Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into fix/snapshot-viewer-gating

# Conflicts:
#	src/display_manager.py

docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md

@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+# Adaptive Layout & Font Scaling
+
+`src/adaptive_layout.py` lets a plugin render legibly on **any** panel size
+(64x32, 128x32, 96x48, 128x64, 256x64, ...) without hand-tuned per-display
+layouts. It is **opt-in**: nothing changes for plugins that don't use it.
+
+It generalizes three patterns proven in the plugin ecosystem:
+
+| Pattern | Origin | Core API |
+|---|---|---|
+| Geometry scale factor vs. a design size | f1-scoreboard | `ctx.px(base)` / `ctx.scale` |
+| Breakpoint tiers | masters-tournament | `ctx.tier` / `ctx.by_tier({...})` |
+| "Largest crisp font that fits" ladder | baseball-scoreboard | `ctx.fit_text(...)` and friends |
+
+## Quick start
+
+Every `BasePlugin` has a lazy `self.layout` (a `LayoutContext` for the
+current logical display size, rebuilt automatically if the size changes)
+and a one-liner `self.draw_fit(...)`:
+
+```python
+def display(self, force_clear=False):
+    from src.adaptive_layout import LADDER_ARCADE
+
+    b = self.layout.bounds.inset(1)          # Region(0,0,W,H) minus 1px margin
+    rows = b.split_v(3, 1, 1, gap=1)          # 3/5 for time, 1/5 each for the rest
+
+    self.draw_fit(self.time_str, rows[0], ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+    self.draw_fit(self.weekday, rows[1])      # default LADDER_GRID
+    self.draw_fit(self.date_str, rows[2])
+    self.display_manager.update_display()
+```
+
+On 128x64 the time renders at press_start 24px; on 64x32 it steps down to
+8px. The rows partition the height, so bands can never overlap — no more
+`y = height - 7` magic numbers.
+
+## Region — rect algebra
+
+`Region(x, y, w, h)` is a frozen dataclass. All carving clamps to
+non-negative dimensions, so degenerate panels behave.
+
+- Carving: `inset(dx, dy)`, `top_band(h)`, `bottom_band(h)`,
+  `middle(top_h, bottom_h)`, `left_col(w)`, `right_col(w)`,
+  `split_h(*weights, gap=0)`, `split_v(*weights, gap=0)`
+- Placement: `align_xy(w, h, align, valign)`, `center_xy(w, h)`,
+  `contains(w, h)`, `.center`, `.right`, `.bottom`
+
+Scoreboard-style layout:
+
+```python
+b = self.layout.bounds
+status = b.top_band(self.layout.px(7))
+detail = b.bottom_band(self.layout.px(7))
+score_area = b.middle(status.h, detail.h)
+away_slot, home_slot = b.left_col(b.h), b.right_col(b.h)
+```
+
+## Font ladders — discrete, never fractional
+
+Pixel fonts (BDF, PressStart2P) only look right at native/integer sizes, so
+fonts are never scaled continuously. A `FontLadder` is an ordered tuple of
+`FontStep(family, size_px)` rungs, largest first; fitting walks down until
+the measured text fits.
+
+- `LADDER_GRID` (default): X11 BDFs at native sizes — 10x20 → 9x18 → 9x15 →
+  8x13 → 7x13 → 6x13 → 6x12 → 6x10 → 6x9 → 5x8 → 5x7 → 4x6 → tom-thumb.
+  Body text, labels, multi-row content.
+- `LADDER_ARCADE`: PressStart2P at 32/24/16/8 (integer multiples of its 8px
+  grid). Headline text: clocks, scores.
+
+Custom ladders are just tuples — e.g. to add your plugin's registered font
+on top: `(FontStep("myplugin::digits", 16),) + LADDER_GRID`.
+
+## LayoutContext
+
+Built per (width, height); exposes facts and fit queries:
+
+- `bounds`, `width`, `height`, `aspect`
+- `tier` by height (`xs`≤16, `sm`≤32, `md`≤48, `lg`≤64, `xl`) and
+  `width_tier` (`narrow`≤64, `normal`≤128, `wide`≤256, `ultrawide`)
+- `is_wide_short` — aspect ≥ 2.5 and height ≤ 32 (the classic 128x32 shape)
+- `scale` — `min(w/design_w, h/design_h)` vs. your manifest's
+  `display.design_size` (default 128x32). **Geometry only** — gaps, icon
+  and logo sizes via `px(base, minimum, maximum)`; fonts use ladders.
+- `by_tier({"sm": 10, "lg": 18})` — value for the nearest defined tier
+  at-or-below the panel's tier.
+- `fit_text(text, box, ladder, ellipsis=True)` → `FitResult` — largest rung
+  that fits; ellipsizes as a last resort. Cached per (text, box, ladder).
+- `fit_text_proportional(text, box, base_size_px, ladder, ellipsis=True, scale=None)` —
+  rung closest to (not exceeding) `base_size_px * scale`, still capped to
+  what fits the box. Use this instead of `fit_text` when several
+  independently-fitted elements need to stay visually harmonious as the
+  panel grows — `fit_text` maximizes *each one* within its own region,
+  which can make one element (e.g. a score with a generous box) balloon
+  out of proportion to a neighbor that scales by geometry (e.g. logos
+  sized via `px()`), even though each individual pick is "correct" in
+  isolation. `base_size_px` is normally the element's existing classic/
+  fixed font size. `scale` defaults to `self.scale` (the conservative
+  min-of-both-axes factor `px()` uses); pass an axis-specific value when
+  the surrounding composition already scales that way — e.g. a scoreboard
+  whose logo slots track height alone (`min(height, width // 2)`) should
+  size its text by `height / design_height` too, or the text reads as
+  under-scaled next to bigger logos on a panel that only grew taller.
+- `fit_lines(lines, box, ladder, spacing)` — every line fits the width and
+  the stack fits the height (measures the actual strings).
+- `font_for_rows(rows, box_h, ladder)` — largest rung whose line height
+  fits `rows` rows.
+
+`FitResult` carries the ready-to-use `font` (drops straight into
+`display_manager.draw_text(font=...)`), the possibly-ellipsized `text`,
+ink `width`/`height`, `baseline`, `y_offset`, `line_height`, and `fits`.
+
+## Adaptive images
+
+`src/adaptive_images.py` is the image counterpart to `fit_text`, exposed as
+`self.layout.fit_image(...)` (cached per panel size) and the one-liner
+`self.draw_image(...)`:
+
+```python
+# Team logo: trim its transparent padding, fill the slot height (the
+# football/hockey pattern), cached across frames by a stable key
+self.draw_image(logo, regs.away_slot, mode="fill_height",
+                crop_to_ink=True, cache_key=f"logo:{abbr}")
+
+# Album art: cover-crop a square, faces kept by the top anchor
+self.draw_image(art, row.art, mode="cover", anchor="top")
+
+# Pixel flags / sprite icons: NEAREST keeps hard edges
+from src.adaptive_images import RESAMPLE_NEAREST
+self.draw_image(flag, box, resample=RESAMPLE_NEAREST)
+```
+
+Modes: `contain` (letterbox, default), `cover` (crop-to-fill),
+`fill_height` (logo-style), `stretch`. Unlike PIL's `thumbnail()`
+(downscale-only — why imagery stays tiny on big panels) fitting **upscales
+by default**; pass `upscale=False` for the legacy behavior. Results are
+cached per (image, box size, options) with a bounded LRU — always pass a
+stable `cache_key` (e.g. `"logo:KC"`) for images you reload. The module
+also exports the Pillow-compat `RESAMPLE_LANCZOS`/`RESAMPLE_NEAREST`
+constants so plugins can drop their local shims.
+
+## Composite layouts
+
+Pre-carved Region arrangements for the layouts plugins keep rebuilding:
+
+```python
+from src.adaptive_layout import scoreboard_regions, media_row
+
+regs = scoreboard_regions(self.layout.bounds, ctx=self.layout)
+# regs.away_slot / home_slot   — logo slots (logo_slot = min(H, W // 2),
+#                                 capped so a center reserve always exists —
+#                                 see below)
+# regs.status_band             — top band (replaces the magic y = 1)
+# regs.score_area              — center gap, plus a controlled bleed into
+#                                 each logo slot (replaces y = H//2 - 3)
+# regs.detail_band             — bottom band (replaces y = H - 7)
+# regs.bottom_left / bottom_right — record/timeout corners
+
+row = media_row(self.layout.bounds, ctx=self.layout)   # art left, text right
+```
+
+Both work on the full panel or on a scroll-mode card Region. They return
+Regions and never draw — compose them with `draw_fit`/`draw_image`.
+
+**`scoreboard_regions`'s center reserve.** The raw `logo_slot = min(H, W//2)`
+formula has a blind spot: at exactly 2:1 aspect ratio (width = 2×height —
+two, four, or more square modules stacked into a taller panel, e.g.
+96x48, 128x64, 256x128) the two logo slots mathematically claim the
+*entire* width, leaving zero pixels for a center column no matter how
+big the panel gets. Wide panels (the 128x32 design baseline, 192x48,
+256x32) never hit this, since height is already the tighter constraint
+there. Two parameters fix it without any plugin-side code:
+`min_center_fraction`/`min_center_design_px` guarantee a real minimum
+center reserve at any aspect ratio, and `score_bleed_fraction` lets the
+score's *fit box* extend a controlled amount into each logo slot — the
+same way a real broadcast scoreboard's numbers cross slightly into the
+team marks flanking them — so a short score string never has to truncate
+even on the tightest aspect ratios. All three have sane defaults; override
+them per call if a plugin's card proportions genuinely differ.
+
+## Preserving user customization
+
+Adaptive layout supplies *defaults*; explicit user configuration wins:
+
+- **User-set fonts win.** If the plugin's config has an explicit
+  `font`/`font_size` for an element, load it as before and skip the ladder —
+  fit only when the user hasn't overridden (see the football-scoreboard
+  `_resolve_element_fit` pattern).
+- **Offsets apply on top.** `customization.layout.<element>.{x_offset,y_offset}`
+  style knobs translate the *computed* region as a final step:
+  `region.offset(user_dx, user_dy)`. `draw_image(..., offset=(dx, dy))`
+  does the same for images.
+- **Colors pass through.** `draw_fit`/`draw_fitted_text` take explicit
+  `color=` params; adaptive mode never repaints semantic or user-chosen
+  colors.
+
+## Manifest declaration
+
+Declare the size your layout was authored against so `ctx.scale` means
+something:
+
+```json
+"display": { "design_size": { "width": 128, "height": 32 } }
+```
+
+Also available under `requires.display_size`: `min_width`, `min_height`,
+`max_width`, `max_height`.
+
+## Performance notes (Pi)
+
+Fit queries are cached, so cost is O(unique strings). For per-second text
+(clocks, live scores), fit on a **shape placeholder** and reuse the font:
+
+```python
+fit = self.layout.fit_text("00:00", box, ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)  # cached once
+self.display_manager.draw_text(current_time, font=fit.font, ...)
+```
+
+## Testing across sizes
+
+The harness already renders every plugin at a spread of sizes (now
+including 96x48):
+
+```bash
+python scripts/check_plugin.py <plugin-dir> --sizes 64x32,128x32,96x48,128x64,256x64
+python scripts/render_plugin.py <plugin-dir> --width 96 --height 48
+```
+
+`BoundsCheckingDisplayManager` flags right/bottom overflow and now records
+mediated draw calls with negative coordinates in
+`negative_coordinate_calls` (raw-PIL draws remain uncovered).
+
+Reference migration: the **text-display** plugin's `font_mode: "auto"`.

docs/ADVANCED_PLUGIN_DEVELOPMENT.md

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 Advanced patterns, examples, and best practices for developing LEDMatrix plugins.
 
+> **Adaptive layout:** for plugins that should render legibly on any panel
+> size (fonts that grow on big panels, layouts that degrade gracefully on
+> small ones), use the adaptive layout system — `self.layout`, `draw_fit`,
+> `draw_image`, `scoreboard_regions` — documented in
+> [ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md).
+
 ## Table of Contents
 
 - [Using Weather Icons](#using-weather-icons)

docs/DEVELOPER_QUICK_REFERENCE.md

@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ display_manager.draw_text("Centered", centered=True)  # Auto-center
 width = display_manager.get_text_width("Text", font)
 height = display_manager.get_font_height(font)
 
+# Adaptive layout (recommended for multi-size support — text and images
+# that scale to any panel; see docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md)
+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
 display_manager.draw_weather_icon("rain", x=10, y=10, size=16)
 

docs/DEV_PREVIEW.md

@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@ Tools for rapid plugin development without deploying to the RPi.
 
 Interactive web UI for tweaking plugin configs and seeing the rendered display in real time.
 
+The size inputs have a preset dropdown with the harness's standard panel
+sizes, and the **All Sizes** button renders the current config at every
+harness size in a side-by-side gallery (`POST /api/render-matrix`) — the
+quickest way to eyeball adaptive-layout behavior across panels
+(see [ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md)).
+
 ### Quick Start
 
 ```bash

docs/FONT_MANAGER.md

@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # FontManager Usage Guide
 
+> **Picking a size automatically:** if you want the *largest font that fits
+> a given area* rather than a fixed size, use the adaptive layout system's
+> font ladders, which resolve through this FontManager. `BasePlugin`
+> subclasses get this as `self.layout.fit_text(...)`; other code can build
+> a `LayoutContext(width, height, font_manager)` directly — see
+> [ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md).
+
 ## Overview
 
 The enhanced FontManager provides comprehensive font management for the LEDMatrix application with support for:

docs/PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md

@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 Complete API reference for plugin developers. This document describes all methods and properties available to plugins through the Display Manager, Cache Manager, and Plugin Manager.
 
+> **Adaptive layout:** every `BasePlugin` also exposes `self.layout`,
+> `self.draw_fit(text, region)` and `self.draw_image(img, region, ...)` —
+> the recommended way to render text and images that scale to any panel
+> size. See [ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md).
+
 ## Table of Contents
 
 - [BasePlugin](#baseplugin)

docs/PLUGIN_DEVELOPMENT_GUIDE.md

@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 This guide explains how to set up a development workflow for plugins that are maintained in separate Git repositories while still being able to test them within the LEDMatrix project.
 
+> **Rendering guidance:** plugins should read the display size dynamically
+> (`self.display_manager.matrix.width/height`) rather than hardcoding one
+> panel. For plugins that want to *scale* their layout to any panel, the
+> opt-in adaptive layout system ([ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md))
+> provides the shared helpers — fonts, images, and composite layouts that
+> scale. Existing plugins keep their classic rendering unless they adopt
+> those APIs; nothing migrates automatically.
+
 ## Overview
 
 When developing plugins in separate repositories, you need a way to:

requirements.txt

@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ websocket-client>=1.8.0,<2.0.0
 # JSON Schema validation
 jsonschema>=4.20.0,<5.0.0
 
+# Requirement specifier parsing (plugin dependency satisfaction checks)
+packaging>=23.0,<27.0
+
 # Testing dependencies
 pytest>=9.0.3,<10.0.0
 pytest-cov>=4.1.0,<5.0.0

schema/manifest_schema.json

@@ -90,11 +90,40 @@
             "min_height": {
               "type": "integer",
               "minimum": 1
+            },
+            "max_width": {
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 1
+            },
+            "max_height": {
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 1
             }
           }
         }
       }
     },
+    "display": {
+      "type": "object",
+      "properties": {
+        "design_size": {
+          "type": "object",
+          "properties": {
+            "width": {
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 8
+            },
+            "height": {
+              "type": "integer",
+              "minimum": 8
+            }
+          },
+          "required": ["width", "height"],
+          "description": "Panel size the plugin's layout was authored against; core derives the adaptive-layout scale factor from it. Defaults to 128x32 when omitted."
+        }
+      },
+      "description": "Display/layout hints for the adaptive layout system"
+    },
     "config_schema": {
       "type": "string",
       "description": "Path to configuration schema file"

scripts/check_plugin.py

@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ os.environ['EMULATOR'] = 'true'
 
 from src.logging_config import get_logger  # noqa: E402
 from src.plugin_system.testing.loading import (  # noqa: E402
-    find_plugin_dir, load_config_defaults, load_harness_spec,
+    find_plugin_dir, load_config_defaults, load_harness_spec, load_manifest,
 )
 from src.plugin_system.testing.harness import (  # noqa: E402
     RenderResult, render_plugin_matrix, compare_to_goldens, write_goldens,
+    check_scale_up,
 )
 from src.plugin_system.testing.sizes import (  # noqa: E402
     parse_size_token, resolve_test_sizes, safe_mode_filename, size_label,
@@ -110,28 +111,55 @@ def check_one(plugin_id: str, search_dirs: List[str], sizes, mock_data: Dict,
     effective_freeze = freeze_time or spec.get("freeze_time")
     effective_run_update = run_update and not spec.get("skip_update", False)
 
-    results = render_plugin_matrix(
-        plugin_id=plugin_id, plugin_dir=plugin_dir, config=full_config,
-        mock_data=effective_mock_data, sizes=effective_sizes,
-        run_update=effective_run_update, freeze_time=effective_freeze,
-    )
+    # The plugin's declared design size drives the scale-up fill check
+    # (panels >= 2x the design size must not be left mostly empty).
+    declared = load_manifest(plugin_dir).get("display", {}).get("design_size", {})
+    design_size = (int(declared.get("width", 128)), int(declared.get("height", 32)))
+    fill_strict = spec.get("fill_check") == "strict"
 
-    golden_dir = golden_dir_override or (plugin_dir / 'test' / 'golden')
-    if update_golden:
-        written = write_goldens(results, golden_dir)
-        logger.info("Wrote %d golden image(s) for %s to %s", written, plugin_id, golden_dir)
-    else:
-        compare_to_goldens(results, golden_dir)
+    # Every run: the base config, plus one per harness.json "variant" —
+    # a config overlay with its own golden dir (e.g. adaptive layout mode
+    # tested alongside the classic default).
+    runs = [(None, {}, golden_dir_override or (plugin_dir / 'test' / 'golden'))]
+    for variant in spec.get("variants", []):
+        name = variant.get("name") or "variant"
+        vdir = plugin_dir / variant.get("golden_dir", f"test/golden-{name}")
+        runs.append((name, variant.get("config", {}), vdir))
 
-    if out_dir:
-        for r in results:
-            if r.image is None:
-                continue
-            dest = out_dir / plugin_id / size_label(r.width, r.height)
-            dest.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-            r.image.save(dest / f"{safe_mode_filename(r.mode)}.png", format="PNG")
+    all_run_results: List[RenderResult] = []
+    for variant_name, overlay, golden_dir in runs:
+        run_config = {**full_config, **overlay}
+        results = render_plugin_matrix(
+            plugin_id=plugin_id, plugin_dir=plugin_dir, config=run_config,
+            mock_data=effective_mock_data, sizes=effective_sizes,
+            run_update=effective_run_update, freeze_time=effective_freeze,
+        )
 
-    return results
+        if update_golden:
+            written = write_goldens(results, golden_dir)
+            logger.info("Wrote %d golden image(s) for %s%s to %s", written, plugin_id,
+                        f" [{variant_name}]" if variant_name else "", golden_dir)
+        else:
+            compare_to_goldens(results, golden_dir)
+
+        check_scale_up(results, design_size=design_size, strict=fill_strict)
+
+        # Tag variant runs so the report and PNG dumps stay distinguishable.
+        if variant_name:
+            for r in results:
+                r.mode = f"{r.mode}@{variant_name}"
+
+        if out_dir:
+            for r in results:
+                if r.image is None:
+                    continue
+                dest = out_dir / plugin_id / size_label(r.width, r.height)
+                dest.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+                r.image.save(dest / f"{safe_mode_filename(r.mode)}.png", format="PNG")
+
+        all_run_results.extend(results)
+
+    return all_run_results
 
 
 def print_report(all_results: Dict[str, List[RenderResult]]) -> bool:
@@ -147,6 +175,10 @@ def print_report(all_results: Dict[str, List[RenderResult]]) -> bool:
                     detail = " (golden ✓)"
                 if r.update_error is not None:
                     detail += f" (update warn: {r.update_error})"
+                if r.fill_checked and r.fill_ok is None and r.fill_extent:
+                    # warn-only underfill: big panel left mostly empty
+                    ex, ey = r.fill_extent
+                    detail += f" (fill warn: extent {ex:.0%}x{ey:.0%})"
             else:
                 everything_ok = False
                 if r.error is not None:
@@ -156,6 +188,10 @@ def print_report(all_results: Dict[str, List[RenderResult]]) -> bool:
                 elif r.golden_ok is False:
                     status = "FAIL"
                     detail = f" golden drift: {r.golden_diff_pixels}px (max Δ={r.golden_max_delta})"
+                elif r.fill_ok is False:
+                    ex, ey = r.fill_extent or (0.0, 0.0)
+                    status = "FAIL"
+                    detail = f" fill: extent {ex:.0%}x{ey:.0%} below required coverage"
                 else:
                     status, detail = "FAIL", ""
             print(f"  [{status}] {r.size_label:>7}  {r.mode}{detail}")

scripts/clear_dependency_markers.sh

@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-# Clear all plugin dependency markers to force fresh dependency check
-# Useful after updating plugins or troubleshooting dependency issues
-
-echo "Clearing plugin dependency markers..."
-
-# Check both possible cache locations
-CACHE_DIRS=(
-    "/var/cache/ledmatrix"
-    "$HOME/.cache/ledmatrix"
-)
-
-for CACHE_DIR in "${CACHE_DIRS[@]}"; do
-    if [ -d "$CACHE_DIR" ]; then
-        echo "Checking $CACHE_DIR..."
-        marker_count=$(find "$CACHE_DIR" -name "plugin_*_deps_installed" 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
-        if [ "$marker_count" -gt 0 ]; then
-            echo "Found $marker_count dependency marker(s) in $CACHE_DIR"
-            find "$CACHE_DIR" -name "plugin_*_deps_installed" -delete
-            echo "Cleared $marker_count marker(s)"
-        else
-            echo "No dependency markers found in $CACHE_DIR"
-        fi
-    fi
-done
-
-echo "Done! Dependency markers cleared."
-echo "Next startup will check and install dependencies as needed."
-

scripts/dev_server.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ Opens at http://localhost:5001
 import sys
 import os
 import json
+import re
 import time
 import argparse
 import logging
@@ -44,6 +45,10 @@ MAX_HEIGHT = 512
 MIN_WIDTH = 1
 MIN_HEIGHT = 1
 
+# plugin_id arrives in request input and is used to build filesystem paths —
+# allowlist it (same pattern the web UI's pages_v3 uses)
+_SAFE_PLUGIN_ID_RE = re.compile(r'^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]{1,64}$')
+
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Plugin discovery
@@ -106,15 +111,30 @@ def discover_plugins() -> List[Dict[str, Any]]:
 
 
 def find_plugin_dir(plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Path]:
-    """Find a plugin directory by ID."""
+    """Find a plugin directory by ID.
+
+    plugin_id comes from request input: it must pass an allowlist match,
+    and the resulting directory is normalized and required to live inside
+    one of the plugin search dirs, so a crafted id can never name a path
+    outside them.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(plugin_id, str) or not _SAFE_PLUGIN_ID_RE.match(plugin_id):
+        return None
     from src.plugin_system.plugin_loader import PluginLoader
     loader = PluginLoader()
     for search_dir in get_search_dirs():
         if not search_dir.exists():
             continue
         result = loader.find_plugin_directory(plugin_id, search_dir)
-        if result:
-            return Path(result)
+        if not result:
+            continue
+        # Normalize WITHOUT following symlinks (dev plugins are often
+        # symlinked into plugins/) and require lexical containment in the
+        # search dir, so no id can ever name a path outside it.
+        result_abs = os.path.abspath(str(result))
+        root_abs = os.path.abspath(str(search_dir))
+        if os.path.commonpath([result_abs, root_abs]) == root_abs:
+            return Path(result_abs)
     return None
 
 
@@ -176,6 +196,118 @@ def api_plugin_defaults(plugin_id):
     return jsonify({'defaults': defaults})
 
 
+def _render_once(plugin_id, plugin_dir, manifest, config, mock_data, width, height,
+                 skip_update):
+    """Render one plugin at one size. Returns the /api/render response dict.
+
+    A fresh plugin instance per call, mirroring the safety harness, so sizes
+    never share state.
+    """
+    from src.plugin_system.testing import VisualTestDisplayManager, MockCacheManager, MockPluginManager
+    from src.plugin_system.plugin_loader import PluginLoader
+
+    display_manager = VisualTestDisplayManager(width=width, height=height)
+    cache_manager = MockCacheManager()
+    plugin_manager = MockPluginManager()
+
+    # Pre-populate cache with mock data
+    for key, value in mock_data.items():
+        cache_manager.set(key, value)
+
+    loader = PluginLoader()
+    errors = []
+    warnings = []
+
+    plugin_instance, _module = loader.load_plugin(
+        plugin_id=plugin_id,
+        manifest=manifest,
+        plugin_dir=plugin_dir,
+        config=config,
+        display_manager=display_manager,
+        cache_manager=cache_manager,
+        plugin_manager=plugin_manager,
+        install_deps=False,
+    )
+
+    start_time = time.time()
+
+    # Run update()
+    if not skip_update:
+        try:
+            plugin_instance.update()
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.warning("update() raised for plugin %s", plugin_id, exc_info=True)
+            warnings.append(f"update() raised: {type(e).__name__} — see server log")
+
+    # Run display()
+    try:
+        plugin_instance.display(force_clear=True)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("display() raised for plugin %s", plugin_id, exc_info=True)
+        errors.append(f"display() raised: {type(e).__name__} — see server log")
+
+    render_time_ms = round((time.time() - start_time) * 1000, 1)
+
+    return {
+        'image': f'data:image/png;base64,{display_manager.get_image_base64()}',
+        'width': width,
+        'height': height,
+        'render_time_ms': render_time_ms,
+        'errors': errors,
+        'warnings': warnings,
+    }
+
+
+def _trusted_plugin_dir(plugin_dir: Path) -> Optional[Path]:
+    """Re-derive a plugin directory from the search dirs' own listings.
+
+    Path-injection barrier: unlike ``Path.iterdir()`` (which CodeQL doesn't
+    recognize as a taint-clearing enumeration), ``os.scandir()`` is. The
+    returned Path is built from a trusted root plus a name the filesystem
+    itself produced under that root via scandir — request-derived strings
+    never enter its construction — so a crafted plugin id can never make
+    downstream file access leave the plugin search dirs. Comparison is by
+    name, deliberately without symlink resolution (dev plugins are
+    commonly symlinked into plugins/).
+    """
+    wanted_name = Path(os.path.normpath(str(plugin_dir))).name
+    for search_dir in get_search_dirs():
+        search_dir_str = str(search_dir)
+        try:
+            with os.scandir(search_dir_str) as entries:
+                for entry in entries:
+                    if entry.name == wanted_name and entry.is_dir():
+                        return Path(search_dir_str) / entry.name
+        except OSError:
+            continue
+    return None
+
+
+def _parse_render_request(data):
+    """Shared /api/render* request prep. Returns (plugin_dir, manifest, config,
+    mock_data, skip_update) or raises ValueError with a client message."""
+    plugin_id = data['plugin_id']
+    candidate_dir = find_plugin_dir(plugin_id)
+    # Never reuse `candidate_dir` past this point: it's built from
+    # request-derived input, and a variable reassigned only on some paths
+    # isn't a barrier CodeQL's flow analysis honors. `trusted_dir` is the
+    # sole name used below, always the scandir-sourced result.
+    trusted_dir = _trusted_plugin_dir(candidate_dir) if candidate_dir else None
+    if not trusted_dir:
+        raise LookupError(f'Plugin not found: {plugin_id}')
+
+    manifest_path = trusted_dir / 'manifest.json'
+    with open(manifest_path, 'r') as f:
+        manifest = json.load(f)
+
+    # Build config: schema defaults + user overrides
+    config = {'enabled': True}
+    config.update(load_config_defaults(trusted_dir))
+    config.update(data.get('config', {}))
+
+    return trusted_dir, manifest, config, data.get('mock_data', {}), data.get('skip_update', False)
+
+
 @app.route('/api/render', methods=['POST'])
 def api_render():
     """Render a plugin and return the display as base64 PNG."""
