame`), runs the
+frame loop that the plan's frame policy selects, services pending changes
+between frames, and returns one `ExitReason`:
+
+| ExitReason | Today's equivalent (golden-trace exit) |
+|---|---|
+| `DURATION` | target duration reached (`duration`) |
+| `CYCLE_COMPLETE` | dynamic plugin finished after its minimum (`cycle-complete`) |
+| `EMPTY` | first frame returned False (`empty`; `raised` when display() raised inside the executor) |
+| `ERROR` | the dispatch itself raised (`error`) |
+| `DISPLAY_FALSE` | a later frame returned False (`display-false`) |
+| `PREEMPTED` | another Source took the panel (`on-demand-*`, `schedule-off`, `vegas-interrupt`, ...) |
+
+`PREEMPTED` replaces the five `current_display_mode != active_mode` checks.
+The runner asks the Arbiter, at the throttled service points it already has,
+whether a Source in `plan.preemptible_by` now wants the panel.
+
+`FrameClock` provides `now()` and `sleep()`. In production it is
+`time.monotonic`/`time.sleep`. In the golden traces it is the fake clock
+that the harness patches in today.
+
+## Stages
+
+| Stage | Change | Behaviour change | Verified by |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| 1 | Golden traces; extract helpers from `run()` | none | traces generated on main pass unchanged; mutation check |
+| 2 | Arbiter with Follower and Wifi Sources | none | traces unchanged; Arbiter unit tables; ledpi smoke |
+| 3 | ScreenRunner, FrameClock, ExitReason, `PREEMPTED`; OnDemand, Live, Rotation Sources | none | traces unchanged; ledpi frame soak A/B |
+| 4 | Vegas as a Source driven by `run_frame()` | none intended | traces against the real coordinator; ledpi Vegas soak A/B |
+| 5 | Plugins declare `frame_policy` | DEBUG instead of INFO for the FPS line | traces; soak on a static-heavy rotation |
+
+### Stage 1 (#704)
+
+- `test/_run_loop_harness.py` builds a real `DisplayController` through
+  `__init__` on in-memory fakes (plugins, cache, config service, plugin
+  manager, sync manager, display manager). It swaps the module's `time` and
+  `datetime` for one fake clock and runs the real `run()` until a horizon.
+  The first frame of each screen still goes through the real
+  `PluginExecutor` and the per-plugin locks.
+- `test/test_run_loop_golden.py` has 15 scenarios, each compared with
+  `test/fixtures/run_loop_golden/<scenario>.json`:
+  - plain rotation (display_durations override, a high-FPS scroller, a
+    plugin whose `display()` takes no `display_mode`)
+  - empty modes and a mode with no plugin; an all-empty rotation (the 1 s
+    pause)
+  - plugin errors and the circuit breaker
+  - dynamic duration (cycle complete, plugin cap, global cap)
+  - live priority taking over and handing back; live round-robin
+  - on-demand start/stop/expiry; pinned on-demand; a session resumed after
+    a restart
+  - schedule off and dim, with an on-demand override during downtime
+  - WiFi notice; sync follower
+  - Vegas, with and without `live_in_ticker`
+- Each trace row is `[start, mode, duration, exit_reason, frames,
+  force_clear]`. The exit reason is the event that decided what came next.
+- All 16 tests run in under a second. The goldens were generated from
+  main's `run()` before any code moved.
+- Vegas uses `FakeVegas`, which implements only the contract the controller
+  depends on: `run_iteration()` returns True after its duration and False
+  when the interrupt or live check asks it to yield, checking at the real
+  coordinator's cadence. Running the real coordinator on the fake clock
+  belongs to stage 4.
+- Twelve helpers were extracted from `run()` (listed under "What `run()`
+  does today"). Breaking any one of them fails at least one golden trace.
+
+### Stage 2: Arbiter, starting with Follower and Wifi (done)
+
+1. Add `ScreenPlan` and an `Arbiter` with the ScheduledOff gate, Follower
+   and Wifi. Every other case returns a `LEGACY` plan, which means "carry on
+   with the existing code" (steps 7-9).
+2. `run()` calls `decide()` after the bookkeeping in step 3 and dispatches
+   on `plan.source`: blank, `_run_follower_frame()`, the WiFi notice, or the
+   existing path. Inputs that Sources read (follower active, the pending
+   WiFi message, schedule state) are collected first, so `decide()` stays
+   pure.
+3. Unit-test `decide()` with tables. The golden traces must not change.
+   The Wifi Source must keep the mid-screen preemption described in step 6
+   of "What `run()` does today".
+
+Follower and Wifi go first because each is one self-contained branch that
+ends the pass. They prove the plumbing without touching the frame loops.
+
+What shipped:
+
+- `src/display_arbiter.py` (on the mypy ratchet) holds `Source`
+  (`SCHEDULED_OFF`, `FOLLOWER`, `WIFI`, `LEGACY`), `ArbiterInputs`,
+  `ArbiterState`, `WifiNotice`, `ScreenPlan` and `Arbiter.decide`.
+  `ScreenPlan` has only the fields stage 2 uses: `source`, `max_duration`
+  (60 s for the blank, 0.5 s for the notice, the constants `run()` used to
+  hard-code) and `notice`. `mode`, `plugin`, the other durations,
+  `frame_policy` and `preemptible_by` arrive with the Sources that need them.
+- `ArbiterState` is empty: no stage-2 Source remembers anything between
+  passes. `now` is passed but not read, because the top-of-pass WiFi check
+  never compared the expiry and must not start (the table pins this).
+- `ArbiterInputs` holds `schedule_on`, `on_demand_active`,
+  `follower_active` and `wifi_notice`. `_arbiter_inputs` derives
+  `schedule_on` as `is_display_active and not on_demand_schedule_override`,
+  so the gate (blank when the schedule is off and no on-demand session
+  overrides it) blanks exactly when `is_display_active` is False, as before,
+  including #714's on-demand ending in off hours. It reads the WiFi notice
+  only when the notice could win, because `_check_wifi_status_message` has
+  side effects (its 1 Hz throttle, deleting an expired file) that those
+  passes never had.
+- The mid-screen rule is `wifi_notice_preempts(notice, on_demand, now)`,
+  which `_wifi_notice_pending` calls; it does compare the expiry.
+- `run()` still calls `_publish_current_mode_state_if_changed`,
+  `_apply_pending_vegas_init` and `process_deferred_updates` at the same
+  points relative to the branches, so the order of side effects in a pass
+  is unchanged.
+- `test/test_display_arbiter.py`: the 16-row table (every combination of
+  the four inputs, written out), the mid-screen table, purity checks (no
+  clock reads, nothing mutated, no I/O imports), and the controller's
+  snapshot through an on-demand session that overrides the schedule and
+  ends. A mutation run broke 23 pieces once each (the gate, the order, each
+  Source, the dwells, the expiry comparison, the snapshot's reads, each
+  dispatch in `run()`); every one failed a test.
+
+### Stage 3: ScreenRunner and `PREEMPTED`
+
+Move the two frame loops, the make-up dwell and the dynamic-duration exit
+into `ScreenRunner.run(plan)` with an injected `FrameClock`. Replace the
+five re-checks with `PREEMPTED`. Add the OnDemand, Live and Rotation Sources
+so `LEGACY` is left meaning only Vegas.
+
+Concretely, from where stage 2 left off:
+
+1. `ArbiterState` gains the rotation index, the on-demand mode list, index,
+   expiry and pin, and the live resume point (today `current_mode_index`,
+   `on_demand_*` and the live-priority stash). `ArbiterInputs` gains the
+   live modes (`_collect_live_modes`) and whether Vegas is enabled and keeps
+   live content in the ticker.
+2. OnDemand returns its current mode with `_clamp_to_on_demand`'s bound,
+   reading `now` for the expiry. Live returns the next live mode
+   (round-robin). Rotation returns `available_modes[current_mode_index]`.
+   `ScreenPlan` gains `mode`, `plugin`, `min_duration`, `max_duration`,
+   `dynamic`, `frame_policy` and `preemptible_by`.
+3. `ScreenRunner.run(plan)` returns an `ExitReason`; `state.after(plan,
+   outcome)` replaces `_advance_after_screen` and the live-resume
+   bookkeeping. Each mid-screen check asks `decide()` whether a Source in
+   `plan.preemptible_by` now wins, so `_screen_preempted`,
+   `_check_live_takeover` and `_wifi_notice_pending` become one call.
+4. The control socket (`_drain_control_commands`, `_wait_for_control`) and
+   state publishing stay where they are; the runner calls them at its
+   service points.
+
+This stage touches frame pacing (the 8 ms deadline sleep, the 1 ms yield),
+so it needs a frame soak on ledpi, A/B against main. Coordinate with
+whoever owns scroll performance (`docs/SCROLL_PERFORMANCE.md`).
+
+### Stage 4: Vegas as a Source
+
+The controller calls `coordinator.run_frame()` once per frame from the
+ScreenRunner instead of handing over to `run_iteration()` for up to
+`max_cycle_duration`. The interrupt callback and the second copy of the
+priority order go away, because preemption becomes `PREEMPTED`. The
+`vegas-plugin-tick` thread that is spawned every 4 s becomes the
+controller's normal update tick. Extend the harness to drive the real
+coordinator on the fake clock, which means patching its `time` and running
+its prefetch inline. Verify with a Vegas soak on ledpi, A/B.
+
+### Stage 5: `frame_policy`
+
+Plugins declare `frame_policy` (STATIC, PERIODIC(hz), ANIMATED(fps),
+SCROLL). `_needs_high_fps` becomes the mapping for legacy plugins
+(`needs_high_fps`, the `static-image` special case, `enable_scrolling`),
+and its per-screen INFO line drops to DEBUG. It is already read twice per
+screen: once quietly before the first frame, so `_dispatch_first_frame` can
+end the previous scroll for a screen that runs the 1 Hz loop
+(`_start_screen_handover`), and once after it to pick the loop. A declared
+policy answers both.
+
+## How each stage is verified
+
+- **Golden traces.** Run `python -m pytest test/test_run_loop_golden.py`;
+  it takes about a second. A refactoring stage must leave every trace
+  unchanged. A deliberate behaviour change regenerates them with
+  `LEDMATRIX_REGEN_GOLDEN=1` in its own commit, and the commit message
+  explains each changed row. A new scenario's golden is generated against
+  main's `run()` first, then checked against the branch.
+- **Mutation check.** Break each moved or new piece once, for example take
+  `max` of the caps instead of `min`, or skip the live hold. At least one
+  trace must fail each time. Stage 1 did this for all twelve helpers.
+- **Full suite.** Diff the FAILED/ERROR ids against a baseline run of main
+  in a separate worktree. The Windows host has a stable set of
+  pre-existing failures, so never compare against zero.
+- **ledpi soak** (stages 2-5). With the service running the branch:
+  `python3 scripts/frame_soak.py --preview` for 10 minutes on a scrolling
+  rotation, and on Vegas for stages 3-4. Alternate which build goes first.
+  Compare late-frame rate and freezes with main. Also check by hand that
+  on-demand start, stop and expiry, a live game taking over and handing
+  back, and the schedule turning the panel off and on all behave as before.
+
+## Behaviour the traces pin down that may be wrong
+
+Stage 1 recorded six behaviours as they were, each to be fixed in its own
+PR that updates the affected trace and explains why. All six are fixed:
+
+- A WiFi notice was only checked between screens, and Vegas yielded to one
+  and then showed a rotation screen instead. Notices now preempt within
+  about a second, and Vegas yields straight to them (#712; `wifi_notice`,
+  `vegas`).
+- A live game only took over between screens, and Vegas yielded to one and
+  then showed a rotation screen first. Games now take over within about a
+  second, and Vegas yields straight to them (#713; `live_priority`,
+  `vegas`).
+- An on-demand session that ended during scheduled-off kept the panel on
+  until the next minute, and a schedule window's end minute counted as on
+  only sometimes. Windows are now half-open `[start, end)`, and the panel
+  blanks as soon as on-demand ends in off hours (#714; `schedule`).
+
+A new one found later goes the same way: record it here with the trace that
+shows it, then fix it in its own PR, not inside a restructure stage.
@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ Sample ladder for a 100 Hz panel:
 100.0 px/s  (1px every 1 refresh  = 100.0 fps, smooth)
 ```

+The Vegas **Scroll Speed** slider in the web UI shows the same thing live: a
+line under it says what your speed will run as on this panel, and links to the
+nearest smooth speeds.
+
 ### How a slow speed stays crisp

 `SwapOnVSync(canvas, framerate_fraction)` holds each frame for N panel
@@ -242,8 +246,16 @@ mean exactly 10 ms, so a ticker stalling on half its frames still averages to a
 healthy 100 fps. The stats line reports the tail for that reason — read the
 percentiles, not the fps.

-Every scroller emits one line every 5 seconds covering *every* frame in that
-window, tagged with the plugin it came from:
+Every scroller summarises each 5-second window, covering *every* frame in it,
+in one line tagged with the plugin it came from. At the default log level the
+line reaches the journal only when it is worth reading: a **degraded** window
+(frame rate below 90% of the rate the window was locked to, i.e. 1 / its own
+median -- the same 0.9 Vegas's `Vegas FPS` line uses -- or more than 1% of its
+frames stalled), the first window after one (the recovery), and otherwise once
+every 5 minutes per scroller as a heartbeat, so silence means stopped rather
+than fine. Every window is logged at DEBUG: to see them all, run the display
+with `-d` or `LEDMATRIX_DEBUG=true` (see
+[CONFIG_DEBUGGING.md](CONFIG_DEBUGGING.md#enable-debug-logging)).

 ```bash
 journalctl -u ledmatrix --since "-10min" --no-pager | grep "Scroll frame stats"
@@ -282,6 +294,10 @@ journalctl -u ledmatrix --since "-3h" --no-pager | grep "Scroll frame stats" \
  | sort -k7 -rn
 ```

+At the default log level that ranks the windows the journal kept -- the
+degraded ones, recoveries and heartbeats -- so it over-weights bad windows;
+rank a debug run for an unbiased average, or soak the rig (below).
+
 The `$2 < 1000` guard drops windows whose median is a whole second or more.
 Those are not frames. Until the idle-gap fix in `log_frame_rate()`, the first
 frame of every scroll was timed against the end of the *previous* scroll, so
@@ -331,18 +347,24 @@ python3 scripts/frame_soak.py --json a.json   # keep the report to compare later
 It runs as any user next to the display service and stops nothing. It needs
 something to *scroll* during the run: a live game holding a static scoreboard
 on screen gives no verdict. `--preview` keeps the web preview's viewer marker
-fresh, which puts the preview's PNG encoding at full rate -- run it as the web
-service's user.
+fresh, which puts the preview's PNG encoding at the viewer rate, as an open
+preview does -- run it as the web service's user. That rate is at most one
+frame a second. Through 3.8.0 it was up to five, so a `--preview` soak taken
+before that change is not comparable with one taken after it (the hdpi
+results below are from before it): take both sides of an A/B pair on
+the same side of it.

 | line | what it tells you |
 |---|---|
 | **Late frames** | Frames presented one or more refreshes after they were due: the panel showed the previous frame again, a visible hitch. **The pass/fail number**, 0.1% by default (`--max-late-pct`). Only intervals between two scrolling frames count, and a frame held for `frame_hold` refreshes is due `frame_hold` refreshes after the last. |
-| **Freezes** | Gaps of 250 ms or more inside a scroll: recomposes, plugin handovers, blocking calls on the render thread. Reported but not failed on, because some are handovers between plugins rather than faults. A gap still counts when the display's scroll state went missing for one frame across it, as long as scrolling resumes within 1 s: both of that frame's intervals count. Two static frames in a row end the scroll. (The state expires after 2 s without scroll activity, and plugins can clear it from their own `display()`.) The late and early rates are over frames judged against a known refresh period, which the recorder adopts once two windows in a row agree on it. |
+| **Freezes** | Gaps of 250 ms or more inside a scroll: recomposes, plugin handovers the display controller does not tag (see *Handover gaps*), blocking calls on the render thread. Reported but not failed on, because some are handovers between plugins rather than faults. A gap still counts when the display's scroll state went missing for one frame across it, as long as scrolling resumes within 1 s: both of that frame's intervals count. Two static frames in a row end the scroll. (The state expires after 2 s without scroll activity, and plugins can clear it from their own `display()`.) The late and early rates are over frames judged against a known refresh period, which the recorder adopts once two windows in a row agree on it. Handovers to a static screen no longer show up here: the display controller ends the scroll state after a static screen's first frame, where it used to linger for 2 s and turn the 1 Hz loop's second frame into a ~1 s "freeze" (17 of 31 `Render stall over` lines on ledpi, 2026-09-15 to 10-01). **Freeze counts from before and after that change are not comparable.** |
+| **Handover gaps** | Gaps of 250 ms or more from a scroll's last frame to the next screen's first: the next plugin drawing, not a scroll stalling. The display controller tags that first frame `handover`, and these gaps are counted here instead of under Freezes (`handover_freezes` in the stats; the `handover` row under *after work* counts the same ones in its freezes column). Every turn's first frame is tagged, also when the rotation comes back to the same mode (a one-mode rotation, a pinned on-demand mode, live priority holding a screen), so a scroller rebuilding its content at the start of a turn is counted here; measure work on that rebuild with this line, not Freezes. Missing from stats written by an older service, whose freezes include them. |
 | **blit** | Copying the frame into the matrix canvas (`SetImage`). It grows with width × height × `pwm_bits`: ~5.5 ms at 512×64 with 8 bits on a Pi 4. It is the biggest fixed cost, and it sets the refresh rates a rig can hold one pixel per refresh at. |
 | **wait** | Time blocked in `SwapOnVSync`, i.e. the slack left in each refresh. A p50 near zero means the rig has no headroom and anything extra lands a frame late. |
 | **work** | Everything else between two frames: drawing, scrolling, and waiting for the GIL. A wide gap between its p50 and p99 is another thread getting in the way. |
+| **Garbage collection** | Python's cyclic collector stops every thread while it runs. Collections per generation in the run and the time they took, how many took 20 ms or more, and the longest since the service started. A long one tags the next frame `gc` (see *after work*), and a `Render stall` dump says when one ran inside the stall. Diagnostic only: nothing tunes the collector. Missing from stats written by an older service. |
 | **Binding** | `STOCK` means the rgbmatrix binding holds the GIL through the vsync wait, which starves every other thread. See *Rebuilding the binding*. |
-| **after work** | Frames presented straight after tagged render-thread work, with their own late rate: `extend` and `compose` (Vegas building its strip), `patch` (live elements, once they land). A kind whose late rate sits well above the overall one is the work making frames late. Shown only when something tagged its work. |
+| **after work** | Frames presented straight after tagged render-thread work, with their own late rate: `extend` and `compose` (Vegas building its strip), `patch` (live elements, once they land), `handover` (a new screen's first frame), `gc` (a garbage collection of 20 ms or more ran since the frame before). A kind whose late rate sits well above the overall one is the work making frames late. Shown only when something tagged its work. |

 The refresh rate is estimated from the frames themselves (swaps that block on
 vsync can only land on refresh boundaries). Cross-check it with
@@ -356,10 +378,13 @@ A/B two of them. A live-API workload drifts over time.
 The soak says how often; the service's log says why. A scroll that presents no
 frame for 250 ms logs `Render stall:` with the stack of the render thread and
 the top of every other thread's, and whether the whole interpreter was blocked
-(C code holding the GIL) rather than one thread. To see what is behind the
-shorter hitches, run the service with `LEDMATRIX_STALL_WATCHDOG_MS=30`, which
-dumps at three refreshes late instead: its extra polling costs a little GIL
-time of its own, so do that on a diagnostic run, not a soak you are grading.
+(C code holding the GIL) rather than one thread. A stall while the next
+screen's first `display()` is still drawing says `in a handover gap` instead of
+`mid-scroll`; that call runs on a thread named `display-<plugin id>`. To see
+what is behind the shorter hitches, run the service with
+`LEDMATRIX_STALL_WATCHDOG_MS=30`, which dumps at three refreshes late instead:
+its extra polling costs a little GIL time of its own, so do that on a
+diagnostic run, not a soak you are grading.
 `LEDMATRIX_STALL_WATCHDOG=0` turns it off.

 ### Results: hdpi, 2026-09-24
@@ -517,19 +542,43 @@ On the 2×128×64 chain above, which refreshes at about 130 Hz flat out

 ### What the display does about it

-At one pixel per refresh, the fastest crisp speed, the step is exactly one
-refresh's worth of motion, so it can be cancelled: show one half of the panel
+The step is the motion of one refresh, so it can be cancelled: show one half of the panel
 a refresh behind the other -- the half whose row at the seam lights at the
 start of each refresh. The two rows either side of the seam then show the same
 moment again. What is left is a
 lean of one pixel per half from top to bottom, continuous across the panel,
 which reads as nothing where the step read as a tear. `DisplayManager` does
-this while something scrolls at one frame per refresh
+this while something scrolls
 (`display.scan_order_compensation`, `"auto"` by default, `"off"` to disable;
 the geometry is in `src/scan_order.py`). The lagging rows come from the
 previous frame the display presented, so it works for Vegas and every plugin
 ticker without knowing how they scroll.

+A frame held for several refreshes (any crisp speed below the panel's full
+refresh rate, e.g. 60 px/s at 120 Hz) is presented as two swaps instead of one:
+the lagging half shows the previous frame for the first refresh and the new one
+for the rest, so it steps one refresh after the rest rather than one frame.
+That costs a second blit inside the refresh after the first swap, so it is
+skipped when a blit takes more than half a refresh.
+
+A plugin screen that runs the 1 Hz loop after a scroll is not composed: the
+display controller calls `DisplayManager.end_scroll_for_static_screen()` before
+its first `display()`, so the frames that call presents go out as drawn, in one
+swap each, instead of with the lagging half taken from the scroller's last
+frame.
+
+The controller's own screens -- the blank shown when the schedule turns the
+panel off, and the WiFi status message -- end the scroll state before they are
+drawn, so they go out as drawn and are timed as static frames, not as freezes
+of the old scroll. A scroller that resumes after a WiFi notice sets the state
+again on its next frame.
+
+One screen that follows a scroll is still composed while the scroll state lasts
+(it expires 2 s after the scroller's last frame): a screen that runs the
+high-FPS loop without scrolling (an older `static-image`, which is forced into
+it). Its first frame takes its lagging half from the scroller's last frame, for
+one refresh after a held scroll and otherwise until its next frame.
+
 Checked on hdpi (4×128×64 on one chain, rotated 180, 2026-09-24) before it was
 written: `scan_mode: 1` (interlaced) made the step vanish but turned moving
 edges grainy, and halving the speed halved it, so it is the scan and not a torn
@@ -537,9 +586,6 @@ frame. With the compensation the step is gone at 90 px/s.

 It is left off where the row order is unknown or the maths does not hold:

- **Slower speeds**, where each frame is held for two or more refreshes. The
-  offset there is half a pixel or less, and cancelling it would need a lag of
-  a fraction of a frame.
 - **Other layouts:** pixel mappers other than a 0 or 180 degree rotation
  (U-mapper, 90/270), non-zero `multiplexing`, interlaced `scan_mode`, and a
  canvas remapped to another height (double-sided mode).
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ more. Shared sports code lives in `src/common`:
 | `sports_celebration.py` | 3.7.0 | `SportsCelebrationMixin` — draws the score/win takeover; colour helpers |
 | `sports_fetch.py` | 3.7.0 | `SportsFetchMixin` — season fetch, live lookback and live-odds decisions |
 | `sports_card_wrappers.py` | 3.7.0 | `SportsCardWrappersMixin` — the game renderer's `sports_card` delegations |
+| `sports_plugin_host.py` | next release | `SportsPluginHostMixin` — the plugin class's (`manager.py`) identical helpers: Vegas weight, off-thread switch refresh |
+| `sports_live_scroll.py` | next release | `SportsLiveScrollMixin` — rebuild a live scroll strip mid-cycle, keeping the marquee's place |
+| `sports_display_rules.py` | next release | `SportsCardOptionsMixin`, `SportsGameRulesMixin` — scorebug date options, the no-favourites filter, non-favourite live dwell |
+| `sports_font_path.py` | next release | `resolve_font_path` — what the plugins' `_resolve_font_path` copies return |

 Each is described in [src/common/README.md](../src/common/README.md).

@@ -259,6 +263,41 @@ gave pixel-identical output for all 399 frames (192 harness screens across the
 nine plugins at the eight default sizes, 72 scroll/Vegas cards, 135
 celebration frames), with a parent-vs-parent rerun as the determinism control.

+### Stage 4: the identical sweep (core done; adoption waits for a release)
+
+Re-measured on ledmatrix-plugins `56c4f15` (2026-09-30) the report still
+lists 58 families identical in every copy. Stage 4 moves the ones that are
+identical across the nine, or across eight with the ninth lacking the
+method, into four new modules: `sports_plugin_host` (ten `manager.py`
+helpers, all nine), `sports_live_scroll` (eight `manager.py` methods, every
+plugin with a live strip, so not ufc), `sports_display_rules` (four
+`sports.py` methods, in two mixins because their carriers differ) and
+`sports_font_path`. The parity test (`test/test_sports_stage4_parity.py`)
+compares each with every plugin copy using this report's own normalisation,
+plus decorators and constant values, which the normalisation drops.
+
+`_resolve_font_path` was meant to be replaced by
+`font_layout.resolve_asset_path`, but that never looks in the cwd, and the
+plugins' copy does first, so the swap would change which font a process
+started from another checkout loads. `resolve_font_path` is the copy's
+behaviour on a core that ships it, checked path for path against all 17
+copies (`test/test_sports_font_path.py`).
+
+Left in the plugins, though identical:
+
+- `_get_timezone`, `_extract_game_details`, `_fetch_data` (nine): a
+  per-plugin import and the abstract contract, as in stage 3.
+- `_schema_font_size`, `_resolve_font_size` (eight renderers): they read the
+  plugin's own `_SCHEMA_PATH`, as in stage 3.
+- The 29 families carried by seven plugins or fewer: the afl/nrl/soccer
+  lineage's own helpers (`_swrr_advance`, `_refresh_switch_mode_managers`,
+  `_initialize_logo_dir`, ...), the multi-league helpers
+  (`_resolve_managers_for_mode`, `_extract_mode_type`, ...), and eleven
+  two-plugin helpers. Each is one lineage's code; most go when
+  family 13 or 14 reconciles the code around them. `_odds_color` (seven
+  renderers) is already core's, in `SportsHelpersMixin`; a renderer that
+  wants it can inherit that.
+
 ### Why the method changes

 Byte-identical promotion has nearly run dry. Measured on ledmatrix-plugins
@@ -342,7 +381,7 @@ release.

 | # | Family | Methods (variants) | Why here |
 |---|---|---|---|
-| 4 | Identical sweep | `manager.py`: `_dispatch_switch_refresh`, `_favorite_team_is_live`, `get_vegas_priority_weight`, `_game_involves`, `_favorite_scan_targets`, `_favorite_scan_games`, `_get_total_games_for_manager` (all nine, 1); the live-scroll helpers `_preserving_scroll_position`, `_refresh_live_scroll_managers`, `_live_scroll_managers`, `_note_live_scroll_built`, `_live_scroll_needs_rebuild`, `_live_scroll_fields` (eight, 1). `sports.py`: `_card_option`, `_filtered_or_all`, `_effective_live_duration`, `_recent_date_text` (eight, 1). 58 identical families in all | Nothing to decide; brings `manager.py` into core as a `SportsPluginHostMixin`. `_resolve_font_path` (identical in nine `sports.py` and eight renderers) is replaced by core's `font_layout.resolve_asset_path` rather than promoted |
+| 4 | Identical sweep | `manager.py`: `_dispatch_switch_refresh`, `_favorite_team_is_live`, `get_vegas_priority_weight`, `_game_involves`, `_favorite_scan_targets`, `_favorite_scan_games`, `_get_total_games_for_manager` (all nine, 1); the live-scroll helpers `_preserving_scroll_position`, `_refresh_live_scroll_managers`, `_live_scroll_managers`, `_note_live_scroll_built`, `_live_scroll_needs_rebuild`, `_live_scroll_fields` (eight, 1). `sports.py`: `_card_option`, `_filtered_or_all`, `_effective_live_duration`, `_recent_date_text` (eight, 1). 58 identical families in all | Nothing to decide; brings `manager.py` into core as a `SportsPluginHostMixin`. `_resolve_font_path` (identical in nine `sports.py` and eight renderers) becomes `sports_font_path.resolve_font_path`, not `font_layout.resolve_asset_path`, which skips the cwd. Core side done; see [Stage 4](#stage-4-the-identical-sweep-core-done-adoption-waits-for-a-release) |
 | 5 | Game-over check | `SportsLive._is_game_really_over` (5) | Pure logic, no pixels; its seams (`FINAL_PERIOD`, `CLOCK_COUNTS_DOWN`) were designed in B1. The pilot for the procedure |
 | 6 | Favourite matching | `_is_favorite_game` (7 across three classes), `_select_games_for_display` (2: nrl), `_select_recent_games_for_display` (3) | Everything that asks "is this a favourite" goes through the 3.5.0 `_favorite_key` seam |
 | 7 | Other-games rotation | `_by_importance`, `_other_games_window`, `_advance_other_games_if_due` (2 each: football), `_rotate_other_games_on_display` (2: ufc) | One outlier each; football carries two fixes the other eight lack |
@@ -84,6 +84,43 @@ python3 web_interface/start.py

 ### Installation & Build Issues

+#### "This version of Raspberry Pi OS is not supported"
+
+LEDMatrix installs on Raspberry Pi OS Lite **Trixie** (Debian 13, Python
+3.13) or **Bookworm** (Debian 12, Python 3.11). The installer checks
+`/etc/os-release` before it changes anything and stops on anything else.
+
+**Check what you have:**
+```bash
+grep -E '^(PRETTY_NAME|VERSION_ID)=' /etc/os-release
+python3 --version
+```
+
+**Solutions:**
+- `VERSION_ID="11"` (Bullseye) or older: flash a new card with Raspberry Pi
+  Imager, choosing Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit). Trixie is recommended;
+  Bookworm (Legacy) also works. An in-place upgrade from Bullseye is not
+  supported by Raspberry Pi and is not worth the risk.
+- "Desktop environment detected": use the Lite image, not the desktop one.
+- "python3 is Python 3.x; LEDMatrix needs Python 3.11 or newer": something
+  has replaced the system `python3`. Point it back at the OS's own Python
+  (`/usr/bin/python3` should be 3.11 on Bookworm, 3.13 on Trixie).
+- `sudo bash scripts/check_system_compatibility.sh` runs the same checks
+  without installing anything.
+
+#### "This Pi manages its network with dhcpcd, not NetworkManager"
+
+A warning, not an error: the install carries on and the display works. But
+choosing a WiFi network from the web page and the `LEDMatrix-Setup` hotspot
+both need NetworkManager, the default on Bookworm and Trixie. It appears
+when dhcpcd was selected in `raspi-config`. Switch back with a keyboard and
+screen attached (or over Ethernet), since the WiFi connection drops briefly:
+
+```bash
+sudo raspi-config   # Advanced Options -> Network Config -> NetworkManager
+sudo reboot
+```
+
 #### Step 6 fails: "Failed building wheel for rgbmatrix"

 **Symptoms:**
@@ -328,6 +365,49 @@ commit, then switches to releases on its own.
 3. **Local changes after a channel switch:** edits that no longer fit the new
   version are kept in the git stash rather than lost; `git stash list`
   shows them as "LEDMatrix autostash before update".
+4. **A new install is on a release, not `main`.** The one-shot installer
+   checks out the newest release. For the newest code instead, install with
+   `LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta`:
+   ```bash
+   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChuckBuilds/LEDMatrix/main/scripts/install/one-shot-install.sh | LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta bash
+   ```
+
+---
+
+#### Issue: "service settings ... are not applied yet" after an update
+
+**Symptoms:**
+- Update Code's message, or the web interface log, says an update changes
+  service settings that are not applied yet, and to run the installer
+- The display logs `ledmatrix.service differs from systemd/ledmatrix.service`
+  at startup
+
+**Explanation:** updates install the systemd units a new version changes
+through the root helper `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units`, which the
+installer sets up and grants to the web user in
+`/etc/sudoers.d/ledmatrix_web`. A device installed before that has neither,
+so the new unit settings (for example the display's watchdog) wait for a
+reinstall. The update itself is fine.
+
+**Solution:** re-run the installer once, as root:
+```bash
+cd ~/LEDMatrix
+sudo ./first_time_install.sh
+# or, lighter: install the units and helper, then the sudo rules
+sudo ./scripts/install/install_service.sh
+./scripts/install/configure_web_sudo.sh
+```
+Check it worked:
+```bash
+ls -l /usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units   # root root, rwxr-xr-x
+sudo -l | grep ledmatrix-refresh-units           # the two rules
+```
+A message that the helper **refused** a unit (`refusing to install it`)
+means a template in `systemd/` was edited so that it would run as another
+account or from another folder. The message names the template. Look at
+what changed with `git diff -- systemd/`, save any edit you want to keep,
+then restore only that file, for example
+`git checkout -- systemd/ledmatrix-web.service`.

 ---

@@ -364,9 +444,16 @@ commit, then switches to releases on its own.

 5. **Check required services:**
   ```bash
+   systemctl is-active NetworkManager   # must say "active"
   sudo systemctl status hostapd
   sudo systemctl status dnsmasq
   ```
+   On a fresh install `hostapd` shows as **masked**. That is expected, on
+   Bookworm and Trixie alike: Debian's hostapd package masks the service
+   when it is installed without a configuration, so the hotspot is brought
+   up through NetworkManager instead (look for `nmcli hotspot fallback` in
+   `journalctl -u ledmatrix-wifi-monitor`). If NetworkManager is not
+   active, see "This Pi manages its network with dhcpcd" above.

 6. **Manually enable AP mode:**
   ```bash
@@ -590,9 +677,10 @@ stack into the log, so it says which plugin was stuck.
   apart, so a plugin that hangs on every start does not restart the display
   hundreds of times an hour.

-4. **Is the watchdog installed?** Installs from before it keep their old unit
-   until the installer is re-run (a startup warning says the unit differs
-   from its template):
+4. **Is the watchdog installed?** Updates install new unit settings once the
+   installer has set up `ledmatrix-refresh-units`; installs from before that
+   keep their old unit until the installer is re-run (a startup warning says
+   the unit differs from its template):
   ```bash
   systemctl show -p WatchdogUSec ledmatrix   # 2min once running; 0 = not installed
   sudo ./scripts/install/install_service.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,309 @@
+# Web frontend architecture
+
+This page covers where the web UI's JavaScript is going and how it gets
+there one page at a time. The UI is Flask + HTMX + Alpine.js. Templates
+live in `web_interface/templates/v3/` and static files in
+`web_interface/static/v3/`.
+
+Two rules hold at every step:
+
+- **The Pi never builds anything.** It serves the files that are committed.
+  CI builds the generated CSS (`scripts/build_css.py`, see #685) and checks
+  it. The JavaScript needs no build at all: it is native ES modules that the
+  browser loads as they are.
+- **Every page keeps working, and so does every plugin.** Third-party plugin
+  forms, `x-widget` scripts and plugin web UIs use the existing `window.*`
+  names. Each name keeps working as an alias until a release announces that
+  it will be removed.
+
+## Where it started
+
+- About 195 `window.*` globals. Their load order is held together by comments
+  repeated in the headers of `app-early.js`, `app-shell.js` and
+  `plugins_manager.js`.
+- About 5,700 lines of inline `<script>` in the tab partials.
+  `js/htmx-config.js` re-runs every one of them after every htmx swap, so
+  each partial's code had to cope with running twice.
+- The installed-plugin list is kept in four places.
+- Plugin config forms are drawn by the `render_field` macro in
+  `partials/plugin_config.html`, which is about 1,100 lines of Jinja. It
+  duplicates the JS widgets. The server then needs about 430 lines to
+  rebuild JSON from the flat dotted keys the form posts. The soccer form
+  renders to 1.2 MB of HTML.
+- `plugins_manager.js` is 3,800 lines. The owner decided that it needs a
+  namespace refactor before it is split, which is what this plan provides.
+
+## Target
+
+```
+static/v3/js/
+  core/                 ES modules ("type": "module" in core/package.json)
+    boot.js             entry point; base.html loads it with <script type="module">
+    registry.js         page lifecycle: init/destroy on htmx swaps
+    api.js              fetch wrapper for /api/v3 (JSON envelope, login redirect)
+    facade.js           window.LEDMatrix and deprecated aliases
+    (later) escape.js, notify.js, dialog.js, streams.js, visibility.js,
+            store.js (the one installed-plugin store), form/renderer.js
+  pages/                one module per tab partial
+    cache.js            export init(root, ctx), destroy(root, ctx)
+    durations.js, operation-history.js, raw-json.js, backup-restore.js
+    ...
+```
+
+### The page lifecycle
+
+A converted partial has no `<script>`. Its root element names its page:
+
+```html
+<div class="..." data-page="cache"> ... </div>
+```
+
+`core/boot.js` lists each page with a loader,
+`'cache': page(function() { return import('../pages/cache.js'); })`, and
+registers them all. A page's module is fetched only when its partial first
+appears. `page()` remembers the module once loaded, so the alias of an old
+synchronous global (`validateJSON` returns a boolean) still answers
+synchronously while its page is on screen.
+
+The conventions the converted pages share:
+
+- **Buttons name an action.** A partial's buttons carry `data-action` (and
+  any argument as another `data-*` attribute) instead of an `onclick` that
+  names a global. One delegated listener on the page root handles them all,
+  including rows drawn later.
+- **Server data is drawn with `textContent`**, never a markup string.
+- **Reads are cancelled, writes are not.** Loads pass `ctx.signal`, so a swap
+  cancels them. Saves, deletes, exports and restores do not: the server
+  finishes them anyway, so the page still reports the result in a
+  notification but draws nothing into a page that has gone.
+- **Old globals become aliases.** Each `window.*` name a page used to define
+  is made in `boot.js` with `alias(page, name, replacement)`, which forwards
+  to the module's export of the same name and warns once.
+- **Timers are cleared in `destroy()`**, the one thing `ctx.signal` cannot
+  undo by itself.
+
+`core/registry.js` handles the rest:
+
+| Event | What the registry does |
+|---|---|
+| `htmx:beforeSwap` (on `document`, so it runs after the body-level handlers that can veto a swap) | If `detail.shouldSwap` is still true, destroys every mounted page inside the swap target |
+| `htmx:afterSwap` | Destroys any mounted page whose root has left the document, then mounts every `data-page` root not mounted yet |
+| `LEDMatrix.pages.refresh()` | Same as afterSwap. `loadPartialDirect` (the no-htmx fallback in `base.html`) calls it |
+| `start()` | Mounts whatever is already on the page. Module scripts run deferred, so a partial may arrive first |
+
+Mounting is idempotent: a root is never initialised twice.
+
+Each mount gets a `ctx` object:
+
+| Field | Contents |
+|---|---|
+| `ctx.root` | The page's root element |
+| `ctx.name` | The page name |
+| `ctx.signal` | An `AbortSignal` that is aborted after `destroy()` |
+| `ctx.state` | A per-mount object for the page's own state |
+| `ctx.api` | Shared service from `boot.js` |
+| `ctx.notify` | Shared service from `boot.js` |
+
+A page that passes `{ signal: ctx.signal }` to `addEventListener` and
+`fetch` needs no teardown code. Its listeners and in-flight requests go
+away when the partial is swapped out. `pages/cache.js` is the worked
+example: its delete buttons use one delegated listener, rows are built with
+`textContent` rather than markup strings, and a newer load supersedes an
+older one.
+
+### One facade
+
+`window.LEDMatrix` is the only global the module code adds:
+
+| Member | What it is |
+|---|---|
+| `api` | `core/api.js`: `get`/`post`/`put`/`del`. Resolves to the JSON body, rejects with an `ApiError` |
+| `pages` | `register`, `refresh`, `list` |
+| `notify(message, type)` | Calls `window.showNotification`, looked up at call time |
+| `escape` | Read-through to `window.LEDEscape` |
+| `widgets` | Read-through to `window.LEDMatrixWidgets` |
+| `deprecate(name, target, replacement)` | Keeps an old `window.*` name working. It warns once in the console, then forwards |
+
+`ApiError` carries `status`, `body`, `network` and `loginRequired`.
+
+`escape`, `widgets` and `notify` are read at call time. The classic scripts
+that define them are deferred, and a plugin may replace them.
+
+Login: `base.html` wraps `window.fetch` before any other script runs, and
+the wrapper sends a 401 with `X-LEDMatrix-Login` to the login page (#683).
+`api.js` calls `window.fetch` at call time, so its requests get the same
+redirect. It also rejects that answer quietly with `loginRequired`, so no
+error message flashes up while the page navigates away.
+
+### Serving modules from the Pi
+
+- **MIME type.** A browser runs a module only when it is served with a
+  JavaScript MIME type. `app.py` pins `.js` and `.mjs` to `text/javascript`
+  rather than trusting the host's mimetypes table, and
+  `test/web_interface/test_es_modules.py` checks it.
+- **Caching.** `url_for` adds `?v=<mtime>` to the entry script, but modules
+  import each other by plain relative URL, without the version. A static
+  `.js` request without `v` is therefore served `Cache-Control: no-cache`
+  (revalidated, so 304 when unchanged) instead of being cached as immutable
+  for a year. Versioned URLs keep the long cache. A later optimisation is an
+  import map that maps each module to its versioned URL.
+- **Load order.** `boot.js` loads after every classic script. Modules are
+  deferred and run in document order with the deferred classic scripts.
+  Nothing classic may depend on a module at load time. A classic script that
+  needs a module service calls `window.LEDMatrix` at run time.
+
+### One form model
+
+`src/plugin_system/field_model.py` provides
+`build_field_model(schema, config, plugin_id)`. It walks a plugin's schema
+once and returns a JSON tree with these keys for each field:
+
+- path, label, help, widget
+- starting value, default
+- constraints, options, secret flag
+- the exact form controls the macro posts today (`inputs`)
+- the JS widget it mounts (`mount`)
+
+`test/test_field_model_parity.py` renders the real macro for every schema it
+can find and checks that the model names the same controls, with the same
+starting values, in the same order, and the same widget mounts. The schemas
+come from `plugin-repos/`, `test/fixtures/plugins/`, the ledmatrix-plugins
+monorepo when a checkout is present, and a synthetic schema that reaches
+every branch of the macro. The test was mutation-checked when it was
+written. Each of these deliberate model bugs makes it fail:
+
+- dropping the checkbox-group sentinel
+- dropping a table's `00:00` time default
+- picking the first matching `<select>` option instead of the last
+- dropping the `None` quirk
+- missing all-hidden objects
+
+The model mirrors the macro's quirks on purpose. The parity run surfaced
+these:
+
+- 83 number fields whose schema default is `null` render `value="None"`.
+- Four array fields name an `x-widget` the core does not ship (`color`,
+  `tag-input`) and fall back to a comma-separated text box.
+- A list-typed `type` uses its first entry, so `["null", "string"]` draws a
+  text box.
+- Eleven objects with no properties and no widget render nothing.
+
+These get fixed once, in the renderer, after the switch below.
+
+## Switching forms to the model, behind a flag
+
+Stage 1 (this change) only proves the model is complete. Rendering does not
+change. The switch is staged so either path can be turned back on at any
+point:
+
+1. **Model endpoint.** `GET /api/v3/plugins/config/model?plugin_id=<id>`
+   returns `build_field_model(schema, prepared_masked_config)`. It uses the
+   same preparation as the partial: defaults merged, secrets masked.
+2. **Renderer module.** `core/form/renderer.js` walks the model. It draws
+   plain fields itself and hands every widget to `LEDMatrixWidgets` through
+   one `mount(el, field)` adapter. The adapter keeps plugin widgets' existing
+   `render(container, config, value, options)` signature (the hard
+   constraint in PRODUCT.md). `getValue()` results are assembled into one
+   JSON object.
+3. **Flag.** `plugin_config.html` renders the macro unless the form-model
+   flag is on. The flag is a `web_interface.form_model` setting in
+   `config.json` (default off), plus a per-browser override
+   (`localStorage.ledmatrixFormModel`) so a tester can compare both paths on
+   one device. With the flag on, the partial renders only a
+   `<div data-page="plugin-config" data-plugin-id="...">` root, and
+   `pages/plugin-config.js` fetches the model and renders it.
+4. **JSON submit.** With the flag on, Save posts
+   `Content-Type: application/json` to the existing
+   `POST /api/v3/plugins/config` JSON path (`plugin_config.py`, `is_json`).
+   That path already validates against the schema and keeps secrets. No
+   dotted keys, no `__rendered_section`, no checkbox reconstruction.
+5. **Save parity test.** This gates turning the flag on by default. For every
+   schema, posting the macro form's data and posting the renderer's JSON
+   must store the same config.
+6. **Retire.** Once the flag has been on by default for a release with no
+   regressions, the macro shrinks to a no-JS fallback for plain fields, and
+   the form-encoded reconstruction (`_parse_form_value_with_schema`,
+   `_set_nested_value`, `_set_missing_booleans_to_false` and friends in
+   `api_v3/__init__.py`) is deleted. The settings search index is then built
+   from the model instead of from rendered HTML.
+
+## Migration order
+
+Smallest and most isolated first. `plugins_manager.js` goes last. Line counts
+are the inline script in each partial today.
+
+| # | Page | Inline JS | Why it is here |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| 1 | Cache (`cache.html`) | 163 lines, now 0 | **Done in stage 1.** One endpoint pair, no globals other pages use. The reference conversion |
+| 2 | Rotation (`durations.html`) | 29 lines, now 0 | **Done in stage 2.** The form stays plain htmx; the page starts the shared rotation-order widget, whose plugin-list request now takes `ctx.signal`. Its `hx-on` and `onsubmit` attributes call shared globals (`showSaveResult`, `fixInvalidNumberInputs`) and move with step 6 |
+| 3 | Operation History | 293 lines, now 0 | **Done in stage 2.** Read-only list; rows drawn with `textContent`, the search debounce cleared on destroy. The "Showing x to y" counters now also reset when nothing matches |
+| 4 | Config Editor (`raw_json.html`) | 212 lines, now 0 | **Done in stage 2.** Plain textareas (no CodeMirror on this page). It defined 5 globals after all (`formatJson`, `manualValidateJson`, `validateJSON`, `saveMainConfig`, `saveSecretsConfig`); nothing else used them, and they are deprecated aliases now. The live "Invalid JSON" line no longer puts the parser's message into `innerHTML` |
+| 5 | Backup & Restore | 232 lines, now 0 | **Done in stage 2.** Its 5 globals (`exportBackup`, `loadBackupList`, `validateRestoreFile`, `clearRestore`, `runRestore`) are deprecated aliases; the buttons are delegated `data-action`s. Uploads go through `ctx.api.request(..., { body: formData })` (`api.js` gained a raw `body` option) |
+| 6 | Schedule | 193 | 2 globals used as `hx-on` response handlers. Moves `hx-on` handlers into page listeners |
+| 7 | General | 147 | `webLogin` global and the security section. The first page that touches login |
+| 8 | Display | 231 | First page with `LEDVisibility` timers: those move to a `ctx.visibility` service that stops on destroy |
+| 9 | Overview | 410 (4 scripts) | First-run surface: Getting Started, update banner, live preview. Five globals |
+| 10 | WiFi | 364 | `x-data="wifiSetup()"` is defined by its own script. Moves to `Alpine.data()` registered from the module. AP-mode first screen, so it needs the AP-mode test on a real device |
+| 11 | Fonts | 681 | Large, but self-contained (6 globals) |
+| 12 | Logs | 801 | 14 globals, a stream and timers. Uses the visibility service from step 8 |
+| 13 | Tools | 1,022 | 21 globals, MQTT bridge, Pixlet editor, diagnostics polling |
+| 14 | Starlark app config, plugin config (`plugin_config.html`) | 123 + 294 | Plugin panels sit inside an Alpine `x-if` that removes them without an htmx swap. The registry's sweep covers that on the next swap; this step adds a MutationObserver or an `x-if` hook. Then the form-model flag (above) |
+| 15 | Plugin Manager (`plugins.html` + `plugins_manager.js`) | 3,836-line file | Last. Split along the seams that already exist (installed grid, store, registries, Starlark section, on-demand) into `pages/plugins/*.js`. Its 42 globals become aliases. The four installed-plugin stores merge into one `core/store.js`, and `window.installedPlugins` becomes a getter over it |
+
+The shell moves in parallel, a service at a time, with no page depending on
+the order:
+
+| Service | Current home | New module |
+|---|---|---|
+| `showNotification` | 4 versions | `core/notify.js` |
+| The modal helper | `utils/dialog.js` | `core/dialog.js` |
+| SSE streams | `app-shell.js` | `core/streams.js` |
+| `LEDVisibility` | `app-shell.js` | `core/visibility.js` |
+
+Each move leaves the old global as an alias. When the last inline script is
+gone, the script re-execution in `htmx-config.js` and the "HTMX never
+loaded" fallbacks in `base.html` can go too (keep the captive-page path).
+
+## How the tests cover each step
+
+The JS suites live in `test/js` (see `test/js/README.md` and
+`docs/HOW_TO_RUN_TESTS.md`). In CI, the **Web UI JS tests** job installs
+jsdom, starts the web interface and runs `node test/js/run_all.js` with
+`REQUIRE_DOM=1`, so a skipped DOM suite fails the job.
+`test/test_js_unit_suites.py` also runs every unit suite under pytest.
+
+Unit suites need only node. They import the shipped modules directly:
+`core/package.json` and `pages/package.json` mark those directories
+`"type": "module"`.
+
+| Suite | Kind | What it covers |
+|---|---|---|
+| `unit/test_page_registry.js` | Unit, minimal DOM shim | The lifecycle: one init per root, destroy on swap, a veto keeps the page, swaps elsewhere leave it alone, the sweep, lazy loading, a destroy while loading, error containment |
+| `unit/test_core_modules.js` | Unit | `api.js` (envelope, errors, abort, login redirect, path check) and `facade.js` (facade, aliases) |
+| `dom/test_cache_page.js` | DOM: real partial, real API shape | No inline script; one request per swap and per Refresh after five swaps; a cancelled request draws nothing; hostile keys stay text; delete, empty, error, network and login states |
+| `dom/test_durations_page.js` | DOM: real partial, real widget, real API shape | One plugin-list request per swap; Move down moves one place after five swaps; the swap cancels a request in flight; a late-loading widget is waited for, and a page swapped away while waiting starts nothing; hostile names stay text |
+| `dom/test_operation_history_page.js` | DOM: real partial, real API shape | One history request per swap and per Refresh; the plugin filter filled once (from `PluginAPI`'s cache when loaded); paging, filters, debounced search, Clear (one DELETE), error/network/login states, cancel on swap; hostile ids, users and errors stay text |
+| `dom/test_raw_json_page.js` | DOM: real partial, real config | One POST per Save after five swaps, to the right file; Format and Validate act once; invalid JSON never sent and its message stays text; a save survives a swap and is still reported; the old globals' entry points |
+| `dom/test_backup_restore_page.js` | DOM: real partial, real API shape | One request per Refresh, Delete, Export (busy button ignores a second click), Inspect and Restore after five swaps; the upload's fields and the six restore options; reads cancelled by a swap, writes not; hostile file and host names stay text; the old globals' entry points |
+| `test/web_interface/test_es_modules.py` | pytest | MIME type; `no-cache` without `?v` and immutable with it; `boot.js` loads last; every import resolves inside `core/` and `pages/`; the converted pages are exactly the registered ones, each with its module, `init`, and one root in the rendered partial; a converted partial has no `<script>` and no `onclick`; every moved global is aliased in `boot.js` and exported by its module, and no template defines it any more |
+| `test/test_field_model_parity.py` | pytest | The model against the macro for every available schema |
+
+What each future step adds:
+
+- **A page conversion** adds `dom/test_<page>_page.js`, built like the cache
+  suite: the real partial from the server, the real API's payload shape, N
+  swaps followed by one action that must make exactly one request, the
+  destroy and cancel behaviour, and escaping. `test_es_modules.py` picks up
+  the new page automatically. A unit suite that today slices a function out
+  of a template or `plugins_manager.js` and `eval`s it is rewritten to
+  import the module once that code moves (stage C of the plan).
+- **A shell service move** adds a unit suite for the module and an alias
+  test showing the old global still works.
+- **The form switch** adds the save parity test (macro form data and
+  renderer JSON store the same config, for every schema) and a DOM suite
+  for `pages/plugin-config.js`. Both run with the flag on and off.
+- **`plugins_manager.js`.** The existing DOM suites (`test_installed_dom.js`,
+  `test_store_dom.js`, `test_no_double_fetch.js`) already test the real
+  Plugin Manager in jsdom. They stay green throughout the split and are the
+  gate for it, alongside the unit suites that pin its card rendering and
+  escaping.
@@ -47,38 +47,51 @@ if echo "${DEVICE_MODEL:-}" | grep -qi "Raspberry Pi 5"; then
    echo "Raspberry Pi 5 detected — will verify RP1 library support."
 fi

-# Check OS version - must be Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie)
+# Check OS version - must be Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Bookworm or Trixie.
+# The rules live in scripts/install/lib_os.sh, shared with
+# scripts/check_system_compatibility.sh.
 echo ""
 echo "Checking operating system requirements..."
 echo "----------------------------------------"
 OS_CHECK_FAILED=0
+OS_RELEASE=""

-if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
-    . /etc/os-release
-    echo "Detected OS: $PRETTY_NAME"
-    echo "Version ID: ${VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
-    
-    # Check if it's Raspberry Pi OS or Debian
-    if [[ "$ID" != "raspbian" ]] && [[ "$ID" != "debian" ]]; then
-        echo "✗ ERROR: This script requires Raspberry Pi OS (raspbian/debian)"
-        echo "  Detected OS ID: $ID"
-        OS_CHECK_FAILED=1
-    fi
-    
-    # Check if it's Debian 13 (Trixie)
-    if [ "${VERSION_ID:-0}" != "13" ]; then
-        echo "✗ ERROR: This script requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie) - Debian 13"
-        echo "  Detected version: ${VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
-        echo "  Please upgrade to Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie) before continuing"
-        OS_CHECK_FAILED=1
+OS_LIB="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)/scripts/install/lib_os.sh"
+if [ ! -f "$OS_LIB" ]; then
+    echo "✗ ERROR: $OS_LIB is missing, so the operating system cannot be checked."
+    echo "  Your LEDMatrix download is incomplete. Download it again and re-run this script:"
+    echo "    git clone https://github.com/ChuckBuilds/LEDMatrix.git"
+    exit 1
+fi
+# shellcheck source=scripts/install/lib_os.sh
+. "$OS_LIB"
+
+if [ -r "$LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE" ]; then
+    echo "Detected OS: $(lm_os_field PRETTY_NAME)"
+    OS_VERSION_ID=$(lm_os_field VERSION_ID)
+    echo "Version ID: ${OS_VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
+
+    if OS_RELEASE=$(lm_os_release); then
+        echo "✓ $(lm_release_label "$OS_RELEASE") detected"
    else
-        echo "✓ Debian 13 (Trixie) detected"
+        OS_ID=$(lm_os_field ID)
+        if [[ "$OS_ID" != "raspbian" ]] && [[ "$OS_ID" != "debian" ]]; then
+            echo "✗ ERROR: This script requires Raspberry Pi OS (raspbian/debian)"
+            echo "  Detected OS ID: ${OS_ID:-unknown}"
+        else
+            echo "✗ ERROR: This version of Raspberry Pi OS is not supported"
+            echo "  Detected version: ${OS_VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
+            echo "  Supported: Trixie (Debian 13) and Bookworm (Debian 12)"
+        fi
+        OS_CHECK_FAILED=1
    fi
-    
+
    # Check if it's the Lite version (no desktop environment)
    # Check for desktop packages or desktop services
    DESKTOP_DETECTED=0
-    if dpkg -l | grep -qE "^ii.*raspberrypi-ui-mods|^ii.*lxde|^ii.*xfce|^ii.*gnome|^ii.*kde"; then
+    # grep without -q: -q exits at the first match, dpkg then dies of SIGPIPE,
+    # and pipefail turns a found desktop into "not found".
+    if dpkg -l | grep -E "^ii.*raspberrypi-ui-mods|^ii.*lxde|^ii.*xfce|^ii.*gnome|^ii.*kde" >/dev/null; then
        DESKTOP_DETECTED=1
    fi
    if systemctl list-units --type=service --state=running 2>/dev/null | grep -qE "lightdm|gdm3|sddm|lxdm"; then
@@ -96,23 +109,52 @@ if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
        echo "✓ Lite version confirmed (no desktop environment)"
    fi
 else
-    echo "✗ ERROR: Could not detect OS version (/etc/os-release not found)"
+    echo "✗ ERROR: Could not detect OS version ($LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE not found)"
    OS_CHECK_FAILED=1
 fi

+# Python: whatever python3 the release ships (3.11 on Bookworm, 3.13 on
+# Trixie). Checked only when python3 is already there -- Step 1 installs it
+# otherwise, and on a supported release that brings the release's own version.
+if [ "$OS_CHECK_FAILED" -eq 0 ]; then
+    if PYTHON3_VERSION=$(lm_python_version); then
+        case "$(lm_python_check "$PYTHON3_VERSION")" in
+            ok)
+                echo "✓ Python $PYTHON3_VERSION detected"
+                ;;
+            too-old)
+                echo "✗ ERROR: python3 is Python $PYTHON3_VERSION; LEDMatrix needs Python 3.$LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR or newer"
+                echo "  $(lm_release_label "$OS_RELEASE") ships Python $(lm_release_python "$OS_RELEASE"). Something on this"
+                echo "  system has changed which Python 'python3' runs; point it back at the system Python."
+                OS_CHECK_FAILED=1
+                ;;
+            *)
+                echo "⚠ python3 is Python $PYTHON3_VERSION, which LEDMatrix has not been tested with"
+                echo "  (tested: 3.$LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR to 3.$LM_PYTHON_MAX_MINOR). Continuing anyway."
+                ;;
+        esac
+    else
+        echo "python3 not found yet; Step 1 installs it."
+    fi
+fi
+
 if [ "$OS_CHECK_FAILED" -eq 1 ]; then
    echo ""
-    echo "Installation cannot continue. Please install Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie) and try again."
-    echo ""
-    echo "To install Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie):"
-    echo "  1. Download from: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/operating-systems/"
-    echo "  2. Select 'Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)' with Debian 13 (Trixie)"
-    echo "  3. Flash to SD card using Raspberry Pi Imager"
-    echo "  4. Boot and run this script again"
+    echo "Installation cannot continue."
+    lm_print_supported_os_help
    exit 1
 fi

 echo "✓ OS requirements met"
+
+# WiFi setup (the web page's WiFi tab and the LEDMatrix-Setup hotspot) needs
+# NetworkManager. Both releases use it by default; say so plainly if this Pi
+# does not, but carry on -- the display itself does not depend on it.
+case "$(lm_network_stack)" in
+    networkmanager) echo "✓ NetworkManager is managing the network" ;;
+    dhcpcd) lm_print_dhcpcd_advice ;;
+    *) echo "⚠ Could not tell which service manages the network; WiFi setup from the web page needs NetworkManager" ;;
+esac
 echo ""

 # The user who ran the installer: SUDO_USER once we are running under sudo
@@ -190,6 +232,51 @@ _sync_rgb_submodule() {
    fi
    return 0
 }
+
+# LEDMatrix's own changes to the library live in patches/rpi-rgb-led-matrix/ and
+# are applied only for the build: _apply_rgb_patches before it, _revert_rgb_patches
+# after it, success or not. The checkout is left exactly as it was, so `git pull`
+# and _sync_rgb_submodule never meet local modifications in the submodule.
+# A patch that no longer applies (a submodule bump, a hand-edited checkout) is
+# reported and skipped -- the unpatched library still builds and works, so it is
+# never fatal. One that is already applied is left alone and not reverted.
+_RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES=()
+
+_apply_rgb_patches() {
+    local sub="$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/rpi-rgb-led-matrix-master"
+    local dir="$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/patches/rpi-rgb-led-matrix" patch name
+    _RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES=()
+    [ -d "$dir" ] || return 0
+    for patch in "$dir"/*.patch; do
+        [ -f "$patch" ] || continue
+        name=$(basename "$patch")
+        if _git_as_repo_owner -C "$sub" apply --check "$patch" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            if _git_as_repo_owner -C "$sub" apply "$patch"; then
+                _RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES+=("$patch")
+                echo "Applied library patch $name"
+            else
+                echo "⚠ Could not apply library patch $name; building without it"
+            fi
+        elif _git_as_repo_owner -C "$sub" apply --reverse --check "$patch" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "Library patch $name is already applied"
+        else
+            echo "⚠ Library patch $name does not apply to this checkout; building without it"
+        fi
+    done
+    return 0
+}
+
+_revert_rgb_patches() {
+    local sub="$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/rpi-rgb-led-matrix-master" i
+    # Last applied first, in case two patches touch the same file.
+    for ((i = ${#_RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES[@]} - 1; i >= 0; i--)); do
+        if ! _git_as_repo_owner -C "$sub" apply --reverse "${_RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES[i]}"; then
+            echo "⚠ Could not revert $(basename "${_RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES[i]}"); restore the checkout with: git -C $sub checkout -- ."
+        fi
+    done
+    _RGB_APPLIED_PATCHES=()
+    return 0
+}
 # --- end rpi-rgb-led-matrix checkout helpers ---------------------------------

 # Determine the Project Root Directory (where this script is located)
@@ -223,6 +310,8 @@ SKIP_SWAP=${LEDMATRIX_SKIP_SWAP:-0}
 BUILD_JOBS_OVERRIDE=${LEDMATRIX_BUILD_JOBS:-}
 # Weekly automatic updates: 1 on, 0 off, empty = ask (interactive) or leave as is.
 AUTO_UPDATE=${LEDMATRIX_AUTO_UPDATE:-}
+# Update channel written to config.json: stable, beta, or empty = leave as is.
+UPDATE_CHANNEL=$(printf '%s' "${LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL:-}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')

 usage() {
    cat <<USAGE
@@ -240,12 +329,18 @@ Options:
      --enable-auto-update  Turn on weekly automatic updates (with health
                            check and automatic rollback)
      --no-auto-update      Leave weekly automatic updates off
+      --beta                Follow main, the newest code (the beta update
+                            channel). Without it, updates follow releases
+                            (stable). It sets the channel; it does not move
+                            this checkout -- the one-shot installer picks the
+                            version, and so does the next update.
  -h, --help                Show this help message and exit

 Environment variables (same effect as flags):
  LEDMATRIX_ASSUME_YES=1, RPI_RGB_FORCE_REBUILD=1, LEDMATRIX_SKIP_SOUND=1,
  LEDMATRIX_SKIP_PERF=1, LEDMATRIX_SKIP_REBOOT_PROMPT=1,
-  LEDMATRIX_SKIP_SWAP=1, LEDMATRIX_BUILD_JOBS=N, LEDMATRIX_AUTO_UPDATE=1|0
+  LEDMATRIX_SKIP_SWAP=1, LEDMATRIX_BUILD_JOBS=N, LEDMATRIX_AUTO_UPDATE=1|0,
+  LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=stable|beta

 Low-memory devices:
  On a Pi with under 2GB of RAM the C++ build is limited to fewer parallel
@@ -265,6 +360,7 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
        --skip-swap) SKIP_SWAP=1 ;;
        --enable-auto-update) AUTO_UPDATE=1 ;;
        --no-auto-update) AUTO_UPDATE=0 ;;
+        --beta) UPDATE_CHANNEL=beta ;;
        --build-jobs)
            shift
            if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then echo "--build-jobs requires a number"; usage; exit 1; fi
@@ -291,10 +387,12 @@ else
    lm_remove_build_swap() { return 0; }
 fi

-# Remove the temporary build swapfile no matter how the script ends. Step 6
-# tears it down itself; this is the backstop for the error path, since
-# on_error ends in `exit` and EXIT traps still run.
-trap 'lm_remove_build_swap' EXIT
+# Remove the temporary build swapfile, and take any library patches back out
+# of the submodule, no matter how the script ends. Step 6 does both itself;
+# this is the backstop for the error path (on_error ends in `exit` and EXIT
+# traps still run) and for an interrupted build. _revert_rgb_patches only
+# touches patches it applied, so running it twice is harmless.
+trap 'lm_remove_build_swap; _revert_rgb_patches' EXIT

 # Helpers
 retry() {
@@ -873,15 +971,25 @@ if [ -z "$AUTO_UPDATE" ] && [ "$ASSUME_YES" != "1" ] && [ -t 0 ]; then
    echo
    if [[ $REPLY =~ ^[Yy]$ ]]; then AUTO_UPDATE=1; else AUTO_UPDATE=0; fi
 fi
-if [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "1" ] || [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "0" ]; then
-    if python3 - "$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/config/config.json" "$AUTO_UPDATE" <<'PY'
+case "$UPDATE_CHANNEL" in
+    stable|beta|"") ;;
+    *) echo "⚠ LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=$UPDATE_CHANNEL is not stable or beta; leaving the update channel as it is"
+       UPDATE_CHANNEL="" ;;
+esac
+# The update channel, likewise only when asked for (--beta / LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL).