@@ -183,11 +315,6 @@ def api_render():
     if not data or 'plugin_id' not in data:
         return jsonify({'error': 'plugin_id is required'}), 400
 
-    plugin_id = data['plugin_id']
-    user_config = data.get('config', {})
-    mock_data = data.get('mock_data', {})
-    skip_update = data.get('skip_update', False)
-
     try:
         width = int(data.get('width', 128))
         height = int(data.get('height', 32))
@@ -199,78 +326,77 @@ def api_render():
     if not (MIN_HEIGHT <= height <= MAX_HEIGHT):
         return jsonify({'error': f'height must be between {MIN_HEIGHT} and {MAX_HEIGHT}'}), 400
 
-    # Find plugin
-    plugin_dir = find_plugin_dir(plugin_id)
-    if not plugin_dir:
-        return jsonify({'error': f'Plugin not found: {plugin_id}'}), 404
-
-    # Load manifest
-    manifest_path = plugin_dir / 'manifest.json'
-    with open(manifest_path, 'r') as f:
-        manifest = json.load(f)
-
-    # Build config: schema defaults + user overrides
-    config_defaults = load_config_defaults(plugin_dir)
-    config = {'enabled': True}
-    config.update(config_defaults)
-    config.update(user_config)
-
-    # Create display manager and mocks
-    from src.plugin_system.testing import VisualTestDisplayManager, MockCacheManager, MockPluginManager
-    from src.plugin_system.plugin_loader import PluginLoader
-
-    display_manager = VisualTestDisplayManager(width=width, height=height)
-    cache_manager = MockCacheManager()
-    plugin_manager = MockPluginManager()
-
-    # Pre-populate cache with mock data
-    for key, value in mock_data.items():
-        cache_manager.set(key, value)
-
-    # Load plugin
-    loader = PluginLoader()
-    errors = []
-    warnings = []
+    try:
+        plugin_dir, manifest, config, mock_data, skip_update = _parse_render_request(data)
+    except LookupError:
+        return jsonify({'error': f"Plugin not found: {data['plugin_id']}"}), 404
+    except Exception:
+        # Bad manifest.json / schema / fixture — details go to the dev's
+        # console, not the HTTP response
+        app.logger.exception('render request preparation failed')
+        return jsonify({'error': 'Could not prepare render request; see server log'}), 400
 
     try:
-        plugin_instance, module = loader.load_plugin(
-            plugin_id=plugin_id,
-            manifest=manifest,
-            plugin_dir=plugin_dir,
-            config=config,
-            display_manager=display_manager,
-            cache_manager=cache_manager,
-            plugin_manager=plugin_manager,
-            install_deps=False,
-        )
-    except Exception as e:
-        return jsonify({'error': f'Failed to load plugin: {e}'}), 500
+        result = _render_once(data['plugin_id'], plugin_dir, manifest, config,
+                              mock_data, width, height, skip_update)
+    except Exception:
+        app.logger.exception('plugin load failed during render')
+        return jsonify({'error': 'Failed to load plugin; see server log'}), 500
+    return jsonify(result)
 
-    start_time = time.time()
 
-    # Run update()
-    if not skip_update:
+@app.route('/api/sizes')
+def api_sizes():
+    """The representative panel-size sample the safety harness renders at."""
+    from src.plugin_system.testing.sizes import DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES
+    return jsonify({'sizes': [list(s) for s in DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES]})
+
+
+MAX_MATRIX_SIZES = 12
+
+
+@app.route('/api/render-matrix', methods=['POST'])
+def api_render_matrix():
+    """Render a plugin at a list of sizes (default: the harness sample) so the
+    UI can show a side-by-side multi-resolution gallery."""
+    data = request.get_json()
+    if not data or 'plugin_id' not in data:
+        return jsonify({'error': 'plugin_id is required'}), 400
+
+    from src.plugin_system.testing.sizes import DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES
+    sizes = data.get('sizes') or [list(s) for s in DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES]
+    if len(sizes) > MAX_MATRIX_SIZES:
+        return jsonify({'error': f'at most {MAX_MATRIX_SIZES} sizes per request'}), 400
+    parsed_sizes = []
+    for pair in sizes:
         try:
-            plugin_instance.update()
-        except Exception as e:
-            warnings.append(f"update() raised: {e}")
+            w, h = int(pair[0]), int(pair[1])
+        except (TypeError, ValueError, IndexError):
+            return jsonify({'error': f'invalid size entry {pair!r} (expected [w, h])'}), 400
+        if not (MIN_WIDTH <= w <= MAX_WIDTH and MIN_HEIGHT <= h <= MAX_HEIGHT):
+            return jsonify({'error': f'size {w}x{h} out of bounds'}), 400
+        parsed_sizes.append((w, h))
 
-    # Run display()
     try:
-        plugin_instance.display(force_clear=True)
-    except Exception as e:
-        errors.append(f"display() raised: {e}")
+        plugin_dir, manifest, config, mock_data, skip_update = _parse_render_request(data)
+    except LookupError:
+        return jsonify({'error': f"Plugin not found: {data['plugin_id']}"}), 404
+    except Exception:
+        app.logger.exception('render request preparation failed')
+        return jsonify({'error': 'Could not prepare render request; see server log'}), 400
 
-    render_time_ms = round((time.time() - start_time) * 1000, 1)
-
-    return jsonify({
-        'image': f'data:image/png;base64,{display_manager.get_image_base64()}',
-        'width': width,
-        'height': height,
-        'render_time_ms': render_time_ms,
-        'errors': errors,
-        'warnings': warnings,
-    })
+    results = []
+    for w, h in parsed_sizes:
+        try:
+            results.append(_render_once(data['plugin_id'], plugin_dir, manifest,
+                                        config, mock_data, w, h, skip_update))
+        except Exception:
+            app.logger.exception('plugin load failed during %dx%d render', w, h)
+            results.append({'image': None, 'width': w, 'height': h,
+                            'render_time_ms': 0,
+                            'errors': ['Failed to load plugin; see server log'],
+                            'warnings': []})
+    return jsonify({'results': results})
 
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------

scripts/templates/dev_preview.html

@@ -209,6 +209,11 @@
                            onchange="onConfigChange()">
                     <span class="text-xs ml-2" style="color: var(--text-secondary);">px</span>
                 </div>
+                <select id="sizePreset" onchange="applySizePreset()"
+                        class="w-full mt-2 px-2 py-1.5 rounded text-xs"
+                        style="background: var(--bg-primary); color: var(--text-secondary); border: 1px solid var(--border-color);">
+                    <option value="">Preset sizes…</option>
+                </select>
             </div>
 
             <!-- Config form -->
@@ -242,13 +247,18 @@
                 </div>
             </details>
 
-            <!-- Render button -->
+            <!-- Render buttons -->
             <div class="flex gap-2">
                 <button onclick="renderPlugin()" id="renderBtn"
                         class="flex-1 px-4 py-2.5 rounded-lg text-sm font-medium text-white"
                         style="background: var(--accent);">
                     Render
                 </button>
+                <button onclick="renderAllSizes()" id="renderAllBtn" title="Render at every harness test size"
+                        class="px-4 py-2.5 rounded-lg text-sm font-medium"
+                        style="background: var(--bg-tertiary); color: var(--text-primary); border: 1px solid var(--border-color);">
+                    All Sizes
+                </button>
             </div>
         </div>
 
@@ -311,6 +321,15 @@
             <div id="messagesPanel" class="panel p-3 hidden">
                 <div id="messagesList" class="text-xs font-mono space-y-1"></div>
             </div>
+
+            <!-- Multi-size gallery -->
+            <div id="galleryPanel" class="panel p-4 hidden">
+                <div class="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
+                    <span class="text-xs font-medium" style="color: var(--text-secondary);">All Sizes</span>
+                    <span class="text-xs" style="color: var(--text-secondary);" id="galleryStatus"></span>
+                </div>
+                <div id="galleryGrid" class="flex flex-wrap gap-4 items-start"></div>
+            </div>
         </div>
     </div>
 
@@ -340,8 +359,30 @@
                 opt.textContent = `${p.name} (${p.id})`;
                 select.appendChild(opt);
             });
+
+            // Load harness size presets
+            try {
+                const sizesRes = await fetch('/api/sizes');
+                const sizesData = await sizesRes.json();
+                const preset = document.getElementById('sizePreset');
+                (sizesData.sizes || []).forEach(([w, h]) => {
+                    const opt = document.createElement('option');
+                    opt.value = `${w}x${h}`;
+                    opt.textContent = `${w} x ${h}`;
+                    preset.appendChild(opt);
+                });
+            } catch (e) { /* presets are a convenience; ignore */ }
         });
 
+        function applySizePreset() {
+            const value = document.getElementById('sizePreset').value;
+            if (!value) return;
+            const [w, h] = value.split('x');
+            document.getElementById('displayWidth').value = w;
+            document.getElementById('displayHeight').value = h;
+            onConfigChange();
+        }
+
         // ---------- Plugin selection ----------
         async function onPluginChange() {
             const pluginId = document.getElementById('pluginSelect').value;
@@ -485,6 +526,89 @@
             }
         }
 
+        // ---------- Multi-size gallery ----------
+        async function renderAllSizes() {
+            if (!currentPluginId) return;
+
+            const btn = document.getElementById('renderAllBtn');
+            const panel = document.getElementById('galleryPanel');
+            const grid = document.getElementById('galleryGrid');
+            const status = document.getElementById('galleryStatus');
+            btn.disabled = true;
+            btn.textContent = 'Rendering…';
+            panel.classList.remove('hidden');
+            grid.innerHTML = '';
+            status.textContent = 'Rendering at all harness sizes…';
+
+            const config = jsonEditor ? jsonEditor.getValue() : {};
+            config.enabled = true;
+            let mockData = {};
+            const mockInput = document.getElementById('mockDataInput').value.trim();
+            if (mockInput) {
+                try { mockData = JSON.parse(mockInput); }
+                catch (e) { showMessages([], [`Mock data JSON error: ${e.message}`]); }
+            }
+
+            try {
+                const res = await fetch('/api/render-matrix', {
+                    method: 'POST',
+                    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
+                    body: JSON.stringify({
+                        plugin_id: currentPluginId,
+                        config: config,
+                        mock_data: mockData,
+                    }),
+                });
+                const data = await res.json();
+                if (data.error) {
+                    status.textContent = data.error;
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                let failures = 0;
+                (data.results || []).forEach(r => {
+                    const cell = document.createElement('div');
+                    cell.style.cssText = 'display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:4px;';
+                    const failed = (r.errors || []).length > 0 || !r.image;
+                    if (failed) failures++;
+
+                    const label = document.createElement('span');
+                    label.className = 'text-xs font-mono';
+                    label.style.color = failed ? '#f87171' : 'var(--text-secondary)';
+                    label.textContent = `${r.width}x${r.height} · ${r.render_time_ms}ms`;
+                    cell.appendChild(label);
+
+                    if (r.image) {
+                        const img = document.createElement('img');
+                        img.src = r.image;
+                        // Small panels get 2x zoom so they stay legible in the grid
+                        const zoom = r.height >= 128 ? 1 : 2;
+                        img.style.cssText =
+                            `image-rendering: pixelated; width:${r.width * zoom}px; ` +
+                            `height:${r.height * zoom}px; ` +
+                            `border:1px solid ${failed ? '#f87171' : 'var(--border-color)'};`;
+                        cell.appendChild(img);
+                    }
+                    if (failed) {
+                        const err = document.createElement('span');
+                        err.className = 'text-xs font-mono';
+                        err.style.color = '#f87171';
+                        err.textContent = (r.errors || ['render failed']).join('; ');
+                        cell.appendChild(err);
+                    }
+                    grid.appendChild(cell);
+                });
+                status.textContent = failures
+                    ? `${failures} size(s) failed`
+                    : `${(data.results || []).length} sizes rendered`;
+            } catch (e) {
+                status.textContent = `Network error: ${e.message}`;
+            } finally {
+                btn.disabled = false;
+                btn.textContent = 'All Sizes';
+            }
+        }
+
         // ---------- Zoom ----------
         function updateZoom() {
             const zoom = parseInt(document.getElementById('zoomSlider').value);

src/__init__.py

@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@ LEDMatrix Display System
 Core source package for the LED Matrix Display project.
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.0.0"
+__version__ = "3.1.0"
 

src/adaptive_images.py

@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+"""
+Adaptive image fitting for plugins — the image counterpart to
+src/adaptive_layout.py's text fitting.
+
+Promotes the proven in-field image patterns into one shared helper so
+plugins stop hand-copying resize/cache code:
+
+- "crop transparent padding, then fill the row height" (football/hockey
+  logo pattern) -> ``crop_to_ink=True, mode="fill_height"``
+- "crop-to-fill with a top anchor for faces" (masters-tournament headshot
+  pattern) -> ``mode="cover", anchor="top"``
+- "letterbox to fit, centered on a background" (static-image pattern)
+  -> ``mode="contain"``
+- NEAREST for pixel art/flags vs LANCZOS for photos (masters flag pattern)
+  -> ``resample=RESAMPLE_NEAREST``
+
+Unlike PIL's ``thumbnail()`` (downscale-only — the reason plugin imagery
+stays tiny on big panels), ``fit_image`` upscales by default so content
+genuinely adapts to larger displays; pass ``upscale=False`` for the old
+behavior.
+
+Use via ``LayoutContext.fit_image(...)`` (cached per panel size) or
+``BasePlugin.draw_image(...)``; the module-level functions are the
+uncached primitives.
+"""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, Optional, Tuple
+
+from PIL import Image
+
+# The one Pillow >= 9.1 compat shim (replaces the per-plugin copies).
+try:
+    RESAMPLE_LANCZOS = Image.Resampling.LANCZOS
+    RESAMPLE_NEAREST = Image.Resampling.NEAREST
+except AttributeError:  # Pillow < 9.1
+    RESAMPLE_LANCZOS = Image.LANCZOS
+    RESAMPLE_NEAREST = Image.NEAREST
+
+FIT_MODES = ("contain", "cover", "fill_height", "stretch")
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ImageFitResult:
+    """A processed RGBA copy of a source image, sized for a target box."""
+    image: Image.Image
+    width: int
+    height: int
+    scale: float          # scale applied vs the (possibly ink-cropped) source
+    mode: str
+    source_size: Tuple[int, int]
+
+    @property
+    def is_empty(self) -> bool:
+        return self.width <= 0 or self.height <= 0
+
+
+_EMPTY_IMAGE = Image.new("RGBA", (1, 1), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+
+
+def _empty_result(mode: str, source_size: Tuple[int, int]) -> ImageFitResult:
+    return ImageFitResult(_EMPTY_IMAGE, 0, 0, 0.0, mode, source_size)
+
+
+def _box_dims(box: Any) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+    """Accept a Region (duck-typed .w/.h) or a (w, h) tuple."""
+    if hasattr(box, "w") and hasattr(box, "h"):
+        return (int(box.w), int(box.h))
+    w, h = box
+    return (int(w), int(h))
+
+
+def fit_image(img: Image.Image, box: Any, *, mode: str = "contain",
+              crop_to_ink: bool = False, anchor: str = "center",
+              resample: Any = None, upscale: bool = True) -> ImageFitResult:
+    """Fit an image into a box, preserving crispness policy per content type.
+
+    Args:
+        img: Source PIL image (any mode; output is always RGBA).
+        box: Region or (w, h) target box.
+        mode: "contain" (letterbox), "cover" (crop-to-fill),
+              "fill_height" (height == box height, contain-capped by width),
+              "stretch" (exact resize).
+        crop_to_ink: Trim fully-transparent padding (getbbox) before fitting —
+              logos shipped with generous padding otherwise render small.
+        anchor: For "cover" crops: "center" or "top" (keeps faces/tops).
+        resample: PIL resampling filter; defaults to RESAMPLE_LANCZOS.
+              Use RESAMPLE_NEAREST for pixel art, flags, and sprite icons.
+        upscale: Allow scaling above source size (default True — the adaptive
+              point). False mimics the legacy thumbnail() behavior.
+    """
+    if mode not in FIT_MODES:
+        raise ValueError(f"Unknown fit mode '{mode}' (expected one of {FIT_MODES})")
+    box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+    if box_w <= 0 or box_h <= 0 or img.width <= 0 or img.height <= 0:
+        return _empty_result(mode, img.size)
+
+    resample = RESAMPLE_LANCZOS if resample is None else resample
+
+    work = img if img.mode == "RGBA" else img.convert("RGBA")
+    if crop_to_ink:
+        bbox = work.getbbox()
+        if bbox is None:  # fully transparent
+            return _empty_result(mode, img.size)
+        work = work.crop(bbox)
+
+    src_w, src_h = work.size
+
+    if mode == "stretch":
+        out = work.resize((box_w, box_h), resample)
+        return ImageFitResult(out, box_w, box_h, box_w / src_w, mode, (src_w, src_h))
+
+    if mode == "cover":
+        scale = max(box_w / src_w, box_h / src_h)
+        if not upscale:
+            scale = min(scale, 1.0)
+        scaled_w = max(1, round(src_w * scale))
+        scaled_h = max(1, round(src_h * scale))
+        out = work.resize((scaled_w, scaled_h), resample)
+        # Crop the overhang down to the box (only when the scaled image is
+        # larger; with upscale=False it may be smaller and is left as-is).
+        crop_w, crop_h = min(box_w, scaled_w), min(box_h, scaled_h)
+        left = (scaled_w - crop_w) // 2
+        top = 0 if anchor == "top" else (scaled_h - crop_h) // 2
+        out = out.crop((left, top, left + crop_w, top + crop_h))
+        return ImageFitResult(out, out.width, out.height, scale, mode, (src_w, src_h))
+
+    # contain / fill_height share the "preserve aspect, no crop" path
+    if mode == "fill_height":
+        scale = box_h / src_h
+        # contain-cap: never exceed the box width (football's logo_slot rule)
+        scale = min(scale, box_w / src_w)
+    else:  # contain
+        scale = min(box_w / src_w, box_h / src_h)
+    if not upscale:
+        scale = min(scale, 1.0)
+    out_w = max(1, round(src_w * scale))
+    out_h = max(1, round(src_h * scale))
+    if (out_w, out_h) == (src_w, src_h):
+        # No resize needed — but `work` may still BE the caller's original
+        # image (RGBA source, no ink crop). The result must always be an
+        # independent copy: LayoutContext caches ImageFitResults, and an
+        # aliased image would let later mutations of the source corrupt
+        # cached fits (or vice versa).
+        out = work.copy() if work is img else work
+    else:
+        out = work.resize((out_w, out_h), resample)
+    return ImageFitResult(out, out_w, out_h, scale, mode, (src_w, src_h))
+
+
+def draw_fitted_image(display_manager: Any, ifit: ImageFitResult, box: Any, *,
+                      align: str = "center", valign: str = "center",
+                      offset: Tuple[int, int] = (0, 0)) -> Optional[Tuple[int, int]]:
+    """Paste a fitted image aligned within a Region onto the display canvas.
+
+    Pastes with the image's own alpha mask. Returns the (x, y) actually used
+    so callers can position adjacent decorations, or None when nothing was
+    drawn (empty fit / no canvas).
+    """
+    if ifit is None or ifit.is_empty:
+        return None
+    image = getattr(display_manager, "image", None)
+    if image is None:
+        return None
+    if hasattr(box, "align_xy"):
+        x, y = box.align_xy(ifit.width, ifit.height, align, valign)
+    else:
+        box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+        x = (box_w - ifit.width) // 2
+        y = (box_h - ifit.height) // 2
+    x += int(offset[0])
+    y += int(offset[1])
+    image.paste(ifit.image, (x, y), ifit.image)
+    return (x, y)

src/adaptive_layout.py

@@ -0,0 +1,746 @@
+"""
+Adaptive layout and font scaling helpers for plugins.
+
+Generalizes the three size-adaptation patterns proven in the plugin
+ecosystem into small composable core helpers, so plugins render legibly on
+any panel size (64x32, 128x32, 96x48, 128x64, 256x64, ...) without
+hand-tuned per-display layouts:
+
+- Region: integer rect algebra (bands, columns, weighted splits, centering).
+  Regions partition space, so text bands can't overlap by construction —
+  replacing the magic ``y = 1`` / ``y = height - 7`` offsets tuned for 128x32.
+- Font ladders: ordered (family, size) steps known to render crisply.
+  Pixel fonts (BDF, PressStart2P) only look right at native/integer sizes,
+  so fonts are never scaled continuously — fitting walks a ladder from the
+  largest rung down until the measured text fits the target box. This is
+  baseball-scoreboard's fallback-ladder pattern promoted to core.
+- LayoutContext: per-(width, height) facts — breakpoint tiers
+  (masters-tournament's pattern), a geometry scale factor vs. a declared
+  design size (f1-scoreboard's pattern), and cached fit-text queries.
+
+Everything is opt-in: plugins get a context via ``self.layout`` on
+BasePlugin (or construct one directly) and existing plugins are unaffected.
+
+Fonts are resolved through FontManager's catalog (family names are
+lowercased file stems from assets/fonts, e.g. "9x15", "tom-thumb", plus
+aliases like "press_start"). FitResult.font is a plain PIL font or
+freetype.Face, so it drops straight into DisplayManager.draw_text().
+"""
+
+import logging
+from collections import OrderedDict
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union
+
+import freetype
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# Height-based breakpoint tiers, smallest to largest. A 32px-tall panel is
+# the ecosystem baseline ("sm"); 96x48 lands in "md"; 128x64 in "lg".
+_HEIGHT_TIERS: Tuple[Tuple[str, int], ...] = (
+    ("xs", 16), ("sm", 32), ("md", 48), ("lg", 64), ("xl", 10 ** 9),
+)
+TIER_ORDER: Tuple[str, ...] = tuple(name for name, _ in _HEIGHT_TIERS)
+
+_WIDTH_TIERS: Tuple[Tuple[str, int], ...] = (
+    ("narrow", 64), ("normal", 128), ("wide", 256), ("ultrawide", 10 ** 9),
+)
+WIDTH_TIER_ORDER: Tuple[str, ...] = tuple(name for name, _ in _WIDTH_TIERS)
+
+# The panel size most existing plugins were authored against.
+DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE: Tuple[int, int] = (128, 32)
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class Region:
+    """An integer rectangle. Carving methods return sub-Regions clamped to
+    non-negative dimensions, so degenerate panels never produce negative
+    boxes — a band request larger than the region simply consumes it all."""
+
+    x: int
+    y: int
+    w: int
+    h: int
+
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        object.__setattr__(self, "w", max(0, int(self.w)))
+        object.__setattr__(self, "h", max(0, int(self.h)))
+        object.__setattr__(self, "x", int(self.x))
+        object.__setattr__(self, "y", int(self.y))
+
+    @property
+    def right(self) -> int:
+        return self.x + self.w
+
+    @property
+    def bottom(self) -> int:
+        return self.y + self.h
+
+    @property
+    def center(self) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+        return (self.x + self.w // 2, self.y + self.h // 2)
+
+    # ---- carving -----------------------------------------------------
+
+    def inset(self, dx: int, dy: Optional[int] = None) -> "Region":
+        """Shrink by dx horizontally and dy (default dx) vertically, each side."""
+        if dy is None:
+            dy = dx
+        return Region(self.x + dx, self.y + dy, self.w - 2 * dx, self.h - 2 * dy)
+
+    def offset(self, dx: int, dy: int) -> "Region":
+        """Translate without resizing — the hook for user x/y-offset
+        customization: compute regions first, then apply the user's
+        configured offsets as a final translation."""
+        return Region(self.x + dx, self.y + dy, self.w, self.h)
+
+    def top_band(self, h: int) -> "Region":
+        return Region(self.x, self.y, self.w, min(h, self.h))
+
+    def bottom_band(self, h: int) -> "Region":
+        h = min(h, self.h)
+        return Region(self.x, self.bottom - h, self.w, h)
+
+    def middle(self, top_h: int = 0, bottom_h: int = 0) -> "Region":
+        """What remains between a top band and a bottom band."""
+        return Region(self.x, self.y + top_h, self.w, self.h - top_h - bottom_h)
+
+    def left_col(self, w: int) -> "Region":
+        return Region(self.x, self.y, min(w, self.w), self.h)
+
+    def right_col(self, w: int) -> "Region":
+        w = min(w, self.w)
+        return Region(self.right - w, self.y, w, self.h)
+
+    def split_h(self, *weights: float, gap: int = 0) -> List["Region"]:
+        """Side-by-side columns sized by weight; gaps between them."""
+        sizes = _weighted_sizes(self.w, weights, gap)
+        cols, cursor = [], self.x
+        for size in sizes:
+            cols.append(Region(cursor, self.y, size, self.h))
+            cursor += size + gap
+        return cols
+
+    def split_v(self, *weights: float, gap: int = 0) -> List["Region"]:
+        """Stacked rows sized by weight; gaps between them."""
+        sizes = _weighted_sizes(self.h, weights, gap)
+        rows, cursor = [], self.y
+        for size in sizes:
+            rows.append(Region(self.x, cursor, self.w, size))
+            cursor += size + gap
+        return rows
+
+    # ---- placement ---------------------------------------------------
+
+    def align_xy(self, w: int, h: int, align: str = "center",
+                 valign: str = "center") -> Tuple[int, int]:
+        """Top-left position for a w x h box aligned within this region.
+        align: left|center|right; valign: top|center|bottom."""
+        if align == "left":
+            x = self.x
+        elif align == "right":
+            x = self.right - w
+        else:
+            x = self.x + (self.w - w) // 2
+        if valign == "top":
+            y = self.y
+        elif valign == "bottom":
+            y = self.bottom - h
+        else:
+            y = self.y + (self.h - h) // 2
+        return (x, y)
+
+    def center_xy(self, w: int, h: int) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+        return self.align_xy(w, h)
+
+    def contains(self, w: int, h: int) -> bool:
+        return w <= self.w and h <= self.h
+
+
+def _weighted_sizes(total: int, weights: Sequence[float], gap: int) -> List[int]:
+    """Integer sizes proportional to weights, remainder spread left-to-right."""
+    if not weights:
+        return []
+    usable = max(0, total - gap * (len(weights) - 1))
+    weight_sum = sum(weights) or 1
+    sizes = [int(usable * w / weight_sum) for w in weights]
+    remainder = usable - sum(sizes)
+    for i in range(remainder):
+        sizes[i % len(sizes)] += 1
+    return sizes
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Font ladders
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class FontStep:
+    """One rung: a FontManager catalog family at a size it renders crisply."""
+    family: str
+    size_px: int
+
+
+FontLadder = Tuple[FontStep, ...]
+
+# X11 BDF bitmap fonts at their native pixel sizes, largest to smallest —
+# baseball-scoreboard's fallback ladder extended upward. Same-height rungs
+# are ordered widest first so width-constrained text steps to a narrower
+# face before dropping a size.
+LADDER_GRID: FontLadder = (
+    FontStep("10x20", 20),
+    FontStep("9x18", 18),
+    FontStep("9x15", 15),
+    FontStep("8x13", 13),
+    FontStep("7x13", 13),
+    FontStep("6x13", 13),
+    FontStep("6x12", 12),
+    FontStep("6x10", 10),
+    FontStep("6x9", 9),
+    FontStep("5x8", 8),
+    FontStep("5x7", 7),
+    FontStep("4x6", 6),
+    FontStep("tom-thumb", 6),
+)
+
+# PressStart2P at integer multiples of its 8px pixel grid only — fractional
+# sizes blur a pixel font. For headline text (clocks, scores).
+LADDER_ARCADE: FontLadder = (
+    FontStep("press_start", 32),
+    FontStep("press_start", 24),
+    FontStep("press_start", 16),
+    FontStep("press_start", 8),
+)
+
+LADDER_DEFAULT: FontLadder = LADDER_GRID
+
+ELLIPSIS = "…"
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class FitResult:
+    """A fitted font plus the ink metrics of the (possibly ellipsized) text.
+
+    ``y_offset`` is the gap between the y passed to draw_text() and where
+    ink actually starts; subtract it from the desired ink-top position when
+    drawing (draw_fitted_text does this for you).
+    """
+    font: Any
+    family: str
+    size_px: int
+    text: str
+    width: int
+    height: int
+    baseline: int
+    y_offset: int
+    fits: bool
+    line_height: int = 0
+
+
+def measure_ink(text: str, font: Any) -> Tuple[int, int, int, int]:
+    """Measure the ink box of text: (width, height, baseline, y_offset).
+
+    y_offset is the distance from the y coordinate DisplayManager.draw_text()
+    is given to the top of the actual ink — PIL draws TTF from the em-box
+    top and _draw_bdf_text derives the baseline from y + ascender, so both
+    leave a font-dependent gap that matters when centering in short bands.
+    """
+    if isinstance(font, freetype.Face):
+        width = 0
+        ascender = font.size.ascender >> 6
+        ink_top, ink_bottom = None, None
+        for char in text:
+            font.load_char(char)
+            width += font.glyph.advance.x >> 6
+            rows = font.glyph.bitmap.rows
+            if rows:
+                top = ascender - font.glyph.bitmap_top
+                ink_top = top if ink_top is None else min(ink_top, top)
+                ink_bottom = top + rows if ink_bottom is None else max(ink_bottom, top + rows)
+        if ink_top is None:
+            ink_top, ink_bottom = 0, 0
+        return (width, ink_bottom - ink_top, ascender, ink_top)
+    bbox = font.getbbox(text)
+    return (bbox[2] - bbox[0], bbox[3] - bbox[1], -bbox[1], bbox[1])
+
+
+def font_line_height(font: Any) -> int:
+    """Recommended line spacing for a font (matches DisplayManager.get_font_height)."""
+    if isinstance(font, freetype.Face):
+        return font.size.height >> 6
+    ascent, descent = font.getmetrics()
+    return ascent + descent
+
+
+def measure_font_crispness(font: Any, sample_text: str = "Ay0",
+                           canvas_size: Tuple[int, int] = (250, 60)) -> float:
+    """Fraction of the rendered sample's ink-bbox pixels that are neither
+    pure black nor pure white — i.e. antialiased.
+
+    BDF (freetype.Face) glyphs are true bitmaps and always render at 0.0.
+    "Pixel-style" TTFs (PressStart2P, and similar fonts bundled for
+    plugins that draw through ImageDraw.text() and so can't take a BDF
+    face) are NOT automatically crisp at arbitrary sizes — PIL antialiases
+    TTF outlines by default, and a pixel-grid font only lands on whole
+    pixels at specific sizes (for PressStart2P: exact multiples of 8).
+    Requesting an unverified size silently produces soft/blurry glyphs on
+    an LED panel, which reads as fuzzy compared to a true BDF rung.
+
+    Use this to vet any custom FontLadder rung that mixes TTF fonts before
+    shipping it — see test_adaptive_layout.py::test_ladder_is_crisp for the
+    pattern. A rung should score 0.0 (or very close, to allow for the odd
+    diagonal stroke) before it belongs in a "crisp" ladder.
+    """
+    if isinstance(font, freetype.Face):
+        return 0.0
+    from PIL import Image, ImageDraw
+    img = Image.new("L", canvas_size, 0)
+    ImageDraw.Draw(img).text((2, 2), sample_text, font=font, fill=255)
+    bbox = img.getbbox()
+    if bbox is None:
+        return 0.0
+    pixels = img.crop(bbox).tobytes()
+    pure = sum(1 for p in pixels if p == 0 or p == 255)
+    return (len(pixels) - pure) / len(pixels)
+
+
+class LayoutContext:
+    """Per-render-size layout facts and fit-text queries for one panel size.
+
+    Construct once per (width, height); BasePlugin.layout does this and
+    rebuilds automatically when the logical display size changes.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, width: int, height: int, font_manager: Any,
+                 design_size: Tuple[int, int] = DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE):
+        self.width = int(width)
+        self.height = int(height)
+        self.font_manager = font_manager
+        self.design_size = design_size
+        self.bounds = Region(0, 0, self.width, self.height)
+        self.aspect = self.width / max(1, self.height)
+        self.tier = _pick_tier(_HEIGHT_TIERS, self.height)
+        self.width_tier = _pick_tier(_WIDTH_TIERS, self.width)
+        self.is_wide_short = self.aspect >= 2.5 and self.height <= 32
+        design_w, design_h = design_size
+        # Geometry scale only (gaps, icon/logo sizes) — never applied to
+        # fonts, which step between crisp ladder rungs instead.
+        self.scale = min(self.width / max(1, design_w),
+                         self.height / max(1, design_h))
+        # LRU-bounded: entries are small, but keys embed the fitted TEXT —
+        # 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.
+        self._image_cache: "OrderedDict[Any, Tuple[Any, Any]]" = OrderedDict()
+
+    _IMAGE_CACHE_MAX = 64
+    _FIT_CACHE_MAX = 512
+
+    def _fit_cache_get(self, key: Any) -> Optional["FitResult"]:
+        cached = self._fit_cache.get(key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            self._fit_cache.move_to_end(key)
+        return cached
+
+    def _fit_cache_put(self, key: Any, result: "FitResult") -> None:
+        self._fit_cache[key] = result
+        while len(self._fit_cache) > self._FIT_CACHE_MAX:
+            self._fit_cache.popitem(last=False)
+
+    # ---- the three adaptation patterns --------------------------------
+
+    def px(self, base: int, minimum: int = 1, maximum: Optional[int] = None) -> int:
+        """Scale a design-size pixel measurement (f1's pattern): gaps,
+        icon sizes, logo slots. Clamped to [minimum, maximum]."""
+        value = max(minimum, round(base * self.scale))
+        if maximum is not None:
+            value = min(value, maximum)
+        return value
+
+    def by_tier(self, mapping: Dict[str, Any], default: Any = None) -> Any:
+        """Pick the value for the nearest defined tier at-or-below the
+        panel's height tier (masters' pattern). Falls forward to the
+        smallest defined tier above, then to default.
+
+        by_tier({"sm": 10, "lg": 18}) -> 10 on 128x32, 18 on 128x64.
+        Keys may also use width tiers ("narrow", "wide", ...)."""
+        order = TIER_ORDER if any(k in TIER_ORDER for k in mapping) else WIDTH_TIER_ORDER
+        current = self.tier if order is TIER_ORDER else self.width_tier
+        idx = order.index(current)
+        for name in reversed(order[: idx + 1]):
+            if name in mapping:
+                return mapping[name]
+        for name in order[idx + 1:]:
+            if name in mapping:
+                return mapping[name]
+        return default
+
+    def fit_text(self, text: str, box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]],
+                 ladder: FontLadder = LADDER_DEFAULT,
+                 ellipsis: bool = True) -> FitResult:
+        """Largest ladder rung whose rendered text fits the box (baseball's
+        pattern). If even the smallest rung is too wide, the text is
+        ellipsized to fit (unless ellipsis=False); fits=False only when no
+        acceptable rendering exists."""
+        box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+        key = ("text", text, box_w, box_h, ladder, ellipsis)
+        cached = self._fit_cache_get(key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+        result = self._walk_ladder(text, ladder, box_w, box_h, ellipsis)
+        self._fit_cache_put(key, result)
+        return result
+
+    def fit_text_proportional(self, text: str, box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]],
+                              base_size_px: int, ladder: FontLadder = LADDER_DEFAULT,
+                              ellipsis: bool = True,
+                              scale: Optional[float] = None) -> FitResult:
+        """Ladder rung closest to (but not exceeding) ``base_size_px * scale``
+        that still fits the box — proportional sizing instead of ``fit_text``'s
+        "always maximize" behavior.
+
+        Use this when several independently-fitted elements need to stay
+        visually harmonious as the panel grows (e.g. a scoreboard's score,
+        status, and detail text) — ``fit_text`` maximizes each one within
+        its own region, which can make one element balloon out of
+        proportion to its neighbors (a huge score overlapping logos it fit
+        fine at the design size) even though every individual pick is
+        independently "correct". ``base_size_px`` is the size that element
+        renders at on the design size (``design_size``, typically 128x32)
+        — commonly a plugin's existing classic/fixed font size for that
+        element.
+
+        ``scale`` defaults to ``self.scale`` (the same conservative
+        min(width_ratio, height_ratio) factor ``px()`` uses — safe for
+        content whose aspect ratio matters). Pass an explicit axis-specific
+        value when the surrounding composition already scales that way —
+        e.g. a scoreboard whose logos scale with height alone
+        (``logo_slot = min(height, width // 2)``) should size its score
+        text by ``height / design_height`` too, or its text will look
+        under-scaled next to bigger logos on a panel that only grew taller.
+
+        Falls back to the smallest rung when even that exceeds the target
+        (a tiny scale factor), and to fit_text's ordinary smaller-rung
+        fallback when the closest-to-target rung doesn't actually fit the
+        box.
+        """
+        box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+        effective_scale = self.scale if scale is None else scale
+        key = ("text_prop", text, box_w, box_h, ladder, base_size_px, ellipsis, effective_scale)
+        cached = self._fit_cache_get(key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+        target = base_size_px * effective_scale
+        eligible = [step for step in ladder if step.size_px <= target]
+        candidates = eligible if eligible else (min(ladder, key=lambda s: s.size_px),)
+        result = self._walk_ladder(text, candidates, box_w, box_h, ellipsis)
+        self._fit_cache_put(key, result)
+        return result
+
+    def _walk_ladder(self, text: str, ladder: Sequence[FontStep],
+                     box_w: int, box_h: int, ellipsis: bool) -> FitResult:
+        """Shared by fit_text/fit_text_proportional: first ladder entry (in
+        the order given) whose rendered text fits, ellipsizing the last one
+        tried if none do."""
+        result = None
+        for step in ladder:
+            font = self.font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+            width, height, baseline, y_offset = measure_ink(text, font)
+            result = FitResult(font, step.family, step.size_px, text,
+                               width, height, baseline, y_offset,
+                               fits=(width <= box_w and height <= box_h),
+                               line_height=font_line_height(font))
+            if result.fits:
+                break
+
+        if result is not None and not result.fits and ellipsis:
+            short = self.ellipsize(text, result.font, box_w)
+            width, height, baseline, y_offset = measure_ink(short, result.font)
+            result = FitResult(result.font, result.family, result.size_px,
+                               short, width, height, baseline, y_offset,
+                               fits=(width <= box_w and height <= box_h),
+                               line_height=result.line_height)
+        return result
+
+    def fit_lines(self, lines: Sequence[str], box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]],
+                  ladder: FontLadder = LADDER_DEFAULT,
+                  spacing: int = 1) -> FitResult:
+        """Largest rung where every line fits the box width and the stacked
+        lines (line_height + spacing apart) fit the box height. Measures the
+        actual strings, so a long line pushes the ladder down a rung a short
+        one wouldn't (baseball's multiline pattern). Text is the widest line."""
+        box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+        key = ("lines", tuple(lines), box_w, box_h, ladder, spacing)
+        cached = self._fit_cache_get(key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+
+        rows = max(1, len(lines))
+        result = None
+        for step in ladder:
+            font = self.font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+            line_h = font_line_height(font)
+            widest, metrics = "", (0, 0, 0, 0)
+            for line in lines:
+                m = measure_ink(line, font)
+                if m[0] >= metrics[0]:
+                    widest, metrics = line, m
+            total_h = rows * line_h + (rows - 1) * spacing
+            result = FitResult(font, step.family, step.size_px, widest,
+                               metrics[0], metrics[1], metrics[2], metrics[3],
+                               fits=(metrics[0] <= box_w and total_h <= box_h),
+                               line_height=line_h)
+            if result.fits:
+                break
+
+        self._fit_cache_put(key, result)
+        return result
+
+    def font_for_rows(self, rows: int, box_h: int,
+                      ladder: FontLadder = LADDER_GRID) -> FitResult:
+        """Largest rung whose line height lets `rows` rows fit in box_h
+        (baseball's traditional-scoreboard pattern). Measures a digit/cap
+        sample rather than specific strings."""
+        key = ("rows", rows, box_h, ladder)
+        cached = self._fit_cache_get(key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            return cached
+
+        sample = "0Ay"
+        result = None
+        for step in ladder:
+            font = self.font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+            line_h = font_line_height(font)
+            width, height, baseline, y_offset = measure_ink(sample, font)
+            result = FitResult(font, step.family, step.size_px, sample,
+                               width, height, baseline, y_offset,
+                               fits=(max(1, rows) * line_h <= box_h),
+                               line_height=line_h)
+            if result.fits:
+                break
+
+        self._fit_cache_put(key, result)
+        return result
+
+    # ---- images ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    def fit_image(self, img: Any, box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]], *,
+                  mode: str = "contain", crop_to_ink: bool = False,
+                  anchor: str = "center", resample: Any = None,
+                  upscale: bool = True, cache_key: Any = None) -> Any:
+        """Fit an image into a box (see src/adaptive_images.py for modes),
+        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.
+        """
+        from src.adaptive_images import fit_image as _fit_image
+
+        box_w, box_h = _box_dims(box)
+        resample_name = getattr(resample, "name", repr(resample)) if resample is not None else "default"
+        identity = cache_key if cache_key is not None else ("id", id(img))
+        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)
+            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)
+        return result
+
+    # ---- text utilities ------------------------------------------------
+
+    def ellipsize(self, text: str, font: Any, max_w: int) -> str:
+        """Trim text to fit max_w, appending an ellipsis. Returns '' when
+        not even the ellipsis fits."""
+        if measure_ink(text, font)[0] <= max_w:
+            return text
+        for end in range(len(text) - 1, 0, -1):
+            candidate = text[:end].rstrip() + ELLIPSIS
+            if measure_ink(candidate, font)[0] <= max_w:
+                return candidate
+        return ELLIPSIS if measure_ink(ELLIPSIS, font)[0] <= max_w else ""
+
+    def measure(self, text: str, font: Any) -> Tuple[int, int, int]:
+        """Ink (width, height, baseline) of text — see measure_ink."""
+        width, height, baseline, _ = measure_ink(text, font)
+        return (width, height, baseline)
+
+    def clear_cache(self) -> None:
+        """Drop cached fit results (call after fonts are reloaded)."""
+        self._fit_cache.clear()
+        self._image_cache.clear()
+
+
+def _pick_tier(tiers: Tuple[Tuple[str, int], ...], value: int) -> str:
+    for name, limit in tiers:
+        if value <= limit:
+            return name
+    return tiers[-1][0]
+
+
+def _box_dims(box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]]) -> Tuple[int, int]:
+    if isinstance(box, Region):
+        return (box.w, box.h)
+    w, h = box
+    return (int(w), int(h))
+
+
+def draw_fitted_text(display_manager: Any, fit: FitResult,
+                     box: Union[Region, Tuple[int, int]],
+                     color: Tuple[int, int, int] = (255, 255, 255),
+                     align: str = "center", valign: str = "center") -> None:
+    """Draw a FitResult's text aligned within a Region via
+    DisplayManager.draw_text(), compensating for the font's ink offset so
+    the ink (not the em box) is what gets aligned."""
+    region = box if isinstance(box, Region) else Region(0, 0, box[0], box[1])
+    x, y = region.align_xy(fit.width, fit.height, align, valign)
+    display_manager.draw_text(fit.text, x=x, y=y - fit.y_offset,
+                              color=color, font=fit.font)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Composite layouts — the region arrangements repeated across plugins,
+# expressed as Region math so migrated plugins stop hand-copying coordinate
+# formulas. Deliberately tiny: these return Regions, they don't draw.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class ScoreboardRegions:
+    """The two-logos-plus-center-score card shared by the sports plugins."""
+    bounds: Region
+    logo_slot: int        # width of each logo slot: min(H, W // 2), center-reserved
+    away_slot: Region     # left logo slot
+    home_slot: Region     # right logo slot
+    center_col: Region    # column between the slots (>= min_center_fraction of width)
+    status_band: Region   # top band (replaces the magic y = 1)
+    score_area: Region    # center_col's true width, between the bands (replaces y = H//2 - 3)
+    detail_band: Region   # bottom band (replaces the magic y = H - 7)
+    bottom_left: Region   # bottom corner: away records / timeouts
+    bottom_right: Region  # bottom corner: home records / timeouts
+
+
+def scoreboard_regions(bounds: Region, *, ctx: Optional["LayoutContext"] = None,
+                       status_h: Optional[int] = None,
+                       detail_h: Optional[int] = None,
+                       min_center_fraction: float = 0.15,
+                       min_center_design_px: int = 40,
+                       score_bleed_fraction: float = 0.5) -> ScoreboardRegions:
+    """Carve a game-card Region into the standard scoreboard arrangement.
+
+    Encodes the invariant duplicated across the sports plugins:
+    ``logo_slot = min(height, width // 2)`` (capped at half the card so the
+    home slot never collapses), away logo centered in the left slot, home in
+    the right.
+
+    That formula alone has a blind spot: at exactly 2:1 aspect ratio
+    (width == 2 * height — a very common shape, e.g. two, four, or more
+    square modules stacked into a taller panel) ``width // 2`` and
+    ``height`` are equal, so the two logo slots claim the *entire* width
+    and leave zero pixels for a center column, no matter how large the
+    panel gets. It isn't a "small panel" problem: 96x48, 128x64, and
+    256x128 (all exactly 2:1) hit it identically, while wide panels like
+    the 128x32 design baseline or a 192x48/256x32 panel never do, because
+    height is already the tighter constraint there.
+
+    Two knobs fix it, both defaulted to values verified against the full
+    harness size spread (see test_adaptive_layout.py::TestScoreboardRegions):
+
+    - ``min_center_fraction`` / ``min_center_design_px`` reserve at least
+      ``max(width * min_center_fraction, min_center_design_px * ctx.scale)``
+      for the center column, capping ``logo_slot`` further when needed. The
+      design-px term (scaled by the context's geometry factor, so it grows
+      on bigger panels like everything else in ``px()``) matters most on
+      small panels where a flat fraction alone reserves too little absolute
+      space for even a short score string. On wide panels the height
+      constraint already leaves more room than either reserves, so both are
+      a no-op there — 128x32/192x48-style layouts are unaffected.
+    - ``score_bleed_fraction`` extends the score's own *fit box* (not the
+      logo slots themselves) an extra ``logo_slot * score_bleed_fraction``
+      into each side — controlled, intentional overlap with the logo art,
+      the same way real broadcast scoreboards let a big score number's
+      edges cross into the team marks flanking it. Without this, on a
+      square-ish panel the center reserve alone can be too narrow for even
+      a modest score to render without truncating (`"17-21"` -> `"17-2…"`),
+      which is worse than a little overlap.
+
+    status_band and detail_band span the FULL card width and overlay the
+    logo slots — matching the classic layouts, where short outlined status/
+    date text is drawn over the logos without issue; only score_area (the
+    one element whose size actively grows with the panel) uses the
+    narrower, bleed-adjusted box. Band heights default to the classic
+    128x32 values, scaled by the context's geometry factor when one is
+    provided. Works on a full panel or on a scroll-mode card Region.
+    """
+    if status_h is None:
+        status_h = ctx.px(9, minimum=7) if ctx else 9
+    if detail_h is None:
+        detail_h = ctx.px(8, minimum=7) if ctx else 8
+
+    logo_slot = min(bounds.h, bounds.w // 2)
+    design_reserve = int(min_center_design_px * (ctx.scale if ctx else 1.0))
+    min_center_w = max(1, int(bounds.w * min_center_fraction), design_reserve)
+    max_logo_slot_by_center = max(1, (bounds.w - min_center_w) // 2)
+    logo_slot = min(logo_slot, max_logo_slot_by_center)
+    away_slot = bounds.left_col(logo_slot)
+    home_slot = bounds.right_col(logo_slot)
+    center_col = Region(bounds.x + logo_slot, bounds.y,
+                        bounds.w - 2 * logo_slot, bounds.h)
+    status_band = bounds.top_band(status_h)
+    detail_band = bounds.bottom_band(detail_h)
+    middle = bounds.middle(status_band.h, detail_band.h)
+    # score_area is the true center gap's width plus a controlled bleed
+    # into each logo slot (see score_bleed_fraction above) -- narrower than
+    # the full card width status/detail get, since it's the one element
+    # whose size actively grows with the panel and needs its *fit box* to
+    # reflect real available space, but generous enough that a short score
+    # string never has to truncate on a square-ish panel.
+    bleed = int(logo_slot * score_bleed_fraction)
+    score_area = Region(center_col.x - bleed, middle.y,
+                        center_col.w + 2 * bleed, middle.h)
+    bottom = bounds.bottom_band(detail_h)
+    return ScoreboardRegions(
+        bounds=bounds, logo_slot=logo_slot,
+        away_slot=away_slot, home_slot=home_slot, center_col=center_col,
+        status_band=status_band, score_area=score_area, detail_band=detail_band,
+        bottom_left=bottom.left_col(logo_slot),
+        bottom_right=bottom.right_col(logo_slot),
+    )
+
+
+@dataclass(frozen=True)
+class MediaRow:
+    """Art/icon on the left, text column on the right (music's idiom)."""
+    art: Region
+    body: Region
+
+
+def media_row(bounds: Region, *, ctx: Optional["LayoutContext"] = None,
+              square: bool = True, gap: Optional[int] = None) -> MediaRow:
+    """Split a Region into an art slot and a body column.
+
+    With ``square=True`` the art slot is bounds.h wide (album-art style);
+    otherwise it takes the left half. The gap defaults to 2px scaled by the
+    context's geometry factor.
+    """
+    if gap is None:
+        gap = ctx.px(2, minimum=1) if ctx else 2
+    art_w = bounds.h if square else bounds.w // 2
+    art_w = min(art_w, bounds.w)
+    art = bounds.left_col(art_w)
+    body = Region(bounds.x + art_w + gap, bounds.y,
+                  bounds.w - art_w - gap, bounds.h)
+    return MediaRow(art=art, body=body)

src/cache/disk_cache.py

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import time
 import tempfile
 import logging
 import threading
+import zlib
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Protocol
 from datetime import datetime
 
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ 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] = {}
     
     def get_cache_path(self, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
         """
@@ -68,14 +74,15 @@ class DiskCache:
             return None
         return os.path.join(self.cache_dir, f"{key}.json")
     
-    def get(self, key: str, max_age: int = 300) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
+    def get(self, key: str, max_age: Optional[int] = 300) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
         """
         Get data from disk cache.
-        
+
         Args:
             key: Cache key
-            max_age: Maximum age in seconds
-            
+            max_age: Maximum age in seconds; None disables age-based expiry
+                (the record never counts as stale). Mirrors MemoryCache.get.
+
         Returns:
             Cached data or None if not found or expired
         """
@@ -105,7 +112,13 @@ class DiskCache:
                     record_ts = None
             
             now = time.time()
-            if record_ts is None or (now - record_ts) <= max_age:
+            # max_age=None means "never expires" (mirrors MemoryCache and the
+            # cache_manager docstring). Guard it explicitly — otherwise the
+            # comparison below raises TypeError and the record is treated as a
+            # miss, which silently breaks callers that persist long-lived state
+            # via get(key, max_age=None) (e.g. plugin health/metrics that must
+            # survive restarts and be read cross-process).
+            if record_ts is None or max_age is None or (now - record_ts) <= max_age:
                 return record
             else:
                 # Stale on disk; keep file for potential diagnostics but treat as miss
@@ -148,10 +161,35 @@ class DiskCache:
         cache_path = self.get_cache_path(key)
         if not cache_path:
             return
-        
+
+        # Serialize once, compact (no indent): the payload is reused by every
+        # write path below, and cache files are machine-read only — indenting
+        # them just multiplied the bytes written to the SD card.
+        try:
+            payload = json.dumps(data, cls=DateTimeEncoder)
+        except (TypeError, ValueError) as e:
+            self.logger.warning("Cache data for key '%s' not serializable: %s", key, e)
+            return
+
+        digest = zlib.adler32(payload.encode('utf-8'))
+
         try:
             # Atomic write to avoid partial/corrupt files
             with self._lock:
+                # 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)
+
                 tmp_dir = os.path.dirname(cache_path)
                 # Try to create temp file in cache directory first
                 # If that fails due to permissions, fall back to direct write
@@ -174,13 +212,17 @@ class DiskCache:
                         fd = None
                     
                     if tmp_path and fd is not None:
-                        # Use atomic write with temp file
+                        # Atomic write with temp file. No fsync: os.replace
+                        # already guarantees readers never see a torn file,
+                        # and cache data is re-fetchable — forcing a disk
+                        # flush per write was the single biggest SD-card
+                        # wear source (dozens of fsyncs/min on API-heavy
+                        # installs) for data that can be re-downloaded.
                         try:
                             with os.fdopen(fd, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as tmp_file:
-                                json.dump(data, tmp_file, indent=4, cls=DateTimeEncoder)
-                                tmp_file.flush()
-                                os.fsync(tmp_file.fileno())
+                                tmp_file.write(payload)
                             os.replace(tmp_path, cache_path)
+                            self._write_digests[key] = digest
                             # Set proper permissions: 660 (rw-rw----) for group-readable cache files
                             try:
                                 os.chmod(cache_path, 0o660)  # nosec B103 - intentional; web UI and service share a group
@@ -196,9 +238,8 @@ class DiskCache:
                         # Fallback: direct write (not atomic, but better than failing)
                         try:
                             with open(cache_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as cache_file:
-                                json.dump(data, cache_file, indent=4, cls=DateTimeEncoder)
-                                cache_file.flush()
-                                os.fsync(cache_file.fileno())
+                                cache_file.write(payload)
+                            self._write_digests[key] = digest
                             # Set proper permissions: 660 (rw-rw----) for group-readable cache files
                             try:
                                 os.chmod(cache_path, 0o660)  # nosec B103 - intentional; web UI and service share a group
@@ -222,9 +263,12 @@ class DiskCache:
                             pass
                         
                         if os.path.isdir(fallback_dir) and os.access(fallback_dir, os.W_OK):
+                            # NOTE: no digest record here — the fallback file
+                            # is a different path, so future sets must keep
+                            # retrying the primary location.
                             fallback_path = os.path.join(fallback_dir, os.path.basename(cache_path))
                             with open(fallback_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as tmp_file:
-                                json.dump(data, tmp_file, indent=4, cls=DateTimeEncoder)
+                                tmp_file.write(payload)
                             # Set proper permissions: 660 (rw-rw----) for group-readable cache files
                             try:
                                 os.chmod(fallback_path, 0o660)  # nosec B103 - intentional; web UI and service share a group
@@ -265,6 +309,7 @@ class DiskCache:
         
         with self._lock:
             if key:
+                self._write_digests.pop(key, None)
                 cache_path = self.get_cache_path(key)
                 if cache_path and os.path.exists(cache_path):
                     try:
@@ -273,6 +318,7 @@ class DiskCache:
                         self.logger.warning("Could not remove cache file %s: %s", cache_path, e)
             else:
                 # Clear all cache files
+                self._write_digests.clear()
                 if os.path.exists(self.cache_dir):
                     for filename in os.listdir(self.cache_dir):
                         if filename.endswith('.json'):

src/cache_manager.py

@@ -574,9 +574,19 @@ class CacheManager:
         }
         return self.save_cache(data_type, cache_data)
 
-    def get(self, key: str, max_age: int = 300) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]:
-        """Get data from cache if it exists and is not stale."""
-        cached_data = self.get_cached_data(key, max_age)
+    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.
+
+        Args:
+            key: Cache key
+            max_age: Max age (seconds) for the on-disk entry; None never expires.
+            memory_ttl: Max age (seconds) for the in-memory entry. Pass 0 to
+                bypass the memory tier and force a fresh read from disk — used by
+                cross-process readers that must observe another process's latest
+                write rather than a stale first snapshot. Defaults to max_age.
+        """
+        cached_data = self.get_cached_data(key, max_age, memory_ttl=memory_ttl)
         if cached_data and 'data' in cached_data:
             return cached_data['data']
         return cached_data

src/common/README.md

@@ -2,6 +2,28 @@
 
 This directory contains reusable utilities and helpers for LEDMatrix plugins and core modules.
 
+## Adaptive Layout & Images (`src/adaptive_layout.py`, `src/adaptive_images.py`)
+
+The recommended way to lay out plugins that render legibly on **any** panel
+size (64x32 through 256x128+) without hand-tuned coordinates. Re-exported
+from `src.common` for convenience; canonical import paths are
+`src.adaptive_layout` / `src.adaptive_images`.
+
+```python
+# Every BasePlugin already has self.layout and the draw helpers:
+regs = scoreboard_regions(self.layout.bounds, ctx=self.layout)
+self.draw_image(away_logo, regs.away_slot, mode="fill_height",
+                crop_to_ink=True, cache_key=f"logo:{abbr}")
+self.draw_fit(score_text, regs.score_area)     # largest crisp font that fits
+self.draw_fit(status, regs.status_band)
+```
+
+Key pieces: `Region` (rect algebra: bands/columns/splits/offset),
+font ladders (`LADDER_GRID`, `LADDER_ARCADE` — discrete crisp sizes, never
+fractional scaling), `LayoutContext` (`fit_text`, `fit_image`, `by_tier`,
+`px`), and composite carvers `scoreboard_regions()` / `media_row()`.
+Full guide: [docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md](../../docs/ADAPTIVE_LAYOUT.md).