+if [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "1" ] || [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "0" ] || [ -n "$UPDATE_CHANNEL" ]; then
+    if python3 - "$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/config/config.json" "$AUTO_UPDATE" "$UPDATE_CHANNEL" <<'PY'
 import json, os, sys, tempfile
-path, enabled = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2] == "1"
+path, enabled = sys.argv[1], sys.argv[2]
+channel = sys.argv[3] if len(sys.argv) > 3 else ""
 with open(path, encoding="utf-8") as f:
    config = json.load(f)
 if not isinstance(config.get("auto_update"), dict):
    config["auto_update"] = {}
-config["auto_update"]["enabled"] = enabled
+if enabled in ("0", "1"):
+    config["auto_update"]["enabled"] = enabled == "1"
+if channel:
+    config["auto_update"]["channel"] = channel
 # Written beside the original and swapped in whole: the display service's
 # config watcher may be running and must never read a half-written file.
 original = os.stat(path)
@@ -902,9 +1010,11 @@ except BaseException:
    raise
 PY
    then
-        if [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "1" ]; then echo "✓ Weekly automatic updates enabled"; else echo "✓ Weekly automatic updates off"; fi
+        if [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "1" ]; then echo "✓ Weekly automatic updates enabled"
+        elif [ "$AUTO_UPDATE" = "0" ]; then echo "✓ Weekly automatic updates off"; fi
+        if [ -n "$UPDATE_CHANNEL" ]; then echo "✓ Update channel: $UPDATE_CHANNEL"; fi
    else
-        echo "⚠ Could not set auto_update in config/config.json; turn it on from the General tab instead"
+        echo "⚠ Could not set auto_update in config/config.json; set it from the General tab instead"
    fi
 fi

@@ -1226,9 +1336,11 @@ else
        fi
        BUILD_OUTPUT=$(mktemp)
        BUILD_SUCCESS=false
+        _apply_rgb_patches
        if run_rgbmatrix_build "$BUILD_JOBS" "$BUILD_OUTPUT"; then
            BUILD_SUCCESS=true
        fi
+        _revert_rgb_patches
        cat "$BUILD_OUTPUT" >> "$LOG_FILE"
        if [ "$BUILD_SUCCESS" != true ]; then
            print_rgbmatrix_build_failure "$BUILD_OUTPUT"
@@ -1349,15 +1461,16 @@ if ! command -v setcap >/dev/null 2>&1; then
    echo "⚠ setcap not found, skipping capability configuration"
    echo "  Install libcap2-bin if you need hardware timing capabilities"
 else
-    # Find the Python binary and resolve symlinks to get the real binary
+    # The binary the services run (ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3), symlinks
+    # resolved: python3.11 on Bookworm, python3.13 on Trixie. This used to
+    # prefer /usr/bin/python3.13 whenever it existed, which would set the
+    # capability on an interpreter the services never run if python3 pointed
+    # elsewhere.
    PYTHON_BIN=""
    PYTHON_VER=""
-    if [ -f "/usr/bin/python3.13" ]; then
-        PYTHON_BIN=$(readlink -f /usr/bin/python3.13)
-        PYTHON_VER="3.13"
-    elif [ -f "/usr/bin/python3" ]; then
+    if [ -f "/usr/bin/python3" ]; then
        PYTHON_BIN=$(readlink -f /usr/bin/python3)
-        PYTHON_VER=$(python3 --version 2>&1 | grep -oP '(?<=Python )\d+\.\d+' || echo "unknown")
+        PYTHON_VER=$(lm_python_version /usr/bin/python3) || PYTHON_VER="unknown"
    fi

    if [ -n "$PYTHON_BIN" ] && [ -f "$PYTHON_BIN" ]; then
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ src/common/api_helper.py
 src/common/bdf_font.py
 src/common/espn_dates.py
 src/common/favorite_team_check.py
+src/common/fetch_service.py
 src/common/font_layout.py
 src/common/frame_timing.py
 src/common/json_body.py
@@ -34,7 +35,11 @@ src/common/snapshot_policy.py
 src/common/sports_card.py
 src/common/sports_card_wrappers.py
 src/common/sports_celebration.py
+src/common/sports_display_rules.py
 src/common/sports_fetch.py
+src/common/sports_font_path.py
+src/common/sports_live_scroll.py
+src/common/sports_plugin_host.py
 src/common/sports_scroll.py
 src/common/sports_timezone.py
 src/common/sports_vegas.py
@@ -42,16 +47,22 @@ src/config_service.py
 src/core_config_keys.py
 src/deprecation.py
 src/device_location.py
+src/display_arbiter.py
 src/display_geometry.py
 src/dynamic_team_resolver.py
 src/exceptions.py
 src/font_usage.py
+src/ipc/__init__.py
+src/ipc/client.py
+src/ipc/contract.py
+src/ipc/server.py
 src/logging_config.py
 src/logo_downloader.py
 src/matrix_support.py
 src/pi5_matrix_support.py
 src/plugin_system/__init__.py
 src/plugin_system/compatibility.py
+src/plugin_system/field_model.py
 src/plugin_system/operation_history.py
 src/plugin_system/operation_queue.py
 src/plugin_system/operation_types.py
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 files = src
 exclude = (^|/)(test|__pycache__)/

-# Python version
-python_version = 3.10
+# Python version: the oldest the installer supports (Raspberry Pi OS
+# Bookworm ships 3.11; Trixie ships 3.13).
+python_version = 3.11

 # Platform (Linux/Raspberry Pi)
 platform = linux
@@ -103,8 +104,8 @@ ignore_missing_imports = True


 # numpy's own stubs (numpy>=2.3) use Python 3.12 `type` statements, which mypy
-# refuses to parse under python_version = 3.10 -- and 3.10 is the floor this
-# code has to run on, so it stays. Treat numpy as Any instead: skip it, and
+# refuses to parse under python_version = 3.11 -- and 3.11 (Bookworm) is the
+# floor this code has to run on, so it stays. Treat numpy as Any instead: skip it, and
 # follow_imports_for_stubs makes the skip apply to its .pyi files too.
 [mypy-numpy.*]
 follow_imports = skip
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+Faster SetImage for rpi-rgb-led-matrix (applied by first_time_install.sh at build
+time; the submodule itself stays at its pinned commit).
+
+Copying a frame into the panel buffer was the biggest CPU cost LEDMatrix owns on
+large panels: the binding's SetPixelsPillow walked the image column by column
+and called SetPixel per pixel, and each SetPixel read-modify-writes one word per
+PWM bit plane, 2KB apart, so consecutive pixels were a whole double-row apart and
+almost every write missed the cache. This patch:
+
+ * FrameCanvas gets its own SetPixelsPillow: row by row, one bulk SetPixels call
+   per row;
+ * Framebuffer::SetPixels clips once, looks colours up once per pixel, walks each
+   row's designators in order and writes the bit planes branch-free;
+ * the base Canvas.SetPixelsPillow loop (RGBMatrix.SetImage) is row-major.
+
+The bit-plane buffer is byte-identical to the old code's (882 memcmp checks over
+noise/gradient/solid/low-value/sparse images, clipped offsets, pwm 7/8/11,
+brightness 1/50/90/100, inverse colours, luminance correction off and a pixel
+mapper). Measured on a Pi 4 at 512x64: 6.0-6.3 ms -> 1.8 ms per frame through
+the Python binding; on hdpi (Pi 4, 4x128x64) frame copy 6.57 -> 2.21 ms and the
+display process 139% -> 103% of a core.
+
+LEDMatrix always draws into the canvas that is not on screen and swaps it in
+(DisplayManager.update_display), so the write order cannot show as tearing.
+
+Against hzeller/rpi-rgb-led-matrix 1ee4f76.
+
+diff --git a/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/core.pyx b/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/core.pyx
+index 230d87f..babc3bb 100644
+--- a/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/core.pyx
+++ b/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/core.pyx
+@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
+ 
+ from libcpp cimport bool
+ from libc.stdint cimport uint8_t, uint32_t, uintptr_t
+from libc.stdlib cimport malloc, free
+ import cython
+ 
+ cdef extern from "Python.h":
+@@ -59,8 +60,9 @@ cdef class Canvas:
+ 
+         buffer = get_pillow_buffer(image_capsule)
+ 
+-        for col in range(max(0, -xstart), min(width, frame_width - xstart)):
+-            for row in range(max(0, -ystart), min(height, frame_height - ystart)):
+        # Row-major: walks both the image and the bitplane buffer sequentially.
+        for row in range(max(0, -ystart), min(height, frame_height - ystart)):
+            for col in range(max(0, -xstart), min(width, frame_width - xstart)):
+                 pixel = buffer[row][col]
+                 r = (pixel ) & 0xFF
+                 g = (pixel >> 8) & 0xFF
+@@ -86,6 +88,41 @@ cdef class FrameCanvas(Canvas):
+     def SetPixel(self, int x, int y, uint8_t red, uint8_t green, uint8_t blue):
+         (<cppinc.FrameCanvas*>self._getCanvas()).SetPixel(x, y, red, green, blue)
+ 
+    @cython.boundscheck(False)
+    @cython.wraparound(False)
+    def SetPixelsPillow(self, int xstart, int ystart, int width, int height, object image_capsule):
+        # Same result as Canvas.SetPixelsPillow(), but hands each image row
+        # to the C++ bulk FrameCanvas::SetPixels() instead of calling the
+        # virtual SetPixel() once per pixel.
+        cdef cppinc.FrameCanvas* my_canvas = <cppinc.FrameCanvas*>self._getCanvas()
+        cdef int col_start = max(0, -xstart)
+        cdef int col_end = min(width, my_canvas.width() - xstart)
+        cdef int row_start = max(0, -ystart)
+        cdef int row_end = min(height, my_canvas.height() - ystart)
+        cdef int row, col, pixel
+        cdef int *src
+        cdef cppinc.Color *line
+        cdef int **buffer
+
+        if col_end <= col_start or row_end <= row_start:
+            return
+        buffer = get_pillow_buffer(image_capsule)
+        line = <cppinc.Color*>malloc((col_end - col_start) * sizeof(cppinc.Color))
+        if line == NULL:
+            raise MemoryError()
+        try:
+            for row in range(row_start, row_end):
+                src = buffer[row]
+                for col in range(col_start, col_end):
+                    pixel = src[col]
+                    line[col - col_start].r = pixel & 0xFF
+                    line[col - col_start].g = (pixel >> 8) & 0xFF
+                    line[col - col_start].b = (pixel >> 16) & 0xFF
+                my_canvas.SetPixels(xstart + col_start, ystart + row,
+                                    col_end - col_start, 1, line)
+        finally:
+            free(line)
+
+ 
+     property width:
+         def __get__(self): return (<cppinc.FrameCanvas*>self._getCanvas()).width()
+diff --git a/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/cppinc.pxd b/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/cppinc.pxd
+index 8bec241..314332d 100644
+--- a/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/cppinc.pxd
+++ b/bindings/python/rgbmatrix/cppinc.pxd
+@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ cdef extern from "led-matrix.h" namespace "rgb_matrix":
+         FrameCanvas *SwapOnVSync(FrameCanvas*, uint8_t)
+ 
+     cdef cppclass FrameCanvas(Canvas):
+        void SetPixels(int, int, int, int, Color*) nogil
+         bool SetPWMBits(uint8_t)
+         uint8_t pwmbits()
+         void SetBrightness(uint8_t)
+diff --git a/lib/framebuffer.cc b/lib/framebuffer.cc
+index 36d138b..aee62ca 100644
+--- a/lib/framebuffer.cc
+++ b/lib/framebuffer.cc
+@@ -807,11 +807,60 @@ void Framebuffer::SetPixel(int x, int y, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b) {
+   }
+ }
+ 
+// Bulk version of SetPixel(); produces exactly the same bitplane content.
+// Faster because it hoists the per-pixel work out of the loop: the color
+// mapping becomes one 256-entry table built per call (each channel maps
+// independently through the same function), the pixel designators of a row
+// are contiguous in the PixelDesignatorMap, and the bit-plane loop is
+// branchless (the color bits are effectively random, so the branches in
+// SetPixel() mispredict a lot).
+ void Framebuffer::SetPixels(int x, int y, int width, int height, Color *colors) {
+-  for (int iy = 0; iy < height; ++iy) {
+-    for (int ix = 0; ix < width; ++ix) {
+-      SetPixel(x + ix, y + iy, colors->r, colors->g, colors->b);
+-      ++colors;
+  PixelDesignatorMap *const mapper = *shared_mapper_;
+  const int ix_start = std::max(0, -x);
+  const int ix_end = std::min(width, mapper->width() - x);
+  const int iy_start = std::max(0, -y);
+  const int iy_end = std::min(height, mapper->height() - y);
+  if (ix_start >= ix_end || iy_start >= iy_end) return;
+
+  // Common case (luminance correction, no inversion): use the precomputed
+  // table directly; otherwise build one. Cheap enough to do per call, which
+  // matters for callers that send one row at a time.
+  uint16_t local_map[256];
+  const uint16_t *color_map;
+  if (do_luminance_correct_ && !inverse_color_) {
+    color_map = ColorLookupTable::GetLookup(brightness_).color;
+  } else {
+    for (int c = 0; c < 256; ++c) {
+      uint16_t unused1, unused2;
+      MapColors(c, 0, 0, &local_map[c], &unused1, &unused2);
+    }
+    color_map = local_map;
+  }
+
+  const int min_bit_plane = kBitPlanes - pwm_bits_;
+  gpio_bits_t *const plane_start = bitplane_buffer_ + columns_ * min_bit_plane;
+  for (int iy = iy_start; iy < iy_end; ++iy) {
+    const Color *c = colors + iy * width + ix_start;
+    const PixelDesignator *designator = mapper->get(x + ix_start, y + iy);
+    for (int ix = ix_start; ix < ix_end; ++ix, ++c, ++designator) {
+      const long pos = designator->gpio_word;
+      if (pos < 0) continue;  // non-used pixel marker.
+      const uint16_t red = color_map[c->r];
+      const uint16_t green = color_map[c->g];
+      const uint16_t blue = color_map[c->b];
+      const gpio_bits_t r_bits = designator->r_bit;
+      const gpio_bits_t g_bits = designator->g_bit;
+      const gpio_bits_t b_bits = designator->b_bit;
+      const gpio_bits_t designator_mask = designator->mask;
+      gpio_bits_t *bits = plane_start + pos;
+      for (int plane = min_bit_plane; plane < kBitPlanes; ++plane) {
+        const gpio_bits_t color_bits =
+          (r_bits & -(gpio_bits_t)((red >> plane) & 1))
+          | (g_bits & -(gpio_bits_t)((green >> plane) & 1))
+          | (b_bits & -(gpio_bits_t)((blue >> plane) & 1));
+        *bits = (*bits & designator_mask) | color_bits;
+        bits += columns_;
+      }
+     }
+   }
+ }
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # LEDMatrix Core Dependencies
-# Compatible with Python 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 3.13
+# Compatible with Python 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13; CI tests 3.11 and 3.13
 # Tested on Raspbian OS 12 (Bookworm) and 13 (Trixie)

 # Image processing
@@ -53,26 +53,35 @@ else
 fi
 echo ""

-# Check OS version
+# Check OS version. The supported releases come from the same library the
+# installer uses, so the two cannot disagree.
 echo "2. Checking Operating System Version..."
 echo "---------------------------------------"
-if [ -f /etc/os-release ]; then
-    . /etc/os-release
-    echo "OS: $PRETTY_NAME"
-    echo "Version ID: ${VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
-    
-    # first_time_install.sh refuses anything but Raspberry Pi OS / Debian 13
-    # (Trixie), so anything else is an error here too, not a warning.
-    if [[ "$ID" == "raspbian" ]] || [[ "$ID" == "debian" ]]; then
-        if [ "${VERSION_ID:-0}" = "13" ]; then
-            print_success "Detected Debian 13 Trixie - supported"
-        elif [ "${VERSION_ID:-0}" = "12" ]; then
-            print_error "Debian 12 Bookworm is not supported - the installer requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie), Debian 13"
-        else
-            print_error "Debian/Raspbian ${VERSION_ID:-unknown} is not supported - the installer requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie), Debian 13"
-        fi
+OS_LIB="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)/install/lib_os.sh"
+OS_LIB_LOADED=0
+OS_RELEASE=""
+if [ -f "$OS_LIB" ]; then
+    # shellcheck source=scripts/install/lib_os.sh
+    . "$OS_LIB"
+    OS_LIB_LOADED=1
+fi
+
+if [ "$OS_LIB_LOADED" = "0" ]; then
+    print_error "$OS_LIB is missing - download LEDMatrix again"
+elif [ -r "$LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE" ]; then
+    OS_ID=$(lm_os_field ID)
+    OS_VERSION_ID=$(lm_os_field VERSION_ID)
+    echo "OS: $(lm_os_field PRETTY_NAME)"
+    echo "Version ID: ${OS_VERSION_ID:-unknown}"
+
+    # first_time_install.sh refuses anything else, so this is an error here
+    # too, not a warning.
+    if OS_RELEASE=$(lm_os_release); then
+        print_success "Detected $(lm_release_label "$OS_RELEASE") - supported"
+    elif [[ "$OS_ID" == "raspbian" ]] || [[ "$OS_ID" == "debian" ]]; then
+        print_error "Debian/Raspbian ${OS_VERSION_ID:-unknown} is not supported - the installer requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Trixie (Debian 13) or Bookworm (Debian 12)"
    else
-        print_error "${ID:-unknown} is not supported - the installer requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite (Trixie), Debian 13"
+        print_error "${OS_ID:-unknown} is not supported - the installer requires Raspberry Pi OS Lite, Trixie (Debian 13) or Bookworm (Debian 12)"
    fi
 else
    print_error "Could not detect OS version"
@@ -92,7 +101,7 @@ if [ "$KERNEL_MAJOR" -ge "6" ]; then
    print_success "Kernel version is compatible (6.x or newer)"
    
    if [ "$KERNEL_MAJOR" -eq "6" ] && [ "$KERNEL_MINOR" -ge "12" ]; then
-        print_success "Running latest Trixie kernel (6.12 LTS)"
+        print_success "Running a 6.12 LTS or newer kernel"
    fi
 elif [ "$KERNEL_MAJOR" -eq "5" ] && [ "$KERNEL_MINOR" -ge "10" ]; then
    print_success "Kernel version is compatible (5.10+)"
@@ -104,25 +113,34 @@ echo ""
 # Check Python version
 echo "4. Checking Python Version..."
 echo "-----------------------------"
-if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    PYTHON_VERSION=$(python3 -c 'import sys; print(f"{sys.version_info.major}.{sys.version_info.minor}.{sys.version_info.micro}")')
-    PYTHON_MAJOR=$(python3 -c 'import sys; print(sys.version_info.major)')
-    PYTHON_MINOR=$(python3 -c 'import sys; print(sys.version_info.minor)')
-    
+if [ "$OS_LIB_LOADED" = "1" ] && command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    PYTHON_VERSION=$(python3 -c 'import sys; print("%d.%d.%d" % sys.version_info[:3])')
+    PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION=$(lm_python_version) || PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION=""
+    PYTHON_RANGE="3.${LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR}-3.${LM_PYTHON_MAX_MINOR}"
+
    echo "Python: $PYTHON_VERSION"
-    
-    if [ "$PYTHON_MAJOR" -eq "3" ]; then
-        if [ "$PYTHON_MINOR" -ge "10" ] && [ "$PYTHON_MINOR" -le "13" ]; then
-            print_success "Python version is supported (3.10-3.13)"
-        elif [ "$PYTHON_MINOR" -ge "14" ]; then
-            print_warning "Python 3.${PYTHON_MINOR} is very new - some packages may not be compatible yet"
-        else
-            # Pillow 12 and the pinned test tools need 3.10+, so this won't install.
-            print_error "Python 3.${PYTHON_MINOR} is too old - Python 3.10+ is required"
-        fi
-    else
-        print_error "Python 2.x detected - Python 3.10+ is required"
+
+    case "$(lm_python_check "$PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION")" in
+        ok)
+            print_success "Python version is supported ($PYTHON_RANGE)"
+            ;;
+        too-old)
+            # The rgbmatrix bindings declare requires-python >=3.11, so the
+            # display cannot be built on anything older.
+            print_error "Python $PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION is too old - Python 3.${LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR}+ is required"
+            ;;
+        too-new)
+            print_warning "Python $PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION is newer than LEDMatrix has been tested with ($PYTHON_RANGE)"
+            ;;
+        *)
+            print_warning "Could not read the Python version"
+            ;;
+    esac
+    if [ -n "$OS_RELEASE" ] && [ "$PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION" != "$(lm_release_python "$OS_RELEASE")" ]; then
+        print_warning "$(lm_release_label "$OS_RELEASE") ships Python $(lm_release_python "$OS_RELEASE"), but python3 runs $PYTHON_MINOR_VERSION"
    fi
+elif command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    print_warning "Cannot check the Python version without $OS_LIB"
 else
    print_error "Python 3 not found - installation required"
 fi
@@ -268,6 +286,22 @@ if command -v ping >/dev/null 2>&1; then
 else
    print_warning "Ping command not available - cannot verify network"
 fi
+
+# WiFi setup from the web page and the LEDMatrix-Setup hotspot drive
+# NetworkManager, the default on both Bookworm and Trixie.
+if [ "$OS_LIB_LOADED" = "1" ]; then
+    case "$(lm_network_stack)" in
+        networkmanager)
+            print_success "NetworkManager manages the network (needed for WiFi setup)"
+            ;;
+        dhcpcd)
+            print_warning "dhcpcd manages the network - WiFi setup from the web page and the setup hotspot need NetworkManager (sudo raspi-config -> Advanced Options -> Network Config)"
+            ;;
+        *)
+            print_warning "Could not tell which service manages the network - WiFi setup from the web page needs NetworkManager"
+            ;;
+    esac
+fi
 echo ""

 # Print summary
@@ -9,7 +9,10 @@ reports the difference. Nothing is stopped, restarted or drawn.
    python3 scripts/frame_soak.py

    # the same with the web preview open (the preview's PNG encodes are one of
-    # the things that used to make the render loop miss refreshes)
+    # the things that used to make the render loop miss refreshes). An open
+    # preview is encoded at most once a second; through 3.8.0 it was up to
+    # five times, so a --preview run from before that change is not comparable
+    # with one from after it
    python3 scripts/frame_soak.py --preview

    # quick look at the totals since the service started
@@ -27,9 +30,16 @@ What the numbers mean
 late frames     frames that reached the panel one or more refreshes after they
                were due -- the panel showed the previous frame again, which on
                a moving strip is a visible hitch. This is the pass/fail number.
-freezes         gaps of 250ms+ inside a scroll: recomposes, plugin handovers,
+freezes         gaps of 250ms+ inside a scroll: recomposes, plugin handovers
+                the display controller does not tag (see handover gaps),
                blocking calls on the render thread. Reported, not failed on,
                since some are handovers between plugins rather than faults.
+handover gaps   the same length of gap where the display controller had just
+                started a screen's turn (also the same mode's again): its
+                first display() drawing. Counted here instead of under
+                freezes. Stats from a service older than this count have no
+                such line, and their freezes include these, so do not
+                compare freeze counts across that change.
 blit            copying the frame into the matrix canvas (rgbmatrix SetImage).
                Grows with width x height x pwm_bits.
 wait            blocked in SwapOnVSync, i.e. slack before the refresh.
@@ -58,7 +68,8 @@ from src.common.frame_timing import (  # noqa: E402
 )

 #: Touched by the web UI while someone has the preview open; a fresh marker
-#: puts the display service's snapshot writer at full rate. Same path as
+#: puts the display service's snapshot writer at the viewer rate
+#: (snapshot_policy.VIEWER_INTERVAL). Same path as
 #: DisplayManager._viewer_marker_path.
 VIEWER_MARKER = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer"  # nosec B108 - fixed path shared with the service

@@ -156,6 +167,29 @@ def op_rows(totals: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
    return rows


+def gc_window(before: Dict[str, Any], after: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Garbage collection over the run, or None from a service without the
+    monitor. The counters are cumulative since the service started, so they
+    are differenced like the totals; the longest is since the start."""
+    ga = after.get("gc")
+    if not ga:
+        return None
+    gb = before.get("gc") or {}
+    def minus(key):
+        return [a - b for a, b in zip(ga.get(key, []),
+                                      gb.get(key) or [0] * len(ga.get(key, [])))]
+    seconds = minus("seconds")
+    return {
+        "collections": minus("collections"),
+        "ms": [round(x * 1000.0, 1) for x in seconds],
+        "long_pauses": ga.get("long_pauses", 0) - gb.get("long_pauses", 0),
+        "long_ms": round((ga.get("long_seconds", 0.0)
+                          - gb.get("long_seconds", 0.0)) * 1000.0, 1),
+        "threshold_ms": ga.get("threshold_ms"),
+        "max_ms_since_start": ga.get("max_ms"),
+    }
+
+
 def build_report(before, after, preview: bool) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    delta = diff(before, after)
    totals = delta["totals"]
@@ -185,11 +219,15 @@ def build_report(before, after, preview: bool) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        "freezes": totals["freezes"],
        "freezes_per_hour": round(totals["freezes"] / hours, 1) if hours else None,
        "freeze_seconds": round(totals["freeze_seconds"], 2),
+        # None from a service that predates the count: its handovers are
+        # among the freezes above.
+        "handover_freezes": totals.get("handover_freezes"),
        "worst_interval_ms": (round(totals["worst_interval_ms"], 1)
                              if totals["worst_interval_ms"] else None),
        "timing_ms": {name: percentiles(h, bucket_ms)
                      for name, h in delta["histograms"].items()},
        "ops": op_rows(totals),
+        "gc": gc_window(before, after),
    }
    # The rate the panel held while rendering: the typical frame's interval
    # per refresh held. A few percent under the idle rate is normal (the Pi is
@@ -240,6 +278,16 @@ def print_report(report: Dict[str, Any], limit: float) -> None:
    if report["freezes"]:
        print("                   by length: " + ", ".join(
            f"{k}: {v}" for k, v in report["freeze_by"].items()))
+    if report.get("handover_freezes") is not None:
+        print(f"Handover gaps      {report['handover_freezes']}"
+              "  >=250ms before a new screen's first frame; not in the freezes")
+    gc_stats = report.get("gc")
+    if gc_stats:
+        counts, ms = gc_stats["collections"], gc_stats["ms"]
+        print(f"Garbage collection gen0/1/2 {counts[0]}/{counts[1]}/{counts[2]}"
+              f" ({ms[0]}/{ms[1]}/{ms[2]} ms)  >={gc_stats['threshold_ms']:g}ms: "
+              f"{gc_stats['long_pauses']} ({gc_stats['long_ms']} ms)"
+              f"  longest since start {gc_stats['max_ms_since_start']} ms")
    print()
    print(f"{'ms':<18}{'p50':>8}{'p95':>8}{'p99':>8}{'max':>8}")
    for name in ("blit", "wait", "work", "interval_per_hold"):
@@ -5,11 +5,18 @@ This directory contains scripts for installing and configuring the LEDMatrix sys
 ## Scripts

 - **`one-shot-install.sh`** - Single-command installer; clones the
-  repo, checks prerequisites, then runs `first_time_install.sh`.
-  Invoked via `curl ... | bash` from the project root README.
+  repo, checks out the newest release (or `main` with
+  `LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta`), checks prerequisites, then runs
+  `first_time_install.sh`. Invoked via `curl ... | bash` from the project
+  root README. Re-running it never moves a checkout to an older version.
 - **`install_service.sh`** - Installs, enables and starts the display
  service (`ledmatrix.service`), the web interface service
-  (`ledmatrix-web.service`) and the update-verify units (systemd)
+  (`ledmatrix-web.service`) and the update-verify units (systemd), and
+  installs `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units`
+- **`ledmatrix_refresh_units.py`** - Not run from here: `install_service.sh`
+  installs a root-owned copy as `/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units`,
+  which updates run through sudo to install changed units (and the
+  automatic update's rollback, with `--restore`, to put them back)
 - **`install_web_service.sh`** - Installs only the web interface service
  and the update-verify units (systemd)
 - **`install_wifi_monitor.sh`** - Installs the WiFi monitor daemon service
@@ -34,6 +41,9 @@ Libraries (sourced, not run):
  script that renders a unit from `systemd/*.service`
 - **`lib_lowmem.sh`** - Build-job sizing and temporary swap for the C++
  build on low-memory Pis (`first_time_install.sh` Step 6)
+- **`lib_os.sh`** - Which releases (Bookworm, Trixie) and Python versions
+  (3.11-3.13) the installer accepts, and which service runs the network;
+  shared by `first_time_install.sh` and `scripts/check_system_compatibility.sh`

 ## Usage

@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ echo "- View system logs via journalctl"
 echo "- Reboot and shutdown the system"
 echo "- Remove plugin directories (for update/uninstall when root-owned files block deletion)"
 echo "- Install plugin/base requirements.txt as root (so ledmatrix.service can see them)"
+echo "- Install the LEDMatrix systemd units an update changed, and restore them on rollback"
+echo "  (/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units, installed by install_service.sh)"
 echo ""

 # Ask for confirmation
@@ -143,6 +143,30 @@ for VERIFY_UNIT in ledmatrix-update-verify.service ledmatrix-update-verify.path;
    fi
 done

+# The helper updates run (through sudo, see lib_sudoers.sh) to install these
+# same units when a new version changes their templates, and to put the old
+# ones back if the automatic update rolls back. Root-owned and outside the
+# checkout, so the web user who owns the checkout cannot change what sudo runs.
+# Not fatal: without it, updates leave the units for the next reinstall.
+REFRESH_UNITS_SRC="$PROJECT_ROOT_DIR/scripts/install/ledmatrix_refresh_units.py"
+REFRESH_UNITS_DEST=/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units
+if [ -f "$REFRESH_UNITS_SRC" ]; then
+    if sudo install -D -o root -g root -m 0755 "$REFRESH_UNITS_SRC" "$REFRESH_UNITS_DEST"; then
+        echo "Installed $REFRESH_UNITS_DEST (lets updates refresh these units)"
+    else
+        echo "WARNING: could not install $REFRESH_UNITS_DEST; updates will not refresh the systemd units" >&2
+    fi
+fi
+# The units above are copied from mktemp files, which are 0600. 0644 is what
+# first_time_install.sh (Step 8.1) sets, and lets the web interface compare
+# them with the templates after an update without root.
+for INSTALLED_UNIT in ledmatrix.service ledmatrix-web.service \
+        ledmatrix-update-verify.service ledmatrix-update-verify.path; do
+    if [ -f "/etc/systemd/system/$INSTALLED_UNIT" ]; then
+        sudo chmod 644 "/etc/systemd/system/$INSTALLED_UNIT" || true
+    fi
+done
+
 echo "Reloading systemd daemon for web service..."
 sudo systemctl daemon-reload

@@ -0,0 +1,451 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3 -I
+"""Refresh the installed LEDMatrix systemd units from the checkout's templates.
+
+Installed by scripts/install/install_service.sh as a root-owned copy,
+/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units, and granted to the web interface's
+user by /etc/sudoers.d/ledmatrix_web (scripts/install/lib_sudoers.sh) with
+exactly two command lines:
+
+    ledmatrix-refresh-units              (no arguments)
+    ledmatrix-refresh-units --restore
+
+An update (Update Code, or the weekly automatic update) pulls new unit
+templates into systemd/, but the units systemd runs are the copies in
+/etc/systemd/system, which only the installer used to write. So a setting
+added to a template -- the render-loop watchdog, a memory limit -- never
+reached a device that was already installed. After an update the web
+interface runs this, and the next restart picks the new units up.
+
+* **No arguments:** render each installed unit from systemd/<unit> exactly as
+  install_service.sh does (__PROJECT_ROOT_DIR__ and __USER__ replaced
+  literally), and install the ones whose content differs (comments and blank
+  lines aside, as src/startup_validator.py compares them), then
+  ``systemctl daemon-reload``. The units replaced are saved first, so the
+  automatic update's rollback can put them back.
+* ``--restore``: put back the units the last refresh replaced, and
+  daemon-reload. Nothing saved means nothing to do.
+* ``--check``: print the units that would change, one per line. Needs no
+  root and changes nothing.
+
+What it trusts, and why. It takes no other input: the project directory and
+the web interface's user come from the installed, root-owned
+ledmatrix.service and ledmatrix-web.service, not from the caller, and sudo
+strips the caller's environment (``-I`` ignores the PYTHON* variables too).
+It only replaces units that are already installed, only the four
+install_service.sh installs, and only with a rendering that keeps each unit's
+User= (root for the display, the web user for the others) and
+WorkingDirectory=. The templates are files the web user can edit -- but so is
+run.py, which ledmatrix.service already runs as root, so a template grants
+nothing that user did not have; the checks keep a damaged or hostile template
+from changing who a unit runs as, and keep this from reading anything but a
+regular file under the checkout's systemd/ folder.
+
+Standard library only, and no imports from the checkout: the installed copy
+must not run code the web user can change.
+"""
+import json
+import os
+import re
+import stat
+import subprocess  # nosec B404 - fixed argv, no shell  # nosemgrep
+import sys
+import tempfile
+
+SYSTEMD_DIR = '/etc/systemd/system'
+#: Root-only: the units the last refresh replaced, for --restore.
+BACKUP_DIR = '/var/lib/ledmatrix/unit-backup'
+MANIFEST = 'manifest.json'
+INSTALLED_PATH = '/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units'
+
+DISPLAY_UNIT = 'ledmatrix.service'
+WEB_UNIT = 'ledmatrix-web.service'
+VERIFY_SERVICE = 'ledmatrix-update-verify.service'
+VERIFY_PATH = 'ledmatrix-update-verify.path'
+#: What install_service.sh installs, in its order. Nothing else is touched.
+UNITS = (DISPLAY_UNIT, WEB_UNIT, VERIFY_SERVICE, VERIFY_PATH)
+
+MAX_TEMPLATE_BYTES = 64 * 1024
+_USER_RE = re.compile(r'^[a-z_][a-z0-9_-]{0,31}$')
+#: systemd expands % specifiers, and a quote, backslash or line break would
+#: be reinterpreted in a unit file (src/auto_update_setup.py refuses the same).
+#: (On Windows, where the tests also run, a backslash is the path separator.)
+_UNSAFE_PATH_CHARS = set('%"') | ({'\\'} if os.sep == '/' else set())
+
+EXIT_OK = 0
+EXIT_FAILED = 1
+EXIT_USAGE = 2
+
+
+class RefreshError(Exception):
+    """Why the units were left alone, in words for the web interface's log."""
+
+
+class UnitsUnreadable(RefreshError):
+    """An installed unit is not readable by this (unprivileged) user.
+
+    install_service.sh used to leave units mode 0600 (first_time_install.sh's
+    Step 8.1 makes them 0644), so ``--check`` as the web user cannot always
+    tell; the root helper itself can.
+    """
+
+
+def directive_values(text, key):
+    """Every value of ``key=`` in a unit's text, in order (systemd allows spaces around ``=``)."""
+    return [m.group(1).strip() for m in re.finditer(rf'^[ \t]*{key}[ \t]*=(.*)$', text or '', re.M)]
+
+
+def layout_problem(text, section, keys):
+    """What would make ``directive_values`` misread the unit as systemd reads it, or None.
+
+    A ``User=`` inside a backslash-continued line is part of the line before,
+    and one under [Unit] is ignored, so either could pass a check that systemd
+    then does not apply. Neither appears in the shipped templates.
+    """
+    current = None
+    for raw in (text or '').splitlines():
+        line = raw.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith(('#', ';')):
+            continue
+        if line.endswith('\\'):
+            return 'continues a line with a backslash'
+        if line.startswith('[') and line.endswith(']'):
+            current = line[1:-1]
+            continue
+        key = line.split('=', 1)[0].strip()
+        if key in keys and current != section:
+            return f'sets {key}= outside [{section}]'
+    return None
+
+
+def unit_body(text):
+    """A unit's meaningful lines in order: no comments, no blank lines.
+
+    The same comparison src/startup_validator.py uses for its drift warning,
+    so what this refreshes is exactly what that warns about.
+    """
+    lines = []
+    for line in (text or '').splitlines():
+        line = line.strip()
+        if line and not line.startswith('#'):
+            lines.append(line)
+    return '\n'.join(lines)
+
+
+def render(template, project_root, user):
+    """install_service.sh's ``sed "s|__PROJECT_ROOT_DIR__|...|g; s|__USER__|...|g"``."""
+    return template.replace('__PROJECT_ROOT_DIR__', project_root).replace('__USER__', user)
+
+
+def _read_regular(path, limit=MAX_TEMPLATE_BYTES, dir_fd=None):
+    """A regular file's text, never through a symlink, a FIFO or a device."""
+    flags = os.O_RDONLY | getattr(os, 'O_NOFOLLOW', 0) | getattr(os, 'O_NONBLOCK', 0)
+    kwargs = {'dir_fd': dir_fd} if dir_fd is not None else {}
+    fd = os.open(path, flags, **kwargs)
+    try:
+        info = os.fstat(fd)
+        if not stat.S_ISREG(info.st_mode):
+            raise RefreshError(f'{path} is not a regular file')
+        if info.st_size > limit:
+            raise RefreshError(f'{path} is larger than {limit} bytes')
+        data = b''
+        while True:
+            chunk = os.read(fd, limit + 1 - len(data))
+            if not chunk:
+                break
+            data += chunk
+            if len(data) > limit:
+                raise RefreshError(f'{path} is larger than {limit} bytes')
+    finally:
+        os.close(fd)
+    if b'\0' in data:
+        raise RefreshError(f'{path} is not a text file')
+    try:
+        return data.decode('utf-8')
+    except UnicodeDecodeError as e:
+        raise RefreshError(f'{path} is not UTF-8') from e
+
+
+def _read_installed(systemd_dir, name):
+    path = os.path.join(systemd_dir, name)
+    try:
+        with open(path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+            return f.read()
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return None
+    except PermissionError as e:
+        raise UnitsUnreadable(f'cannot read the installed {name}: {e}') from e
+    except (OSError, UnicodeDecodeError) as e:
+        raise RefreshError(f'cannot read the installed {name}: {e}') from e
+
+
+def _lookup_user(user):
+    try:
+        import pwd
+    except ImportError:  # not a POSIX host (the tests on Windows)
+        return True
+    try:
+        pwd.getpwnam(user)
+        return True
+    except KeyError:
+        return False
+
+
+class Refresher:
+    def __init__(self, systemd_dir=SYSTEMD_DIR, backup_dir=BACKUP_DIR, run=subprocess.run,
+                 is_root=None, user_exists=_lookup_user, log=None):
+        self.systemd_dir = systemd_dir
+        self.backup_dir = backup_dir
+        self.run = run
+        self.is_root = is_root or (lambda: hasattr(os, 'geteuid') and os.geteuid() == 0)
+        self.user_exists = user_exists
+        self.log = log or (lambda msg: print(msg, flush=True))
+
+    # -- what the installed units say -------------------------------------
+
+    def context(self, installed):
+        """(project root, web user) from the installed, root-owned units."""
+        display = installed.get(DISPLAY_UNIT)
+        if display is None:
+            raise RefreshError(f'{DISPLAY_UNIT} is not installed; run scripts/install/install_service.sh')
+        roots = directive_values(display, 'WorkingDirectory')
+        if len(roots) != 1:
+            raise RefreshError(f'the installed {DISPLAY_UNIT} does not name one WorkingDirectory')
+        root = roots[0]
+        if (not os.path.isabs(root) or any(ch in _UNSAFE_PATH_CHARS or ord(ch) < 32 for ch in root)
+                or os.path.normpath(root) != root):
+            raise RefreshError(f'the installed {DISPLAY_UNIT} runs from {root!r}, which cannot be used')
+        if not os.path.isdir(root):
+            raise RefreshError(f'{root} (the installed {DISPLAY_UNIT} WorkingDirectory) does not exist')
+
+        user = None
+        web = installed.get(WEB_UNIT)
+        if web is not None:
+            users = directive_values(web, 'User')
+            user = users[0] if len(users) == 1 else ('root' if not users else None)
+            if user is None or not _USER_RE.match(user) or not self.user_exists(user):
+                raise RefreshError(f'the installed {WEB_UNIT} runs as an account that cannot be used')
+            if directive_values(web, 'WorkingDirectory') != [root]:
+                raise RefreshError(f'the installed {WEB_UNIT} and {DISPLAY_UNIT} run from different folders')
+        return root, user
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def expected_user(name, web_user):
+        return 'root' if name == DISPLAY_UNIT else web_user
+
+    def _template(self, root, name):
+        """systemd/<name> under the checkout, as a regular file, never via a symlink."""
+        dir_flags = os.O_RDONLY | getattr(os, 'O_DIRECTORY', 0) | getattr(os, 'O_NOFOLLOW', 0)
+        if os.open in getattr(os, 'supports_dir_fd', set()):
+            try:
+                dfd = os.open(os.path.join(root, 'systemd'), dir_flags)
+            except OSError as e:
+                raise RefreshError(f'cannot open {root}/systemd: {e}') from e
+            try:
+                return _read_regular(name, dir_fd=dfd)
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                return None
+            except OSError as e:
+                raise RefreshError(f'cannot read systemd/{name}: {e}') from e
+            finally:
+                os.close(dfd)
+        path = os.path.join(root, 'systemd', name)
+        if os.path.islink(os.path.join(root, 'systemd')):
+            raise RefreshError(f'{root}/systemd is a symlink')
+        try:
+            return _read_regular(path)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return None
+        except OSError as e:
+            raise RefreshError(f'cannot read systemd/{name}: {e}') from e
+
+    def _validate(self, name, rendered, root, user):
+        problem = layout_problem(rendered, 'Service', ('User', 'WorkingDirectory'))
+        if problem:
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} {problem}; refusing to install it')
+        if directive_values(rendered, 'User') != [user]:
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} would not run as {user}; refusing to install it')
+        if directive_values(rendered, 'WorkingDirectory') != [root]:
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} would not run from {root}; refusing to install it')
+
+    def plan(self):
+        """{unit: (installed text, new text)} for every installed unit that would change.
+
+        Raises RefreshError, and so changes nothing, if any unit cannot be
+        rendered safely: four units refreshed as a set or not at all.
+        """
+        installed = {name: _read_installed(self.systemd_dir, name) for name in UNITS}
+        root, web_user = self.context(installed)
+        changes = {}
+        for name in UNITS:
+            current = installed[name]
+            if current is None:
+                continue  # never installed here: installing is the installer's job
+            user = self.expected_user(name, web_user)
+            if user is None:
+                continue  # the web unit is not installed, so neither is its user
+            template = self._template(root, name)
+            if template is None:
+                continue  # a version without this unit leaves the installed one alone
+            rendered = render(template, root, user)
+            # A path unit runs nothing itself; what matters is what it starts.
+            if name.endswith('.service'):
+                self._validate(name, rendered, root, user)
+            else:
+                self._validate_path(name, rendered)
+            if unit_body(rendered) != unit_body(current):
+                changes[name] = (current, rendered)
+        return changes
+
+    def _validate_path(self, name, rendered):
+        problem = layout_problem(rendered, 'Path', ('Unit',))
+        if problem:
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} {problem}; refusing to install it')
+        if directive_values(rendered, 'Unit') != [VERIFY_SERVICE]:
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} does not start {VERIFY_SERVICE}; refusing to install it')
+        if directive_values(rendered, 'User'):
+            raise RefreshError(f'systemd/{name} sets User=; refusing to install it')
+
+    # -- writing ------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _write_unit(self, name, text):
+        fd, tmp = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=self.systemd_dir, prefix=f'.{name}.')
+        try:
+            with os.fdopen(fd, 'w', encoding='utf-8', newline='\n') as f:
+                f.write(text)
+            os.chmod(tmp, 0o644)
+            os.replace(tmp, os.path.join(self.systemd_dir, name))
+        except BaseException:
+            try:
+                os.unlink(tmp)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+            raise
+
+    def _backup_dir(self):
+        """The backup folder, created root-only; refused if it is not a plain folder."""
+        os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(self.backup_dir), mode=0o755, exist_ok=True)
+        try:
+            os.mkdir(self.backup_dir, 0o700)
+        except FileExistsError:
+            pass
+        info = os.lstat(self.backup_dir)
+        if not stat.S_ISDIR(info.st_mode):
+            raise RefreshError(f'{self.backup_dir} is not a folder')
+        if hasattr(os, 'geteuid') and info.st_uid != os.geteuid():
+            raise RefreshError(f'{self.backup_dir} is not owned by root')
+        return self.backup_dir
+
+    def _clear_backup(self, folder):
+        for entry in os.listdir(folder):
+            path = os.path.join(folder, entry)
+            if os.path.isfile(path) or os.path.islink(path):
+                os.unlink(path)
+
+    def _systemctl(self, *args):
+        result = self.run(['systemctl', *args], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+        if result.returncode != 0:
+            raise RefreshError(f'"systemctl {" ".join(args)}" failed: '
+                               f'{(result.stderr or result.stdout or "").strip()}')
+
+    def _restart_path_unit_if_active(self, names):
+        """A rewritten path unit watches the old path until it is restarted."""
+        if VERIFY_PATH not in names:
+            return
+        state = self.run(['systemctl', 'is-active', VERIFY_PATH], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
+        if (state.stdout or '').strip() == 'active':
+            self._systemctl('restart', VERIFY_PATH)
+
+    def refresh(self):
+        if not self.is_root():
+            raise RefreshError('must run as root (sudo)')
+        changes = self.plan()
+        folder = self._backup_dir()
+        # Always reset: the backup belongs to this refresh, so a --restore
+        # after an update that changed nothing restores nothing.
+        self._clear_backup(folder)
+        if not changes:
+            self.log('units: up to date')
+            return []
+        for name, (current, _) in changes.items():
+            with open(os.path.join(folder, name), 'w', encoding='utf-8', newline='\n') as f:
+                f.write(current)
+        with open(os.path.join(folder, MANIFEST), 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
+            json.dump({'units': sorted(changes)}, f)
+        try:
+            for name, (_, rendered) in changes.items():
+                self._write_unit(name, rendered)
+            self._systemctl('daemon-reload')
+        except BaseException:
+            # A failed refresh is reported as a failure, so the update records
+            # no units_refreshed and a rollback would not --restore. Put the
+            # replaced units back now, rather than leave a half-written set
+            # under the old code.
+            self._undo(changes, folder)
+            raise
+        self._restart_path_unit_if_active(changes)
+        self.log('units refreshed: ' + ' '.join(sorted(changes)))
+        return sorted(changes)
+
+    def _undo(self, changes, folder):
+        """Best effort: reinstall the units a failed refresh replaced."""
+        undone = True
+        for name, (current, _) in changes.items():
+            try:
+                self._write_unit(name, current)
+            except OSError as e:
+                undone = False
+                self.log(f'units: could not put back {name}: {e}')
+        try:
+            self.run(['systemctl', 'daemon-reload'], capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=60)
+        except (OSError, subprocess.SubprocessError) as e:
+            self.log(f'units: daemon-reload after putting units back failed: {e}')
+        if undone:
+            # Nothing is left to restore; keep the backup only if a unit could
+            # not be put back, so a manual --restore still can.
+            self._clear_backup(folder)
+
+    def restore(self):
+        if not self.is_root():
+            raise RefreshError('must run as root (sudo)')
+        folder = self._backup_dir()
+        try:
+            manifest = json.loads(_read_regular(os.path.join(folder, MANIFEST)))
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            self.log('units: nothing to restore')
+            return []
+        names = [n for n in (manifest or {}).get('units', []) if n in UNITS]
+        for name in names:
+            self._write_unit(name, _read_regular(os.path.join(folder, name)))
+        self._systemctl('daemon-reload')
+        self._restart_path_unit_if_active(names)
+        self._clear_backup(folder)
+        self.log('units restored: ' + ' '.join(names))
+        return names
+
+
+def main(argv, refresher=None):
+    args = argv[1:]
+    if args not in ([], ['--restore'], ['--check']):
+        print('usage: ledmatrix-refresh-units [--restore | --check]', file=sys.stderr)
+        return EXIT_USAGE
+    refresher = refresher or Refresher()
+    try:
+        if args == ['--check']:
+            for name in sorted(refresher.plan()):
+                print(name)
+        elif args == ['--restore']:
+            refresher.restore()
+        else:
+            refresher.refresh()
+    except (RefreshError, OSError, subprocess.SubprocessError, ValueError) as e:
+        print(f'ledmatrix-refresh-units: {e}', file=sys.stderr)
+        return EXIT_FAILED
+    return EXIT_OK
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # Only as the installed program: sudo already sets a secure PATH, and
+    # this pins the one systemctl comes from. (Not in main(), which the
+    # tests call in-process.)
+    os.environ['PATH'] = '/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin'
+    sys.exit(main(sys.argv))
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Which operating systems and Python versions LEDMatrix installs on.
+#
+# Sourced by first_time_install.sh and scripts/check_system_compatibility.sh,
+# so the installer and the compatibility checker cannot disagree about what
+# is supported. Pure functions: nothing here installs, changes or exits --
+# the callers decide what to do with the answers.
+#
+# Supported (Lite, no desktop):
+#   Raspberry Pi OS / Debian 12 "Bookworm" -- Python 3.11
+#   Raspberry Pi OS / Debian 13 "Trixie"   -- Python 3.13
+#
+# Everything the installer asks apt for (python3-pip, python3-venv,
+# python-dev-is-python3, python3-pil, python3-pil.imagetk, build-essential,
+# python3-setuptools, python3-wheel, cmake, ninja-build, git, curl, wget,
+# unzip, and hostapd, dnsmasq, network-manager for WiFi setup) has the same
+# name on both releases. Both ship a pip (23.0.1 and 25.1.1) that is PEP 668
+# "externally managed" and accepts --break-system-packages, and a cmake (3.25
+# and 3.31) new enough for the rgbmatrix build (3.22). So no step needs a
+# per-release branch today; if one ever does, the release name comes from
+# lm_os_release below.
+
+# Test hook: the os-release file to read.
+LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE="${LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE:-/etc/os-release}"
+
+# Oldest and newest python3 minor versions the installer accepts. 3.11 is
+# Bookworm's, and also the floor of the rgbmatrix bindings (requires-python
+# >=3.11 in rpi-rgb-led-matrix-master/pyproject.toml); 3.13 is Trixie's.
+LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR=11
+LM_PYTHON_MAX_MINOR=13
+
+# lm_os_field KEY -- one value from os-release with its quotes removed; empty
+# when the key or the file is missing. Parsed rather than sourced so that
+# os-release's ID, VERSION and friends do not land in the caller's variables.
+lm_os_field() {
+    [ -r "$LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE" ] || return 0
+    sed -n "/^$1=/{s/^$1=//;s/^[\"']//;s/[\"']\$//;p;q;}" "$LM_OS_RELEASE_FILE"
+}
+
+# lm_os_release -- print "bookworm" or "trixie" and succeed on a supported
+# release; print nothing and fail on anything else. VERSION_ID decides; the
+# codename is used only when VERSION_ID is missing.
+lm_os_release() {
+    local id version
+    id=$(lm_os_field ID)
+    version=$(lm_os_field VERSION_ID)
+    [ -n "$version" ] || version=$(lm_os_field VERSION_CODENAME)
+    case "$id" in
+        raspbian|debian) ;;
+        *) return 1 ;;
+    esac
+    case "$version" in
+        12|bookworm) echo bookworm ;;
+        13|trixie) echo trixie ;;
+        *) return 1 ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# lm_release_label RELEASE -- how to name a release to a person.
+lm_release_label() {
+    case "$1" in
+        bookworm) echo "Debian 12 (Bookworm)" ;;
+        trixie) echo "Debian 13 (Trixie)" ;;
+        *) echo "$1" ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# lm_release_python RELEASE -- the python3 version a release ships, e.g. 3.11.
+lm_release_python() {
+    case "$1" in
+        bookworm) echo 3.11 ;;
+        trixie) echo 3.13 ;;
+        *) return 1 ;;
+    esac
+}
+
+# lm_python_version [PYTHON] -- "3.11" and so on for python3 (or PYTHON);
+# prints nothing and fails when it cannot be run.
+lm_python_version() {
+    "${1:-python3}" -c 'import sys; print("%d.%d" % sys.version_info[:2])' 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+# lm_python_check VERSION -- print "ok", "too-old", "too-new" or "unknown"
+# for a version such as 3.11. Always succeeds, so it is safe under set -e.
+lm_python_check() {
+    local major minor
+    major=${1%%.*}
+    minor=${1#*.}
+    minor=${minor%%.*}
+    case "$major:$minor" in
+        *[!0-9:]*|:*|*:) echo unknown; return 0 ;;
+    esac
+    if [ "$major" -lt 3 ] || { [ "$major" -eq 3 ] && [ "$minor" -lt "$LM_PYTHON_MIN_MINOR" ]; }; then
+        echo too-old
+    elif [ "$major" -gt 3 ] || [ "$minor" -gt "$LM_PYTHON_MAX_MINOR" ]; then
+        echo too-new
+    else
+        echo ok
+    fi
+}
+
+# lm_network_stack -- which service runs the network: "networkmanager",
+# "dhcpcd" or "unknown". Raspberry Pi OS uses NetworkManager on both Bookworm
+# and Trixie; dhcpcd appears when someone switched back to it in raspi-config.
+lm_network_stack() {
+    if systemctl is-active --quiet NetworkManager 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo networkmanager
+    elif systemctl is-active --quiet dhcpcd 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo dhcpcd
+    else
+        echo unknown
+    fi
+}
+
+# lm_print_dhcpcd_advice -- the explanation for a Pi running dhcpcd. WiFi
+# setup from the web page and the LEDMatrix-Setup hotspot both drive
+# NetworkManager (nmcli). The installer does not switch the network stack
+# itself: doing that over SSH can cut the connection it is running on.
+lm_print_dhcpcd_advice() {
+    echo "⚠ This Pi manages its network with dhcpcd, not NetworkManager."
+    echo "  LEDMatrix installs and the display works, but choosing a WiFi network"
+    echo "  from the web page and the LEDMatrix-Setup hotspot both need NetworkManager."
+    echo "  To switch (with a keyboard and screen attached, or over Ethernet):"
+    echo "    sudo raspi-config  ->  Advanced Options  ->  Network Config  ->  NetworkManager"
+    echo "  then reboot."
+}
+
+# lm_print_supported_os_help -- what to do on an unsupported system.
+lm_print_supported_os_help() {
+    echo "LEDMatrix needs Raspberry Pi OS Lite: Trixie (Debian 13) or Bookworm (Debian 12)."
+    echo ""
+    echo "To install Raspberry Pi OS Lite:"
+    echo "  1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager from: https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/"
+    echo "  2. Choose 'Raspberry Pi OS Lite (64-bit)'. Trixie is the current version and"
+    echo "     is recommended; Bookworm (listed as Legacy) also works"
+    echo "  3. Flash it to the SD card"
+    echo "  4. Boot the Pi and run this script again"
+}
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@
 #
 # Add or remove a grant here and nowhere else.

+# Root-owned copy of scripts/install/ledmatrix_refresh_units.py, installed by
+# install_service.sh. Outside the checkout on purpose: the web user owns the
+# checkout, so a granted file inside it could be rewritten and run as root.
+LEDMATRIX_REFRESH_UNITS_PATH=/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units
+
 # web_sudoers_rules WEB_USER PROJECT_ROOT SYSTEMCTL_PATH BASH_PATH REBOOT_PATH POWEROFF_PATH JOURNALCTL_PATH
 #
 # Print the ledmatrix_web sudoers rules to stdout.
@@ -58,6 +63,10 @@ $WEB_USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: $BASH_PATH $PROJECT_ROOT/scripts/fix_perms/safe_pl
 # Install a requirements.txt as root via vetted helper, so packages are visible
 # to root-run ledmatrix.service (not just the web interface's own user).
 $WEB_USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: $BASH_PATH $PROJECT_ROOT/scripts/fix_perms/safe_pip_install.sh *
+# After an update, install the new systemd units (no arguments: "" allows none)
+# and, on the automatic update's rollback, put the previous ones back.
+$WEB_USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: $LEDMATRIX_REFRESH_UNITS_PATH ""
+$WEB_USER ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: $LEDMATRIX_REFRESH_UNITS_PATH --restore
 EOF
    if [ -n "$JOURNALCTL_PATH" ]; then
        cat << EOF
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 # LED Matrix One-Shot Installation Script
 # This script provides a single-command installation experience
 # Usage: curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChuckBuilds/LEDMatrix/main/scripts/install/one-shot-install.sh | bash
+#
+# A new install runs the newest release (the stable update channel). For the
+# newest code from main instead (the beta channel), set LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta:
+#   curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChuckBuilds/LEDMatrix/main/scripts/install/one-shot-install.sh | LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=beta bash

 set -Eeuo pipefail

@@ -205,6 +209,114 @@ check_sudo() {
    print_success "Sudo access confirmed"
 }

+# --- release checkout helpers ------------------------------------------------
+# Which version an install runs. The rules are web_interface/update_channel.py's,
+# so the installer and the web interface's updates agree:
+#   stable (default)  the newest vX.Y.Z tag by semantic version; pre-releases
+#                     (v3.8.0-rc1), leading zeros and other tags are ignored
+#   beta              main, the newest code
+# Never backwards: an existing checkout moves to a release only when that
+# release contains its current commit (git merge-base --is-ancestor).
+# Never fatal: whatever goes wrong, the install carries on with the checkout
+# as it is.
+
+# Print "stable" or "beta": LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL when it is set, else the
+# existing install's auto_update.channel (CONFIG_FILE), else stable.
+_lm_channel() {
+    local config_file="${1:-}" value
+    value=$(printf '%s' "${LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL:-}" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]' | tr -d '[:space:]')
+    case "$value" in
+        stable|beta) printf '%s\n' "$value"; return 0 ;;
+        "") ;;
+        *) print_warning "LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL=${LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL} is not stable or beta; using stable" >&2
+           printf 'stable\n'; return 0 ;;
+    esac
+    if [ -n "$config_file" ] && [ -f "$config_file" ] && command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        value=$(python3 - "$config_file" 2>/dev/null <<'PY' || true
+import json, sys
+try:
+    with open(sys.argv[1], encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        section = json.load(f).get("auto_update")
+    value = section.get("channel") if isinstance(section, dict) else None
+    print(value.strip().lower() if isinstance(value, str) else "")
+except Exception:
+    print("")
+PY
+)
+        if [ "$value" = "beta" ]; then
+            printf 'beta\n'
+            return 0
+        fi
+    fi
+    printf 'stable\n'
+}
+
+# Print the newest release tag of the repository in the current directory,
+# or nothing when it has none.
+_lm_newest_release_tag() {
+    git tag --list 'v*' 2>/dev/null \
+        | grep -E '^v(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)$' \
+        | sort -t. -k1.2,1n -k2,2n -k3,3n \
+        | tail -n 1 || true
+}
+
+# A fresh clone (on main): move to the newest release unless beta was asked for.
+_lm_checkout_release_after_clone() {
+    local channel tag
+    channel=$(_lm_channel "")
+    if [ "$channel" = "beta" ]; then
+        print_success "Beta channel: installing the newest code from main"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    tag=$(_lm_newest_release_tag)
+    if [ -z "$tag" ]; then
+        print_warning "No release found; installing the newest code from main"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    if git -c advice.detachedHead=false checkout --quiet --detach "${tag}^{commit}"; then
+        print_success "Installing release $tag (stable channel)"
+    else
+        print_warning "Could not check out release $tag; installing the newest code from main"
+    fi
+    return 0
+}
+
+# An existing checkout: move it forward along its channel, never backwards.
+# Returns 1 when it should be updated the way it always was (a fast-forward
+# pull of its branch): beta, or stable on a branch newer than every release.
+_lm_update_existing_checkout() {
+    local channel tag head tag_sha
+    channel=$(_lm_channel "config/config.json")
+    if [ "$channel" = "beta" ]; then
+        return 1
+    fi
+    if ! git fetch --quiet --tags --force origin >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        print_warning "Could not fetch release tags; keeping the current version"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    tag=$(_lm_newest_release_tag)
+    head=$(git rev-parse --verify --quiet HEAD 2>/dev/null || true)
+    if [ -n "$tag" ] && [ -n "$head" ] && git merge-base --is-ancestor "$head" "$tag" 2>/dev/null; then
+        tag_sha=$(git rev-parse --verify --quiet "${tag}^{commit}" 2>/dev/null || true)
+        if [ "$head" = "$tag_sha" ]; then
+            print_success "Already on the newest release, $tag"
+        elif git -c advice.detachedHead=false checkout --quiet --detach "${tag}^{commit}"; then
+            print_success "Updated to release $tag (stable channel)"
+        else
+            print_warning "Could not move to release $tag (local changes?); keeping the current version"
+        fi
+        return 0
+    fi
+    if git symbolic-ref --quiet HEAD >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        # Newer than the newest release (or no release yet): follow the branch
+        # until a release includes this version, as updates do.
+        return 1
+    fi
+    print_success "This checkout is newer than the newest release${tag:+ ($tag)}; leaving it as it is"
+    return 0
+}
+# --- end release checkout helpers --------------------------------------------
+
 # Main installation function
 main() {
    print_step "LED Matrix One-Shot Installation"
@@ -292,7 +404,10 @@ main() {
            
            # Try to safely update current branch first (fast-forward only to avoid unintended merges)
            PULL_SUCCESS=false
-            if git pull --ff-only origin "$CURRENT_BRANCH" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            # Stable: the newest release, if it contains this version.
+            if _lm_update_existing_checkout; then
+                PULL_SUCCESS=true
+            elif git pull --ff-only origin "$CURRENT_BRANCH" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
                print_success "Repository updated successfully (branch: $CURRENT_BRANCH)"
                PULL_SUCCESS=true
            else
@@ -323,10 +438,12 @@ main() {
            rm -rf "$REPO_DIR"
            print_success "Cloning repository..."
            retry git clone "$REPO_URL" "$REPO_DIR"
+            (cd "$REPO_DIR" && _lm_checkout_release_after_clone) || print_warning "Could not choose a release; installing the newest code from main"
        fi
    else
        print_success "Cloning repository to $REPO_DIR..."
        retry git clone "$REPO_URL" "$REPO_DIR"
+        (cd "$REPO_DIR" && _lm_checkout_release_after_clone) || print_warning "Could not choose a release; installing the newest code from main"
    fi
    
    # Verify repository is accessible
@@ -397,6 +514,7 @@ main() {
        sudo -E env TMPDIR=/tmp LEDMATRIX_ASSUME_YES=1 \
            LEDMATRIX_APT_UPDATED="${LEDMATRIX_APT_UPDATED:-0}" \
            LEDMATRIX_AUTO_UPDATE="${LEDMATRIX_AUTO_UPDATE:-}" \
+            LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL="${LEDMATRIX_CHANNEL:-}" \
            bash ./first_time_install.sh -y </dev/null
    fi
    INSTALL_EXIT_CODE=$?
@@ -4,13 +4,14 @@ Alternative dependency installer that tries apt packages first,
 then falls back to pip with --break-system-packages
 """

+import re
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import warnings
 from collections import deque
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import List, Tuple
+from typing import Dict, List, Tuple

 # How many trailing lines of a failed command's output to keep for the
 # end-of-run failure summary. Keeps the root cause near the end of the log,
@@ -81,6 +82,8 @@ def install_via_pip(package_name: str) -> Tuple[bool, str]:

    Returns (success, output).
    """
+    # pip knows PIL as Pillow; the others are asked for by their own name.
+    package_name = _dist_name(package_name)
    print(f"Installing {package_name} via pip...")
    success, output = _run([
        sys.executable, '-m', 'pip', 'install',
@@ -99,26 +102,66 @@ IMPORT_NAME_MAP = {
    'freetype-py': 'freetype',
 }

-# Minimum versions that must be met for an already-installed package to count
-# as satisfied. Debian Bookworm's python3-freetype is 2.3.0, below the
-# freetype-py>=2.5.1 pin in requirements.txt, so an import-only check would
-# wrongly skip the pip upgrade.
-MIN_VERSIONS = {
-    'freetype-py': (2, 5, 1),
+# The packages above are keyed by what main() lists; these are the ones whose
+# pip distribution name differs from that key.
+DIST_NAME_MAP = {
+    'PIL': 'Pillow',
 }

+REQUIREMENTS_FILE = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / 'web_interface' / 'requirements.txt'
+
+
+def _version_tuple(text: str) -> tuple:
+    parts = []
+    for part in text.split('.'):
+        digits = ''.join(ch for ch in part if ch.isdigit())
+        if not digits:
+            break
+        parts.append(int(digits))
+    return tuple(parts)
+
+
+def _requirement_floors(path: Path = REQUIREMENTS_FILE) -> Dict[str, tuple]:
+    """``>=`` floors from a requirements file, keyed by lower-cased name.
+
+    The apt copies of these packages are older than the pins on both
+    supported releases -- Bookworm ships Flask and Werkzeug 2.2.2, Pillow 9.4,
+    requests 2.28, psutil 5.9, pytz 2022.7 and freetype-py 2.3; Trixie ships
+    Flask 3.1.1, Werkzeug 3.1.3, Pillow 11.1 and requests 2.32 --
+    so a package that merely imports is not enough. Read from the file rather
+    than copied here so the two cannot drift.
+    """
+    floors: Dict[str, tuple] = {}
+    try:
+        lines = path.read_text(encoding='utf-8').splitlines()
+    except OSError:
+        return floors
+    for line in lines:
+        match = re.match(r'\s*([A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9._-]*)[^#]*?>=\s*([0-9][0-9.]*)', line)
+        if match:
+            floors[match.group(1).lower()] = _version_tuple(match.group(2))
+    return floors
+
+
+def _dist_name(package_name: str) -> str:
+    return DIST_NAME_MAP.get(package_name, package_name)
+
+
+def _minimum_version(package_name: str) -> tuple:
+    """The required floor for ``package_name``, or () when there is none."""
+    return MIN_VERSIONS.get(_dist_name(package_name).lower(), ())
+
+
+# Minimum versions that must be met for an already-installed package to count
+# as satisfied.
+MIN_VERSIONS = _requirement_floors()
+

 def _installed_version_tuple(dist_name: str) -> tuple:
    """Return the installed distribution version as an int tuple, or () if unknown."""
    try:
        from importlib.metadata import version
-        parts = []
-        for part in version(dist_name).split('.'):
-            digits = ''.join(ch for ch in part if ch.isdigit())
-            if not digits:
-                break
-            parts.append(int(digits))
-        return tuple(parts)
+        return _version_tuple(version(dist_name))
    except Exception:
        return ()

@@ -134,9 +177,9 @@ def check_package_installed(package_name: str) -> bool:
            __import__(import_name)
        except ImportError:
            return False
-    minimum = MIN_VERSIONS.get(package_name)
+    minimum = _minimum_version(package_name)
    if minimum:
-        installed = _installed_version_tuple(package_name)
+        installed = _installed_version_tuple(_dist_name(package_name))
        if not installed or installed < minimum:
            print(f"{package_name} is installed but below the required "
                  f"{'.'.join(map(str, minimum))}; will upgrade via pip")
@@ -188,10 +231,11 @@ def main():
            continue

        # Try apt first, then pip. An apt install only counts if it also
-        # satisfies any minimum version (Debian's python3-freetype can be
-        # older than the freetype-py pin), otherwise fall through to pip.
+        # satisfies the requirements floor (the apt copies of most of these
+        # are older than the pins on both Bookworm and Trixie), otherwise
+        # fall through to pip.
        ok, apt_output = install_via_apt(package)
-        if ok and package in MIN_VERSIONS and not check_package_installed(package):
+        if ok and _minimum_version(package) and not check_package_installed(package):
            ok = False
            apt_output = f"apt version of {package} is below the required minimum"
        if not ok:
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ def main(argv=None) -> int:
        flush_interval=float("inf"),
        info=display._frame_timing_info(),  # pylint: disable=protected-access
        refresh_hz=idle_hz,
+        gc_monitor=frame_timing.install_gc_monitor(),
    )
    recorder.scrolling_now = display._scrolling_now  # pylint: disable=protected-access
    display.frame_timing = recorder
@@ -140,6 +140,14 @@ class _Canonical(ast.NodeTransformer):
        node.annotation = None
        return node

+    def visit_AnnAssign(self, node):
+        # ``x: T = v`` is ``x = v``; a bare ``x: T`` does nothing at runtime.
+        self.generic_visit(node)
+        if node.value is None:
+            return None
+        return ast.copy_location(
+            ast.Assign(targets=[node.target], value=node.value), node)
+

 class _Folded(_Canonical):
    """Canonical, plus sport names folded out of identifiers and strings."""
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ The updater leaves data/auto_update_pending.json:

    {"status": "pending", "old_head": ..., "new_head": ...,
     "old_ref": "main" | "" (detached) | absent (older updaters),
-     "display_was_active": bool, "dependency_failures": [...], "created_at": ...}
+     "display_was_active": bool, "dependency_failures": [...],
+     "units_refreshed": bool (absent from older updaters), "created_at": ...}

 This moves its status to "verifying" and then to one of "success",
 "rolled_back" or "rollback_failed", with "reason" and "detail" saying why.
@@ -74,6 +75,10 @@ BASH_CANDIDATES = ('/usr/bin/bash', '/bin/bash')
 #: ...and, like it, moves to the next one only when sudo refused the command
 #: line (permission_utils.SUDO_REFUSAL_PHRASES), never after pip itself ran.
 SUDO_REFUSAL_PHRASES = ('a password is required', 'is not allowed to run', 'no tty present')
+#: The root-owned helper that installed the update's systemd units
+#: (web_interface/unit_refresh.py); ``--restore`` puts the previous ones back.
+REFRESH_UNITS_PATH = '/usr/local/sbin/ledmatrix-refresh-units'
+UNIT_RESTORE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 90

 #: The longest one health check can take: restart and wait, roll back
 #: (diff, reset, reinstalls), restart and wait again. A wait's last poll can
@@ -81,7 +86,8 @@ SUDO_REFUSAL_PHRASES = ('a password is required', 'is not allowed to run', 'no t
 _WAIT_WORST_SECONDS = (HEALTH_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + STABLE_SECONDS + WEB_CHECK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
                       + 2 * SYSTEMCTL_QUERY_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + POLL_SECONDS)
 WORST_CASE_SECONDS = (2 * (2 * RESTART_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + _WAIT_WORST_SECONDS)
-                      + GIT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + GIT_RESET_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + PIP_BUDGET_SECONDS)
+                      + GIT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + GIT_RESET_TIMEOUT_SECONDS + UNIT_RESTORE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS
+                      + PIP_BUDGET_SECONDS)

 #: What a command that could not run at all reports: its callers only read
 #: these three fields, the same ones a completed subprocess has.
@@ -300,12 +306,26 @@ class Verifier:
        if result.returncode != 0:
            return False, (f'"git reset --hard {old}" failed: '
                           f'{(result.stderr or result.stdout or "").strip()}')
+        notes = []
+        # The update also installed its own systemd units: put the previous
+        # ones back before anything restarts onto the rolled-back code.
+        if pending.get('units_refreshed') and not self.restore_units():
+            notes.append('restoring the previous service settings failed; run '
+                         '"sudo ./scripts/install/install_service.sh" in the LEDMatrix folder')
        deadline = self.clock() + PIP_BUDGET_SECONDS
        failed = [rel for rel in requirements if not self.install_requirements(rel, deadline)]
        if failed:
-            return True, ('reinstalling the previous dependencies from ' + ', '.join(failed)
-                          + ' failed; run Install Base Requirements from the Tools tab')
-        return True, ''
+            notes.append('reinstalling the previous dependencies from ' + ', '.join(failed)
+                         + ' failed; run Install Base Requirements from the Tools tab')
+        return True, '; '.join(notes)
+
+    def restore_units(self):
+        """Reinstall the systemd units the update replaced. True on success."""
+        result = self._run(['sudo', '-n', REFRESH_UNITS_PATH, '--restore'],
+                           timeout=UNIT_RESTORE_TIMEOUT_SECONDS)
+        if result.returncode != 0:
+            self.log(f'restoring the previous systemd units failed: {(result.stderr or "").strip()}')
+        return result.returncode == 0

    # -- the check itself -------------------------------------------------

@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ LEDMatrix Display System
 Core source package for the LED Matrix Display project.
 """

-__version__ = "3.7.0"
+__version__ = "3.8.0"

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ freetype.Face, so it drops straight into DisplayManager.draw_text().
 """

 import logging
+import weakref
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union
@@ -332,9 +333,10 @@ class LayoutContext:
        # a plugin fitting changing text (a live game clock, a ticker) on a
        # 24/7 service would otherwise grow this without bound.
        self._fit_cache: "OrderedDict[Any, FitResult]" = OrderedDict()
-        # LRU-bounded (images are big). Entries hold a strong reference to
-        # the source image when keyed by id() so the id can't be recycled
-        # out from under the cache.
+        # LRU-bounded (images are big). An id()-keyed entry watches its
+        # source image through a weak reference and is dropped when the
+        # source is freed (see fit_image), so the id can't be recycled out
+        # from under the cache and the cache never keeps the source alive.
        self._image_cache: "OrderedDict[Any, Tuple[Any, Any]]" = OrderedDict()

    _IMAGE_CACHE_MAX = 64
@@ -536,8 +538,15 @@ class LayoutContext:
        cached per (image, box size, options) for this panel size.

        Prefer a stable ``cache_key`` (e.g. "logo:KC") for images that get
-        reloaded — the default id()-based key is safe (the entry pins the
-        source image) but misses across reloads of the same content.
+        reloaded — the default id()-based key misses across reloads of the
+        same content.
+
+        An id()-keyed entry lives only as long as its source image: it holds
+        a weak reference and is dropped when the source is freed. It used to
+        pin the source instead, so a plugin passing a freshly loaded image
+        each frame (``draw_image(Image.open(path), box)``, the documented
+        one-liner) never hit and kept the last 64 sources alive — ~64MB for
+        500x500 RGBA team logos, the median size under assets/sports.
        """
        from src.adaptive_images import fit_image as _fit_image

@@ -547,18 +556,31 @@ class LayoutContext:
        key = ("image", identity, img.size, box_w, box_h, mode,
               crop_to_ink, anchor, resample_name, upscale)

-        cached = self._image_cache.get(key)
-        if cached is not None:
-            self._image_cache.move_to_end(key)
+        cache = self._image_cache
+        cached = cache.get(key)
+        # An id()-keyed hit must still be this very image; the callback below
+        # normally removes a dead source's entry before its id can recur.
+        if cached is not None and (cache_key is not None or cached[1]() is img):
+            cache.move_to_end(key)
            return cached[0]

        result = _fit_image(img, (box_w, box_h), mode=mode,
                            crop_to_ink=crop_to_ink, anchor=anchor,
                            resample=resample, upscale=upscale)
-        # Pin the source only for id()-keyed entries (see docstring).
-        self._image_cache[key] = (result, img if cache_key is None else None)
-        while len(self._image_cache) > self._IMAGE_CACHE_MAX:
-            self._image_cache.popitem(last=False)
+        source = None
+        if cache_key is None:
+            def _forget(ref: Any, key: Any = key) -> None:
+                entry = cache.get(key)
+                if entry is not None and entry[1] is ref:
+                    cache.pop(key, None)
+            try:
+                source = weakref.ref(img, _forget)
+            except TypeError:
+                # Not weak-referenceable: pin it, as before.
+                source = lambda img=img: img  # noqa: E731
+        cache[key] = (result, source)
+        while len(cache) > self._IMAGE_CACHE_MAX:
+            cache.popitem(last=False)
        return result

    # ---- text utilities ------------------------------------------------
@@ -27,6 +27,14 @@ from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 import pytz
 from src.cache_manager import CacheManager
 from src.common.json_body import response_json
+from src.common.fetch_service import (
+    current_plugin_id,
+    fetch_get,
+    get_fetch_service,
+    plugin_scope,
+    share_connection_pool,
+)
+from src.common.espn_payload import is_espn_scoreboard_url, slim_scoreboard_payload
 from src.common.espn_dates import (
    RANGE_RETRY_SECONDS,
    _note_range_rejected,
@@ -76,8 +84,15 @@ class FetchRequest:
    # the cache with the callbacks suppressed -- joiners waiting forever for a
    # fetch that did, in fact, succeed.
    commit_claimed: bool = False
+    # Trim an ESPN scoreboard response before it is cached and delivered
+    # (src/common/espn_payload.py). Set by whoever created the request; a
+    # submitter that joins the fetch gets the same payload.
+    slim_payload: bool = True
    result: Optional[Any] = None
    error: Optional[str] = None
+    # The plugin that submitted the request, so the fetch service counts the
+    # worker's requests against it (fetch_service, caller identity).
+    owner: Optional[str] = None

@dataclass
 class FetchResult:
@@ -119,6 +134,12 @@ class _ConnectionRetryingSession:
    def __init__(self, session):
        self._session = session

+    @property
+    def fetch_identity_session(self):
+        """The wrapped Session, whose headers and adapter the fetch service
+        reads to key this request (src/common/fetch_service.py)."""
+        return self._session
+
    def get(self, *args, **kwargs):
        for attempt in range(self.ATTEMPTS):
            try:
@@ -196,9 +217,12 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
        # connection errors three times, a dead network cost up to 16
        # connection attempts per request and held one of the few worker
        # threads for all of them.
+        #
+        # The adapter is the fetch service's shared no-retry one: the same
+        # max_retries=0, with the connection pool shared with the other core
+        # sessions that do not retry (the odds managers).
        self.session = requests.Session()
-        self.session.mount('http://', requests.adapters.HTTPAdapter(max_retries=0))
-        self.session.mount('https://', requests.adapters.HTTPAdapter(max_retries=0))
+        share_connection_pool(self.session, max_retries=0)
        
        # Default headers: core's shared set (real User-Agent, no hand-set
        # Accept-Encoding) -- see src/common/api_helper.py.
@@ -230,7 +254,8 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
                           timeout: Optional[int] = None,
                           max_retries: int = 3,
                           priority: int = 1,
-                           callback: Optional[Callable] = None) -> str:
+                           callback: Optional[Callable] = None,
+                           slim_payload: bool = True) -> str:
        """
        Submit a background fetch request.
        
@@ -246,6 +271,11 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
            priority: Accepted for compatibility and ignored; requests run in
                submission order.
            callback: Optional callback function when request completes
+            slim_payload: Drop the parts of an ESPN scoreboard response no
+                scoreboard reads (stat leaders, athlete cards, links,
+                headlines, highlights) before caching it; see
+                src/common/espn_payload.py. Only ESPN /scoreboard URLs are
+                touched. Pass False to cache the response whole.
            
        Returns:
            Request ID for tracking the fetch operation
@@ -299,6 +329,10 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
        if url.split('?', 1)[0].rstrip('/').endswith('/scoreboard'):
            params = clamp_espn_limit(params)

+        # Who asked, resolved on the submitting thread: the worker thread
+        # runs no plugin code, so it could not tell (fetch_service).
+        owner = current_plugin_id()
+
        # Create fetch request
        request = FetchRequest(
            id=request_id,
@@ -311,7 +345,9 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
            timeout=timeout or self.request_timeout,
            max_retries=max_retries,
            priority=priority,
-            callback=callback
+            callback=callback,
+            owner=owner,
+            slim_payload=slim_payload,
        )
        
        with self._lock:
@@ -330,6 +366,7 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
                self.stats['deduplicated_requests'] = (
                    self.stats.get('deduplicated_requests', 0) + 1
                )
+                get_fetch_service().note_merged(url, owner)
                logger.info(
                    "Joined in-flight fetch %s for %s (cache_key=%s) instead of "
                    "starting a duplicate", existing_id, sport, cache_key
@@ -357,6 +394,11 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
        Returns:
            Fetch result with data or error information
        """
+        with plugin_scope(request.owner):
+            return self._fetch_data_worker_scoped(request)
+
+    def _fetch_data_worker_scoped(self, request: FetchRequest) -> FetchResult:
+        """_fetch_data_worker's body, run with the submitter as the caller."""
        start_time = time.time()
        result = FetchResult(request_id=request.id, success=False, retry_count=request.retry_count)
        
@@ -467,6 +509,13 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
                )
                return result

+            # Most of an ESPN scoreboard response is never drawn, and the
+            # cached copy stays parsed in the memory tier while it is fresh.
+            # Trimmed before the write so the cache, request.result and the
+            # callbacks all see the same payload. See src/common/espn_payload.py.
+            if request.slim_payload and is_espn_scoreboard_url(request.url):
+                slim_scoreboard_payload(data)
+
            # Cache the data
            self.cache_manager.set(request.cache_key, data)
            
@@ -621,8 +670,14 @@ class BackgroundDataService:
        
        for attempt in range(request.max_retries + 1):
            try:
-                response = self.session.get(
+                # Not shared with an identical request in flight: this
+                # service cancels and replaces fetches, and a replacement
+                # must not join the one it replaced. Its own cache_key
+                # dedup already merges what should be merged.
+                response = fetch_get(
+                    self.session,
                    request.url,
+                    share_in_flight=False,
                    params=request.params,
                    headers=request.headers,
                    timeout=request.timeout
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ import json
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, List, cast

 from src.common.api_helper import DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS
+from src.common.fetch_service import fetch_get, share_connection_pool
+from src.common.json_body import response_json



@@ -59,7 +61,13 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
        # Deliberately no retry adapter, unlike api_helper: retries multiply
        # request_timeout, which is set to 5s precisely to stay inside that
        # budget. One try, then the cooldown below.
+        #
+        # Every scoreboard league manager builds one of these, so the session
+        # mounts the fetch service's shared no-retry adapter: the same single
+        # try, over one connection pool per host for all of them instead of
+        # one pool per instance.
        self.session = requests.Session()
+        share_connection_pool(self.session, max_retries=0)
        self.session.headers.update(DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS)
        
        # Configuration with defaults
@@ -139,7 +147,7 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
            if _is_no_odds_marker(cached_data):
                self.logger.debug("Cached no-odds marker for %s", cache_key)
                return None
-            self.logger.debug(f"Using cached odds from ESPN for {cache_key}")
+            self.logger.debug("Using cached odds from ESPN for %s", cache_key)
            return cached_data

        if time.monotonic() < self._skip_network_until:
@@ -152,7 +160,7 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
                self._skip_network_until - time.monotonic())
            return None

-        self.logger.debug(f"Cache miss - fetching fresh odds from ESPN for {cache_key}")
+        self.logger.debug("Cache miss - fetching fresh odds from ESPN for %s", cache_key)

        try:
            # Map league names to ESPN API format
@@ -166,23 +174,30 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
            
            espn_league = league_mapping.get(league, league)
            url = f"{self.base_url}/{sport}/leagues/{espn_league}/events/{event_id}/competitions/{event_id}/odds"
-            self.logger.debug(f"Requesting odds from URL: {url}")
+            self.logger.debug("Requesting odds from URL: %s", url)
            
-            response = self.session.get(url, timeout=self.request_timeout)
+            # The response cache may answer only inside this caller's own
+            # interval, the age at which its cached odds expire anyway.
+            response = fetch_get(self.session, url, timeout=self.request_timeout,
+                                 cache_max_age=interval)
            response.raise_for_status()
-            raw_data = response.json()
+            raw_data = response_json(response)

            self._skip_network_until = 0.0   # reachable again

-            self.logger.debug(f"Received raw odds data from ESPN: {json.dumps(raw_data, indent=2)}")
+            # Guarded, not just %-style: the json.dumps argument would still be
+            # built for every response with DEBUG off.
+            if self.logger.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
+                self.logger.debug("Received raw odds data from ESPN: %s",
+                                  json.dumps(raw_data, indent=2))
            
            odds_data = self._extract_espn_data(raw_data)
            if odds_data:
-                self.logger.debug(f"Successfully extracted odds data: {odds_data}")
+                self.logger.debug("Successfully extracted odds data: %s", odds_data)
                self.cache_manager.set(cache_key, odds_data, ttl=interval)
-                self.logger.debug(f"Saved odds data to cache for {cache_key} with TTL {interval}s")
+                self.logger.debug("Saved odds data to cache for %s with TTL %ss", cache_key, interval)
            else:
-                self.logger.debug(f"No odds data available for {cache_key}")
+                self.logger.debug("No odds data available for %s", cache_key)
                # Cache the absence too, so the game is not re-requested
                # on every update until the interval passes.
                self.cache_manager.set(cache_key, {"no_odds": True}, ttl=interval)
@@ -216,12 +231,12 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
        Returns:
            Formatted odds data dictionary or None
        """
-        self.logger.debug(f"Extracting ESPN odds data. Data keys: {list(data.keys())}")
+        self.logger.debug("Extracting ESPN odds data. Data keys: %s", list(data.keys()))
        
        if "items" in data and data["items"]:
-            self.logger.debug(f"Found {len(data['items'])} items in odds data")
+            self.logger.debug("Found %d items in odds data", len(data['items']))
            item = data["items"][0]
-            self.logger.debug(f"First item keys: {list(item.keys())}")
+            self.logger.debug("First item keys: %s", list(item.keys()))
            
            # The ESPN API returns odds data directly in the item, not in a
            # providers array. ESPN sends explicit JSON nulls for absent
@@ -244,13 +259,17 @@ class BaseOddsManager:
                                    .get("pointSpread") or {}).get("value")
                }
            }
-            self.logger.debug(f"Returning extracted odds data: {json.dumps(extracted_data, indent=2)}")
+            if self.logger.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
+                self.logger.debug("Returning extracted odds data: %s",
+                                  json.dumps(extracted_data, indent=2))
            return extracted_data
        
        # Check if this is a valid empty response or an unexpected structure
        if "count" in data and data["count"] == 0 and "items" in data and data["items"] == []:
            # This is a valid empty response - no odds available for this game
-            self.logger.debug(f"No odds available for this game. Response: {json.dumps(data, indent=2)}")
+            if self.logger.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
+                self.logger.debug("No odds available for this game. Response: %s",
+                                  json.dumps(data, indent=2))
            return None
        else:
            # This is an unexpected response structure
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Disk Cache
 Handles persistent disk-based caching with atomic writes and error recovery.
 """

+import hashlib
 import json
 import math
 import os
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ import tempfile
 import logging
 import threading
 import zlib
-from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Protocol
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Protocol, Tuple
 from datetime import datetime

 from src.common.path_safety import safe_path_component
@@ -31,6 +32,35 @@ except ImportError:  # pragma: no cover - exercised on hosts without the wheel
 # useful, and a half-written file was never useful.
 _ORPHAN_TEMP_MAX_AGE_SECONDS = 3600

+# Longest key, in UTF-8 bytes, used verbatim as a filename stem. ext4 caps a
+# name at 255 bytes and set()'s temp file is ".<stem>.json.<8 random>", 15
+# bytes longer than the stem, so anything near the cap could never be written:
+# the calendar plugin's key joins every calendar id and passed 300 bytes on a
+# real install, failing every write with ENAMETOOLONG. Longer keys keep this
+# many bytes as a readable prefix and end in a hash of the whole key.
+_MAX_KEY_FILENAME_BYTES = 200
+_KEY_HASH_CHARS = 16
+
+
+def _filename_stem(key: str) -> str:
+    """The filename stem for a key that is already a safe path component.
+
+    Short keys are used as they are, so every file already on disk keeps its
+    name. A long one becomes its first bytes plus a hash of the full key: the
+    prefix keeps the stem recognisable (and keeps the data-type words that
+    cleanup's retention lookup reads from it), the hash keeps two keys that
+    share a long prefix apart. The result is itself short, so a stem read back
+    from a filename -- which is how the web UI names a key it deletes -- maps to
+    the same file.
+    """
+    encoded = key.encode('utf-8')
+    if len(encoded) <= _MAX_KEY_FILENAME_BYTES:
+        return key
+    digest = hashlib.sha256(encoded).hexdigest()[:_KEY_HASH_CHARS]
+    keep = _MAX_KEY_FILENAME_BYTES - _KEY_HASH_CHARS - 1
+    prefix = encoded[:keep].decode('utf-8', errors='ignore')
+    return f"{prefix}-{digest}"
+


 class CacheStrategyProtocol(Protocol):
@@ -111,18 +141,91 @@ _HEAD_RE = re.compile(
 )


-def _stale_from_head(head: bytes, max_age: Optional[int], now: float) -> bool:
+# UNCHANGED RE-SAVES: THE FILE'S MTIME CARRIES THE NEWER TIMESTAMP
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------
+# Plugins re-save unchanged API data every update cycle, and every one of
+# those saves was a full rewrite on the SD card. DiskCache.set skips the write
+# when the payload matches the last one it wrote for the key -- but
+# CacheManager.set stamps each record with time.time(), so for set() the
+# payload never matched and the skip never fired.
+#
+# The digest now leaves out a header-first record's timestamp, so an unchanged
+# set() is skipped. What the skip must not do is make the record look older
+# than it is: the timestamp inside the file is from the last real write, and
+# a reader in another process (the web interface, with memory_ttl=0) or after
+# a restart would call fresh data stale. So the newer timestamp goes where it
+# costs no data write -- the file's mtime -- and readers take a record's age
+# from the newer of the two. The invariant that makes that safe:
+#
+#   a file's mtime is the timestamp of the newest record saved for its key
+#
+#   real write  mtime is set to the record's own timestamp, so a record saved
+#               with an old timestamp (data as of some earlier time) cannot
+#               borrow freshness from the moment it hit the disk
+#   skip        mtime is set to the skipped record's timestamp -- exactly what
+#               a rewrite would have stored, without the rewrite
+#
+# Readers of the on-disk timestamp, all of which go through _effective_timestamp:
+# DiskCache.get (the header check and the full parse; it also returns the
+# record with 'timestamp' set to the effective value, so CacheManager.get's
+# max_age path, the memory tier hydrated from disk, and any plugin reading
+# record['timestamp'] all see it). Readers that use mtime alone already see the
+# newer value: the retention sweep below, CacheManager.list_cache_files (the
+# web UI's cache list). Nothing else opens cache files: web_interface and
+# scripts reach them only through CacheManager.
+#
+# Something other than this class can also move an mtime forward -- a copy
+# without -p, an rsync without -t, a `touch`. (backup_manager.py does not
+# back up or restore the cache directory, so the in-tree restore cannot.) That
+# must not make old data fresh, so the lift is bounded: a reader never takes
+# the mtime as more than _MAX_TIMESTAMP_LIFT past the embedded timestamp, and
+# set() rewrites the file for real once a skip would need more than that, so
+# an honest lift never reaches the bound. A file copied a day after it was
+# written therefore reads at most an hour fresher than its contents say, and a
+# 30-second live-score record from yesterday stays stale. CacheManager.set
+# records written before this change have mtime == write time == embedded
+# timestamp, give or take the write itself, and read exactly as before; a
+# file an older version wrote or touched later than its embedded timestamp
+# says reads at most the same hour fresher, once, until it is next saved.
+
+#: Longest a skipped write may stand in for a real one, and so the furthest a
+#: file's mtime is ever trusted past the record's own timestamp. Unchanged data
+#: is rewritten at least this often, at most once an hour per key instead of
+#: once per update cycle.
+_MAX_TIMESTAMP_LIFT = 3600.0
+
+
+def _record_timestamp(value: Any) -> Optional[float]:
+    """A record's timestamp as a finite float, or None if it has no usable one."""
+    if isinstance(value, bool) or not isinstance(value, (int, float)):
+        return None
+    value = float(value)
+    return value if math.isfinite(value) else None
+
+
+def _effective_timestamp(embedded: float, mtime: Optional[float]) -> float:
+    """When a record was last saved: its timestamp, or the file's mtime if a
+    later unchanged save moved that forward -- never by more than
+    _MAX_TIMESTAMP_LIFT. See "UNCHANGED RE-SAVES" above."""
+    if mtime is None:
+        return embedded
+    return max(embedded, min(mtime, embedded + _MAX_TIMESTAMP_LIFT))
+
+
+def _stale_from_head(head: bytes, max_age: Optional[int], now: float,
+                     mtime: Optional[float] = None) -> bool:
    """True when a record's header alone shows it has expired.

    Mirrors the expiry rule in DiskCache.get: a per-entry ttl wins over the
    caller's max_age, and no limit at all means never stale. False whenever the
-    header cannot be read, so the full parse decides as it always did.
+    header cannot be read, so the full parse decides as it always did. ``mtime``
+    is the file's, which may carry a newer save than the header does.
    """
    match = _HEAD_RE.match(head)
    if not match:
        return False
    try:
-        timestamp = float(match.group(1))
+        timestamp = _effective_timestamp(float(match.group(1)), mtime)
        limit = max_age
        if match.group(2) is not None:
            ttl = float(match.group(2))
@@ -179,7 +282,7 @@ else:
 # --------------------------------------------
 # The display service runs as root and the web interface as the installing
 # user, and the web interface reads records only the display writes
-# (display_current_state, display_on_demand_state, plugin_metrics:*). Files are
+# (display_current_state, display_on_demand_state, plugin_metrics_snapshot). Files are
 # written 0660, so the web interface can read one only through its group.
 #
 # The installers rely on the directory's setgid bit to set that group. That is
@@ -248,11 +351,14 @@ class DiskCache:
        self.cache_dir = cache_dir
        self.logger = logger or logging.getLogger(__name__)
        self._lock = threading.Lock()
-        # key -> adler32 of the last payload successfully written to the
-        # primary cache path; lets set() skip rewriting identical data
-        # (per-process only — worst case another process rewrites, never
-        # a missed write). Guarded by _lock.
-        self._write_digests: Dict[str, int] = {}
+        # key -> what set() last put at the primary cache path: the adler32 of
+        # the payload (less a header-first timestamp), the timestamp the file
+        # holds (None for records without one), and the file's inode and size.
+        # Lets set() skip rewriting identical data. Per-process only, and the
+        # inode/size check means another process's write is never mistaken
+        # for ours -- worst case a redundant write, never a missed one.
+        # Guarded by _lock.
+        self._write_digests: Dict[str, Tuple[int, Optional[float], int, int]] = {}
    
    def get_cache_path(self, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
        """
@@ -267,6 +373,8 @@ class DiskCache:
        derives them), so rejecting anything with a path component turns
        away only inputs that could never have been written here.

+        A key too long to be a filename is shortened by _filename_stem.
+
        Args:
            key: Cache key

@@ -280,7 +388,7 @@ class DiskCache:
        if safe_key is None:
            self.logger.warning("Rejected unsafe cache key %r", key)
            return None
-        return os.path.join(self.cache_dir, f"{safe_key}.json")
+        return os.path.join(self.cache_dir, f"{_filename_stem(safe_key)}.json")
    
    def get(self, key: str, max_age: Optional[int] = 300) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
        """
@@ -301,32 +409,41 @@ class DiskCache:
        try:
            with self._lock:
                with open(cache_path, 'rb') as f:
+                    # The open file's mtime, not the path's: the file a skipped
+                    # write touched is the one being read.
+                    mtime = os.fstat(f.fileno()).st_mtime
                    # Decide staleness from the header before paying for the
                    # parse. A stale read is the common case for the biggest
                    # records (a season schedule is re-fetched when its cache
                    # expires), and parsing 53MB to throw it away held the GIL
                    # for ~1.8s -- a visible freeze on the panel.
-                    if _stale_from_head(f.read(_HEAD_BYTES), max_age, time.time()):
+                    if _stale_from_head(f.read(_HEAD_BYTES), max_age, time.time(), mtime):
                        return None
                    f.seek(0)
                    record = _loads(f.read())
-            
-            # Determine record timestamp (prefer embedded, else file mtime)
+
+            # Determine record timestamp: the embedded one, moved forward by a
+            # later unchanged save if there was one (see "UNCHANGED RE-SAVES"),
+            # else the file mtime.
            record_ts = None
            if isinstance(record, dict):
                record_ts = record.get('timestamp')
            if record_ts is None:
-                try:
-                    record_ts = os.path.getmtime(cache_path)
-                except OSError:
-                    record_ts = None
-            
-            if record_ts is not None:
-                try:
-                    record_ts = float(record_ts)
-                except (TypeError, ValueError):
-                    record_ts = None
-            
+                record_ts = mtime
+            else:
+                embedded_ts = _record_timestamp(record_ts)
+                if embedded_ts is None:
+                    try:
+                        record_ts = float(record_ts)
+                    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                        record_ts = None
+                else:
+                    record_ts = _effective_timestamp(embedded_ts, mtime)
+                    if record_ts != embedded_ts:
+                        # Hand the record back as a rewrite would have left it,
+                        # so callers that age it themselves agree with us.
+                        record['timestamp'] = record_ts
+
            now = time.time()

            # An explicit per-entry ttl wins over the caller's max_age. The
@@ -403,7 +520,12 @@ class DiskCache:
            self.logger.warning("Cache data for key '%s' not serializable: %s", key, e)
            return

-        digest = zlib.adler32(payload)
+        timestamp = _record_timestamp(data.get('timestamp')) if isinstance(data, dict) else None
+        # A header-first record (CacheManager.set's layout) is compared without
+        # its timestamp, which differs on every save; see "UNCHANGED RE-SAVES".
+        # Any other layout is compared whole, as before.
+        head = _HEAD_RE.match(payload) if timestamp is not None else None
+        digest = zlib.adler32(memoryview(payload)[head.end(1):] if head else payload)

        try:
            # Atomic write to avoid partial/corrupt files
@@ -411,16 +533,10 @@ class DiskCache:
                # Skip the disk entirely when this exact payload was already
                # written for this key (plugins re-save unchanged API data
                # every update cycle — each write is real SD-card wear).
-                # Refresh the file mtime so records that rely on it for TTL
-                # (no embedded 'timestamp') don't expire early; a metadata
-                # touch is journal-cheap compared to rewriting the data.
-                if self._write_digests.get(key) == digest:
-                    try:
-                        os.utime(cache_path, None)
-                        return
-                    except OSError:
-                        # File vanished or perms changed — fall through and write
-                        self._write_digests.pop(key, None)
+                # A metadata touch is journal-cheap compared to rewriting
+                # the data.
+                if self._skip_unchanged(key, cache_path, digest, timestamp):
+                    return

                tmp_dir = os.path.dirname(cache_path)
                # Try to create temp file in cache directory first
@@ -458,7 +574,7 @@ class DiskCache:
                                # opened it in between was refused.
                                _share_open_file(tmp_file.fileno(), _shared_group(tmp_dir))
                            os.replace(tmp_path, cache_path)
-                            self._write_digests[key] = digest
+                            self._remember_write(key, cache_path, digest, timestamp)
                        finally:
                            if os.path.exists(tmp_path):
                                try:
@@ -471,13 +587,13 @@ class DiskCache:
                            with open(cache_path, 'wb') as cache_file:
                                cache_file.write(payload)
                                _share_open_file(cache_file.fileno(), _shared_group(tmp_dir))
-                            self._write_digests[key] = digest
+                            self._remember_write(key, cache_path, digest, timestamp)
                            self.logger.debug("Wrote cache for %s directly (non-atomic)", key)
                        except (IOError, OSError, PermissionError) as write_error:
                            # If direct write also fails, try fallback location
                            self.logger.warning("Direct write failed for key '%s' to %s: %s", key, cache_path, write_error)
                            raise  # Re-raise to trigger fallback logic
-                except (IOError, OSError, PermissionError):
+                except (IOError, OSError, PermissionError) as primary_error:
                    # Attempt one-time fallback write to user's home cache directory
                    try:
                        # Try user's home cache directory as fallback
@@ -503,11 +619,14 @@ class DiskCache:
                        self.logger.debug("Fallback cache write also failed for key '%s': %s", key, e2)
                    
                    # If all write attempts failed, log warning but don't raise exception
-                    # Cache is a performance optimization, not critical for operation
+                    # Cache is a performance optimization, not critical for operation.
+                    # Name the real error: this used to say "permission denied"
+                    # whatever happened, which sent a too-long filename off to
+                    # be debugged as a directory-ownership problem.
                    self.logger.warning(
-                        "Could not write cache for key '%s' to %s (permission denied). "
+                        "Could not write cache for key '%s' to %s (%s). "
                        "Cache will be unavailable for this key, but application will continue.",
-                        key, cache_path
+                        key, cache_path, primary_error.strerror or primary_error
                    )
                    return  # Exit gracefully without raising exception
        
@@ -520,6 +639,66 @@ class DiskCache:
            )
            return  # Exit gracefully without raising exception
    
+    def _skip_unchanged(self, key: str, cache_path: str, digest: int,
+                        timestamp: Optional[float]) -> bool:
+        """Stand in for a write of an unchanged record by touching the file.
+
+        True when the file already holds this record bar its timestamp and the
+        touch landed; False means write it. The touch sets mtime to the
+        record's timestamp -- what a rewrite would have stored -- or to now
+        for a record without one, whose age readers already take from mtime.
+        Caller holds _lock.
+        """
+        last = self._write_digests.get(key)
+        if last is None or last[0] != digest:
+            return False
+        _, written_ts, ino, size = last
+        if (timestamp is None) != (written_ts is None):
+            return False
+        if timestamp is not None and written_ts is not None:
+            # Never backwards (a rewrite would make the record older), and
+            # never further than readers will trust the mtime: past that the
+            # record is rewritten, so its own timestamp catches up.
+            if not written_ts <= timestamp <= written_ts + _MAX_TIMESTAMP_LIFT:
+                return False
+        try:
+            st = os.stat(cache_path)
+            if (st.st_ino, st.st_size) != (ino, size):
+                # Replaced since our write (another process, a restore):
+                # its contents are not the ones the digest describes.
+                self._write_digests.pop(key, None)
+                return False
+            # Setting an explicit time needs the file's owner; a file someone
+            # else wrote fails here and is rewritten (as our own file) instead.
+            os.utime(cache_path, None if timestamp is None else (timestamp, timestamp))
+            return True
+        except OSError:
+            # File vanished or perms changed — fall through and write
+            self._write_digests.pop(key, None)
+            return False
+
+    def _remember_write(self, key: str, cache_path: str, digest: int,
+                        timestamp: Optional[float]) -> None:
+        """After a real write: pin mtime to the record's timestamp and note
+        what was written, so the next unchanged save can be skipped.
+
+        Pinning keeps a record saved with an older timestamp from looking as
+        fresh as the moment it was written (see "UNCHANGED RE-SAVES"); for
+        CacheManager.set's records the two differ only by the write itself.
+        A timestamp in the future is left alone, mtime already being older.
+        Never raises: the data is on disk, and anything failing here only
+        costs the next save its skip. Caller holds _lock.
+        """
+        self._write_digests.pop(key, None)
+        try:
+            if timestamp is not None and timestamp <= time.time():
+                os.utime(cache_path, (timestamp, timestamp))
+            st = os.stat(cache_path)
+        except OSError as e:
+            self.logger.debug("Could not pin mtime of %s: %s", cache_path, e)
+            return
+        self._write_digests[key] = (digest, timestamp, st.st_ino, st.st_size)
+
    def clear(self, key: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
        """
        Clear cache entry or all entries.
@@ -37,13 +37,41 @@ from src.cache.disk_cache import DiskCache
 from src.cache.cache_strategy import CacheStrategy
 from src.cache.cache_metrics import CacheMetrics
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
-from src.deprecation import deprecated

 # Canonical implementation lives in src.cache.disk_cache; re-exported here
 # because this module's docstring documents it and external code may import
 # it from either path.
 from src.cache.disk_cache import DateTimeEncoder  # noqa: F401 - deliberate re-export

+# CacheManager.config_manager not built yet (None means "not available").
+_UNSET: Any = object()
+
+
+def _outlived(record: Any, max_age: Optional[float], now: float) -> bool:
+    """Whether a record's own timestamp puts it past max_age.
+
+    The memory tier times an entry from when it was put there, and a record
+    loaded from disk is put there when it is read, not when it was written: a
+    record 290 s old, read after a restart, could be served for another
+    max_age from memory. This is the age check DiskCache.get makes, with the
+    same rule that a stored ttl wins over the caller's max_age. A record that
+    carries no timestamp is left to the memory tier's own clock.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(record, dict):
+        return False
+    stored_ttl = record.get('ttl')
+    if isinstance(stored_ttl, (int, float)) and not isinstance(stored_ttl, bool) \
+            and stored_ttl >= 0:
+        max_age = stored_ttl
+    stamp = record.get('timestamp')
+    if max_age is None or stamp is None or isinstance(stamp, bool):
+        return False
+    try:
+        return now - float(stamp) > max_age
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        return False
+
+
 class CacheManager:
    """Manages caching of API responses to reduce API calls."""

@@ -74,21 +102,19 @@ class CacheManager:
            self.logger.error("Could not find or create a writable cache directory. Caching will be disabled.")
            self.cache_dir = None

-        # Initialize config manager for sport-specific intervals
-        try:
-            from src.config_manager import ConfigManager
-            self.config_manager: Optional[Any] = ConfigManager()
-            self.config_manager.load_config()
-        except ImportError:
-            self.config_manager: Optional[Any] = None
-            self.logger.warning("ConfigManager not available, using default cache intervals")
-        
+        # The config manager is built on first use of self.config_manager; see
+        # the property. Nothing in the cache reads it any more.
+        self._config_manager: Any = _UNSET
+        self._config_manager_lock = threading.Lock()
+
        # Initialize cache components using composition
        self._memory_cache_component = MemoryCache(
            max_size=default_max_size(), cleanup_interval=300.0
        )
        self._disk_cache_component = DiskCache(cache_dir=self.cache_dir, logger=self.logger)
-        self._strategy_component = CacheStrategy(config_manager=self.config_manager, logger=self.logger)
+        # No config manager: CacheStrategy keeps the parameter for callers but
+        # reads nothing from it, and passing ours would build it eagerly.
+        self._strategy_component = CacheStrategy(logger=self.logger)
        self._metrics_component = CacheMetrics(logger=self.logger)
        
        # Disk cleanup configuration
@@ -116,6 +142,44 @@ class CacheManager:
        if self.cache_dir:
            self.start_cleanup_thread()

+    @property
+    def config_manager(self) -> Optional[Any]:
+        """A loaded ConfigManager, built the first time it is asked for.
+
+        Every CacheManager used to build one and load the whole config in
+        __init__, for a cache strategy that stopped reading it -- startup paid
+        a config load (and the web interface another) per manager for nothing.
+        It is still public: the sports plugins resolve the global timezone and
+        display settings through ``cache_manager.config_manager``, and they get
+        the same object they always did, on first access instead of at
+        construction. None when ConfigManager cannot be imported, as before.
+        Assigning replaces it, as assigning the attribute always did.
+        """
+        # getattr: a manager made with __new__ (some tests) has no slot yet.
+        value = getattr(self, '_config_manager', _UNSET)
+        if value is not _UNSET:
+            return value
+        lock = getattr(self, '_config_manager_lock', None) or threading.Lock()
+        with lock:
+            value = getattr(self, '_config_manager', _UNSET)
+            if value is _UNSET:
+                try:
+                    from src.config_manager import ConfigManager
+                except ImportError:
+                    self.logger.warning("ConfigManager not available, using default cache intervals")
+                    value = None
+                else:
+                    value = ConfigManager()
+                    # Raises as it did from __init__; nothing is kept, so the
+                    # next access tries again.
+                    value.load_config()
+                self._config_manager = value
+        return value
+
+    @config_manager.setter
+    def config_manager(self, value: Optional[Any]) -> None:
+        self._config_manager = value
+
    def _get_writable_cache_dir(self) -> Optional[str]:
        """Tries to find or create a writable cache directory, preferring a system path when available."""
        # Attempt 1: System-wide persistent cache directory (preferred for services)
@@ -246,7 +310,11 @@ class CacheManager:
        # 1) Memory cache
        cached = self._memory_cache_component.get(key, max_age=in_memory_ttl)
        if cached is not None:
-            return cached
+            if not _outlived(cached, max_age, time.time()):
+                return cached
+            # Too old for this reader. Disk may hold a newer write (from the
+            # other process), and if it does not, the miss is the right answer.
+            self._memory_cache_component.clear(key)

        # 2) Disk cache
        record = self._disk_cache_component.get(key, max_age=max_age)
@@ -280,7 +348,9 @@ class CacheManager:
        # Check memory cache first (1 minute TTL)
        cached = self._memory_cache_component.get(key, max_age=60)
        if cached is not None:
-            return cached
+            if not _outlived(cached, 3600, time.time()):
+                return cached
+            self._memory_cache_component.clear(key)
        
        # Check disk cache
        data = self._disk_cache_component.get(key, max_age=3600)  # 1 hour for load_cache
@@ -408,122 +478,6 @@ class CacheManager:
        """Get the cache directory path."""
        return self.cache_dir

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def has_data_changed(self, data_type: str, new_data: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if data has changed from cached version."""
-        cached_data = self.load_cache(data_type)
-        if not cached_data:
-            return True
-
-        if data_type == 'weather':
-            return self._has_weather_changed(cached_data, new_data)
-        elif data_type == 'stocks':
-            return self._has_stocks_changed(cached_data, new_data)
-        elif data_type == 'stock_news':
-            return self._has_news_changed(cached_data, new_data)
-        elif data_type == 'nhl':
-            return self._has_nhl_changed(cached_data, new_data)
-        elif data_type == 'mlb':
-            return self._has_mlb_changed(cached_data, new_data)
-        
-        return True
-
-    def _has_weather_changed(self, cached: Dict[str, Any], new: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if weather data has changed."""
-        # Handle new cache structure where data is nested under 'data' key
-        if 'data' in cached:
-            cached = cached['data']
-        
-        # Handle case where cached data might be the weather data directly
-        if 'current' in cached:
-            # This is the new structure with 'current' and 'forecast' keys
-            current_weather = cached.get('current', {})
-            if current_weather and 'main' in current_weather and 'weather' in current_weather:
-                cached_temp = round(current_weather['main']['temp'])
-                cached_condition = current_weather['weather'][0]['main']
-                return (cached_temp != new.get('temp') or 
-                        cached_condition != new.get('condition'))
-        
-        # Handle old structure where temp and condition are directly accessible
-        return (cached.get('temp') != new.get('temp') or 
-                cached.get('condition') != new.get('condition'))
-
-    def _has_stocks_changed(self, cached: Dict[str, Any], new: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if stock data has changed."""
-        if not self._is_market_open():
-            return False
-        return cached.get('price') != new.get('price')
-
-    def _has_news_changed(self, cached: Dict[str, Any], new: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if news data has changed."""
-        # Handle both dictionary and list formats
-        if isinstance(new, list):
-            # If new data is a list, cached data should also be a list
-            if not isinstance(cached, list):
-                return True
-            # Compare lengths and content
-            if len(cached) != len(new):
-                return True
-            # Compare titles since they're unique enough for our purposes
-            cached_titles = set(item.get('title', '') for item in cached)
-            new_titles = set(item.get('title', '') for item in new)
-            return cached_titles != new_titles
-        else:
-            # Original dictionary format handling
-            cached_headlines = set(h.get('id') for h in cached.get('headlines', []))
-            new_headlines = set(h.get('id') for h in new.get('headlines', []))
-            return not cached_headlines.issuperset(new_headlines)
-
-    def _has_nhl_changed(self, cached: Dict[str, Any], new: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if NHL data has changed."""
-        return (cached.get('game_status') != new.get('game_status') or
-                cached.get('score') != new.get('score'))
-
-    def _has_mlb_changed(self, cached: Dict[str, Any], new: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Check if MLB game data has changed."""
-        if not cached or not new:
-            return True
-            
-        # Check if any games have changed status or score
-        for game_id, new_game in new.items():
-            cached_game = cached.get(game_id)
-            if not cached_game:
-                return True
-                
-            # Check for score changes
-            if (new_game['away_score'] != cached_game['away_score'] or 
-                new_game['home_score'] != cached_game['home_score']):
-                return True
-                
-            # Check for status changes
-            if new_game['status'] != cached_game['status']:
-                return True
-                
-            # For live games, check inning and count
-            if new_game['status'] == 'in':
-                if (new_game['inning'] != cached_game['inning'] or 
-                    new_game['inning_half'] != cached_game['inning_half'] or
-                    new_game['balls'] != cached_game['balls'] or 
-                    new_game['strikes'] != cached_game['strikes'] or
-                    new_game['bases_occupied'] != cached_game['bases_occupied']):
-                    return True
-                    
-        return False
-
-    def _is_market_open(self) -> bool:
-        """Check if the US stock market is currently open."""
-        return self._strategy_component.is_market_open()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "use set()")
-    def update_cache(self, data_type: str, data: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
-        """Update cache with new data."""
-        cache_data = {
-            # Header first; see DiskCache's stale check.
-            'timestamp': time.time(),
-            'data': data,
-        }
-        return self.save_cache(data_type, cache_data)
-
    def get(self, key: str, max_age: Optional[int] = 300,
            memory_ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
        """Get data from cache if it exists and is not stale.
@@ -564,42 +518,6 @@ class CacheManager:
        cache_data['data'] = data
        self.save_cache(key, cache_data)

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def setup_persistent_cache(self) -> bool:
-        """
-        Set up a persistent cache directory with proper permissions.
-        This should be run once with sudo to create the directory.
-        """
-        try:
-            # Try to create /var/cache/ledmatrix with proper permissions
-            from pathlib import Path
-            from src.common.permission_utils import (
-                ensure_directory_permissions,
-                get_cache_dir_mode
-            )
-            cache_dir = '/var/cache/ledmatrix'
-            cache_dir_path = Path(cache_dir)
-            ensure_directory_permissions(cache_dir_path, get_cache_dir_mode())
-            
-            # Set ownership to the real user (not root)
-            real_user = os.environ.get('SUDO_USER')
-            if real_user:
-                import pwd
-                try:
-                    uid = pwd.getpwnam(real_user).pw_uid
-                    gid = pwd.getpwnam(real_user).pw_gid
-                    os.chown(cache_dir, uid, gid)
-                    self.logger.info(f"Set ownership of {cache_dir} to {real_user}")
-                except (OSError, KeyError) as e:
-                    self.logger.warning(f"Could not set ownership for {cache_dir}: {e}", exc_info=True)
-            
-            self.logger.info(f"Successfully set up persistent cache directory: {cache_dir}")
-            return True
-            
-        except (OSError, IOError, PermissionError) as e:
-            self.logger.error(f"Failed to set up persistent cache directory {cache_dir}: {e}", exc_info=True)
-            return False
-    
    def cleanup_disk_cache(self, force: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        """
        Clean up expired disk cache files based on retention policies.
@@ -776,14 +694,6 @@ class CacheManager:
        else:
            self.logger.info("Disk cache cleanup thread stopped successfully") 

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_sport_live_interval(self, sport_key: str) -> int:
-        """
-        Get the live_update_interval for a specific sport from config.
-        Falls back to default values if config is not available.
-        """
-        return self._strategy_component.get_sport_live_interval(sport_key)
-
    def get_cache_strategy(self, data_type: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
        """
        Get cache strategy for different data types.
@@ -798,13 +708,6 @@ class CacheManager:
        """
        return self._strategy_component.get_data_type_from_key(key)

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_sport_key_from_cache_key(self, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
-        """
-        Extract sport key from cache key to determine appropriate live_update_interval.
-        """
-        return self._strategy_component.get_sport_key_from_cache_key(key)
-
    def get_cached_data_with_strategy(self, key: str, data_type: str = 'default') -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
        """
        Get data from cache using data-type-specific strategy.
@@ -838,58 +741,6 @@ class CacheManager:
        data_type = self.get_data_type_from_key(key)
        return self.get_cached_data_with_strategy(key, data_type)

-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "use get()")
-    def get_background_cached_data(self, key: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
-        """
-        Get data from background service cache with appropriate strategy.
-        This method is specifically designed for Recent/Upcoming managers
-        to use data cached by the background service.
-        
-        Args:
-            key: Cache key to retrieve
-            sport_key: Sport key for determining appropriate cache strategy
-            
-        Returns:
-            Cached data if available and fresh, None otherwise
-        """
-        # Determine the appropriate cache strategy
-        data_type = self.get_data_type_from_key(key)
-        strategy = self.get_cache_strategy(data_type, sport_key)
-        
-        # For Recent/Upcoming managers, we want to use the background service cache
-        # which should have longer TTLs than the individual manager caches
-        max_age = strategy['max_age']
-        memory_ttl = strategy.get('memory_ttl', max_age)
-        
-        # Get the cached data
-        cached_data = self.get_cached_data(key, max_age, memory_ttl)
-        
-        if cached_data:
-            # Record cache hit for performance monitoring
-            self.record_cache_hit('background')
-            # Unwrap if stored in { 'data': ..., 'timestamp': ... } format
-            if isinstance(cached_data, dict) and 'data' in cached_data:
-                return cached_data['data']
-            return cached_data
-        
-        # Record cache miss for performance monitoring
-        self.record_cache_miss('background')
-        return None
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "use get()")
-    def is_background_data_available(self, key: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
-        """
-        Check if background service has fresh data available.
-        This helps Recent/Upcoming managers determine if they should
-        wait for background data or fetch immediately.
-        """
-        data_type = self.get_data_type_from_key(key)
-        strategy = self.get_cache_strategy(data_type, sport_key)
-        
-        # Check if we have data that's still fresh according to background service TTL
-        cached_data = self.get_cached_data(key, strategy['max_age'])
-        return cached_data is not None
-
    def generate_sport_cache_key(self, sport: str, date_str: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
        """
        Centralized cache key generation for sports data.
@@ -906,45 +757,8 @@ class CacheManager:
            date_str = datetime.now(pytz.utc).strftime('%Y%m%d')
        return f"{sport}_{date_str}"

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def record_cache_hit(self, cache_type: str = 'regular') -> None:
-        """Record a cache hit for performance monitoring."""
-        self._metrics_component.record_hit(cache_type)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def record_cache_miss(self, cache_type: str = 'regular') -> None:
-        """Record a cache miss for performance monitoring."""
-        self._metrics_component.record_miss(cache_type)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def record_fetch_time(self, duration: float) -> None:
-        """Record fetch operation duration for performance monitoring."""
-        self._metrics_component.record_fetch_time(duration)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_cache_metrics(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Get current cache performance metrics."""
-        return self._metrics_component.get_metrics()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def log_cache_metrics(self) -> None:
-        """Log current cache performance metrics."""
-        self._metrics_component.log_metrics()
-    
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_memory_cache_stats(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """
-        Get statistics about the memory cache.
-        
-        Returns:
-            Dictionary with memory cache statistics
-        """
-        return self._memory_cache_component.get_stats()
-    
    def log_memory_cache_stats(self) -> None:
        """Log current memory cache statistics."""
-        # Not get_memory_cache_stats(): that is deprecated, and core must not
-        # trip its own deprecation warning every time memory logging runs.
        stats = self._memory_cache_component.get_stats()
        self.logger.info(f"Memory Cache - Size: {stats['size']}/{stats['max_size']} "
                        f"({stats['usage_percent']:.1f}%), "
@@ -17,7 +17,9 @@ Rules for the package:
 - `from src.common import ...` re-exports `APIHelper`, `ScrollHelper`,
  `LogoHelper`, `TextHelper`, `scroll_config` (plus `ScrollSettings`,
  `configure_scroll`, `resolve_scroll_settings`, `refresh_hz_from_config`) and
-  the adaptive layout names below ([`__init__.py`](__init__.py)).
+  the adaptive layout names below ([`__init__.py`](__init__.py)). Each is
+  imported on first use, so `import src.common` or a submodule import stays
+  cheap; add a new re-export to `_LAZY` there as well as `__all__`.

 ## Summary

@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ Rules for the package:
 | [`bdf_font`](#bdf_font) | Load and draw BDF bitmap fonts | Yes, if drawing BDF text directly | 3.5.0 |
 | [`espn_dates`](#espn_dates) | Fetch ESPN scoreboards across a date range | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.5.0 |
 | [`favorite_team_check`](#favorite_team_check) | Log why a favourite team code shows nothing | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.6.0 |
+| [`fetch_service`](#fetch_service) | Pooled, merged, budgeted and counted HTTP for core fetch paths | No, core-internal (reached through `api_helper` and `espn_dates`) | n/a |
 | [`font_layout`](#font_layout) | Reproducible TrueType loading, crisp sizes | Yes | 3.4.0 |
 | [`frame_timing`](#frame_timing) | Timing of every presented frame, stall watchdog | No, core-internal | n/a |
 | [`json_body`](#json_body) | Parse a response body as JSON, with orjson if installed | Optional (large payloads) | 3.5.0 |
@@ -40,9 +43,13 @@ Rules for the package:
 | [`sports_card`](#sports_card) | Scoreboard card settings, colours, fonts, dates | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.3.0 |
 | [`sports_card_wrappers`](#sports_card_wrappers) | The game renderer's `sports_card` delegations | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.7.0 |
 | [`sports_celebration`](#sports_celebration) | Draw a scoreboard's score/win celebration | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.7.0 |
+| [`sports_display_rules`](#sports_display_rules) | Which games a scoreboard shows, for how long, and its scorebug date line | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.8.0 |
 | [`sports_fetch`](#sports_fetch) | Scoreboard season fetch, lookback and live-odds decisions | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.7.0 |
+| [`sports_font_path`](#sports_font_path) | Find a scoreboard's bundled font whatever the cwd | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.8.0 |
 | [`sports_game_renderer`](#sports_game_renderer) | Scoreboard scroll/Vegas card geometry | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.3.0 |
 | [`sports_helpers`](#sports_helpers) | Small helpers every scoreboard `sports.py` copies | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.5.0 |
+| [`sports_live_scroll`](#sports_live_scroll) | Rebuild a live scroll strip mid-cycle without moving it | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.8.0 |
+| [`sports_plugin_host`](#sports_plugin_host) | Helpers of a scoreboard's plugin class (`manager.py`) | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.8.0 |
 | [`sports_scroll`](#sports_scroll) | Scoreboard scroll-display orchestration | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.2.0 |
 | [`sports_shared`](#sports_shared) | Sport-independent `sports.py` methods | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.3.0 |
 | [`sports_vegas`](#sports_vegas) | Live Vegas cards: keys, card cache, sticky odds, finished games | Yes (scoreboards) | 3.8.0 |
@@ -104,7 +111,9 @@ and truncates results when `limit` is above 500. `fetch_espn_scoreboard()`
 splits a range into month and day requests ESPN accepts and merges the
 results; `espn_date_chunks()`, `fetch_espn_date_chunks()`,
 `clamp_espn_limit()` and `merge_scoreboard_payloads()` are the pieces.
-Scoreboard plugins also bundle a copy for older cores.
+Every request goes through [`fetch_service`](#fetch_service), the chunks
+counted against the plugin that asked. Scoreboard plugins also bundle a copy
+for older cores.

 ### favorite_team_check

@@ -117,6 +126,23 @@ says the league has nothing on yet; `reset()` re-arms it after a config edit.
 Diagnostics only: every failure is swallowed. Scoreboard plugins also bundle
 a copy for older cores.

+### fetch_service
+
+[`fetch_service.py`](fetch_service.py). Core-internal for now. Every core
+fetch path -- `APIHelper.get`/`post`, `espn_dates` (so every scoreboard's
+ESPN scoreboard fetch and `SportsFetchMixin`), `BackgroundDataService` and
+`BaseOddsManager` -- calls `fetch_get(session, url, ...)` instead of
+`session.get(url, ...)`. Same arguments, return value and exceptions; on top
+it shares one connection pool per host per retry policy
+(`share_connection_pool`), merges identical GETs in flight, applies per-host
+token buckets (`fetch_service.rate_limits` in config.json; ESPN gets 20/s,
+burst 200), revalidates with server-sent `ETag`/`Last-Modified` and counts
+requests per plugin and per host. The display publishes the counters
+(`FetchStatsPublisher`) for `GET /api/v3/plugins/fetch-stats`. Which plugin
+made a request comes from `plugin_scope()`, set by the plugin executor, or
+else from the plugin directory on the stack. See
+[docs/PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md](../../docs/PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md#fetching-data).
+
 ### font_layout

 [`font_layout.py`](font_layout.py). `load_truetype(path, size)` is
@@ -207,7 +233,8 @@ rather than the `set_*` methods. Vegas mode reads a plugin's
 [`snapshot_policy.py`](snapshot_policy.py). Core-internal. `decide()`
 tells `DisplayManager` whether to write `/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png`, only
 touch its mtime, or skip, based on whether a browser is watching the preview.
-The web health check reads the file's age.
+The web health check reads the file's age, and the web preview stream checks
+its mtime every `VIEWER_POLL_INTERVAL`.

 ### sports_card

@@ -239,6 +266,16 @@ The colour helpers are free functions (`logo_palette()`, `lift_color()`,
 `mix_color()`, ...). Deciding *when* to celebrate stays in the plugin, which
 builds the celebration dict the docstring describes.

+### sports_display_rules
+
+[`sports_display_rules.py`](sports_display_rules.py). Two `SportsCore`
+mixins: `SportsCardOptionsMixin` (`_card_option()`, which never lets the
+upcoming scorebug lose both its date and time, and `_recent_date_text()`;
+list it before `SportsCoreSharedMixin`) and `SportsGameRulesMixin`
+(`_filtered_or_all()`, the no-favourites quality filter that fails open, and
+`_effective_live_duration()`, the shorter dwell for a non-favourite live
+game).
+
 ### sports_fetch

 [`sports_fetch.py`](sports_fetch.py). `SportsFetchMixin`: the `SportsCore`
@@ -247,6 +284,13 @@ methods that decide which requests a scoreboard makes --
 `_background_fetches_espn_ranges()`, `_needs_previous_day()` (the live
 lookback) and `_wants_live_odds()` (odds only for games near the screen).

+### sports_font_path
+
+[`sports_font_path.py`](sports_font_path.py). `resolve_font_path(path)`: the
+path as given when it exists (relative to the cwd), else
+`font_layout.resolve_asset_path(path)`. What the scoreboards'
+`_resolve_font_path` copies return on a core that ships it.
+
 ### sports_game_renderer

 [`sports_game_renderer.py`](sports_game_renderer.py).
@@ -264,6 +308,25 @@ what differs.
 `_odds_color` and `_upcoming_date_and_time_text` under their existing names.
 Nothing in core uses it.

+### sports_live_scroll
+
+[`sports_live_scroll.py`](sports_live_scroll.py). `SportsLiveScrollMixin`:
+keeps a live scroll strip current. It fingerprints the live games (the clock
+and the display pipeline's own keys excluded, via the host's
+`LIVE_VOLATILE_FIELDS`), rebuilds when they change, rate-limited by what a
+rebuild costs, and `_preserving_scroll_position()` keeps the marquee where
+it was. Pairs with `SportsPluginHostMixin`, whose `_dispatch_switch_refresh()`
+it uses.
+
+### sports_plugin_host
+
+[`sports_plugin_host.py`](sports_plugin_host.py). `SportsPluginHostMixin`:
+helpers of a scoreboard's `BasePlugin` subclass. `get_vegas_priority_weight()`
+(more Vegas slots while a favourite plays, found across every plugin's data
+shape), `_dispatch_switch_refresh()` (a manager refresh on a daemon thread, so
+`display()` never waits on the network), `get_vegas_content_type()` and small
+dynamic-duration helpers. List it before `BasePlugin`.
+
 ### sports_scroll

 [`sports_scroll.py`](sports_scroll.py). `SportsScrollDisplay` and
@@ -271,6 +334,10 @@ Nothing in core uses it.
 scoreboards share (Vegas items, dynamic duration, frame loop), paced through
 `scroll_config`. Subclasses supply `prepare_scroll_content()` and set
 `SCROLL_LEAGUE_KEYS`; see the module docstring for an example.
+`prepare_and_display()` rewinds a recent or upcoming strip whose games,
+rankings, config, panel size and date are unchanged instead of calling
+`prepare_scroll_content()` again, with one display per slate (game type and
+leagues).

 ### sports_shared

@@ -320,6 +387,19 @@ Created by `DisplayController`; works with any plugin.
 `get_text_dimensions()`, `center_text()`, `wrap_text()`,
 `draw_multiline_text()`, `create_text_image()`.

+`draw_text_outlined(draw, xy, text, font, fill, outline_color=(0, 0, 0),
+offsets=OUTLINE_SQUARE)` (Unreleased) draws the text in `outline_color` at
+each offset, then in `fill` on top: the same pixels as one `draw.text` per
+offset, but the string is rasterized once. `OUTLINE_SQUARE` is the
+eight-sided one-pixel outline the scoreboards draw, `OUTLINE_CROSS` the
+four-sided one. Fractional coordinates (a whole-pixel float such as `52.0`
+is fine), multiline text, fonts other than a plain `FreeTypeFont`, image modes
+other than RGB, RGBA and L, and a subclassed or replaced `draw.text` take
+the `draw.text` loop unchanged. `TextHelper.draw_text_with_outline()` and
+the scoreboards' `SportsCoreSharedMixin._draw_text_with_outline()` use it.
+A plugin that also runs on older cores should guard the import and keep its
+own loop as the fallback.
+
 ## Logging

 Modules here create their logger with `logging.getLogger(__name__)`, which is
@@ -6,45 +6,90 @@ This package provides reusable functionality for plugins and core modules:
 - Logo helpers
 - Text/scroll helpers
 - Adaptive layout and image helpers
+
+The names below are imported on first use (PEP 562), not when the package is
+imported. ``from src.common import ScrollHelper`` and
+``src.common.ScrollHelper`` work as before and return the same objects, but
+``import src.common`` -- or importing any submodule, such as
+``src.common.path_safety`` -- no longer loads numpy, requests and freetype
+along with every helper. The web interface imports src.common only for a few
+small modules and never needs those.
 """

-# Export commonly used utilities
-from src.common.api_helper import APIHelper
-from src.common.scroll_helper import ScrollHelper
-from src.common import scroll_config
-from src.common.scroll_config import (
-    ScrollSettings,
-    configure as configure_scroll,
-    resolve as resolve_scroll_settings,
-    refresh_hz_from_config,
-)
-from src.common.logo_helper import LogoHelper
-from src.common.text_helper import TextHelper
+import importlib
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple

-# Adaptive layout & images (canonical homes: src.adaptive_layout /
-# src.adaptive_images — re-exported here so plugin authors find them in the
-# blessed-helpers package). See docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md.
-from src.adaptive_layout import (
-    Region,
-    LayoutContext,
-    FontStep,
-    FontLadder,
-    LADDER_GRID,
-    LADDER_ARCADE,
-    FitResult,
-    draw_fitted_text,
-    ScoreboardRegions,
-    scoreboard_regions,
-    MediaRow,
-    media_row,
-)
-from src.adaptive_images import (
-    ImageFitResult,
-    fit_image,
-    draw_fitted_image,
-    RESAMPLE_LANCZOS,
-    RESAMPLE_NEAREST,
-)
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    # What mypy and editors see: the real names and their types.
+    from src.common.api_helper import APIHelper
+    from src.common.scroll_helper import ScrollHelper
+    from src.common import scroll_config
+    from src.common.scroll_config import (
+        ScrollSettings,
+        configure as configure_scroll,
+        resolve as resolve_scroll_settings,
+        refresh_hz_from_config,
+    )
+    from src.common.logo_helper import LogoHelper
+    from src.common.text_helper import TextHelper
+
+    # Adaptive layout & images (canonical homes: src.adaptive_layout /
+    # src.adaptive_images — re-exported here so plugin authors find them in the
+    # blessed-helpers package). See docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md.
+    from src.adaptive_layout import (
+        Region,
+        LayoutContext,
+        FontStep,
+        FontLadder,
+        LADDER_GRID,
+        LADDER_ARCADE,
+        FitResult,
+        draw_fitted_text,
+        ScoreboardRegions,
+        scoreboard_regions,
+        MediaRow,
+        media_row,
+    )
+    from src.adaptive_images import (
+        ImageFitResult,
+        fit_image,
+        draw_fitted_image,
+        RESAMPLE_LANCZOS,
+        RESAMPLE_NEAREST,
+    )
+
+#: Exported name -> (module it lives in, attribute name there). An attribute
+#: of None means the name is the module itself. Keep in step with the
+#: TYPE_CHECKING imports above and with __all__.
+_LAZY: Dict[str, Tuple[str, Optional[str]]] = {
+    'APIHelper': ('src.common.api_helper', 'APIHelper'),
+    'ScrollHelper': ('src.common.scroll_helper', 'ScrollHelper'),
+    'scroll_config': ('src.common.scroll_config', None),
+    'ScrollSettings': ('src.common.scroll_config', 'ScrollSettings'),
+    'configure_scroll': ('src.common.scroll_config', 'configure'),
+    'resolve_scroll_settings': ('src.common.scroll_config', 'resolve'),
+    'refresh_hz_from_config': ('src.common.scroll_config', 'refresh_hz_from_config'),
+    'LogoHelper': ('src.common.logo_helper', 'LogoHelper'),
+    'TextHelper': ('src.common.text_helper', 'TextHelper'),
+    # adaptive layout & images
+    'Region': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'Region'),
+    'LayoutContext': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'LayoutContext'),
+    'FontStep': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'FontStep'),
+    'FontLadder': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'FontLadder'),
+    'LADDER_GRID': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'LADDER_GRID'),
+    'LADDER_ARCADE': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'LADDER_ARCADE'),
+    'FitResult': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'FitResult'),
+    'draw_fitted_text': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'draw_fitted_text'),
+    'ScoreboardRegions': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'ScoreboardRegions'),
+    'scoreboard_regions': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'scoreboard_regions'),
+    'MediaRow': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'MediaRow'),
+    'media_row': ('src.adaptive_layout', 'media_row'),
+    'ImageFitResult': ('src.adaptive_images', 'ImageFitResult'),
+    'fit_image': ('src.adaptive_images', 'fit_image'),
+    'draw_fitted_image': ('src.adaptive_images', 'draw_fitted_image'),
+    'RESAMPLE_LANCZOS': ('src.adaptive_images', 'RESAMPLE_LANCZOS'),
+    'RESAMPLE_NEAREST': ('src.adaptive_images', 'RESAMPLE_NEAREST'),
+}

 __all__ = [
    'APIHelper',
@@ -75,3 +120,25 @@ __all__ = [
    'RESAMPLE_LANCZOS',
    'RESAMPLE_NEAREST',
 ]
+
+
+def __getattr__(name: str) -> Any:
+    """Import an exported name on first access (PEP 562).