+
 ## Error Handling (`error_handler.py`)
 
 Common error handling patterns and utilities:

src/common/__init__.py

@@ -26,6 +26,31 @@ from src.common.scroll_helper import ScrollHelper
 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,
+)
+
 __all__ = [
     'handle_file_operation',
     'handle_json_operation',
@@ -37,4 +62,22 @@ __all__ = [
     'ScrollHelper',
     'LogoHelper',
     'TextHelper',
+    # adaptive layout & images
+    'Region',
+    'LayoutContext',
+    'FontStep',
+    'FontLadder',
+    'LADDER_GRID',
+    'LADDER_ARCADE',
+    'FitResult',
+    'draw_fitted_text',
+    'ScoreboardRegions',
+    'scoreboard_regions',
+    'MediaRow',
+    'media_row',
+    'ImageFitResult',
+    'fit_image',
+    'draw_fitted_image',
+    'RESAMPLE_LANCZOS',
+    'RESAMPLE_NEAREST',
 ]

src/common/logo_helper.py

@@ -72,9 +72,20 @@ class LogoHelper:
             
         Returns:
             PIL Image object or None if loading fails
+
+        Note: for new adaptive-layout code prefer ``BasePlugin.draw_image``
+        / ``LayoutContext.fit_image`` (src/adaptive_images.py) for the
+        fitting step — LogoHelper remains useful for its download and
+        placeholder logic.
         """
-        # Check cache first
-        cache_key = f"{team_abbr}_{logo_path}"
+        # Resolve the effective target size BEFORE the cache lookup so the
+        # key is size-qualified — a panel-size change must not return a
+        # logo resized for the old dimensions.
+        if max_width is None:
+            max_width = int(self.display_width * 1.5)
+        if max_height is None:
+            max_height = int(self.display_height * 1.5)
+        cache_key = f"{team_abbr}_{logo_path}_{max_width}x{max_height}"
         if cache_key in self._logo_cache:
             self.logger.debug(f"Using cached logo for {team_abbr}")
             # Update LRU order (move to end)

src/common/permission_utils.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ files that need to be accessible by both root service and web user.
 
 import os
 import logging
+import re
 import shutil as _shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
@@ -16,6 +17,25 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# Matches the credentials portion of a "scheme://user:pass@host" URL, so pip's
+# own error output can be logged/displayed without echoing back a private
+# index URL's embedded basic-auth secret verbatim (e.g. from a
+# requirements.txt --index-url line or the PIP_INDEX_URL env var).
+_URL_CREDENTIALS_RE = re.compile(r'://[^/\s@:]+:[^/\s@]+@')
+
+
+def _redact_url_credentials(text: Optional[str]) -> str:
+    """Replace embedded user:pass@ URL credentials in text with a placeholder.
+
+    Safe to call on any subprocess output destined for logs: it only ever
+    shortens/replaces the credential substring, never changes the presence
+    or absence of the specific fixed phrases callers check for
+    (e.g. "a password is required"), so it can't affect control flow.
+    """
+    if not text:
+        return text or ""
+    return _URL_CREDENTIALS_RE.sub('://***:***@', text)
+
 # System directories that should never have their permissions modified
 # These directories have special system-level permissions that must be preserved
 PROTECTED_SYSTEM_DIRECTORIES = {  # nosec B108 - these are checked to PREVENT permission changes, not to use as temp paths
@@ -338,6 +358,13 @@ def install_requirements_file(req_file: Path, timeout: int = 300) -> subprocess.
                 ["sudo", "-n", bash_path, str(wrapper), str(req_file)],
                 capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout, cwd=str(project_root)
             )
+            # Redact immediately: pip can echo a private index URL's embedded
+            # basic-auth credentials back in its own error/progress output
+            # (e.g. from a requirements.txt --index-url line). Doesn't affect
+            # the fixed-phrase "denied" check below -- those phrases never
+            # overlap with URL syntax.
+            result.stderr = _redact_url_credentials(result.stderr)
+            result.stdout = _redact_url_credentials(result.stdout)
             if result.returncode == 0:
                 return result
             # Distinguish "sudo rejected this exact command line" (worth
@@ -348,16 +375,24 @@ def install_requirements_file(req_file: Path, timeout: int = 300) -> subprocess.
                 for phrase in ("a password is required", "is not allowed to run", "no tty present")
             )
             if not denied:
+                # Deliberately don't interpolate req_file or the pip output here:
+                # this log line is scanner-visible, and a static analyzer can't
+                # tell "already redacted above" from "still raw" just by looking
+                # at this call in isolation. The full (redacted) text is still
+                # available to callers via the returned CompletedProcess.
                 logger.warning(
-                    "Root pip install failed (rc=%s) for %s: %s",
-                    result.returncode, req_file, result.stderr.strip()[:500],
+                    "Root pip install failed (rc=%s); see the returned "
+                    "CompletedProcess.stderr for details.",
+                    result.returncode,
                 )
                 return result
 
+        # Same reasoning as above: no req_file / pip-output interpolation in
+        # this log line, only in the returned note/CompletedProcess.
         logger.warning(
-            "Root pip install wrapper denied via sudo for %s; falling back to "
-            "user-level install: %s",
-            req_file, result.stderr.strip()[:500] if result else "no bash candidates found",
+            "Root pip install wrapper denied via sudo for all candidates; "
+            "falling back to user-level install. See the returned "
+            "CompletedProcess.stderr for details."
         )
         note = (
             f"[Root install unavailable ({(result.stderr.strip() if result else 'sudo denied') or 'sudo denied'}); "
@@ -367,8 +402,7 @@ def install_requirements_file(req_file: Path, timeout: int = 300) -> subprocess.
         )
     else:
         logger.warning(
-            "safe_pip_install.sh not found; falling back to user-level install for %s",
-            req_file,
+            "safe_pip_install.sh not found; falling back to user-level install."
         )
         note = (
             "[safe_pip_install.sh not found; installed for the current process's "
@@ -386,6 +420,7 @@ def install_requirements_file(req_file: Path, timeout: int = 300) -> subprocess.
         [sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install", "--break-system-packages", "--ignore-installed", "-r", str(req_file)],
         capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=timeout, cwd=str(project_root)
     )
-    result.stdout = note + (result.stdout or "")
+    result.stderr = _redact_url_credentials(result.stderr)
+    result.stdout = note + _redact_url_credentials(result.stdout)
     return result
 

src/common/snapshot_policy.py

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""Snapshot write policy for the display preview mirror.
+
+The display service mirrors frames to /tmp/led_matrix_preview.png, which
+serves two consumers with different needs:
+
+- The web UI's live preview (SSE reader in web_interface/app.py) wants
+  fresh frames — but only while a browser is actually watching.
+- The health check (web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py, hardware status)
+  uses the file's AGE as a liveness proxy: age >= 60s reads as degraded.
+
+PNG-encoding every frame at 5 fps forever — identical frames, no viewers —
+was one of the biggest fixed CPU costs on the Pi. This module is the pure
+decision logic (extracted so it's unit-testable off-Pi; display_manager
+imports rgbmatrix unconditionally and can't be):
+
+    WRITE  — encode + atomically replace the snapshot file
+    TOUCH  — os.utime only: keeps the health-check mtime fresh and lets
+             the SSE reader (mtime-gated) resend at a low rate, without
+             paying for a PNG encode of an unchanged frame
+    SKIP   — do nothing
+
+Policy:
+- With a fresh viewer marker: changed frames write at up to 1/VIEWER_INTERVAL.
+- Without viewers: changed frames still write at 1/IDLE_INTERVAL so the
+  preview page shows something recent on open.
+- Unchanged frames are never re-encoded; the mtime is touched every
+  TOUCH_INTERVAL so the health check (60s threshold) never degrades.
+
+If any constant here changes, re-check the health threshold in
+api_v3.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 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
+# check. MUST stay well under api_v3's 60s degraded threshold.
+TOUCH_INTERVAL = 20.0
+# A viewer marker older than this no longer counts as a live viewer.
+VIEWER_MARKER_FRESH_SEC = 5.0
+
+
+class SnapshotAction(Enum):
+    WRITE = "write"
+    TOUCH = "touch"
+    SKIP = "skip"
+
+
+def decide(now: float, last_write_ts: float, last_touch_ts: float,
+           viewer_fresh: bool, frame_changed: bool) -> SnapshotAction:
+    """Decide what to do with the current frame.
+
+    Args:
+        now: current monotonic-ish timestamp (same clock as the ts args)
+        last_write_ts: when a frame was last actually encoded+written
+        last_touch_ts: when the file mtime was last bumped (write or touch)
+        viewer_fresh: a browser preview is currently watching
+        frame_changed: the frame differs from the last WRITTEN frame
+    """
+    interval = VIEWER_INTERVAL if viewer_fresh else IDLE_INTERVAL
+    if frame_changed and (now - last_write_ts) >= interval:
+        return SnapshotAction.WRITE
+    if (now - max(last_write_ts, last_touch_ts)) >= TOUCH_INTERVAL:
+        return SnapshotAction.TOUCH
+    return SnapshotAction.SKIP

src/common/text_helper.py

@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Tuple, Union
 
 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 
+# Shared throwaway draw surface for measuring text without a target canvas.
+_measure_draw = ImageDraw.Draw(Image.new("RGB", (1, 1)))
+
 
 class TextHelper:
     """
@@ -112,10 +115,10 @@ class TextHelper:
             Width in pixels
         """
         try:
-            return draw.textlength(text, font=font)
+            return int(_measure_draw.textlength(text, font=font))
         except AttributeError:
             # Fallback for older PIL versions
-            bbox = draw.textbbox((0, 0), text, font=font)
+            bbox = _measure_draw.textbbox((0, 0), text, font=font)
             return bbox[2] - bbox[0]
     
     def get_text_height(self, text: str, font: ImageFont.ImageFont) -> int:
@@ -129,13 +132,8 @@ class TextHelper:
         Returns:
             Height in pixels
         """
-        try:
-            bbox = draw.textbbox((0, 0), text, font=font)
-            return bbox[3] - bbox[1]
-        except AttributeError:
-            # Fallback for older PIL versions
-            bbox = draw.textbbox((0, 0), text, font=font)
-            return bbox[3] - bbox[1]
+        bbox = _measure_draw.textbbox((0, 0), text, font=font)
+        return bbox[3] - bbox[1]
     
     def get_text_dimensions(self, text: str, font: ImageFont.ImageFont) -> Tuple[int, int]:
         """

src/display_controller.py

@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ class DisplayController:
         self.wifi_status_file = WIFI_STATUS_FILE
         self.wifi_status_active = False
         self.wifi_status_expires_at: Optional[float] = None
+        # _check_wifi_status_message throttle state (checked at frame rate,
+        # stat'd at most once per second)
+        self._wifi_status_check_ts = 0.0
+        self._wifi_status_last_result: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None
 
         # Plugin display() signature cache — must be initialised before the plugin
         # loading loop below so the .pop() invalidation at load time is always safe.
@@ -230,7 +234,24 @@ class DisplayController:
                 cache_manager=self.cache_manager,
                 font_manager=self.font_manager
             )
-            
+
+            # Activate the plugin health/metrics subsystem. PluginManager leaves
+            # health_tracker/resource_monitor as None by default; wiring real
+            # instances here turns on the circuit breaker (a repeatedly-failing
+            # plugin's update() is skipped after consecutive failures, then
+            # retried after a cooldown) and per-plugin execution-time metrics.
+            # Both persist to the shared cache so the web UI can surface them.
+            # Done before discovery/loading so load-time schema warnings have a
+            # tracker to record against.
+            try:
+                from src.plugin_system.plugin_health import PluginHealthTracker
+                from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import PluginResourceMonitor
+                self.plugin_manager.health_tracker = PluginHealthTracker(self.cache_manager)
+                self.plugin_manager.resource_monitor = PluginResourceMonitor(self.cache_manager)
+                logger.info("Plugin health tracking and resource monitoring enabled")
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning("Could not enable plugin health/resource monitoring: %s", e)
+
             # Validate plugins after plugin manager is created
             try:
                 from src.startup_validator import StartupValidator
@@ -485,7 +506,10 @@ class DisplayController:
 
             # Run plugin updates inside the Vegas loop so the inter-iteration
             # gap is <1 ms (nothing left for _tick_plugin_updates() to do).
-            self.vegas_coordinator.set_update_callback(self._tick_plugin_updates)
+            # Use the Vegas-aware variant so plugins that got fresh data are
+            # hot-swapped into the scroll promptly instead of waiting for the
+            # next full cycle.
+            self.vegas_coordinator.set_update_callback(self._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas)
 
             # Wire multi-display sync into Vegas render pipeline
             follower_pos = self.config.get("sync", {}).get("follower_position", "left")
@@ -604,18 +628,28 @@ class DisplayController:
 
         current_day = current_time.strftime('%A').lower()  # e.g. 'monday'
         current_time_only = current_time.time()
-        
+
         # Check if per-day schedule is configured
         days_config = schedule_config.get('days')
-        
-        # Determine which schedule to use
+
+        # Determine which schedule to use. Respect an explicit 'mode' field
+        # (like the dim schedule does) so a stray/legacy 'days' dict left over
+        # from config migration or a prior per-day setup can't silently
+        # override a user's Global schedule selection.
+        mode = schedule_config.get('mode')
+        mode_normalized = mode.replace('_', '-') if mode else None
+
         use_per_day = False
-        if days_config:
-            # Check if days dict is not empty and contains current day
-            if days_config and current_day in days_config:
+        if mode_normalized == 'global':
+            use_per_day = False
+        elif mode_normalized == 'per-day':
+            use_per_day = bool(days_config and current_day in days_config)
+        elif days_config:
+            # No explicit mode recorded (legacy config) - fall back to
+            # inferring from presence of a 'days' dict for the current day.
+            if current_day in days_config:
                 use_per_day = True
-            elif days_config:
-                # Days dict exists but doesn't have current day - fall back to global
+            else:
                 logger.debug("Per-day schedule exists but %s not configured, using global schedule", current_day)
         
         if use_per_day:
@@ -811,6 +845,42 @@ class DisplayController:
                     if hasattr(self.plugin_manager, 'health_tracker') and self.plugin_manager.health_tracker:
                         self.plugin_manager.health_tracker.record_failure(plugin_id, exc)
 
+    def _tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas(self) -> None:
+        """Run scheduled plugin updates and tell Vegas mode which plugins
+        actually got fresh data, so it can hot-swap them into the scroll
+        without waiting for a full cycle to complete.
+
+        Used as the Vegas coordinator's update callback instead of the plain
+        _tick_plugin_updates() so that a live score change is reflected in
+        the ticker within a few seconds rather than at the next cycle
+        boundary (which, depending on min/max_cycle_duration, can be
+        minutes away). Restores wiring that PR #299 added and PR #330's
+        sync-mode refactor inadvertently dropped: coordinator.mark_plugin_updated()
+        has been unreachable dead code since.
+
+        Delegates the before/after plugin_last_update snapshot to
+        PluginManager.run_scheduled_updates_with_changes() so the snapshot,
+        update pass, and diff are lock-protected against this callback's own
+        background update-tick thread racing the main render loop.
+        """
+        if not self.plugin_manager or not hasattr(self.plugin_manager, "run_scheduled_updates_with_changes"):
+            self._tick_plugin_updates()
+            return
+
+        updated = self.plugin_manager.run_scheduled_updates_with_changes()
+
+        vc = getattr(self, "vegas_coordinator", None)
+        if vc is None:
+            return
+
+        if updated:
+            logger.info("Vegas update tick: %d plugin(s) updated: %s", len(updated), updated)
+            for plugin_id in updated:
+                try:
+                    vc.mark_plugin_updated(plugin_id)
+                except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                    logger.exception("Error marking plugin %s updated for Vegas", plugin_id)
+
     def _tick_plugin_updates(self):
         """Run scheduled plugin updates if the plugin manager supports them."""
         if not self.plugin_manager:
@@ -1618,7 +1688,7 @@ class DisplayController:
                     self._sleep_with_plugin_updates(60)
                     continue
                 
-                logger.info(f"Display active, processing mode: {self.current_display_mode}")
+                logger.debug("Display active, processing mode: %s", self.current_display_mode)
                 
                 # Plugins update on their own schedules - no forced sync updates needed
                 # Each plugin has its own update_interval and background services
@@ -1786,7 +1856,7 @@ class DisplayController:
                         if self.plugin_manager and hasattr(self.plugin_manager, 'health_tracker') and self.plugin_manager.health_tracker:
                             should_skip = self.plugin_manager.health_tracker.should_skip_plugin(plugin_id)
                             if should_skip:
-                                logger.info(f"Skipping plugin {plugin_id} due to circuit breaker (mode: {active_mode})")
+                                logger.info("Skipping plugin %s due to circuit breaker (mode: %s)", plugin_id, active_mode)
                                 display_result = False
                                 # Skip to next mode - let existing logic handle it
                                 manager_to_display = None
@@ -1844,7 +1914,7 @@ class DisplayController:
                             if isinstance(result, bool):
                                 display_result = result
                                 if not display_result:
-                                    logger.info(f"Plugin {plugin_id} display() returned False for mode {active_mode}")
+                                    logger.info("Plugin %s display() returned False for mode %s", plugin_id, active_mode)
                         
                         # Record success if display completed without exception
                         if self.plugin_manager and hasattr(self.plugin_manager, 'health_tracker') and self.plugin_manager.health_tracker:
@@ -2337,6 +2407,16 @@ class DisplayController:
             Returns None on any error or if message is expired/invalid.
         """
         try:
+            # Throttle the existence stat to ~1 Hz: this runs on every render
+            # iteration (60+ fps), and the file usually doesn't exist — the
+            # status message's lifetime is measured in seconds anyway.
+            # Both attributes are initialised in __init__.
+            now = time.time()
+            if (now - self._wifi_status_check_ts) < 1.0:
+                return self._wifi_status_last_result
+            self._wifi_status_check_ts = now
+            self._wifi_status_last_result = None
+
             # Check if file exists
             if not self.wifi_status_file or not self.wifi_status_file.exists():
                 return None
@@ -2387,13 +2467,14 @@ class DisplayController:
                     pass
                 return None
             
-            # Message is valid and not expired
-            return {
+            # Message is valid and not expired — cache for the throttle window
+            self._wifi_status_last_result = {
                 'message': message,
                 'timestamp': timestamp,
                 'duration': duration,
                 'expires_at': expires_at
             }
+            return self._wifi_status_last_result
             
         except Exception as e:
             # Catch-all for any unexpected errors - log but don't break the display

src/display_manager.py

@@ -31,13 +31,24 @@ if os.getenv("EMULATOR", "false") == "true":
 else:
     from rgbmatrix import RGBMatrix, RGBMatrixOptions
 from contextlib import contextmanager
+from pathlib import Path
 from PIL import Image, ImageDraw, ImageFont
 import time
-from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional
+from collections import OrderedDict
+from typing import Dict, Any, List, Optional, Tuple
 import logging
 import math
+import zlib
 import freetype
 
+from src.common import snapshot_policy
+from src.common.permission_utils import (
+    ensure_directory_permissions,
+    ensure_file_permissions,
+    get_assets_dir_mode,
+    get_assets_file_mode,
+)
+
 # Get logger without configuring
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 logger.setLevel(logging.INFO)  # Set to INFO level
@@ -180,14 +191,34 @@ class DisplayManager:
         # the logical image is blitted to the matrix unchanged.
         self._double_sided = None  # dict {copies, axis, logical_width, logical_height} or None
         self._physical_image = None  # full-chain buffer reused each frame when tiling
-        # Text-width measurement cache: (text, id(font)) -> pixel_width
+        # Text-width measurement cache: (text, id(font)) -> (width, font_ref)
         # Avoids re-measuring the same string+font on every display() call.
+        # LRU-bounded: keys embed the TEXT, so changing strings (a clock, a
+        # live score) would otherwise grow it forever on a 24/7 service.
+        # Entries hold a strong reference to the font so its id() can't be
+        # recycled by a different font object — an id-keyed cache without
+        # the reference can return the WRONG width after garbage collection.
         # Cleared on _load_fonts() so stale entries don't survive a font reload.
-        self._text_width_cache: Dict[tuple, int] = {}
-        # Snapshot settings for web preview integration (service writes, web reads)
+        self._text_width_cache: "OrderedDict[tuple, Tuple[int, Any]]" = OrderedDict()
+        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.
         self._snapshot_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png"  # nosec B108 - fixed path intentional; web UI reads same path
-        self._snapshot_min_interval_sec = 0.2  # max ~5 fps
+        self._viewer_marker_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer"  # nosec B108 - touched by web SSE broadcaster
         self._last_snapshot_ts = 0.0
+        self._last_snapshot_touch_ts = 0.0
+        self._last_snapshot_digest: Optional[int] = None
+        self._snapshot_dir_prepared = False
+        self._viewer_check_ts = 0.0
+        self._viewer_fresh = False
+        self._viewer_was_fresh = False
+        # Snapshot failures are logged as warnings, rate-limited so a
+        # persistent failure (e.g. an unwritable file) can't spam the log —
+        # but is never silent: the snapshot's mtime doubles as the web UI's
+        # hardware-liveness signal, so a quiet failure makes health checks lie.
+        self._snapshot_fail_log_ts = 0.0
         
         # Scrolling state tracking for graceful updates
         self._scrolling_state = {
@@ -699,12 +730,15 @@ class DisplayManager:
 
         Results are cached by (text, font identity) so plugins that measure
         the same string every frame (e.g. to centre a score) pay only one
-        measurement per unique (text, font) pair.
+        measurement per unique (text, font) pair. The entry keeps the font
+        alive so its id() can't be recycled, and the cache is LRU-bounded so
+        ever-changing text (clocks, tickers) can't grow it without limit.
         """
         cache_key = (text, id(font))
         cached = self._text_width_cache.get(cache_key)
         if cached is not None:
-            return cached
+            self._text_width_cache.move_to_end(cache_key)
+            return cached[0]
 
         try:
             if isinstance(font, freetype.Face):
@@ -719,7 +753,9 @@ class DisplayManager:
             logger.error("Error getting text width: %s", e)
             return 0
 
-        self._text_width_cache[cache_key] = width
+        self._text_width_cache[cache_key] = (width, font)
+        while len(self._text_width_cache) > self._TEXT_WIDTH_CACHE_MAX:
+            self._text_width_cache.popitem(last=False)
         return width
 
     def get_font_height(self, font):
@@ -1128,27 +1164,56 @@ class DisplayManager:
             '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
+        second — at 125 fps loops a per-call stat would be pure overhead."""
+        if (now - self._viewer_check_ts) >= 1.0:
+            self._viewer_check_ts = now
+            try:
+                marker_age = now - os.stat(self._viewer_marker_path).st_mtime
+                self._viewer_fresh = marker_age < snapshot_policy.VIEWER_MARKER_FRESH_SEC
+            except OSError:
+                self._viewer_fresh = False
+        return self._viewer_fresh
+
     def _write_snapshot_if_due(self) -> None:
-        """Write the current image to a PNG snapshot file at a limited frequency."""
+        """Mirror the current frame to the preview snapshot when the policy
+        says it's worth it — see src/common/snapshot_policy.py. Unchanged
+        frames are never re-encoded; without viewers the cadence drops to
+        the idle keepalive."""
         try:
             now = time.time()
-            if (now - self._last_snapshot_ts) < self._snapshot_min_interval_sec:
+            viewer_fresh = self._viewer_is_fresh(now)
+            if viewer_fresh and not self._viewer_was_fresh:
+                # A preview just opened: let the next changed frame through
+                # immediately instead of waiting out the idle interval.
+                self._last_snapshot_ts = 0.0
+            self._viewer_was_fresh = viewer_fresh
+
+            digest = 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 action is snapshot_policy.SnapshotAction.SKIP:
                 return
-            # Ensure directory exists with proper permissions
-            from pathlib import Path
-            from src.common.permission_utils import (
-                ensure_directory_permissions,
-                ensure_file_permissions,
-                get_assets_dir_mode,
-                get_assets_file_mode
-            )
+            if action is snapshot_policy.SnapshotAction.TOUCH:
+                # mtime bump only: keeps the health check (snapshot age)
+                # green without paying for a PNG encode of an unchanged frame
+                os.utime(self._snapshot_path, None)
+                self._last_snapshot_touch_ts = now
+                return
+
+            # WRITE: ensure directory permissions once, not per frame
             snapshot_path_obj = Path(self._snapshot_path)
-            # Only ensure permissions on non-system directories
-            # Never modify /tmp permissions - it has special system permissions (1777)
-            # that must not be changed or it breaks apt and other system tools
-            parent_dir = snapshot_path_obj.parent
-            if parent_dir and str(parent_dir) != '/tmp':  # nosec B108 - guard to skip /tmp for permission ops
-                ensure_directory_permissions(parent_dir, get_assets_dir_mode())
+            if not self._snapshot_dir_prepared:
+                # Never modify /tmp permissions - it has special system
+                # permissions (1777) that must not be changed or it breaks
+                # apt and other system tools
+                parent_dir = snapshot_path_obj.parent
+                if parent_dir and str(parent_dir) != '/tmp':  # nosec B108 - guard to skip /tmp for permission ops
+                    ensure_directory_permissions(parent_dir, get_assets_dir_mode())
+                self._snapshot_dir_prepared = True
             # Write atomically: temp then replace
             tmp_path = f"{self._snapshot_path}.tmp"
             self.image.save(tmp_path, format='PNG')
@@ -1163,6 +1228,18 @@ class DisplayManager:
             except Exception:
                 pass
             self._last_snapshot_ts = now
+            self._last_snapshot_touch_ts = now
+            self._last_snapshot_digest = digest
         except Exception as e:
-            # Snapshot failures should never break display; log at debug to avoid noise
-            logger.debug(f"Snapshot write skipped: {e}")
+            # Snapshot failures must never break display — but they must not
+            # be silent either: the snapshot's mtime is the web UI's display
+            # mirror AND its hardware-liveness proxy, so a quietly failing
+            # write freezes the mirror and makes health checks lie (seen in
+            # the field: a stale root-owned /tmp file froze it for a day).
+            # Warn at most once per 5 minutes to avoid log spam.
+            if (now - self._snapshot_fail_log_ts) > 300:
+                self._snapshot_fail_log_ts = now
+                logger.warning("Snapshot write failing (web preview/health "
+                               "mirror is stale): %s", e)
+            else:
+                logger.debug(f"Snapshot write skipped: {e}")

src/font_manager.py

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ import urllib.request
 import zipfile
 import tempfile
 import time
+from collections import OrderedDict
 from pathlib import Path
 from PIL import ImageFont
 from typing import Dict, Tuple, Optional, Union, Any, List
@@ -58,7 +59,13 @@ class FontManager:
         # Font discovery and catalog
         self.font_catalog: Dict[str, str] = {}  # family_name -> file_path
         self.font_cache: Dict[str, Union[ImageFont.FreeTypeFont, freetype.Face]] = {}  # (family, size) -> font
-        self.metrics_cache: Dict[str, Tuple[int, int, int]] = {}  # (text, font_id) -> (width, height, baseline)
+        # (text, id(font)) -> ((width, height, baseline), font_ref).
+        # LRU-bounded — keys embed the measured TEXT, so changing strings
+        # (clocks, live scores) would otherwise grow it forever. Entries
+        # keep the font alive so its id() can't be recycled by a different
+        # font object (which would silently return wrong metrics).
+        self.metrics_cache: "OrderedDict[Any, Tuple[Tuple[int, int, int], Any]]" = OrderedDict()
+        self._METRICS_CACHE_MAX = 1024
 
         # Plugin font management
         self.plugin_fonts: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}  # plugin_id -> font_manifest
@@ -103,6 +110,10 @@ class FontManager:
         # Font overrides storage (for manual overrides)
         self.font_overrides_file = "config/font_overrides.json"
         self.font_overrides: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+        # Bumped whenever cached font objects are invalidated, so holders of
+        # derived caches (e.g. adaptive-layout fit results) know to rebuild.
+        self.cache_generation = 0
         
         self._initialize_fonts()
     
@@ -112,6 +123,7 @@ class FontManager:
         self.fonts_config = new_config.get("fonts", {})
         self.font_cache.clear()  # Clear cache to force reload
         self.metrics_cache.clear()  # Clear metrics cache
+        self.cache_generation += 1
         self._initialize_fonts()
         logger.info("FontManager configuration reloaded successfully")
 
@@ -482,6 +494,14 @@ class FontManager:
     def _load_bdf_font(self, font_path: str, size_px: int) -> freetype.Face:
         """Load a BDF font using FreeType."""
         try:
+            native_size = self._read_bdf_native_size(font_path)
+            if native_size is not None and native_size != size_px:
+                # BDF is a fixed-strike bitmap format: FreeType renders the
+                # native size no matter what set_char_size asks for.
+                logger.debug(
+                    "BDF font %s requested at %spx but renders at its native "
+                    "%spx", font_path, size_px, native_size
+                )
             face = freetype.Face(font_path)
             # Set character size (width, height) in 1/64th of points
             face.set_char_size(size_px * 64, size_px * 64, 72, 72)
@@ -490,6 +510,41 @@ class FontManager:
             logger.error(f"Error loading BDF font {font_path}: {e}")
             raise
 
+    def get_native_bdf_size(self, family: str) -> Optional[int]:
+        """The one true pixel size of a BDF family in the catalog, or None
+        for scalable (TTF) families / unknown families."""
+        font_path = self.font_catalog.get(family)
+        if not font_path or not font_path.endswith('.bdf'):
+            return None
+        return self._read_bdf_native_size(font_path)
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def _read_bdf_native_size(bdf_path: str) -> Optional[int]:
+        """Read a BDF file's own header to find its one true pixel size.
+        Prefers the PIXEL_SIZE property, which states the real pixel height
+        directly; falls back to the SIZE line's point-size only if PIXEL_SIZE
+        is absent, since point-size only equals pixel height at exactly
+        100dpi — several bundled fonts (e.g. 6x13.bdf, 5x8.bdf) are defined
+        at 75dpi, where the two values genuinely differ."""
+        size_line_value = None
+        try:
+            with open(bdf_path, "r", encoding="ascii", errors="ignore") as f:
+                for line in f:
+                    if line.startswith("PIXEL_SIZE"):
+                        parts = line.split()
+                        if len(parts) >= 2:
+                            return int(float(parts[1]))
+                    elif line.startswith("SIZE") and size_line_value is None:
+                        # Format: "SIZE <point_size> <xres> <yres>"
+                        parts = line.split()
+                        if len(parts) >= 2:
+                            size_line_value = int(float(parts[1]))
+                    elif line.startswith("STARTCHAR"):
+                        break
+        except (OSError, ValueError):
+            return None
+        return size_line_value
+
     def _get_fallback_font(self) -> ImageFont.ImageFont:
         """Get a fallback font when loading fails."""
         return ImageFont.load_default()
@@ -507,10 +562,14 @@ class FontManager:
         Returns:
             Tuple of (width, height, baseline_offset)
         """
-        cache_key = f"{hash(text)}_{id(font)}"
+        # Key on the text itself (hash(text) could collide) + font identity;
+        # the entry below keeps the font referenced so the id stays valid.
+        cache_key = (text, id(font))
 
-        if cache_key in self.metrics_cache:
-            return self.metrics_cache[cache_key]
+        cached = self.metrics_cache.get(cache_key)
+        if cached is not None:
+            self.metrics_cache.move_to_end(cache_key)
+            return cached[0]
 
         try:
             if isinstance(font, freetype.Face):
@@ -547,7 +606,9 @@ class FontManager:
             baseline = 10
 
         result = (width, height, baseline)
-        self.metrics_cache[cache_key] = result
+        self.metrics_cache[cache_key] = (result, font)
+        while len(self.metrics_cache) > self._METRICS_CACHE_MAX:
+            self.metrics_cache.popitem(last=False)
         return result
 
     def get_font_height(self, font: Union[ImageFont.FreeTypeFont, freetype.Face]) -> int:

src/image_utils.py

@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+"""Deprecated: use src/adaptive_images.py (fit_image) instead.
+
+This module predates the adaptive image system and has no known callers.
+It is kept only so any out-of-tree code importing it keeps working.
+"""
+
 import logging
 from PIL import Image
 

src/plugin_system/base_plugin.py

@@ -15,6 +15,19 @@ import logging
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
 
 
+_shared_fallback_font_manager: Optional[Any] = None
+
+
+def _fallback_font_manager() -> Any:
+    """Shared FontManager for environments (unit tests, mocks) where the
+    plugin manager doesn't carry one. Scans assets/fonts like the real one."""
+    global _shared_fallback_font_manager
+    if _shared_fallback_font_manager is None:
+        from src.font_manager import FontManager
+        _shared_fallback_font_manager = FontManager({})
+    return _shared_fallback_font_manager
+
+
 class VegasDisplayMode(Enum):
     """
     Display mode for Vegas scroll integration.
@@ -130,6 +143,133 @@ class BasePlugin(ABC):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError("Plugins must implement display()")
 
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Adaptive layout support (opt-in)
+    # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    @property
+    def layout(self) -> Any:
+        """
+        LayoutContext for the current logical display size.
+
+        Lazily built and rebuilt automatically when the display size changes
+        (e.g. Vegas segment widths, double-sided logical screens). Provides
+        Region carving (self.layout.bounds), breakpoint tiers, a geometry
+        scale factor vs. the manifest's display.design_size, and fit-text
+        queries against font ladders. See src/adaptive_layout.py.
+
+        Example:
+            rows = self.layout.bounds.inset(1).split_v(3, 1, gap=1)
+            self.draw_fit(big_text, rows[0], ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+            self.draw_fit(small_text, rows[1])
+        """
+        from src.adaptive_layout import LayoutContext
+
+        width = getattr(self.display_manager, "width", None)
+        height = getattr(self.display_manager, "height", None)
+        if not width or not height:
+            matrix = getattr(self.display_manager, "matrix", None)
+            width = getattr(matrix, "width", 128)
+            height = getattr(matrix, "height", 32)
+
+        font_manager = self._get_font_manager()
+        generation = getattr(font_manager, "cache_generation", 0)
+        cached = getattr(self, "_layout_context", None)
+        if (cached is not None
+                and (cached.width, cached.height) == (width, height)
+                and getattr(self, "_layout_font_generation", None) == generation):
+            return cached
+
+        context = LayoutContext(
+            width, height, font_manager,
+            design_size=self._get_design_size(),
+        )
+        self._layout_context = context
+        self._layout_font_generation = generation
+        return context
+
+    def draw_fit(self, text: str, box: Any,
+                 color: tuple = (255, 255, 255),
+                 ladder: Optional[Any] = None,
+                 align: str = "center", valign: str = "center") -> Any:
+        """
+        Fit text to a Region with the largest crisp font that fits, then draw
+        it aligned within that region via the display manager.
+
+        Args:
+            text: Text to display (ellipsized if even the smallest rung is too wide)
+            box: Region (or (w, h) tuple anchored at 0,0) to fit and align within
+            color: RGB color tuple
+            ladder: FontLadder to walk (default LADDER_GRID; use LADDER_ARCADE
+                    for headline text like clocks and scores)
+            align/valign: alignment of the text ink within the box
+
+        Returns:
+            FitResult (font, family, size_px, text, ink metrics, fits flag)
+        """
+        from src.adaptive_layout import LADDER_DEFAULT, draw_fitted_text
+
+        fit = self.layout.fit_text(text, box, ladder=ladder or LADDER_DEFAULT)
+        draw_fitted_text(self.display_manager, fit, box,
+                         color=color, align=align, valign=valign)
+        return fit
+
+    def draw_image(self, img: Any, box: Any, *,
+                   mode: str = "contain", align: str = "center",
+                   valign: str = "center", crop_to_ink: bool = False,
+                   anchor: str = "center", resample: Optional[Any] = None,
+                   cache_key: Optional[Any] = None,
+                   offset: tuple = (0, 0)) -> Any:
+        """
+        Fit an image into a Region and paste it aligned within that region
+        onto the display canvas — the image counterpart to draw_fit().
+
+        Args:
+            img: Source PIL image (logos, art, icons)
+            box: Region (or (w, h) tuple) to fit and align within
+            mode: "contain" (letterbox), "cover" (crop-to-fill),
+                  "fill_height" (logo-style), "stretch"
+            crop_to_ink: Trim transparent padding before fitting
+            anchor: "center" or "top" for cover crops
+            resample: PIL filter; default LANCZOS. Use RESAMPLE_NEAREST
+                  (from src.adaptive_images) for pixel art/flags
+            cache_key: Stable identity (e.g. "logo:KC") for cross-reload
+                  caching; defaults to the image object's identity
+            offset: Final (dx, dy) translation — the hook for user
+                  x/y-offset customization
+
+        Returns:
+            ImageFitResult (processed image + dimensions + scale)
+        """
+        from src.adaptive_images import draw_fitted_image
+
+        ifit = self.layout.fit_image(img, box, mode=mode,
+                                     crop_to_ink=crop_to_ink, anchor=anchor,
+                                     resample=resample, cache_key=cache_key)
+        draw_fitted_image(self.display_manager, ifit, box,
+                          align=align, valign=valign, offset=offset)
+        return ifit
+
+    def _get_font_manager(self) -> Any:
+        """The shared FontManager, or a module-level fallback when running
+        under mocks/harnesses that don't provide one."""
+        font_manager = getattr(self.plugin_manager, "font_manager", None)
+        if font_manager is not None and hasattr(font_manager, "get_font"):
+            return font_manager
+        return _fallback_font_manager()
+
+    def _get_design_size(self) -> tuple:
+        """Panel size this plugin's layout was authored against, from the
+        manifest's optional display.design_size (defaults to 128x32)."""
+        from src.adaptive_layout import DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE
+
+        if self.plugin_manager and hasattr(self.plugin_manager, "plugin_manifests"):
+            manifest = self.plugin_manager.plugin_manifests.get(self.plugin_id, {})
+            declared = manifest.get("display", {}).get("design_size", {})
+            width, height = declared.get("width"), declared.get("height")
+            if width and height:
+                return (int(width), int(height))
+        return DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE
+
     def get_display_duration(self) -> float:
         """
         Get the display duration for this plugin instance.

src/plugin_system/plugin_health.py

@@ -52,11 +52,18 @@ class PluginHealthTracker:
         """Get cache key for plugin health data."""
         return f"plugin_health:{plugin_id}"
     
-    def _load_health_state(self, plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Load health state from cache or return defaults."""
+    def _load_health_state(self, plugin_id: str, force_reload: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Load health state from cache or return defaults.
+
+        ``force_reload=True`` bypasses the cache manager's in-memory tier so a
+        read-only consumer (e.g. the web process) observes the writer process's
+        latest persisted state instead of a stale first snapshot.
+        """
         cache_key = self._get_health_key(plugin_id)
-        cached = self.cache_manager.get(cache_key, max_age=None)
-        
+        cached = self.cache_manager.get(
+            cache_key, max_age=None, memory_ttl=0 if force_reload else None
+        )
+
         if cached:
             return cached
         
@@ -79,10 +86,17 @@ class PluginHealthTracker:
         self.cache_manager.set(cache_key, state)  # Persist indefinitely
         self._health_state[plugin_id] = state
     
-    def get_health_state(self, plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Get current health state for a plugin."""
-        if plugin_id not in self._health_state:
-            self._health_state[plugin_id] = self._load_health_state(plugin_id)
+    def get_health_state(self, plugin_id: str, force_reload: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get current health state for a plugin.
+
+        ``force_reload=True`` re-reads the persisted state from the cache,
+        bypassing the in-memory copy — needed by cross-process readers that
+        would otherwise be pinned to the first snapshot they loaded.
+        """
+        if force_reload or plugin_id not in self._health_state:
+            self._health_state[plugin_id] = self._load_health_state(
+                plugin_id, force_reload=force_reload
+            )
         return self._health_state[plugin_id]
     
     def record_success(self, plugin_id: str) -> None:
@@ -139,6 +153,28 @@ class PluginHealthTracker:
         
         self._save_health_state(plugin_id, state)
     
+    def set_degraded(self, plugin_id: str, reason: Optional[str]) -> None:
+        """Flag (or clear) a plugin as degraded without touching the circuit breaker.
+
+        Used for non-fatal issues — e.g. a config that no longer satisfies the
+        plugin's schema — that should be surfaced to the user but must NOT cause
+        the plugin to be skipped or counted as a runtime failure. Passing
+        ``reason=None`` clears the flag. The write is skipped when nothing
+        actually changes, so calling this on every load is cheap.
+
+        Args:
+            plugin_id: Plugin identifier
+            reason: Human-readable reason string, or None to clear the flag
+        """
+        state = self.get_health_state(plugin_id)
+        new_degraded = bool(reason)
+        new_reason = reason if reason else None
+        if state.get('degraded', False) == new_degraded and state.get('degraded_reason') == new_reason:
+            return  # No change — avoid a redundant cache write
+        state['degraded'] = new_degraded
+        state['degraded_reason'] = new_reason
+        self._save_health_state(plugin_id, state)
+
     def should_skip_plugin(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
         """
         Check if plugin should be skipped due to circuit breaker.
@@ -181,9 +217,13 @@ class PluginHealthTracker:
         
         return False
     
-    def get_health_summary(self, plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Get health summary for a plugin."""
-        state = self.get_health_state(plugin_id)
+    def get_health_summary(self, plugin_id: str, force_reload: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get health summary for a plugin.
+
+        ``force_reload=True`` refreshes from the persisted cache first so
+        cross-process readers reflect the writer's latest state.
+        """
+        state = self.get_health_state(plugin_id, force_reload=force_reload)
         
         total_calls = state.get('total_successes', 0) + state.get('total_failures', 0)
         success_rate = 0.0
@@ -201,6 +241,8 @@ class PluginHealthTracker:
             'last_failure_time': state.get('last_failure_time'),
             'last_error': state.get('last_error'),
             'is_healthy': state.get('circuit_state') == CircuitState.CLOSED.value,
+            'degraded': state.get('degraded', False),
+            'degraded_reason': state.get('degraded_reason'),
             'circuit_opened_time': state.get('circuit_opened_time'),
             'half_open_start_time': state.get('half_open_start_time')
         }

src/plugin_system/plugin_loader.py

@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ Handles plugin module imports, dependency installation, and class instantiation.
 Extracted from PluginManager to improve separation of concerns.
 """
 
-import hashlib
-import json
 import importlib
+import importlib.metadata
 import importlib.util
+import json
 import os
 import sys
 import subprocess
@@ -17,12 +17,101 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional, Tuple, Type
 import logging
 
+from packaging.requirements import InvalidRequirement, Requirement
+
 from src.exceptions import PluginError
 from src.logging_config import get_logger
-from src.common.permission_utils import (
-    ensure_file_permissions,
-    get_plugin_file_mode
-)
+
+
+def requirements_has_real_deps(requirements_file: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check whether a requirements.txt actually specifies anything to install.
+
+    Plugins that ship all their dependencies with LEDMatrix core often keep a
+    requirements.txt where every line is commented out, for documentation
+    purposes only. Running pip against such a file still pays the full
+    subprocess/resolver cost for zero effect, so callers should skip the
+    install step entirely when this returns False.
+    """
+    try:
+        with open(requirements_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fh:
+            for line in fh:
+                line = line.strip()
+                if line and not line.startswith('#'):
+                    return True
+    except OSError:
+        # Let the caller's own file handling report the error.
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def requirements_are_satisfied(requirements_file: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check whether every real requirement line in requirements.txt is already
+    satisfied by packages installed in the current interpreter.
+
+    This replaces marker-file tracking with a direct fact check, so it's
+    immune to stale/missing/corrupted markers: it looks at what's actually
+    importable right now rather than trusting a hash comparison from a
+    previous run. Anything ambiguous (pip options, unparseable lines,
+    extras, unresolvable versions) conservatively returns False so the
+    caller falls through to running pip — this check only ever saves work,
+    never masks a real install.
+    """
+    try:
+        with open(requirements_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fh:
+            lines = fh.readlines()
+    except OSError:
+        return False
+
+    for raw_line in lines:
+        line = raw_line.strip()
+        if not line or line.startswith('#'):
+            continue
+        if line.startswith('-'):
+            return False  # pip option (-r, --index-url, ...), can't verify
+
+        try:
+            req = Requirement(line)
+        except InvalidRequirement:
+            return False
+
+        if req.extras:
+            return False  # verifying extras' sub-dependencies isn't worth it here
+
+        if req.marker is not None and not req.marker.evaluate():
+            continue  # not applicable on this platform/interpreter
+
+        try:
+            installed_version = importlib.metadata.version(req.name)
+        except importlib.metadata.PackageNotFoundError:
+            return False
+
+        if req.specifier and not req.specifier.contains(installed_version, prereleases=True):
+            return False
+
+    return True
+
+
+def find_trusted_subdir(trusted_dir: str, name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """Return `name` if it names an actual subdirectory of trusted_dir, else None.
+
+    Used as a containment check for a directory name derived from untrusted
+    input (a manifest-declared plugin id, an externally-supplied plugin
+    path): the returned value always comes from enumerating trusted_dir
+    itself via os.scandir(), so a caller that builds a path by joining
+    trusted_dir with this return value is joining against a name the
+    filesystem produced under a trusted root -- not the caller's original
+    string, which could otherwise smuggle a traversal sequence through.
+    """
+    try:
+        with os.scandir(trusted_dir) as entries:
+            for entry in entries:
+                if entry.name == name and entry.is_dir():
+                    return entry.name
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+    return None
 
 
 class PluginLoader:
@@ -132,14 +221,14 @@ class PluginLoader:
                 except (json.JSONDecodeError, Exception) as e:
                     self.logger.debug("Skipping %s due to manifest error: %s", item.name, e)
                     continue
-        
+
         return None
-    
+
     def install_dependencies(
         self,
         plugin_dir: Path,
         plugin_id: str,
-        plugins_dir: Optional[Path] = None,
+        plugins_dir: Path,
         timeout: int = 300
     ) -> bool:
         """
@@ -148,7 +237,12 @@ class PluginLoader:
         Args:
             plugin_dir: Plugin directory path
             plugin_id: Plugin identifier
-            plugins_dir: Trusted base plugins directory for path containment check
+            plugins_dir: Trusted base plugins directory for path containment check.
+                Required (not optional) so every caller reconstructs the plugin
+                path through the sanitiser below rather than trusting plugin_dir
+                directly -- CodeQL's path-injection query (and a malicious
+                manifest/plugin_id in practice) can't tell a legitimate
+                plugin_dir from one crafted to traverse outside plugins_dir.
             timeout: Installation timeout in seconds
 
         Returns:
@@ -160,59 +254,42 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
         # Resolve to a canonical absolute path (normalises .. and symlinks)
         plugin_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugin_dir))
+        plugins_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugins_dir))
+        requested_name = os.path.basename(plugin_dir_real)
 
-        if plugins_dir is not None:
-            # Reconstruct the plugin path from a trusted base + a sanitised
-            # directory name.  os.path.basename() is CodeQL's recognised
-            # py/path-injection sanitiser: it strips all directory components
-            # so the result cannot contain traversal sequences.  Joining it
-            # with the resolved, trusted plugins_dir produces a path that
-            # CodeQL considers untainted.
-            plugins_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugins_dir))
-            safe_dir_name = os.path.basename(plugin_dir_real)
-            if not safe_dir_name:
-                self.logger.error("Could not determine plugin directory name for %s", plugin_id)
-                return False
-            safe_plugin_dir = os.path.join(plugins_dir_real, safe_dir_name)
-            if not os.path.isdir(safe_plugin_dir):
-                self.logger.error(
-                    "Plugin directory for %s not found inside plugins dir", plugin_id
-                )
-                return False
-        else:
-            safe_plugin_dir = plugin_dir_real
-            if not os.path.isdir(safe_plugin_dir):
-                self.logger.error("Plugin directory does not exist: %s", plugin_dir)
-                return False
+        # Match the requested directory against an entry actually enumerated
+        # from the trusted plugins_dir, and build the path from that entry --
+        # not from requested_name. A name that came out of os.scandir() on a
+        # trusted root carries no taint regardless of what the caller asked
+        # for, so this is a real containment guarantee (an allowlist check
+        # against a trusted source), not a string-sanitisation of untrusted
+        # input that a static analyzer has to trust blindly.
+        matched_name = find_trusted_subdir(plugins_dir_real, requested_name)
+        if matched_name is None:
+            self.logger.error(
+                "Plugin directory for %s not found inside plugins dir", plugin_id
+            )
+            return False
 
+        safe_plugin_dir = os.path.join(plugins_dir_real, matched_name)
         requirements_file = os.path.join(safe_plugin_dir, "requirements.txt")
-        marker_file = os.path.join(safe_plugin_dir, ".dependencies_installed")
 
         if not os.path.isfile(requirements_file):
             return True  # No dependencies needed
 
-        try:
-            with open(requirements_file, 'rb') as fh:
-                current_hash = hashlib.sha256(fh.read()).hexdigest()
-        except OSError as e:
-            self.logger.error("Failed to read requirements.txt for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
-            return False
+        if not requirements_has_real_deps(requirements_file):
+            self.logger.debug(
+                "requirements.txt for %s has no real dependencies (comments/blank only), skipping pip",
+                plugin_id
+            )
+            return True
 
-        # Skip if requirements.txt hasn't changed since last install
-        if os.path.isfile(marker_file):
-            try:
-                with open(marker_file, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fh:
-                    stored_hash = fh.read().strip()
-            except OSError as e:
-                self.logger.warning(
-                    "Could not read dependency marker for %s (%s), will reinstall dependencies",
-                    plugin_id, e
-                )
-            else:
-                if stored_hash == current_hash:
-                    self.logger.debug("Dependencies already installed for %s (requirements unchanged)", plugin_id)
-                    return True
-                self.logger.info("Requirements changed for %s, reinstalling dependencies", plugin_id)
+        if requirements_are_satisfied(requirements_file):
+            self.logger.debug(
+                "Dependencies for %s already satisfied in current environment, skipping pip",
+                plugin_id
+            )
+            return True
 
         try:
             self.logger.info("Installing dependencies for plugin %s...", plugin_id)
@@ -225,12 +302,6 @@ class PluginLoader:
             )
 
             if result.returncode == 0:
-                try:
-                    with open(marker_file, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as fh:
-                        fh.write(current_hash)
-                    ensure_file_permissions(Path(marker_file), get_plugin_file_mode())
-                except OSError as marker_err:
-                    self.logger.debug("Could not write dependency marker for %s: %s", plugin_id, marker_err)
                 self.logger.info("Dependencies installed successfully for %s", plugin_id)
                 return True
             else:
@@ -242,8 +313,7 @@ class PluginLoader:
                 # the system copy instead of trying to replace it — matching the
                 # retry already used by install_dependencies_apt.py / safe_pip_install.sh.
                 # Without this retry, the plugin would silently keep running against
-                # whatever version the system happened to ship, even though the
-                # marker below claims the requirement is satisfied.
+                # whatever version the system happened to ship.
                 if "uninstall-no-record-file" in stderr:
                     self.logger.warning(
                         "Dependencies for %s conflict with a system-managed package "
@@ -280,12 +350,6 @@ class PluginLoader:
                             "system-managed version satisfies the requirement",
                             plugin_id
                         )
-                    try:
-                        with open(marker_file, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as fh:
-                            fh.write(current_hash)
-                        ensure_file_permissions(Path(marker_file), get_plugin_file_mode())
-                    except OSError as marker_err:
-                        self.logger.debug("Could not write dependency marker for %s: %s", plugin_id, marker_err)
                     return True
                 self.logger.warning(
                     "Dependency installation returned non-zero exit code for %s: %s",
@@ -373,8 +437,7 @@ class PluginLoader:
                 if not Path(existing_file).resolve().is_relative_to(resolved_dir):
                     evicted[mod_name] = sys.modules.pop(mod_name)
                     self.logger.debug(
-                        "Evicted stale module '%s' (from %s) before loading plugin in %s",
-                        mod_name, existing_file, plugin_dir,
+                        "Evicted stale bare-name module '%s' before loading plugin", mod_name,
                     )
             except (ValueError, TypeError):
                 continue
@@ -487,7 +550,7 @@ class PluginLoader:
             plugin_dir_str = str(plugin_dir)
             if plugin_dir_str not in sys.path:
                 sys.path.insert(0, plugin_dir_str)
-                self.logger.debug("Added plugin directory to sys.path: %s", plugin_dir_str)
+                self.logger.debug("Added plugin %s's directory to sys.path", plugin_id)
 
             # Import the plugin module
             module_name = f"plugin_{plugin_id.replace('-', '_')}"
@@ -499,8 +562,8 @@ class PluginLoader:
 
             spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(module_name, entry_file)
             if spec is None or spec.loader is None:
+                self.logger.error("Could not create module spec for plugin %s", plugin_id)
                 error_msg = f"Could not create module spec for {entry_file}"
-                self.logger.error(error_msg)
                 raise PluginError(error_msg, plugin_id=plugin_id, context={'entry_file': str(entry_file)})
 
             module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
@@ -619,6 +682,55 @@ class PluginLoader:
             self.logger.error(error_msg, exc_info=True)
             raise PluginError(error_msg, plugin_id=plugin_id) from e
     
+    @staticmethod
+    def _parse_semver(value: Any) -> Optional[Tuple[int, int, int]]:
+        """Parse 'X.Y.Z' (extra parts/suffixes ignored) into a comparable
+        3-tuple, or None when unparseable."""
+        if not isinstance(value, str):
+            return None
+        parts = value.strip().lstrip('v').split('.')
+        try:
+            nums = [int(''.join(ch for ch in p if ch.isdigit()) or 0) for p in parts[:3]]
+        except ValueError:
+            return None
+        while len(nums) < 3:
+            nums.append(0)
+        return tuple(nums)  # type: ignore[return-value]
+
+    def _warn_if_incompatible(self, plugin_id: str, manifest: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """Log one warning when a plugin declares a minimum LEDMatrix version
+        newer than the running core. Advisory only — never raises — so a
+        plugin that guards optional features with try/except keeps working.
+        """
+        declared = (
+            manifest.get('min_ledmatrix_version')
+            or manifest.get('requires', {}).get('min_ledmatrix_version')
+        )
+        if not declared:
+            versions = manifest.get('versions') or []
+            if versions and isinstance(versions[0], dict):
+                declared = (versions[0].get('ledmatrix_min_version')
+                            or versions[0].get('ledmatrix_min'))
+        needed = self._parse_semver(declared)
+        if needed is None:
+            return
+
+        from src import __version__ as core_version
+        current = self._parse_semver(core_version)
+        # Anti-spam guard: if the core's own version number is stale (below
+        # the ecosystem floor every shipped plugin declares), comparing would
+        # warn on nearly everything — skip with a debug note instead.
+        if current is None or current < (2, 0, 0):
+            self.logger.debug(
+                "Skipping version compatibility check for %s: core __version__ "
+                "(%s) is below the ecosystem floor", plugin_id, core_version)
+            return
+        if needed > current:
+            self.logger.warning(
+                "Plugin %s declares min LEDMatrix version %s but this core is %s — "
+                "features it relies on may be missing; update the core or expect "
+                "degraded fallbacks", plugin_id, declared, core_version)
+
     def load_plugin(
         self,
         plugin_id: str,
@@ -651,8 +763,18 @@ class PluginLoader:
         Raises:
             PluginError: If loading fails
         """
+        self._warn_if_incompatible(plugin_id, manifest)
+
         # Install dependencies if needed
         if install_deps:
+            if plugins_dir is None:
+                raise PluginError(
+                    f"plugins_dir is required to install dependencies for plugin {plugin_id} "
+                    "(needed for path containment; pass install_deps=False if the caller "
+                    "doesn't have a trusted plugins directory to supply)",
+                    plugin_id=plugin_id,
+                    context={'plugin_dir': str(plugin_dir)},
+                )
             if not self.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, plugin_id, plugins_dir=plugins_dir):
                 raise PluginError(
                     f"Dependency installation failed for plugin {plugin_id} in {plugin_dir}",

src/plugin_system/plugin_manager.py

@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ API Version: 1.0.0
 
 import json
 import sys
-import subprocess
 import time
 import threading
+import types
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Any
 import logging
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ class PluginManager:
         # concurrent mutation (background reconciliation) and reads (requests).
         self._discovery_lock = threading.RLock()
 
+        # Lock protecting plugin_last_update from concurrent mutation/iteration.
+        # It's written from run_scheduled_updates()/update_all_plugins() (main
+        # loop) and read/diffed by run_scheduled_updates_with_changes(), which
+        # Vegas mode calls from its own background update-tick thread.
+        self._plugin_last_update_lock = threading.RLock()
+
         # Active plugins
         self.plugins: Dict[str, Any] = {}
         self.plugin_manifests: Dict[str, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
@@ -177,90 +183,6 @@ class PluginManager:
 
         return plugin_ids
 
-    def _get_dependency_marker_path(self, plugin_id: str) -> Path:
-        """Get path to dependency installation marker file."""
-        plugin_dir = self.plugins_dir / plugin_id
-        if not plugin_dir.exists():
-            # Try with ledmatrix- prefix
-            plugin_dir = self.plugins_dir / f"ledmatrix-{plugin_id}"
-        return plugin_dir / ".dependencies_installed"
-
-    def _check_dependencies_installed(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
-        """Check if dependencies are already installed for a plugin."""
-        marker_path = self._get_dependency_marker_path(plugin_id)
-        return marker_path.exists()
-
-    def _mark_dependencies_installed(self, plugin_id: str) -> None:
-        """Mark dependencies as installed for a plugin."""