+
+    Only called for names not already in the module namespace, so after the
+    first access the cached value below is returned directly. Unknown names
+    raise AttributeError, which ``from src.common import <submodule>`` relies
+    on to fall through to importing the submodule.
+    """
+    try:
+        module_name, attr = _LAZY[name]
+    except KeyError:
+        raise AttributeError(f"module {__name__!r} has no attribute {name!r}") from None
+    module = importlib.import_module(module_name)  # nosemgrep: python.lang.security.audit.non-literal-import.non-literal-import -- module_name comes from the fixed _LAZY table
+    value = module if attr is None else getattr(module, attr)
+    globals()[name] = value
+    return value
+
+
+def __dir__() -> List[str]:
+    return sorted(set(globals()) | set(__all__))
@@ -10,11 +10,17 @@ import logging
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 from types import MappingProxyType
-from src.common.espn_dates import ESPN_MAX_LIMIT
+from src.common.espn_dates import (
+    ESPN_MAX_LIMIT,
+    espn_scoreboard_cache_key,
+    read_espn_scoreboard_cache,
+    store_espn_scoreboard_cache,
+)
+from src.common.fetch_service import fetch_get, fetch_post, share_connection_pool
+from src.common.json_body import response_json
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Mapping, Optional, cast

 import requests
-from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
 from urllib3.util.retry import Retry

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -45,7 +51,11 @@ class APIHelper:

    - Requests go through one ``requests.Session`` that retries GET, HEAD
      and OPTIONS on 429 and 5xx with exponential backoff, and sends
-      :data:`DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS`.
+      :data:`DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS`. Its connection pool is shared with every
+      other helper using the same retry policy, and requests go through the
+      core fetch service (``src/common/fetch_service.py``): identical GETs in
+      flight are merged, hosts with a budget are paced, and requests are
+      counted per plugin. Return values and errors are unchanged.
    - Consecutive requests from one helper are spaced at least
      ``set_rate_limit()`` seconds apart (1 second by default). A cache hit
      does not count.
@@ -81,9 +91,10 @@ class APIHelper:
            status_forcelist=[429, 500, 502, 503, 504],
            allowed_methods=["GET", "HEAD", "OPTIONS"]
        )
-        adapter = HTTPAdapter(max_retries=retry_strategy)
-        self.session.mount("https://", adapter)
-        self.session.mount("http://", adapter)
+        # The shared adapter for this retry policy: the same retries as a
+        # private HTTPAdapter(max_retries=retry_strategy), with the connection
+        # pool shared by every helper (fetch_service).
+        share_connection_pool(self.session, retry_strategy)
        
        self.session.headers.update({**DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS, 'Connection': 'keep-alive'})
        
@@ -112,6 +123,14 @@ class APIHelper:
        Returns:
            Response data as dictionary or None if request fails
        """
+        return self._get(url, params, headers, timeout, cache_key, cache_ttl,
+                         cache_ttl if cache_key else None)
+
+    def _get(self, url: str, params: Optional[Dict], headers: Optional[Dict],
+             timeout: Optional[int], cache_key: Optional[str], cache_ttl: int,
+             cache_max_age: Optional[float]) -> Optional[Dict]:
+        """:meth:`get`, saying how old a response the fetch service's short
+        response cache may hand back (``cache_max_age``, the caller's TTL)."""
        if cache_key and self.cache_manager:
            cached = self._get_from_cache(cache_key, cache_ttl)
            if cached is not None:
@@ -128,16 +147,18 @@ class APIHelper:
                request_headers.update(headers)
            
            # Make request
-            response = self.session.get(
+            response = fetch_get(
+                self.session,
                url, 
                params=params,
                headers=request_headers,
-                timeout=timeout or self.default_timeout
+                timeout=timeout or self.default_timeout,
+                cache_max_age=cache_max_age,
            )
            response.raise_for_status()
            
            # Parse JSON response
-            data: Dict[Any, Any] = response.json()
+            data: Dict[Any, Any] = response_json(response)
            
            # Cache response if cache key provided
            if cache_key and self.cache_manager:
@@ -161,22 +182,23 @@ class APIHelper:
            sport: Sport name (e.g., 'basketball', 'football')
            league: League name (e.g., 'nba', 'nfl')
            date: Date in YYYYMMDD format (defaults to today)
-            cache_key: Cache key for response
-            cache_ttl: Cache time-to-live in seconds
-            
+            cache_key: Cache key for response. By default the canonical
+                ``espn_scoreboard_cache_key(sport, league, date)``, shared
+                with every other consumer of this scoreboard, with the key
+                this used before (``espn_{sport}_{league}_{date}``) read as a
+                fallback for one release. An explicit key works as before.
+            cache_ttl: Cache time-to-live in seconds. A shared entry is
+                returned only while it is at most this old.
+
        Returns:
            ESPN API response data or None if request fails
        """
        if date is None:
            date = datetime.now().strftime('%Y%m%d')
-        
+
        # Build URL
        url = f"https://site.api.espn.com/apis/site/v2/sports/{sport}/{league}/scoreboard"
-        
-        # Build cache key if not provided
-        if cache_key is None:
-            cache_key = f"espn_{sport}_{league}_{date}"
-        
+
        # Set parameters
        # limit above 500 makes ESPN truncate instead of erroring: college
        # football came back with 25 of 68 games. See src/common/espn_dates.py.
@@ -184,8 +206,26 @@ class APIHelper:
            'dates': date,
            'limit': ESPN_MAX_LIMIT
        }
-        
-        return self.get(url, params=params, cache_key=cache_key, cache_ttl=cache_ttl)
+
+        if cache_key is not None:
+            return self.get(url, params=params, cache_key=cache_key, cache_ttl=cache_ttl)
+
+        legacy_key = f"espn_{sport}_{league}_{date}"
+        try:
+            shared_key = espn_scoreboard_cache_key(sport, league, date)
+        except ValueError:
+            # Not a path or date the canonical key covers: the old key.
+            return self.get(url, params=params, cache_key=legacy_key, cache_ttl=cache_ttl)
+        if self.cache_manager:
+            cached = read_espn_scoreboard_cache(
+                self.cache_manager, shared_key, cache_ttl, legacy_keys=(legacy_key,))
+            if cached is not None:
+                self.logger.debug(f"Using cached response for {shared_key}")
+                return cast(Dict[Any, Any], cached)
+        data = self._get(url, params, None, None, None, cache_ttl, cache_ttl)
+        if data is not None and self.cache_manager:
+            store_espn_scoreboard_cache(self.cache_manager, shared_key, data)
+        return data
    
    def fetch_espn_standings(self, sport: str, league: str,
                            cache_key: Optional[str] = None,
@@ -255,7 +295,8 @@ class APIHelper:
            if headers:
                request_headers.update(headers)
            
-            response = self.session.post(
+            response = fetch_post(
+                self.session,
                url,
                data=data,
                json=json_data,
@@ -264,7 +305,7 @@ class APIHelper:
            )
            response.raise_for_status()
            
-            return cast(Optional[Dict[Any, Any]], response.json())
+            return cast(Optional[Dict[Any, Any]], response_json(response))
            
        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            self.logger.error(f"POST request failed for {url}: {e}")
@@ -30,14 +30,34 @@ Once a range has been rejected, later ranges skip straight to chunks for
 ``RANGE_RETRY_SECONDS`` instead of spending a doomed request first -- live
 scoreboards ask every 30 seconds. After that the range is tried again, so the
 workaround retires itself if ESPN reverts.
+
+ONE CACHE KEY PER SCOREBOARD
+----------------------------
+The same ESPN scoreboard used to be cached under a different key by every
+consumer: odds-ticker as ``scoreboard_data_{sport}_{league}_{date}``,
+``APIHelper`` as ``espn_{sport}_{league}_{date}``, the scoreboards as
+``{sport_key}_schedule_{window}`` -- so two plugins showing the same league
+fetched and stored it twice. :func:`espn_scoreboard_cache_key` is the one
+name for "this sport/league scoreboard for these dates", and
+:func:`get_espn_scoreboard` (or :func:`read_espn_scoreboard_cache` and
+:func:`store_espn_scoreboard_cache` around :func:`fetch_espn_scoreboard`)
+is the cache-through read every consumer can share. A read never returns an
+entry older than the reader's own ``max_age``, whoever wrote it and whatever
+ttl they stored with it. Old keys are passed as ``legacy_keys`` and read
+after the canonical one, so an upgrade does not refetch everything at once;
+they can go one release after the one that added this.
 """

+import contextvars
+import logging
+import math
+import re
 import threading
 import time
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
-from datetime import date, timedelta
+from datetime import date, datetime, timedelta
 from functools import partial
-from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, cast
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, Tuple, cast

 try:
    from src.common.json_body import response_json
@@ -47,6 +67,26 @@ except ImportError:
    def response_json(response: Any) -> Any:
        return response.json()

+try:
+    # The core fetch service: counts, per-host budget, merging of identical
+    # requests. Same call, same result and errors as ``session.get``.
+    from src.common.fetch_service import fetch_get, get_fetch_service, pinned_caller
+    _COUNTS_FETCHES = True
+except ImportError:
+    # Bundled copies on cores without it call the session directly.
+    import contextlib
+
+    def fetch_get(session: Any, url: str, *, share_in_flight: bool = True,
+                  cache_max_age: Optional[float] = None, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+        return session.get(url, **kwargs)
+
+    def pinned_caller() -> Any:
+        return contextlib.nullcontext()
+
+    _COUNTS_FETCHES = False
+
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 # Above this, ESPN returns a truncated list instead of an error. See module
 # docstring: 500 is the largest value measured to return complete data.
 ESPN_MAX_LIMIT = 500
@@ -73,8 +113,23 @@ __all__ = [
    "merge_scoreboard_payloads",
    "fetch_espn_date_chunks",
    "fetch_espn_scoreboard",
+    "ESPN_SCOREBOARD_URL",
+    "espn_scoreboard_url",
+    "espn_scoreboard_cache_key",
+    "espn_scoreboard_cache_key_for_url",
+    "read_espn_scoreboard_cache",
+    "store_espn_scoreboard_cache",
+    "get_espn_scoreboard",
 ]

+#: The site-API scoreboard every sport and league shares.
+ESPN_SCOREBOARD_URL = "https://site.api.espn.com/apis/site/v2/sports/{sport}/{league}/scoreboard"
+_ESPN_HOST_URL = "https://site.api.espn.com/"
+
+_PATH_PART = re.compile(r"^[a-z0-9][a-z0-9.\-]*$")
+_DATES = re.compile(r"^\d{4}(?:\d{2}(?:\d{2})?)?$|^\d{8}-\d{8}$")
+_SCOREBOARD_PATH = re.compile(r"/sports/([^/?#]+)/([^/?#]+)/scoreboard/?$")
+

 def clamp_espn_limit(params: Optional[Dict[str, Any]]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    """Return a copy of ``params`` with any ``limit`` over 500 pulled back to 500."""
@@ -113,6 +168,12 @@ def parse_espn_date_range(dates: Any) -> Optional[Tuple[date, date]]:
    return start, end


+def _memo_kwargs(cache_max_age: Optional[float]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """``cache_max_age`` for fetch_get, only when the caller gave one, so a
+    call that did not say is the call it always was."""
+    return {} if cache_max_age is None else {"cache_max_age": cache_max_age}
+
+
 def _ranges_known_rejected() -> bool:
    with _range_lock:
        return time.monotonic() < _ranges_rejected_until
@@ -188,6 +249,7 @@ def merge_scoreboard_payloads(payloads: List[Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:

 def _fetch_one_chunk(
    session, url: str, params: Dict[str, Any], headers, timeout, logger, chunk: str,
+    cache_max_age: Optional[float] = None,
 ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
    """GET a single ``dates=`` chunk, or None when it failed.

@@ -195,11 +257,13 @@ def _fetch_one_chunk(
    logged and swallowed here rather than raised to the gather below.
    """
    try:
-        response = session.get(
+        response = fetch_get(
+            session,
            url,
            params=dict(params, dates=chunk, limit=ESPN_MAX_LIMIT),
            headers=headers,
            timeout=timeout,
+            **_memo_kwargs(cache_max_age),
        )
        response.raise_for_status()
        return cast(Optional[Dict[str, Any]], response_json(response))
@@ -211,7 +275,7 @@ def _fetch_one_chunk(

 def _fetch_chunks(
    session, url: str, params: Dict[str, Any], headers, timeout, logger,
-    chunks: List[str],
+    chunks: List[str], cache_max_age: Optional[float] = None,
 ) -> List[Optional[Dict[str, Any]]]:
    """Fetch every chunk, returning payloads positionally aligned with ``chunks``.

@@ -220,19 +284,29 @@ def _fetch_chunks(
    callers keep ``chunks`` order from the returned list -- but it does mean
    the session is shared across threads, which is why this only ever issues
    GETs and never touches session state.
+
+    Each chunk runs in a copy of the caller's context, with the caller pinned
+    into it, so the fetch service counts the chunks against the plugin that
+    asked for the range rather than against the core.
    """
    if not chunks:
        return []
    fetch = partial(
        _fetch_one_chunk, session, url, params, headers, timeout, logger,
+        cache_max_age=cache_max_age,
    )
    if len(chunks) == 1:
        return [fetch(chunks[0])]
    workers = min(ESPN_CHUNK_WORKERS, len(chunks))
+    with pinned_caller():
+        # One copy per chunk: a Context cannot be entered by two threads.
+        contexts = [contextvars.copy_context() for _ in chunks]
    with ThreadPoolExecutor(
        max_workers=workers, thread_name_prefix="espn-chunk",
    ) as pool:
-        return list(pool.map(fetch, chunks))
+        futures = [pool.submit(context.run, fetch, chunk)
+                   for context, chunk in zip(contexts, chunks)]
+        return [future.result() for future in futures]


 def fetch_espn_date_chunks(
@@ -242,6 +316,7 @@ def fetch_espn_date_chunks(
    headers: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
    timeout: int = 15,
    logger=None,
+    cache_max_age: Optional[float] = None,
 ) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
    """Fetch a ``YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD`` window as month and day chunks.

@@ -273,7 +348,7 @@ def fetch_espn_date_chunks(
        )

    results = _fetch_chunks(
-        session, url, params, headers, timeout, logger, chunks,
+        session, url, params, headers, timeout, logger, chunks, cache_max_age,
    )
    attempted = len(chunks)

@@ -305,7 +380,7 @@ def fetch_espn_date_chunks(
        days = [day for index in sorted(capped) for day in capped[index]]
        attempted += len(days)
        by_day = dict(zip(days, _fetch_chunks(
-            session, url, params, headers, timeout, logger, days,
+            session, url, params, headers, timeout, logger, days, cache_max_age,
        )))
        for index, month_days in capped.items():
            slots[index] = [by_day.get(day) for day in month_days]
@@ -338,6 +413,7 @@ def fetch_espn_scoreboard(
    headers: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
    timeout: int = 15,
    logger=None,
+    cache_max_age: Optional[float] = None,
 ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    """GET an ESPN scoreboard, re-asking in month/day chunks if a range 400s.

@@ -347,6 +423,10 @@ def fetch_espn_scoreboard(
    and later ranges go straight to chunks for ``RANGE_RETRY_SECONDS``. A 400 on
    a non-range request, any other error, and a range whose every chunk fails
    all raise as before.
+
+    ``cache_max_age`` is the oldest response, in seconds, the caller takes
+    from the fetch service's short response cache (its own TTL; 0 always
+    asks ESPN). None leaves it to the service default.
    """
    params = clamp_espn_limit(params)
    is_range = parse_espn_date_range(params.get("dates")) is not None
@@ -355,7 +435,7 @@ def fetch_espn_scoreboard(
    if is_range and _ranges_known_rejected():
        data = fetch_espn_date_chunks(
            session, url, params=params, headers=headers,
-            timeout=timeout, logger=logger,
+            timeout=timeout, logger=logger, cache_max_age=cache_max_age,
        )
        if data is not None:
            return data
@@ -363,7 +443,8 @@ def fetch_espn_scoreboard(
        # real error to log, without spending the chunks a second time.
        chunks_tried = True

-    response = session.get(url, params=params, headers=headers, timeout=timeout)
+    response = fetch_get(session, url, params=params, headers=headers, timeout=timeout,
+                         **_memo_kwargs(cache_max_age))
    if is_range and response.status_code == 400 and not chunks_tried:
        _note_range_rejected()
        if logger:
@@ -374,9 +455,225 @@ def fetch_espn_scoreboard(
            )
        data = fetch_espn_date_chunks(
            session, url, params=params, headers=headers,
-            timeout=timeout, logger=logger,
+            timeout=timeout, logger=logger, cache_max_age=cache_max_age,
        )
        if data is not None:
            return data
    response.raise_for_status()
    return cast(Dict[str, Any], response_json(response))
+
+
+# --- one cache key per scoreboard --------------------------------------------------
+
+def espn_scoreboard_url(sport: str, league: str) -> str:
+    """The site-API scoreboard URL for an ESPN ``sport`` / ``league`` path."""
+    return ESPN_SCOREBOARD_URL.format(sport=_path_part(sport, "sport"),
+                                      league=_path_part(league, "league"))
+
+
+def _path_part(value: Any, what: str) -> str:
+    text = str(value or "").strip().lower()
+    if not _PATH_PART.match(text):
+        raise ValueError(f"not an ESPN {what} path segment: {value!r}")
+    return text
+
+
+def _day(value: Any) -> str:
+    if isinstance(value, (date, datetime)):
+        return value.strftime("%Y%m%d")
+    text = str(value).strip()
+    if len(text) != 8 or not text.isdigit():
+        raise ValueError(f"not an ESPN day (YYYYMMDD): {value!r}")
+    return text
+
+
+def _dates_part(dates: Any) -> str:
+    """``dates`` as ESPN spells it, or ``current`` for no ``dates`` at all."""
+    if dates is None or dates == "":
+        return "current"
+    if isinstance(dates, (date, datetime)):
+        return _day(dates)
+    if isinstance(dates, (tuple, list)):
+        if len(dates) != 2:
+            raise ValueError(f"a date range is (start, end): {dates!r}")
+        start, end = _day(dates[0]), _day(dates[1])
+        return start if start == end else f"{start}-{end}"
+    text = str(dates).strip()
+    if isinstance(dates, bool) or not _DATES.match(text):
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"not an ESPN dates value (YYYY, YYYYMM, YYYYMMDD or "
+            f"YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD): {dates!r}")
+    return text
+
+
+def espn_scoreboard_cache_key(sport: str, league: str, dates: Any = None) -> str:
+    """The one cache key for an ESPN scoreboard, whoever caches it.
+
+    ``sport`` and ``league`` are ESPN's own path segments -- ``football`` /
+    ``college-football``, ``soccer`` / ``eng.1`` -- not a plugin's
+    ``sport_key``, so every plugin showing a league names it the same way.
+    ``dates`` is what the request sends as ``dates=``: ``"YYYYMMDD"``,
+    ``"YYYYMM"``, ``"YYYY"``, ``"YYYYMMDD-YYYYMMDD"``, a ``date``, or a
+    ``(start, end)`` pair of either; None is the undated "current"
+    scoreboard. Anything else raises ValueError rather than invent a key.
+
+    The key says nothing about ``limit``: a cached copy is meant to be a
+    whole one (the helpers here always ask for ``ESPN_MAX_LIMIT``).
+    """
+    return (f"espn_scoreboard_{_path_part(sport, 'sport')}_"
+            f"{_path_part(league, 'league')}_{_dates_part(dates)}")
+
+
+def espn_scoreboard_cache_key_for_url(url: str, dates: Any = None) -> Optional[str]:
+    """:func:`espn_scoreboard_cache_key` for a scoreboard URL, or None when
+    ``url`` is not ``.../sports/{sport}/{league}/scoreboard``."""
+    match = _SCOREBOARD_PATH.search(str(url or "").split("?", 1)[0])
+    if match is None:
+        return None
+    try:
+        return espn_scoreboard_cache_key(match.group(1), match.group(2), dates)
+    except ValueError:
+        return None
+
+
+def _note_cache_hit(legacy: bool, avoided_request: bool = True) -> None:
+    if not _COUNTS_FETCHES:
+        return
+    try:
+        get_fetch_service().note_cache_hit(
+            _ESPN_HOST_URL, legacy=legacy, avoided_request=avoided_request)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - counting never breaks a read
+        _logger.debug("could not count a scoreboard cache hit", exc_info=True)
+
+
+def _fresh_cached(cache_manager: Any, key: str, max_age: Optional[float],
+                  now: float) -> Tuple[Optional[Dict[str, Any]], Optional[float]]:
+    """The data cached under ``key`` if it is at most ``max_age`` seconds
+    old, and its age (None when the cache does not say).
+
+    The age is the stored record's own timestamp, checked here: CacheManager
+    lets a ttl stored by the writer override the reader's max_age, and its
+    memory tier times an entry from when it was loaded, not written. A key
+    shared by readers with different TTLs can rely on neither.
+    """
+    reader = getattr(cache_manager, "get_cached_data", None)
+    limit = None if max_age is None else max(1, int(math.ceil(max_age)))
+    if not callable(reader):
+        # A cache without records (a test double, a plugin's own store).
+        value = cache_manager.get(key, max_age=limit)
+        return (value if isinstance(value, dict) else None), None
+    record = reader(key, max_age=limit, memory_ttl=limit)
+    if not isinstance(record, dict):
+        return None, None
+    if "data" not in record:
+        return record, None  # unwrapped; the cache already judged it by mtime
+    stamp = record.get("timestamp")
+    age: Optional[float] = None
+    if not isinstance(stamp, bool) and isinstance(stamp, (int, float)):
+        age = max(0.0, now - float(stamp))
+    if max_age is not None and (age is None or age > max_age):
+        return None, None
+    data = record["data"]
+    return (data if isinstance(data, dict) else None), age
+
+
+def read_espn_scoreboard_cache(
+    cache_manager: Any,
+    key: str,
+    max_age: Optional[float],
+    legacy_keys: Iterable[str] = (),
+    now: Optional[float] = None,
+    accept: Optional[Callable[[Dict[str, Any], Optional[float]], bool]] = None,
+) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """The cached scoreboard under ``key``, or under the first of
+    ``legacy_keys`` that has one, if it is at most ``max_age`` seconds old.
+
+    None on a miss, a stale entry, ``max_age`` of 0 or less, no cache
+    manager, or any cache error -- a read never raises. ``max_age=None``
+    takes an entry of any age. ``accept(data, age_seconds)`` can turn down
+    an entry the age alone would allow (a payload holding a live game wants
+    a shorter limit); ``age_seconds`` is None when the cache cannot say. A
+    hit is counted in the fetch statistics (``cache_hits``;
+    ``legacy_cache_hits`` too for an old key).
+    """
+    if cache_manager is None:
+        return None
+    if max_age is not None and max_age <= 0:
+        return None
+    clock = time.time() if now is None else now
+    for index, candidate in enumerate([key, *legacy_keys]):
+        if not candidate:
+            continue
+        try:
+            data, age = _fresh_cached(cache_manager, candidate, max_age, clock)
+            if data is not None and accept is not None and not accept(data, age):
+                data = None
+        except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - a broken cache is a miss
+            _logger.debug("scoreboard cache read failed for %s", candidate, exc_info=True)
+            continue
+        if data is not None:
+            _note_cache_hit(legacy=index > 0)
+            return data
+    return None
+
+
+def store_espn_scoreboard_cache(cache_manager: Any, key: str, data: Any) -> None:
+    """Cache a fetched scoreboard under ``key``. Never raises.
+
+    No ttl is stored: each reader applies its own ``max_age`` (a live
+    reader 30 s, a schedule reader an hour), and a stored ttl would
+    override theirs in CacheManager.
+    """
+    if cache_manager is None or data is None:
+        return
+    try:
+        cache_manager.set(key, data)
+    except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - the caller still has its data
+        _logger.warning("Could not cache scoreboard %s", key, exc_info=True)
+
+
+def get_espn_scoreboard(
+    session: Any,
+    sport: str,
+    league: str,
+    dates: Any = None,
+    *,
+    cache_manager: Any = None,
+    max_age: Optional[float] = 300,
+    legacy_keys: Iterable[str] = (),
+    headers: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
+    timeout: int = 15,
+    logger: Any = None,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """An ESPN scoreboard through the shared cache, fetched on a miss.
+
+    Reads :func:`espn_scoreboard_cache_key` (then ``legacy_keys``) and
+    returns an entry at most ``max_age`` seconds old. Otherwise it fetches
+    with :func:`fetch_espn_scoreboard` -- ``limit=ESPN_MAX_LIMIT``, ranges
+    split as ESPN needs -- caches the result under the canonical key and
+    returns it. ``max_age=0`` always fetches (and still caches, for other
+    readers). Errors raise exactly as :func:`fetch_espn_scoreboard` does,
+    and nothing is cached then. ``session=None`` uses the fetch service's
+    pooled session for the ESPN host.
+    """
+    key = espn_scoreboard_cache_key(sport, league, dates)
+    cached = read_espn_scoreboard_cache(cache_manager, key, max_age, legacy_keys)
+    if cached is not None:
+        return cast(Dict[str, Any], cached)
+    params: Dict[str, Any] = {"limit": ESPN_MAX_LIMIT}
+    spelled = _dates_part(dates)
+    if spelled != "current":
+        params["dates"] = spelled
+    data = fetch_espn_scoreboard(
+        session,
+        espn_scoreboard_url(sport, league),
+        params=params,
+        headers=headers,
+        timeout=timeout,
+        logger=logger,
+        # The response cache must not hand back anything older than the
+        # cache read above would have accepted.
+        cache_max_age=None if max_age is None else max(0.0, float(max_age)),
+    )
+    store_espn_scoreboard_cache(cache_manager, key, data)
+    return data
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+"""Drop the parts of an ESPN scoreboard payload no scoreboard reads.
+
+The sports scoreboards cache their Recent/Upcoming window (14 days back, 7
+ahead) as the raw ESPN response, and that record stays parsed in the memory
+cache for as long as it is fresh. Most of it is never drawn. Measured on hdpi
+(2026-10-02) the MLB window was 3.35MB of JSON and 13.5MB of Python objects,
+and the five windows together ~40MB, mostly in:
+
+* ``competitors[].leaders`` / ``competitions[].leaders`` -- per-team and
+  per-game stat leaders (28% of the MLB window)
+* ``competitors[].team.links`` / ``event.links`` -- web and app URLs
+* ``status.featuredAthletes`` and ``competitors[].probables`` -- athlete
+  cards with headshots and season stats
+* ``competitions[].headlines`` / ``highlights`` -- article and video blurbs
+  (28% of the college-football window)
+* ``competitions[].geoBroadcasts``
+
+None of those keys is read by core or by any plugin in ledmatrix-plugins
+(checked 2026-10-02 across every scoreboard, the odds ticker and the
+leaderboard), while everything that is read -- odds, records, linescores,
+situation, statistics, notes, broadcasts, venue -- is kept. Dropping them
+takes the five windows from ~40MB to ~12MB of parsed objects and the files from
+10.6MB to 3.0MB, so the reads that parse an expired window on the render
+thread get 3-4x cheaper too.
+
+:func:`slim_scoreboard_payload` changes the payload in place, and only ever
+removes the keys listed here: anything it does not know about is left alone.
+"""
+
+from typing import Any, Dict
+from urllib.parse import urlsplit
+
+# Per level of the payload, the keys removed. Kept deliberately explicit:
+# adding a key here means checking that nothing reads it first.
+_EVENT_DROP = ("links",)
+_COMPETITION_DROP = ("leaders", "headlines", "highlights", "geoBroadcasts")
+_STATUS_DROP = ("featuredAthletes",)
+_COMPETITOR_DROP = ("leaders", "probables")
+_TEAM_DROP = ("links",)
+
+
+def is_espn_scoreboard_url(url: Any) -> bool:
+    """Whether ``url`` is an ESPN site-API scoreboard endpoint."""
+    if not isinstance(url, str):
+        return False
+    try:
+        parts = urlsplit(url)
+    except ValueError:
+        return False
+    host = (parts.hostname or "").lower()
+    if host != "espn.com" and not host.endswith(".espn.com"):
+        return False
+    return parts.path.rstrip("/").endswith("/scoreboard")
+
+
+def _drop(obj: Any, keys) -> None:
+    if isinstance(obj, dict):
+        for key in keys:
+            obj.pop(key, None)
+
+
+def slim_scoreboard_payload(payload: Any) -> Any:
+    """Remove the unread parts of an ESPN scoreboard payload, in place.
+
+    Returns ``payload`` for convenience. Anything that is not shaped like a
+    scoreboard (not a dict, no ``events`` list, odd entries) is passed over
+    untouched rather than raising.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+        return payload
+    events = payload.get("events")
+    if not isinstance(events, list):
+        return payload
+    for event in events:
+        if not isinstance(event, dict):
+            continue
+        _drop(event, _EVENT_DROP)
+        competitions = event.get("competitions")
+        if not isinstance(competitions, list):
+            continue
+        for competition in competitions:
+            if not isinstance(competition, dict):
+                continue
+            _drop(competition, _COMPETITION_DROP)
+            _drop(competition.get("status"), _STATUS_DROP)
+            competitors = competition.get("competitors")
+            if not isinstance(competitors, list):
+                continue
+            for competitor in competitors:
+                if not isinstance(competitor, dict):
+                    continue
+                _drop(competitor, _COMPETITOR_DROP)
+                _drop(competitor.get("team"), _TEAM_DROP)
+    return payload
+
+
+__all__ = ["is_espn_scoreboard_url", "slim_scoreboard_payload"]
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ Only intervals between two consecutive *scrolling* frames count: a static
 screen that changes once a second has no timing to get wrong, and the first
 frame of a scroll has no predecessor worth measuring against.

-"Scrolling" is DisplayManager's scroll state when the frame is presented, and
-that state can go missing in the middle of a scroll. It expires after 2s
+"Scrolling" is the scroll state ``DisplayManager.update_display`` acted on for
+the frame, sampled once before the blit and swap, and that state can go missing
+in the middle of a scroll. It expires after 2s
 without scroll activity, which a long enough stall outlasts, and any thread can
 clear it: plugins call ``set_scrolling_state(False)`` from their own
 ``display()``, and Vegas captures some of those on the render thread between
@@ -38,12 +39,20 @@ after the one before it. One that arrives a whole refresh or more after that is
 a visible hitch. ``missed_refreshes`` sums how many refreshes late.

 An interval of ``FREEZE_SECONDS`` or more is a **freeze** instead -- a
-recompose, a plugin handover, a blocking call on the render thread. Those are
-counted separately, both because they are a different fault and because
-folding a single 400ms handover into the late count as "40 missed refreshes"
-would drown the jitter the late count exists to measure. ``freeze_by`` splits
-them by length. Intervals of ``GAP_SECONDS`` or more are ignored as not being
-frames of one scroll at all.
+recompose, a plugin handover nobody tagged (see below), a blocking call on the
+render thread. Those are counted separately, both because they are a different
+fault and because folding a single 400ms handover into the late count as "40
+missed refreshes" would drown the jitter the late count exists to measure.
+``freeze_by`` splits them by length. Intervals of ``GAP_SECONDS`` or more are
+ignored as not being frames of one scroll at all.
+
+One kind of freeze is not a scroll stalling at all: the gap from one screen's
+last frame to the next screen's first, while the next screen draws. The
+display controller tags that frame ``handover`` (see "Operations") at the
+start of every turn, the same mode's again included, and a tagged freeze is
+counted in ``handover_freezes`` instead of ``freezes`` and ``freeze_by``.
+Stats written before that field existed have handovers among their freezes,
+so freeze counts from before and after it are not comparable.

 A frame that arrives a whole refresh or more *early* means the swap did not
 wait for the panel: the emulator, the fallback display, or a hold that was not
@@ -77,6 +86,24 @@ the work landed in. ``op_frames`` counts timed frames per kind,
 freeze instead, and ``op_bytes`` what the work moved. A kind whose late rate
 sits well above the overall one is the work to look at.

+``handover`` (:data:`HANDOVER_OP`) is noted off the render thread: the display
+controller notes it just before it starts a screen's first ``display()``,
+which presents from a thread of its own, and drops the note again with
+:meth:`FrameTimingRecorder.drop_op` once that call returns, so a first
+``display()`` that drew nothing cannot leave the tag for an unrelated frame.
+
+Garbage collection
+------------------
+
+Python's cyclic collector stops every thread while it runs. :class:`GcMonitor`
+times each collection from ``gc.callbacks``; the display manager installs one
+per process. A collection of ``GC_PAUSE_SECONDS`` or more tags the next
+presented frame ``gc`` (:data:`GC_OP`), so it shows in ``op_frames``,
+``late_op_frames`` and ``op_freezes`` like noted work, and the snapshot carries
+a ``gc`` block of cumulative counters: collections and seconds per generation,
+the longest, and the long ones. A stall dump says when a long collection ran
+inside the stall. Diagnostic only: nothing tunes or freezes the collector.
+
 Stall watchdog
 --------------
 Counting a freeze says that it happened, not why. ``StallWatchdog`` watches the
@@ -94,7 +121,9 @@ three times per threshold, so keep it to diagnostic runs, not soaks.

 from __future__ import annotations

+import atexit
 import copy
+import gc
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -133,6 +162,16 @@ RESUME_SECONDS = 1.0
 FREEZE_BUCKETS = ((0.5, "<0.5s"), (1.0, "0.5-1s"), (2.0, "1-2s"),
                  (float("inf"), "2s+"))

+#: The op the display controller notes before a screen's first frame. A
+#: freeze it ends is a handover, counted apart from the freezes; see
+#: "What is counted".
+HANDOVER_OP = "handover"
+
+#: The op a garbage collection of ``GC_PAUSE_SECONDS`` or more tags the next
+#: frame with; see "Garbage collection".
+GC_OP = "gc"
+GC_PAUSE_SECONDS = 0.020
+
 #: A window may lower the refresh-period estimate by at most this fraction.
 MAX_REFRESH_DROP = 0.2

@@ -164,6 +203,114 @@ def default_stats_path() -> str:
    return os.path.join(base, STATS_FILENAME)


+class GcMonitor:
+    """Times every garbage collection, from ``gc.callbacks``.
+
+    Python's cyclic collector stops every thread for as long as a collection
+    takes, and a full one over a large heap (a season of game dicts) can take
+    longer than a frame. Nothing measured that, so a stall it caused looked
+    like any other. The callback runs inside the collection, with the GIL
+    held, and collections never overlap, so these plain counters need no
+    lock: the render thread and the stats writer only read them.
+
+    Install it once per process with :func:`install_gc_monitor`.
+
+    Collections still run while the interpreter shuts down, after module
+    globals such as ``time`` may already be torn down to ``None``. The clock
+    and ``sys.is_finalizing`` are bound here so the callback never looks a
+    global up, it does nothing once finalization has begun, and
+    :func:`install_gc_monitor` unregisters it at exit anyway.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, threshold: float = GC_PAUSE_SECONDS,
+                 clock: Callable[[], float] = time.perf_counter):
+        self.threshold = threshold
+        self._clock = clock
+        self._is_finalizing = sys.is_finalizing
+        self._started: Optional[float] = None
+        #: Per generation (0, 1, 2), since the monitor was installed.
+        self.collections = [0, 0, 0]
+        self.seconds = [0.0, 0.0, 0.0]
+        self.max_seconds = 0.0
+        #: Collections of ``threshold`` or more, and their total length. The
+        #: recorder compares ``long_pauses`` with the count it last saw to tag
+        #: the next frame.
+        self.long_pauses = 0
+        self.long_seconds = 0.0
+        #: ``time.perf_counter()`` at the end of the last long collection,
+        #: and its length, for the stall watchdog.
+        self.last_long: Optional[Tuple[float, float]] = None
+
+    def __call__(self, phase: str, info: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        if self._is_finalizing():
+            return
+        now = self._clock()
+        if phase == "start":
+            self._started = now
+            return
+        started, self._started = self._started, None
+        if started is None:
+            return
+        took = now - started
+        generation = min(max(int(info.get("generation", 0)), 0), 2)
+        self.collections[generation] += 1
+        self.seconds[generation] += took
+        if took > self.max_seconds:
+            self.max_seconds = took
+        if took >= self.threshold:
+            self.long_seconds += took
+            self.last_long = (now, took)
+            self.long_pauses += 1
+
+    def snapshot(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Cumulative counters for the stats file (all since installation)."""
+        return {
+            "threshold_ms": round(self.threshold * 1000.0, 3),
+            "collections": list(self.collections),
+            "seconds": [round(x, 6) for x in self.seconds],
+            "max_ms": round(self.max_seconds * 1000.0, 3),
+            "long_pauses": self.long_pauses,
+            "long_seconds": round(self.long_seconds, 6),
+        }
+
+
+_gc_monitor: Optional[GcMonitor] = None
+_gc_monitor_lock = threading.Lock()
+
+
+def install_gc_monitor() -> GcMonitor:
+    """The process's GcMonitor, installed in ``gc.callbacks`` on first call.
+
+    It is unregistered at exit (:func:`uninstall_gc_monitor`), before the
+    interpreter tears module globals down.
+    """
+    global _gc_monitor
+    with _gc_monitor_lock:
+        if _gc_monitor is None:
+            _gc_monitor = GcMonitor()
+            gc.callbacks.append(_gc_monitor)
+            atexit.register(uninstall_gc_monitor)
+        return _gc_monitor
+
+
+def uninstall_gc_monitor() -> None:
+    """Take the process's GcMonitor out of ``gc.callbacks``; safe to repeat.
+
+    A recorder that still holds the monitor keeps its counters; they just
+    stop moving. The next :func:`install_gc_monitor` installs a fresh one.
+    """
+    global _gc_monitor
+    with _gc_monitor_lock:
+        monitor, _gc_monitor = _gc_monitor, None
+        if monitor is None:
+            return
+        atexit.unregister(uninstall_gc_monitor)
+        try:
+            gc.callbacks.remove(monitor)
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+
+
 #: One presented frame's interval: (interval, blit, wait, hold, ops), where
 #: ops is the work noted before it (kind -> bytes) or None.
 _Frame = Tuple[float, float, float, int, Optional[Dict[str, int]]]
@@ -259,11 +406,15 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
        flush_interval: float = FLUSH_INTERVAL,
        info: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
        refresh_hz: Optional[float] = None,
+        gc_monitor: Optional[GcMonitor] = None,
    ):
        """
        :param refresh_hz: the panel's rate, measured independently (see the
            module docstring). Omit it to estimate from the frames alone, as
            the display service does.
+        :param gc_monitor: tags frames after a long garbage collection and
+            adds its counters to the stats (see "Garbage collection"). The
+            display manager passes the process's :func:`install_gc_monitor`.
        """
        self.path = path or default_stats_path()
        self.flush_interval = flush_interval
@@ -278,6 +429,8 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
        self._unsure: Optional[_Frame] = None
        # Work noted since the last frame (kind -> bytes), for the next one.
        self._ops: Optional[Dict[str, int]] = None
+        self.gc_monitor = gc_monitor
+        self._gc_seen = gc_monitor.long_pauses if gc_monitor is not None else 0
        self._last_flush: Optional[float] = None
        self._queue: "queue.SimpleQueue" = queue.SimpleQueue()
        self._worker: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
@@ -302,6 +455,10 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
            "freezes": 0,
            "freeze_seconds": 0.0,
            "freeze_by": {label: 0 for _, label in FREEZE_BUCKETS},
+            # Freezes that ended a screen handover rather than stalled a
+            # scroll: in neither of the two above. Additive; see "What is
+            # counted".
+            "handover_freezes": 0,
            "worst_interval_ms": 0.0,
            # Per kind of noted render-thread work; see "Operations".
            "op_frames": {},
@@ -337,7 +494,8 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:

        Render thread only, like :meth:`record`, which consumes the tag: the
        interval the next frame ends is the one this work landed in. Several
-        notes before one frame accumulate, per kind. See "Operations".
+        notes before one frame accumulate, per kind. See "Operations" (and
+        :data:`HANDOVER_OP`, the one note made from another thread).

        :param kind: a short name for the work, e.g. ``"extend"``, ``"patch"``.
        :param nbytes: how much the work moved, summed into ``op_bytes``.
@@ -347,6 +505,21 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
            ops = self._ops = {}
        ops[kind] = ops.get(kind, 0) + int(nbytes)

+    def drop_op(self, kind: str) -> None:
+        """Forget a note of ``kind`` that no frame has carried yet.
+
+        For work that may present nothing: the display controller notes a
+        handover before a screen's first ``display()`` and drops it once that
+        returns. When the call drew a frame, the frame already took the tag
+        and this does nothing; when it drew nothing (no content), the tag
+        would otherwise land on whatever frame came next -- seconds or minutes
+        later, and nothing to do with the handover. Other kinds noted for the
+        same frame are kept.
+        """
+        ops = self._ops
+        if ops is not None:
+            ops.pop(kind, None)
+
    def record(self, blit: float, wait: float, hold: int, scrolling: bool,
               presented_at: float) -> None:
        """One frame reached the panel.
@@ -354,13 +527,24 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
        :param blit: seconds spent copying the frame into the canvas.
        :param wait: seconds SwapOnVSync blocked.
        :param hold: the refreshes this frame was held for.
-        :param scrolling: whether a scroll was running when it was presented.
+        :param scrolling: whether a scroll was running for this frame: the
+            scroll state ``update_display`` acted on, sampled once before the
+            blit and swap.
        :param presented_at: ``time.perf_counter()`` when the swap returned.
        """
        previous = self._previous
        self._previous = (presented_at, scrolling, hold)
        self.last_frame = (presented_at, scrolling, threading.get_ident())
        ops, self._ops = self._ops, None
+        monitor = self.gc_monitor
+        if monitor is not None and monitor.long_pauses != self._gc_seen:
+            # A long collection ran since the last frame: the interval this
+            # frame ends is the one it landed in. Read here rather than
+            # noted, since note_op is the render thread's and a collection
+            # runs on whichever thread triggered it.
+            self._gc_seen = monitor.long_pauses
+            ops = dict(ops) if ops else {}
+            ops[GC_OP] = ops.get(GC_OP, 0)
        if not scrolling:
            self._static_frames += 1
            # The scroll ended, or its state went missing for this frame: the
@@ -467,13 +651,19 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
                for kind, nbytes in ops.items():
                    _bump(totals["op_bytes"], kind, nbytes)
            if interval >= FREEZE_SECONDS:
+                for kind in ops or ():
+                    _bump(totals["op_freezes"], kind)
+                if ops and HANDOVER_OP in ops:
+                    # The next screen drawing its first frame, not a scroll
+                    # that stalled: counted apart, so the freezes keep
+                    # meaning the second. See "What is counted".
+                    totals["handover_freezes"] += 1
+                    continue
                totals["freezes"] += 1
                totals["freeze_seconds"] += interval
                label = next(name for limit, name in FREEZE_BUCKETS
                             if interval < limit)
                totals["freeze_by"][label] += 1
-                for kind in ops or ():
-                    _bump(totals["op_freezes"], kind)
                continue
            totals["scroll_frames"] += 1
            for name, value in (("blit", blit), ("wait", wait),
@@ -517,6 +707,9 @@ class FrameTimingRecorder:
            "binding_releases_gil": self._binding_gil,
            "info": info,
            "totals": copy.deepcopy(self.totals),
+            # Additive: absent from older files and when no monitor is set.
+            **({"gc": self.gc_monitor.snapshot()}
+               if self.gc_monitor is not None else {}),
            # JSON keys are strings; readers convert back.
            "histograms": {name: {str(k): v for k, v in sorted(h.items())}
                           for name, h in self.histograms.items()},
@@ -647,14 +840,28 @@ class StallWatchdog:
        return stall_from, dumped

    def describe(self, ident: int, age: float, late: float) -> str:
-        """The stack dump: the stalled thread in full, the rest in brief."""
+        """The stack dump: the stalled thread in full, the rest in brief.
+
+        A stall while a ``handover`` note is still waiting for its frame is
+        the next screen's first ``display()`` taking its time, not a scroll
+        that stopped, and is labelled a handover gap.
+        """
        names = {t.ident: t.name for t in threading.enumerate()}
        frames = sys._current_frames()
+        pending = getattr(self.recorder, "_ops", None)
+        where = ("in a handover gap" if pending and HANDOVER_OP in pending
+                 else "mid-scroll")
+        monitor = getattr(self.recorder, "gc_monitor", None)
+        last_long = getattr(monitor, "last_long", None)
+        gc_note = ""
+        if last_long is not None and time.perf_counter() - last_long[0] <= age:
+            gc_note = (f"; a {last_long[1] * 1000.0:.0f}ms garbage collection "
+                       "ran inside it")
        lines = [
-            f"Render stall: no frame for {age * 1000.0:.0f}ms mid-scroll "
+            f"Render stall: no frame for {age * 1000.0:.0f}ms {where} "
            f"(watchdog woke {late * 1000.0:.0f}ms late"
            + ("; the interpreter itself was blocked" if late >= age / 2 else "")
-            + ")",
+            + gc_note + ")",
            f"-- {names.get(ident, ident)} (presents frames):",
        ]
        stalled = frames.get(ident)
@@ -157,7 +157,13 @@ def crisp_ladder(
 #: when 30 was asked for -- being 11% slow is worth far less than looking bad.
 _STEP_PENALTY = 0.05
 _SLOW_FPS_PENALTY = 0.25   # below 20fps
-_LOWISH_FPS_PENALTY = 0.10  # below 25fps
+_LOWISH_FPS_PENALTY = 0.16  # below 30fps, i.e. "slightly stepped"
+# Up to 30fps, matching CrispSpeed.steppiness: a measured 125.7Hz panel makes
+# 50.3px/s (2px every 5 refreshes) 25.1fps, which a 25fps cutoff let through.
+# 0.16, not less: asked for 50px/s on a 120Hz panel, 48px/s (2px every 5
+# refreshes, 24fps) costs 0.04 + 0.05 + this, and has to lose to both 60px/s
+# and 40px/s (1px, smooth, 20% off = 0.20). At 0.10 it won and shipped a
+# visibly stepped scroll to anyone asking for the default.


 def _quality_cost(candidate: "CrispSpeed", target: float) -> float:
@@ -173,7 +179,7 @@ def _quality_cost(candidate: "CrispSpeed", target: float) -> float:
    fps = candidate.frames_per_second
    if fps < 20:
        cost += _SLOW_FPS_PENALTY
-    elif fps < 25:
+    elif fps < 30:
        cost += _LOWISH_FPS_PENALTY
    return cost

@@ -474,3 +480,61 @@ def refresh_hz_from_config(global_config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]]) -> float:
    if not isinstance(hardware, dict):
        return DEFAULT_REFRESH_HZ
    return _coerce(hardware.get("limit_refresh_rate_hz")) or DEFAULT_REFRESH_HZ
+
+
+#: Smooth options offered next to a speed that is not one itself.
+_ADVICE_ALTERNATIVES = 2
+
+
+def speed_advice(
+    requested_pixels_per_second: float,
+    refresh_hz: float,
+    min_pixels_per_second: float = MIN_PIXELS_PER_SECOND,
+    max_pixels_per_second: float = MAX_PIXELS_PER_SECOND,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """What the panel will do with a requested speed, for showing in a UI.
+
+    ``applied`` is what :func:`solve_crisp` picks, i.e. what really runs.
+    ``smooth`` is true when that is single-pixel-ish, 30fps-or-better motion.
+    ``alternatives`` are the smooth ladder entries nearest the request inside
+    the given range, for a click-to-apply suggestion; empty when the request
+    already is one.
+    """
+    hz = _coerce(refresh_hz) or DEFAULT_REFRESH_HZ
+    requested = max(MIN_PIXELS_PER_SECOND,
+                    min(MAX_PIXELS_PER_SECOND, _coerce(requested_pixels_per_second) or 0.0))
+    applied = solve_crisp(requested, hz)
+
+    def as_dict(c: CrispSpeed) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "pixels_per_second": round(c.pixels_per_second, 1),
+            "pixels_per_frame": c.pixels_per_frame,
+            "frame_hold": c.frame_hold,
+            "frames_per_second": round(c.frames_per_second, 1),
+            "steppiness": c.steppiness,
+        }
+
+    smooth_ladder = [
+        c for c in crisp_ladder(hz)
+        if c.steppiness == "smooth"
+        and min_pixels_per_second <= c.pixels_per_second <= max_pixels_per_second
+    ]
+    # 2%: a UI hands over whole numbers, and 63 asked of a 62.9 px/s panel is
+    # as good as exact.
+    exact = abs(applied.pixels_per_second - requested) <= max(0.05, 0.02 * requested)
+    smooth = applied.steppiness == "smooth"
+    alternatives: List[CrispSpeed] = []
+    if not (exact and smooth):
+        alternatives = sorted(
+            smooth_ladder,
+            key=lambda c: abs(c.pixels_per_second - requested),
+        )[:_ADVICE_ALTERNATIVES]
+        alternatives.sort(key=lambda c: c.pixels_per_second)
+    return {
+        "requested": round(requested, 1),
+        "refresh_hz": round(hz, 1),
+        "applied": as_dict(applied),
+        "exact": exact,
+        "smooth": smooth,
+        "alternatives": [as_dict(c) for c in alternatives],
+    }
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Features:
 import logging
 import math
 import time
-from typing import Optional, Dict, Any
+from typing import Optional, Dict, Any, List, Tuple
 from PIL import Image
 import numpy as np

@@ -28,6 +28,39 @@ import numpy as np
 # long over one frame, so a sample this large is an idle gap between scrolls.
 FPS_LOG_INTERVAL = 5.0

+# The stats line goes to INFO only when a window is worth an operator's
+# attention, as Vegas's FPS line does (src/vegas_mode/coordinator.py): every
+# 5s from every scroller was most of the journal on a healthy rig. A window is
+# degraded when its frame rate falls below this fraction of the rate it was
+# locked to (1 / its own median frame time; same 0.9 as Vegas) ...
+STATS_HEALTHY_FRACTION = 0.9
+# ... or when more than this share of its frames stalled (past 1.5x the
+# median). A 1% stall rate barely moves the mean, so the fps test alone would
+# miss the judder this line exists to show.
+STATS_DEGRADED_STALL_RATE = 0.01
+# A healthy scroller still logs at INFO this often, so silence in the journal
+# means stopped rather than fine. Every window is still logged at DEBUG.
+STATS_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL = 300.0
+
+
+def frame_stats_degraded(stats: Dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
+    """Whether one frame_stats() window is worth logging at INFO."""
+    n = stats["frames"]
+    if n == 0 or stats["median"] <= 0:
+        return False
+    locked_fps = 1.0 / stats["median"]
+    return (stats["fps"] < locked_fps * STATS_HEALTHY_FRACTION
+            or stats["stalls"] > n * STATS_DEGRADED_STALL_RATE)
+
+
+def _rgb_pixels(item) -> np.ndarray:
+    """An appended item's pixels as an RGB array, as pasting it would draw them."""
+    if isinstance(item, np.ndarray):
+        return item
+    if item.mode != 'RGB':
+        item = item.convert('RGB')
+    return np.asarray(item)
+

 def frame_stats(frame_times: list) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    """Summary statistics over one window of frame durations (seconds).
@@ -180,6 +213,11 @@ class ScrollHelper:
        # Every frame time since the last stats line, so the 5s summary can
        # report the tail rather than one arbitrary sample. Cleared on log.
        self._window: list = []
+        # INFO-level stats bookkeeping (see STATS_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL). Kept
+        # across reset_scroll(): a heartbeat per scroll start would bring the
+        # chatter back. 0.0 so the first window after start-up is at INFO.
+        self._stats_last_info_log = 0.0
+        self._stats_was_degraded = False
        
        # Scrolling state management
        self.is_scrolling = False
@@ -523,7 +561,7 @@ class ScrollHelper:
        width = self.display_width
        strip_width = self.cached_array.shape[1]

-        if start_x + width + 1 <= strip_width:
+        if 0 <= start_x and start_x + width + 1 <= strip_width:
            # Slice the backing array directly. Going via
            # _get_visible_portion_integer would build two PIL images only for
            # them to be converted straight back to arrays, which measured 15x
@@ -531,9 +569,10 @@ class ScrollHelper:
            near = self.cached_array[:, start_x:start_x + width]
            far = self.cached_array[:, start_x + 1:start_x + 1 + width]
        else:
-            # Close enough to the end that one of the slices wraps; let the
-            # integer path handle that and pay the conversion. Continuous mode
-            # extends the strip before reaching here, so this is the rare case.
+            # One of the slices wraps (close to the end, or a strip narrower
+            # than the panel); let the integer path handle that and pay the
+            # conversion. Continuous mode extends the strip before reaching
+            # here, so this is the rare case.
            near = np.asarray(
                self._get_visible_portion_integer(start_x, start_x + width))
            far = np.asarray(
@@ -563,31 +602,33 @@ class ScrollHelper:
        _size = (self.display_width, self.display_height)
        img_w = self.cached_array.shape[1]

-        if end_x <= img_w:
-            # Normal case: single contiguous slice (fastest path)
-            frame_array = np.ascontiguousarray(self.cached_array[:, start_x:end_x])
-            return Image.frombytes('RGB', _size, frame_array.tobytes())
+        if 0 <= start_x and end_x <= img_w:
+            # Normal case: single contiguous slice (fastest path). tobytes()
+            # on the column-slice view already returns C-order bytes, so
+            # ascontiguousarray() first only added a second full-frame copy.
+            return Image.frombytes(
+                'RGB', _size,
+                self.cached_array[:, start_x:end_x].tobytes())
+
+        # Ensure frame buffer is allocated for all non-simple paths
+        if self._frame_buffer is None or self._frame_buffer.shape != (self.display_height, self.display_width, 3):
+            self._frame_buffer = np.zeros((self.display_height, self.display_width, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+
+        if img_w == 0:
+            self._frame_buffer[:] = 0
        else:
-            # Ensure frame buffer is allocated for all non-simple paths
-            if self._frame_buffer is None or self._frame_buffer.shape != (self.display_height, self.display_width, 3):
-                self._frame_buffer = np.zeros((self.display_height, self.display_width, 3), dtype=np.uint8)
+            # The frame runs off the strip, so it carries on from the head:
+            # frame column j is strip column (start_x + j) modulo the strip's
+            # width -- the tail and then the head, and a strip narrower than
+            # the panel repeated across it. Copying the tail and then the rest
+            # of the frame from the head assumed the head was that wide, and
+            # raised at every position for a strip narrower than the panel
+            # (Vegas composes one, with no lead-in, when its content is
+            # narrower than the chain).
+            np.take(self.cached_array, np.arange(start_x, end_x), axis=1,
+                    mode='wrap', out=self._frame_buffer)

-            width1 = img_w - start_x
-            if width1 > 0:
-                # Wrap-around: tail of image + head of image
-                self._frame_buffer[:, :width1] = self.cached_array[:, start_x:]
-                remaining_width = self.display_width - width1
-                self._frame_buffer[:, width1:] = self.cached_array[:, :remaining_width]
-            else:
-                # Edge case: start_x at or past image end — show from beginning,
-                # clamped to available width (scroll_position should wrap before
-                # reaching this state in normal operation).
-                available = min(self.display_width, img_w)
-                self._frame_buffer[:, :available] = self.cached_array[:, :available]
-                if available < self.display_width:
-                    self._frame_buffer[:, available:] = 0
-
-            return Image.frombytes('RGB', _size, self._frame_buffer.tobytes())
+        return Image.frombytes('RGB', _size, self._frame_buffer.tobytes())
    
    def calculate_dynamic_duration(self) -> int:
        """
@@ -694,7 +735,10 @@ class ScrollHelper:
        strip also defers completion, which is the intent.

        Args:
-            content_items: Images to append, in order
+            content_items: Images to append, in order. An item may instead be
+                its pixels already as an RGB array (``np.asarray`` of an RGB
+                image), so a caller can do that conversion off the render
+                thread (Vegas prepares its blocks with the group).
            item_gap: Gap between appended items, and between the existing
                content and the first appended item
            element_gap: Extra gap after each item, mirroring
@@ -709,34 +753,36 @@ class ScrollHelper:
        if self.cached_array is None or not self.has_strip():
            # Nothing to extend yet — this is just the first build.
            self.create_scrolling_image(
-                content_items, item_gap=item_gap, element_gap=element_gap, lead_gap=0)
+                [Image.fromarray(item) if isinstance(item, np.ndarray) else item
+                 for item in content_items],
+                item_gap=item_gap, element_gap=element_gap, lead_gap=0)
            return True

        gap = max(0, item_gap)
-        addition_width = (
-            sum(img.width for img in content_items)
-            + gap * len(content_items)          # one leading gap per item
-            + element_gap * len(content_items)
-        )
-
-        addition = Image.new('RGB', (addition_width, self.display_height), (0, 0, 0))
+        pieces = []
        x = 0
-        for img in content_items:
+        for item in content_items:
            x += gap                            # separate from whatever precedes
-            addition.paste(img, (x, 0))
-            x += img.width + element_gap
+            pixels = _rgb_pixels(item)
+            pieces.append((x, pixels))
+            x += pixels.shape[1] + element_gap
+        addition_width = x

-        # Written into the spare room after the strip, when there is some:
-        # the strip can be tens of thousands of columns wide and this runs on
-        # the render thread, where copying all of it (2-3 ms at 512x64 on a
-        # Pi 4) cost the frame after every extension. The PIL image is built
-        # from the array only if something reads it (see cached_image).
-        self.cached_array = self._extended_strip(np.asarray(addition))
+        # Each item is written straight into the spare room after the strip,
+        # when there is some: the strip can be tens of thousands of columns
+        # wide and this runs on the render thread, where copying all of it
+        # (2-3 ms at 512x64 on a Pi 4) -- or even laying the items out in an
+        # image of their own first (another 4-5 ms) -- cost the frame after
+        # every extension. The PIL image is built from the array only if
+        # something reads it (see cached_image).
+        self.cached_array = self._extended_strip(pieces, addition_width)
        self._defer_image()
        self.total_scroll_width = self.cached_array.shape[1]
        self.scroll_complete = False

-        self.logger.info(
+        # Debug: this runs on the render thread, and the caller (Vegas) logs
+        # each extension itself.
+        self.logger.debug(
            "Appended %d item(s) (%dpx) to scroll strip: now %dpx, position %.0f",
            len(content_items), addition_width, self.total_scroll_width,
            self.scroll_position
@@ -749,29 +795,49 @@ class ScrollHelper:
    #: full copy -- about once every two strip-lengths scrolled.
    STRIP_SPARE_FACTOR = 3.0

-    def _extended_strip(self, addition: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
-        """The strip with ``addition`` after it, written in place when it fits."""
+    def _extended_strip(self, pieces: List[Tuple[int, np.ndarray]], added: int) -> np.ndarray:
+        """The strip with ``added`` black columns after it, ``pieces`` drawn in.
+
+        Each piece is ``(x, pixels)``, x counted from the old strip's end;
+        written in place when the buffer has the room.
+        """
        live = self.cached_array
        if live is None:
            # append_content builds a first strip itself and never comes here.
            raise RuntimeError("no strip to extend")
        width = live.shape[1]
-        added = addition.shape[1]
        buffer = self._strip_buffer
        if (live is self._strip_view and buffer is not None
                and self._strip_start + width + added <= buffer.shape[1]):
            end = self._strip_start + width
-            buffer[:, end:end + added] = addition
-            self.last_copy_bytes = addition.nbytes
+            self.last_copy_bytes = 0
        else:
            total = width + added
            buffer = np.empty((live.shape[0], max(total + 1, int(total * self.STRIP_SPARE_FACTOR)))
                              + live.shape[2:], dtype=live.dtype)
            buffer[:, :width] = live
-            buffer[:, width:total] = addition
            self._strip_buffer = buffer
            self._strip_start = 0
-            self.last_copy_bytes = live.nbytes + addition.nbytes
+            end = width
+            self.last_copy_bytes = live.nbytes
+        rows = buffer.shape[0]
+        region = buffer[:, end:end + added]
+        # Black only where no piece lands -- the gaps, and below a short
+        # piece: blanking the whole region first cost as much again as
+        # writing the pieces (1.8 ms at 512x64 on a Pi 4).
+        covered = 0
+        for x, pixels in pieces:
+            pixels = pixels[:rows]
+            cols = pixels.shape[1]
+            if x > covered:
+                region[:, covered:x] = 0
+            region[:pixels.shape[0], x:x + cols] = pixels
+            if pixels.shape[0] < rows:
+                region[pixels.shape[0]:, x:x + cols] = 0
+            covered = max(covered, x + cols)
+        if covered < added:
+            region[:, covered:] = 0
+        self.last_copy_bytes += region.nbytes
        self._strip_view = buffer[:, self._strip_start:self._strip_start + width + added]
        return self._strip_view

@@ -1173,10 +1239,23 @@ class ScrollHelper:
            # as an idle gap. There is nothing to report, and reporting the
            # gap itself is the bug above.
            if self._window:
-                self.logger.info(
-                    "Scroll frame stats - %s",
-                    format_frame_stats(self._window),
-                )
+                # INFO when degraded, on the window that recovers from it, and
+                # as a slow heartbeat; DEBUG otherwise.
+                degraded = frame_stats_degraded(frame_stats(self._window))
+                if (degraded or self._stats_was_degraded
+                        or current_time - self._stats_last_info_log
+                        >= STATS_HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL):
+                    self.logger.info(
+                        "Scroll frame stats - %s",
+                        format_frame_stats(self._window),
+                    )
+                    self._stats_last_info_log = current_time
+                elif self.logger.isEnabledFor(logging.DEBUG):
+                    self.logger.debug(
+                        "Scroll frame stats - %s",
+                        format_frame_stats(self._window),
+                    )
+                self._stats_was_degraded = degraded
            self.last_fps_log_time = current_time
            self.frame_count = 0
            self._window = []
@@ -26,14 +26,33 @@ Policy:
 - Unchanged frames are never re-encoded; the mtime is touched every
  TOUCH_INTERVAL so the health check (60s threshold) never degrades.

+The writer and the SSE reader (web_interface/app.py) have two periods, not
+one shared value. The reader sends each write it sees, so the preview shows
+at most one frame per VIEWER_INTERVAL. (That was 0.2 s while the reader
+slept 1 s between reads, so four encodes in five were overwritten unread.)
+The reader checks the file's mtime every VIEWER_POLL_INTERVAL, which is only
+a stat, and so sends each write within that long of it landing. Equal
+periods would alias: two unsynchronised 1 s clocks leave the preview up to a
+second stale, and now and then 2 s between frames.
+
+decide() is monotone in frame_changed: SKIP for a changed frame means SKIP
+for an unchanged one. DisplayManager relies on that to skip hashing the
+frame when even a changed one would be skipped; test_snapshot_policy.py
+checks it.
+
 If any constant here changes, re-check the health threshold in
 api_v3/misc.py (get_hardware_status) — TOUCH_INTERVAL must stay well under it.
 """

 from enum import Enum

-# Snapshot cadence with a browser preview open (seconds).
-VIEWER_INTERVAL = 0.2
+# Snapshot cadence with a browser preview open (seconds): the shortest gap
+# between two preview frames.
+VIEWER_INTERVAL = 1.0
+# How often the web SSE reader checks the snapshot's mtime (seconds). Must
+# stay well under VIEWER_INTERVAL -- half of it at most -- or the two clocks
+# alias (see above).
+VIEWER_POLL_INTERVAL = 0.25
 # Snapshot cadence with no viewers — cheap freshness for page-open (seconds).
 IDLE_INTERVAL = 30.0
 # Max age of the last write/touch before bumping mtime for the health
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ the extra guard only stops a None size raising TypeError.
 """

 import logging
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Tuple
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo

@@ -338,10 +338,46 @@ def format_game_date(config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]], logger, date_text: str,
    if not raw:
        return ""
    fmt = str(scroll_card_option(config, "date_format", "abbrev") or "abbrev")
-    return _format_date_as(fmt, raw, lambda: weekday_for(config, logger, game))
+    return _format_date_as(fmt, raw, lambda: weekday_for(config, logger, game),
+                           game=game)


-def _format_date_as(fmt: str, raw: str, weekday, months=MONTH_ABBR) -> str:
+def _printed_weekday(game: Optional[Dict], month: int, day: int) -> str:
+    """The weekday of the date a card prints as month/day, or '' if unknown.
+
+    The extractor prints "M/D" in the plugin's resolved zone (its own setting,
+    else the global one, else the system zone). The card cannot see that zone:
+    it is handed the plugin's config, whose ``timezone`` ships as "", so
+    card_tzinfo answers UTC and an evening kickoff in the Americas got the
+    next day's weekday ("Sat Oct 2" for a Friday game). Every zone is within
+    a day of UTC, so the printed date is the start's UTC date or a neighbour
+    of it; the one with that month and day is the date on the card.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(game, dict):
+        return ""
+    raw = game.get("start_time_utc") or game.get("start_time")
+    if not raw:
+        return ""
+    try:
+        start = raw if isinstance(raw, datetime) else datetime.fromisoformat(
+            str(raw).replace("Z", "+00:00"))
+        if start.utcoffset() is None:
+            return ""  # naive: no instant to place the date against
+        utc_day = start.astimezone(timezone.utc).date()
+    except (ValueError, TypeError, OverflowError):
+        return ""
+    for offset in (0, -1, 1):
+        try:
+            candidate = utc_day + timedelta(days=offset)
+        except OverflowError:
+            continue
+        if (candidate.month, candidate.day) == (month, day):
+            return WEEKDAY_ABBR[candidate.weekday()]
+    return ""
+
+
+def _format_date_as(fmt: str, raw: str, weekday, months=MONTH_ABBR,
+                    game: Optional[Dict] = None) -> str:
    """Render a stripped, non-empty "M/D" *raw* in style *fmt*.