-        marker_path = self._get_dependency_marker_path(plugin_id)
-        try:
-            marker_path.touch()
-            # Set proper file permissions after creating marker
-            from src.common.permission_utils import (
-                ensure_file_permissions,
-                get_plugin_file_mode
-            )
-            ensure_file_permissions(marker_path, get_plugin_file_mode())
-        except (OSError, PermissionError) as e:
-            self.logger.warning("Could not create dependency marker for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
-
-    def _remove_dependency_marker(self, plugin_id: str) -> None:
-        """Remove dependency installation marker."""
-        marker_path = self._get_dependency_marker_path(plugin_id)
-        try:
-            if marker_path.exists():
-                marker_path.unlink()
-        except (OSError, PermissionError) as e:
-            self.logger.warning("Could not remove dependency marker for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
-
-    def _install_plugin_dependencies(self, requirements_file: Path) -> bool:
-        """
-        Install plugin dependencies from requirements.txt.
-        
-        Args:
-            requirements_file: Path to requirements.txt
-            
-        Returns:
-            True if installation succeeded or not needed, False on error
-        """
-        try:
-            self.logger.info("Installing dependencies from %s", requirements_file)
-            result = subprocess.run(
-                [sys.executable, "-m", "pip", "install", "--break-system-packages", "--no-cache-dir", "-r", str(requirements_file)],
-                capture_output=True,
-                text=True,
-                timeout=300,
-                check=False
-            )
-            
-            if result.returncode == 0:
-                self.logger.info("Dependencies installed successfully")
-                return True
-            else:
-                self.logger.warning("Dependency installation returned non-zero exit code: %s", result.stderr)
-                return False
-        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
-            self.logger.error("Dependency installation timed out")
-            return False
-        except FileNotFoundError as e:
-            self.logger.warning("Command not found: %s. Skipping dependency installation", e)
-            return True
-        except (BrokenPipeError, OSError) as e:
-            # Handle broken pipe errors (errno 32) which can occur during pip downloads
-            # Often caused by network interruptions or output buffer issues
-            if isinstance(e, OSError) and e.errno == 32:
-                self.logger.error(
-                    "Broken pipe error during dependency installation. "
-                    "This usually indicates a network interruption or pip output buffer issue. "
-                    "Try installing again or check your network connection."
-                )
-            else:
-                self.logger.error("OS error during dependency installation: %s", e)
-            return False
-        except Exception as e:
-            self.logger.error("Unexpected error installing dependencies: %s", e, exc_info=True)
-            return True
-
     def load_plugin(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
         """
         Load a plugin by ID.
@@ -390,10 +312,19 @@ class PluginManager:
                     self.logger.error("Error validating plugin %s config: %s", plugin_id, e, exc_info=True)
                     self.state_manager.set_state(plugin_id, PluginState.ERROR, error=e)
                     return False
-            
+
+            # Schema validation (warn/degrade only — never blocks loading).
+            # A config that violates the plugin's JSON schema is surfaced to the
+            # user (log warning + degraded flag in the health tracker) but the
+            # plugin still loads exactly as it does today. This deliberately does
+            # NOT change load_plugin()'s pass/fail behaviour for any plugin that
+            # loads under the current code.
+            self._validate_config_schema_soft(plugin_id, config)
+
             # Store plugin instance
             self.plugins[plugin_id] = plugin_instance
-            self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = 0.0
+            with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+                self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = 0.0
             # Invalidate cached interval so next tick re-derives it for this plugin
             self._update_interval_cache.pop(plugin_id, None)
             
@@ -419,6 +350,59 @@ class PluginManager:
             self.state_manager.set_state(plugin_id, PluginState.ERROR, error=e)
             return False
     
+    def _validate_config_schema_soft(self, plugin_id: str, config: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+        """Validate a plugin's config against its JSON schema — warn/degrade only.
+
+        On a schema violation this logs a warning and marks the plugin degraded
+        in the health tracker (when one is wired), so the problem is visible in
+        the web UI. It never raises, never changes plugin state, and never
+        affects whether the plugin loads. ``config`` here has already been
+        merged with schema defaults by the caller, so fields that ship a default
+        never appear "missing" — only genuinely user-supplied required fields
+        (e.g. an API key) can trip the required-field check.
+        """
+        try:
+            schema = self.schema_manager.load_schema(plugin_id)
+        except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+            self.logger.debug("Could not load schema for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
+            return
+
+        if not schema:
+            # No schema shipped — nothing to validate. Clear any stale flag.
+            self._set_degraded_safe(plugin_id, None)
+            return
+
+        try:
+            is_valid, errors = self.schema_manager.validate_config_against_schema(
+                config, schema, plugin_id
+            )
+        except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+            # Validation machinery itself failed — do not penalise the plugin.
+            self.logger.debug("Schema validation raised for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
+            return
+
+        if is_valid or not errors:
+            self._set_degraded_safe(plugin_id, None)
+            return
+
+        summary = "; ".join(errors[:5])
+        if len(errors) > 5:
+            summary += f" (+{len(errors) - 5} more)"
+        self.logger.warning(
+            "Plugin %s config does not match its schema (loading anyway): %s",
+            plugin_id, summary,
+        )
+        self._set_degraded_safe(plugin_id, f"Config schema: {summary}")
+
+    def _set_degraded_safe(self, plugin_id: str, reason: Optional[str]) -> None:
+        """Best-effort ``health_tracker.set_degraded`` that never raises."""
+        if not self.health_tracker:
+            return
+        try:
+            self.health_tracker.set_degraded(plugin_id, reason)
+        except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover - defensive
+            self.logger.debug("Could not set degraded flag for %s: %s", plugin_id, e)
+
     def unload_plugin(self, plugin_id: str) -> bool:
         """
         Unload a plugin by ID.
@@ -452,7 +436,8 @@ class PluginManager:
             
             # Remove from active plugins
             del self.plugins[plugin_id]
-            self.plugin_last_update.pop(plugin_id, None)
+            with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+                self.plugin_last_update.pop(plugin_id, None)
             self._update_interval_cache.pop(plugin_id, None)
             
             # Remove main module from sys.modules if present
@@ -721,7 +706,8 @@ class PluginManager:
             'recoverable': True,
         }
         self.logger.warning("Plugin %s update() failed; will retry after interval", plugin_id)
-        self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = failure_time
+        with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+            self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = failure_time
         self.state_manager.set_state_with_error(plugin_id, PluginState.ENABLED, error_info, error=err)
         if self.health_tracker:
             self.health_tracker.record_failure(plugin_id, err)
@@ -754,7 +740,8 @@ class PluginManager:
             if interval is None:
                 continue
 
-            last_update = self.plugin_last_update.get(plugin_id, 0.0)
+            with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+                last_update = self.plugin_last_update.get(plugin_id, 0.0)
 
             if last_update == 0.0 or (current_time - last_update) >= interval:
                 # Update state to RUNNING
@@ -767,15 +754,26 @@ class PluginManager:
                         # If resource monitor exists, wrap the call
                         def monitored_update():
                             self.resource_monitor.monitor_call(plugin_id, plugin_instance.update)
+                        # SimpleNamespace stores `update` as an *instance*
+                        # attribute, so attribute lookup returns the plain
+                        # function object as-is. A dynamically-built class
+                        # (`type(..., {'update': monitored_update})`) instead
+                        # stores it as a *class* attribute, which the
+                        # descriptor protocol turns into a bound method on
+                        # access -- silently prepending the instance as an
+                        # implicit first argument to a function that takes
+                        # none, raising "monitored_update() takes 0
+                        # positional arguments but 1 was given" on every call.
                         success = self.plugin_executor.execute_update(
-                            type('obj', (object,), {'update': monitored_update})(),
+                            types.SimpleNamespace(update=monitored_update),
                             plugin_id
                         )
                     else:
                         success = self.plugin_executor.execute_update(plugin_instance, plugin_id)
                     
                     if success:
-                        self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = current_time
+                        with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+                            self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = current_time
                         self.state_manager.record_update(plugin_id)
                         # Update state back to ENABLED
                         self.state_manager.set_state(plugin_id, PluginState.ENABLED)
@@ -788,6 +786,31 @@ class PluginManager:
                     self.logger.exception("Error updating plugin %s: %s", plugin_id, exc)
                     self._record_update_failure(plugin_id, exc=exc)
 
+    def run_scheduled_updates_with_changes(self, current_time: Optional[float] = None) -> List[str]:
+        """
+        Like run_scheduled_updates(), but also returns the plugin_ids whose
+        plugin_last_update timestamp actually advanced during this call.
+
+        The before/after snapshots and the update pass itself are each
+        individually lock-protected against concurrent plugin_last_update
+        mutation (Vegas mode calls this from its own background
+        update-tick thread, racing the main render loop's plugin updates),
+        so callers get an atomic "who got fresh data" answer without
+        reaching into plugin_last_update themselves. The lock is not held
+        across the update pass so slow/blocking plugin update() calls don't
+        serialize against other plugin_last_update readers.
+        """
+        with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+            old_times = dict(self.plugin_last_update)
+
+        self.run_scheduled_updates(current_time)
+
+        with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+            return [
+                plugin_id for plugin_id, new_time in self.plugin_last_update.items()
+                if new_time > old_times.get(plugin_id, 0.0)
+            ]
+
     def update_all_plugins(self) -> None:
         """
         Update all enabled plugins.
@@ -810,7 +833,8 @@ class PluginManager:
             try:
                 success = self.plugin_executor.execute_update(plugin_instance, plugin_id)
                 if success:
-                    self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = time.time()
+                    with self._plugin_last_update_lock:
+                        self.plugin_last_update[plugin_id] = time.time()
                     self.state_manager.record_update(plugin_id)
                     self.state_manager.set_state(plugin_id, PluginState.ENABLED)
                 else:
@@ -836,7 +860,7 @@ class PluginManager:
             
             # Get health tracker metrics if available
             if self.health_tracker:
-                health_info = self.health_tracker.get_plugin_health(plugin_id)
+                health_info = self.health_tracker.get_health_summary(plugin_id)
                 plugin_metrics['health'] = health_info
             else:
                 plugin_metrics['health'] = {'status': 'unknown'}
@@ -861,7 +885,7 @@ class PluginManager:
             
             # Get resource monitor metrics if available
             if self.resource_monitor:
-                resource_info = self.resource_monitor.get_plugin_metrics(plugin_id)
+                resource_info = self.resource_monitor.get_metrics_summary(plugin_id)
                 plugin_metrics['resources'] = resource_info
             else:
                 plugin_metrics['resources'] = {'status': 'unknown'}

src/plugin_system/resource_monitor.py

@@ -71,17 +71,32 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
         self.cache_manager = cache_manager
         self.enable_monitoring = enable_monitoring and PSUTIL_AVAILABLE
         self.logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-        
+
         # Resource metrics per plugin
         self._metrics: Dict[str, ResourceMetrics] = {}
         self._limits: Dict[str, ResourceLimits] = {}
-        
+
         # Thread-local storage for execution tracking
         self._local = threading.local()
-        
+
         # Lock for thread-safe access
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
-        
+
+        # Cache a single psutil.Process handle. Reusing the same handle is what
+        # lets cpu_percent() be read non-blocking (interval=None): psutil returns
+        # the utilisation since the *previous* call on that same object. Creating
+        # a fresh Process() per call would force interval-based sampling that
+        # blocks the caller — unacceptable on the display loop's update path.
+        self._process = None
+        if self.enable_monitoring:
+            try:
+                self._process = psutil.Process()
+                # Prime cpu_percent so the first real measurement returns a
+                # meaningful delta instead of 0.0.
+                self._process.cpu_percent(interval=None)
+            except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - psutil edge cases
+                self._process = None
+
         if not PSUTIL_AVAILABLE and enable_monitoring:
             self.logger.warning(
                 "psutil not available - resource monitoring will be limited to execution time only"
@@ -95,13 +110,21 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
         """Get cache key for plugin limits."""
         return f"plugin_limits:{plugin_id}"
     
-    def get_metrics(self, plugin_id: str) -> ResourceMetrics:
-        """Get current metrics for a plugin."""
+    def get_metrics(self, plugin_id: str, force_reload: bool = False) -> ResourceMetrics:
+        """Get current metrics for a plugin.
+
+        ``force_reload=True`` bypasses both the in-memory copy and the cache
+        manager's memory tier so a read-only consumer (e.g. the web process)
+        sees the writer process's latest persisted metrics rather than a stale
+        first snapshot.
+        """
         with self._lock:
-            if plugin_id not in self._metrics:
+            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)
+                cached = self.cache_manager.get(
+                    cache_key, max_age=None, memory_ttl=0 if force_reload else None
+                )
                 if cached:
                     metrics = ResourceMetrics(**cached)
                 else:
@@ -137,21 +160,24 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
     
     def _get_process_memory_mb(self) -> float:
         """Get current process memory usage in MB."""
-        if not self.enable_monitoring:
+        if not self.enable_monitoring or self._process is None:
             return 0.0
         try:
-            process = psutil.Process()
-            return process.memory_info().rss / 1024 / 1024
+            return self._process.memory_info().rss / 1024 / 1024
         except Exception:
             return 0.0
-    
-    def _get_process_cpu_percent(self, interval: float = 0.1) -> float:
-        """Get current process CPU usage percentage."""
-        if not self.enable_monitoring:
+
+    def _get_process_cpu_percent(self) -> float:
+        """Get current process CPU usage percentage (non-blocking).
+
+        Reads cpu_percent(interval=None) against the cached process handle, so
+        it returns immediately with the utilisation observed since the previous
+        call rather than blocking to sample a fresh interval.
+        """
+        if not self.enable_monitoring or self._process is None:
             return 0.0
         try:
-            process = psutil.Process()
-            return process.cpu_percent(interval=interval)
+            return self._process.cpu_percent(interval=None)
         except Exception:
             return 0.0
     
@@ -281,9 +307,13 @@ class PluginResourceMonitor:
             self.logger.error(error_msg)
             raise ResourceLimitExceeded(error_msg)
     
-    def get_metrics_summary(self, plugin_id: str) -> Dict[str, Any]:
-        """Get metrics summary for a plugin."""
-        metrics = self.get_metrics(plugin_id)
+    def get_metrics_summary(self, plugin_id: str, force_reload: bool = False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """Get metrics summary for a plugin.
+
+        ``force_reload=True`` refreshes from the persisted cache first so
+        cross-process readers reflect the writer's latest metrics.
+        """
+        metrics = self.get_metrics(plugin_id, force_reload=force_reload)
         limits = self.get_limits(plugin_id)
         
         avg_execution_time = 0.0

src/plugin_system/store_manager.py

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ Handles plugin discovery, installation, updates, and uninstallation
 from both the official registry and custom GitHub repositories.
 """
 
-import hashlib
 import os
 import re
 import json
@@ -26,6 +25,9 @@ import logging
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from src.common.permission_utils import sudo_remove_directory, install_requirements_file
+from src.plugin_system.plugin_loader import (
+    requirements_has_real_deps, requirements_are_satisfied, find_trusted_subdir
+)
 
 try:
     from jsonschema import Draft7Validator, ValidationError
@@ -1900,19 +1902,45 @@ class PluginStoreManager:
     def _install_dependencies(self, plugin_path: Path) -> bool:
         """
         Install Python dependencies from requirements.txt.
-        
+
         Args:
             plugin_path: Path to plugin directory
-            
+
         Returns:
             True if successful or no requirements file
         """
-        requirements_file = plugin_path / "requirements.txt"
-        
+        # Reconstruct the plugin path from the trusted self.plugins_dir base +
+        # an entry actually enumerated from it, rather than trusting
+        # plugin_path directly -- callers ultimately derive it from a
+        # plugin-supplied manifest "id" field (see install_plugin_from_url),
+        # so without this a malicious manifest could point requirements_file
+        # outside plugins_dir. find_trusted_subdir()'s return value always
+        # comes from os.scandir() on the trusted root, so building the path
+        # from it (not from the caller's string) is a real containment
+        # guarantee, matching the pattern in PluginLoader.install_dependencies().
+        plugin_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(plugin_path))
+        plugins_dir_real = os.path.realpath(str(self.plugins_dir))
+        requested_name = os.path.basename(plugin_dir_real)
+        matched_name = find_trusted_subdir(plugins_dir_real, requested_name)
+        if matched_name is None:
+            self.logger.error("Plugin directory not found inside plugins dir for dependency install")
+            return False
+        safe_plugin_path = Path(os.path.join(plugins_dir_real, matched_name))
+
+        requirements_file = safe_plugin_path / "requirements.txt"
+
         if not requirements_file.exists():
             self.logger.debug(f"No requirements.txt found in {plugin_path.name}")
             return True
-        
+
+        if not requirements_has_real_deps(str(requirements_file)):
+            self.logger.debug(f"requirements.txt for {plugin_path.name} has no real dependencies, skipping pip")
+            return True
+
+        if requirements_are_satisfied(str(requirements_file)):
+            self.logger.debug(f"Dependencies for {plugin_path.name} already satisfied, skipping pip")
+            return True
+
         try:
             self.logger.info(f"Installing dependencies for {plugin_path.name}")
             # Routed through the shared root-visible installer (same one the
@@ -1929,12 +1957,6 @@ class PluginStoreManager:
                 )
                 return False
             self.logger.info(f"Dependencies installed successfully for {plugin_path.name}")
-            # Write hash marker so plugin_loader skips redundant pip run on next startup
-            try:
-                current_hash = hashlib.sha256(requirements_file.read_bytes()).hexdigest()
-                (plugin_path / ".dependencies_installed").write_text(current_hash, encoding='utf-8')
-            except OSError as marker_err:
-                self.logger.debug("Could not write dependency marker for %s: %s", plugin_path.name, marker_err)
             return True
 
         except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
@@ -2432,19 +2454,6 @@ class PluginStoreManager:
                                     file_path = line[3:].strip()
                                     untracked_files.append(file_path)
                         
-                        # Remove marker files that are safe to delete (they'll be regenerated)
-                        safe_to_remove = ['.dependencies_installed']
-                        removed_files = []
-                        for file_name in safe_to_remove:
-                            file_path = plugin_path / file_name
-                            if file_path.exists() and file_name in untracked_files:
-                                try:
-                                    file_path.unlink()
-                                    removed_files.append(file_name)
-                                    self.logger.info(f"Removed marker file {file_name} from {plugin_id} before update")
-                                except Exception as e:
-                                    self.logger.warning(f"Could not remove {file_name} from {plugin_id}: {e}")
-                        
                         # Check for tracked file changes
                         status_result = subprocess.run(
                             ['git', '-C', str(plugin_path), 'status', '--porcelain', '--untracked-files=no'],
@@ -2455,10 +2464,9 @@ class PluginStoreManager:
                         )
                         has_changes = bool(status_result.stdout.strip())
                         
-                        # If there are remaining untracked files (not safe to remove), stash them
-                        remaining_untracked = [f for f in untracked_files if f not in removed_files]
-                        if remaining_untracked:
-                            self.logger.info(f"Found {len(remaining_untracked)} untracked files in {plugin_id}, will stash them")
+                        # If there are untracked files, stash them
+                        if untracked_files:
+                            self.logger.info(f"Found {len(untracked_files)} untracked files in {plugin_id}, will stash them")
                             has_changes = True
                     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
                         # If status check times out, assume there might be changes and proceed

src/plugin_system/testing/bounds_display_manager.py

@@ -10,8 +10,11 @@ that don't scale down to a smaller panel.
 
 Limitations (documented on purpose):
 - Overflow past the LEFT or TOP edge (negative coordinates) is still clipped by
-  PIL and not detected here. The dominant real-world breakage is content that is
-  too wide/tall for a smaller panel, which this catches.
+  PIL and not detected pixel-wise here. The dominant real-world breakage is
+  content that is too wide/tall for a smaller panel, which this catches.
+  As a partial net, draw_text/draw_image calls made with negative coordinates
+  through this manager are recorded in `negative_coordinate_calls` — but draws
+  made directly on the raw PIL canvas remain uncovered.
 - BDF text is clipped to the declared bounds by the parent's bitmap drawer, so
   BDF overflow is not flagged. Golden-image regression covers those plugins.
 - If a plugin replaces the canvas with its own image (display_manager.image = ...),
@@ -56,6 +59,21 @@ class BoundsCheckingDisplayManager(VisualTestDisplayManager):
         super().__init__(self._canvas_width, self._canvas_height)
         # Plugins must see the DECLARED size, not the padded canvas size.
         self.matrix = _MatrixProxy(self._declared_width, self._declared_height)
+        # (text-or-'image', x, y) for every mediated draw call given a
+        # negative coordinate — PIL clips these silently, so record them.
+        self.negative_coordinate_calls: list = []
+
+    # -- negative-coordinate (left/top overflow) recording --
+
+    def draw_text(self, text, x=None, y=None, *args, **kwargs):
+        if (x is not None and x < 0) or (y is not None and y < 0):
+            self.negative_coordinate_calls.append((text, x, y))
+        return super().draw_text(text, x, y, *args, **kwargs)
+
+    def draw_image(self, image, x, y, *args, **kwargs):
+        if x < 0 or y < 0:
+            self.negative_coordinate_calls.append(('image', x, y))
+        return super().draw_image(image, x, y, *args, **kwargs)
 
     # -- declared dimensions (override parent's image-derived properties) --
 

src/plugin_system/testing/harness.py

@@ -73,6 +73,10 @@ class RenderResult:
     golden_ok: Optional[bool] = None
     golden_diff_pixels: int = 0
     golden_max_delta: int = 0
+    # fill / scale-up check (populated only for sizes >= 2x the design size)
+    fill_checked: bool = False
+    fill_ok: Optional[bool] = None       # False only in strict mode
+    fill_extent: Optional[Tuple[float, float]] = None  # (extent_x, extent_y)
 
     @property
     def size_label(self) -> str:
@@ -86,6 +90,8 @@ class RenderResult:
             return False
         if self.golden_checked and self.golden_ok is False:
             return False
+        if self.fill_ok is False:
+            return False
         return True
 
 
@@ -301,6 +307,74 @@ def compare_to_goldens(results: List[RenderResult], golden_dir: Path,
     return results
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Fill / scale-up check
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+#
+# Overflow catches content that is too BIG for a panel; nothing catches
+# content that stays tiny on a panel much larger than the plugin's design
+# size (e.g. 128x32 content in the corner of a 256x128 renders "green").
+# These helpers measure how much of the panel the lit content spans so the
+# harness can flag plugins that don't scale up.
+
+# A pixel counts as "lit" above this luminance — low enough to catch dim
+# content, high enough to ignore near-black noise.
+_LIT_THRESHOLD = 16
+# Content must span at least this fraction of an axis that is >= 2x the
+# design size. Lenient on purpose: margins are fine, a tiny corner is not.
+_MIN_FILL_EXTENT = 0.5
+
+
+def fill_metrics(image: Image.Image) -> Tuple[float, float, float]:
+    """Measure lit-content coverage: (extent_x, extent_y, ink_ratio).
+
+    extent_* are the lit bounding box's spans as fractions of the panel;
+    ink_ratio is the fraction of pixels lit (reporting only — sparse pixel
+    fonts legitimately have low ink ratios)."""
+    lit = image.convert("L").point(lambda p: 255 if p > _LIT_THRESHOLD else 0)
+    bbox = lit.getbbox()
+    if bbox is None:
+        return (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+    extent_x = (bbox[2] - bbox[0]) / image.width
+    extent_y = (bbox[3] - bbox[1]) / image.height
+    ink = sum(1 for p in lit.getdata() if p) / (image.width * image.height)
+    return (extent_x, extent_y, ink)
+
+
+def check_scale_up(results: List[RenderResult],
+                   design_size: Tuple[int, int] = (128, 32),
+                   min_extent: float = _MIN_FILL_EXTENT,
+                   strict: bool = False) -> List[RenderResult]:
+    """Flag renders that leave a big panel mostly empty.
+
+    For each result whose panel is at least 2x the design size on an axis,
+    require the lit content to span >= min_extent of that axis. Mutates the
+    results' fill_* fields. In the default warn-only mode fill_ok is left
+    None (reported, never failing); strict=True sets fill_ok=False, which
+    fails RenderResult.ok — opt in per plugin via harness.json
+    {"fill_check": "strict"} once its adaptive layout is in place.
+    """
+    design_w, design_h = design_size
+    for r in results:
+        if r.image is None or r.error is not None:
+            continue
+        check_x = r.width >= 2 * design_w
+        check_y = r.height >= 2 * design_h
+        if not (check_x or check_y):
+            continue
+        extent_x, extent_y, _ink = fill_metrics(r.image)
+        r.fill_checked = True
+        r.fill_extent = (round(extent_x, 3), round(extent_y, 3))
+        underfilled = ((check_x and extent_x < min_extent)
+                       or (check_y and extent_y < min_extent))
+        if underfilled and strict:
+            r.fill_ok = False
+        elif not underfilled:
+            r.fill_ok = True
+        # warn-only underfill: fill_ok stays None; fill_extent tells the story
+    return results
+
+
 def write_goldens(results: List[RenderResult], golden_dir: Path) -> int:
     """Write each successfully-rendered result to its golden path. Returns count."""
     written = 0

src/plugin_system/testing/loading.py

@@ -56,7 +56,15 @@ def load_harness_spec(plugin_dir: Union[str, Path]) -> Dict[str, Any]:
           "config":     {...},            # config overrides
           "mock_data":  "fixtures/mock.json",  # path (relative to plugin dir) to cache fixtures
           "freeze_time": "2025-08-01 15:25:00",
-          "skip_update": false
+          "skip_update": false,
+          "fill_check": "warn",           # or "strict": underfilled big panels FAIL
+          "variants": [                   # extra runs with config overlays and
+            {                             # their own golden dirs — e.g. an
+              "name": "adaptive",         # opt-in adaptive mode tested beside
+              "config": {"layout_mode": "adaptive"},   # the classic default
+              "golden_dir": "test/golden-adaptive"
+            }
+          ]
         }
     Returns {} when no harness.json exists.
     """

src/plugin_system/testing/mocks.py

@@ -161,6 +161,13 @@ class MockPluginManager:
         self.plugin_manifests: Dict[str, Dict] = {}
         self.get_plugin_calls = []
         self.get_all_plugins_calls = []
+        # Real FontManager so BasePlugin.layout / draw_fit behave identically
+        # under the harness (it only needs assets/fonts on disk).
+        try:
+            from src.font_manager import FontManager
+            self.font_manager: Optional[Any] = FontManager({})
+        except Exception:
+            self.font_manager = None
     
     def get_plugin(self, plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Any]:
         """Get a plugin instance."""

src/plugin_system/testing/sizes.py

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES: List[Tuple[int, int]] = [
     (64, 32),    # 1x1 — single panel, the tightest common rectangle
     (128, 32),   # 2x1 — the baseline most plugins are tuned for
     (64, 64),    # 1x2 — stacked, exercises tall-narrow centering
+    (96, 48),    # non-64x32-module panel (e.g. Waveshare), off-grid dims
     (128, 64),   # 2x2 — block, icon scaling / vertical centering
     (256, 32),   # 4x1 — long strip, wide horizontal layout
     (128, 96),   # 2x3 — tall, exercises vertical overflow

src/plugin_system/testing/visual_display_manager.py

@@ -454,6 +454,18 @@ class VisualTestDisplayManager:
         """Check if display is currently scrolling."""
         return self._scrolling_state['is_scrolling']
 
+    def process_deferred_updates(self):
+        """Process any deferred updates (no-op for testing).
+
+        Several ticker-style plugins (news, odds-ticker, leaderboard,
+        stock-news, stocks) call this unconditionally between
+        set_scrolling_state() and their scroll-position update, mirroring the
+        real display_manager's deferred-update queue. This double has no such
+        queue, so there is nothing to process — the no-op just lets those
+        plugins render under the harness instead of raising AttributeError.
+        """
+        pass
+
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Utility methods
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------

src/vegas_mode/render_pipeline.py

@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ class RenderPipeline:
             else display_manager.height
         )
 
+        # Reusable blank frame for cycle-end pushes (allocated lazily,
+        # re-blacked before each reuse)
+        self._blank_frame = None
+
         # ScrollHelper for optimized scrolling
         self.scroll_helper = ScrollHelper(
             self.display_width,
@@ -234,11 +238,19 @@ class RenderPipeline:
                     )
                     # Push blank immediately so the hardware never shows any
                     # post-wrap content while the coordinator recomposes the
-                    # next cycle (~100 ms).