    The body both date formatters share. They differ in which setting names the
@@ -349,6 +385,9 @@ def _format_date_as(fmt: str, raw: str, weekday, months=MONTH_ABBR) -> str:
    ``SportsCoreSharedMixin._format_game_date``), so those arrive as arguments:
    *weekday* is a zero-argument callable, only called for the "weekday" style.
    *months* lets the mixin keep reading its (overridable) ``_MONTH_ABBR``.
+    With *game*, the "weekday" style names the printed date's own weekday
+    (:func:`_printed_weekday`), and *weekday* is only the fallback for a
+    date its start time cannot place.
    """
    if fmt == "numeric":
        return raw
@@ -364,7 +403,7 @@ def _format_date_as(fmt: str, raw: str, weekday, months=MONTH_ABBR) -> str:
    if fmt == "day_first":
        return f"{day} {name}"
    if fmt == "weekday":
-        day_name = weekday()
+        day_name = _printed_weekday(game, month, day) or weekday()
        return f"{day_name} {name} {day}" if day_name else f"{name} {day}"
    return f"{name} {day}"

@@ -0,0 +1,164 @@
+"""Which games a scoreboard shows, for how long, and what its scorebug dates say.
+
+Four ``sports.py`` methods are identical (executable AST, docstrings
+stripped, decorators compared) in every scoreboard that carries them, and
+were copied here from ledmatrix-plugins ``56c4f15`` (origin/main,
+2026-09-30) under their existing names. They split into two mixins because
+their carriers differ, and a plugin should not gain an override it did not
+have:
+
+``SportsCardOptionsMixin`` -- afl, baseball, basketball, football, hockey,
+lacrosse, nrl and soccer (ufc draws no team scorebug):
+
+- ``_card_option`` -- reads one ``scroll_card`` key through
+  ``SportsCoreSharedMixin._card_option``, but never lets the upcoming
+  scorebug lose both its date and its time (the combination a settings-form
+  bug saved for a whole cohort of boards);
+- ``_recent_date_text`` -- the date line of the full-screen recent scorebug.
+
+``SportsGameRulesMixin`` -- all nine:
+
+- ``_filtered_or_all`` (all but football, which has no such method) -- the
+  quality and division filters on a board with no favourites, failing open
+  to every game rather than a blank panel;
+- ``_effective_live_duration`` (all but ufc, which has none) -- how long a
+  live game stays up: ``non_favorite_live_game_duration`` for a
+  non-favourite when favourites are set, else ``game_display_duration``.
+  afl, nrl and soccer carry it on ``SportsCore``, the other five on
+  ``SportsLive``; the bodies are the same.
+
+The plugin missing a method gains one it never calls, which changes nothing:
+nothing in that plugin, nor in core, calls it.
+
+A new module rather than more methods on ``sports_shared``, for the reason
+``sports_helpers`` gives: a missing module fails at load, where the version
+checks see it; a missing method fails mid-update.
+
+WHAT A HOST MUST PROVIDE
+------------------------
+Derived by walking every ``self.<attr>`` the mixins read; the host-contract
+test in ``test/test_sports_display_rules.py`` fails if a read is added
+without being listed here.
+
+``SportsCardOptionsMixin``:
+
+- ``SportsCoreSharedMixin`` (``src.common.sports_shared``) in the MRO
+  **after** this mixin: ``_card_option`` calls that mixin's ``_card_option``
+  and ``_switch_upcoming_center`` by name, and ``_recent_date_text`` its
+  ``_format_game_date``. List this mixin first --
+  ``class SportsCore(SportsCardOptionsMixin, SportsGameRulesMixin,
+  SportsFetchMixin, SportsCoreSharedMixin, SportsHelpersMixin, ABC)`` --
+  or ``SportsCoreSharedMixin._card_option`` wins and the rescue is lost.
+  Through it: ``config`` (the ``scroll_card`` block it reads).
+
+``SportsGameRulesMixin``:
+
+- ``_passes_other_filters(game)`` -- the plugin's own quality/division
+  filter (``_filtered_or_all``).
+- ``_check_ranking_coverage(games)`` -- from ``SportsCoreSharedMixin``.
+- ``favorite_teams``, ``game_display_duration`` and
+  ``_is_favorite_game(game)``; ``non_favorite_live_game_duration`` read with
+  ``getattr`` (``_effective_live_duration``).
+
+Neither mixin has an ``__init__`` or state. A method on the plugin's own
+class still wins over either.
+"""
+
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional
+
+from src.common.sports_shared import SportsCoreSharedMixin
+
+
+class SportsCardOptionsMixin:
+    """The scorebug's ``scroll_card`` reads. See module docstring."""
+
+    # The host contract, declared for type checking only.
+    _format_game_date: Callable[..., str]
+
+    def _card_option(self, key: str, default: Any = None) -> Any:
+        """Read one scroll_card key, never blanking the upcoming scorebug.
+
+        With the middle set to "date and time" and both of those lines
+        switched off, the full-screen upcoming scorebug is two logos and
+        "Next Game" with nothing to say when the game is. Nobody picks that
+        on purpose -- "vs" and "none" are the settings for a card without the
+        stack -- yet a whole cohort of boards has it: switch_show_date/_time
+        shipped while the core's settings form still drew keys missing from
+        the saved config as unchecked boxes, so the next Save wrote both as
+        false (fixed in LEDMatrix #597). That one combination therefore reads
+        as both on. Hiding either line alone, or both under "vs" or "none",
+        is still honoured.
+        """
+        # The mixin named outright, not super(): tests lift this method onto
+        # stand-in classes that are not SportsCore subclasses.
+        base = SportsCoreSharedMixin._card_option
+        keys = ("switch_show_date", "switch_show_time")
+        value = base(self, key, default)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+        if (key in keys and not value
+                and not any(base(self, k, True) for k in keys)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+                and SportsCoreSharedMixin._switch_upcoming_center(self) == "date_time"):  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+            return True
+        return value
+
+    def _recent_date_text(self, game: Optional[Dict]) -> str:
+        """When a finished game was played, for the full-screen scorebug.
+
+        Formatted by switch_date_format, like the upcoming scorebug, so the
+        two dates on this display agree; its "numeric" default returns the
+        extractor's "9/23" unchanged. ``switch_recent_show_date`` (default
+        true) is the off switch.
+        """
+        if not self._card_option("switch_recent_show_date", True):
+            return ""
+        return self._format_game_date(str((game or {}).get("game_date") or ""), game)
+
+
+class SportsGameRulesMixin:
+    """Which games are worth showing, and for how long. See module docstring."""
+
+    # The host contract, declared for type checking only.
+    favorite_teams: List[str]
+    game_display_duration: float
+    _passes_other_filters: Callable[[Dict], bool]
+    _check_ranking_coverage: Callable[[List[Dict]], None]
+    _is_favorite_game: Callable[[Dict], bool]
+
+    def _filtered_or_all(self, games: List[Dict]) -> List[Dict]:
+        """The games worth watching, or all of them if that leaves none.
+
+        With no favourites configured every game selected is a non-favourite
+        game, so the quality and division settings have to apply here too. They
+        governed only the top-up slice, which this branch never uses, so a
+        board with an empty favourites list had both settings silently inert --
+        it could ask for ranked games only and still get the next N kickoffs.
+
+        Fails open as a whole, not just per check. `_passes_other_filters`
+        allows a game whose data could not be resolved, but a filter working
+        exactly as asked can still match nothing on a given day, and here there
+        is no favourite left to carry the mode -- an empty list is a blank
+        panel rather than a short one.
+        """
+        kept = [g for g in games if self._passes_other_filters(g)]
+        self._check_ranking_coverage(games)
+        return kept or games
+
+    def _effective_live_duration(self, game) -> float:
+        """How long the given live game should stay on screen before rotating.
+
+        Non-favorite live games use non_favorite_live_game_duration, but only
+        when it is set (> 0) AND favorite teams are configured. With no favorites
+        (or the knob at 0) every live game uses game_display_duration - identical
+        to the prior single-duration behavior. When show_favorite_teams_only is
+        on, non-favorite games are never shown, so this naturally never fires."""
+        non_fav = getattr(self, "non_favorite_live_game_duration", 0) or 0
+        if (
+            non_fav > 0
+            and self.favorite_teams
+            and game is not None
+            and not self._is_favorite_game(game)
+        ):
+            return non_fav
+        return self.game_display_duration
+
+
+__all__ = ["SportsCardOptionsMixin", "SportsGameRulesMixin"]
@@ -40,6 +40,20 @@ listed here.
 - ``live_games``, read with ``getattr`` -- ``_needs_previous_day``.
 - ``background_service``, read with ``getattr`` --
  ``_background_fetches_espn_ranges``.
+- ``sport`` and ``league`` (ESPN's path segments, e.g. ``football`` /
+  ``nfl``) -- ``_schedule_cache_key``, and ``_fetch_season_directly`` when
+  it is given no key and cannot read one from its URL.
+
+THE SCHEDULE CACHE KEY (fetch service stage 2)
+----------------------------------------------
+``_schedule_cache_key`` names a schedule window with the canonical
+``espn_scoreboard_cache_key`` instead of a plugin-built
+``{sport_key}_schedule_{window}``, and ``_cached_schedule`` reads it with the
+old key as a fallback for one release, so an upgrade serves the copy already
+on disk instead of refetching every league at once. The canonical key
+carries the window's dates, so it moves on a day as the window slides; a
+miss on it also deletes the copy for the day before, so a league keeps one
+window file instead of a week of them.

 Add it as a base of the plugin's ``SportsCore``, e.g.
 ``class SportsCore(SportsFetchMixin, SportsCoreSharedMixin,
@@ -50,9 +64,31 @@ constant on the plugin's own class still wins over the mixin's.
 import logging
 import threading
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
-from typing import Any, ClassVar, Dict, Optional
+from typing import Any, ClassVar, Dict, Iterable, Optional

-from src.common.espn_dates import ESPN_MAX_LIMIT, fetch_espn_scoreboard
+from src.common.espn_dates import (
+    ESPN_MAX_LIMIT,
+    espn_scoreboard_cache_key,
+    espn_scoreboard_cache_key_for_url,
+    fetch_espn_scoreboard,
+    parse_espn_date_range,
+)
+from src.common.fetch_service import get_fetch_service
+
+_ESPN_SITE = "https://site.api.espn.com/"
+
+
+def _previous_window_key(cache_key: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """The canonical key of the same window one day earlier, or None when
+    ``cache_key`` is not a canonical day-range key."""
+    head, sep, dates = cache_key.rpartition("_")
+    if not sep or not head.startswith("espn_scoreboard_"):
+        return None
+    span = parse_espn_date_range(dates)
+    if span is None:
+        return None
+    start, end = (day - timedelta(days=1) for day in span)
+    return f"{head}_{start.strftime('%Y%m%d')}-{end.strftime('%Y%m%d')}"


 class SportsFetchMixin:
@@ -65,6 +101,8 @@ class SportsFetchMixin:
    cache_manager: Any
    logger: logging.Logger
    _games_lock: threading.RLock
+    sport: str
+    league: str

    #: How many games past the one on screen keep their odds warm. One is
    #: enough for the line to be ready when the rotation advances; more just
@@ -154,18 +192,66 @@ class SportsFetchMixin:
        service = getattr(self, "background_service", None)
        return bool(getattr(service, "handles_espn_date_ranges", False))

+    def _schedule_cache_key(self, datestring: str) -> str:
+        """The canonical cache key for this league's schedule over
+        ``datestring`` (``espn_scoreboard_cache_key``)."""
+        return espn_scoreboard_cache_key(self.sport, self.league, datestring)
+
+    def _cached_schedule(self, cache_key: str, legacy_keys: Iterable[str] = ()) -> Any:
+        """What ``self.cache_manager.get(cache_key)`` returns, falling back
+        to each of ``legacy_keys`` (the plugin's pre-canonical keys) in turn.
+
+        The same read the managers made before -- same default max age, a
+        stored ttl still wins -- so moving to the canonical key changes
+        where a schedule is cached, not for how long. A read from an old key
+        is counted (``legacy_cache_hits``) so it is visible when the
+        fallback can go. A miss on the canonical key also deletes the same
+        window's copy from the day before (see the module docstring).
+        """
+        cached = self.cache_manager.get(cache_key)
+        if cached:
+            return cached
+        self._retire_previous_window(cache_key)
+        for legacy in legacy_keys:
+            if not legacy or legacy == cache_key:
+                continue
+            cached = self.cache_manager.get(legacy)
+            if cached:
+                try:
+                    get_fetch_service().note_cache_hit(
+                        _ESPN_SITE, legacy=True, avoided_request=False)
+                except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 - counting never breaks a read
+                    pass
+                return cached
+        return None
+
+    def _retire_previous_window(self, cache_key: str) -> None:
+        previous = _previous_window_key(cache_key)
+        delete = getattr(self.cache_manager, "delete", None)
+        if previous is None or not callable(delete):
+            return
+        try:
+            delete(previous)
+        except Exception as e:  # noqa: BLE001 - housekeeping only
+            self.logger.debug(f"Could not delete old schedule copy {previous}: {e}")
+
    def _fetch_season_directly(
        self,
        url: str,
        datestring: str,
-        cache_key: str,
+        cache_key: Optional[str],
        label: str,
        ttl: Optional[int] = None,
    ) -> Optional[Dict]:
        """Fetch a season schedule on this thread, in chunks ESPN accepts, and cache it.

        ``label`` names the schedule in log lines, e.g. ``"2026 season"``.
+        ``cache_key=None`` caches it under the canonical key
+        (``espn_scoreboard_cache_key`` for ``url``'s sport and league).
        """
+        if cache_key is None:
+            cache_key = (espn_scoreboard_cache_key_for_url(url, datestring)
+                         or self._schedule_cache_key(datestring))
        try:
            data = fetch_espn_scoreboard(
                self.session,
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+"""Where a scoreboard's bundled font file is, whatever the working directory.
+
+Every scoreboard's ``sports.py`` (nine) and ``game_renderer.py`` (eight)
+carries the same module-level ``_resolve_font_path``. It predates
+:func:`src.common.font_layout.resolve_asset_path`, and probes the core for
+it: the path as given when it exists (relative to the cwd), else the core's
+resolver (``FontManager._resolve_asset_path``, which delegates to
+``resolve_asset_path``), else the path joined to the install root, else the
+path unchanged so the caller's ``ImageFont.truetype`` raises and falls back
+as before.
+
+On every core this module ships in, the probe always finds the resolver, and
+the install-root join repeats what the resolver already tried. What is left
+is two steps, and :func:`resolve_font_path` is exactly those: the cwd first,
+then ``resolve_asset_path``. ``test/test_sports_font_path.py`` checks that
+against the plugins' own copies, path for path. It is the same rule as
+``sports_shared._resolve_font_path``, made public so a plugin can import it.
+
+Why not ``resolve_asset_path`` alone: it never consults the cwd, so a
+process started from another checkout would switch to the install root's
+fonts. Keeping the cwd first keeps that behaviour exactly.
+"""
+
+import os
+
+from src.common.font_layout import resolve_asset_path
+
+
+def resolve_font_path(path: str) -> str:
+    """``path`` if it exists, else :func:`resolve_asset_path` of it.
+
+    Absolute paths that exist come back untouched; a relative path is tried
+    against the cwd, then the install root; a path found nowhere comes back
+    unchanged, so the caller still raises and falls back.
+    """
+    if os.path.exists(path):
+        return path
+    return resolve_asset_path(path)
+
+
+__all__ = ["resolve_font_path"]
@@ -0,0 +1,277 @@
+"""Keep a live scoreboard's scrolling strip current without restarting it.
+
+In scroll mode a scoreboard renders its games into one wide image and
+scrolls it past the panel. The strip used to be rebuilt only when a cycle
+completed, so a score changed mid-cycle stayed frozen in the pixels until the
+marquee finished. Eight scoreboards -- afl, baseball, basketball, football,
+hockey, lacrosse, nrl and soccer (ufc has no live strip) -- carry the same
+fix in their ``manager.py``: fingerprint the live games, rebuild when the
+fingerprint changes (rate-limited, and never for the clock alone), and keep
+the marquee's position across the rebuild. Its eight methods and two class
+constants are identical (executable AST, docstrings stripped, decorators
+compared) in all eight and were copied here from ledmatrix-plugins
+``56c4f15`` (origin/main, 2026-09-30) under their existing names:
+
+- ``_live_scroll_managers`` -- the live managers whose games are on the strip;
+- ``_refresh_live_scroll_managers`` -- let them refresh before they are
+  fingerprinted, off the render thread;
+- ``_live_scroll_fields``, ``_fingerprint_games`` and
+  ``_live_scroll_fingerprint`` -- what the strip was drawn from;
+- ``_live_scroll_needs_rebuild`` (with ``LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_MIN_SECONDS``
+  and ``LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_DUTY_DIVISOR``) and ``_note_live_scroll_built``
+  -- when to rebuild;
+- ``_preserving_scroll_position`` -- a context manager that keeps the marquee
+  where it was across a rebuild.
+
+``LIVE_VOLATILE_FIELDS`` stays in each plugin: afl, nrl and soccer also
+exclude ``period_text``, which embeds the clock in those sports.
+
+A separate module from ``sports_plugin_host`` because ufc has no live strip:
+it inherits that mixin and not this one, so none of this is in its MRO.
+
+WHAT A HOST MUST PROVIDE
+------------------------
+Derived by walking every ``self.<attr>`` / ``cls.<attr>`` the mixin reads;
+the host-contract test in ``test/test_sports_live_scroll.py`` fails if a read
+is added without being listed here.
+
+- ``LIVE_VOLATILE_FIELDS`` -- a class constant: the game-dict keys a rebuild
+  ignores (the clock, and what the display pipeline adds).
+- ``_live_scroll_fingerprints``, ``_live_scroll_rebuilt_at`` and
+  ``_live_scroll_rebuild_cost`` -- empty dicts the host creates in
+  ``__init__``, keyed by scroll key.
+- ``logger``.
+- ``_dispatch_switch_refresh(manager)`` -- from ``SportsPluginHostMixin``.
+- ``_league_registry`` (``{league: {"enabled": bool, "managers": {"live":
+  manager}}}``) or a ``_get_manager(mode_type)`` accessor, both read with
+  ``getattr`` -- ``_live_scroll_managers``. A host with neither gets no
+  managers, which leaves the feature inert rather than wrong.
+- ``_scroll_manager``, read with ``getattr`` --
+  ``_preserving_scroll_position`` asks it for the mode's scroll helper.
+
+Add it as a base of the plugin class beside ``SportsPluginHostMixin``, before
+``BasePlugin``: ``class SoccerScoreboardPlugin(SportsPluginHostMixin,
+SportsLiveScrollMixin, BasePlugin)``. The two define no name in common. No
+``__init__``; a method on the plugin's own class still wins over the mixin's.
+"""
+
+import logging
+import time
+from contextlib import contextmanager
+from typing import Any, Callable, ClassVar, Dict, FrozenSet, Iterator, List
+
+
+class SportsLiveScrollMixin:
+    """Mid-cycle rebuilds of a live scroll strip. See module docstring."""
+
+    # The host contract, declared for type checking only: these create no
+    # attributes, so the host's own values are what the methods read.
+    logger: logging.Logger
+    LIVE_VOLATILE_FIELDS: ClassVar[FrozenSet[str]]
+    _live_scroll_fingerprints: Dict[Any, Any]
+    _live_scroll_rebuilt_at: Dict[Any, float]
+    _live_scroll_rebuild_cost: Dict[Any, float]
+    _dispatch_switch_refresh: Callable[[Any], None]
+
+    #: Floor between mid-cycle strip rebuilds, and the duty-cycle cap that can
+    #: raise it.
+    #:
+    #: A rebuild re-renders every card into one wide image, on the render
+    #: thread, so the marquee is frozen for however long it takes. Measured on a
+    #: Pi 4: 28ms for one game, 139ms for five, 435ms for fifteen. A fixed 5s
+    #: floor is fine for one game and wrong for a full slate -- with fifteen
+    #: live games a pitch lands somewhere every second or so, the fingerprint
+    #: changes continuously, and 435ms every 5s is nearly a tenth of the time
+    #: spent not scrolling.
+    #:
+    #: So the floor also scales with what the last rebuild actually cost: never
+    #: spend more than 1/LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_DUTY_DIVISOR of wall time
+    #: rebuilding. Fifteen games self-limits to a rebuild every ~8.7s; one game
+    #: stays on the 5s floor. No per-sport tuning, and it adapts to slate size
+    #: and panel width on its own.
+    LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_MIN_SECONDS: ClassVar[float] = 5.0
+    LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_DUTY_DIVISOR: ClassVar[float] = 20.0
+
+    def _live_scroll_managers(self, league=None):
+        """The live managers whose games are on the strip.
+
+        Two shapes across the scoreboard lineage: a _league_registry (baseball,
+        basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, football) and a _get_manager
+        accessor on the single-league plugins (afl, nrl). Anything else returns
+        nothing, which leaves this feature inert rather than wrong.
+        """
+        registry = getattr(self, "_league_registry", None)
+        if isinstance(registry, dict) and registry:
+            managers = []
+            for league_id, entry in registry.items():
+                if league is not None and league_id != league:
+                    continue
+                entry = entry or {}
+                if not entry.get("enabled", False):
+                    continue
+                manager = (entry.get("managers") or {}).get("live")
+                if manager is not None:
+                    managers.append(manager)
+            return managers
+        getter = getattr(self, "_get_manager", None)
+        if callable(getter):
+            try:
+                # pylint: disable=not-callable
+                # The lineages that lack _get_manager infer this as None, so a
+                # static checker calls it uncallable. callable() above is the
+                # runtime guard; the branch is simply dead in those plugins.
+                manager = getter("live")
+            except (AttributeError, KeyError, TypeError, ValueError, OSError):
+                return []
+            return [manager] if manager is not None else []
+        return []
+
+    def _refresh_live_scroll_managers(self, league=None) -> None:
+        """Let the live managers refresh before their games are fingerprinted.
+
+        Switch mode stays current because _try_manager_display() calls
+        _ensure_manager_updated() on every pass. Scroll mode had no equivalent:
+        its only refresh sat inside the block gated by the rebuild decision, and
+        that decision is computed from the data the refresh would replace. So
+        once the first strip was built nothing could change it, and the score on
+        the marquee stayed frozen until the process restarted.
+
+        The refresh runs off the render thread -- see _dispatch_switch_refresh().
+        This is called on every scroll frame, and a due manager.update() is a
+        network round trip: run inline, it froze the marquee for the length of
+        the ESPN request. The refreshed games land a few frames later, and the
+        fingerprint check that follows this call picks them up on the next frame
+        after they do. Dispatches for a manager are rate-limited, so the frames
+        where nothing is due cost a dict lookup and a clock read.
+
+        Deliberately NOT gated on mode_type == "live". A recent/upcoming strip
+        never rebuilds from the fingerprint (_live_scroll_needs_rebuild returns
+        early for those), so refreshing here looks like wasted work -- but with
+        live_priority the plugin only switches TO live mode once it knows live
+        games exist, and it learns that from these same managers. Refreshing
+        only while live mode is on screen would rebuild the same circularity one
+        level up, and a game that went live would wait for the background
+        plugin update -- an hour, on a rig that sets update_interval: 3600.
+        """
+        for manager in self._live_scroll_managers(league) or []:
+            try:
+                self._dispatch_switch_refresh(manager)
+            except (AttributeError, KeyError, TypeError, ValueError, OSError,
+                    RuntimeError) as exc:
+                # Narrow on purpose: the update itself runs on another thread,
+                # and _ensure_manager_updated() swallows whatever it raises, so
+                # anything arriving here is a lookup error or a thread that
+                # could not be started, not a fetch failure.
+                self.logger.debug("Live scroll refresh skipped: %s", exc)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _live_scroll_fields(cls, game) -> tuple:
+        """One game as sorted ``(key, value)`` strings, minus the volatile keys."""
+        try:
+            items = list(game.items())
+        except AttributeError:
+            return (("<not-a-dict>", str(game)),)
+        return tuple(sorted((str(k), str(v)) for k, v in items
+                            if k not in cls.LIVE_VOLATILE_FIELDS))
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _fingerprint_games(cls, games) -> tuple:
+        """Order-independent fingerprint of a list of games."""
+        return tuple(sorted(cls._live_scroll_fields(g) for g in (games or [])))
+
+    def _live_scroll_fingerprint(self, league=None) -> tuple:
+        """Fingerprint of every live game the strip's managers hold now."""
+        games: List[Any] = []
+        for manager in self._live_scroll_managers(league):
+            games.extend(getattr(manager, "live_games", None) or [])
+        return self._fingerprint_games(games)
+
+    def _live_scroll_needs_rebuild(self, scroll_key, mode_type, league=None) -> bool:
+        """True when the live card would draw differently than the strip does.
+
+        _scroll_prepared is cleared only when the cycle *completes*, so a score
+        scored mid-cycle stayed frozen in the rendered strip until the marquee
+        finished -- minutes, for a long game list. Restarting the display forces
+        a rebuild, which is the workaround users find.
+        """
+        if mode_type != "live":
+            return False
+        known = self._live_scroll_fingerprints.get(scroll_key)
+        if known is None:
+            return False                      # nothing built yet; normal path
+        if self._live_scroll_fingerprint(league) == known:
+            return False
+        last = self._live_scroll_rebuilt_at.get(scroll_key, 0.0)
+        cost = self._live_scroll_rebuild_cost.get(scroll_key, 0.0)
+        floor = max(self.LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_MIN_SECONDS,
+                    cost * self.LIVE_SCROLL_REBUILD_DUTY_DIVISOR)
+        if time.time() - last < floor:
+            return False                      # deferred, not dropped
+        return True
+
+    def _note_live_scroll_built(self, scroll_key, mode_type, fingerprint=None,
+                                league=None) -> None:
+        """Record what the strip was built from.
+
+        Takes a fingerprint captured from the *managers* immediately before the
+        render, not one computed from the games handed to the renderer. Those
+        two are not comparable: _collect_games_for_scroll() decorates each game
+        with extra keys ("league", "status"), so a fingerprint taken from its
+        output can never equal one taken from the managers -- every check past
+        the rate limiter would rebuild, defeating the clock exclusion entirely.
+        That is not hypothetical; it is what the first version of this did, and
+        an end-to-end simulation caught it rebuilding on a bare clock tick.
+
+        Capturing before the render also closes the race a plain re-read would
+        open: a background update landing mid-render would otherwise be recorded
+        as though the strip already contained it.
+        """
+        if mode_type != "live":
+            return
+        self._live_scroll_fingerprints[scroll_key] = (
+            fingerprint if fingerprint is not None
+            else self._live_scroll_fingerprint(league))
+        self._live_scroll_rebuilt_at[scroll_key] = time.time()
+
+    @contextmanager
+    def _preserving_scroll_position(self, mode_type, active, scroll_key=None) -> Iterator[None]:
+        """Keep the marquee where it is across a mid-cycle rebuild.
+
+        ScrollHelper.set_scrolling_image() resets two counters and both matter:
+        scroll_position (without it the marquee snaps back to the start, which
+        looks worse than the stale score being fixed) and total_distance_scrolled
+        (without it the cycle restarts, so a game that keeps scoring could stop
+        the strip ever completing). Restored clamped to the new strip, since a
+        score gaining a digit changes its card's width by a few pixels.
+
+        A no-op unless `active` -- a first build should start at zero.
+        """
+        helper = None
+        if active and getattr(self, "_scroll_manager", None):
+            try:
+                helper = self._scroll_manager.get_scroll_display(mode_type).scroll_helper  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+            except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+                helper = None
+        position = getattr(helper, "scroll_position", None) if helper else None
+        distance = getattr(helper, "total_distance_scrolled", None) if helper else None
+        started = time.time()
+        try:
+            yield
+        finally:
+            # What this render cost, so the next floor can scale with it. Keyed by
+            # scroll_key, which is what _live_scroll_needs_rebuild() reads --
+            # they are only the same string in some of these plugins, and keying
+            # by mode_type made the duty cap silently inert in the rest.
+            self._live_scroll_rebuild_cost[scroll_key or mode_type] = time.time() - started
+            if helper is not None and position is not None:
+                width = max(getattr(helper, "total_scroll_width", 0) - 1, 0)
+                helper.scroll_position = min(position, width)
+                if distance is not None:
+                    helper.total_distance_scrolled = distance
+                helper.scroll_complete = False
+                self.logger.info(
+                    "[Scroll] Live card changed; rebuilt the %s strip in place "
+                    "at position %d", mode_type, int(helper.scroll_position))
+
+
+__all__ = ["SportsLiveScrollMixin"]
@@ -0,0 +1,270 @@
+"""The scoreboard plugin class's helpers every ``manager.py`` copies.
+
+Each scoreboard's ``manager.py`` holds its ``BasePlugin`` subclass (the
+"host": ``SoccerScoreboardPlugin``, ``UFCScoreboardPlugin``, ...). Ten of its
+methods, and the class constant one of them reads, are identical
+(executable AST, docstrings stripped, decorators compared) in all nine
+scoreboards -- afl, baseball, basketball, football, hockey, lacrosse, nrl,
+soccer and ufc -- and were copied here from ledmatrix-plugins ``56c4f15``
+(origin/main, 2026-09-30) under their existing names:
+
+- ``_dispatch_switch_refresh`` (with ``_SWITCH_REFRESH_MIN_GAP_SECONDS``) --
+  run a manager's refresh on a daemon thread so ``display()`` never blocks
+  on the network;
+- ``get_vegas_priority_weight``, ``_favorite_team_is_live``,
+  ``_favorite_scan_targets``, ``_favorite_scan_games`` and
+  ``_game_involves`` -- how many Vegas slots the plugin asks for, and
+  whether a configured favourite is playing live;
+- ``get_vegas_content_type`` -- ``'multi'``: a scoreboard is a list of games;
+- ``_dynamic_feature_enabled``, ``_get_total_games_for_manager`` and
+  ``_build_manager_key`` -- small dynamic-duration helpers.
+
+This is stage 4 of the consolidation (docs/SPORTS_UNIFICATION.md): the
+families that needed no reconciling. The rest of ``manager.py`` has drifted
+and is reconciled one family per release before it moves.
+
+A new module rather than more methods on an existing mixin, for the reason
+``sports_helpers`` gives: a missing module fails at load, where the version
+checks see it; a missing method fails mid-frame.
+
+WHAT A HOST MUST PROVIDE
+------------------------
+Derived by walking every ``self.<attr>`` the mixin reads; the host-contract
+test in ``test/test_sports_plugin_host.py`` fails if a read is added without
+being listed here.
+
+- ``_ensure_manager_updated(manager)`` -- ``_dispatch_switch_refresh`` runs
+  it on the thread it starts. It must swallow its own errors: nothing joins
+  the thread.
+- ``global_config``, ``has_live_priority()``, ``has_live_content()`` and
+  ``supports_dynamic_duration()`` -- all on ``BasePlugin``; the scoreboards
+  override the last three.
+- ``is_enabled`` -- set by each scoreboard's ``__init__`` (``BasePlugin``
+  calls its flag ``enabled``).
+- ``_switch_refresh_threads`` and ``_switch_refresh_at``, read with
+  ``getattr`` -- ``_dispatch_switch_refresh`` creates both on first use, so
+  a host need not.
+- The live managers it scans for favourites are found through ``vars(self)``
+  (``_favorite_scan_targets``): any attribute, or value of a dict
+  attribute, with ``favorite_teams`` (or ``favorite_fighters``) and
+  ``live_games`` (or ``live_matches``, or an ``active_celebration`` dict
+  holding a ``game``).
+
+Add it as a base of the plugin class, **before** ``BasePlugin``, e.g.
+``class SoccerScoreboardPlugin(SportsPluginHostMixin, BasePlugin)``:
+``get_vegas_priority_weight`` and ``get_vegas_content_type`` override
+``BasePlugin``'s defaults. A method on the plugin's own class still wins over
+the mixin's. The mixin has no ``__init__`` and creates no class attributes
+beyond its one constant.
+"""
+
+import logging
+import threading
+import time
+from typing import Any, Callable, ClassVar, Dict, Iterator, Optional
+
+
+class SportsPluginHostMixin:
+    """The scoreboard plugin class's identical helpers. See module docstring."""
+
+    # The host contract, declared for type checking only: these create no
+    # attributes, so the host's own values are what the methods read.
+    logger: logging.Logger
+    is_enabled: bool
+    global_config: Dict[str, Any]
+    _ensure_manager_updated: Callable[[Any], Any]
+    has_live_priority: Callable[[], bool]
+    has_live_content: Callable[[], bool]
+    supports_dynamic_duration: Callable[[], bool]
+    # Created on first use by _dispatch_switch_refresh, per instance.
+    _switch_refresh_threads: Dict[int, threading.Thread]
+    _switch_refresh_at: Dict[int, float]
+
+    #: Floor between two draw-time refresh dispatches for one manager. The
+    #: manager's own update() still decides whether anything is fetched; this
+    #: only stops display() starting a thread on every frame just to be told
+    #: the interval has not elapsed.
+    _SWITCH_REFRESH_MIN_GAP_SECONDS: ClassVar[float] = 5.0
+
+    def _dispatch_switch_refresh(self, manager) -> None:
+        """Run _ensure_manager_updated(manager) on a daemon thread.
+
+        Called from display(), so it must not block: when an update is due,
+        manager.update() fetches rankings and the schedule over the network,
+        and doing that inline stalled the frame for the length of the round
+        trip. The refreshed games land in the manager a few frames later --
+        still within the manager's own interval, which is the freshness the
+        switch path was missing.
+
+        At most one refresh per manager runs at a time, and dispatches for the
+        same manager are at least _SWITCH_REFRESH_MIN_GAP_SECONDS apart. Only
+        the render thread touches the two bookkeeping dicts, so they need no
+        lock; manager.update() stamps last_update before it fetches, so a
+        concurrent background plugin.update() for the same manager returns
+        early rather than fetching twice.
+        """
+        threads: Optional[Dict[int, threading.Thread]] = getattr(self, "_switch_refresh_threads", None)
+        if threads is None:
+            threads = self._switch_refresh_threads = {}
+        stamps: Optional[Dict[int, float]] = getattr(self, "_switch_refresh_at", None)
+        if stamps is None:
+            stamps = self._switch_refresh_at = {}
+
+        key = id(manager)
+        running = threads.get(key)
+        if running is not None and running.is_alive():
+            return
+        now = time.monotonic()
+        last = stamps.get(key)
+        if last is not None and now - last < self._SWITCH_REFRESH_MIN_GAP_SECONDS:
+            return
+        stamps[key] = now
+        thread = threading.Thread(
+            target=self._ensure_manager_updated,
+            args=(manager,),
+            daemon=True,
+            name="SwitchRefresh-%s" % type(manager).__name__,
+        )
+        threads[key] = thread
+        thread.start()
+
+    # ---- Vegas weighting: is a favourite playing? -----------------------
+    #
+    # With display.vegas_scroll.live_in_ticker set, the marquee keeps running
+    # through a live game and plugins can claim more than one slot per cycle.
+    # The core already gives any plugin with live content `live_weight`; this
+    # exists for the one thing the core cannot work out for itself, which is
+    # *whose* game is live. See PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE, "Vegas scroll hooks",
+    # and ADVANCED_FEATURES, "Live content in the ticker".
+
+    def get_vegas_priority_weight(self):
+        """Slots per Vegas cycle: more when a favorite team is playing.
+
+        Returns None when nothing is live, which leaves the decision to the
+        core rather than asserting a weight of 1 -- the core may have its own
+        reason to boost this plugin later.
+        """
+        try:
+            if not (self.has_live_priority() and self.has_live_content()):
+                return None
+            vegas = (self.global_config or {}).get('display', {}).get(
+                'vegas_scroll', {})
+            if self._favorite_team_is_live():
+                return vegas.get('favorite_live_weight', 5)
+            return vegas.get('live_weight', 3)
+        except Exception:
+            # Never let a weighting question break the rotation; the core
+            # treats an exception as weight 1 anyway, and None says the same
+            # thing more cheaply.
+            return None
+
+    def _favorite_team_is_live(self):
+        """Whether any live game or fight involves a configured favorite.
+
+        The sports plugins do not share one data shape, so this enumerates the
+        real ones rather than assuming. An earlier version looked only for an
+        attribute holding `live_games` alongside `favorite_teams`, which was
+        true of five plugins and quietly false for four others -- they simply
+        never reported a favorite, and no test noticed because the tests used
+        the assumed shape rather than each plugin's own.
+
+        Handled:
+
+        * managers held directly on the plugin *and* inside a dict such as
+          ``self._managers`` (nrl, afl)
+        * ``live_games`` (most) and ``live_matches`` (cricket)
+        * ``favorite_teams`` (most) and ``favorite_fighters`` (ufc)
+        * identifiers ``home_abbr``/``away_abbr``, ``home_id``/``away_id``,
+          ``fighter1_name``/``fighter2_name``, and cricket's nested
+          ``teams: [{name, abbr, short_name}]``
+        * ``active_celebration["game"]``, a snapshot the live manager keeps
+          precisely because the game leaves ``live_games`` while the
+          celebration is still on screen
+        """
+        for holder in self._favorite_scan_targets():
+            favorites = (getattr(holder, 'favorite_teams', None)
+                         or getattr(holder, 'favorite_fighters', None))
+            if not favorites:
+                continue
+            wanted = {str(f).strip().lower() for f in favorites if f}
+            if not wanted:
+                continue
+            for game in self._favorite_scan_games(holder):
+                if self._game_involves(game, wanted):
+                    return True
+        return False
+
+    def _favorite_scan_targets(self) -> Iterator[Any]:
+        """Objects that might carry live content: attributes, and dict values.
+
+        nrl and afl keep their per-league managers in a ``self._managers``
+        dict, so walking attribute values alone finds the dict and stops.
+        """
+        for value in list(vars(self).values()):
+            yield value
+            if isinstance(value, dict):
+                for nested in list(value.values()):
+                    yield nested
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _favorite_scan_games(holder) -> Iterator[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """Every game/fight on a holder that a favorite could be playing in."""
+        for attr in ('live_games', 'live_matches'):
+            for game in (getattr(holder, attr, None) or []):
+                if isinstance(game, dict):
+                    yield game
+        celebration = getattr(holder, 'active_celebration', None)
+        if isinstance(celebration, dict) and isinstance(celebration.get('game'), dict):
+            yield celebration['game']
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _game_involves(game, wanted) -> bool:
+        """Whether a game/fight involves one of the wanted names."""
+        for field in ('home_abbr', 'away_abbr', 'home_id', 'away_id',
+                      'fighter1_name', 'fighter2_name'):
+            value = game.get(field)
+            if value is not None and str(value).strip().lower() in wanted:
+                return True
+        # Cricket nests its sides and matches on any of three names, by
+        # substring -- "india" should match "India Women". Mirrors that
+        # plugin's own _match_has_team rather than inventing a second rule.
+        for team in (game.get('teams') or []):
+            if not isinstance(team, dict):
+                continue
+            hay = " ".join(str(team.get(k) or '') for k in
+                           ('name', 'abbr', 'short_name')).lower()
+            if any(name in hay for name in wanted):
+                return True
+        return False
+
+    def get_vegas_content_type(self) -> str:
+        """Plugin provides multiple scrollable items (games)."""
+        return 'multi'
+
+    # ---- dynamic duration ------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _dynamic_feature_enabled(self) -> bool:
+        """Dynamic duration applies: the plugin is enabled and supports it."""
+        if not self.is_enabled:
+            return False
+        return self.supports_dynamic_duration()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _get_total_games_for_manager(manager) -> int:
+        """How many games a manager holds, from the first list it carries."""
+        if manager is None:
+            return 0
+        for attr in ("live_games", "games_list", "recent_games", "upcoming_games"):
+            value = getattr(manager, attr, None)
+            if isinstance(value, list):
+                return len(value)
+        return 0
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _build_manager_key(mode_name: str, manager) -> str:
+        """``"<mode>:<manager class>"``, the key progress is tracked under."""
+        manager_name = manager.__class__.__name__ if manager else "None"
+        return f"{mode_name}:{manager_name}"
+
+
+__all__ = ["SportsPluginHostMixin"]
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ from __future__ import annotations

 import functools
 import logging
+import threading
 import time
+import weakref
+from collections import OrderedDict
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple

 from PIL import Image
@@ -320,7 +323,7 @@ class SportsScrollDisplay:
        :returns: True if a frame was drawn; False when there is no content or
            the frame could not be rendered.
        """
-        if not self.scroll_helper.cached_image:
+        if not self._has_strip():
            return False

        try:
@@ -413,7 +416,21 @@ class SportsScrollDisplay:

    def has_cached_content(self) -> bool:
        """Whether content is prepared and ready to scroll."""
-        return bool(self.scroll_helper.cached_image)
+        return self._has_strip()
+
+    def _has_strip(self) -> bool:
+        """Whether the helper holds a strip, without building its PIL image.
+
+        Reading ``cached_image`` after the strip was extended or trimmed builds
+        the image from the array and keeps it, so the strip is held twice;
+        display_scroll_frame asks this every frame. ``has_strip()`` answers
+        from the helper's bookkeeping. A helper without it (a plugin's own, a
+        test double) is asked the old way.
+        """
+        helper = self.scroll_helper
+        if callable(getattr(type(helper), "has_strip", None)):
+            return bool(helper.has_strip())
+        return bool(helper.cached_image)

    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Live Vegas cards
@@ -589,16 +606,80 @@ class SportsScrollDisplay:
        return info


+class _StripSlot:
+    """One slate's display in a game type's pool, and what its strip shows.
+
+    ``key`` is None when the strip must not be reused: never built, built
+    from something that could not be fingerprinted, a build that failed, or
+    released to stay inside the memory budget.
+    """
+
+    __slots__ = ("display", "key", "built_at", "strip", "last_used", "epoch")
+
+    def __init__(self, display: SportsScrollDisplay) -> None:
+        self.display = display
+        self.key: Optional[Tuple[Any, ...]] = None
+        self.built_at = 0.0
+        #: The helper's strip array when it was built, held weakly: a strip
+        #: replaced or cleared by anything since (a Vegas build on the same
+        #: display, a plugin calling clear()) no longer matches it.
+        self.strip: Optional[Callable[[], Any]] = None
+        self.last_used = 0.0
+        #: Bumped by every forget(). A build records its key only if this is
+        #: what it was when the build started: anything that forgot the slot
+        #: meanwhile (another build on this display, which may finish first
+        #: and leave its strip in the helper) means the strip in the helper
+        #: is not known to be this build's.
+        self.epoch = 0
+
+    def forget(self) -> None:
+        self.key = None
+        self.strip = None
+        self.epoch += 1
+
+
 class SportsScrollDisplayManager:
    """One :class:`SportsScrollDisplay` per game type ('live'/'recent'/'upcoming').

    Subclasses set :attr:`display_class`; everything else was near-identical
    across the eight plugin copies.
+
+    A recent or upcoming strip that has not changed is reused rather than
+    redrawn when its turn comes round again -- see :meth:`prepare_and_display`.
    """

    #: The SportsScrollDisplay subclass to instantiate per game type.
    display_class = SportsScrollDisplay

+    #: Game types whose strip is reused while nothing it is drawn from has
+    #: changed. Live is left out: its games change every poll, so the check
+    #: would never pay, and sports_live_scroll rebuilds a live strip in place
+    #: mid-cycle around get_scroll_display('live'), which has to stay the one
+    #: display it always was. Vegas's 'mixed' never comes through
+    #: prepare_and_display.
+    STRIP_MEMO_GAME_TYPES = frozenset({"recent", "upcoming"})
+
+    #: Oldest a reused strip may be. Not everything a card draws is in the
+    #: game dicts -- a team logo that was missing at the first build appears
+    #: only when the card is drawn again -- so an unchanged slate is still
+    #: redrawn this often.
+    STRIP_MEMO_MAX_AGE_S = 600.0
+
+    #: Displays kept per game type, one per slate (its leagues): the one on
+    #: screen plus the most recently shown others. When all are taken, the
+    #: least recently shown one draws the new slate, as the one shared display
+    #: always did, so a rotation with more slates than this costs no more
+    #: than before.
+    STRIP_MEMO_SLATES_PER_TYPE = 4
+
+    #: Ceiling, per plugin, on the strips kept for displays not on screen, in
+    #: bytes (the strip's array and image, and its Vegas items). Seven
+    #: football games at 192x48 come to ~0.65MB, thirty at 512x64 to ~4MB.
+    #: It bounds strip pixels only: each extra display also keeps its own
+    #: logo and separator-icon caches and frame buffer, and each slot a frozen
+    #: copy of the config in its key (~50KB), none of which is counted here.
+    STRIP_MEMO_MAX_PARKED_BYTES = 6 * 1024 * 1024
+
    def __init__(
        self,
        display_manager,
@@ -616,16 +697,34 @@ class SportsScrollDisplayManager:
        # either way, but two spellings of "nothing active" across two classes
        # is a trap for anyone comparing state between them.
        self._current_game_type: str = ""
+        # Per game type, its displays by slate, least recently shown first.
+        # _scroll_displays[game_type] is always the one on screen, so every
+        # reader of it (display_frame, is_complete, the plugins' own
+        # get_dynamic_duration and has_cached_content) sees what it did when
+        # there was only one display per game type.
+        self._strip_pools: Dict[str, "OrderedDict[Tuple[str, Tuple[Any, ...]], _StripSlot]"] = {}
+        # Only the bookkeeping is under it (and creating a slate's display,
+        # the first time that slate is drawn), never a build: a display()
+        # call that outlived its timeout can still be building when the next
+        # one starts.
+        self._strip_lock = threading.RLock()
+
+    def _new_scroll_display(self) -> SportsScrollDisplay:
+        return self.display_class(
+            self.display_manager,
+            self.config,
+            self.logger,
+            global_config=self.global_config,
+        )

    def get_scroll_display(self, game_type: str) -> SportsScrollDisplay:
-        """The display for ``game_type``, created on first use."""
+        """The display for ``game_type``, created on first use.
+
+        For a recent or upcoming game type, the display of the slate prepared
+        last -- the strip display_frame() draws.
+        """
        if game_type not in self._scroll_displays:
-            self._scroll_displays[game_type] = self.display_class(
-                self.display_manager,
-                self.config,
-                self.logger,
-                global_config=self.global_config,
-            )
+            self._scroll_displays[game_type] = self._new_scroll_display()
        return self._scroll_displays[game_type]

    def prepare_and_display(
@@ -635,8 +734,63 @@ class SportsScrollDisplayManager:
        leagues: List[str],
        rankings_cache: Optional[Dict[str, int]] = None,
    ) -> bool:
-        """Build content for ``game_type`` and make it the active strip."""
-        scroll_display = self.get_scroll_display(game_type)
+        """Build content for ``game_type`` and make it the active strip.
+
+        Building a strip draws every card while the render thread waits for
+        it, with the panel frozen on its last frame: ~1.4s for seven football
+        cards at 192x48 on a Pi 4, at the start of every turn and again each
+        time the cycle completes. A recent or upcoming turn usually draws
+        exactly the strip its slate drew last time. So when nothing the strip
+        is drawn from has changed -- the games, the rankings, the config, the
+        panel size and the date -- that strip is rewound and shown again
+        instead, which leaves the plugin's prepare_scroll_content() uncalled.
+
+        Two leagues usually take turns on one game type (nfl_recent, then
+        ncaa_fb_recent), so each slate keeps its own display rather than
+        sharing one; see STRIP_MEMO_SLATES_PER_TYPE. Anything in doubt is
+        drawn again: a live strip, a turn with no games, inputs that cannot
+        be fingerprinted, a strip older than STRIP_MEMO_MAX_AGE_S, or one
+        changed since it was built.
+        """
+        keyed = self._strip_memo_key(games, game_type, leagues, rankings_cache)
+        restore: Optional[SportsScrollDisplay] = None
+        epoch = 0
+        with self._strip_lock:
+            if keyed is None:
+                self._forget_shown_strip(game_type)
+                scroll_display = self.get_scroll_display(game_type)
+            else:
+                reused = self._reuse_strip(game_type, *keyed)
+                if reused is not None:
+                    # What a fresh build leaves: the strip at its start, a new
+                    # cycle not yet complete, this game type active.
+                    reused.reset_scroll()
+                    self._current_game_type = game_type
+                    self.logger.debug(
+                        "Reusing the unchanged %s strip for %s",
+                        game_type, ", ".join(map(str, keyed[0][1])))
+                    return True
+                scroll_display, restore, epoch = self._display_to_build(
+                    game_type, keyed[0])
+            # Before the build, so data that changes during it reads as changed.
+            started = time.monotonic()
+        success = self._prepare_on(
+            scroll_display, games, game_type, leagues, rankings_cache)
+        if keyed is not None:
+            with self._strip_lock:
+                self._note_strip_built(
+                    game_type, keyed, scroll_display, restore, success, started,
+                    epoch)
+        return success
+
+    def _prepare_on(
+        self,
+        scroll_display: SportsScrollDisplay,
+        games: List[Dict],
+        game_type: str,
+        leagues: List[str],
+        rankings_cache: Optional[Dict[str, int]],
+    ) -> bool:
        try:
            success = scroll_display.prepare_scroll_content(
                games, game_type, leagues, rankings_cache
@@ -654,6 +808,200 @@ class SportsScrollDisplayManager:
            self._current_game_type = game_type
        return success

+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Reusing an unchanged strip
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _strip_memo_key(
+        self,
+        games: Any,
+        game_type: str,
+        leagues: Any,
+        rankings_cache: Any,
+    ) -> Optional[Tuple[Tuple[str, Tuple[Any, ...]], Tuple[Any, ...]]]:
+        """``(slate, key)``: which display, and everything its strip is drawn
+        from. None when this strip must be drawn regardless.
+
+        The games go through sports_vegas.game_fingerprint, the same "has
+        this card changed" the live Vegas cards are redrawn on: the whole
+        game dict, so no field a card draws can be missed. The config is
+        fingerprinted by value, not by identity, so a config edited in place
+        counts as changed.
+        """
+        if game_type not in self.STRIP_MEMO_GAME_TYPES or not games:
+            return None
+        # Iterated twice (here and by the build), so a one-shot iterable
+        # would reach the build empty.
+        if not isinstance(games, (list, tuple)) or not isinstance(leagues, (list, tuple)):
+            return None
+        try:
+            slate = (game_type, tuple(leagues))
+            hash(slate)
+            key = (
+                tuple(sports_vegas.game_fingerprint(game) for game in games),
+                sports_vegas._freeze(rankings_cache),
+                sports_vegas._freeze(self.config),
+                (getattr(self.display_manager, "width", None),
+                 getattr(self.display_manager, "height", None)),
+                # A backstop: no card reads the clock today (game dates come
+                # in the game dicts), but a strip must not outlive its day.
+                time.localtime()[:3],
+            )
+        except Exception:
+            # A game dict changing size under a background update, say. The
+            # build reads it anyway; only the reuse is given up.
+            self.logger.debug("Strip for %s not reusable this turn", game_type,
+                              exc_info=True)
+            return None
+        return slate, key
+
+    def _strip_reusable(self, slot: _StripSlot, key: Tuple[Any, ...]) -> bool:
+        if slot.key is None or slot.strip is None:
+            return False
+        if time.monotonic() - slot.built_at >= self.STRIP_MEMO_MAX_AGE_S:
+            return False
+        helper = getattr(slot.display, "scroll_helper", None)
+        array = getattr(helper, "cached_array", None)
+        if array is None or slot.strip() is not array:
+            return False
+        has_strip = getattr(helper, "has_strip", None)
+        if callable(has_strip) and not has_strip():
+            return False
+        return bool(slot.key == key)
+
+    def _reuse_strip(
+        self, game_type: str, slate: Tuple[str, Tuple[Any, ...]], key: Tuple[Any, ...],
+    ) -> Optional[SportsScrollDisplay]:
+        """The display already showing this exact strip, made the active one."""
+        pool = self._strip_pools.get(game_type)
+        slot = pool.get(slate) if pool else None
+        if pool is None or slot is None or not self._strip_reusable(slot, key):
+            return None
+        pool.move_to_end(slate)
+        slot.last_used = time.monotonic()
+        # The display this replaces keeps its slot and strip for its own next
+        # turn, within the parked-strip budget.
+        self._scroll_displays[game_type] = slot.display
+        self._trim_parked_strips()
+        return slot.display
+
+    def _display_to_build(
+        self, game_type: str, slate: Tuple[str, Tuple[Any, ...]],
+    ) -> Tuple[SportsScrollDisplay, Optional[SportsScrollDisplay], int]:
+        """The display to draw ``slate`` on, made the active one.
+
+        Returns it; when it replaced another as the active display, that
+        one, to put back if the build fails -- a failed build left the
+        previous strip showing when the game type had one display; and the
+        slot's epoch the build must still find to record its key.
+        """
+        pool = self._strip_pools.setdefault(game_type, OrderedDict())
+        active = self._scroll_displays.get(game_type)
+        slot = pool.get(slate)
+        if slot is None:
+            if active is not None and not any(s.display is active for s in pool.values()):
+                # The game type's display, holding nothing reusable: this
+                # slate is drawn on it, exactly as before slates had their own.
+                slot = _StripSlot(active)
+            elif len(pool) < max(1, self.STRIP_MEMO_SLATES_PER_TYPE):
+                slot = _StripSlot(self._new_scroll_display())
+            else:
+                # The least recently shown slate's display draws this one.
+                _, slot = pool.popitem(last=False)
+            pool[slate] = slot
+        # Whatever was reusable on it is about to be drawn over.
+        slot.forget()
+        pool.move_to_end(slate)
+        slot.last_used = time.monotonic()
+        self._scroll_displays[game_type] = slot.display
+        replaced = active if active is not None and active is not slot.display else None
+        return slot.display, replaced, slot.epoch
+
+    def _note_strip_built(
+        self,
+        game_type: str,
+        keyed: Tuple[Tuple[str, Tuple[Any, ...]], Tuple[Any, ...]],
+        scroll_display: SportsScrollDisplay,
+        restore: Optional[SportsScrollDisplay],
+        success: bool,
+        started: float,
+        epoch: int,
+    ) -> None:
+        slate, key = keyed
+        pool = self._strip_pools.get(game_type)
+        slot = pool.get(slate) if pool else None
+        if (slot is None or slot.display is not scroll_display or slot.epoch != epoch
+                or self._scroll_displays.get(game_type) is not scroll_display):
+            # Another prepare moved on while this one built, or drew on this
+            # display too. Record nothing; the strip is drawn again next time.
+            return
+        array = getattr(scroll_display.scroll_helper, "cached_array", None)
+        if success and array is not None:
+            slot.key = key
+            slot.built_at = started
+            slot.strip = weakref.ref(array)
+        elif not success and restore is not None:
+            self._scroll_displays[game_type] = restore
+        self._trim_parked_strips()
+
+    def _forget_shown_strip(self, game_type: str) -> None:
+        """A build this memo cannot key is about to draw on the active display."""
+        active = self._scroll_displays.get(game_type)
+        for slot in (self._strip_pools.get(game_type) or {}).values():
+            if slot.display is active:
+                slot.forget()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _strip_bytes(scroll_display: SportsScrollDisplay) -> int:
+        """What keeping this display's strip costs: the strip's array, the
+        image beside it, and its Vegas items."""
+        array = getattr(scroll_display.scroll_helper, "cached_array", None)
+        total = int(array.nbytes) * 2 if array is not None else 0
+        for item in getattr(scroll_display, "_vegas_content_items", None) or ():
+            total += item.width * item.height * len(item.getbands())
+        return total
+
+    def _trim_parked_strips(self) -> None:
+        """Release the strips of displays not on screen until they fit
+        STRIP_MEMO_MAX_PARKED_BYTES: those that can never be reused first (a
+        failed build left an older slate's strip behind), then the least
+        recently shown. The display itself is kept, so its slate's next turn
+        draws on it again."""
+        # list() first: get_scroll_display() can add a game type from another
+        # thread (Vegas's 'mixed'), and a dict must not grow mid-iteration.
+        on_screen = {id(display) for display in list(self._scroll_displays.values())}
+        parked = []
+        total = 0
+        for pool in self._strip_pools.values():
+            for slot in pool.values():
+                if id(slot.display) in on_screen:
+                    continue
+                try:
+                    size = self._strip_bytes(slot.display)
+                except Exception:
+                    # Unmeasurable: assume it does not fit.
+                    size = self.STRIP_MEMO_MAX_PARKED_BYTES + 1
+                if size:
+                    parked.append((slot.last_used, size, slot))
+                    total += size
+        parked.sort(key=lambda entry: (entry[2].key is not None, entry[0]))
+        for _, size, slot in parked:
+            if total <= self.STRIP_MEMO_MAX_PARKED_BYTES:
+                break
+            slot.forget()
+            self._release_strip(slot.display)
+            total -= size
+
+    def _release_strip(self, scroll_display: SportsScrollDisplay) -> None:
+        """Drop a display's strip without SportsScrollDisplay.clear(), which
+        also tells the display manager nothing is scrolling -- not this
+        display's to say while another one is on screen."""
+        try:
+            scroll_display.scroll_helper.clear_cache()
+            scroll_display._vegas_content_items = []
+        except Exception:
+            self.logger.debug("Could not release a parked strip", exc_info=True)
+
    def display_frame(self, game_type: Optional[str] = None) -> bool:
        """Advance the active strip (or a named one) by one frame."""
        game_type = game_type or self._current_game_type
@@ -676,8 +1024,19 @@ class SportsScrollDisplayManager:
        return scroll_display.is_scroll_complete()

    def clear_all(self) -> None:
-        """Clear every display and forget which one was active."""
-        for scroll_display in self._scroll_displays.values():
+        """Clear every display and forget which one was active.
+
+        The displays of slates not on screen too, and nothing cleared is
+        reused: the next prepare draws its strip again.
+        """
+        displays = list(self._scroll_displays.values())
+        with self._strip_lock:
+            for pool in self._strip_pools.values():
+                for slot in pool.values():
+                    slot.forget()
+                    if not any(slot.display is shown for shown in displays):
+                        displays.append(slot.display)
+        for scroll_display in displays:
            scroll_display.clear()
        self._current_game_type = ""

@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ import requests
 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw
 from src.common import sports_card as _card
 from src.common.font_layout import load_truetype, resolve_asset_path
+from src.common.text_helper import OUTLINE_SQUARE, draw_text_outlined

 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

@@ -359,14 +360,16 @@ class SportsCoreSharedMixin:
        The formatting is sports_card's. What differs from the card's
        ``format_game_date`` is passed in: the setting (``switch_date_format``,
        see :meth:`_switch_date_format`) and the weekday, which comes from
-        :meth:`_weekday_for` and so from this plugin's resolved timezone.
+        :meth:`_weekday_for` and so from this plugin's resolved timezone
+        when the game's start cannot place the printed date. The game goes
+        in too, so both formatters name the printed date's own weekday.
        """
        raw = str(date_text or "").strip()
        if not raw:
            return raw
        return _card._format_date_as(self._switch_date_format(), raw,
                                     lambda: self._weekday_for(game),
-                                     self._MONTH_ABBR)
+                                     self._MONTH_ABBR, game=game)

    def _weekday_for(self, game: Optional[Dict]) -> str:
        """Weekday abbreviation from the game's start time, or ''."""
@@ -851,19 +854,12 @@ class SportsCoreSharedMixin:
        elif fill is None:
            fill = self._font_color(font)
        draw.fontmode = "1"
-        x, y = position
-        for dx, dy in [
-            (-1, -1),
-            (-1, 0),
-            (-1, 1),
-            (0, -1),
-            (0, 1),
-            (1, -1),
-            (1, 0),
-            (1, 1),
-        ]:
-            draw.text((x + dx, y + dy), text, font=font, fill=outline_color)
-        draw.text((x, y), text, font=font, fill=fill)
+        # The eight-neighbour outline, then the text on top. Rasterized once
+        # and stamped nine times rather than drawn nine times; the pixels are
+        # the same (draw_text_outlined falls back to the nine draws wherever
+        # that is not proven).
+        draw_text_outlined(draw, position, text, font, fill, outline_color,
+                           OUTLINE_SQUARE)

    def _should_log(self, warning_type: str, cooldown: int = 60) -> bool:
        """True at most once per ``cooldown`` seconds, for rate-limiting a
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import time
 import logging
 from enum import Enum
 from typing import Callable, Optional
-import numpy as np
 from PIL import Image

 from src.config_manager_atomic import _replace
@@ -434,6 +433,12 @@ class DisplaySyncManager:
            return
        if self._leader_state != LeaderState.CONNECTED or not self._peer_ip:
            return
+        # numpy is imported here, not at module level: the web interface
+        # imports this module for its constants (STATUS_FILE, SYNC_PORT) and
+        # would otherwise load numpy for nothing. Only a connected leader
+        # gets this far, and after the first frame the import is a
+        # sys.modules lookup.
+        import numpy as np
        try:
            arr = np.asarray(image.convert("RGB"), dtype=np.uint8)
            header = _RAW_MAGIC + _RAW_HEADER.pack(image.width, image.height)
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Extracted from LEDMatrix core to provide reusable functionality for plugins.

 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
+from typing import Any, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union

 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 from src.common.font_layout import load_truetype, resolve_asset_path
@@ -15,6 +15,174 @@ from src.common.font_layout import load_truetype, resolve_asset_path
 # Shared throwaway draw surface for measuring text without a target canvas.
 _measure_draw = ImageDraw.Draw(Image.new("RGB", (1, 1)))

+#: A one-pixel outline on all eight sides, in the order the scoreboards have
+#: always drawn it (dx outer, dy inner). The order can change pixels only
+#: where anti-aliased (fontmode "L") edges overlap; it is kept anyway.
+OUTLINE_SQUARE: Tuple[Tuple[int, int], ...] = (
+    (-1, -1), (-1, 0), (-1, 1), (0, -1), (0, 1), (1, -1), (1, 0), (1, 1))
+
+#: A one-pixel outline on the four edge sides only, leaving the diagonal
+#: corners open: the thinner outline ufc's fight card draws.
+OUTLINE_CROSS: Tuple[Tuple[int, int], ...] = ((-1, 0), (1, 0), (0, -1), (0, 1))
+
+# What the stamping path in draw_text_outlined is proven pixel-identical for
+# (test/test_text_helper.py compares it with the draw.text loop across every
+# combination). Anything else takes the loop. Compared with ``in`` on tuples
+# rather than sets so an unhashable fontmode falls back instead of raising.
+_STAMP_DRAW_MODES = ("RGB", "RGBA", "L")
+_STAMP_FONT_MODES = ("1", "L")
+
+# ImageDraw.text as Pillow defines it, which the stamping path stands in for.
+# A draw whose text has been replaced since -- on the class or the instance,
+# as a test recording the strings drawn does -- takes the loop, so the
+# replacement still sees every call.
+_PILLOW_DRAW_TEXT = ImageDraw.ImageDraw.text
+
+
+def draw_text_outlined(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw, xy: Sequence[Any], text: Any,
+                       font: Any, fill: Any,
+                       outline_color: Any = (0, 0, 0),
+                       offsets: Iterable[Sequence[Any]] = OUTLINE_SQUARE) -> None:
+    """Draw ``text`` in ``outline_color`` at each of ``offsets``, then in ``fill`` on top.
+
+    The result is pixel-identical to the loop every outlined draw used to be::
+
+        x, y = xy
+        for dx, dy in offsets:
+            draw.text((x + dx, y + dy), text, font=font, fill=outline_color)
+        draw.text((x, y), text, font=font, fill=fill)
+
+    but each ``draw.text`` rasterizes the whole string through FreeType again,
+    so the default nine draws did the same glyph work nine times, and on a
+    scoreboard card that text work is much of the render. Here the string is
+    rasterized once and the one mask is stamped at every offset, which is
+    what ``draw.text`` itself does with the mask, so the pixels are the same.
+
+    That holds only where it has been checked: a plain ``ImageDraw`` whose
+    ``text`` is Pillow's, a ``FreeTypeFont``, one line of ``str``, whole-pixel
+    ``xy`` (an int, or a float with nothing after the point, which is what
+    centring on a measured ``textlength`` with ``// 2`` gives) and int
+    offsets, and the image and font modes in ``_STAMP_DRAW_MODES`` /
+    ``_STAMP_FONT_MODES``. Fractional coordinates change the raster itself
+    (Pillow rasterizes at the sub-pixel start), and multiline text is laid
+    out line by line. Every other case, and anything
+    the stamping path cannot prepare, runs the loop above unchanged, so it
+    behaves exactly as before, errors included.
+
+    Args:
+        draw: The ``ImageDraw`` to draw on.
+        xy: Top-left (x, y) of the text, as for ``draw.text``.
+        text: The text.
+        font: The font, as for ``draw.text``.
+        fill: Colour of the text itself, drawn last.
+        outline_color: Colour of the outline.
+        offsets: (dx, dy) of each outline draw, in drawing order.
+            :data:`OUTLINE_SQUARE` (the default) or :data:`OUTLINE_CROSS`.
+    """
+    x, y = xy
+    # Read once: the loop below may have to start over after the stamping
+    # path looked at them.
+    offsets = tuple(offsets)
+    if _can_stamp(draw, x, y, text, font, offsets):
+        if _stamp_outlined(draw, int(x), int(y), text, font, fill,
+                           outline_color, offsets):
+            return
+    for dx, dy in offsets:
+        draw.text((x + dx, y + dy), text, font=font, fill=outline_color)
+    draw.text((x, y), text, font=font, fill=fill)
+
+
+def _can_stamp(draw: Any, x: Any, y: Any, text: Any, font: Any,
+               offsets: Tuple[Any, ...]) -> bool:
+    """Whether draw_text_outlined may stamp one mask instead of drawing N times.
+
+    Exact types for the draw and the font, and Pillow's own ``draw.text``: a
+    subclass may override ``text`` or ``getmask2``, or a test may replace
+    ``draw.text`` to record what is drawn, and stamping would skip either.
+    """
+    return (
+        type(draw) is ImageDraw.ImageDraw
+        and ImageDraw.ImageDraw.text is _PILLOW_DRAW_TEXT
+        and "text" not in vars(draw)
+        and type(font) is ImageFont.FreeTypeFont
+        and isinstance(text, str)
+        and "\n" not in text
+        and "\r" not in text
+        and _whole_pixel(x)
+        and _whole_pixel(y)
+        and all(isinstance(o, (tuple, list)) and len(o) == 2
+                and isinstance(o[0], int) and isinstance(o[1], int)
+                for o in offsets)
+        and draw.mode in _STAMP_DRAW_MODES
+        and draw.fontmode in _STAMP_FONT_MODES
+    )
+
+
+def _whole_pixel(v: Any) -> bool:
+    """An int, or a float on a whole pixel, as a draw.text coordinate.
+
+    For those, draw.text's ``int(x + dx)`` is ``int(x) + dx`` and its
+    sub-pixel start is 0 (or -0.0, which renders the same), so one mask fits
+    every offset. Floats are held well inside the range where ``x + dx`` is
+    exact; nothing that far out is on any canvas, so the loop the rest take
+    costs nothing that matters.
+    """
+    if isinstance(v, int):
+        return True
+    return isinstance(v, float) and v.is_integer() and -2**31 < v < 2**31
+
+
+def _text_ink(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw, color: Any) -> Any:
+    """The ink ``ImageDraw.text`` resolves ``color`` to (its inner getink)."""
+    ink, fill_ink = draw._getink(color)
+    return fill_ink if ink is None else ink
+
+
+def _stamp_outlined(draw: ImageDraw.ImageDraw, x: int, y: int, text: str,
+                    font: ImageFont.FreeTypeFont, fill: Any, outline_color: Any,
+                    offsets: Tuple[Sequence[Any], ...]) -> bool:
+    """Rasterize once and stamp; False, with nothing drawn, to take the loop.
+
+    Replays what ``ImageDraw.text`` does for one line at an integer position
+    (Pillow 11 and 12): ``font.getmask2`` with these arguments, then
+    ``draw.draw.draw_bitmap`` at the position plus the mask's offset.
+    ``draw.draw`` and ``draw._getink`` are Pillow internals, so everything up
+    to the first pixel is guarded: if anything fails before then, nothing has
+    been drawn and the loop runs instead, which then fails (or not) exactly
+    as it always did -- a bad fill colour still raises after the outline is
+    drawn, as it did from the last ``draw.text``.
+    """
+    try:
+        outline_ink = _text_ink(draw, outline_color)
+        text_ink = _text_ink(draw, fill)
+        # What draw.text passes for a single line with no anchor at a whole
+        # pixel position, by keyword so a getmask2 with another parameter
+        # order cannot shift them. ink only matters to an RGBA (colour-glyph)
+        # mask, which the font modes allowed here never produce.
+        mask, (ox, oy) = font.getmask2(
+            text, draw.fontmode, direction=None, features=None,
+            language=None, stroke_width=0, anchor="la", ink=text_ink,
+            start=(0.0, 0.0), stroke_filled=True)
+        draw_bitmap = draw.draw.draw_bitmap
+    except Exception:
+        return False
+    stamped = False
+    try:
+        # draw.text returns without drawing when its ink resolves to None.
+        if outline_ink is not None:
+            for dx, dy in offsets:
+                draw_bitmap((x + dx + ox, y + dy + oy), mask, outline_ink)
+                stamped = True
+        if text_ink is not None:
+            draw_bitmap((x + ox, y + oy), mask, text_ink)
+    except Exception:
+        # A rejected call draws nothing, but one that got through has: never
+        # draw the outline twice (anti-aliased edges would be blended twice).
+        if stamped:
+            raise
+        return False
+    return True
+

 class TextHelper:
    """
@@ -103,15 +271,15 @@ class TextHelper:
            outline_width: Width of outline in pixels
        """
        x, y = position
-        
-        # Draw outline by drawing text in outline color at offset positions
-        for dx in range(-outline_width, outline_width + 1):
-            for dy in range(-outline_width, outline_width + 1):
-                if dx != 0 or dy != 0:  # Skip center position
-                    draw.text((x + dx, y + dy), text, font=font, fill=outline_color)
-        
-        # Draw main text
-        draw.text((x, y), text, font=font, fill=fill)
+
+        # Outline: every offset up to outline_width away on each axis, centre
+        # skipped, in the order this has always drawn them (OUTLINE_SQUARE at
+        # width 1). The main text is drawn last, on top.
+        offsets = [(dx, dy)
+                   for dx in range(-outline_width, outline_width + 1)
+                   for dy in range(-outline_width, outline_width + 1)
+                   if dx != 0 or dy != 0]
+        draw_text_outlined(draw, (x, y), text, font, fill, outline_color, offsets)
    
    def get_text_width(self, text: str, font: ImageFont.ImageFont) -> int:
        """
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import json
 import time
 import threading
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, List, Callable
+from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, List, Callable, Tuple
 from collections import defaultdict
 import logging
 import hashlib
@@ -52,7 +52,18 @@ class ConfigService:
        
        # Thread safety
        self._lock: threading.RLock = threading.RLock()
-        
+        # Held across a whole reload -- read, swap, notify -- so one reload's
+        # notifications finish before the next one's start. Subscribers run
+        # under this lock and never under _lock: the display's per-plugin
+        # subscriber can wait seconds for a busy plugin, and get_config(),
+        # subscribe() and unsubscribe() -- called from the render thread --
+        # must not wait behind it.
+        self._notify_lock: threading.RLock = threading.RLock()
+        # (key, callback, thread id) of the callback a notification is running,
+        # so unsubscribe() can wait for that one call; signalled on its return.
+        self._running_callback: Optional[Tuple[str, Callable[..., None], int]] = None
+        self._callback_done = threading.Condition(self._lock)
+
        # Current configuration
        self._current_config: Dict[str, Any] = {}
        self._current_checksum: Optional[str] = None
@@ -87,32 +98,33 @@ class ConfigService:
            True if config changed, False otherwise
        """
        try:
-            new_config = self.config_manager.load_config()
-            new_checksum = self._calculate_checksum(new_config)
-            
-            with self._lock:
-                # Check if config actually changed
-                if new_checksum == self._current_checksum:
-                    self.logger.debug("Configuration unchanged, skipping reload")
-                    return False
-                
-                # Store old config for change detection
-                old_config = self._current_config.copy()
-                
-                # Update current config
-                self._current_config = new_config
-                self._current_checksum = new_checksum
-                
-                # Notify subscribers
+            with self._notify_lock:
+                new_config = self.config_manager.load_config()
+                new_checksum = self._calculate_checksum(new_config)
+
+                with self._lock:
+                    # Check if config actually changed
+                    if new_checksum == self._current_checksum:
+                        self.logger.debug("Configuration unchanged, skipping reload")
+                        return False
+
+                    # Store old config for change detection
+                    old_config = self._current_config.copy()
+
+                    # Update current config
+                    self._current_config = new_config
+                    self._current_checksum = new_checksum
+
+                # Notify subscribers, outside _lock (see _notify_lock)
                self._notify_subscribers(old_config, new_config)
-                
+
                self.logger.info(
                    "Configuration reloaded (checksum: %s)",
                    new_checksum[:8]
                )
-                
+
                return True
-                
+
        except ConfigError as e:
            self.logger.error("Error loading configuration: %s", e, exc_info=True)
            return False
@@ -127,35 +139,64 @@ class ConfigService:
        Args:
            old_config: Previous configuration
            new_config: New configuration
+
+        Called without _lock held. The subscriber lists are copied under it,
+        and each callback is checked against them again just before it runs.
        """
+        with self._lock:
+            subscribers = {key: list(callbacks) for key, callbacks in self._subscribers.items()}
+
        # Notify global subscribers (key: '*')
-        for callback in self._subscribers.get('*', []):
-            try:
-                callback(old_config, new_config)
-            except Exception as e:
-                self.logger.error("Error in global config change callback: %s", e, exc_info=True)
-        
+        for callback in subscribers.get('*', []):
+            self._call_subscriber('*', callback, old_config, new_config)
+
        # Notify plugin-specific subscribers
-        for plugin_id in self._subscribers.keys():
+        for plugin_id, callbacks in subscribers.items():
            if plugin_id == '*':
                continue
-            
+
            old_plugin_config = old_config.get(plugin_id, {})
            new_plugin_config = new_config.get(plugin_id, {})
-            
+
            # Only notify if plugin config actually changed
            if old_plugin_config != new_plugin_config:
-                for callback in self._subscribers[plugin_id]:
-                    try:
-                        callback(old_plugin_config, new_plugin_config)
-                    except Exception as e:
-                        self.logger.error(
-                            "Error in config change callback for %s: %s",
-                            plugin_id,
-                            e,
-                            exc_info=True
-                        )
-    
+                for callback in callbacks:
+                    self._call_subscriber(plugin_id, callback,
+                                          old_plugin_config, new_plugin_config)
+
+    def _call_subscriber(
+        self,
+        key: str,
+        callback: Callable[[Dict[str, Any], Dict[str, Any]], None],
+        old_config: Dict[str, Any],
+        new_config: Dict[str, Any],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Run one callback, unless it was unsubscribed since the snapshot.
+
+        unsubscribe() promises that once it returns the callback is neither
+        running nor will run: the display unloads the plugin straight after.
+        """
+        with self._lock:
+            if callback not in self._subscribers.get(key, ()):
+                return
+            self._running_callback = (key, callback, threading.get_ident())
+        try:
+            callback(old_config, new_config)
+        except Exception as e:
+            if key == '*':
+                self.logger.error("Error in global config change callback: %s", e, exc_info=True)
+            else:
+                self.logger.error(
+                    "Error in config change callback for %s: %s",
+                    key,
+                    e,
+                    exc_info=True
+                )
+        finally:
+            with self._lock:
+                self._running_callback = None
+                self._callback_done.notify_all()
+
    def _check_file_changes(self) -> bool:
        """
        Check if configuration files have been modified.
@@ -276,6 +317,11 @@ class ConfigService:
        """
        Unsubscribe from configuration changes.
        
+        Once this returns the callback is not running and will not be called
+        again. A notification that is running this very callback is waited
+        for (unless the callback is the caller); one running any other
+        callback is not.
+
        Args:
            callback: Callback function to remove
            plugin_id: Optional plugin ID (must match subscription)
@@ -285,6 +331,10 @@ class ConfigService:
            if callback in self._subscribers[key]:
                self._subscribers[key].remove(callback)
                self.logger.debug("Unsubscribed from config changes for %s", key)
+            while (self._running_callback is not None
+                   and self._running_callback[:2] == (key, callback)
+                   and self._running_callback[2] != threading.get_ident()):
+                self._callback_done.wait()
    
    def shutdown(self) -> None:
        """Shutdown the configuration service."""
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ CORE_CONFIG_KEYS = frozenset({
    'display',
    'sync',
    'plugin_system',
+    'fetch_service',
    # Older or optional core sections still found in existing config files.
    'logging',
    'network',
@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+"""What the panel shows next: the Arbiter of docs/RUN_LOOP_REDESIGN.md.
+
+``Arbiter.decide(state, inputs, now)`` takes a snapshot that
+``DisplayController.run()`` gathers once per pass and returns a
+:class:`ScreenPlan` naming the Source that gets the panel. It is a pure
+function: no I/O, no clock reads (``now`` is passed in), no locks, and it
+changes nothing it is given. That is what lets a plain table of cases test
+the priority order, which used to exist only as the order of ``if`` blocks
+in ``run()``.
+
+The full order is
+
+    ScheduledOff (a gate), Follower, OnDemand, Wifi, Live, Vegas, Rotation
+
+Stage 2 decides the gate, Follower and Wifi. Every other case returns a
+``LEGACY`` plan, meaning "carry on with run()'s existing code" (live
+priority, Vegas, then one rotation screen). OnDemand is in the order already
+because it outranks the WiFi notice: an active session is a ``LEGACY`` plan
+even when a notice is pending.
+
+The Wifi Source's mid-screen rule, :func:`wifi_notice_preempts`, lives here
+too, so both of its answers -- at the top of a pass and between frames --
+come from one module.
+"""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import Optional
+
+__all__ = [
+    "Arbiter",
+    "ArbiterInputs",
+    "ArbiterState",
+    "SCHEDULED_OFF_DWELL",
+    "ScreenPlan",
+    "Source",
+    "WIFI_NOTICE_DWELL",
+    "WifiNotice",
+    "wifi_notice_preempts",
+]
+
+# How long one scheduled-off pass blanks the panel. The dwell ends early when
+# on-demand starts or the schedule turns the panel back on.
+SCHEDULED_OFF_DWELL = 60.0
+
+# How long one WiFi-notice pass holds the notice before the next pass looks
+# again; the notice stays up, pass after pass, until it expires.
+WIFI_NOTICE_DWELL = 0.5
+
+
+class Source(Enum):
+    """Who gets the panel this pass."""
+
+    SCHEDULED_OFF = "scheduled-off"
+    FOLLOWER = "follower"
+    WIFI = "wifi"
+    # Not decided by the Arbiter yet: on-demand, live priority, Vegas and the
+    # rotation are still chosen by run()'s own code. Stage 3 adds the
+    # OnDemand, Live and Rotation Sources; stage 4 adds Vegas.
+    LEGACY = "legacy"
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class WifiNotice:
+    """A WiFi status message waiting to be drawn.
+
+    ``expires_at`` is wall-clock time (``time.time()``), as written by the
+    WiFi manager.
+    """
+
+    message: str
+    expires_at: float
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ArbiterState:
+    """What the Arbiter remembers between passes.
+
+    Nothing yet: the stage-2 Sources decide from the inputs alone. The
+    on-demand index, the rotation index and the live resume point move here
+    with their Sources in stage 3.
+    """
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ArbiterInputs:
+    """One pass's snapshot, gathered by run() before it calls decide().
+
+    Attributes:
+        schedule_on: The display schedule has the panel on, not counting an
+            on-demand override of a scheduled-off window.
+        on_demand_active: An on-demand session is running.
+        follower_active: A sync leader is driving this panel.
+        wifi_notice: The pending WiFi notice, or None. run() reads it only
+            when it could win (the panel is on, and neither a follower nor
+            on-demand outranks it), because reading it has side effects: a
+            1 Hz throttle and deleting an expired file.
+    """
+
+    schedule_on: bool
+    on_demand_active: bool
+    follower_active: bool
+    wifi_notice: Optional[WifiNotice] = None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ScreenPlan:
+    """The Arbiter's answer for one pass.
+
+    Attributes:
+        source: The Source that gets the panel.
+        max_duration: How long the plan holds the panel, in seconds, at most
+            (its dwell ends early when what the panel should show changes).
+            None when the Source paces itself: a follower frame, or LEGACY.
+        notice: The WiFi notice to draw, for a WIFI plan.
+    """
+
+    source: Source
+    max_duration: Optional[float] = None
+    notice: Optional[WifiNotice] = None
+
+
+SCHEDULED_OFF_PLAN = ScreenPlan(Source.SCHEDULED_OFF, max_duration=SCHEDULED_OFF_DWELL)
+FOLLOWER_PLAN = ScreenPlan(Source.FOLLOWER)
+LEGACY_PLAN = ScreenPlan(Source.LEGACY)
+
+
+class Arbiter:
+    """Decides which Source gets the panel. Stateless; see the module docstring."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def decide(state: ArbiterState, inputs: ArbiterInputs, now: float) -> ScreenPlan:
+        """The plan for this pass, from the Sources in priority order.
+
+        Args:
+            state: What the Arbiter remembers between passes (nothing yet).
+            inputs: This pass's snapshot.
+            now: Wall-clock time of the snapshot. No stage-2 Source reads it:
+                the top-of-pass WiFi check takes the notice as read, and only
+                the mid-screen check (:func:`wifi_notice_preempts`) compares
+                it with the expiry. It is in the signature for the Sources
+                stage 3 adds (on-demand expiry, durations).
+
+        Returns:
+            The winning Source's plan, or LEGACY_PLAN when the winner is one
+            run() still decides itself.
+        """
+        del state, now  # not read by the stage-2 Sources; see the docstring
+
+        # ScheduledOff is a gate, not a Source: a scheduled-off panel stays
+        # blank even for a follower, and only an on-demand session overrides
+        # it (#714 -- one ending in off hours blanks at the next pass).
+        if not inputs.schedule_on and not inputs.on_demand_active:
+            return SCHEDULED_OFF_PLAN
+
+        # 1. Follower: a sync leader drives this panel, ahead of on-demand.
+        if inputs.follower_active:
+            return FOLLOWER_PLAN
+
+        # 2. OnDemand: decided by run() until stage 3. It outranks the notice.
+        if inputs.on_demand_active:
+            return LEGACY_PLAN
+
+        # 3. Wifi: a pending notice, held for one short dwell per pass.
+        if inputs.wifi_notice is not None:
+            return ScreenPlan(Source.WIFI, max_duration=WIFI_NOTICE_DWELL,
+                              notice=inputs.wifi_notice)
+
+        # 4-6. Live, Vegas, Rotation: still run()'s own code.
+        return LEGACY_PLAN
+
+
+def wifi_notice_preempts(notice: Optional[WifiNotice], on_demand_active: bool,
+                         now: float) -> bool:
+    """Whether a WiFi notice should end the current screen early.
+
+    The Wifi Source's mid-screen rule, polled between frames, during dwells
+    and when a Vegas iteration yields. On-demand outranks the notice, as in
+    :meth:`Arbiter.decide`. Unlike the top-of-pass check it also compares
+    ``now`` with the expiry, because the 1 Hz read throttle can hand back a
+    notice that has expired since it was read.
+    """
+    if on_demand_active or notice is None:
+        return False
+    return now < notice.expires_at
@@ -52,17 +52,16 @@ import threading
 import time
 from collections import OrderedDict, deque
 from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple, TYPE_CHECKING
-import math
 import zlib
 import freetype

 from src.common import snapshot_policy
 from src import display_watchdog
-from src.common.frame_timing import FrameTimingRecorder
+from src.common.frame_timing import (
+    FrameTimingRecorder, install_gc_monitor, uninstall_gc_monitor)

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from src.common.render_gate import RenderGate
-from src.deprecation import deprecated
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
 from src.common.permission_utils import (
    ensure_directory_permissions,
@@ -82,6 +81,15 @@ _CALENDAR_FONT_PX = 7
 #: frame, so a fault that persists would otherwise log ~100 lines a second.
 _UPDATE_ERROR_LOG_INTERVAL = 60.0

+#: zlib level for the preview snapshot PNG. The fastest level: each file is
+#: read by the web UI and soon replaced by the next, so encode time (paid on
+#: the render thread for a static screen) matters more than its size.
+#: Lossless at any level. Against Pillow's default (6), on a desktop with
+#: Pillow 12.3, a text-dense 512x64 frame encoded in about half the time,
+#: into 12 KB instead of 7 KB; sparser frames saved less time (10-20%) and
+#: stayed under 2 KB.
+_SNAPSHOT_PNG_COMPRESS_LEVEL = 1
+

 def _bdf_native_size(face) -> int:
    """The pixel height a BDF Face declares, or 0 if it does not say.
@@ -225,6 +233,11 @@ def _per_thread_canvas_attr(name: str) -> property:



+#: A held frame is only split when its blit takes less than this share of a
+#: refresh: the second blit has to land before the next vsync.
+_SPLIT_BLIT_FRACTION = 0.5
+
+
 class DisplayManager:
    """
    Singleton hardware abstraction layer for the RGB LED matrix.
@@ -293,8 +306,8 @@ class DisplayManager:
        self._TEXT_WIDTH_CACHE_MAX = 1024
        # Snapshot mirror for web preview + health check (service writes, web
        # reads). Cadence/skip decisions live in src/common/snapshot_policy.py:
-        # full rate only while the web SSE broadcaster keeps the viewer marker
-        # fresh; unchanged frames are never re-encoded, only mtime-touched.
+        # the viewer rate only while the web SSE broadcaster keeps the viewer
+        # marker fresh; unchanged frames are never re-encoded, only mtime-touched.
        self._snapshot_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png"  # nosec B108 - fixed path intentional; web UI reads same path
        self._viewer_marker_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer"  # nosec B108 - touched by web SSE broadcaster
        self._last_snapshot_ts = 0.0
@@ -341,6 +354,10 @@ class DisplayManager:
        # advances a whole pixel every Nth refresh instead of every one.
        # See src/common/scroll_config.py and scripts/scroll_speeds.py.
        self._frame_hold = 1
+        # True while a static screen draws its first frame after a scroll,
+        # whose state is left set until then: those frames go out without
+        # scan-order compensation. See end_scroll_for_static_screen().
+        self._static_handover = False

        # A src.common.render_gate.RenderGate while Vegas runs with
        # vegas_scroll.prefetch_gate on: opened around each swap so the
@@ -349,7 +366,8 @@ class DisplayManager:

        # Timing of every presented frame, whoever drew it, for
        # scripts/frame_soak.py. See src/common/frame_timing.py.
-        self.frame_timing = FrameTimingRecorder(info=self._frame_timing_info())
+        self.frame_timing = FrameTimingRecorder(
+            info=self._frame_timing_info(), gc_monitor=install_gc_monitor())
        self.frame_timing.scrolling_now = self._scrolling_now

        self._scrolling_state = {
@@ -939,16 +957,32 @@ class DisplayManager:
                    self._write_snapshot_if_due()
                    return

+                # Asked once per frame and the answer reused below: the call
+                # has side effects (it expires a stale scroll and drops its
+                # frame hold), so asking again further down could disagree
+                # with what this frame was already treated as. Asked first,
+                # so the dirty check, the scan-order segments, the pacing gate,
+                # the swaps and frame timing all see one answer and the frame
+                # hold it leaves.
+                scrolling = self.is_currently_scrolling()
                digest = None
                frame_checksum = None
-                if self._dirty_tracking_enabled:
+                # No digest mid-scroll. The skip it feeds is never taken while
+                # scrolling (see below), so all it bought there was the
+                # snapshot's changed-frame check -- a tobytes() plus adler32
+                # over the whole framebuffer every frame (~0.17ms at 256x64
+                # on a Pi 4, twice that at 512x64) for a decision acted on at
+                # most once a second. _write_snapshot_if_due hashes for
+                # itself when a write or touch is actually due. The cost: the
+                # first static frame after a scroll is always pushed, once.
+                if self._dirty_tracking_enabled and not scrolling:
                    try:
                        brightness = getattr(self.matrix, 'brightness', None)
                    except AttributeError:
                        brightness = None
                    frame_checksum = zlib.adler32(self.image.tobytes())
                    digest = (frame_checksum, brightness)
-                    if digest == self._last_pushed_digest and not self.is_currently_scrolling():
+                    if digest == self._last_pushed_digest:
                        # Nothing changed since the last push — the panel is
                        # already showing exactly this frame.
                        #
@@ -973,27 +1007,35 @@ class DisplayManager:
                # mode the logical screen is first tiled across the full chain.
                blit_started = time.perf_counter()
                if self._double_sided is not None:
-                    self.offscreen_canvas.SetImage(self._composite_double_sided())
+                    segments = [(self._composite_double_sided(), self._frame_hold)]
                else:
-                    self.offscreen_canvas.SetImage(self._scan_compensated(self.image))
-                blit_done = time.perf_counter()
-
-                # Swap buffers immediately. framerate_fraction holds the frame
-                # for N refreshes; SwapOnVSync blocks for all of them, which is
-                # what paces the render loop to the chosen frame rate.
+                    segments = self._scan_segments(self.image, scrolling)
                gate = self.render_gate
+                blit_time = swap_time = 0.0
+                # Usually one segment: the frame, held for _frame_hold
+                # refreshes. SwapOnVSync blocks for all of them, which is what
+                # paces the render loop to the chosen frame rate. Scan-order
+                # compensation on a held frame splits it, so the lagging rows
+                # change one refresh after the rest.
                if gate is not None:
                    gate.before_swap(self._frame_hold)
-                self.matrix.SwapOnVSync(self.offscreen_canvas, self._frame_hold)
+                for index, (shown, hold) in enumerate(segments):
+                    if index:
+                        blit_started = time.perf_counter()
+                    self.offscreen_canvas.SetImage(shown)
+                    blit_done = time.perf_counter()
+                    blit_time += blit_done - blit_started
+                    self.matrix.SwapOnVSync(self.offscreen_canvas, hold)
+                    swap_time += time.perf_counter() - blit_done
+                    # Swap our canvas references
+                    self.offscreen_canvas, self.current_canvas = self.current_canvas, self.offscreen_canvas
                if gate is not None:
                    gate.after_swap(self._frame_hold)
                presented_at = time.perf_counter()
+                self._last_blit_seconds = blit_time / len(segments)
                self.frame_timing.record(
-                    blit_done - blit_started, presented_at - blit_done,
-                    self._frame_hold, self.is_currently_scrolling(), presented_at)
-
-                # Swap our canvas references
-                self.offscreen_canvas, self.current_canvas = self.current_canvas, self.offscreen_canvas
+                    blit_time, swap_time,
+                    self._frame_hold, scrolling, presented_at)

                self._last_pushed_digest = digest

@@ -1040,23 +1082,48 @@ class DisplayManager:
            ", ".join(f"rows {top}-{bottom - 1} show {lag} refresh(es) behind"
                      for top, bottom, lag in bands))

-    def _scan_compensated(self, image: Image.Image) -> Image.Image:
-        """The frame to present, with lagging rows taken from earlier frames.
+    def _scan_segments(self, image: Image.Image,
+                       scrolling: Optional[bool] = None
+                       ) -> List[Tuple[Image.Image, int]]:
+        """What to present for this frame: ``[(image, refreshes), ...]``.

-        Only mid-scroll at one frame per refresh: that is when consecutive
-        frames are consecutive refreshes. At a longer hold, or on a static
-        screen, the history is dropped and the frame goes out as it is.
+        Mid-scroll with compensation on, lagging rows are taken from earlier
+        refreshes (see src/scan_order.py). At one refresh per frame that is one
+        image. A frame held longer is split at the refresh where the lagging
+        rows catch up, so those rows step a refresh after the rest. The split
+        needs a second blit inside the refresh that follows the first swap, so
+        it is skipped when a blit is too slow to fit. A static screen goes out
+        as it is, and drops the history. So does a static screen's first frame
+        after a scroll, while the scroll state is still set (see
+        end_scroll_for_static_screen): one segment, held for the scroll's
+        hold, with no rows from the scroller's frames.
+
+        ``scrolling`` is the caller's is_currently_scrolling() answer for this
+        frame. update_display() asks once, before calling this, so the frame
+        hold read here is the one that answer left (an expired scroll's hold
+        is already dropped). None asks here.
        """
+        hold = self._frame_hold
        bands = getattr(self, '_scan_lag_bands', None)
-        if not bands:
-            return image
-        if self._frame_hold != 1 or not self.is_currently_scrolling():
-            self._scan_history.clear()
-            return image
-        presented = scan_order.compose(image, self._scan_history, bands)
+        if (not bands
+                or not (scrolling if scrolling is not None
+                        else self.is_currently_scrolling())
+                or self._static_handover):
+            if bands:
+                self._scan_history.clear()
+            return [(image, hold)]
+        if hold > 1:
+            blit = getattr(self, '_last_blit_seconds', 0.0)
+            if blit > _SPLIT_BLIT_FRACTION / max(1.0, self.refresh_hz):
+                self._scan_history.clear()
+                return [(image, hold)]
+        segments = [
+            (scan_order.compose(image, self._scan_history, bands, backs), count)
+            for backs, count in scan_order.refresh_plan(bands, hold)
+        ]
        # A copy: plugins draw into the same image object frame after frame.
        self._scan_history.appendleft(image.copy())
-        return presented
+        return segments

    def clear(self):
        """Clear the display completely."""
@@ -1323,203 +1390,6 @@ class DisplayManager:
        except Exception as e:
            logger.error(f"Error drawing text: {e}", exc_info=True)

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_sun(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw a sun icon using yellow circles and lines."""
-        center = (x + size//2, y + size//2)
-        radius = size//3
-        
-        # Draw the center circle
-        self.draw.ellipse([center[0]-radius, center[1]-radius, 
-                          center[0]+radius, center[1]+radius], 
-                         fill=(255, 255, 0))  # Yellow
-        
-        # Draw the rays
-        ray_length = size//4
-        for angle in range(0, 360, 45):
-            rad = math.radians(angle)
-            start_x = center[0] + (radius * math.cos(rad))
-            start_y = center[1] + (radius * math.sin(rad))
-            end_x = center[0] + ((radius + ray_length) * math.cos(rad))
-            end_y = center[1] + ((radius + ray_length) * math.sin(rad))
-            self.draw.line([start_x, start_y, end_x, end_y], fill=(255, 255, 0), width=2)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_cloud(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16, color=(200, 200, 200)):
-        """Draw a cloud icon."""
-        # Draw multiple circles to form a cloud shape
-        self.draw.ellipse([x+size//4, y+size//3, x+size//4+size//2, y+size//3+size//2], fill=color)
-        self.draw.ellipse([x+size//2, y+size//3, x+size//2+size//2, y+size//3+size//2], fill=color)
-        self.draw.ellipse([x+size//3, y+size//6, x+size//3+size//2, y+size//6+size//2], fill=color)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_rain(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw rain icon with cloud and droplets."""
-        # Draw cloud
-        self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        
-        # Draw rain drops
-        drop_color = (0, 0, 255)  # Blue
-        drop_size = size//6
-        for i in range(3):
-            drop_x = x + size//4 + (i * size//3)
-            drop_y = y + size//2
-            self.draw.line([drop_x, drop_y, drop_x, drop_y+drop_size], 
-                          fill=drop_color, width=2)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_snow(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw snow icon with cloud and snowflakes."""
-        # Draw cloud
-        self.draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        
-        # Draw snowflakes
-        snow_color = (200, 200, 255)  # Light blue
-        for i in range(3):
-            center_x = x + size//4 + (i * size//3)
-            center_y = y + size//2 + size//4
-            # Draw a small star shape
-            for angle in range(0, 360, 60):
-                rad = math.radians(angle)
-                end_x = center_x + (size//8 * math.cos(rad))
-                end_y = center_y + (size//8 * math.sin(rad))
-                self.draw.line([center_x, center_y, end_x, end_y], 
-                             fill=snow_color, width=1)
-
-    # Weather icon color constants
-    WEATHER_COLORS = {
-        'sun': (255, 200, 0),    # Bright yellow
-        'cloud': (200, 200, 200), # Light gray
-        'rain': (0, 100, 255),    # Light blue
-        'snow': (220, 220, 255),  # Ice blue
-        'storm': (255, 255, 0)    # Lightning yellow
-    }
-
-    def _draw_sun(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw a sun icon with rays."""
-        center_x, center_y = x + size//2, y + size//2
-        radius = size//4
-        ray_length = size//3
-        
-        # Draw the main sun circle
-        self.draw.ellipse([center_x - radius, center_y - radius, 
-                          center_x + radius, center_y + radius], 
-                         fill=self.WEATHER_COLORS['sun'])
-        
-        # Draw sun rays
-        for angle in range(0, 360, 45):
-            rad = math.radians(angle)
-            start_x = center_x + int((radius + 2) * math.cos(rad))
-            start_y = center_y + int((radius + 2) * math.sin(rad))
-            end_x = center_x + int((radius + ray_length) * math.cos(rad))
-            end_y = center_y + int((radius + ray_length) * math.sin(rad))
-            self.draw.line([start_x, start_y, end_x, end_y], 
-                         fill=self.WEATHER_COLORS['sun'], width=2)
-
-    def _draw_cloud(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw a cloud using multiple circles."""
-        cloud_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['cloud']
-        base_y = y + size//2
-        
-        # Draw main cloud body (3 overlapping circles)
-        circle_radius = size//4
-        positions = [
-            (x + size//3, base_y),           # Left circle
-            (x + size//2, base_y - size//6), # Top circle
-            (x + 2*size//3, base_y)          # Right circle
-        ]
-        
-        for cx, cy in positions:
-            self.draw.ellipse([cx - circle_radius, cy - circle_radius,
-                             cx + circle_radius, cy + circle_radius],
-                            fill=cloud_color)
-
-    def _draw_rain(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw rain drops falling from a cloud."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        rain_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['rain']
-        
-        # Draw rain drops at an angle
-        drop_size = size//8
-        drops = [
-            (x + size//4, y + 2*size//3),
-            (x + size//2, y + 3*size//4),
-            (x + 3*size//4, y + 2*size//3)
-        ]
-        
-        for dx, dy in drops:
-            # Draw angled rain drops
-            self.draw.line([dx, dy, dx - drop_size//2, dy + drop_size],
-                         fill=rain_color, width=2)
-
-    def _draw_snow(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw snowflakes falling from a cloud."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        snow_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['snow']
-        
-        # Draw snowflakes
-        flake_size = size//6
-        flakes = [
-            (x + size//4, y + 2*size//3),
-            (x + size//2, y + 3*size//4),
-            (x + 3*size//4, y + 2*size//3)
-        ]
-        
-        for fx, fy in flakes:
-            # Draw a snowflake (six-pointed star)
-            for angle in range(0, 360, 60):
-                rad = math.radians(angle)
-                end_x = fx + int(flake_size * math.cos(rad))
-                end_y = fy + int(flake_size * math.sin(rad))
-                self.draw.line([fx, fy, end_x, end_y],
-                             fill=snow_color, width=1)
-
-    def _draw_storm(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw a storm cloud with lightning bolt."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        
-        # Draw lightning bolt
-        bolt_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['storm']
-        bolt_points = [
-            (x + size//2, y + size//2),          # Top
-            (x + 3*size//5, y + 2*size//3),      # Middle right
-            (x + 2*size//5, y + 2*size//3),      # Middle left
-            (x + size//2, y + 5*size//6)         # Bottom
-        ]
-        self.draw.polygon(bolt_points, fill=bolt_color)
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_weather_icon(self, condition: str, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None:
-        """Draw a weather icon based on the condition."""
-        if condition.lower() in ['clear', 'sunny']:
-            self._draw_sun(x, y, size)
-        elif condition.lower() in ['clouds', 'cloudy', 'partly cloudy']:
-            self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        elif condition.lower() in ['rain', 'drizzle', 'shower']:
-            self._draw_rain(x, y, size)
-        elif condition.lower() in ['snow', 'sleet', 'hail']:
-            self._draw_snow(x, y, size)
-        elif condition.lower() in ['thunderstorm', 'storm']:
-            self._draw_storm(x, y, size)
-        else:
-            self._draw_sun(x, y, size)
-        # Note: No update_display() here - let the caller handle the update
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def draw_text_with_icons(self, text: str, icons: List[tuple] = None, x: int = None, y: int = None, 
-                            color: tuple = (255, 255, 255)):
-        """Draw text with weather icons at specified positions."""
-        # Draw the text
-        self.draw_text(text, x, y, color)
-        
-        # Draw any icons
-        if icons:
-            for icon_type, icon_x, icon_y in icons:
-                self.draw_weather_icon(icon_type, icon_x, icon_y)
-        
-        # Update the display once after everything is drawn
-        self.update_display()
-
    def cleanup(self):
        """Clean up resources."""
        if hasattr(self, '_snapshot_cond'):
@@ -1538,6 +1408,8 @@ class DisplayManager:
        # The stall watchdog would otherwise outlive this manager.
        if getattr(self, 'frame_timing', None) is not None:
            self.frame_timing.close()
+            # Installed with the recorder; stop timing collections with it.
+            uninstall_gc_monitor()
        # Reset the singleton state when cleaning up
        DisplayManager._instance = None

@@ -1698,6 +1570,9 @@ class DisplayManager:
            # A plugin captured for Vegas calls this from its own display();
            # it must not change the live scroll's state or frame hold.
            return
+        # A scroll starting or ending also ends a static screen's handover;
+        # see end_scroll_for_static_screen.
+        self._static_handover = False
        current_time = time.time()
        # Scrolling callers set this every frame; log transitions only.
        changed = self._scrolling_state['is_scrolling'] != is_scrolling
@@ -1710,6 +1585,47 @@ class DisplayManager:
        if changed:
            logger.debug("Scrolling state set to: %s", is_scrolling)

+    def end_scroll_for_static_screen(self) -> None:
+        """Ready the panel for a static screen's first frame after a scroll.
+
+        The display controller calls this just before it dispatches the first
+        frame of a screen that runs its 1 Hz loop, and
+        ``set_scrolling_state(False)`` once that dispatch returns. Nothing
+        else ends a scroll at a handover: the state belongs to the screen
+        before, and would only expire 2 s after its last frame.
+
+        Until then, the frames that dispatch presents go out as drawn, not
+        scan-order composed: each as one segment, held for the scroll's hold.
+        With the state still "scrolling", ``_scan_segments`` would take their
+        lagging rows from the frame before: for the first, the scroller's last
+        frame -- the bottom half of the old ticker under the new screen on a
+        96x48 panel. At hold 1 that frame stays up for a whole second; at a
+        longer hold its first refresh flashes the old rows. For a second frame
+        in the same call, the rows would come from the first, shown for as long
+        as the first's would be. Dirty tracking does not keep such a frame up
+        past the screen's next redraw: a frame pushed while the scroll state
+        is set leaves it no digest to match, so that redraw is pushed.
+
+        The rest of that scroll is left on purpose, until the controller ends
+        it:
+
+        * the scroll state, so the gap from the scroller's last frame to this
+          screen's first is still timed by the frame-timing recorder and
+          watched by the stall watchdog, which is where a slow first
+          ``display()`` shows up;
+        * its frame hold. On a frame that stays up for a second it only moves
+          the swap to the scroll's next hold boundary, and it is the pacing
+          that gap is due at: judged at hold 1, a handover that kept the
+          scroller's own schedule would count as frames late.
+
+        The next ``set_scrolling_state()`` call, whoever makes it, ends this.
+        One attribute store, so no lock: ``update_display`` reads it once per
+        frame, under its own, and the history is dropped there.
+        """
+        if self._writes_suppressed():
+            return  # a thread drawing off-screen cannot end the live scroll
+        self._static_handover = True
+
    def is_currently_scrolling(self) -> bool:
        """Check if the display is currently in a scrolling state."""
        current_time = time.time()
@@ -1831,18 +1747,6 @@ class DisplayManager:
        if removed_count > 0:
            logger.debug(f"Cleaned up {removed_count} expired deferred updates")

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_scrolling_stats(self) -> dict:
-        """Get current scrolling statistics for debugging."""
-        return {
-            'is_scrolling': self._scrolling_state['is_scrolling'],
-            'last_activity': self._scrolling_state['last_scroll_activity'],
-            'deferred_count': len(self._scrolling_state['deferred_updates']),
-            'inactivity_threshold': self._scrolling_state['scroll_inactivity_threshold'],
-            'max_deferred_updates': self._scrolling_state['max_deferred_updates'],
-            'deferred_update_ttl': self._scrolling_state['deferred_update_ttl']
-        }
-
    def _viewer_is_fresh(self, now: float) -> bool:
        """True when a browser preview is watching (marker file touched by
        the web SSE broadcaster). The marker is stat'd at most once per
@@ -1864,11 +1768,14 @@ class DisplayManager:

        Args:
            frame_checksum: adler32 of the current frame, when the caller has
-                already computed one. Dirty tracking checksums every frame a
-                few lines above the call site, and re-deriving it here meant a
-                second tobytes() plus a second pass over the whole framebuffer
-                on every single frame — ~0.17ms per frame of the two combined
-                at 256x64, paid 100 times a second to reach the same number.
+                already computed one. Dirty tracking checksums every static
+                frame a few lines above the call site, and re-deriving it here
+                meant a second tobytes() plus a second pass over the whole
+                framebuffer on every single frame — ~0.17ms per frame of the
+                two combined at 256x64, paid 100 times a second to reach the
+                same number. None (mid-scroll, dirty tracking off, no
+                hardware): the frame is hashed here, and only when the policy
+                could act on it.
        """
        try:
            now = time.time()
@@ -1879,11 +1786,29 @@ class DisplayManager:
                self._last_snapshot_ts = 0.0
            self._viewer_was_fresh = viewer_fresh

-            digest = (frame_checksum if frame_checksum is not None
-                      else zlib.adler32(self.image.tobytes()))
-            action = snapshot_policy.decide(
-                now, self._last_snapshot_ts, self._last_snapshot_touch_ts,
-                viewer_fresh, digest != self._last_snapshot_digest)
+            if frame_checksum is not None:
+                digest = frame_checksum
+                action = snapshot_policy.decide(
+                    now, self._last_snapshot_ts, self._last_snapshot_touch_ts,
+                    viewer_fresh, digest != self._last_snapshot_digest)
+            else:
+                # Ask as if the frame had changed before paying to find out.
+                # decide() is monotone in frame_changed -- a SKIP for a
+                # changed frame is a SKIP for an unchanged one too (its touch
+                # branch ignores frame_changed) -- so returning here gives the
+                # same answer the hash would have, and on most frames the hash
+                # is never taken. test_snapshot_policy.py holds decide() to it.
+                action = snapshot_policy.decide(
+                    now, self._last_snapshot_ts, self._last_snapshot_touch_ts,
+                    viewer_fresh, True)
+                if action is snapshot_policy.SnapshotAction.SKIP:
+                    return
+                digest = zlib.adler32(self.image.tobytes())
+                if digest == self._last_snapshot_digest:
+                    # Unchanged after all: the decision an unchanged frame gets.
+                    action = snapshot_policy.decide(
+                        now, self._last_snapshot_ts,
+                        self._last_snapshot_touch_ts, viewer_fresh, False)
            if action is snapshot_policy.SnapshotAction.SKIP:
                return
            if (action is snapshot_policy.SnapshotAction.TOUCH
@@ -1961,7 +1886,8 @@ class DisplayManager:
            prefix=f".{snapshot_path_obj.name}.", suffix=".tmp")
        try:
            with os.fdopen(_fd, "wb") as _f:
-                image.save(_f, format='PNG')
+                image.save(_f, format='PNG',
+                           compress_level=_SNAPSHOT_PNG_COMPRESS_LEVEL)
            os.chmod(tmp_path, 0o644)
            os.replace(tmp_path, self._snapshot_path)
        except Exception:
@@ -1972,7 +1898,8 @@ class DisplayManager:
            except OSError:
                pass
            # Fallback to direct save if replace not supported
-            image.save(self._snapshot_path, format='PNG')
+            image.save(self._snapshot_path, format='PNG',
+                       compress_level=_SNAPSHOT_PNG_COMPRESS_LEVEL)
        # Set proper file permissions after saving
        try:
            ensure_file_permissions(snapshot_path_obj, get_assets_file_mode())
@@ -216,6 +216,23 @@ class RenderWatchdog:
    def armed(self) -> bool:
        return self._armed

+    def liveness(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """The heartbeat, in memory: what the control socket's state stream
+        reports as ``loop``.
+
+        ``heartbeat_age_seconds`` is the age of the render thread's last beat,
+        the beat that writes the heartbeat file, so it ages at the same rate
+        and is judged by the same ``HEARTBEAT_STALE_SECONDS``. None until the
+        loop has drawn its first frame. Any thread may call this: it only
+        reads two attributes.
+        """
+        last = self._last_beat
+        age = None
+        if self._armed and last is not None:
+            age = max(self._clock() - last, 0.0)
+        return {'heartbeat_age_seconds': age, 'armed': self._armed,
+                'stale_after': HEARTBEAT_STALE_SECONDS}
+
    def _on_render_thread(self) -> bool:
        return self._render_thread is not None and threading.get_ident() == self._render_thread

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import requests
 from typing import Any, Dict, List

 from src.common.api_helper import DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS
+from src.common.json_body import response_json

 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ class DynamicTeamResolver:
            response = requests.get(rankings_url, headers=dict(DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS),
                                    timeout=self.request_timeout)
            response.raise_for_status()
-            data = response.json()
+            data = response_json(response)
            
            rankings = {}
            rankings_data = data.get('rankings', [])
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def record_error(
 # and only the display service's ever records anything (plugin_executor runs
 # the plugins there). The web interface therefore reads a snapshot the display
 # service publishes to the shared cache directory -- the same channel, and the
-# same file permissions, as display_current_state and plugin_metrics:*: files
+# same file permissions, as display_current_state and plugin_metrics_snapshot: files
 # are 0660 and carry the cache directory's group, so root writes and the web
 # user reads, and the other way round for the clear request.
 #
@@ -40,13 +40,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from PIL import ImageFont
 from src.common.bdf_font import load_bdf_face, read_bdf_native_size
 from src.common.font_layout import load_truetype, resolve_asset_path
-from src.common.permission_utils import (
-    ensure_directory_permissions,
-    get_assets_dir_mode,
-    get_config_dir_mode,
-)
-from typing import Dict, Tuple, Optional, Union, Any, List
-from src.deprecation import deprecated
+from typing import Dict, Tuple, Optional, Union, Any

 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)

@@ -93,7 +87,7 @@ class FontManager:
        self.temp_font_dir = Path(tempfile.gettempdir()) / "ledmatrix_fonts"
        self.temp_font_dir.mkdir(exist_ok=True)

-        # Counters behind get_performance_stats().
+        # Font-load counters, kept up by get_font().
        self.performance_stats = {
            "cache_hits": 0,
            "cache_misses": 0,
@@ -109,12 +103,8 @@ class FontManager:
            "tom_thumb": "assets/fonts/tom-thumb.bdf"
        }
        
-        # Size tokens for convenience
-        self.size_tokens = {
-            "xs": 6, "sm": 8, "md": 10, "lg": 12, "xl": 14, "xxl": 16
-        }
-        
-        # Font overrides storage (for manual overrides)
+        # Per-element overrides read from config/font_overrides.json;
+        # resolve_font applies them.
        # Under the install root's config/ (which always exists), not the
        # cwd: the file itself may not exist yet, and resolve_asset_path
        # hands back a missing path unchanged.
@@ -187,26 +177,6 @@ class FontManager:
        if removed:
            self.manager_fonts_version += 1

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_manager_fonts(self, manager_id: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """
-        Get registered fonts for a specific manager or all managers.
-        
-        Args:
-            manager_id: Optional manager ID, if None returns all
-            
-        Returns:
-            Dictionary of registered fonts
-        """
-        if manager_id:
-            return self.manager_fonts.get(manager_id, {})
-        return self.manager_fonts.copy()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_detected_fonts(self) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]:
-        """Get all detected font usage across managers."""
-        return self.detected_fonts.copy()
-
    # ==================== Plugin Font Management ====================

    def register_plugin_fonts(self, plugin_id: str, font_manifest: Dict[str, Any],
@@ -433,51 +403,6 @@ class FontManager:
        search_dirs = [Path(resolve_asset_path(configured)), Path(resolve_asset_path("plugins"))]
        return resolve_plugin_dir(plugin_id, search_dirs, prefix=True)

-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def unregister_plugin_fonts(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
-        """Unregister all fonts for a plugin."""
-        try:
-            if plugin_id in self.plugin_fonts:
-                # Remove from plugin catalogs
-                if plugin_id in self.plugin_font_catalogs:
-                    for family in self.plugin_font_catalogs[plugin_id]:
-                        namespaced_family = f"{plugin_id}::{family}"
-                        if namespaced_family in self.font_catalog:
-                            del self.font_catalog[namespaced_family]
-                    
-                    del self.plugin_font_catalogs[plugin_id]
-
-                # Remove plugin manifest
-                del self.plugin_fonts[plugin_id]
-
-                # Clear related cache entries
-                self._clear_plugin_font_cache(plugin_id)
-
-                logger.info(f"Unregistered fonts for plugin {plugin_id}")
-                return True
-
-            return False
-
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Error unregistering plugin fonts: {e}")
-            return False
-
-    def _clear_plugin_font_cache(self, plugin_id: str):
-        """Clear font cache entries for a specific plugin."""
-        keys_to_remove = [key for key in self.font_cache.keys() if key.startswith(f"{plugin_id}::")]
-        for key in keys_to_remove:
-            del self.font_cache[key]
-        if keys_to_remove:
-            # Font objects someone may hold were dropped; see cache_generation.
-            self.cache_generation += 1
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_plugin_fonts(self, plugin_id: str) -> List[str]:
-        """Get list of font families registered by a plugin."""
-        if plugin_id in self.plugin_font_catalogs:
-            return list(self.plugin_font_catalogs[plugin_id].keys())
-        return []
-
    # ==================== Font Resolution ====================

    def resolve_font(self, element_key: str, family: str, size_px: int, 
@@ -668,42 +593,6 @@ class FontManager:
            logger.error(f"Error getting font height: {e}", exc_info=True)
            return 12  # Default height

-    # ==================== Override Management ====================
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def set_override(self, element_key: str, family: str = None, size_px: int = None):
-        """Set font override for a specific element."""
-        if element_key not in self.font_overrides:
-            self.font_overrides[element_key] = {}
-
-        if family is not None:
-            self.font_overrides[element_key]["family"] = family
-        if size_px is not None:
-            self.font_overrides[element_key]["size_px"] = size_px
-
-        # Remove empty overrides
-        if not self.font_overrides[element_key]:
-            del self.font_overrides[element_key]
-        else:
-            self._save_overrides()
-
-        self.clear_cache()
-        logger.info(f"Font override set for {element_key}: {self.font_overrides.get(element_key, {})}")
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def remove_override(self, element_key: str):
-        """Remove font override for a specific element."""
-        if element_key in self.font_overrides:
-            del self.font_overrides[element_key]
-            self._save_overrides()
-            self.clear_cache()
-            logger.info(f"Font override removed for {element_key}")
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_overrides(self) -> Dict[str, Dict[str, str]]:
-        """Get current font overrides."""
-        return self.font_overrides.copy()
-
    # ==================== Font Discovery ====================

    @staticmethod
@@ -765,17 +654,6 @@ class FontManager:
            logger.warning(f"Could not load font overrides: {e}")
            self.font_overrides = {}

-    def _save_overrides(self):
-        """Save current font overrides to file."""
-        try:
-            font_overrides_path = Path(self.font_overrides_file)
-            ensure_directory_permissions(font_overrides_path.parent, get_config_dir_mode())
-            with open(self.font_overrides_file, 'w') as f:
-                json.dump(self.font_overrides, f, indent=2)
-            logger.info(f"Saved {len(self.font_overrides)} font overrides")
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Could not save font overrides: {e}")
-
    # ==================== Utility Methods ====================

    def clear_cache(self):
@@ -786,117 +664,3 @@ class FontManager:
        # without the bump they kept serving results for the dropped fonts.
        self.cache_generation += 1
        logger.info("Font cache cleared")
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "read font_catalog")
-    def get_available_fonts(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
-        """Get dictionary of available font families and their paths."""
-        return self.font_catalog.copy()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_size_tokens(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
-        """Get available size tokens."""
-        return self.size_tokens.copy()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def get_performance_stats(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Get performance statistics."""
-        uptime = time.time() - self.performance_stats["start_time"]
-        return {
-            "uptime_seconds": uptime,
-            "cache_hits": self.performance_stats["cache_hits"],
-            "cache_misses": self.performance_stats["cache_misses"],
-            "cache_hit_rate": (
-                self.performance_stats["cache_hits"] / 
-                (self.performance_stats["cache_hits"] + self.performance_stats["cache_misses"])
-                if (self.performance_stats["cache_hits"] + self.performance_stats["cache_misses"]) > 0 else 0
-            ),
-            "total_fonts_cached": len(self.font_cache),
-            "total_metrics_cached": len(self.metrics_cache),
-            "failed_loads": self.performance_stats["failed_loads"],
-            "total_fonts_available": len(self.font_catalog),
-            "plugin_fonts": len(self.plugin_fonts),
-            "manager_fonts": len(self.manager_fonts),
-            "detected_fonts": len(self.detected_fonts)
-        }
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "read font_catalog")
-    def get_font_catalog(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
-        """Get the current font catalog."""
-        return self.font_catalog.copy()
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def add_font(self, font_file_path: str, family_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Add ``font_file_path`` to the catalog as ``family_name``. The file
-        stays where it is; only assets/fonts is created if it is missing."""
-        try:
-            # Validate font file
-            if not os.path.exists(font_file_path):
-                logger.error(f"Font file not found: {font_file_path}")
-                return False
-
-            # Check if family name already exists
-            if family_name in self.font_catalog:
-                logger.warning(f"Font family '{family_name}' already exists")
-                return False
-
-            fonts_dir = Path(resolve_asset_path("assets/fonts"))
-            ensure_directory_permissions(fonts_dir, get_assets_dir_mode())
-
-            # Add to catalog
-            self.font_catalog[family_name] = font_file_path
-            self.clear_cache()
-            logger.info(f"Added font {family_name}: {font_file_path}")
-            return True
-
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Error adding font {family_name}: {e}")
-            return False
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def remove_font(self, family_name: str) -> bool:
-        """Remove a font from the catalog."""
-        try:
-            if family_name not in self.font_catalog:
-                logger.warning(f"Font family '{family_name}' not found")
-                return False
-
-            # Check if font is currently in use
-            in_use = False
-            for override in self.font_overrides.values():
-                if override.get("family") == family_name:
-                    in_use = True
-                    break
-
-            if in_use:
-                logger.error(f"Cannot remove font '{family_name}' - it is currently in use")
-                return False
-
-            del self.font_catalog[family_name]
-            self.clear_cache()
-            logger.info(f"Removed font {family_name}")
-            return True
-
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Error removing font {family_name}: {e}")
-            return False
-
-    @deprecated("3.8.0")
-    def validate_font(self, font_path: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Validate a font file."""
-        try:
-            if not os.path.exists(font_path):
-                return {"valid": False, "error": "Font file not found"}
-
-            if font_path.endswith('.bdf'):
-                # Try to load BDF font
-                freetype.Face(font_path)
-                return {"valid": True, "type": "bdf", "family": "unknown"}
-            elif font_path.endswith('.ttf'):
-                # Try to load TTF font
-                load_truetype(font_path, 12)
-                return {"valid": True, "type": "ttf", "family": "unknown"}
-            else:
-                return {"valid": False, "error": "Unsupported font format"}
-
-        except Exception as e:
-            return {"valid": False, "error": str(e)}
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+"""The display process's control socket: web -> display commands with acks.
+
+- :mod:`src.ipc.contract` -- the versioned messages, the framing and where
+  the socket lives. Shared by both sides; standard library only.
+- :mod:`src.ipc.server` -- the display side: a threaded Unix-socket server
+  whose handlers only queue work for the render thread.
+- :mod:`src.ipc.client` -- the web side: one short-timeout request.
+
+See docs/IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md for the protocol, the security model and the
+stage plan.
+"""
@@ -0,0 +1,496 @@
+"""The web side of the control socket: one request, a short timeout, no retries.
+
+Every failure -- no socket (the display is stopped, or predates the socket),
+a refused or timed-out connection, a reply that breaks the contract, or an
+error the display returned -- raises :class:`ControlError` with a short
+``reason``, and the caller falls back to the file mailbox. Nothing here
+blocks for longer than ``timeout`` in total.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import socket
+import threading
+import time
+import uuid
+from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, Sequence
+
+from src.ipc.contract import (
+    AWAIT_SECONDS,
+    MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES,
+    PROTOCOL_VERSION,
+    SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS,
+    SUPPORTED_VERSIONS,
+    Command,
+    FrameReader,
+    ProtocolError,
+    Request,
+    Response,
+    StateEvent,
+    StateEventKind,
+    client_socket_paths,
+    decode_message,
+    encode_message,
+    parse_args,
+    socket_supported,
+)
+
+#: Total budget for one request: connect, send and the reply. The display
+#: answers from a thread that does no rendering, normally within a few
+#: milliseconds; this only bounds a wedged one. The web route then falls back
+#: to the mailbox, so a timeout costs this much latency and nothing else.
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 1.0
+
+
+class ControlError(Exception):
+    """The socket could not carry the request. ``reason`` is a short code.
+
+    Transport reasons: ``disabled``, ``unsupported``, ``no_socket``,
+    ``refused``, ``timeout``, ``closed``, ``bad_response``, ``invalid_request``.
+    When the display answered with an error, ``reason`` is that error's
+    :class:`~src.ipc.contract.ErrorCode` (``busy``, ``unknown_command``, ...).
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, reason: str, message: str = ''):
+        super().__init__(reason, message)
+        self.reason = reason
+        self.message = message
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{self.reason}: {self.message}' if self.message else self.reason
+
+
+def request(cmd: str, args: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]] = None, *,
+            request_id: Optional[str] = None,
+            timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+            paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Send one command and return its ``result``. Raises :class:`ControlError`."""
+    args = dict(args or {})
+    request_id = request_id or str(uuid.uuid4())
+    try:
+        # Refuse locally what the display would refuse: a malformed id
+        # (callers may pass their own) or arguments that break the contract.
+        envelope = Request.from_dict({'v': PROTOCOL_VERSION, 'id': request_id,
+                                      'cmd': cmd, 'args': args})
+        parse_args(cmd, args)
+        payload = encode_message(envelope.to_dict())
+    except ProtocolError as e:
+        raise ControlError('invalid_request', e.message) from None
+
+    if not socket_supported():
+        raise ControlError('unsupported', 'no Unix sockets on this platform')
+    candidates: List[str] = list(paths) if paths is not None else client_socket_paths()
+    if not candidates:
+        raise ControlError('disabled', 'the control socket is turned off')
+
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + timeout
+    sock = _connect(candidates, deadline)
+    try:
+        response = _exchange(sock, payload, deadline)
+    finally:
+        sock.close()
+
+    # A refusal before the request was read (forbidden, too many
+    # connections) carries no id.
+    if response.id != request_id and not (response.id is None and not response.ok):
+        raise ControlError('bad_response', 'the reply is for a different request')
+    if not response.ok:
+        error = response.error
+        raise ControlError(error.code if error else 'bad_response',
+                           error.message if error else '')
+    return dict(response.result or {})
+
+
+def _remaining(deadline: float) -> float:
+    left = deadline - time.monotonic()
+    if left <= 0:
+        raise ControlError('timeout', 'no reply in time')
+    return left
+
+
+def _connect(paths: Sequence[str], deadline: float) -> socket.socket:
+    last = ControlError('no_socket', 'the display is not serving the control socket')
+    for path in paths:
+        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        try:
+            sock.settimeout(_remaining(deadline))
+            sock.connect(path)
+            return sock
+        except (FileNotFoundError, NotADirectoryError):
+            sock.close()
+            continue
+        except ConnectionRefusedError:
+            sock.close()
+            last = ControlError('refused', f'nothing is listening at {path}')
+        except BlockingIOError:
+            # EAGAIN: the listen backlog is full -- a live but swamped display.
+            sock.close()
+            raise ControlError('busy', 'the display is not accepting connections') from None
+        except PermissionError:
+            sock.close()
+            last = ControlError('refused', f'no permission to connect to {path}')
+        except socket.timeout:
+            sock.close()
+            raise ControlError('timeout', 'connect timed out') from None
+        except ControlError:
+            sock.close()
+            raise
+        except OSError as e:
+            sock.close()
+            last = ControlError('refused', f'{path}: {e}')
+    raise last
+
+
+def _exchange(sock: socket.socket, payload: bytes, deadline: float) -> Response:
+    try:
+        sock.settimeout(_remaining(deadline))
+        sock.sendall(payload)
+        reader = FrameReader(MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES)
+        while True:
+            sock.settimeout(_remaining(deadline))
+            data = sock.recv(4096)
+            if not data:
+                raise ControlError('closed', 'the display closed the connection')
+            lines = reader.feed(data)
+            if lines:
+                return Response.from_dict(decode_message(lines[0]))
+    except socket.timeout:
+        raise ControlError('timeout', 'no reply in time') from None
+    except ProtocolError as e:
+        raise ControlError('bad_response', e.message) from None
+    except ControlError:
+        raise
+    except OSError as e:
+        raise ControlError('closed', str(e)) from None
+
+
+# -- commands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def on_demand_start(request_id: str, plugin_id: Optional[str], mode: Optional[str],
+                    duration: Any = None, pinned: bool = False, *,
+                    timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+                    paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Ask the display to show a plugin now. Returns the ack; raises :class:`ControlError`.
+
+    ``request_id`` doubles as the on-demand request id, so a request that a
+    timed-out caller then also writes to the mailbox is processed only once.
+    """
+    args = {'plugin_id': plugin_id, 'mode': mode, 'duration': duration, 'pinned': pinned}
+    return request(Command.ON_DEMAND_START, args, request_id=request_id,
+                   timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def on_demand_stop(request_id: str, *, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+                   paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Ask the display to end on-demand. Returns the ack; raises :class:`ControlError`."""
+    return request(Command.ON_DEMAND_STOP, {}, request_id=request_id,
+                   timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def on_demand_status(*, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+                     paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """The display's live on-demand state. Raises :class:`ControlError`."""
+    return request(Command.ON_DEMAND_STATUS, {}, timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+#: Headroom over the display's own wait for an awaited command, so its
+#: ``pending`` answer arrives before the client gives up.
+_AWAIT_MARGIN_SECONDS = 1.0
+
+
+def _awaited_timeout(cmd: str) -> float:
+    return AWAIT_SECONDS[cmd] + _AWAIT_MARGIN_SECONDS
+
+
+def brightness_set(brightness: int, *, timeout: Optional[float] = None,
+                   paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Set the panel's normal brightness now (transient: config.json is not
+    written). Returns the applied :class:`~src.ipc.contract.BrightnessResult`;
+    raises :class:`ControlError`.
+    """
+    return request(Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET, {'brightness': brightness},
+                   timeout=_awaited_timeout(Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET) if timeout is None
+                   else timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def plugin_reload(plugin_id: str, *, timeout: Optional[float] = None,
+                  paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Have the display reload a running plugin from disk.
+
+    Returns :class:`~src.ipc.contract.PluginReloadResult` once the new code is
+    running. Raises :class:`ControlError`: ``not_loaded`` (not running it),
+    ``failed`` (the new version did not load), ``pending`` (not done in
+    time; it will still happen), or a transport reason.
+    """
+    return request(Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD, {'plugin_id': plugin_id},
+                   timeout=_awaited_timeout(Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD) if timeout is None
+                   else timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def ping(*, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+         paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return request(Command.PING, {}, timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def hello(client: str = 'web', *, timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+          paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Version negotiation: the result's ``version`` is the one both sides speak."""
+    return request(Command.HELLO, {'versions': list(SUPPORTED_VERSIONS), 'client': client},
+                   timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+# -- the state stream (stage 3) ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+def state_get(since: Optional[int] = None, epoch: Optional[str] = None, *,
+              timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+              paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """The display's state now, as a :class:`~src.ipc.contract.StateSnapshot`.
+
+    With ``since``/``epoch`` from an earlier answer, an unchanged state comes
+    back in the short ``changed: false`` form. Raises :class:`ControlError`
+    (``unknown_command`` from a display older than stage 3).
+    """
+    args: Dict[str, Any] = {}
+    if since is not None:
+        args['since'] = since
+    if epoch is not None:
+        args['epoch'] = epoch
+    return request(Command.STATE_GET, args, timeout=timeout, paths=paths)
+
+
+def snapshot_age(snapshot: Mapping[str, Any], now_mono: Optional[float] = None) -> float:
+    """Seconds since ``snapshot`` arrived: ``received_mono`` (set by
+    :meth:`StateSubscription.latest`) to now; 0 for a one-shot answer."""
+    received = snapshot.get('received_mono')
+    if isinstance(received, (int, float)) and not isinstance(received, bool):
+        now_mono = time.monotonic() if now_mono is None else now_mono
+        return max(now_mono - float(received), 0.0)
+    return 0.0
+
+
+def snapshot_loop_age(snapshot: Mapping[str, Any],
+                      now_mono: Optional[float] = None) -> Optional[float]:
+    """The render loop's heartbeat age now, from a state snapshot: the age the
+    display measured when it answered, plus the time since the answer
+    arrived. None when the display has no beat to report yet."""
+    loop = snapshot.get('loop')
+    if not isinstance(loop, dict):
+        state = snapshot.get('state')
+        loop = state.get('loop') if isinstance(state, dict) else None
+    age = loop.get('heartbeat_age_seconds') if isinstance(loop, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(age, (int, float)) or isinstance(age, bool):
+        return None
+    return max(float(age), 0.0) + snapshot_age(snapshot, now_mono)
+
+
+def _merge_volatile(state: Dict[str, Any], volatile: Any) -> None:
+    """Fold a tick's ``volatile`` values (``{section: {key: value}}``) into
+    ``state``, copying each section it touches.
+
+    These are the timestamps the hub leaves out of its version --
+    ``display.last_updated``, ``on_demand.last_updated``/``remaining``,
+    ``plugins.published_at`` -- and the readers judge freshness by them, so
+    a copy that only full ``state`` events updated would go stale while the
+    same mode stayed on screen. Only keys the section already has are taken:
+    a tick never adds a section or a key the last snapshot did not carry
+    (a section left out of a truncated snapshot stays out).
+    """
+    if not isinstance(volatile, dict):
+        return  # a display from before ticks carried them
+    for name, values in volatile.items():
+        section = state.get(name)
+        if not isinstance(section, dict) or not isinstance(values, dict):
+            continue
+        fresh = {k: v for k, v in values.items() if k in section}
+        if fresh:
+            state[name] = dict(section, **fresh)
+
+
+#: A subscription that has heard nothing for this long is not trusted: the
+#: display sends a tick at least every SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS.
+SUBSCRIPTION_SILENCE_SECONDS = 3 * SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS
+
+#: Reconnect backoff: the first retry, and the cap. A display that does not
+#: know state.subscribe (stage 2 or older) is retried at the cap.
+_RECONNECT_MIN_SECONDS = 1.0
+_RECONNECT_MAX_SECONDS = 30.0
+
+#: Failures that another try soon will not fix.
+_SLOW_RETRY_REASONS = frozenset({'unknown_command', 'unsupported_version', 'disabled',
+                                 'unsupported'})
+
+
+class StateSubscription:
+    """One ``state.subscribe`` connection, held on a daemon thread.
+
+    Keeps the latest snapshot the display pushed, so a reader answers from
+    memory (:meth:`latest`). Reconnects with a backoff when the display goes
+    away. Never raises into the caller: :meth:`latest` is None whenever the
+    copy cannot be vouched for (not connected, or silent for longer than
+    ``silence``), and the caller falls back.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, paths: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None, *,
+                 silence: float = SUBSCRIPTION_SILENCE_SECONDS,
+                 connect_timeout: float = DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_SECONDS,
+                 clock: Callable[[], float] = time.monotonic):
+        self._paths = list(paths) if paths is not None else None
+        self._silence = silence
+        self._connect_timeout = connect_timeout
+        self._clock = clock
+        self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._snapshot: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
+        self._received: Optional[float] = None
+        self._connected = False
+        self._stop = threading.Event()
+        self._sock: Optional[socket.socket] = None
+        self._thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
+        #: The reason the last connection ended (a ControlError reason).
+        self.last_error: Optional[str] = None
+        #: Full snapshots received: the subscribe answer and each state event.