+                    # next cycle (~100 ms). The blank is allocated once and
+                    # reused across cycle wraps (fresh paste each time in case
+                    # a consumer drew on the previous one).
                     try:
-                        from PIL import Image as _Image
-                        blank = _Image.new('RGB', (self.display_width, self.display_height))
-                        self.display_manager.image = blank
+                        if self._blank_frame is None or self._blank_frame.size != (
+                                self.display_width, self.display_height):
+                            self._blank_frame = Image.new(
+                                'RGB', (self.display_width, self.display_height))
+                        else:
+                            self._blank_frame.paste(
+                                (0, 0, 0),
+                                (0, 0, self.display_width, self.display_height))
+                        self.display_manager.image = self._blank_frame
                         self.display_manager.update_display()
                     except Exception:
                         logger.exception("Failed to write blank frame to display at cycle end")
@@ -297,6 +309,8 @@ class RenderPipeline:
         Returns True when:
         - Cycle is complete and we should start fresh
         - Staging buffer has new content
+        - A plugin currently visible in the scroll has pending updated data
+          (e.g. a live score changed) — standalone (non-sync) mode only
         """
         if self._cycle_complete:
             return True
@@ -314,6 +328,12 @@ class RenderPipeline:
         if buffer_status['staging_count'] > 0:
             return True
 
+        # Trigger recompose when pending updates affect visible segments, so
+        # live score/status changes reach the display within a few seconds
+        # instead of waiting for the next full cycle.
+        if self.stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments():
+            return True
+
         return False
 
     def hot_swap_content(self) -> bool:

src/wifi_manager.py

@@ -1883,7 +1883,96 @@ class WiFiManager:
         
         logger.warning(f"Failed to enable WiFi radio after {max_retries} attempts")
         return False
-    
+
+    def get_wifi_radio_state(self) -> Dict:
+        """
+        Report whether the WiFi radio is currently enabled, plus whether a wired
+        fallback exists. Used by the web UI's radio toggle so it can warn before
+        an action that could disconnect the browser.
+
+        Returns:
+            {
+                'enabled': Optional[bool],   # True/False, or None if undeterminable
+                'ethernet_connected': bool,  # wired fallback present
+                'available': bool,           # nmcli present / radio state readable
+            }
+        """
+        ethernet_connected = self._is_ethernet_connected()
+        enabled: Optional[bool] = None
+        available = False
+        try:
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["nmcli", "radio", "wifi"],
+                capture_output=True,
+                text=True,
+                timeout=5
+            )
+            if result.returncode == 0:
+                status = result.stdout.strip().lower()
+                if status in ("enabled", "disabled"):
+                    enabled = status == "enabled"
+                    available = True
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.debug(f"Could not read WiFi radio state: {e}")
+        return {
+            'enabled': enabled,
+            'ethernet_connected': ethernet_connected,
+            'available': available,
+        }
+
+    def set_wifi_radio(self, enabled: bool, force: bool = False) -> Tuple[bool, str, Optional[str]]:
+        """
+        Turn the WiFi radio on or off.
+
+        Turning the radio OFF from the web interface is dangerous: if the device
+        is reachable only over WiFi, disabling it disconnects the very page that
+        issued the request. To prevent that lockout, disabling is refused unless a
+        wired (Ethernet) fallback is present, or the caller explicitly passes
+        force=True to acknowledge the risk.
+
+        Enabling reuses the hardened _ensure_wifi_radio_enabled() path (handles
+        rfkill soft-blocks + retries). Both directions rely only on
+        `nmcli radio wifi on|off`, which is already covered by the passwordless
+        sudoers allowlist (configure_wifi_permissions.sh) — no new privileged
+        command is introduced.
+
+        Returns:
+            (success, human-readable message, reason_code). reason_code is
+            'no_ethernet' when a disable is refused for lockout safety, or a
+            short failure code otherwise; None on success. The web UI keys on
+            'no_ethernet' to decide whether to offer a force-off prompt.
+        """
+        if enabled:
+            if self._ensure_wifi_radio_enabled():
+                return True, "WiFi radio enabled.", None
+            return False, "Failed to enable WiFi radio. Check logs for details.", 'enable_failed'
+
+        # Disabling — guard against locking the user out of the web interface.
+        if not force and not self._is_ethernet_connected():
+            return False, (
+                "Refusing to disable WiFi: no wired (Ethernet) connection was "
+                "detected, so turning off WiFi would disconnect you from this "
+                "page. Connect Ethernet first, or force it if you're sure."
+            ), 'no_ethernet'
+
+        try:
+            result = subprocess.run(
+                ["sudo", "nmcli", "radio", "wifi", "off"],
+                capture_output=True,
+                text=True,
+                timeout=10
+            )
+            if result.returncode == 0:
+                logger.info("WiFi radio disabled via web interface (force=%s)", force)
+                return True, "WiFi radio disabled.", None
+            logger.warning("Failed to disable WiFi radio: %s", result.stderr.strip())
+            return False, "Failed to disable WiFi radio. Check logs for details.", 'command_failed'
+        except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+            return False, "Command timed out while disabling WiFi radio.", 'timeout'
+        except (OSError, subprocess.SubprocessError) as e:
+            logger.error("Error disabling WiFi radio: %s", e, exc_info=True)
+            return False, "An error occurred while disabling WiFi radio.", 'error'
+
     def enable_ap_mode(self, force: bool = False) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
         """
         Enable access point mode

test/conftest.py

@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ def mock_cache_manager():
     mock._memory_cache_timestamps = {}
     mock.cache_dir = "/tmp/test_cache"
     
-    def mock_get(key: str, max_age: int = 300) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    def mock_get(key: str, max_age: Optional[int] = 300,
+                 memory_ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> Optional[Dict]:
+        # Signature mirrors CacheManager.get — keep in sync or callers
+        # passing keyword args (health tracker, resource monitor) break
+        # only in tests, hiding real-API compatibility.
         return mock._memory_cache.get(key)
     
     def mock_set(key: str, data: Dict, ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> None:

test/plugins/test_visual_rendering.py

@@ -172,6 +172,16 @@ class TestVisualDisplayManager:
         vdm.set_scrolling_state(False)
         assert vdm.is_currently_scrolling() is False
 
+    def test_process_deferred_updates_is_noop(self):
+        # Ticker-style plugins (news, odds-ticker, leaderboard, stock-news,
+        # stocks) call this unconditionally alongside set_scrolling_state();
+        # it must exist and be harmless so those plugins render under the
+        # harness instead of raising AttributeError.
+        vdm = VisualTestDisplayManager(width=128, height=32)
+        vdm.set_scrolling_state(True)
+        vdm.process_deferred_updates()  # should not raise
+        assert vdm.is_currently_scrolling() is True
+
     def test_format_date_with_ordinal(self):
         from datetime import datetime
         vdm = VisualTestDisplayManager(width=128, height=32)

test/test_adaptive_images.py

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+"""Tests for adaptive image fitting (src/adaptive_images.py) and the
+LayoutContext image cache."""
+
+import pytest
+from PIL import Image
+
+from src.adaptive_images import (
+    RESAMPLE_LANCZOS,
+    RESAMPLE_NEAREST,
+    ImageFitResult,
+    draw_fitted_image,
+    fit_image,
+)
+from src.adaptive_layout import LayoutContext, Region
+from src.font_manager import FontManager
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def font_manager():
+    return FontManager({})
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def ctx(font_manager):
+    return LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager)
+
+
+def _solid(w, h, color=(255, 0, 0, 255)):
+    return Image.new("RGBA", (w, h), color)
+
+
+def _padded_logo(ink_w=10, ink_h=10, pad=10):
+    """Transparent canvas with a solid ink block in the middle — models a
+    logo shipped with generous transparent padding."""
+    img = Image.new("RGBA", (ink_w + 2 * pad, ink_h + 2 * pad), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+    img.paste(_solid(ink_w, ink_h), (pad, pad))
+    return img
+
+
+class TestFitModes:
+    def test_contain_letterboxes_and_upscales(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 5), (40, 40))
+        assert (fit.width, fit.height) == (40, 20)  # aspect preserved
+        assert fit.scale == 4.0
+
+    def test_contain_no_upscale(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 5), (40, 40), upscale=False)
+        assert (fit.width, fit.height) == (10, 5)
+        assert fit.scale == 1.0
+
+    def test_cover_fills_and_crops(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 20), (40, 40), mode="cover")
+        assert (fit.width, fit.height) == (40, 40)
+
+    def test_cover_top_anchor(self):
+        # top half red, bottom half blue; cover-crop a wide box with top anchor
+        img = Image.new("RGBA", (20, 40), (0, 0, 255, 255))
+        img.paste(_solid(20, 20, (255, 0, 0, 255)), (0, 0))
+        fit = fit_image(img, (20, 20), mode="cover", anchor="top")
+        assert fit.image.getpixel((10, 5))[:3] == (255, 0, 0)  # kept the top
+
+    def test_fill_height_matches_box_height(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 10), (64, 32), mode="fill_height")
+        assert fit.height == 32 and fit.width == 32
+
+    def test_fill_height_capped_by_width(self):
+        # very wide source: height-fill would overflow the box width
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(100, 10), (40, 32), mode="fill_height")
+        assert fit.width <= 40
+
+    def test_stretch_exact(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(3, 7), (25, 13), mode="stretch")
+        assert (fit.width, fit.height) == (25, 13)
+
+    def test_crop_to_ink(self):
+        fit = fit_image(_padded_logo(), (30, 30), crop_to_ink=True)
+        # 10x10 ink upscaled to fill 30x30 (padding would have kept it small)
+        assert (fit.width, fit.height) == (30, 30)
+        no_crop = fit_image(_padded_logo(), (30, 30), crop_to_ink=False)
+        assert no_crop.width == 30  # whole padded canvas scaled instead
+
+    def test_fully_transparent_source(self):
+        img = Image.new("RGBA", (10, 10), (0, 0, 0, 0))
+        fit = fit_image(img, (20, 20), crop_to_ink=True)
+        assert fit.is_empty
+
+    def test_degenerate_box(self):
+        assert fit_image(_solid(10, 10), (0, 20)).is_empty
+        assert fit_image(_solid(10, 10), Region(0, 0, 20, 0)).is_empty
+
+    def test_output_always_rgba(self):
+        rgb = Image.new("RGB", (10, 10), (1, 2, 3))
+        assert fit_image(rgb, (20, 20)).image.mode == "RGBA"
+
+    def test_nearest_keeps_hard_edges(self):
+        # 2x2 checker scaled 8x: NEAREST keeps pure colors, LANCZOS blends
+        img = Image.new("RGBA", (2, 2), (0, 0, 0, 255))
+        img.putpixel((0, 0), (255, 255, 255, 255))
+        near = fit_image(img, (16, 16), mode="stretch", resample=RESAMPLE_NEAREST)
+        colors = {near.image.getpixel((x, y))[:3] for x in range(16) for y in range(16)}
+        assert colors == {(255, 255, 255), (0, 0, 0)}
+
+    def test_unknown_mode_raises(self):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            fit_image(_solid(4, 4), (8, 8), mode="tile")
+
+
+class TestDrawFittedImage:
+    class _DM:
+        def __init__(self, w=64, h=32):
+            self.image = Image.new("RGB", (w, h), (0, 0, 0))
+
+    def test_pastes_aligned_in_region(self):
+        dm = self._DM()
+        box = Region(10, 4, 20, 20)
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 10), box)
+        xy = draw_fitted_image(dm, fit, box)
+        assert xy == box.align_xy(fit.width, fit.height)
+        assert dm.image.getpixel((xy[0] + 1, xy[1] + 1)) == (255, 0, 0)
+
+    def test_offset_translates(self):
+        dm = self._DM()
+        box = Region(0, 0, 20, 20)
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 10), box)
+        x, y = draw_fitted_image(dm, fit, box, align="left", valign="top",
+                                 offset=(3, 5))
+        assert (x, y) == (3, 5)
+
+    def test_empty_fit_noops(self):
+        dm = self._DM()
+        fit = fit_image(_solid(10, 10), (0, 0))
+        assert draw_fitted_image(dm, fit, Region(0, 0, 10, 10)) is None
+
+
+class TestContextImageCache:
+    def test_size_keyed_hit_and_miss(self, ctx):
+        img = _solid(10, 10)
+        a = ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20), cache_key="logo:A")
+        assert ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20), cache_key="logo:A") is a
+        b = ctx.fit_image(img, (30, 30), cache_key="logo:A")
+        assert b is not a and b.width == 30  # different box size = new entry
+
+    def test_id_keyed_default(self, ctx):
+        img = _solid(10, 10)
+        a = ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20))
+        assert ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20)) is a
+
+    def test_id_safety_pins_source(self, ctx):
+        # id()-keyed entries must pin the source image so a recycled id
+        # can't alias a dead image's cache entry.
+        img = _solid(10, 10)
+        ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20))
+        pinned = [entry[1] for entry in ctx._image_cache.values()]
+        assert img in pinned
+
+    def test_cache_key_entries_do_not_pin(self, ctx):
+        img = _solid(10, 10)
+        ctx.fit_image(img, (20, 20), cache_key="logo:X")
+        key = next(k for k in ctx._image_cache if k[1] == "logo:X")
+        assert ctx._image_cache[key][1] is None
+
+    def test_lru_eviction(self, ctx):
+        for i in range(ctx._IMAGE_CACHE_MAX + 5):
+            ctx.fit_image(_solid(4, 4), (8, 8), cache_key=f"k{i}")
+        assert len(ctx._image_cache) == ctx._IMAGE_CACHE_MAX
+        assert not any(k[1] == "k0" for k in ctx._image_cache)  # oldest evicted
+
+    def test_clear_cache_clears_images(self, ctx):
+        ctx.fit_image(_solid(4, 4), (8, 8), cache_key="k")
+        ctx.clear_cache()
+        assert len(ctx._image_cache) == 0
+
+
+class TestBasePluginDrawImage:
+    def test_draw_image_end_to_end(self):
+        from src.plugin_system.base_plugin import BasePlugin
+        from src.plugin_system.testing.mocks import (
+            MockCacheManager, MockDisplayManager, MockPluginManager,
+        )
+
+        class _P(BasePlugin):
+            def update(self):
+                pass
+
+            def display(self, force_clear=False):
+                pass
+
+        plugin = _P("t", {}, MockDisplayManager(64, 32),
+                    MockCacheManager(), MockPluginManager())
+        logo = _padded_logo()
+        box = plugin.layout.bounds.left_col(32)
+        ifit = plugin.draw_image(logo, box, mode="fill_height",
+                                 crop_to_ink=True, cache_key="logo:T")
+        assert ifit.height == 32
+        # pasted onto the mock's canvas
+        assert plugin.display_manager.image.getpixel((16, 16)) != (0, 0, 0)
+
+
+class TestResultIndependence:
+    def test_same_size_fit_never_aliases_the_source(self):
+        """LayoutContext caches ImageFitResults — an aliased image would let
+        later mutations of the source corrupt cached fits (or vice versa)."""
+        from PIL import ImageDraw
+        src = Image.new("RGBA", (20, 20), (255, 0, 0, 255))
+        fit = fit_image(src, (20, 20))
+        assert fit.image is not src
+        ImageDraw.Draw(src).rectangle([0, 0, 19, 19], fill=(0, 255, 0, 255))
+        assert fit.image.getpixel((5, 5)) == (255, 0, 0, 255)

test/test_adaptive_layout.py

@@ -0,0 +1,454 @@
+"""Tests for the adaptive layout system (src/adaptive_layout.py)."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from src.adaptive_layout import (
+    DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE,
+    LADDER_ARCADE,
+    LADDER_GRID,
+    LayoutContext,
+    Region,
+    draw_fitted_text,
+    measure_font_crispness,
+    measure_ink,
+    media_row,
+    scoreboard_regions,
+)
+from src.plugin_system.testing.sizes import DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES
+from src.font_manager import FontManager
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def font_manager():
+    """Real FontManager over assets/fonts — the ladders depend on it."""
+    return FontManager({})
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def ctx(font_manager):
+    return LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager)
+
+
+class TestRegion:
+    """Pure integer rect algebra."""
+
+    def test_bands_partition_without_overlap(self):
+        r = Region(0, 0, 128, 32)
+        top = r.top_band(7)
+        bottom = r.bottom_band(7)
+        middle = r.middle(7, 7)
+        assert top.bottom == middle.y
+        assert middle.bottom == bottom.y
+        assert top.h + middle.h + bottom.h == r.h
+
+    def test_bands_clamp_on_short_panel(self):
+        # The classic failure: y=1 top band and y=height-7 bottom band
+        # overlapping on a short panel. Bands can't exceed the region.
+        r = Region(0, 0, 32, 8)
+        assert r.top_band(16).h == 8
+        assert r.bottom_band(16).h == 8
+        assert r.middle(8, 8).h == 0  # degenerate, never negative
+
+    def test_split_v_weights_sum_to_height(self):
+        r = Region(0, 0, 64, 33)
+        rows = r.split_v(3, 1, 1, gap=1)
+        assert len(rows) == 3
+        assert sum(row.h for row in rows) == 33 - 2  # two 1px gaps
+        assert rows[0].h > rows[1].h
+        assert rows[-1].bottom == r.bottom
+
+    def test_split_h_columns_advance(self):
+        r = Region(0, 0, 100, 32)
+        cols = r.split_h(1, 1, gap=2)
+        assert cols[0].right + 2 == cols[1].x
+        assert cols[1].right == r.right
+
+    def test_degenerate_sizes_never_negative(self):
+        for w, h in [(8, 8), (32, 16), (1, 1)]:
+            r = Region(0, 0, w, h).inset(4)
+            assert r.w >= 0 and r.h >= 0
+            for sub in r.split_v(1, 1) + r.split_h(1, 1, gap=3):
+                assert sub.w >= 0 and sub.h >= 0
+
+    def test_align_xy(self):
+        r = Region(10, 10, 100, 20)
+        assert r.align_xy(20, 10, "left", "top") == (10, 10)
+        assert r.align_xy(20, 10, "right", "bottom") == (90, 20)
+        assert r.align_xy(20, 10) == (50, 15)
+
+    def test_left_right_cols(self):
+        r = Region(0, 0, 128, 32)
+        assert r.left_col(32) == Region(0, 0, 32, 32)
+        assert r.right_col(32) == Region(96, 0, 32, 32)
+
+    def test_offset_translates_without_resizing(self):
+        r = Region(5, 5, 20, 10).offset(3, -2)
+        assert r == Region(8, 3, 20, 10)
+
+
+class TestScoreboardRegions:
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("w,h", DEFAULT_TEST_SIZES + [(8, 8)])
+    def test_invariants_at_all_sizes(self, w, h):
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, w, h))
+        assert regs.logo_slot <= min(h, w // 2)
+        # slots hug the edges and never overlap the center column
+        assert regs.away_slot.x == 0 and regs.home_slot.right == w
+        assert regs.away_slot.right <= regs.center_col.x or regs.center_col.w == 0
+        assert regs.center_col.right <= regs.home_slot.x or regs.center_col.w == 0
+        # bands stack inside the center column without overlap
+        assert regs.status_band.bottom <= regs.score_area.y or regs.score_area.h == 0
+        assert regs.score_area.bottom <= regs.detail_band.y or regs.score_area.h == 0
+        # everything within bounds, nothing negative
+        for reg in (regs.away_slot, regs.home_slot, regs.center_col,
+                    regs.status_band, regs.score_area, regs.detail_band,
+                    regs.bottom_left, regs.bottom_right):
+            assert reg.w >= 0 and reg.h >= 0
+            assert reg.x >= 0 and reg.y >= 0
+            assert reg.right <= w and reg.bottom <= h
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("w,h", [(96, 48), (128, 64), (256, 128), (64, 32), (128, 96)])
+    def test_2to1_aspect_gets_a_center_reserve(self, w, h):
+        """These sizes are all <= 2:1 aspect, where the raw min(h, w//2)
+        formula claims the entire width for logos and leaves zero pixels
+        for a center column — the bug this reserve exists to fix."""
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, w, h))
+        assert regs.center_col.w >= int(w * 0.15) - 1  # -1 for int() rounding
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("w,h", [(128, 32), (192, 48), (256, 32)])
+    def test_wide_panels_unaffected_by_center_reserve(self, w, h):
+        """Wide (>= ~4:1) panels already have height as the tighter
+        constraint, so the center reserve must be a no-op there — the
+        design-size baseline's proportions shouldn't shift."""
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, w, h))
+        assert regs.logo_slot == min(h, w // 2)
+
+    def test_center_reserve_fraction_is_configurable(self):
+        # min_center_design_px=0 isolates the fraction term (otherwise the
+        # scaled absolute floor can dominate and mask a fraction change).
+        regs_default = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 128, 64), min_center_design_px=0)
+        regs_wider = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 128, 64), min_center_fraction=0.5,
+                                        min_center_design_px=0)
+        assert regs_wider.center_col.w > regs_default.center_col.w
+        assert regs_wider.logo_slot < regs_default.logo_slot
+
+    def test_score_bleed_extends_past_center_col(self):
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 128, 64), score_bleed_fraction=0.5)
+        assert regs.score_area.w > regs.center_col.w
+        assert regs.score_area.x < regs.center_col.x
+        assert regs.score_area.right > regs.center_col.right
+
+    def test_score_bleed_zero_matches_center_col(self):
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 128, 64), score_bleed_fraction=0.0)
+        assert regs.score_area.w == regs.center_col.w
+        assert regs.score_area.x == regs.center_col.x
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("w,h", [(64, 32), (96, 48), (128, 64), (256, 128), (128, 96)])
+    def test_score_never_needs_ellipsis_for_a_short_score(self, w, h, font_manager):
+        """The concrete regression this whole reserve/bleed system exists to
+        prevent: a real game score like '17-21' must always render in full,
+        never truncated, at every 2:1-or-tighter aspect ratio in the sample."""
+        ctx = LayoutContext(w, h, font_manager)
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, w, h), ctx=ctx)
+        height_scale = h / 32.0
+        fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("17-21", regs.score_area, base_size_px=10,
+                                        ladder=LADDER_ARCADE, scale=height_scale)
+        assert fit.text == "17-21"
+        assert fit.fits
+
+    def test_ctx_scales_band_heights(self, font_manager):
+        small = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 128, 32),
+                                   ctx=LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager))
+        big = scoreboard_regions(Region(0, 0, 256, 64),
+                                 ctx=LayoutContext(256, 64, font_manager))
+        assert big.status_band.h > small.status_band.h
+
+    def test_works_on_offset_card_region(self):
+        card = Region(10, 4, 100, 24)
+        regs = scoreboard_regions(card)
+        assert regs.away_slot.x == 10
+        assert regs.home_slot.right == card.right
+
+
+class TestMediaRow:
+    def test_square_art_plus_body(self):
+        row = media_row(Region(0, 0, 128, 32))
+        assert row.art == Region(0, 0, 32, 32)
+        assert row.body.x == 32 + 2 and row.body.right == 128
+
+    def test_non_square(self):
+        row = media_row(Region(0, 0, 100, 20), square=False, gap=4)
+        assert row.art.w == 50
+        assert row.body.x == 54
+
+    def test_narrow_panel_clamps(self):
+        row = media_row(Region(0, 0, 16, 32))
+        assert row.art.w == 16 and row.body.w == 0
+
+
+class TestLayoutContext:
+    def test_tiers(self, font_manager):
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager).tier == "sm"
+        assert LayoutContext(96, 48, font_manager).tier == "md"
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 64, font_manager).tier == "lg"
+        assert LayoutContext(64, 16, font_manager).tier == "xs"
+        assert LayoutContext(256, 128, font_manager).tier == "xl"
+
+    def test_wide_short_flag(self, font_manager):
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager).is_wide_short
+        assert not LayoutContext(128, 64, font_manager).is_wide_short
+
+    def test_scale_against_design_size(self, font_manager):
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager).scale == 1.0
+        assert LayoutContext(256, 64, font_manager).scale == 2.0
+        # min() of the two axes: don't overscale the constrained one
+        assert LayoutContext(256, 32, font_manager).scale == 1.0
+        assert DEFAULT_DESIGN_SIZE == (128, 32)
+
+    def test_px_scales_and_clamps(self, font_manager):
+        big = LayoutContext(256, 64, font_manager)
+        assert big.px(4) == 8
+        assert big.px(4, maximum=6) == 6
+        tiny = LayoutContext(32, 16, font_manager)
+        assert tiny.px(4, minimum=2) == 2
+
+    def test_by_tier_nearest_at_or_below(self, font_manager):
+        mapping = {"sm": 10, "lg": 18}
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 32, font_manager).by_tier(mapping) == 10
+        assert LayoutContext(96, 48, font_manager).by_tier(mapping) == 10  # md -> sm
+        assert LayoutContext(128, 64, font_manager).by_tier(mapping) == 18
+        assert LayoutContext(256, 128, font_manager).by_tier(mapping) == 18  # xl -> lg
+        # nothing at-or-below: fall forward to smallest defined above
+        assert LayoutContext(64, 16, font_manager).by_tier(mapping) == 10
+
+
+class TestFontFitting:
+    def test_ladder_monotonic(self, font_manager):
+        """Each ladder rung must render no taller than the one before it."""
+        for ladder in (LADDER_GRID, LADDER_ARCADE):
+            heights = []
+            for step in ladder:
+                font = font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+                heights.append(measure_ink("Ay0", font)[1])
+            assert heights == sorted(heights, reverse=True), (
+                f"ladder not monotonically shrinking: {heights}")
+
+    def test_ladder_grid_is_crisp(self, font_manager):
+        """LADDER_GRID's BDF fonts are real bitmaps — always 0% antialiased."""
+        for step in LADDER_GRID:
+            font = font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+            assert measure_font_crispness(font, "Ay0") == 0.0
+
+    def test_ladder_arcade_is_crisp(self, font_manager):
+        """PressStart2P only rasterizes without antialiasing at exact
+        multiples of its 8px design grid — every LADDER_ARCADE rung must
+        land on one."""
+        for step in LADDER_ARCADE:
+            assert step.size_px % 8 == 0, f"{step} is not a multiple of 8"
+            font = font_manager.get_font(step.family, step.size_px)
+            assert measure_font_crispness(font, "17-21") == 0.0
+
+    def test_crispness_catches_a_bad_size(self, font_manager):
+        """Sanity check the measurement itself: a known-bad size for a
+        pixel-grid font must NOT read as crisp."""
+        font = font_manager.get_font("press_start", 10)  # not a multiple of 8
+        assert measure_font_crispness(font, "17-21") > 0.1
+
+    def test_fit_text_grows_on_taller_panel(self, font_manager):
+        small = LayoutContext(64, 32, font_manager)
+        large = LayoutContext(128, 64, font_manager)
+        text = "12:34"
+        fit_small = small.fit_text(text, small.bounds, ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        fit_large = large.fit_text(text, large.bounds, ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        assert fit_small.fits and fit_large.fits
+        assert fit_large.size_px > fit_small.size_px
+
+    def test_fit_text_fits_the_box(self, ctx):
+        box = ctx.bounds.inset(1)
+        fit = ctx.fit_text("HELLO WORLD", box)
+        assert fit.fits
+        assert fit.width <= box.w and fit.height <= box.h
+
+    def test_fit_text_ellipsizes_overlong_text(self, font_manager):
+        tiny = LayoutContext(32, 16, font_manager)
+        fit = tiny.fit_text("SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC", tiny.bounds)
+        assert fit.text != "SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC"
+        assert fit.text.endswith("…")
+        assert fit.width <= tiny.bounds.w
+
+    def test_fit_text_cached(self, ctx):
+        first = ctx.fit_text("CACHED", ctx.bounds)
+        second = ctx.fit_text("CACHED", ctx.bounds)
+        assert first is second
+        ctx.clear_cache()
+        assert ctx.fit_text("CACHED", ctx.bounds) is not first
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_tracks_design_scale(self, font_manager):
+        # design size 128x32, base_size_px=10 (a typical classic score size):
+        # at 2x scale the target is 20px -> nearest LADDER_ARCADE rung <= 20
+        # is 16px, not the largest that merely fits the box (32).
+        ctx = LayoutContext(256, 64, font_manager)  # scale = min(2,2) = 2
+        fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("17-21", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10,
+                                        ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        assert fit.size_px == 16
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_does_not_exceed_max_fit(self, ctx):
+        # at scale=1 (128x32, the design size itself) the target equals
+        # base_size_px, so proportional should never pick something LARGER
+        # than plain fit_text would for the same box.
+        prop = ctx.fit_text_proportional("17-21", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10,
+                                         ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        maxed = ctx.fit_text("17-21", ctx.bounds, ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        assert prop.size_px <= maxed.size_px
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_floors_at_smallest_rung(self, font_manager):
+        # scale so small the target is below every rung -> use the smallest
+        # rung as a floor rather than refusing to render anything.
+        ctx = LayoutContext(32, 8, font_manager)  # scale = min(32/128, 8/32) = 0.25
+        fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("HI", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10,
+                                        ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        assert fit.size_px == min(s.size_px for s in LADDER_ARCADE)
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_falls_through_when_target_rung_overflows(self, font_manager):
+        # a long string at the target rung might not fit a narrow box even
+        # though the target size is "correct" -- must fall through to a
+        # smaller rung exactly like fit_text does, not just refuse to fit.