+        self.snapshots = 0
+
+    # -- the reader's side ---------------------------------------------------
+
+    @property
+    def connected(self) -> bool:
+        return self._connected
+
+    def latest(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+        """A copy of the latest snapshot, with ``received_mono`` (this
+        process's monotonic clock when it arrived); None when not trusted."""
+        with self._lock:
+            if not self._connected or self._snapshot is None or self._received is None:
+                return None
+            if self._clock() - self._received > self._silence:
+                return None
+            snap = dict(self._snapshot)
+            snap['received_mono'] = self._received
+            return snap
+
+    # -- lifecycle -----------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def start(self) -> 'StateSubscription':
+        if self._thread is None or not self._thread.is_alive():
+            self._stop.clear()
+            self._thread = threading.Thread(target=self._run, name='ledmatrix-state-feed',
+                                            daemon=True)
+            self._thread.start()
+        return self
+
+    def stop(self, timeout: float = 2.0) -> None:
+        self._stop.set()
+        sock = self._sock
+        if sock is not None:
+            try:
+                sock.shutdown(socket.SHUT_RDWR)
+            except OSError:
+                pass
+        thread = self._thread
+        if thread is not None and thread is not threading.current_thread():
+            thread.join(timeout)
+        self._thread = None
+
+    # -- the feed thread -----------------------------------------------------
+
+    def _run(self) -> None:
+        backoff = _RECONNECT_MIN_SECONDS
+        while not self._stop.is_set():
+            snapshots = self.snapshots
+            try:
+                self._follow()
+            except ControlError as e:
+                self.last_error = e.reason
+                if e.reason in _SLOW_RETRY_REASONS:
+                    backoff = _RECONNECT_MAX_SECONDS
+            except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                self.last_error = type(e).__name__
+            finally:
+                with self._lock:
+                    self._connected = False
+                sock, self._sock = self._sock, None
+                if sock is not None:
+                    try:
+                        sock.close()
+                    except OSError:
+                        pass
+            if self.snapshots != snapshots:
+                # This connection got as far as the display's state: whatever
+                # ended it (a restart, most often), it was working, so the
+                # next try starts from the shortest wait again.
+                backoff = _RECONNECT_MIN_SECONDS
+            if self._stop.wait(backoff):
+                return
+            backoff = min(backoff * 2, _RECONNECT_MAX_SECONDS)
+
+    def _follow(self) -> None:
+        """Subscribe, then read events until the connection ends. Raises ControlError."""
+        if not socket_supported():
+            raise ControlError('unsupported', 'no Unix sockets on this platform')
+        candidates = list(self._paths) if self._paths is not None else client_socket_paths()
+        if not candidates:
+            raise ControlError('disabled', 'the control socket is turned off')
+        request_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        payload = encode_message(Request(id=request_id, cmd=Command.STATE_SUBSCRIBE,
+                                         args={}).to_dict())
+        sock = _connect(candidates, time.monotonic() + self._connect_timeout)
+        self._sock = sock
+        try:
+            sock.settimeout(self._connect_timeout)
+            sock.sendall(payload)
+            # A read waits for the next event; the display sends one at least
+            # every keepalive, so this much silence means it is gone.
+            sock.settimeout(self._silence)
+            reader = FrameReader(MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES)
+            first = True
+            while not self._stop.is_set():
+                data = sock.recv(65536)
+                if not data:
+                    raise ControlError('closed', 'the display closed the connection')
+                for line in reader.feed(data):
+                    obj = decode_message(line)
+                    if first:
+                        response = Response.from_dict(obj)
+                        if not response.ok:
+                            error = response.error
+                            raise ControlError(error.code if error else 'bad_response',
+                                               error.message if error else '')
+                        self._store(dict(response.result or {}), full=True)
+                        first = False
+                        continue
+                    event = StateEvent.from_dict(obj)
+                    self._store(event.result, full=event.event == StateEventKind.STATE)
+        except socket.timeout:
+            raise ControlError('timeout', 'the display went quiet') from None
+        except ProtocolError as e:
+            raise ControlError('bad_response', e.message) from None
+        except OSError as e:
+            if self._stop.is_set():
+                return
+            raise ControlError('closed', str(e)) from None
+
+    def _store(self, result: Dict[str, Any], full: bool) -> None:
+        now = self._clock()
+        with self._lock:
+            if full and isinstance(result.get('state'), dict):
+                self._snapshot = result
+                self.snapshots += 1
+            elif (self._snapshot is not None
+                  and result.get('epoch') == self._snapshot.get('epoch')):
+                # A tick: nothing changed but the render loop's liveness and
+                # the volatile keys (timestamps) the writers keep refreshing.
+                snap = dict(self._snapshot)
+                state = dict(snap.get('state') or {})
+                if result.get('version') == snap.get('version'):
+                    _merge_volatile(state, result.get('volatile'))
+                loop = result.get('loop')
+                if isinstance(loop, dict):
+                    state['loop'] = loop
+                    snap['loop'] = loop
+                snap['state'] = state
+                snap['served_at'] = result.get('served_at', snap.get('served_at'))
+                self._snapshot = snap
+            else:
+                return  # a tick before any state, or from another epoch
+            self._received = now
+            self._connected = True
@@ -0,0 +1,822 @@
+"""The control socket's contract: versioned messages, framing and location.
+
+Both processes import this module -- the display serves the socket
+(:mod:`src.ipc.server`) and the web interface calls it
+(:mod:`src.ipc.client`) -- so it is the one definition of what goes over the
+wire. Standard library only, and no import of the rest of ``src``.
+
+Wire format (protocol version 1)
+--------------------------------
+One JSON object per line (newline-delimited JSON), UTF-8, at most
+:data:`MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES` per line including the newline. Messages are
+encoded with ``ensure_ascii``, so a newline never appears inside one.
+
+Request::
+
+    {"v": 1, "id": "<1-128 chars>", "cmd": "on_demand.start", "args": {...}}
+
+Response, always carrying the request's ``id`` (``null`` when the request
+could not be parsed far enough to have one)::
+
+    {"v": 1, "id": "...", "ok": true,  "result": {...}}
+    {"v": 1, "id": "...", "ok": false, "error": {"code": "...", "message": "..."}}
+
+A connection may carry several requests; each gets exactly one response, in
+order. Commands that change what the panel shows are *acknowledged*, not
+completed: ``{"accepted": true, "request_id": ...}`` means the render thread
+has the command queued and will apply it at its next on-demand check. Its
+outcome is published the way it always was (``display_on_demand_state``,
+later the state stream). A few commands (:data:`AWAITED_COMMANDS`) are
+answered only once the render thread has applied them, or with ``pending``
+when it has not within :data:`AWAIT_SECONDS`.
+
+``state.subscribe`` is the one exception to "one response per request": its
+response is followed, on the same connection, by :class:`StateEvent` lines
+the display pushes until either side hangs up. Events carry ``event``
+instead of ``ok``.
+
+New commands are added within a protocol version: a display that does not
+know one answers ``unknown_command``, the client falls back, and ``hello``
+lists the commands a display knows. The version changes only when the
+envelope or the meaning of an existing command changes.
+
+See docs/IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md for the full description.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import math
+import os
+import tempfile
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Mapping, Optional, Tuple, TypedDict, TypeGuard, Union
+
+
+# -- versions and limits -------------------------------------------------------
+
+#: The protocol version this code speaks by default.
+PROTOCOL_VERSION = 1
+
+#: Every version this code can speak; ``hello`` picks the highest common one.
+SUPPORTED_VERSIONS: Tuple[int, ...] = (1,)
+
+#: The largest message either side sends or accepts, newline included. A
+#: stage-1 message is well under 1 KiB; this only bounds a broken or hostile
+#: peer, so a reader never buffers more than this per connection.
+MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES = 64 * 1024
+
+#: Longest request id. Ids are also the on-demand ``request_id``, which the
+#: display logs and stores, so they are kept short.
+MAX_ID_LENGTH = 128
+
+#: Longest plugin id or mode name an on-demand command may carry.
+MAX_NAME_LENGTH = 128
+
+
+# -- where the socket lives ------------------------------------------------------
+
+#: ``RuntimeDirectory=ledmatrix`` in ledmatrix.service creates this (tmpfs,
+#: root-owned, 0755); a display under an older unit creates it itself, as it
+#: does for the heartbeat (src/display_watchdog.py).
+DEFAULT_SOCKET_DIR = '/run/ledmatrix'
+SOCKET_NAME = 'control.sock'
+DEFAULT_SOCKET_PATH = DEFAULT_SOCKET_DIR + '/' + SOCKET_NAME
+
+#: Overrides the socket path for both processes (a dev checkout, a second
+#: instance, tests). One of :data:`DISABLED_VALUES` turns the socket off: the
+#: display does not serve it and the web interface goes straight to the
+#: file mailbox.
+SOCKET_PATH_ENV = 'LEDMATRIX_CONTROL_SOCKET'
+DISABLED_VALUES = frozenset({'off', '0', 'false', 'no', 'none', 'disabled'})
+
+
+def socket_supported() -> bool:
+    """Whether this platform has Unix sockets at all (Windows Python does not)."""
+    import socket
+    return os.name == 'posix' and hasattr(socket, 'AF_UNIX')
+
+
+def socket_disabled(environ: Optional[Mapping[str, str]] = None) -> bool:
+    """True when :data:`SOCKET_PATH_ENV` switches the socket off."""
+    env = os.environ if environ is None else environ
+    value = (env.get(SOCKET_PATH_ENV) or '').strip()
+    return value.lower() in DISABLED_VALUES
+
+
+def configured_socket_path(environ: Optional[Mapping[str, str]] = None) -> Optional[str]:
+    """The path :data:`SOCKET_PATH_ENV` names, or None when it is unset or 'off'."""
+    env = os.environ if environ is None else environ
+    value = (env.get(SOCKET_PATH_ENV) or '').strip()
+    if not value or value.lower() in DISABLED_VALUES:
+        return None
+    return value
+
+
+def dev_socket_path(uid: Optional[int] = None) -> str:
+    """Where a display that cannot use /run/ledmatrix serves the socket.
+
+    A per-user directory under the temp dir, so a dev checkout run as an
+    ordinary user (``python3 run.py -e``) and its web interface, run by the
+    same user, find each other with no configuration.
+    """
+    if uid is None:
+        getuid = getattr(os, 'getuid', None)
+        uid = getuid() if getuid is not None else 0
+    return os.path.join(tempfile.gettempdir(), f'ledmatrix-{uid}', SOCKET_NAME)
+
+
+def client_socket_paths(environ: Optional[Mapping[str, str]] = None) -> List[str]:
+    """The paths a client tries, in order; empty when the socket is off."""
+    if socket_disabled(environ):
+        return []
+    configured = configured_socket_path(environ)
+    if configured:
+        return [configured]
+    return [DEFAULT_SOCKET_PATH, dev_socket_path()]
+
+
+# -- commands and error codes ----------------------------------------------------
+
+class Command:
+    """Command names. Dotted names group a feature's commands."""
+    HELLO = 'hello'
+    PING = 'ping'
+    ON_DEMAND_START = 'on_demand.start'
+    ON_DEMAND_STOP = 'on_demand.stop'
+    ON_DEMAND_STATUS = 'on_demand.status'
+    BRIGHTNESS_SET = 'brightness.set'
+    PLUGIN_RELOAD = 'plugin.reload'
+    STATE_GET = 'state.get'
+    STATE_SUBSCRIBE = 'state.subscribe'
+
+
+#: Every command version 1 defines, in the order ``hello`` reports them.
+#: ``brightness.set`` and ``plugin.reload`` came in stage 2, and ``state.get``
+#: and ``state.subscribe`` in stage 3, all within version 1 (see the module
+#: docstring on adding commands).
+COMMANDS: Tuple[str, ...] = (
+    Command.HELLO,
+    Command.PING,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_START,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_STOP,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_STATUS,
+    Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET,
+    Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD,
+    Command.STATE_GET,
+    Command.STATE_SUBSCRIBE,
+)
+
+#: Commands that are queued for the render thread.
+QUEUED_COMMANDS = frozenset({Command.ON_DEMAND_START, Command.ON_DEMAND_STOP,
+                             Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET, Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD})
+
+#: Queued commands whose answer waits for the render thread's outcome
+#: instead of being an ack. The value is how long the display waits before
+#: answering ``pending``; the command stays queued and is still applied.
+#: A plugin reload first lets the current screen end (within a frame on a
+#: scrolling screen, at once on a static one) and then imports the plugin,
+#: which can take a few seconds on a slow board.
+AWAIT_SECONDS: Dict[str, float] = {
+    Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET: 2.0,
+    Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD: 10.0,
+}
+AWAITED_COMMANDS = frozenset(AWAIT_SECONDS)
+
+#: The state stream (stage 3). ``state.subscribe`` turns its connection into
+#: a one-way stream of :class:`StateEvent` lines. Subscribers have their own
+#: bound, separate from the short request connections, so they can never
+#: take the slots a command needs.
+MAX_SUBSCRIBERS = 4
+
+#: A subscriber hears from the display at least this often: a ``state``
+#: event when something changed, else a ``tick`` carrying the render loop's
+#: liveness and the latest volatile timestamps. A client that has heard nothing for a few of these treats its
+#: copy as unknown.
+SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS = 5.0
+
+#: The shape of the ``state`` object in a state snapshot. Bumped only when a
+#: field changes meaning; new fields are added within a schema.
+STATE_SCHEMA = 1
+
+#: The sections of a state snapshot, in the order they are documented.
+STATE_SECTIONS: Tuple[str, ...] = ('display', 'on_demand', 'brightness', 'plugins', 'loop')
+
+#: Brightness, in percent, as the display's hardware setting takes it.
+MIN_BRIGHTNESS = 0
+MAX_BRIGHTNESS = 100
+
+
+class ErrorCode:
+    """``error.code`` values. Clients branch on these, never on the message."""
+    BAD_JSON = 'bad_json'                        # a line that is not a JSON object
+    BAD_REQUEST = 'bad_request'                  # the envelope is malformed
+    MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE = 'message_too_large'      # over MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES
+    UNSUPPORTED_VERSION = 'unsupported_version'  # no version in common
+    UNKNOWN_COMMAND = 'unknown_command'
+    INVALID_ARGS = 'invalid_args'
+    BUSY = 'busy'                                # queue full / too many clients
+    FORBIDDEN = 'forbidden'                      # peer credentials refused
+    INTERNAL = 'internal'                        # a bug on the display side
+    # From the awaited commands (stage 2):
+    PENDING = 'pending'          # accepted, not applied within AWAIT_SECONDS; still queued
+    NOT_LOADED = 'not_loaded'    # plugin.reload: the display is not running that plugin
+    FAILED = 'failed'            # the render thread tried, and it did not work
+
+
+class ProtocolError(Exception):
+    """A message that breaks the contract. ``code`` is an :class:`ErrorCode`."""
+
+    def __init__(self, code: str, message: str, request_id: Optional[str] = None):
+        super().__init__(code, message, request_id)
+        self.code = code
+        self.message = message
+        self.request_id = request_id
+
+    def __str__(self) -> str:
+        return f'{self.code}: {self.message}'
+
+
+# -- the envelope ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _is_int(value: Any) -> TypeGuard[int]:
+    return isinstance(value, int) and not isinstance(value, bool)
+
+
+def _valid_id(value: Any) -> bool:
+    return (isinstance(value, str) and 0 < len(value) <= MAX_ID_LENGTH
+            and value.isprintable())
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class Request:
+    """``{v, id, cmd, args}``."""
+    id: str
+    cmd: str
+    args: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    v: int = PROTOCOL_VERSION
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'v': self.v, 'id': self.id, 'cmd': self.cmd, 'args': dict(self.args)}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, obj: Any) -> 'Request':
+        """Validate an envelope. Raises :class:`ProtocolError`.
+
+        The version is checked by the server, not here, so that ``hello``
+        can negotiate across versions.
+        """
+        if not isinstance(obj, dict):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'a request must be a JSON object')
+        raw_id = obj.get('id')
+        request_id = raw_id if _valid_id(raw_id) else None
+        if request_id is None:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST,
+                                f'id must be a printable string of 1-{MAX_ID_LENGTH} characters')
+        version = obj.get('v')
+        if not _is_int(version):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'v must be an integer', request_id)
+        cmd = obj.get('cmd')
+        if not isinstance(cmd, str) or not cmd:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'cmd must be a non-empty string', request_id)
+        args = obj.get('args', {})
+        if args is None:
+            args = {}
+        if not isinstance(args, dict):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'args must be a JSON object', request_id)
+        return cls(id=request_id, cmd=cmd, args=args, v=version)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ErrorInfo:
+    code: str
+    message: str
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
+        return {'code': self.code, 'message': self.message}
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class Response:
+    """``{v, id, ok, result}`` or ``{v, id, ok: false, error: {code, message}}``."""
+    id: Optional[str]
+    ok: bool
+    result: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
+    error: Optional[ErrorInfo] = None
+    v: int = PROTOCOL_VERSION
+
+    @classmethod
+    def success(cls, request_id: Optional[str], result: Mapping[str, Any],
+                v: int = PROTOCOL_VERSION) -> 'Response':
+        return cls(id=request_id, ok=True, result=dict(result), v=v)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def failure(cls, request_id: Optional[str], code: str, message: str,
+                v: int = PROTOCOL_VERSION) -> 'Response':
+        return cls(id=request_id, ok=False, error=ErrorInfo(code, message), v=v)
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        out: Dict[str, Any] = {'v': self.v, 'id': self.id, 'ok': self.ok}
+        if self.ok:
+            out['result'] = dict(self.result or {})
+        else:
+            error = self.error or ErrorInfo(ErrorCode.INTERNAL, 'unknown error')
+            out['error'] = error.to_dict()
+        return out
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, obj: Any) -> 'Response':
+        """Validate a response. Raises :class:`ProtocolError` (BAD_REQUEST)."""
+        if not isinstance(obj, dict):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'a response must be a JSON object')
+        version = obj.get('v')
+        if not _is_int(version):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'v must be an integer')
+        raw_id = obj.get('id')
+        if raw_id is not None and not isinstance(raw_id, str):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'id must be a string or null')
+        ok = obj.get('ok')
+        if not isinstance(ok, bool):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'ok must be a boolean')
+        if ok:
+            result = obj.get('result', {})
+            if not isinstance(result, dict):
+                raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'result must be a JSON object')
+            return cls(id=raw_id, ok=True, result=result, v=version)
+        error = obj.get('error')
+        if (not isinstance(error, dict) or not isinstance(error.get('code'), str)
+                or not isinstance(error.get('message', ''), str)):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'error must be {code, message}')
+        return cls(id=raw_id, ok=False,
+                   error=ErrorInfo(error['code'], error.get('message', '')), v=version)
+
+
+# -- command arguments -------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _optional_name(args: Mapping[str, Any], key: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    value = args.get(key)
+    if value is None or value == '':
+        return None
+    if not isinstance(value, str) or len(value) > MAX_NAME_LENGTH or not value.isprintable():
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS,
+                            f'{key} must be a printable string of at most '
+                            f'{MAX_NAME_LENGTH} characters')
+    return value
+
+
+def _optional_duration(value: Any) -> Optional[float]:
+    """Seconds, or None for "until stopped". 0 means the same as None.
+
+    Numbers and numeric strings are accepted, the same as the REST route and
+    the file mailbox take them; anything else is refused rather than guessed.
+    """
+    if value is None or value == '':
+        return None
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'duration must be a number of seconds')
+    try:
+        seconds = float(value)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS,
+                            'duration must be a number of seconds') from None
+    if not math.isfinite(seconds) or seconds < 0:
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS,
+                            'duration must be a finite, non-negative number of seconds')
+    return seconds or None
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class HelloArgs:
+    """``hello``: the versions the client speaks, and a name for the logs."""
+    versions: Tuple[int, ...] = (PROTOCOL_VERSION,)
+    client: str = ''
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'versions': list(self.versions), 'client': self.client}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'HelloArgs':
+        versions = args.get('versions', [PROTOCOL_VERSION])
+        if (not isinstance(versions, list) or not versions or len(versions) > 32
+                or not all(_is_int(v) for v in versions)):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'versions must be a list of integers')
+        client = args.get('client', '')
+        if not isinstance(client, str) or len(client) > MAX_NAME_LENGTH:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'client must be a short string')
+        return cls(versions=tuple(versions), client=client)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class OnDemandStartArgs:
+    """``on_demand.start``: show a plugin (or one of its modes) now.
+
+    The same fields the file mailbox carries. At least one of ``plugin_id``
+    and ``mode`` is required; the display resolves the other.
+    """
+    plugin_id: Optional[str] = None
+    mode: Optional[str] = None
+    duration: Optional[float] = None
+    pinned: bool = False
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'plugin_id': self.plugin_id, 'mode': self.mode,
+                'duration': self.duration, 'pinned': self.pinned}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'OnDemandStartArgs':
+        plugin_id = _optional_name(args, 'plugin_id')
+        mode = _optional_name(args, 'mode')
+        if plugin_id is None and mode is None:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'plugin_id or mode is required')
+        pinned = args.get('pinned', False)
+        if pinned is None:
+            pinned = False
+        if not isinstance(pinned, bool):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'pinned must be a boolean')
+        return cls(plugin_id=plugin_id, mode=mode,
+                   duration=_optional_duration(args.get('duration')), pinned=pinned)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class OnDemandStopArgs:
+    """``on_demand.stop``: end the on-demand session and resume rotation."""
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'OnDemandStopArgs':
+        return cls()
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class NoArgs:
+    """``ping`` and ``on_demand.status`` take no arguments (extra ones are ignored)."""
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'NoArgs':
+        return cls()
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class BrightnessSetArgs:
+    """``brightness.set``: the panel's normal brightness, in percent, now.
+
+    Transient: nothing is written to config.json, and the next config change
+    the display picks up (or a restart) goes back to the configured value.
+    The web interface sends it after saving the setting, so the two agree.
+    The dim schedule still applies on top, as it does to the saved value.
+    """
+    brightness: int
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'brightness': self.brightness}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'BrightnessSetArgs':
+        value = args.get('brightness')
+        if not _is_int(value) or not MIN_BRIGHTNESS <= value <= MAX_BRIGHTNESS:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS,
+                                f'brightness must be an integer from {MIN_BRIGHTNESS} '
+                                f'to {MAX_BRIGHTNESS}')
+        return cls(brightness=value)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class PluginReloadArgs:
+    """``plugin.reload``: load a running plugin again from disk.
+
+    For a plugin the store has just updated. Only a plugin the display is
+    running can be reloaded (``not_loaded`` otherwise), so the id never
+    makes the display import anything it was not already running.
+    """
+    plugin_id: str
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'plugin_id': self.plugin_id}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'PluginReloadArgs':
+        plugin_id = _optional_name(args, 'plugin_id')
+        if plugin_id is None:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, 'plugin_id is required')
+        return cls(plugin_id=plugin_id)
+
+
+def _optional_version(args: Mapping[str, Any], key: str) -> Optional[int]:
+    value = args.get(key)
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+    if not _is_int(value) or value < 0:
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS, f'{key} must be a non-negative integer')
+    return value
+
+
+def _optional_epoch(args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> Optional[str]:
+    value = args.get('epoch')
+    if value is None or value == '':
+        return None
+    if not _valid_id(value):
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.INVALID_ARGS,
+                            f'epoch must be a printable string of 1-{MAX_ID_LENGTH} characters')
+    return str(value)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class StateGetArgs:
+    """``state.get``: the display's state, as a versioned snapshot.
+
+    With ``since`` and the ``epoch`` it came from, the answer is only
+    ``{changed: false, version, epoch, served_at, loop, volatile}`` while the
+    state is still at that version, so a poller that already has it is sent
+    no state -- only the latest values of the keys that do not count as a
+    change (``volatile``, see :class:`StateSnapshot`).
+    """
+    since: Optional[int] = None
+    epoch: Optional[str] = None
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'since': self.since, 'epoch': self.epoch}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'StateGetArgs':
+        return cls(since=_optional_version(args, 'since'), epoch=_optional_epoch(args))
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class StateSubscribeArgs:
+    """``state.subscribe``: the snapshot now, then a push stream of changes.
+
+    The response is the snapshot ``state.get`` returns. After it the
+    connection carries only :class:`StateEvent` lines from the display: a
+    ``state`` event whenever the state changes (always the latest version,
+    so a reader that falls behind skips versions instead of queueing them),
+    and a ``tick`` at least every :data:`SUBSCRIBE_KEEPALIVE_SECONDS`.
+    """
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> 'StateSubscribeArgs':
+        return cls()
+
+
+CommandArgs = Union[HelloArgs, OnDemandStartArgs, OnDemandStopArgs, NoArgs,
+                    BrightnessSetArgs, PluginReloadArgs, StateGetArgs, StateSubscribeArgs]
+
+#: The arguments of a command that goes on the render thread's queue.
+QueuedArgs = Union[OnDemandStartArgs, OnDemandStopArgs, BrightnessSetArgs, PluginReloadArgs]
+
+_ARG_TYPES: Dict[str, Any] = {
+    Command.HELLO: HelloArgs,
+    Command.PING: NoArgs,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_START: OnDemandStartArgs,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_STOP: OnDemandStopArgs,
+    Command.ON_DEMAND_STATUS: NoArgs,
+    Command.BRIGHTNESS_SET: BrightnessSetArgs,
+    Command.PLUGIN_RELOAD: PluginReloadArgs,
+    Command.STATE_GET: StateGetArgs,
+    Command.STATE_SUBSCRIBE: StateSubscribeArgs,
+}
+
+
+def parse_args(cmd: str, args: Mapping[str, Any]) -> CommandArgs:
+    """Typed arguments for ``cmd``. Raises :class:`ProtocolError`."""
+    arg_type = _ARG_TYPES.get(cmd)
+    if arg_type is None:
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.UNKNOWN_COMMAND, f'unknown command: {cmd[:64]}')
+    parsed: CommandArgs = arg_type.from_dict(args)
+    return parsed
+
+
+def on_demand_request(request_id: str, args: Union[OnDemandStartArgs, OnDemandStopArgs],
+                      timestamp: float) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """The file-mailbox payload for a queued on-demand command.
+
+    The display hands socket commands to the same code that handles the
+    mailbox (``DisplayController._handle_on_demand_request``), so a command
+    behaves identically whichever way it arrived, and a request that came
+    both ways (a client that timed out and fell back) is processed once: the
+    request id is the same.
+    """
+    if isinstance(args, OnDemandStartArgs):
+        return {'request_id': request_id, 'action': 'start', 'plugin_id': args.plugin_id,
+                'mode': args.mode, 'duration': args.duration, 'pinned': args.pinned,
+                'timestamp': timestamp, 'source': 'socket'}
+    return {'request_id': request_id, 'action': 'stop', 'timestamp': timestamp,
+            'source': 'socket'}
+
+
+# -- results -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class HelloResult(TypedDict):
+    version: int
+    versions: List[int]
+    commands: List[str]
+    max_message_bytes: int
+    server: str
+
+
+class PingResult(TypedDict):
+    pong: bool
+
+
+class AckResult(TypedDict):
+    """The answer to a queued command: the render thread will apply it."""
+    accepted: bool
+    request_id: str
+    queued: int
+
+
+class BrightnessResult(TypedDict):
+    """``brightness.set``, once applied.
+
+    ``panel_brightness`` is what the panel shows now: the dim schedule's
+    level while it dims, and unchanged while the schedule has the display
+    off (the new level applies when it comes back on).
+    """
+    brightness: int
+    panel_brightness: int
+    dimmed: bool
+    display_active: bool
+
+
+class PluginReloadResult(TypedDict):
+    """``plugin.reload``, once the plugin is running again."""
+    plugin_id: str
+    reloaded: bool
+    version: Optional[str]
+    modes: List[str]
+
+
+class LoopState(TypedDict):
+    """``loop``: is the render loop still going round?
+
+    ``heartbeat_age_seconds`` is the age of the render thread's last beat,
+    measured in memory by the display when it answered -- the same beat that
+    writes ``display-heartbeat.json``. None until the loop has drawn its first
+    frame. At ``stale_after`` or more the loop is stalled: the threshold
+    ``/api/v3/health`` uses.
+    """
+    heartbeat_age_seconds: Optional[float]
+    armed: bool
+    stale_after: float
+
+
+class StateSnapshot(TypedDict, total=False):
+    """The answer to ``state.get`` and ``state.subscribe``, and the
+    ``result`` of a ``state`` event.
+
+    ``version`` counts changes to the state within one ``epoch`` (one run of
+    the display process): a reader that sees a new epoch starts over.
+    ``changed`` is False only for a ``state.get`` whose ``since`` is still
+    current, and then ``state`` is absent and ``volatile`` is there instead:
+    ``{section: {key: value}}``, the current values of the keys the version
+    ignores (``display.last_updated``, ``on_demand.last_updated`` and
+    ``remaining``, ``plugins.published_at``). A reader merges them into the
+    copy it has; they are how it can tell the writers are still publishing.
+    ``served_at`` is the display's wall clock when it answered. ``loop`` is
+    measured at that moment, so it is also inside ``state``.
+
+    ``state`` holds the sections in :data:`STATE_SECTIONS`:
+
+    * ``display``: what ``display_current_state`` holds (mode, plugin_id,
+      mode_index, total_modes, on_demand_active, is_display_active,
+      last_updated);
+    * ``on_demand``: what ``display_on_demand_state`` holds;
+    * ``brightness``: ``{brightness, panel_brightness, dimmed}``;
+    * ``plugins``: the plugin runtime snapshot (``plugin_runtime_snapshot``),
+      or None when there is none (or it was too large to send);
+    * ``loop``: :class:`LoopState`.
+
+    A section the display has not published yet is None.
+    """
+    schema: int
+    version: int
+    epoch: str
+    pid: int
+    served_at: float
+    changed: bool
+    state: Dict[str, Any]
+    volatile: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]]
+    loop: LoopState
+
+
+class StateEventKind:
+    STATE = 'state'   # result: a full StateSnapshot, the latest version
+    TICK = 'tick'     # result: {version, epoch, pid, served_at, loop, volatile}; nothing changed
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class StateEvent:
+    """One message the display pushes to a subscriber.
+
+    ``{"v": 1, "id": "<the subscribe request's id>", "event": "state" | "tick",
+    "result": {...}}``. It has no ``ok``, which is how a reader tells it from
+    a response.
+    """
+    id: str
+    event: str
+    result: Dict[str, Any]
+    v: int = PROTOCOL_VERSION
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {'v': self.v, 'id': self.id, 'event': self.event, 'result': dict(self.result)}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_dict(cls, obj: Any) -> 'StateEvent':
+        """Validate an event. Raises :class:`ProtocolError` (BAD_REQUEST)."""
+        if not isinstance(obj, dict):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'an event must be a JSON object')
+        version = obj.get('v')
+        if not _is_int(version):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'v must be an integer')
+        raw_id = obj.get('id')
+        if not isinstance(raw_id, str):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'id must be a string')
+        event = obj.get('event')
+        if event not in (StateEventKind.STATE, StateEventKind.TICK):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'event must be "state" or "tick"')
+        result = obj.get('result')
+        if not isinstance(result, dict):
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, 'result must be a JSON object')
+        return cls(id=raw_id, event=event, result=result, v=version)
+
+
+def is_event(obj: Any) -> bool:
+    """Whether a decoded message is a pushed event rather than a response."""
+    return isinstance(obj, dict) and 'event' in obj and 'ok' not in obj
+
+
+def negotiate_version(client_versions: Tuple[int, ...]) -> Optional[int]:
+    """The highest version both sides speak, or None."""
+    common = set(client_versions) & set(SUPPORTED_VERSIONS)
+    return max(common) if common else None
+
+
+# -- framing -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def encode_message(obj: Mapping[str, Any]) -> bytes:
+    """One newline-terminated JSON line. Raises :class:`ProtocolError` when too big."""
+    try:
+        text = json.dumps(obj, separators=(',', ':'), ensure_ascii=True, allow_nan=False)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_REQUEST, f'message is not JSON-serialisable: {e}') from None
+    data = text.encode('ascii') + b'\n'
+    if len(data) > MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES:
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE,
+                            f'message is {len(data)} bytes; the limit is {MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES}')
+    return data
+
+
+def decode_message(line: bytes) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """Parse one line (newline optional). Raises :class:`ProtocolError` (BAD_JSON)."""
+    try:
+        obj = json.loads(line.decode('utf-8'))
+    except ValueError:  # UnicodeDecodeError and JSONDecodeError are both ValueErrors
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_JSON, 'not valid UTF-8 JSON') from None
+    if not isinstance(obj, dict):
+        raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.BAD_JSON, 'a message must be a JSON object')
+    return obj
+
+
+class FrameReader:
+    """Splits a byte stream into lines, never holding more than one message.
+
+    ``feed()`` returns the complete lines (without their newlines) the new
+    bytes finished, and raises :class:`ProtocolError` (MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE) as
+    soon as a line is longer than the limit, newline or not, so a peer that
+    never sends one cannot make the reader buffer without bound.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, max_bytes: int = MAX_MESSAGE_BYTES):
+        self._max = max_bytes
+        self._buffer = bytearray()
+
+    @property
+    def pending(self) -> int:
+        """Bytes of an unfinished message held."""
+        return len(self._buffer)
+
+    def feed(self, data: bytes) -> List[bytes]:
+        self._buffer.extend(data)
+        lines: List[bytes] = []
+        while True:
+            newline = self._buffer.find(b'\n')
+            if newline < 0:
+                break
+            if newline + 1 > self._max:
+                raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE,
+                                    f'message exceeds {self._max} bytes')
+            line = bytes(self._buffer[:newline])
+            del self._buffer[:newline + 1]
+            if line.strip():
+                lines.append(line)
+        if len(self._buffer) >= self._max:
+            raise ProtocolError(ErrorCode.MESSAGE_TOO_LARGE,
+                                f'message exceeds {self._max} bytes')
+        return lines
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from PIL.PngImagePlugin import PngInfo
 from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
 from urllib3.util.retry import Retry
 from src.common.api_helper import DEFAULT_HTTP_HEADERS
+from src.common.json_body import response_json
 from src.common.logo_helper import MAX_LOGO_BYTES
 from src.common.permission_utils import (
    ensure_directory_permissions,
@@ -481,7 +482,7 @@ class LogoDownloader:
            logger.info(f"Fetching team data for {league} from ESPN API...")
            response = self.session.get(api_url, params={'limit':1000},headers=self.headers, timeout=self.request_timeout)
            response.raise_for_status()
-            data: Dict = response.json()
+            data: Dict = response_json(response)
            
            logger.info(f"Successfully fetched team data for {league}")
            return data
@@ -505,7 +506,7 @@ class LogoDownloader:
            logger.info(f"Fetching team data for team {team_id} in {league} from ESPN API...")
            response = self.session.get(f"{api_url}/{team_id}", headers=self.headers, timeout=self.request_timeout)
            response.raise_for_status()
-            data: Dict = response.json()
+            data: Dict = response_json(response)
            
            logger.info(f"Successfully fetched team data for {team_id} in {league}")
            return data
@@ -3,15 +3,46 @@ LEDMatrix Plugin System

 This module provides the core plugin infrastructure for the LEDMatrix project.
 It enables dynamic loading, management, and discovery of display plugins.
+
+BasePlugin and PluginManager are imported on first use (PEP 562), not when
+the package is imported: the web interface imports several submodules
+(store_manager, schema_manager, ...) and never needs PluginManager, which
+pulls in the loader, executor and the shared helpers behind them.
+``from src.plugin_system import BasePlugin`` works as before and returns the
+same class.
 """

+import importlib
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, List, Tuple
+
 __version__ = "1.0.0"

-from .base_plugin import BasePlugin
-from .plugin_manager import PluginManager
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .base_plugin import BasePlugin
+    from .plugin_manager import PluginManager
+
+#: Exported name -> (module it lives in, attribute name there).
+_LAZY: Dict[str, Tuple[str, str]] = {
+    'BasePlugin': ('src.plugin_system.base_plugin', 'BasePlugin'),
+    'PluginManager': ('src.plugin_system.plugin_manager', 'PluginManager'),
+}

 __all__ = [
    'BasePlugin',
    'PluginManager',
 ]

+
+def __getattr__(name: str) -> Any:
+    """Import an exported name on first access (PEP 562); see src.common."""
+    try:
+        module_name, attr = _LAZY[name]
+    except KeyError:
+        raise AttributeError(f"module {__name__!r} has no attribute {name!r}") from None
+    value = getattr(importlib.import_module(module_name), attr)  # nosemgrep: python.lang.security.audit.non-literal-import.non-literal-import -- module_name comes from the fixed _LAZY table
+    globals()[name] = value
+    return value
+
+
+def __dir__() -> List[str]:
+    return sorted(set(globals()) | set(__all__))
@@ -0,0 +1,740 @@
+"""
+One field model for a plugin's config form, built from its schema and config.
+
+Today a plugin's settings form is drawn by the ``render_field`` macro in
+``web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html``: about 1,100 lines
+of Jinja that walk the schema, pick a control per property (or hand it to a
+JS widget through an inline ``<script>``) and post flat dotted form keys that
+the server rebuilds into JSON. The JS widgets duplicate much of that, and the
+two drift.
+
+:func:`build_field_model` walks the schema once, the way the macro does, and
+returns a plain, JSON-serialisable tree describing every field: its dotted
+path, label, help, widget, starting value, default, constraints and options,
+and -- so that the model is provably complete before anything renders from
+it -- the exact form controls the macro emits for it today (``inputs``) and
+the JS widget it mounts (``mount``). ``test/test_field_model_parity.py``
+renders the real macro for every plugin schema it can find and checks that
+the names and starting values of those controls match the model exactly.
+
+Nothing renders from this yet. The plan (docs/WEB_FRONTEND_ARCHITECTURE.md):
+one ES-module renderer walks this model and mounts every field through the
+widget registry, the form posts JSON to the existing JSON save path, and the
+macro and the dotted-key reconstruction retire.
+
+The model mirrors the macro's behaviour, quirks included (an enum check runs
+before a number's, a list-typed ``type`` uses its first entry, a number whose
+default is ``null`` renders the text ``None``), because parity is the point of
+this stage. Fixing those is a renderer change for later, made once in one
+place.
+
+Shape (all keys always present unless noted)::
+
+    {
+      "version": 1,
+      "plugin_id": "...",
+      "rendered_sections": ["key", ...],   # the __rendered_section hidden inputs
+      "fields": [Field, ...],              # basic tier, in form order
+      "advanced_fields": [Field, ...],     # flat "x-advanced": true fields
+      "schemaless": false,                 # true: no schema, fields from config
+    }
+
+    Field = {
+      "key", "path", "id", "label", "help",
+      "type":      the macro's field type (first entry of a list type),
+      "widget":    what draws it: checkbox, select, number, text, csv-text,
+                   section, schedule-picker, time-range, style-editor,
+                   toggle-switch, slider, number-input, file-upload,
+                   checkbox-group, google-calendar-picker, day-selector,
+                   custom-feeds, array-table, color-picker, json-file-manager,
+                   any string widget the macro mounts (text-input, ...), or a
+                   plugin-supplied x-widget,
+      "x_widget":  the schema's x-widget, or None,
+      "value":     the value the form starts with,
+      "default":   the schema default (key absent when the schema has none),
+      "secret":    true for "x-secret" fields,
+      "advanced":  true in the Advanced Settings section,
+      "constraints": {minimum, maximum, ...} as declared,
+      "options":   [{"value", "label"}] for selects and checkbox groups,
+      "inputs":    [Input, ...] form controls the server renders,
+      "mount":     {"widget", "name", "value", "config", "plugin_widget"} or None,
+      "children":  [Field, ...] for sections (and a style-editor's fallback),
+      "columns" / "rows" / "max_items" for array-table and custom-feeds,
+      "stale_values" for checkbox groups, "error" for a mis-declared widget,
+    }
+
+    Input = {"name", "control", "value", "encoding"[, "checked"][, "options"]}
+      control:  hidden | text | number | url | date | time | checkbox | select
+      encoding: how ``value`` is written into the HTML today --
+                text  str(value)                  json  JSON text
+                csv   ", ".join(str(item))        bool  "true"/"false"
+                For a checkbox, ``value`` is its value attribute and
+                ``checked`` its state; for a select, ``value`` is the option
+                the browser submits and ``options`` the option values.
+
+Secret fields: pass the config *after* ``mask_secret_fields`` (as the route
+does); the model copies values verbatim.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import re
+from typing import Any, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, Tuple
+
+FIELD_MODEL_VERSION = 1
+
+#: String x-widgets the macro mounts as JS widgets (plugin_config.html's
+#: ``str_widget in [...]`` list). Any other x-widget on a string is a
+#: plugin-supplied widget, loaded through ensureWidget over a text fallback.
+STRING_WIDGETS = (
+    'text-input', 'textarea', 'select-dropdown', 'toggle-switch', 'radio-group',
+    'date-picker', 'time-picker', 'slider', 'color-picker', 'email-input',
+    'url-input', 'password-input', 'font-selector', 'file-upload-single',
+    'plugin-file-manager', 'google-oauth',
+)
+
+_CONSTRAINT_KEYS = (
+    'minimum', 'maximum', 'exclusiveMinimum', 'exclusiveMaximum', 'multipleOf',
+    'minLength', 'maxLength', 'pattern', 'format', 'minItems', 'maxItems',
+    'uniqueItems',
+)
+
+_MISSING = object()
+
+
+# ── Jinja semantics the macro relies on ─────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _is_string(value: Any) -> bool:
+    return isinstance(value, str)
+
+
+def _is_iterable(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """Jinja's ``is iterable``: anything ``iter()`` accepts (dicts included)."""
+    try:
+        iter(value)
+    except TypeError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _is_list_like(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """``value is iterable and value is not string``."""
+    return value is not None and _is_iterable(value) and not _is_string(value)
+
+
+_WORD_SPLIT = re.compile(r'([-\s({\[<]+)')
+
+
+def _title(text: Any) -> str:
+    """Jinja's ``title`` filter (not str.title: it keeps "2xl" lower case)."""
+    return ''.join(
+        item[0].upper() + item[1:].lower()
+        for item in _WORD_SPLIT.split(str(text)) if item)
+
+
+def _humanise(key: Any) -> str:
+    """``key|replace('_', ' ')|title``."""
+    return _title(str(key).replace('_', ' '))
+
+
+def _x_options(prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return prop.get('x-options') or prop.get('x_options') or {}
+
+
+def _x_widget(prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Optional[str]:
+    return prop.get('x-widget') or prop.get('x_widget')
+
+
+def is_hidden(prop: Any) -> bool:
+    """The macro's ``prop_is_hidden``: "x-display": "hidden", or an object
+    whose every child is hidden."""
+    if not isinstance(prop, dict):
+        return False
+    if prop.get('x-display') == 'hidden':
+        return True
+    children = prop.get('properties')
+    if isinstance(children, dict) and children:
+        return all(is_hidden(child) for child in children.values())
+    return False
+
+
+def field_type(prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
+    """The macro's field type: a string ``type``, the first entry of a list
+    ``type`` (so ``["null", "integer"]`` is ``"null"``), else ``"string"``.
+
+    Usually a string; a malformed list type hands back whatever its first
+    entry is, as the macro does."""
+    declared = prop.get('type')
+    if _is_string(declared):
+        return declared
+    if declared and _is_list_like(declared):
+        return next(iter(declared))
+    return 'string'
+
+
+def _column_type(col_def: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
+    """array-table's column type: the first non-"null" entry of a list type."""
+    raw = col_def.get('type', 'string')
+    if _is_list_like(raw):
+        rest = [entry for entry in raw if entry != 'null']
+        return rest[0] if rest and rest[0] else 'string'
+    return raw or 'string'
+
+
+def _array_value(value: Any, prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
+    """The value most array widgets draw: the stored list, else a list
+    default, else []."""
+    if _is_list_like(value):
+        return value
+    default = prop.get('default', _MISSING)
+    if default is not _MISSING and _is_list_like(default):
+        return default
+    return []
+
+
+def _constraints(prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {key: prop[key] for key in _CONSTRAINT_KEYS if key in prop}
+
+
+def _input(name: str, control: str, value: Any, encoding: str = 'text',
+           **extra: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    item = {'name': name, 'control': control, 'value': value, 'encoding': encoding}
+    item.update(extra)
+    return item
+
+
+def _select_value(options: List[Any], matches: List[Any]) -> Any:
+    """What a single <select> submits: the last selected option, else the first."""
+    if matches:
+        return matches[-1]
+    return options[0] if options else None
+
+
+# ── fields ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _base_node(key: str, prop: Dict[str, Any], value: Any, full_key: str,
+               plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    node: Dict[str, Any] = {
+        'key': key,
+        'path': full_key,
+        'id': f"{plugin_id}-{full_key}".replace('.', '-').replace('_', '-'),
+        'label': prop.get('title') or _humanise(key),
+        'help': prop.get('description') or '',
+        'type': field_type(prop),
+        'widget': None,
+        'x_widget': _x_widget(prop),
+        'value': value,
+        'secret': bool(prop.get('x-secret')),
+        'advanced': False,
+        'constraints': _constraints(prop),
+        'options': [],
+        'inputs': [],
+        'mount': None,
+        'children': [],
+    }
+    if 'default' in prop:
+        node['default'] = prop['default']
+    return node
+
+
+def _mount(widget: str, name: Optional[str], value: Any,
+           config: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
+           plugin_widget: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {'widget': widget, 'name': name, 'value': value,
+            'config': config or {}, 'plugin_widget': plugin_widget}
+
+
+def _build_field(key: str, prop: Any, value: Any, prefix: str,
+                 plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """``render_field``: one property, or None when the macro draws nothing."""
+    if not isinstance(prop, dict) or is_hidden(prop):
+        return None
+    # A key the saved config doesn't have renders its schema default.
+    if value is None and 'default' in prop:
+        value = prop['default']
+    full_key = f"{prefix}.{key}" if prefix else key
+    node = _base_node(key, prop, value, full_key, plugin_id)
+    ftype = node['type']
+
+    if ftype == 'object':
+        return _object_field(node, key, prop, value, prefix, full_key, plugin_id)
+    if ftype == 'boolean':
+        _boolean_field(node, prop, value, full_key)
+    elif prop.get('enum'):
+        _enum_field(node, prop, value, full_key)
+    elif ftype in ('number', 'integer'):
+        _number_field(node, prop, value, full_key, ftype)
+    elif ftype == 'array':
+        _array_field(node, prop, value, full_key, plugin_id)
+    else:
+        _string_field(node, prop, value, full_key, ftype)
+    return node
+
+
+def _object_field(node: Dict[str, Any], key: str, prop: Dict[str, Any], value: Any,
+                  prefix: str, full_key: str, plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    widget = _x_widget(prop)
+    obj_value = value if value is not None else {}
+    if widget in ('schedule-picker', 'time-range'):
+        node['widget'] = widget
+        node['value'] = obj_value
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'hidden', obj_value, 'json'))
+        node['mount'] = _mount(widget, None, obj_value, {'x-options': _x_options(prop)})
+        return node
+    if widget == 'style-editor':
+        # The widget renders its own inputs under full_key; until it loads,
+        # and wherever it declines a block, the nested section is the form.
+        node['widget'] = 'style-editor'
+        node['value'] = obj_value
+        node['mount'] = _mount('style-editor', full_key, obj_value, {'schema': prop})
+        node['children'] = [_section(key, prop, value, prefix, plugin_id)]
+        return node
+    if prop.get('properties'):
+        return _section(key, prop, value, prefix, plugin_id)
+    return None  # an object with no properties and no widget draws nothing
+
+
+def _section(key: str, prop: Dict[str, Any], value: Any, prefix: str,
+             plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """``render_nested_section``: a collapsible block of child fields."""
+    full_key = f"{prefix}.{key}" if prefix else key
+    # Only a dict can be looked into; a legacy boolean is the block's
+    # `enabled` switch (schema_manager.legacy_bool_as_object).
+    properties = prop.get('properties') or {}
+    if isinstance(value, dict):
+        nested_value = value
+    elif isinstance(value, bool) and 'enabled' in properties:
+        nested_value = {'enabled': value}
+    else:
+        nested_value = {}
+    node = _base_node(key, prop, nested_value, full_key, plugin_id)
+    node['widget'] = 'section'
+    node['id'] = f"{plugin_id}-section-{full_key}".replace('.', '-').replace('_', '-')
+    order = prop['x-propertyOrder'] if 'x-propertyOrder' in prop else list(properties.keys())
+    for nested_key in order:
+        if nested_key in properties and not is_hidden(properties[nested_key]):
+            child = _build_field(nested_key, properties[nested_key],
+                                 nested_value[nested_key] if nested_key in nested_value else None,
+                                 full_key, plugin_id)
+            if child is not None:
+                node['children'].append(child)
+    return node
+
+
+def _boolean_field(node, prop, value, full_key):
+    if _x_widget(prop) == 'toggle-switch':
+        node['widget'] = 'toggle-switch'
+        node['mount'] = _mount('toggle-switch', full_key,
+                               value if value is not None else False,
+                               {'type': 'boolean', 'x-options': _x_options(prop)})
+    else:
+        node['widget'] = 'checkbox'
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'checkbox', 'true', checked=bool(value)))
+
+
+def _enum_field(node, prop, value, full_key):
+    options = list(prop['enum'])
+    labels = _x_options(prop).get('labels') or {}
+    node['widget'] = 'select'
+    node['options'] = [{'value': option,
+                        'label': labels.get(option, _humanise(option))
+                        if _hashable(option) else _humanise(option)}
+                       for option in options]
+    posted = _select_value(options, [option for option in options if value == option])
+    node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'select', posted, options=options))
+
+
+def _hashable(value: Any) -> bool:
+    try:
+        hash(value)
+    except TypeError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
+def _number_field(node, prop, value, full_key, ftype):
+    widget = _x_widget(prop)
+    if widget in ('slider', 'number-input'):
+        node['widget'] = widget
+        node['mount'] = _mount(widget, full_key, value, {
+            'type': ftype,
+            'minimum': prop.get('minimum'),
+            'maximum': prop.get('maximum'),
+            'x-options': _x_options(prop),
+        })
+    else:
+        node['widget'] = 'number'
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'number', _text_value(value, prop)))
+
+
+def _text_value(value: Any, prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
+    """``value if value is not none else (prop.default if defined else '')``."""
+    if value is not None:
+        return value
+    return prop['default'] if 'default' in prop else ''
+
+
+def _array_field(node, prop, value, full_key, plugin_id):
+    items = prop.get('items') or {}
+    widget = _x_widget(prop) or (
+        'array-table' if (items.get('type') == 'object' and items.get('properties')) else None)
+
+    if widget == 'file-upload':
+        upload = prop.get('x-upload-config') or {}
+        images = _array_value(value, prop)
+        node.update(widget='file-upload', value=images)
+        node['constraints'].update({
+            'max_files': upload.get('max_files', 10),
+            'allowed_types': upload.get('allowed_types',
+                                        ['image/png', 'image/jpeg', 'image/bmp', 'image/gif']),
+            'max_size_mb': upload.get('max_size_mb', 5),
+            'plugin_id': upload.get('plugin_id', plugin_id),
+            'endpoint': upload.get('endpoint', '/api/v3/plugins/assets/upload'),
+            'file_type': upload.get('file_type', 'image'),
+        })
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'hidden', images, 'json'))
+    elif widget == 'checkbox-group':
+        _checkbox_group(node, prop, value, full_key)
+    elif widget == 'google-calendar-picker':
+        selected = _calendar_value(value, prop)
+        node.update(widget=widget, value=selected)
+        node['mount'] = _mount(widget, full_key, selected, {})
+    elif widget == 'day-selector':
+        days = _array_value(value, prop)
+        node.update(widget=widget, value=days)
+        node['mount'] = _mount(widget, full_key, days, {'x-options': _x_options(prop)})
+    elif widget == 'custom-feeds':
+        _custom_feeds(node, prop, value, full_key, items)
+    elif widget == 'array-table':
+        _array_table(node, prop, value, full_key, items)
+    elif widget == 'color-picker':
+        _color_picker(node, prop, value, full_key)
+    else:
+        # The comma-separated text input; any other x-widget lands here too.
+        default = prop.get('default', _MISSING)
+        values = value if value is not None else ([] if default is _MISSING else default)
+        node.update(widget='csv-text', value=values)
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'text',
+                                     values if _is_list_like(values) else '',
+                                     'csv' if _is_list_like(values) else 'text'))
+
+
+def _checkbox_group(node, prop, value, full_key):
+    selected = _array_value(value, prop)
+    items = prop.get('items') or {}
+    options = items.get('enum') or []
+    labels = (prop.get('x-options') or {}).get('labels') or {}
+    # A saved value that is no longer an option is dropped (and reported), so
+    # the save does not fail validation on a value nobody can see.
+    stale = [v for v in selected if v not in options] if options else []
+    if options:
+        selected = [v for v in selected if v in options]
+    node.update(widget='checkbox-group', value=selected, stale_values=stale)
+    node['options'] = [{'value': option,
+                        'label': labels.get(option, _humanise(option))
+                        if _hashable(option) else _humanise(option)}
+                       for option in options]
+    for option in options:
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{full_key}[]", 'checkbox', option,
+                                     checked=option in selected))
+    node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{full_key}_data", 'hidden', selected, 'json'))
+    # Sentinel: posts the field even when every box is unchecked.
+    node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{full_key}[]", 'hidden', ''))
+
+
+def _calendar_value(value: Any, prop: Dict[str, Any]) -> Any:
+    """google-calendar-picker accepts a legacy comma-separated string."""
+    if value is not None and _is_string(value) and value:
+        return [part.strip() for part in value.split(',')]
+    if _is_list_like(value):
+        return value
+    default = prop.get('default', _MISSING)
+    if default is not _MISSING and _is_string(default) and default:
+        return [part.strip() for part in default.split(',')]
+    if default is not _MISSING and _is_list_like(default):
+        return default
+    return []
+
+
+def _custom_feeds(node, prop, value, full_key, items):
+    node['widget'] = 'custom-feeds'
+    item_properties = items.get('properties', {})
+    if not (item_properties.get('name') and item_properties.get('url')):
+        node['error'] = "Custom feeds widget requires 'name' and 'url' properties in items schema."
+        return
+    feeds = _array_value(value, prop)
+    node.update(value=feeds, rows=feeds, max_items=prop.get('maxItems', 50))
+    for index, item in enumerate(feeds):
+        base = f"{full_key}.{index}"
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.name", 'text', item.get('name', '')))
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.url", 'url', item.get('url', '')))
+        logo = item.get('logo') or {}
+        logo_path = logo.get('path', '')
+        if logo_path:
+            node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.logo.path", 'hidden', logo_path))
+            if logo.get('id'):
+                node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.logo.id", 'hidden', logo.get('id')))
+        enabled = bool(item.get('enabled', True))
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.enabled", 'hidden', enabled, 'bool'))
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.enabled", 'checkbox', 'true', checked=enabled))
+
+
+def _table_columns(prop: Dict[str, Any], item_properties: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[str]:
+    """x-columns minus hidden ones, else the first four simple properties."""
+    x_columns = prop.get('x-columns')
+    if x_columns:
+        return [name for name in x_columns if not is_hidden(item_properties.get(name))]
+    columns: List[str] = []
+    for name, col_def in item_properties.items():
+        if (col_def.get('type') not in ['object', 'array'] and len(columns) < 4
+                and not is_hidden(col_def)):
+            columns.append(name)
+    return columns
+
+
+def _array_table(node, prop, value, full_key, items):
+    item_properties = items.get('properties', {})
+    rows = _array_value(value, prop)
+    columns = _table_columns(prop, item_properties)
+    advanced = {k: v for k, v in item_properties.items()
+                if k not in columns and k != 'id' and not is_hidden(v)}
+    node.update(widget='array-table', value=rows, rows=rows,
+                max_items=prop.get('maxItems', 50))
+    node['columns'] = [{
+        'key': name,
+        'label': (item_properties.get(name) or {}).get('title', _humanise(name)),
+        'type': _column_type(item_properties.get(name) or {}),
+        'x_widget': ((item_properties.get(name) or {}).get('x-widget')
+                     or (item_properties.get(name) or {}).get('x_widget', '')),
+    } for name in columns]
+    node['advanced_columns'] = list(advanced)
+
+    for index, item in enumerate(rows):
+        base = f"{full_key}.{index}"
+        for name in columns:
+            node['inputs'].extend(_table_cell(f"{base}.{name}", item_properties.get(name, {}),
+                                              item.get(name, item_properties.get(name, {}).get('default', ''))))
+        # Hidden item properties have no control, but a posted row replaces
+        # the stored item wholesale, so their stored values are carried.
+        for k, v in item_properties.items():
+            if is_hidden(v) and k in item and item[k] is not None:
+                node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{base}.{k}", 'hidden', item[k], 'json'))
+        if advanced:
+            node['inputs'].extend(_advanced_cells(base, advanced, item))
+
+
+def _table_cell(name: str, col_def: Dict[str, Any], col_value: Any) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    col_type = _column_type(col_def)
+    col_widget = col_def.get('x-widget') or col_def.get('x_widget', '')
+    col_enum = col_def.get('enum', [])
+    if col_type == 'boolean':
+        return [_input(name, 'hidden', bool(col_value), 'bool'),
+                _input(name, 'checkbox', 'true', checked=bool(col_value))]
+    if col_type in ('integer', 'number'):
+        return [_input(name, 'number', col_value if col_value is not None else '')]
+    if col_enum:
+        options = [opt for opt in col_enum if opt is not None]
+        matches = [opt for opt in options
+                   if col_value == opt or (col_value is None and col_def.get('default') == opt)]
+        return [_input(name, 'select', _select_value(options, matches), options=options)]
+    if col_widget == 'date-picker':
+        return [_input(name, 'date', col_value if col_value is not None else '')]
+    if col_widget == 'time-picker':
+        return [_input(name, 'time', col_value if col_value is not None else '00:00')]
+    return [_input(name, 'text', col_value if col_value is not None else '')]
+
+
+def _advanced_cells(base: str, advanced: Dict[str, Any], item: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """The row's hidden inputs for properties edited in the row editor."""
+    cells: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for prop_name, prop_schema in advanced.items():
+        if prop_schema.get('type', 'string') == 'object' and prop_schema.get('properties'):
+            stored = item.get(prop_name)
+            sub_obj = stored if isinstance(stored, dict) else {}
+            container = item.get(prop_name, {})
+            for sub_name, sub_schema in prop_schema.get('properties', {}).items():
+                name = f"{base}.{prop_name}.{sub_name}"
+                if is_hidden(sub_schema):
+                    if sub_name in sub_obj and sub_obj[sub_name] is not None:
+                        cells.append(_input(name, 'hidden', sub_obj[sub_name], 'json'))
+                    continue
+                sub_val = container.get(sub_name) if isinstance(container, dict) else None
+                final = sub_val if sub_val is not None else sub_schema.get('default')
+                cells.append(_input(name, 'hidden', final if final is not None else ''))
+        else:
+            stored = item.get(prop_name)
+            final = stored if stored is not None else prop_schema.get('default')
+            cells.append(_input(f"{base}.{prop_name}", 'hidden', final if final is not None else ''))
+    return cells
+
+
+def _color_picker(node, prop, value, full_key):
+    default = prop.get('default', _MISSING)
+    if _is_list_like(value):
+        rgb = value
+    elif default is not _MISSING and _is_list_like(default):
+        rgb = default
+    else:
+        rgb = [255, 255, 255]
+    channels = [rgb[i] if len(rgb) > i else 255 for i in range(3)]
+    node.update(widget='color-picker', value=rgb)
+    for index, channel in enumerate(channels):
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(f"{full_key}.{index}", 'number', channel))
+
+
+def _string_field(node, prop, value, full_key, ftype):
+    widget = _x_widget(prop)
+    text = _text_value(value, prop)
+    node['value'] = text
+    if widget == 'file-upload':
+        upload = prop.get('x-upload-config') or {}
+        node['widget'] = 'file-upload'
+        node['constraints'].update({
+            'upload_endpoint': upload.get('upload_endpoint', ''),
+            'target_filename': upload.get('target_filename', 'file.json'),
+            'max_size_mb': upload.get('max_size_mb', 1),
+            'allowed_extensions': upload.get('allowed_extensions', ['.json']),
+        })
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'hidden', text))
+    elif widget == 'json-file-manager':
+        # An iframe of the plugin's own file manager; it saves on its own.
+        node['widget'] = 'json-file-manager'
+    elif widget in STRING_WIDGETS:
+        node['widget'] = widget
+        node['mount'] = _mount(widget, full_key, text, {
+            'type': ftype,
+            'enum': prop.get('enum') or [],
+            'minimum': prop.get('minimum'),
+            'maximum': prop.get('maximum'),
+            'x-options': _x_options(prop),
+            'x-upload-config': prop.get('x-upload-config') or prop.get('x_upload_config') or {},
+            'x-widget-config': prop.get('x-widget-config') or prop.get('x_widget_config') or {},
+        })
+    else:
+        node['widget'] = widget or 'text'
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(full_key, 'text', text))
+        if widget:
+            # A plugin-supplied widget (manifest "widgets"); the text input
+            # stays as the fallback until it renders.
+            node['mount'] = _mount(widget, full_key, text, {
+                'type': ftype,
+                'enum': prop.get('enum') or [],
+                'x-options': _x_options(prop),
+                'x-widget-config': prop.get('x-widget-config') or prop.get('x_widget_config') or {},
+            }, plugin_widget=True)
+
+
+# ── the form ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def _schemaless_field(key: str, value: Any) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """A plugin with no schema: one plain control per stored key."""
+    node = _base_node(key, {}, value, key, '')
+    node['id'] = 'fallback-field-' + str(key).replace(' ', '-')
+    if value is True or value is False:
+        node['widget'] = 'checkbox'
+        node['type'] = 'boolean'
+        # No value attribute, so a checked box posts "on".
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(key, 'checkbox', 'on', checked=bool(value)))
+    elif isinstance(value, (int, float, complex)):
+        node['widget'] = 'number'
+        node['type'] = 'number'
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(key, 'number', value))
+    else:
+        node['widget'] = 'text'
+        node['inputs'].append(_input(key, 'text', value))
+    return node
+
+
+def build_field_model(schema: Any, config: Any, plugin_id: str = '') -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    """The field model for one plugin's config form.
+
+    ``schema`` is the plugin's config schema as the route loads it
+    (``SchemaManager.load_schema``, so style elements are expanded);
+    ``config`` is the plugin's section after defaults are merged and secrets
+    masked, exactly what ``plugin_config.html`` is rendered with.
+    """
+    config = config if isinstance(config, dict) else {}
+    model: Dict[str, Any] = {
+        'version': FIELD_MODEL_VERSION,
+        'plugin_id': plugin_id,
+        'rendered_sections': [],
+        'fields': [],
+        'advanced_fields': [],
+        'schemaless': False,
+    }
+    properties = schema.get('properties') if isinstance(schema, dict) else None
+    if not properties:
+        model['schemaless'] = True
+        model['fields'] = [_schemaless_field(key, value)
+                           for key, value in config.items() if key not in ['enabled']]
+        return model
+
+    order = schema['x-propertyOrder'] if 'x-propertyOrder' in schema else list(properties.keys())
+    basic: List[str] = []
+    advanced: List[str] = []
+    for key in order:
+        if key in properties and key != 'enabled' and not is_hidden(properties[key]):
+            prop = properties[key]
+            declared = prop.get('type') if isinstance(prop, dict) else None
+            is_object = declared is not None and _is_iterable(declared) and 'object' in declared
+            if isinstance(prop, dict) and prop.get('x-advanced') and not is_object:
+                advanced.append(key)
+            else:
+                basic.append(key)
+    model['rendered_sections'] = basic + advanced
+
+    for tier, keys in (('fields', basic), ('advanced_fields', advanced)):
+        for key in keys:
+            node = _build_field(key, properties[key], config[key] if key in config else None,
+                                '', plugin_id)
+            if node is not None:
+                node['advanced'] = tier == 'advanced_fields'
+                model[tier].append(node)
+    return model
+
+
+# ── walking the model ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def iter_fields(model: Dict[str, Any]) -> Iterator[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Every field node, depth first, in form order."""
+    def walk(nodes):
+        for node in nodes:
+            yield node
+            yield from walk(node.get('children') or [])
+    yield from walk(model.get('fields') or [])
+    yield from walk(model.get('advanced_fields') or [])
+
+
+def form_inputs(model: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Every server-rendered form control, in document order, starting with
+    the ``__rendered_section`` hidden inputs."""
+    inputs = [_input('__rendered_section', 'hidden', key)
+              for key in model.get('rendered_sections') or []]
+    for node in iter_fields(model):
+        inputs.extend(node.get('inputs') or [])
+    return inputs
+
+
+def widget_mounts(model: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    """Every JS widget the form mounts, in document order.
+
+    A style-editor's fallback section is drawn before the editor's own
+    script, so a node's children come before its own mount.
+    """
+    mounts: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+
+    def walk(nodes):
+        for node in nodes:
+            walk(node.get('children') or [])
+            if node.get('mount'):
+                mounts.append(node['mount'])
+    walk(model.get('fields') or [])
+    walk(model.get('advanced_fields') or [])
+    return mounts
+
+
+def field_names(model: Dict[str, Any]) -> List[Tuple[str, str]]:
+    """(name, source) for every posted name: 'form' controls and named 'widget' mounts."""
+    names = [(item['name'], 'form') for item in form_inputs(model)]
+    names += [(mount['name'], 'widget') for mount in widget_mounts(model) if mount['name']]
+    return names
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ def display_restart_required(action: str, plugin_enabled: bool, *,
      config carried over) is not picked up until a restart.
    - ``update``: the display keeps running the code it loaded until it
      restarts, if it runs the plugin at all -- only when it is enabled.
-      ``changed=False`` (already up to date) needs nothing.
+      ``changed=False`` (already up to date) needs nothing. The update route
+      first asks the display to reload it over the control socket
+      (``_reload_after_store_update``); this answer stands when it cannot.
    - ``uninstall``: removing the plugin's config section flips its enabled
      flag, and the reconcile unloads it. With ``preserve_config`` the flag
      stays, and an enabled plugin keeps running until a restart.
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from typing import Any, Dict, Optional, Callable
 from threading import Thread
 import logging

+from src.common.fetch_service import plugin_scope
 from src.exceptions import PluginError
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
 from src.error_aggregator import record_error
@@ -58,7 +59,8 @@ class PluginExecutor:
        self,
        operation: Callable[[], Any],
        timeout: Optional[float] = None,
-        plugin_id: Optional[str] = None
+        plugin_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        thread_name: Optional[str] = None
    ) -> Any:
        """
        Execute a plugin operation with timeout.
@@ -67,6 +69,8 @@ class PluginExecutor:
            operation: Function to execute
            timeout: Timeout in seconds (None = use default)
            plugin_id: Optional plugin ID for logging
+            thread_name: Name for the thread the operation runs on (None
+                keeps Python's default). Stack dumps list threads by name.
            
        Returns:
            Result of operation
@@ -83,13 +87,19 @@ class PluginExecutor:
        
        def target():
            try:
-                result_container['value'] = operation()
+                # Fetches made by the operation (and by threads the core
+                # starts from it) are counted against this plugin.
+                with plugin_scope(plugin_id):
+                    result_container['value'] = operation()
                result_container['completed'] = True
-            except Exception as e:
+            except BaseException as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                # asyncio.CancelledError and SystemExit too: uncaught, one
+                # ended this thread with 'completed' unset, and an operation
+                # that failed at once was reported as timing out.
                result_container['exception'] = e
                result_container['completed'] = True
        
-        thread = Thread(target=target, daemon=True)
+        thread = Thread(target=target, daemon=True, name=thread_name)
        thread.start()
        thread.join(timeout=timeout)
        
@@ -173,7 +183,8 @@ class PluginExecutor:
        force_clear: bool = False,
        display_mode: Optional[str] = None,
        timeout: Optional[float] = None,
-        accepts_display_mode: Optional[bool] = None
+        accepts_display_mode: Optional[bool] = None,
+        raise_errors: bool = False
    ) -> bool:
        """
        Execute plugin display() method with error handling.
@@ -187,9 +198,18 @@ class PluginExecutor:
            accepts_display_mode: Whether plugin.display() takes a
                display_mode keyword. Pass it when the caller already knows;
                None falls back to inspecting the callable.
+            raise_errors: Re-raise the PluginError wrapping an exception
+                display() raised, instead of returning False. False alone
+                cannot tell "no content" from "raised", and a caller that
+                feeds the circuit breaker needs that difference. The error
+                is still logged and recorded first. A timeout still returns
+                False either way.
            
        Returns:
            True if display succeeded, False otherwise
+
+        Raises:
+            PluginError: Only with ``raise_errors``, when display() raised.
        """
        try:
            start_time = time.monotonic()
@@ -209,18 +229,24 @@ class PluginExecutor:
                    'display_mode' in inspect.signature(plugin.display).parameters)
            has_display_mode = accepts_display_mode
            
+            # Named for the plugin: this thread presents a screen's first
+            # frame, so the frame-timing stall watchdog's stack dumps name it.
+            thread_name = f"display-{plugin_id}"
+
            # Capture the return value from the plugin's display() method
            if has_display_mode and display_mode:
                result = self.execute_with_timeout(
                    lambda: plugin.display(display_mode=display_mode, force_clear=force_clear),
                    timeout=timeout,
-                    plugin_id=plugin_id
+                    plugin_id=plugin_id,
+                    thread_name=thread_name
                )
            else:
                result = self.execute_with_timeout(
                    lambda: plugin.display(force_clear=force_clear),
                    timeout=timeout,
-                    plugin_id=plugin_id
+                    plugin_id=plugin_id,
+                    thread_name=thread_name
                )
            
            duration = time.monotonic() - start_time
@@ -245,6 +271,8 @@ class PluginExecutor:
            return False
        except PluginError:
            # Already logged and recorded in execute_with_timeout
+            if raise_errors:
+                raise
            return False
        except Exception as e:
            self.logger.error(
@@ -199,9 +199,22 @@ def contained_plugin_dir(plugin_dir: Path, plugins_dir: Path) -> Optional[str]:
    name that came out of ``os.scandir()`` on the trusted root carries no
    taint, which is a real containment guarantee (and one CodeQL's
    path-injection query can follow), not a string sanitiser.
+
+    The entry looked for is the one ``plugin_dir`` itself names when it sits
+    directly in ``plugins_dir``: for a dev plugin symlinked in under its id,
+    the link's name. Resolving the link first and looking for the target's
+    folder name refused ``plugins/foo -> ~/.ledmatrix-dev-plugins/ledmatrix-foo``
+    (what ``dev_plugin_setup.sh link-github foo <url>`` makes), so the plugin
+    never loaded. Any other path is resolved and matched by its final name,
+    as before.
    """
-    plugin_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugin_dir))
    plugins_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugins_dir))
+    plugin_dir_abs = os.path.abspath(str(plugin_dir))
+    if os.path.realpath(os.path.dirname(plugin_dir_abs)) == plugins_dir_real:
+        matched_name = find_trusted_subdir(plugins_dir_real, os.path.basename(plugin_dir_abs))
+        if matched_name is not None:
+            return os.path.join(plugins_dir_real, matched_name)
+    plugin_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugin_dir))
    matched_name = find_trusted_subdir(plugins_dir_real, os.path.basename(plugin_dir_real))
    if matched_name is None:
        return None
@@ -243,6 +256,10 @@ class PluginLoader:
        self.logger = logger or get_logger(__name__)
        self._loaded_modules: Dict[str, Any] = {}
        self._plugin_module_registry: Dict[str, set] = {}  # Maps plugin_id to set of module names
+        # plugin_id -> {dotted name: module} for the modules of the plugin's
+        # own packages (``providers.feed``). They keep their names while the
+        # plugin runs and are dropped with it; see _iter_plugin_submodules.
+        self._plugin_submodules: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
        # Lock to serialize module loading when plugins share module names
        # (e.g., scroll_display.py, game_renderer.py across sport plugins).
        # During exec_module, bare-name sub-modules temporarily appear in
@@ -449,6 +466,45 @@ class PluginLoader:
                continue
        return result

+    @staticmethod
+    def _iter_plugin_submodules(
+        plugin_dir: Path, before_keys: set
+    ) -> list:
+        """Return dotted-name modules from plugin_dir added after before_keys.
+
+        The modules of a package the plugin ships (``providers.feed`` from
+        ``providers/feed.py``). _iter_plugin_bare_modules skips them, so the
+        bare ``providers`` was namespaced and dropped on unload while
+        ``providers.feed`` stayed in sys.modules: a reload after a store update
+        imported a fresh ``providers`` and then got the old ``feed`` back from
+        the cache, running the new manager.py against the old helpers until the
+        display restarted.
+
+        A module counts when its ``__file__`` -- or, for a namespace package,
+        which has none, every ``__path__`` entry -- is inside plugin_dir, so a
+        library the plugin imports (``requests.adapters``) never does.
+
+        Returns a list of (mod_name, module) tuples.
+        """
+        resolved_dir = plugin_dir.resolve()
+        result = []
+        for key in set(sys.modules.keys()) - before_keys:
+            if "." not in key:
+                continue
+            mod = sys.modules.get(key)
+            if mod is None:
+                continue
+            mod_file = getattr(mod, "__file__", None)
+            locations = [mod_file] if mod_file else list(getattr(mod, "__path__", None) or [])
+            if not locations:
+                continue
+            try:
+                if all(Path(loc).resolve().is_relative_to(resolved_dir) for loc in locations):
+                    result.append((key, mod))
+            except (ValueError, TypeError, OSError):
+                continue
+        return result
+
    def _evict_stale_bare_modules(self, plugin_dir: Path) -> dict:
        """Temporarily remove bare-name sys.modules entries from other plugins.

@@ -527,6 +583,13 @@ class PluginLoader:
        # Track for cleanup during unload
        self._plugin_module_registry[plugin_id] = namespaced_names

+        # The modules of the plugin's own packages keep their dotted names
+        # while it runs -- as they always have, so the package and its
+        # children stay a matching set in sys.modules -- and are dropped
+        # with the plugin by unregister_plugin_modules().
+        self._plugin_submodules[plugin_id] = dict(
+            self._iter_plugin_submodules(plugin_dir, before_keys))
+
        if namespaced_names:
            self.logger.info(
                "Namespace-isolated %d module(s) for plugin %s",
@@ -537,10 +600,16 @@ class PluginLoader:
        """Remove namespaced sub-modules and cached module for a plugin from sys.modules.

        Called by PluginManager during unload to clean up all module entries
-        that were created when the plugin was loaded.
+        that were created when the plugin was loaded, including the dotted
+        modules of its packages. A dotted name is dropped only while it still
+        holds this plugin's module: the name is not namespaced, so another
+        plugin may have put its own there since.
        """
        for ns_name in self._plugin_module_registry.pop(plugin_id, set()):
            sys.modules.pop(ns_name, None)
+        for name, mod in self._plugin_submodules.pop(plugin_id, {}).items():
+            if sys.modules.get(name) is mod:
+                sys.modules.pop(name, None)
        self._loaded_modules.pop(plugin_id, None)

    def load_module(
@@ -646,11 +715,13 @@ class PluginLoader:
                    if evicted_name not in sys.modules:
                        sys.modules[evicted_name] = evicted_mod
                # Clean up the partially-initialized main module and any
-                # bare-name sub-modules that were added during exec_module
-                # so they don't leak into subsequent plugin loads.
+                # bare-name or package sub-modules that were added during
+                # exec_module so they don't leak into subsequent plugin loads.
                sys.modules.pop(module_name, None)
                for key, _ in self._iter_plugin_bare_modules(plugin_dir, before_keys):
                    sys.modules.pop(key, None)
+                for key, _ in self._iter_plugin_submodules(plugin_dir, before_keys):
+                    sys.modules.pop(key, None)
                raise

            self._loaded_modules[plugin_id] = module
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from src.plugin_system.schema_manager import (
 from src.plugin_system.plugin_dirs import (
    ManifestStatus, PluginDirectoryIndex, resolve_plugin_dir,
 )
-from src.deprecation import deprecated
+from src.common.fetch_service import plugin_scope, register_plugin_directory
 from src.common.permission_utils import (
    ensure_directory_permissions,
    get_plugin_dir_mode
@@ -70,6 +70,14 @@ class PluginManager:
    # before tearing the instance down anyway.
    UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT = 5.0

+    # How long unload_detached_plugin() (a live reload, off the render thread)
+    # waits for the old instance's lock. Longer than UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT
+    # because nothing is blocked by the wait, and a Vegas content build of the
+    # old instance can hold the lock for several seconds (5.9 s seen on
+    # ledpi). Past it the reload is refused rather than tearing down an
+    # instance a Vegas call may still be running in.
+    DETACHED_UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT = 30.0
+
    # How long the update worker and apply_config_change() wait for a
    # plugin's lock -- the same bound unload already uses for the same lock.
    # A display() frame holds it for milliseconds, so this only runs out when
@@ -151,7 +159,9 @@ class PluginManager:
        #
        # Which thread runs each plugin hook, and what it holds:
        #   __init__, on_enable   the loading thread (main thread at startup,
-        #                         the render thread on a live enable).
+        #                         the render thread on a live enable, a
+        #                         plugin-reload thread for a control socket
+        #                         reload).
        #   update()              plugin-update-worker, under the plugin lock,
        #                         via PluginExecutor (whose daemon thread runs
        #                         the call; if it outlives the executor's
@@ -170,8 +180,10 @@ class PluginManager:
        #                         plugin lock via apply_config_change(); if the
        #                         lock stays busy it is deferred to the update
        #                         worker, which applies it under the lock.
-        #   cleanup(), on_disable()  whoever calls unload_plugin(), under the
-        #                         lock with UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT.
+        #   cleanup(), on_disable()  whoever calls unload_plugin() (or, for a
+        #                         reload, unload_detached_plugin() on its
+        #                         plugin-reload thread), under the lock with
+        #                         UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT.
        # No wait on a plugin lock is unbounded, so one hung plugin can only
        # cost the worker PLUGIN_LOCK_TIMEOUT per attempt.
        self._update_queue: "queue.Queue[Union[None, Tuple[str, float], _DeferredConfigChange]]" = queue.Queue()
@@ -424,6 +436,11 @@ class PluginManager:
            # Update mapping if found via search
            if plugin_id not in self.plugin_directories:
                self.plugin_directories[plugin_id] = plugin_dir
+
+            # Code under this directory is this plugin's: the fetch service
+            # counts a request against it even from a thread the plugin
+            # started itself (src/common/fetch_service.py, caller identity).
+            register_plugin_directory(plugin_id, plugin_dir)
            
            # Get plugin config
            if self.config_manager:
@@ -463,18 +480,20 @@ class PluginManager:
                config = dict(config)
                config['enabled'] = True
            
-            # Use PluginLoader to load plugin
-            plugin_instance, _module = self.plugin_loader.load_plugin(
-                plugin_id=plugin_id,
-                manifest=manifest,
-                plugin_dir=plugin_dir,
-                config=config,
-                display_manager=self.display_manager,
-                cache_manager=self.cache_manager,
-                plugin_manager=self,
-                install_deps=True,
-                plugins_dir=self.plugins_dir,
-            )
+            # Use PluginLoader to load plugin. Fetches the constructor makes
+            # count against the plugin.
+            with plugin_scope(plugin_id):
+                plugin_instance, _module = self.plugin_loader.load_plugin(
+                    plugin_id=plugin_id,
+                    manifest=manifest,
+                    plugin_dir=plugin_dir,
+                    config=config,
+                    display_manager=self.display_manager,
+                    cache_manager=self.cache_manager,
+                    plugin_manager=self,
+                    install_deps=True,
+                    plugins_dir=self.plugins_dir,
+                )
            
            # Register plugin-shipped fonts with the FontManager (if any).
            # Plugin manifests can declare a "fonts" block that ships custom
@@ -528,7 +547,8 @@ class PluginManager:
                # Call on_enable if plugin is enabled
                if hasattr(plugin_instance, 'on_enable'):
                    try:
-                        plugin_instance.on_enable()
+                        with plugin_scope(plugin_id):
+                            plugin_instance.on_enable()
                    except Exception:
                        # Undo the registration above before the outer
                        # handler marks it ERROR: left in self.plugins, the
@@ -744,14 +764,57 @@ class PluginManager:
            if lock_acquired:
                lock.release()

-    def _unload_plugin_locked(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
-        """Body of unload_plugin(); caller holds (or gave up on) the plugin lock."""
-        if plugin_id not in self.plugins:  # unloaded while we waited
+    def detach_plugin(self, plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Any]:
+        """Take a loaded plugin out of ``plugins`` without tearing it down.
+
+        The first half of a reload that must not block its caller, the render
+        thread (DisplayController._start_plugin_reload). Every new call into a
+        plugin starts by looking it up in ``plugins``: the update scheduler,
+        the update worker (which looks again under the plugin's lock) and
+        Vegas's fetches. So once detached, nothing new reaches the instance.
+        Work already running on it under its lock -- an update(), or a Vegas
+        content render that can take seconds -- carries on;
+        unload_detached_plugin() waits for it, on another thread.
+
+        Returns the instance, or None when the plugin was not loaded.
+        """
+        return self.plugins.pop(plugin_id, None)
+
+    def unload_detached_plugin(self, plugin_id: str, plugin: Any) -> bool:
+        """Tear down an instance taken out by detach_plugin(): unload_plugin()
+        for an instance that is no longer in ``plugins``.
+
+        Waits for the plugin's lock, bounded by DETACHED_UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT,
+        so it belongs off the render thread. Call it before loading the plugin
+        again: it drops the plugin's modules and lifecycle state along with the
+        instance. Unlike unload_plugin() it never tears down without the lock:
+        a call that took the lock before the detach (a Vegas content build)
+        may still be running in this instance. Returns False then, and the
+        caller must not load the plugin again over it.
+        """
+        lock = self.get_plugin_lock(plugin_id)
+        if not lock.acquire(timeout=self.DETACHED_UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT):
+            self.logger.warning(
+                "Plugin %s still busy after %.1fs; not unloading it while in use",
+                plugin_id, self.DETACHED_UNLOAD_LOCK_TIMEOUT)
+            return False
+        try:
+            return self._unload_plugin_locked(plugin_id, plugin)
+        finally:
+            lock.release()
+
+    def _unload_plugin_locked(self, plugin_id: str, detached: Optional[Any] = None) -> bool:
+        """Body of unload_plugin(); caller holds (or gave up on) the plugin lock.
+
+        ``detached`` is an instance already taken out of ``plugins``
+        (detach_plugin); without it, the loaded instance is unloaded.
+        """
+        if detached is None and plugin_id not in self.plugins:  # unloaded while we waited
            self.logger.warning("Plugin %s not loaded", plugin_id)
            return False

        try:
-            plugin = self.plugins[plugin_id]
+            plugin = self.plugins[plugin_id] if detached is None else detached
            
            # Call cleanup if available
            if hasattr(plugin, 'cleanup'):
@@ -767,8 +830,9 @@ class PluginManager:
                except Exception as e:
                    self.logger.warning("Error during plugin on_disable: %s", e)
            
-            # Remove from active plugins
-            del self.plugins[plugin_id]
+            # Remove from active plugins (a detached one already is)
+            if detached is None:
+                del self.plugins[plugin_id]
            with self._deferred_config_lock:
                self._deferred_config_changes.pop(plugin_id, None)
            with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
@@ -873,16 +937,6 @@ class PluginManager:
        """
        return self.plugins.copy()
    
-    @deprecated("3.8.0", "check each plugin's enabled flag in plugins")
-    def get_enabled_plugins(self) -> List[str]:
-        """
-        Get list of enabled plugin IDs.
-        
-        Returns:
-            List of plugin IDs that are currently enabled
-        """
-        return [pid for pid, plugin in self.plugins.items() if plugin.enabled]
-    
    def get_plugin_info(self, plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
        """
        Get information about a plugin (manifest + runtime info).
@@ -1109,7 +1163,7 @@ class PluginManager:
    def _record_update_failure(
        self,
        plugin_id: str,
-        exc: Optional[Exception] = None,
+        exc: Optional[BaseException] = None,
        log: bool = True,
        count_failure: bool = True,
    ) -> None:
@@ -1133,7 +1187,7 @@ class PluginManager:
        """
        failure_time = time.time()
        if exc is not None:
-            err: Exception = exc
+            err: BaseException = exc
            error_type = type(exc).__name__
        else:
            err = Exception(f"Plugin {plugin_id} execution failed (timeout or executor error)")
@@ -1599,7 +1653,7 @@ class PluginManager:
        finish_guard = threading.Lock()
        finished = {'done': False}

-        def _finish(success: bool, exc: Optional[Exception] = None) -> None:
+        def _finish(success: bool, exc: Optional[BaseException] = None) -> None:
            with finish_guard:
                if finished['done']:
                    return
@@ -1673,7 +1727,13 @@ class PluginManager:
                    self.resource_monitor.monitor_call(plugin_id, plugin_instance.update)
                else:
                    plugin_instance.update()
-            except Exception as exc:
+            except BaseException as exc:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                # BaseException, not just Exception: asyncio.CancelledError
+                # and SystemExit derive from it. Either one skipped _finish,
+                # so the plugin kept its lock and stayed RUNNING for good --
+                # never rescheduled, and every display() skipped as busy.
+                # Re-raised for the executor, which reports it as this
+                # update's failure.
                _finish(False, exc=exc)
                raise
            else:
@@ -25,15 +25,40 @@ snapshot behind. A display that stops cleanly publishes ``running: false``
 on the way out, so readers see "stopped" at once rather than after the
 stale window. Nothing on the reading side reports a runtime fact from a
 snapshot that is not live.
+
+Render-loop liveness. The snapshot is written from its own thread, which
+keeps going when the render loop hangs inside a plugin. So the reader also
+checks the render loop's heartbeat (``src/display_watchdog.py``, the file
+``/api/v3/health`` reports as ``checks.display_loop``): a live snapshot from
+the process whose heartbeat has gone stale is ``stalled``, as the health
+check says, not ``live``. No extra writes: the heartbeat already exists, on
+tmpfs. A missing heartbeat (dev server, emulator, Windows, a display still
+starting up) or one from another process (a display restarted after a
+watchdog kill) says nothing, and the snapshot is judged on its own.
+
+The control socket. Where the display serves its state stream (stage 3,
+docs/IPC_CONTROL_SOCKET.md), every tick also hands the snapshot to it, in
+memory, and the web interface reads it there first
+(``view_from_socket_state``, judged by the same rules). While the socket
+serves those readers, the cache copy is their fallback and an unchanged
+snapshot is rewritten every ``RELAXED_REFRESH_INTERVAL`` instead.
+
+A dead publisher. systemd removes the heartbeat's directory when the
+service stops, so after a watchdog kill there is no heartbeat to go stale.
+The reader then asks whether the snapshot's ``pid`` still exists (POSIX
+``kill(pid, 0)``, which sends nothing): a running snapshot from a process
+that is gone is ``stale`` at once rather than ``live`` for the rest of its
+``stale_after`` window.
 """

 import math
 import os
 import threading
 import time
-from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, replace
 from typing import Any, Callable, Dict, Optional

+from src import display_watchdog
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
 from src.redaction import redact_credentials

@@ -57,6 +82,15 @@ TICK_INTERVAL = 5.0
 #: A snapshot older than this is stale: three missed refreshes.
 STALE_AFTER = 3 * REFRESH_INTERVAL

+#: The refresh while the control socket serves the web interface's readers
+#: (``StateHub.readers_active``). The cache copy is then only their fallback,
+#: so an unchanged snapshot is rewritten half as often; the snapshot says so
+#: in its own ``refresh_interval`` and ``stale_after``.
+RELAXED_REFRESH_INTERVAL = 2 * REFRESH_INTERVAL
+
+#: The control socket's section for this snapshot (``state.plugins``).
+STATE_SECTION = "plugins"
+
 #: Bounds on a published ``stale_after``, so a corrupt value can make a
 #: reader neither trust a dead display for hours nor distrust a live one.
 _STALE_AFTER_MIN = 30.0
@@ -70,6 +104,9 @@ _VERSION_CHARS = 40
 #: Reader statuses. Only LIVE carries runtime facts.
 LIVE = "live"
 STALE = "stale"
+#: The snapshot is fresh but the render loop's heartbeat is not: the display
+#: is hung (or was just killed by the watchdog), as /api/v3/health reports.
+STALLED = "stalled"
 STOPPED = "stopped"
 UNKNOWN = "unknown"

@@ -119,7 +156,8 @@ def summarize_error(error_info: Optional[Dict[str, Any]]) -> Optional[Dict[str,

 def build_runtime_snapshot(state_manager: Any, *, started_at: float,
                           now: Optional[float] = None,
-                           running: bool = True) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+                           running: bool = True,
+                           refresh_interval: float = REFRESH_INTERVAL) -> Dict[str, Any]:
    """The snapshot for ``state_manager`` (a plugin_state.PluginStateManager).

    A stopped snapshot (``running=False``) lists no plugins: nothing is
@@ -141,8 +179,8 @@ def build_runtime_snapshot(state_manager: Any, *, started_at: float,
        "running": running,
        "published_at": time.time() if now is None else now,
        "started_at": started_at,
-        "refresh_interval": REFRESH_INTERVAL,
-        "stale_after": STALE_AFTER,
+        "refresh_interval": refresh_interval,
+        "stale_after": 3 * refresh_interval,
        "pid": os.getpid(),
        "plugins": plugins,
    }
@@ -176,30 +214,87 @@ class PluginRuntimePublisher:
        self._tick_lock = threading.Lock()
        self._stop = threading.Event()
        self._thread: Optional[threading.Thread] = None
+        # The control socket's state stream (src/ipc/server.StateHub), when
+        # the display serves one: every tick also hands it the snapshot, in
+        # memory, and the cache refresh relaxes while it has readers.
+        self._hub: Any = None
+        self._hub_change: Optional[int] = None
+        self._hub_snapshot: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
+        self.relaxed_refresh_interval = RELAXED_REFRESH_INTERVAL

-    def _write(self, running: bool) -> None:
-        snapshot = build_runtime_snapshot(self.state_manager, started_at=self.started_at,
-                                          now=self._wall_clock(), running=running)
+    def attach_hub(self, hub: Any) -> None:
+        """Also publish to the control socket's state hub, starting now."""
+        with self._tick_lock:
+            self._hub = hub
+            self._hub_change = None
+            self._hub_snapshot = None
+            try:
+                self._push_to_hub(self.state_manager.change_count)
+            except Exception as err:  # never let reporting break the display
+                logger.debug("Could not publish the plugin runtime state: %s", err,
+                             exc_info=True)
+
+    def _push_to_hub(self, change: int) -> None:
+        """The snapshot to the state hub: rebuilt when the state machine
+        changed, otherwise the last one with a new ``published_at``, which
+        the hub does not count as a new version. In memory, every tick, so
+        the socket's copy is never more than a tick old."""
+        hub = self._hub
+        if hub is None:
+            return
+        now = self._wall_clock()
+        if self._hub_snapshot is None or change != self._hub_change:
+            snapshot = build_runtime_snapshot(self.state_manager, started_at=self.started_at,
+                                              now=now)
+        else:
+            snapshot = dict(self._hub_snapshot, published_at=now)
+        hub.publish(STATE_SECTION, snapshot, volatile=("published_at",))
+        self._hub_snapshot = snapshot
+        self._hub_change = change
+
+    def _cache_refresh_interval(self) -> float:
+        """The cache refresh: relaxed while the socket serves the readers."""
+        hub = self._hub
+        try:
+            if hub is not None and hub.readers_active():
+                return self.relaxed_refresh_interval
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            # The normal interval is the safe answer: it only writes more.
+            logger.debug("State hub readers_active() failed; using the normal refresh", exc_info=True)
+        return self.refresh_interval
+
+    def _write(self, running: bool, refresh_interval: Optional[float] = None) -> None:
+        snapshot = build_runtime_snapshot(
+            self.state_manager, started_at=self.started_at, now=self._wall_clock(),
+            running=running,
+            refresh_interval=self.refresh_interval if refresh_interval is None
+            else refresh_interval)
        self.cache_manager.set(PLUGIN_RUNTIME_KEY, snapshot)

    def tick(self) -> bool:
        """Publish if something changed (throttled) or the refresh is due.
-        True if a snapshot was written."""
+        True if a snapshot was written to the cache."""
        with self._tick_lock:
            try:
                change = self.state_manager.change_count
+                try:
+                    self._push_to_hub(change)
+                except Exception as err:  # the cache copy still goes out below
+                    logger.debug("Could not publish the plugin runtime state: %s", err,
+                                 exc_info=True)
                now = self._clock()
+                refresh = self._cache_refresh_interval()
                since = None if self._last_attempt is None else now - self._last_attempt
                if since is not None:
                    if change == self._published_change:
-                        if since < self.refresh_interval:
+                        if since < refresh:
                            return False
                    elif since < self.min_interval:
                        return False
                # Stamp the attempt before writing: a cache that keeps failing
                # is retried at the throttled rate, not on every tick.
                self._last_attempt = now
-                self._write(running=True)
+                self._write(running=True, refresh_interval=refresh)
                self._published_change = change
                return True
            except Exception as err:  # never let reporting break the display
@@ -281,7 +376,9 @@ class PluginRuntimeView:

    ``status``: ``live`` (a fresh snapshot from a running display),
    ``stale`` (the last snapshot is older than its ``stale_after``: the
-    display is hung or died without cleaning up), ``stopped`` (the display
+    display is hung or died without cleaning up), ``stalled`` (the snapshot
+    is fresh but the same process's render-loop heartbeat is stale: the
+    render loop is hung), ``stopped`` (the display
    said so on its way out) or ``unknown`` (no readable snapshot). Only a
    live view reports per-plugin facts; every other status answers None for
    them, so a caller cannot pass stale truth on by accident.
@@ -292,6 +389,11 @@ class PluginRuntimeView:
    age_seconds: Optional[float] = None
    stale_after: float = STALE_AFTER
    plugins: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    #: Age of the render loop's heartbeat, when it was taken into account.
+    heartbeat_age_seconds: Optional[float] = None
+    #: Where the snapshot came from: ``cache`` (the shared cache file and the
+    #: heartbeat file) or ``socket`` (the control socket's state stream).
+    source: str = "cache"

    @property
    def live(self) -> bool:
@@ -321,6 +423,9 @@ class PluginRuntimeView:
            "published_at": self.published_at,
            "age_seconds": None if self.age_seconds is None else round(self.age_seconds, 1),
            "stale_after": self.stale_after,
+            "heartbeat_age_seconds": (None if self.heartbeat_age_seconds is None
+                                      else round(self.heartbeat_age_seconds, 1)),
+            "source": self.source,
        }


@@ -334,8 +439,56 @@ def _stale_after_of(snapshot: Dict[str, Any]) -> float:
    return min(max(number, _STALE_AFTER_MIN), _STALE_AFTER_MAX)


-def view_from_snapshot(snapshot: Any, now: Optional[float] = None) -> PluginRuntimeView:
-    """Judge a snapshot read from the cache; never raises."""
+def _heartbeat_age_for(snapshot: Dict[str, Any], heartbeat: Any,
+                       now_mono: Optional[float]) -> Optional[float]:
+    """Age of ``heartbeat`` if it comes from the process that published
+    ``snapshot``; None when there is none, it has no time, or it belongs to
+    another process (a restarted display, or a heartbeat left by a killed one)."""
+    if not isinstance(heartbeat, dict):
+        return None
+    beat_pid = heartbeat.get("pid")
+    snap_pid = snapshot.get("pid")
+    if (isinstance(beat_pid, bool) or not isinstance(beat_pid, int)
+            or isinstance(snap_pid, bool) or not isinstance(snap_pid, int)
+            or beat_pid != snap_pid):
+        return None
+    return display_watchdog.heartbeat_age(heartbeat, now_mono=now_mono)
+
+
+def process_exists(pid: int) -> Optional[bool]:
+    """Whether process ``pid`` exists: True, False, or None when this
+    platform cannot tell. POSIX only -- on Windows ``os.kill`` terminates.
+    Signal 0 sends nothing; EPERM (the display runs as root, the web
+    interface does not) still means the process is there."""
+    if os.name != "posix" or pid <= 0:
+        return None
+    try:
+        os.kill(pid, 0)
+    except ProcessLookupError:
+        return False
+    except PermissionError:
+        return True
+    except OSError:
+        return None
+    return True
+
+
+def view_from_snapshot(snapshot: Any, now: Optional[float] = None,
+                       heartbeat: Any = None,
+                       now_mono: Optional[float] = None,
+                       process_alive: Optional[Callable[[int], Optional[bool]]] = None,
+                       ) -> PluginRuntimeView:
+    """Judge a snapshot read from the cache; never raises.
+
+    ``heartbeat`` is the render loop's heartbeat
+    (``display_watchdog.read_heartbeat()``), or None when there is none. A
+    live snapshot whose process's heartbeat is at least
+    ``display_watchdog.HEARTBEAT_STALE_SECONDS`` old is ``stalled``: the
+    threshold /api/v3/health uses for ``checks.display_loop``.
+    ``process_alive`` (``process_exists`` when reading the real cache) says
+    whether the snapshot's publisher still exists; a running snapshot from
+    one that is gone is ``stale``.
+    """
    if not isinstance(snapshot, dict) or snapshot.get("schema") != SNAPSHOT_SCHEMA:
        return PluginRuntimeView(status=UNKNOWN)
    published_at = _epoch(snapshot.get("published_at"))
@@ -351,21 +504,64 @@ def view_from_snapshot(snapshot: Any, now: Optional[float] = None) -> PluginRunt
    if age > stale_after or age < -stale_after:
        return PluginRuntimeView(status=STALE, published_at=published_at,
                                 age_seconds=age, stale_after=stale_after)
+    pid = snapshot.get("pid")
+    if (process_alive is not None and isinstance(pid, int) and not isinstance(pid, bool)
+            and process_alive(pid) is False):
+        return PluginRuntimeView(status=STALE, published_at=published_at,
+                                 age_seconds=max(age, 0.0), stale_after=stale_after)
+    beat_age = _heartbeat_age_for(snapshot, heartbeat, now_mono)
+    if beat_age is not None and beat_age >= display_watchdog.HEARTBEAT_STALE_SECONDS:
+        return PluginRuntimeView(status=STALLED, published_at=published_at,
+                                 age_seconds=max(age, 0.0), stale_after=stale_after,
+                                 heartbeat_age_seconds=beat_age)
    plugins = snapshot.get("plugins")
    return PluginRuntimeView(
        status=LIVE, published_at=published_at, age_seconds=max(age, 0.0),
-        stale_after=stale_after,
+        stale_after=stale_after, heartbeat_age_seconds=beat_age,
        plugins={k: v for k, v in plugins.items() if isinstance(v, dict)}
        if isinstance(plugins, dict) else {},
    )


-def read_plugin_runtime(cache_manager: Any, now: Optional[float] = None) -> PluginRuntimeView:
-    """The display's latest snapshot, judged for staleness. Never raises; a
-    missing cache manager or an unreadable snapshot is ``unknown``.
+def view_from_socket_state(snapshot: Any, now: Optional[float] = None,
+                           now_mono: Optional[float] = None) -> Optional[PluginRuntimeView]:
+    """Judge the ``plugins`` section of a control-socket state snapshot by
+    the same rules as the cache copy; None when it has none (an older
+    display, or a snapshot too large to carry it), so the caller reads the
+    cache instead.
+
+    The display measured its render loop's heartbeat age when it answered
+    (``state.loop``); that is the heartbeat here, aged by the time since the
+    answer arrived. A live snapshot with a stalled loop is ``stalled``, and a
+    snapshot older than its ``stale_after`` (the publisher thread stopped)
+    is ``stale``, exactly as for the cache. The display answered, so its
+    process is alive: there is no pid check.
+    """
+    from src.ipc.client import snapshot_loop_age  # stdlib-only module
+    if not isinstance(snapshot, dict):
+        return None
+    state = snapshot.get("state")
+    plugins = state.get(STATE_SECTION) if isinstance(state, dict) else None
+    if not isinstance(plugins, dict):
+        return None
+    now_mono = time.monotonic() if now_mono is None else now_mono
+    beat_age = snapshot_loop_age(snapshot, now_mono=now_mono)
+    heartbeat = None
+    if beat_age is not None:
+        heartbeat = {"pid": plugins.get("pid"), "mono": now_mono - beat_age}
+    view = view_from_snapshot(plugins, now=now, heartbeat=heartbeat, now_mono=now_mono)
+    return replace(view, source="socket")
+
+
+def read_plugin_runtime(cache_manager: Any, now: Optional[float] = None,
+                        heartbeat_path: Optional[str] = None) -> PluginRuntimeView:
+    """The display's latest snapshot, judged for staleness and against the
+    render loop's heartbeat. Never raises; a missing cache manager or an
+    unreadable snapshot is ``unknown``.

    memory_ttl=0: the key is written by the other process, so only the file
-    is current.
+    is current. ``heartbeat_path`` defaults to
+    ``display_watchdog.HEARTBEAT_PATH``.
    """
    if cache_manager is None:
        return PluginRuntimeView(status=UNKNOWN)
@@ -374,4 +570,11 @@ def read_plugin_runtime(cache_manager: Any, now: Optional[float] = None) -> Plug
    except Exception as err:
        logger.debug("Could not read the plugin runtime snapshot: %s", err, exc_info=True)
        return PluginRuntimeView(status=UNKNOWN)
-    return view_from_snapshot(snapshot, now=now)
+    try:
+        heartbeat = display_watchdog.read_heartbeat(
+            heartbeat_path or display_watchdog.HEARTBEAT_PATH)
+    except Exception as err:  # read_heartbeat does not raise; belt and braces
+        logger.debug("Could not read the display heartbeat: %s", err, exc_info=True)
+        heartbeat = None
+    return view_from_snapshot(snapshot, now=now, heartbeat=heartbeat,
+                              process_alive=process_exists)
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Provides resource limits and performance monitoring.
 import math
 import time
 import threading
-from typing import Dict, Optional, Any, Callable, cast
+from typing import Dict, Optional, Any, Callable, Set, cast
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field, fields

 from src.logging_config import get_logger
@@ -99,18 +99,33 @@ class ResourceMetrics:
    last_update_time: float = field(default_factory=time.time)


-#: How often a plugin's metrics are written to the cache, in seconds.
+#: How often the metrics snapshot is written to the cache, in seconds.
 #:
 #: Persisting on every call meant a small file rewritten roughly nine times a
 #: minute per plugin. On a rig with fourteen active plugins that was ~126
 #: writes a minute for metrics alone, and since each ~350-byte file costs a
 #: 4KB block plus an ext4 journal entry, it dominated the device's write
-#: volume -- on an SD card, which wears out.
+#: volume -- on an SD card, which wears out. Throttling each plugin's own
+#: record to once per 30 s still left two writes a minute per plugin, so all
+#: plugins now share one record (METRICS_SNAPSHOT_KEY), written at most once
+#: a minute: one write a minute however many plugins there are.
 #:
 #: The in-memory copy stays authoritative and exact; only the cross-process
-#: snapshot the web UI reads is delayed, and telemetry up to half a minute old
-#: is still a fair description of a long-running plugin.
-_METRICS_PERSIST_INTERVAL = 30.0
+#: snapshot the web UI reads is delayed, and telemetry up to a minute old is
+#: still a fair description of a long-running plugin.
+_METRICS_PERSIST_INTERVAL = 60.0
+
+#: The one cache record holding every plugin's metrics:
+#: ``{"schema": 1, "plugins": {plugin_id: <metrics record>}}``, each metrics
+#: record shaped as the per-plugin ``plugin_metrics:<id>`` records were. Those
+#: older records are still read for a plugin the snapshot does not have yet
+#: (an upgrade, or a plugin that has not run since), never written.
+METRICS_SNAPSHOT_KEY = "plugin_metrics_snapshot"
+_METRICS_SNAPSHOT_SCHEMA = 1
+
+#: A plugin with no call for this long is dropped from the snapshot -- what
+#: the cache's 30-day default retention did to its own record before.
+_METRICS_SNAPSHOT_ENTRY_MAX_AGE = 30 * 86400


 class PluginResourceMonitor:
@@ -140,10 +155,15 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
        self._metrics: Dict[str, ResourceMetrics] = {}
        self._limits: Dict[str, ResourceLimits] = {}
        self._bad_limits_warned: set = set()
-        # When each plugin's metrics last reached the cache. Metrics change on
-        # every call, so they cannot be de-duplicated the way health state can;
-        # they are rate-limited instead. See _METRICS_PERSIST_INTERVAL.
-        self._metrics_persisted_at: Dict[str, float] = {}
+        # When the metrics snapshot last reached the cache (monotonic), None
+        # until it has. Metrics change on every call, so they cannot be
+        # de-duplicated the way health state can; they are rate-limited
+        # instead. See _METRICS_PERSIST_INTERVAL.
+        self._snapshot_persisted_at: Optional[float] = None
+        # Plugins whose metrics this process recorded since the last snapshot
+        # write: only their entries are overwritten, the rest are kept as
+        # found on disk.
+        self._metrics_dirty: Set[str] = set()

        # Lock for thread-safe access
        self._lock = threading.Lock()
@@ -247,10 +267,14 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
        with self._lock:
            if force_reload or plugin_id not in self._metrics:
                # Try to load from cache
-                cache_key = self._get_metrics_key(plugin_id)
-                cached = self.cache_manager.get(
-                    cache_key, max_age=None, memory_ttl=0 if force_reload else None
-                )
+                memory_ttl = 0 if force_reload else None
+                cached = self._read_snapshot(memory_ttl).get(plugin_id)
+                if cached is None:
+                    # Not in the snapshot: the per-plugin record an older
+                    # version wrote, if there is one.
+                    cached = self.cache_manager.get(
+                        self._get_metrics_key(plugin_id), max_age=None,
+                        memory_ttl=memory_ttl)
                if cached:
                    metrics = self._metrics_from_cache(plugin_id, cached)
                else:
@@ -498,12 +522,70 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
            summaries[plugin_id] = self.get_metrics_summary(plugin_id)
        return summaries
    
-    def _persist_metrics(self, plugin_id: str, metrics: ResourceMetrics,
-                         force: bool = False) -> None:
-        """Write a plugin's metrics to the cache, at most once per interval.
+    def _read_snapshot(self, memory_ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """The snapshot's per-plugin records, or {} if there is none usable.

        Caller must hold ``self._lock``.
        """
+        cached = self.cache_manager.get(
+            METRICS_SNAPSHOT_KEY, max_age=None, memory_ttl=memory_ttl)
+        if not isinstance(cached, dict) or cached.get('schema') != _METRICS_SNAPSHOT_SCHEMA:
+            return {}
+        plugins = cached.get('plugins')
+        return plugins if isinstance(plugins, dict) else {}
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _metrics_record(metrics: ResourceMetrics) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """One plugin's entry in the snapshot."""
+        return {
+            'memory_mb': metrics.memory_mb,
+            'cpu_percent': metrics.cpu_percent,
+            'execution_time': metrics.execution_time,
+            'call_count': metrics.call_count,
+            'total_execution_time': metrics.total_execution_time,
+            'max_execution_time': metrics.max_execution_time,
+            'min_execution_time': (metrics.min_execution_time
+                                   if metrics.min_execution_time != float('inf')
+                                   else 0.0),
+            'last_update_time': metrics.last_update_time,
+        }
+
+    def _write_snapshot(self, drop: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        """Write the snapshot: what is on disk, with this process's recorded
+        plugins updated and ``drop`` removed.
+
+        Starting from the disk copy rather than from memory keeps the entries
+        of plugins this process has not run -- disabled ones, which the web UI
+        still shows -- and a reset made from the other process.
+
+        Caller must hold ``self._lock``.
+        """
+        plugins = dict(self._read_snapshot(memory_ttl=0))
+        if drop is not None:
+            plugins.pop(drop, None)
+        for plugin_id in self._metrics_dirty:
+            if plugin_id in self._metrics:
+                plugins[plugin_id] = self._metrics_record(self._metrics[plugin_id])
+        cutoff = time.time() - _METRICS_SNAPSHOT_ENTRY_MAX_AGE
+        for plugin_id, record in list(plugins.items()):
+            last = record.get('last_update_time') if isinstance(record, dict) else None
+            if isinstance(last, (int, float)) and last < cutoff:
+                del plugins[plugin_id]
+        self.cache_manager.set(METRICS_SNAPSHOT_KEY, {
+            'schema': _METRICS_SNAPSHOT_SCHEMA,
+            'plugins': plugins,
+        })
+        # Only once the write has landed, so a failed one is retried in full.
+        self._metrics_dirty.clear()
+
+    def _persist_metrics(self, plugin_id: str, metrics: ResourceMetrics,
+                         force: bool = False) -> None:
+        """Record that a plugin's metrics changed, and write the snapshot if
+        the last write is at least an interval old.
+
+        Caller must hold ``self._lock``.
+        """
+        self._metrics_dirty.add(plugin_id)
        # Monotonic, not wall clock: these devices have no RTC, so the clock
        # jumps by however far off boot-time was the moment NTP first syncs.
        # A forward jump would allow an early write, a backward one would
@@ -515,35 +597,26 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
        # single run -- the throttle swallowed the very first snapshot, which
        # is the one that matters most after a restart.
        now = time.monotonic()
-        last_written = self._metrics_persisted_at.get(plugin_id)
+        last_written = self._snapshot_persisted_at
        if (not force and last_written is not None
                and now - last_written < _METRICS_PERSIST_INTERVAL):
            return
-        cache_key = self._get_metrics_key(plugin_id)
-        self.cache_manager.set(cache_key, {
-            'memory_mb': metrics.memory_mb,
-            'cpu_percent': metrics.cpu_percent,
-            'execution_time': metrics.execution_time,
-            'call_count': metrics.call_count,
-            'total_execution_time': metrics.total_execution_time,
-            'max_execution_time': metrics.max_execution_time,
-            'min_execution_time': (metrics.min_execution_time
-                                   if metrics.min_execution_time != float('inf')
-                                   else 0.0),
-            'last_update_time': metrics.last_update_time,
-        })
+        self._write_snapshot()
        # Only after the write lands. Marking it first would mean a failed
        # set() bought the next interval's silence without leaving a snapshot.
-        self._metrics_persisted_at[plugin_id] = now
+        self._snapshot_persisted_at = now

    def reset_metrics(self, plugin_id: str) -> None:
        """Reset metrics for a plugin."""
        with self._lock:
            if plugin_id in self._metrics:
                self._metrics[plugin_id] = ResourceMetrics()
-                cache_key = self._get_metrics_key(plugin_id)
-                self.cache_manager.delete(cache_key)
+                self._metrics_dirty.discard(plugin_id)
+                self._write_snapshot(drop=plugin_id)
+                # The record an older version wrote, so the reader's fallback
+                # cannot bring the old numbers back.
+                self.cache_manager.delete(self._get_metrics_key(plugin_id))
                # Let the next call persist immediately rather than leaving the
-                # deleted key absent for the rest of the interval.
-                self._metrics_persisted_at.pop(plugin_id, None)
+                # plugin absent from the snapshot for the rest of the interval.
+                self._snapshot_persisted_at = None

@@ -344,12 +344,26 @@ class PluginStoreManager(_RegistryMixin, _InstallMixin, _UpdateMixin):
        2. Fix permissions via os.chmod() then retry (works for same-owner files)
        3. Use sudo rm -rf as last resort (works for root-owned __pycache__, etc.)

+        A symlink -- a dev plugin linked in by scripts/dev/dev_plugin_setup.sh
+        -- is removed as a link, before any of that: rmtree refuses one, and
+        stage 2 would walk through it and chmod the developer's checkout.
+
        Args:
            path: Path to directory to remove

        Returns:
            True if directory was removed successfully, False otherwise
        """
+        if path.is_symlink():
+            # Checked before exists(), which follows the link: a dangling one
+            # would read as already removed and be left behind.
+            try:
+                path.unlink()
+                return True
+            except OSError as e:
+                self.logger.error(f"Could not remove the symlink {path}: {e}")
+                return False
+
        if not path.exists():
            return True  # Already removed

@@ -14,9 +14,7 @@ PIL Image canvas and draws text using the actual project fonts.
 MAINTENANCE WARNING: this class is a deliberate fork of
 src/display_manager.py so it can run without hardware. It mirrors
 these DisplayManager methods by name and behavior: _load_fonts,
-get_font_height, get_text_width, draw_text,
-draw_text_with_icons, draw_weather_icon (and the _draw_sun/_draw_cloud/
-_draw_rain/_draw_snow/_draw_storm family), format_date_with_ordinal,
+get_font_height, get_text_width, draw_text, format_date_with_ordinal,
 capture_mode, set_scrolling_state, is_currently_scrolling,
 process_deferred_updates, update_display, render_size, offscreen. A behavior
 change to any of those in DisplayManager must be mirrored here, or
@@ -26,13 +24,12 @@ BDF text is not mirrored: both classes load BDF faces and draw BDF glyphs
 through src/common/bdf_font.py, so those pixels cannot drift.
 """

-import math
 import os
 import time
 import warnings
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Any, List, Optional, Tuple
+from typing import Any, Optional, Tuple

 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 from src.common.bdf_font import draw_bdf_text, load_bdf_face
@@ -63,15 +60,6 @@ class VisualTestDisplayManager:
    no emulator dependency.
    """

-    # Weather icon color constants (same as DisplayManager)
-    WEATHER_COLORS = {
-        'sun': (255, 200, 0),
-        'cloud': (200, 200, 200),
-        'rain': (0, 100, 255),
-        'snow': (220, 220, 255),
-        'storm': (255, 255, 0),
-    }
-
    def __init__(self, width: int = 128, height: int = 32):
        self._width = width
        self._height = height
@@ -410,129 +398,6 @@ class VisualTestDisplayManager:
                return font.size
            return 8

-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-    # Weather drawing helpers
-    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-    def draw_sun(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw a sun icon using yellow circles and lines."""
-        self._draw_sun(x, y, size)
-
-    def draw_cloud(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16, color: Tuple[int, int, int] = (200, 200, 200)):
-        """Draw a cloud icon."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size, color)
-
-    def draw_rain(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw rain icon with cloud and droplets."""
-        self._draw_rain(x, y, size)
-
-    def draw_snow(self, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16):
-        """Draw snow icon with cloud and snowflakes."""
-        self._draw_snow(x, y, size)
-
-    def _draw_sun(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw a sun icon with rays (internal weather icon version)."""
-        center_x, center_y = x + size // 2, y + size // 2
-        radius = size // 4
-        ray_length = size // 3
-        self.draw.ellipse(
-            [center_x - radius, center_y - radius,
-             center_x + radius, center_y + radius],
-            fill=self.WEATHER_COLORS['sun'],
-        )
-        for angle in range(0, 360, 45):
-            rad = math.radians(angle)
-            start_x = center_x + int((radius + 2) * math.cos(rad))
-            start_y = center_y + int((radius + 2) * math.sin(rad))
-            end_x = center_x + int((radius + ray_length) * math.cos(rad))
-            end_y = center_y + int((radius + ray_length) * math.sin(rad))
-            self.draw.line([start_x, start_y, end_x, end_y], fill=self.WEATHER_COLORS['sun'], width=2)
-
-    def _draw_cloud(self, x: int, y: int, size: int, color: Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]] = None) -> None:
-        """Draw a cloud using multiple circles (internal weather icon version)."""
-        cloud_color = color if color is not None else self.WEATHER_COLORS['cloud']
-        base_y = y + size // 2
-        circle_radius = size // 4
-        positions = [
-            (x + size // 3, base_y),
-            (x + size // 2, base_y - size // 6),
-            (x + 2 * size // 3, base_y),
-        ]
-        for cx, cy in positions:
-            self.draw.ellipse(
-                [cx - circle_radius, cy - circle_radius,
-                 cx + circle_radius, cy + circle_radius],
-                fill=cloud_color,
-            )
-
-    def _draw_rain(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw rain drops falling from a cloud."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        rain_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['rain']
-        drop_size = size // 8
-        drops = [
-            (x + size // 4, y + 2 * size // 3),
-            (x + size // 2, y + 3 * size // 4),
-            (x + 3 * size // 4, y + 2 * size // 3),
-        ]
-        for dx, dy in drops:
-            self.draw.line([dx, dy, dx - drop_size // 2, dy + drop_size], fill=rain_color, width=2)
-
-    def _draw_snow(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw snowflakes falling from a cloud."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        snow_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['snow']
-        flake_size = size // 6
-        flakes = [
-            (x + size // 4, y + 2 * size // 3),
-            (x + size // 2, y + 3 * size // 4),
-            (x + 3 * size // 4, y + 2 * size // 3),
-        ]
-        for fx, fy in flakes:
-            for angle in range(0, 360, 60):
-                rad = math.radians(angle)
-                end_x = fx + int(flake_size * math.cos(rad))
-                end_y = fy + int(flake_size * math.sin(rad))
-                self.draw.line([fx, fy, end_x, end_y], fill=snow_color, width=1)
-
-    def _draw_storm(self, x: int, y: int, size: int) -> None:
-        """Draw a storm cloud with lightning bolt."""
-        self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        bolt_color = self.WEATHER_COLORS['storm']
-        bolt_points = [
-            (x + size // 2, y + size // 2),
-            (x + 3 * size // 5, y + 2 * size // 3),
-            (x + 2 * size // 5, y + 2 * size // 3),
-            (x + size // 2, y + 5 * size // 6),
-        ]
-        self.draw.polygon(bolt_points, fill=bolt_color)
-
-    def draw_weather_icon(self, condition: str, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None:
-        """Draw a weather icon based on the condition."""
-        cond = condition.lower()
-        if cond in ('clear', 'sunny'):
-            self._draw_sun(x, y, size)
-        elif cond in ('clouds', 'cloudy', 'partly cloudy'):
-            self._draw_cloud(x, y, size)
-        elif cond in ('rain', 'drizzle', 'shower'):
-            self._draw_rain(x, y, size)
-        elif cond in ('snow', 'sleet', 'hail'):
-            self._draw_snow(x, y, size)
-        elif cond in ('thunderstorm', 'storm'):
-            self._draw_storm(x, y, size)
-        else:
-            self._draw_sun(x, y, size)
-
-    def draw_text_with_icons(self, text: str, icons: List[tuple] = None,
-                             x: int = None, y: int = None,
-                             color: tuple = (255, 255, 255)):
-        """Draw text with weather icons at specified positions."""
-        self.draw_text(text, x, y, color)
-        if icons:
-            for icon_type, icon_x, icon_y in icons:
-                self.draw_weather_icon(icon_type, icon_x, icon_y)
-        self.update_display()
-
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Scrolling state (no-op interface compat)
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ above it near the end, the section below must show one more refresh of lag to
 stay continuous with it (and one less where the order jumps the other way).
 Stacked parallel chains are lit simultaneously, so each further half adds one.

+A frame held for several refreshes (a slower, crisp scroll) is presented as a
+sequence of swaps instead of one long hold, so the lagging half can step one
+refresh after the rest: see :func:`refresh_plan`.
+
 Only layouts whose physical row order is known are compensated: plain chains,
 parallel chains, and a 0 or 180 degree rotation. Other pixel mappers
 (U-mapper, 90/270 rotation, ...), special multiplexing and interlaced scan are
@@ -109,19 +113,47 @@ def scan_lag_bands(hardware: Mapping[str, Any], height: int,
    return [band for band in bands if band[2] > 0] or None


-def compose(image: Image.Image, history: Sequence[Image.Image],
-            bands: Sequence[Band]) -> Image.Image:
-    """``image`` with each band taken from the frame ``lag`` refreshes back.
+def refresh_plan(bands: Sequence[Band], hold: int) -> List[Tuple[Tuple[int, ...], int]]:
+    """How to present one frame that is held for ``hold`` refreshes.

-    ``history[0]`` is the previous frame. A band whose frame is not available
-    yet (the first frames of a scroll) is left current. Returns ``image`` itself
-    when nothing changes, so the caller pays for a copy only when it must.
+    A band lagging ``lag`` refreshes shows, on refresh ``r`` of the frame, what
+    the panel showed ``lag`` refreshes earlier: the current frame once
+    ``r >= lag``, else a frame ``ceil((lag - r) / hold)`` back. At one refresh
+    per frame that is just ``lag`` frames back. Held longer, the lagging band
+    steps one refresh after the rest instead of one frame, which is the only
+    way to cancel the offset: it is a fraction of a frame there.
+
+    Returns ``[(frames_back_per_band, refreshes), ...]`` in order, merging
+    neighbouring refreshes that show the same thing so each costs one swap.
+    """
+    plan: List[Tuple[Tuple[int, ...], int]] = []
+    for r in range(max(1, hold)):
+        backs = tuple(max(0, -((r - lag) // max(1, hold))) for _, _, lag in bands)
+        if plan and plan[-1][0] == backs:
+            plan[-1] = (backs, plan[-1][1] + 1)
+        else:
+            plan.append((backs, 1))
+    return plan
+
+
+def compose(image: Image.Image, history: Sequence[Image.Image],
+            bands: Sequence[Band],
+            backs: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None) -> Image.Image:
+    """``image`` with each band taken from an earlier frame.
+
+    ``history[0]`` is the previous frame. ``backs`` is how many frames back each
+    band is taken from (0 = the current one); by default that is the band's lag,
+    which is right when every frame is held for one refresh. A band whose frame
+    is not available yet (the first frames of a scroll) is left current.
+    Returns ``image`` itself when nothing changes, so the caller pays for a copy
+    only when it must.
    """
    out = image
-    for top, bottom, lag in bands:
-        if lag > len(history):
+    for i, (top, bottom, lag) in enumerate(bands):
+        back = lag if backs is None else backs[i]
+        if back <= 0 or back > len(history):
            continue
-        source = history[lag - 1]
+        source = history[back - 1]
        if source.size != image.size:
            continue
        if out is image:
@@ -95,11 +95,13 @@ class StartupValidator:
    def _validate_systemd_units(self) -> None:
        """Warn when an installed unit has drifted from the repo's template.

-        Nothing re-applies these after the first install. `git pull` -- which is
-        what the web UI's update button runs -- brings a new template into the
-        checkout, but nothing copies it to /etc/systemd/system and nothing runs
-        `systemctl daemon-reload`, so the unit that actually runs is whatever
-        first_time_install.sh wrote on day one.
+        Before updates refreshed units, nothing re-applied these after the
+        first install: `git pull` brought a new template into the checkout,
+        but nothing copied it to /etc/systemd/system, so the unit that
+        actually ran was whatever first_time_install.sh wrote on day one.
+        Updates now install changed units through the root helper
+        ledmatrix-refresh-units (web_interface/unit_refresh.py) -- but only on
+        a device whose installer granted it, so this still catches the rest.

        That makes every hardening added to a unit inert on existing installs.
        Measured on one rig: the installed unit was thirteen days older than the
@@ -141,10 +143,11 @@ class StartupValidator:

                if self._unit_body(expected) != self._unit_body(actual):
                    self.warnings.append(
-                        f"{installed.name} differs from {template_rel}; the "
-                        "installed unit is not refreshed by an update, so "
+                        f"{installed.name} differs from {template_rel}, so "
                        "settings added to the template are not in effect. "
-                        "Re-run scripts/install/install_service.sh to apply them."
+                        "Updates apply them only once the installer has granted "
+                        "ledmatrix-refresh-units: re-run "
+                        "scripts/install/install_service.sh (or first_time_install.sh) to apply them."
                    )
        except OSError as e:
            self.logger.debug("Could not compare systemd units: %s", e)
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
        # Interrupt checker for yielding control back to display controller
        self._interrupt_check: Optional[Callable[[], bool]] = None
        self._interrupt_check_interval: int = 10  # Check every N frames
+        # Checked every frame; True runs the interrupt check at once.
+        self._interrupt_urgent: Optional[Callable[[], bool]] = None

        # Plugin update callback — fired from a background thread inside the loop
        # so the main loop's _tick_plugin_updates() finds nothing due when Vegas
@@ -226,7 +228,8 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
    def set_interrupt_checker(
        self,
        checker: Callable[[], bool],
-        check_interval: int = 10
+        check_interval: int = 10,
+        urgent: Optional[Callable[[], bool]] = None,
    ) -> None:
        """
        Set the callback for checking if Vegas should yield control.
@@ -237,9 +240,25 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
        Args:
            checker: Callable that returns True if Vegas should yield
            check_interval: Check every N frames (default 10)
+            urgent: A cheap per-frame test; when it is True the checker
+                runs at this frame instead of waiting for the interval (the
+                display controller passes "a control socket command is
+                queued", so a command waits one frame, not ten)
        """
        self._interrupt_check = checker
        self._interrupt_check_interval = max(1, check_interval)
+        self._interrupt_urgent = urgent
+
+    def _interrupt_is_urgent(self) -> bool:
+        """The per-frame test set with ``urgent``; never raises."""
+        urgent = getattr(self, '_interrupt_urgent', None)
+        if urgent is None:
+            return False
+        try:
+            return bool(urgent())  # pylint: disable=not-callable
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            logger.debug("Urgent interrupt test failed", exc_info=True)
+            return False

    def set_update_callback(self, callback: Callable[[], None]) -> None:
        """
@@ -709,7 +728,8 @@ class VegasModeCoordinator:
                frame_times.clear()

            if (self._interrupt_check and
-                    frame_count % self._interrupt_check_interval == 0):
+                    (frame_count % self._interrupt_check_interval == 0
+                     or self._interrupt_is_urgent())):
                try:
                    if self._interrupt_check():
                        logger.debug(
@@ -369,6 +369,7 @@ class VegasWorker(threading.Thread):
            member = p.stream_manager.fetch_group_member(
                job.pending.pop(0), offscreen_only=True)
            if member is not None:
+                p.prepare_group_member(member)
                job.group.append(member)
        if not job.pending:
            self._group_job = None
@@ -183,9 +183,27 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                    "round", plugin_id, self.PLUGIN_LOCK_TIMEOUT
                )
                return None
+            if not self._still_loaded(plugin, plugin_id):
+                return None
            return self._fetch_content(plugin, plugin_id, restricted=False,
                                       keyed=keyed)

+    def _still_loaded(self, plugin: 'BasePlugin', plugin_id: str) -> bool:
+        """Whether ``plugin`` is still the loaded instance of ``plugin_id``.
+
+        Checked once the plugin's lock is held: a reload or a disable can
+        take the instance out and tear it down while this fetch waited for
+        the lock (PluginManager.detach_plugin), and a torn-down instance is
+        not asked for content. True when the manager keeps no ``plugins``
+        mapping to ask.
+        """
+        plugins = getattr(self.plugin_manager, 'plugins', None)
+        if not isinstance(plugins, dict) or plugins.get(plugin_id) is plugin:
+            return True
+        logger.debug("[%s] Unloaded or reloaded while waiting for its lock; "
+                     "skipping the old instance", plugin_id)
+        return False
+
    def is_live_capable(self, plugin: 'BasePlugin', plugin_id: str) -> bool:
        """Whether to ask this plugin for live elements rather than pictures.

@@ -922,6 +940,8 @@ class PluginAdapter:
                return None
            epochs = self.live_epochs
            epoch = epochs.get(plugin_id) if epochs is not None else 0
+            if not self._still_loaded(plugin, plugin_id):
+                return epoch, {}
            render_width = self.resolve_render_width(plugin, plugin_id)
            plugin._vegas_render_width = render_width
            try:
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import threading
 from collections import deque
 from contextlib import nullcontext
 from typing import Optional, List, Any, Dict, Deque, Tuple
+import numpy as np
 from PIL import Image

 from src.common.scroll_config import solve_crisp
@@ -77,6 +78,19 @@ def join_plugin_rows(
    return block, layout


+class PreparedBlock:
+    """One plugin's block, joined and turned into pixels ahead of the strip."""
+
+    __slots__ = ('images', 'block', 'layout', 'pixels')
+
+    def __init__(self, images: List[Image.Image], config: VegasModeConfig) -> None:
+        # Held so the id() it is filed under cannot be reused while it waits.
+        self.images = images
+        self.block, self.layout = join_plugin_rows(images, config)
+        block = self.block if self.block.mode == 'RGB' else self.block.convert('RGB')
+        self.pixels = np.asarray(block)
+
+
 class RenderPipeline:
    """
    High-performance render pipeline for Vegas scroll mode.
@@ -115,6 +129,17 @@ class RenderPipeline:
    # without __init__ (tests).
    _static_markers: Tuple[Tuple[int, str], ...] = ()

+    # Blocks joined off the render thread by whichever thread fetched the
+    # group (prepare_group_member): id(images) -> PreparedBlock. Laying a
+    # plugin's rows out and turning the block into pixels cost the frame
+    # after every extension ~35 ms on a Pi 4 when done there. Only producer
+    # threads add entries and only extend_scroll_content takes them; a
+    # reset drops the lot. Made on first use, so pipelines built without
+    # __init__ (tests) work too.
+    _prepared_blocks: Optional[Dict[int, 'PreparedBlock']] = None
+    #: Blocks kept waiting at most; a group is a handful of plugins.
+    PREPARED_BLOCKS_MAX = 64
+
    # Live elements in the strip (see "live element records" below). Replaced,
    # never mutated, like _static_markers, and class-level for the same reason.
    _elements: Tuple[ElementRecord, ...] = ()
@@ -598,6 +623,8 @@ class RenderPipeline:
                try:
                    with gate.yielding() if gate is not None else nullcontext():
                        group = self.stream_manager.take_next_group(offscreen_only=True)
+                        for member in group or ():
+                            self.prepare_group_member(member)
                except Exception:
                    logger.exception("Background prefetch failed")
                    group = []
@@ -677,6 +704,35 @@ class RenderPipeline:
        """Whether any canvas-bound plugins are still queued."""
        return bool(self._deferred_queue)

+    def prepare_group_member(self, member) -> None:
+        """Join one fetched ``(plugin_id, images)`` ahead of the strip.
+
+        Called by the thread that fetched it (the prefetch thread or the live
+        worker, under the render gate), so the extension that appends it only
+        has to copy its pixels into the strip. Never raises: a member left
+        unprepared is joined at the extension instead, as before.
+        """
+        try:
+            images = member[1]
+            if not images:
+                return
+            blocks = self._prepared_blocks
+            if blocks is None:
+                blocks = self._prepared_blocks = {}
+            if len(blocks) >= self.PREPARED_BLOCKS_MAX:
+                blocks.clear()      # left by groups that were never appended
+            blocks[id(images)] = PreparedBlock(images, self.config)
+        except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            logger.debug("Could not prepare a Vegas block ahead", exc_info=True)
+
+    def _take_prepared_block(self, images: List[Image.Image]) -> Optional[PreparedBlock]:
+        """The block prepared for exactly these images, if there is one."""
+        blocks = self._prepared_blocks
+        if not blocks:
+            return None
+        prepared = blocks.pop(id(images), None)
+        return prepared if prepared is not None and prepared.images is images else None
+
    def _claim_prepared_group(self):
        """Take the prefetched group, if one is ready."""
        with self._prefetch_lock:
@@ -719,6 +775,8 @@ class RenderPipeline:
            for pid, images in grouped:
                if is_static is not None and is_static(pid):
                    statics.append((sum(1 for _p, imgs in content if imgs), pid))
+                    if images:
+                        self._take_prepared_block(images)   # never appended
                else:
                    content.append((pid, images))
            grouped = content
@@ -757,10 +815,18 @@ class RenderPipeline:

            blocks = []
            layouts = []
+            items = []
            total_rows = 0
            for _plugin_id, images in grouped:
                total_rows += len(images)
-                block, layout = self._join_plugin_rows_with_layout(images)
+                prepared = self._take_prepared_block(images)
+                if prepared is not None:
+                    block, layout = prepared.block, prepared.layout
+                    items.append(prepared.pixels)
+                else:
+                    # Fetched inline, or by a thread that did not prepare it.
+                    block, layout = self._join_plugin_rows_with_layout(images)
+                    items.append(block)
                blocks.append(block)
                layouts.append(layout)

@@ -769,7 +835,7 @@ class RenderPipeline:
                # append_content is about to build a strip from scratch.
                self._reset_records()
            appended = self.scroll_helper.append_content(
-                content_items=blocks,
+                content_items=items,
                item_gap=self.config.separator_width,
                element_gap=0,
            )
@@ -1410,6 +1476,7 @@ class RenderPipeline:
            self._prefetch_generation += 1
            self._prepared_group = None
            self._deferred_queue = []
+            self._prepared_blocks = None
        self._static_markers = ()
        self._stop_live_worker()
        self._reset_records()
--- a/Show More
+++ b/Show More