+        ctx = LayoutContext(256, 64, font_manager)
+        narrow_box = Region(0, 0, 40, 64)
+        fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("A REALLY LONG STRING HERE", narrow_box,
+                                        base_size_px=10, ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        assert fit.fits or fit.text.endswith("…")
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_cached(self, ctx):
+        first = ctx.fit_text_proportional("X", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10)
+        second = ctx.fit_text_proportional("X", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10)
+        assert first is second
+
+    def test_fit_text_proportional_scale_override(self, font_manager):
+        # 128x64 vs design 128x32: self.scale (min of both axes) is 1.0
+        # since width didn't grow, but a caller whose composition scales by
+        # HEIGHT alone (e.g. logo_slot = min(h, w//2)) should be able to
+        # override the reference scale so text grows with it too.
+        ctx = LayoutContext(128, 64, font_manager)
+        assert ctx.scale == 1.0
+        default_fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("17-21", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10,
+                                                 ladder=LADDER_ARCADE)
+        height_scale = 64 / 32  # matches design height
+        scaled_fit = ctx.fit_text_proportional("17-21", ctx.bounds, base_size_px=10,
+                                                ladder=LADDER_ARCADE, scale=height_scale)
+        assert scaled_fit.size_px > default_fit.size_px
+
+    def test_fit_lines_stacks_within_height(self, ctx):
+        box = ctx.bounds
+        lines = ["LINE ONE", "LINE TWO", "LINE THREE"]
+        fit = ctx.fit_lines(lines, box, spacing=1)
+        assert fit.fits
+        assert 3 * fit.line_height + 2 <= box.h
+
+    def test_font_for_rows(self, ctx):
+        fit = ctx.font_for_rows(4, 32)
+        assert fit.fits
+        assert 4 * fit.line_height <= 32
+
+    def test_ellipsize_returns_original_when_it_fits(self, ctx):
+        font = ctx.font_manager.get_font("4x6", 6)
+        assert ctx.ellipsize("HI", font, 1000) == "HI"
+
+
+class TestDrawFittedText:
+    def test_draws_within_region(self, ctx):
+        calls = []
+
+        class _DM:
+            def draw_text(self, text, x=None, y=None, color=None, font=None):
+                calls.append((text, x, y))
+
+        box = Region(10, 4, 100, 24)
+        fit = ctx.fit_text("SCORE", box)
+        draw_fitted_text(_DM(), fit, box)
+        text, x, y = calls[0]
+        assert text == "SCORE"
+        assert box.x <= x <= box.right - fit.width
+        # the ink (y + y_offset .. + height) must land inside the box
+        assert box.y <= y + fit.y_offset
+        assert y + fit.y_offset + fit.height <= box.bottom
+
+
+class TestBasePluginIntegration:
+    def test_layout_property_and_draw_fit(self):
+        from src.plugin_system.base_plugin import BasePlugin
+        from src.plugin_system.testing.mocks import (
+            MockCacheManager, MockDisplayManager, MockPluginManager,
+        )
+
+        class _Plugin(BasePlugin):
+            def update(self):
+                pass
+
+            def display(self, force_clear=False):
+                pass
+
+        plugin = _Plugin("test-plugin", {}, MockDisplayManager(96, 48),
+                         MockCacheManager(), MockPluginManager())
+        assert (plugin.layout.width, plugin.layout.height) == (96, 48)
+        assert plugin.layout is plugin.layout  # cached
+        fit = plugin.draw_fit("HELLO", plugin.layout.bounds.inset(1))
+        assert fit.fits
+        assert plugin.display_manager.draw_calls  # actually drew
+
+    def test_layout_rebuilds_on_size_change(self):
+        from src.plugin_system.base_plugin import BasePlugin
+        from src.plugin_system.testing.mocks import (
+            MockCacheManager, MockDisplayManager, MockPluginManager,
+        )
+
+        class _Plugin(BasePlugin):
+            def update(self):
+                pass
+
+            def display(self, force_clear=False):
+                pass
+
+        dm = MockDisplayManager(128, 32)
+        plugin = _Plugin("test-plugin", {}, dm,
+                         MockCacheManager(), MockPluginManager())
+        assert plugin.layout.tier == "sm"
+        dm.width, dm.height = 128, 64
+        assert plugin.layout.tier == "lg"
+
+    def test_design_size_from_manifest(self):
+        from src.plugin_system.base_plugin import BasePlugin
+        from src.plugin_system.testing.mocks import (
+            MockCacheManager, MockDisplayManager, MockPluginManager,
+        )
+
+        class _Plugin(BasePlugin):
+            def update(self):
+                pass
+
+            def display(self, force_clear=False):
+                pass
+
+        pm = MockPluginManager()
+        pm.plugin_manifests["test-plugin"] = {
+            "display": {"design_size": {"width": 64, "height": 32}}
+        }
+        plugin = _Plugin("test-plugin", {}, MockDisplayManager(128, 64),
+                         MockCacheManager(), pm)
+        assert plugin.layout.design_size == (64, 32)
+        assert plugin.layout.scale == 2.0
+
+
+class TestFitCacheBound:
+    def test_fit_cache_is_lru_bounded(self, ctx):
+        """A plugin fitting changing text (live game clock, ticker) on a
+        24/7 service must not grow the fit cache without bound."""
+        for i in range(ctx._FIT_CACHE_MAX + 100):
+            ctx.fit_text(f"tick {i}", Region(0, 0, 100, 20))
+        assert len(ctx._fit_cache) <= ctx._FIT_CACHE_MAX
+
+    def test_lru_keeps_recent_entries_hot(self, ctx):
+        hot = ctx.fit_text("stay hot", Region(0, 0, 100, 20))
+        for i in range(ctx._FIT_CACHE_MAX - 1):
+            ctx.fit_text(f"cold {i}", Region(0, 0, 100, 20))
+            ctx.fit_text("stay hot", Region(0, 0, 100, 20))  # keep touching it
+        assert ctx.fit_text("stay hot", Region(0, 0, 100, 20)) is hot

test/test_cache_manager.py

@@ -279,10 +279,23 @@ class TestDiskCache:
         """Test getting expired cache entry."""
         cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
         cache.set("test_key", {"data": "value"})
-        
+
         # Get with max_age=0 to force expiration
         result = cache.get("test_key", max_age=0)
         assert result is None
+
+    def test_get_max_age_none_never_expires(self, tmp_path):
+        """max_age=None must return persisted records regardless of age.
+
+        Regression: the age comparison raised TypeError for max_age=None,
+        which was swallowed and treated as a miss — silently breaking
+        long-lived state (plugin health/metrics) read across processes.
+        """
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("test_key", {"data": "value", "timestamp": 0})  # epoch → very old
+        result = cache.get("test_key", max_age=None)
+        assert result is not None
+        assert result["data"] == "value"
     
     def test_get_nonexistent(self, tmp_path):
         """Test getting non-existent key."""
@@ -387,3 +400,61 @@ class TestDiskCache:
         assert stats['fetch_count'] == 3
         assert stats['total_fetch_time'] == 1.8
         assert stats['average_fetch_time'] == pytest.approx(0.6, abs=0.01)
+
+
+class TestDiskCacheWriteEconomy:
+    """SD-card wear guards: identical payloads skip the disk, files are
+    compact, and TTL semantics survive the skip (see PR: fix/diskcache-sd-wear)."""
+
+    def test_identical_set_skips_rewrite(self, tmp_path):
+        import os
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})
+        path = cache.get_cache_path("k")
+        first = os.stat(path)
+        os.utime(path, (first.st_atime - 100, first.st_mtime - 100))  # age it
+        aged_mtime = os.stat(path).st_mtime
+        ino_before = os.stat(path).st_ino
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})  # identical payload
+        after = os.stat(path)
+        # mtime refreshed (TTL for mtime-based records preserved)...
+        assert after.st_mtime > aged_mtime
+        # ...but the file was NOT rewritten (same inode: no replace happened)
+        assert after.st_ino == ino_before
+
+    def test_changed_data_rewrites(self, tmp_path):
+        import os
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v1"})
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v2"})
+        assert cache.get("k") == {"data": "v2"}
+
+    def test_clear_resets_digest(self, tmp_path):
+        import os
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})
+        cache.clear("k")
+        assert cache.get("k") is None
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})  # same payload after clear must WRITE
+        assert cache.get("k") == {"data": "v"}
+
+    def test_skip_self_heals_when_file_deleted_externally(self, tmp_path):
+        import os
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})
+        os.remove(cache.get_cache_path("k"))  # e.g. expiry cleanup
+        cache.set("k", {"data": "v"})  # digest matches but file is gone
+        assert cache.get("k") == {"data": "v"}
+
+    def test_files_are_compact_json(self, tmp_path):
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"a": 1, "b": [1, 2, 3]})
+        raw = open(cache.get_cache_path("k")).read()
+        assert "\n" not in raw.strip()  # no indent
+        assert cache.get("k") == {"a": 1, "b": [1, 2, 3]}
+
+    def test_datetime_round_trip_still_works(self, tmp_path):
+        from datetime import datetime
+        cache = DiskCache(cache_dir=str(tmp_path))
+        cache.set("k", {"when": datetime(2026, 7, 12, 10, 30)})
+        assert cache.get("k") == {"when": "2026-07-12T10:30:00"}

test/test_display_controller.py

@@ -391,3 +391,16 @@ class TestDisplayControllerSchedule:
 
             controller._check_schedule()
             assert controller.is_display_active is False
+
+
+class TestPluginHealthWiring:
+    """Phase 1: DisplayController activates the dormant plugin health/metrics
+    subsystem by wiring real tracker/monitor instances onto the plugin manager."""
+
+    def test_health_tracker_and_resource_monitor_wired(self, test_display_controller):
+        from src.plugin_system.plugin_health import PluginHealthTracker
+        from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import PluginResourceMonitor
+
+        pm = test_display_controller.plugin_manager
+        assert isinstance(pm.health_tracker, PluginHealthTracker)
+        assert isinstance(pm.resource_monitor, PluginResourceMonitor)

test/test_display_controller_vegas_tick.py

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+"""
+Regression tests for DisplayController._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas().
+
+PR #299 added logic to detect which plugins actually got fresh data on a
+scheduled-update tick and notify Vegas mode via
+vegas_coordinator.mark_plugin_updated(), so a live score change reaches the
+scroll within seconds instead of waiting for a full cycle. PR #330's
+multi-display sync refactor deleted this method (folding the callback back
+to the plain _tick_plugin_updates(), which reports nothing), silently
+orphaning VegasModeCoordinator.mark_plugin_updated() -- it has had zero
+callers since.
+"""
+
+from typing import Dict, List, Optional
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from src.display_controller import DisplayController
+
+
+def _make_controller(updated: Optional[List[str]] = None, vegas_coordinator: Optional[MagicMock] = None) -> DisplayController:
+    dc = object.__new__(DisplayController)
+    dc.plugin_manager = MagicMock()
+    dc.plugin_manager.run_scheduled_updates_with_changes.return_value = list(updated or [])
+    dc.vegas_coordinator = vegas_coordinator
+    return dc
+
+
+class TestTickPluginUpdatesForVegas:
+    def test_marks_only_plugins_whose_timestamp_advanced(self):
+        vc = MagicMock()
+        dc = _make_controller(updated=["stock-news"], vegas_coordinator=vc)
+
+        dc._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas()
+
+        vc.mark_plugin_updated.assert_called_once_with("stock-news")
+
+    def test_no_advance_marks_nothing(self):
+        vc = MagicMock()
+        dc = _make_controller(updated=[], vegas_coordinator=vc)
+
+        dc._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas()
+
+        vc.mark_plugin_updated.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_no_vegas_coordinator_does_not_raise(self):
+        dc = _make_controller(updated=["stock-news"], vegas_coordinator=None)
+
+        dc._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas()  # must not raise
+
+    def test_mark_plugin_updated_exception_does_not_propagate(self):
+        """One plugin's mark_plugin_updated failing must not stop the tick
+        or crash the update loop it runs in."""
+        vc = MagicMock()
+        vc.mark_plugin_updated.side_effect = [RuntimeError("boom"), None]
+        dc = _make_controller(updated=["a", "b"], vegas_coordinator=vc)
+
+        dc._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas()  # must not raise
+
+        assert vc.mark_plugin_updated.call_count == 2
+
+
+class TestVegasCoordinatorCallbackWiring:
+    def test_initialize_wires_vegas_aware_tick_as_update_callback(self):
+        """The Vegas coordinator must be given the Vegas-aware
+        _tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas as its update callback, not the plain
+        _tick_plugin_updates() -- that's the exact wiring PR #330 dropped."""
+        dc = object.__new__(DisplayController)
+        dc.config = {"display": {"vegas_scroll": {"enabled": True}}, "sync": {}}
+        dc.display_manager = MagicMock()
+        dc.plugin_manager = MagicMock()
+        dc.sync_manager = MagicMock()
+        dc._check_live_priority = MagicMock()
+        dc._check_vegas_interrupt = MagicMock(return_value=False)
+
+        fake_coordinator = MagicMock()
+
+        import src.display_controller as dc_module
+        original_imported = dc_module._vegas_mode_imported
+        original_class = dc_module.VegasModeCoordinator
+        try:
+            dc_module._vegas_mode_imported = True
+            dc_module.VegasModeCoordinator = MagicMock(return_value=fake_coordinator)
+            dc._initialize_vegas_mode()
+        finally:
+            dc_module._vegas_mode_imported = original_imported
+            dc_module.VegasModeCoordinator = original_class
+
+        fake_coordinator.set_update_callback.assert_called_once_with(dc._tick_plugin_updates_for_vegas)

test/test_harness_fill.py

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+"""Tests for the harness fill / scale-up check (src/plugin_system/testing/harness.py)."""
+
+from PIL import Image
+
+from src.plugin_system.testing.harness import (
+    RenderResult,
+    check_scale_up,
+    fill_metrics,
+)
+
+
+def _canvas(w, h):
+    return Image.new("RGB", (w, h), (0, 0, 0))
+
+
+def _with_block(w, h, bx, by, bw, bh, color=(255, 255, 255)):
+    img = _canvas(w, h)
+    img.paste(Image.new("RGB", (bw, bh), color), (bx, by))
+    return img
+
+
+def _result(w, h, image):
+    return RenderResult("p", w, h, "mode", image=image)
+
+
+class TestFillMetrics:
+    def test_full_white(self):
+        ex, ey, ink = fill_metrics(Image.new("RGB", (64, 32), (255, 255, 255)))
+        assert (ex, ey, ink) == (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
+
+    def test_black_is_empty(self):
+        assert fill_metrics(_canvas(64, 32)) == (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+
+    def test_corner_dot(self):
+        ex, ey, ink = fill_metrics(_with_block(100, 100, 0, 0, 10, 10))
+        assert ex == 0.1 and ey == 0.1
+        assert ink == 0.01
+
+    def test_centered_half(self):
+        ex, ey, _ = fill_metrics(_with_block(100, 100, 25, 25, 50, 50))
+        assert ex == 0.5 and ey == 0.5
+
+    def test_dim_pixels_ignored(self):
+        img = _canvas(10, 10)
+        img.putpixel((5, 5), (10, 10, 10))  # below the lit threshold
+        assert fill_metrics(img) == (0.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+
+
+class TestCheckScaleUp:
+    def test_not_checked_below_2x(self):
+        # 128x64 vs design 128x32: only height is 2x -> checked on y only;
+        # 128x32 itself: not checked at all
+        r = _result(128, 32, _with_block(128, 32, 0, 0, 10, 10))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32))
+        assert not r.fill_checked
+
+    def test_warn_mode_records_but_passes(self):
+        # tiny corner content on a 256x128 (2x both axes)
+        r = _result(256, 128, _with_block(256, 128, 0, 0, 20, 20))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=False)
+        assert r.fill_checked
+        assert r.fill_ok is None       # warn-only: not a failure
+        assert r.ok                    # still passes
+        assert r.fill_extent[0] < 0.5
+
+    def test_strict_mode_fails_underfill(self):
+        r = _result(256, 128, _with_block(256, 128, 0, 0, 20, 20))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=True)
+        assert r.fill_ok is False
+        assert not r.ok
+
+    def test_well_filled_passes_strict(self):
+        r = _result(256, 128, _with_block(256, 128, 10, 10, 200, 100))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=True)
+        assert r.fill_ok is True and r.ok
+
+    def test_axis_selection_wide_only(self):
+        # 256x32 vs design 128x32: width is 2x, height is not -> only the
+        # x-extent matters; content spanning full width but few rows passes
+        r = _result(256, 32, _with_block(256, 32, 0, 12, 250, 8))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=True)
+        assert r.fill_ok is True
+
+    def test_axis_selection_wide_only_underfill(self):
+        r = _result(256, 32, _with_block(256, 32, 0, 12, 60, 8))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=True)
+        assert r.fill_ok is False
+
+    def test_errored_render_skipped(self):
+        r = RenderResult("p", 256, 128, "m", error="boom")
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(128, 32), strict=True)
+        assert not r.fill_checked
+
+    def test_custom_design_size(self):
+        # 128x64 with design 64x32 IS 2x both axes
+        r = _result(128, 64, _with_block(128, 64, 0, 0, 10, 10))
+        check_scale_up([r], design_size=(64, 32), strict=False)
+        assert r.fill_checked

test/test_loader_compat_warning.py

@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+"""Tests for the plugin loader's advisory version-compatibility warning."""
+
+import logging
+
+import pytest
+
+from src.plugin_system.plugin_loader import PluginLoader
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def loader():
+    return PluginLoader(logger=logging.getLogger("test-loader"))
+
+
+def _warnings(caplog):
+    return [r for r in caplog.records if r.levelno == logging.WARNING]
+
+
+class TestParseSemver:
+    def test_basic(self, loader):
+        assert loader._parse_semver("3.1.0") == (3, 1, 0)
+        assert loader._parse_semver("v2.0") == (2, 0, 0)
+        assert loader._parse_semver("2.0.0-beta.1") == (2, 0, 0)
+
+    def test_unparseable(self, loader):
+        assert loader._parse_semver(None) is None
+        assert loader._parse_semver(123) is None
+
+
+class TestWarnIfIncompatible:
+    def test_warns_when_plugin_needs_newer_core(self, loader, caplog, monkeypatch):
+        import src
+        monkeypatch.setattr(src, "__version__", "3.1.0")
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="test-loader"):
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible("p", {"min_ledmatrix_version": "9.0.0"})
+        assert len(_warnings(caplog)) == 1
+        assert "9.0.0" in _warnings(caplog)[0].message
+
+    def test_silent_when_compatible(self, loader, caplog, monkeypatch):
+        import src
+        monkeypatch.setattr(src, "__version__", "3.1.0")
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="test-loader"):
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible("p", {"min_ledmatrix_version": "2.0.0"})
+        assert not _warnings(caplog)
+
+    def test_silent_when_field_absent(self, loader, caplog):
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="test-loader"):
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible("p", {"name": "no version fields"})
+        assert not _warnings(caplog)
+
+    def test_reads_requires_and_versions_spellings(self, loader, caplog, monkeypatch):
+        import src
+        monkeypatch.setattr(src, "__version__", "3.1.0")
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="test-loader"):
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible(
+                "a", {"requires": {"min_ledmatrix_version": "9.0.0"}})
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible(
+                "b", {"versions": [{"ledmatrix_min_version": "9.0.0"}]})
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible(
+                "c", {"versions": [{"ledmatrix_min": "9.0.0"}]})
+        assert len(_warnings(caplog)) == 3
+
+    def test_stale_core_version_skips_comparison(self, loader, caplog, monkeypatch):
+        # Anti-spam guard: a core whose __version__ is below the ecosystem
+        # floor must not warn about every plugin.
+        import src
+        monkeypatch.setattr(src, "__version__", "1.0.0")
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING, logger="test-loader"):
+            loader._warn_if_incompatible("p", {"min_ledmatrix_version": "2.0.0"})
+        assert not _warnings(caplog)

test/test_permission_utils.py

@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+"""
+Tests for src.common.permission_utils's URL-credential redaction.
+
+Covers the fix for a CodeQL clear-text-logging-of-secrets alert:
+install_requirements_file() must never let a private index URL's embedded
+user:pass@ credentials reach logs or its returned CompletedProcess, since
+pip can echo that URL back verbatim in its own stderr/stdout on failure.
+"""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+from src.common.permission_utils import _redact_url_credentials, install_requirements_file
+
+
+class TestRedactUrlCredentials:
+    def test_redacts_embedded_basic_auth(self):
+        text = "Could not fetch URL https://alice:s3cr3t@pypi.example.com/simple/: 403"
+        redacted = _redact_url_credentials(text)
+        assert "s3cr3t" not in redacted
+        assert "alice" not in redacted
+        assert "https://***:***@pypi.example.com/simple/" in redacted
+
+    def test_leaves_credential_free_text_unchanged(self):
+        text = "ERROR: Could not find a version that satisfies the requirement foo==1.0"
+        assert _redact_url_credentials(text) == text
+
+    def test_handles_none_and_empty(self):
+        assert _redact_url_credentials(None) == ""
+        assert _redact_url_credentials("") == ""
+
+    def test_does_not_touch_denied_check_phrases(self):
+        """The fixed phrases install_requirements_file greps for must survive
+        redaction untouched -- they don't overlap with URL syntax, but this
+        pins that assumption so a regex change can't silently break it."""
+        text = "sudo: a password is required"
+        assert _redact_url_credentials(text) == text
+
+
+class TestInstallRequirementsFileRedaction:
+    @patch('src.common.permission_utils.subprocess.run')
+    def test_wrapper_path_redacts_stderr_and_stdout(self, mock_run, tmp_path):
+        """safe_pip_install.sh exists in this repo, so install_requirements_file
+        takes the sudo-wrapper branch; a failing result must come back
+        with any embedded index-URL credentials already redacted."""
+        req_file = tmp_path / "requirements.txt"
+        req_file.write_text("requests\n")
+
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(
+            returncode=1,
+            stdout="Looking in indexes: https://bob:hunter2@pypi.internal/simple\n",
+            stderr="ERROR https://bob:hunter2@pypi.internal/simple/foo: 401",
+        )
+
+        result = install_requirements_file(req_file, timeout=5)
+
+        assert "hunter2" not in result.stdout
+        assert "hunter2" not in result.stderr
+        assert "https://***:***@pypi.internal" in result.stdout
+        assert "https://***:***@pypi.internal" in result.stderr
+
+    @patch('src.common.permission_utils.subprocess.run')
+    @patch('src.common.permission_utils.Path.exists', return_value=False)
+    def test_no_wrapper_fallback_path_redacts_stderr_and_stdout(self, mock_exists, mock_run, tmp_path):
+        """No safe_pip_install.sh wrapper -> falls straight to the
+        sys.executable pip fallback (the second subprocess.run call site);
+        its result must come back redacted too, independent of the wrapper
+        branch's own redaction above."""
+        req_file = tmp_path / "requirements.txt"
+        req_file.write_text("requests\n")
+
+        mock_run.return_value = MagicMock(
+            returncode=1,
+            stdout="Looking in indexes: https://carol:swordfish@pypi.internal/simple\n",
+            stderr="ERROR https://carol:swordfish@pypi.internal/simple/foo: 401",
+        )
+
+        result = install_requirements_file(req_file, timeout=5)
+
+        assert "swordfish" not in result.stdout
+        assert "swordfish" not in result.stderr
+        assert "https://***:***@pypi.internal" in result.stdout
+        assert "https://***:***@pypi.internal" in result.stderr

test/test_plugin_health.py

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"""
+Tests for src/plugin_system/plugin_health.py
+
+Focus on the additive ``set_degraded`` mechanism used by the warn-only schema
+validation path: it must surface a degraded reason without touching the circuit
+breaker or causing the plugin to be skipped.
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from src.plugin_system.plugin_health import PluginHealthTracker, CircuitState
+
+
+def _cache():
+    cache = MagicMock()
+    cache.get.return_value = None
+    return cache
+
+
+def test_set_degraded_marks_and_surfaces_reason():
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(_cache())
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", "bad config")
+    summary = tracker.get_health_summary("p")
+    assert summary["degraded"] is True
+    assert summary["degraded_reason"] == "bad config"
+
+
+def test_set_degraded_none_clears():
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(_cache())
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", "bad config")
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", None)
+    summary = tracker.get_health_summary("p")
+    assert summary["degraded"] is False
+    assert summary["degraded_reason"] is None
+
+
+def test_set_degraded_does_not_affect_circuit_breaker():
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(_cache())
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", "bad config")
+    summary = tracker.get_health_summary("p")
+    # Degraded is a *separate* signal from circuit health: the plugin is not
+    # counted as failing, the circuit stays closed, and it is not skipped.
+    assert summary["circuit_state"] == CircuitState.CLOSED.value
+    assert summary["consecutive_failures"] == 0
+    assert summary["is_healthy"] is True
+    assert tracker.should_skip_plugin("p") is False
+
+
+def test_set_degraded_skips_redundant_cache_write():
+    cache = _cache()
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(cache)
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", "x")
+    writes_after_first = cache.set.call_count
+    assert writes_after_first >= 1
+    tracker.set_degraded("p", "x")  # unchanged → no extra write
+    assert cache.set.call_count == writes_after_first
+
+
+def test_default_summary_has_degraded_fields():
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(_cache())
+    summary = tracker.get_health_summary("never-seen")
+    assert summary["degraded"] is False
+    assert summary["degraded_reason"] is None
+
+
+def test_force_reload_refreshes_stale_in_memory_snapshot():
+    """A long-lived reader (e.g. the web process) must not be pinned to the
+    first snapshot: force_reload re-reads persisted state and bypasses the
+    cache manager's memory tier so cross-process updates are visible."""
+    cache = _cache()
+    tracker = PluginHealthTracker(cache)
+
+    # First read snapshots an empty (healthy) state into the in-memory copy.
+    assert tracker.get_health_summary("p")["consecutive_failures"] == 0
+
+    # The display service later persists a failing/open state.
+    cache.get.return_value = {
+        "consecutive_failures": 5,
+        "circuit_state": "open",
+        "total_failures": 5,
+        "total_successes": 0,
+    }
+
+    # A plain read is still pinned to the stale snapshot...
+    assert tracker.get_health_summary("p")["consecutive_failures"] == 0
+
+    # ...but force_reload observes the new persisted state.
+    fresh = tracker.get_health_summary("p", force_reload=True)
+    assert fresh["consecutive_failures"] == 5
+    assert fresh["circuit_state"] == "open"
+
+    # and it asked the cache to bypass the in-memory tier (memory_ttl=0).
+    assert any(c.kwargs.get("memory_ttl") == 0 for c in cache.get.call_args_list)

test/test_plugin_loader.py

@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
         
         mock_subprocess.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=0)
         
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
         
         assert result is True
         mock_subprocess.assert_called_once()
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
         plugin_dir = tmp_plugins_dir / "test_plugin"
         plugin_dir.mkdir()
         
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
         
         assert result is True
         mock_subprocess.assert_not_called()
@@ -216,20 +216,23 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
         plugin_dir.mkdir()
         requirements_file = plugin_dir / "requirements.txt"
         requirements_file.write_text("package1==1.0.0\n")
-        
+
         mock_subprocess.return_value = MagicMock(returncode=1)
 
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
 
         assert result is False
 
+    @patch('src.plugin_system.plugin_loader.requirements_are_satisfied', return_value=False)
     @patch('subprocess.run')
     def test_install_dependencies_retries_with_ignore_installed_on_apt_conflict(
-        self, mock_subprocess, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
+        self, mock_subprocess, mock_satisfied, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
     ):
         """An apt-managed package with no pip RECORD file triggers a retry with
         --ignore-installed rather than silently assuming the old version satisfies
-        the requirement."""
+        the requirement. requirements_are_satisfied() is mocked False here because
+        this scenario is exactly the case where the installed (apt) version does
+        NOT satisfy the pin — that's why pip attempts a reinstall in the first place."""
         plugin_dir = tmp_plugins_dir / "test_plugin"
         plugin_dir.mkdir()
         requirements_file = plugin_dir / "requirements.txt"
@@ -242,16 +245,17 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
         retry_attempt = MagicMock(returncode=0, stderr="")
         mock_subprocess.side_effect = [first_attempt, retry_attempt]
 
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
 
         assert result is True
         assert mock_subprocess.call_count == 2
         retry_cmd = mock_subprocess.call_args_list[1][0][0]
         assert "--ignore-installed" in retry_cmd
 
+    @patch('src.plugin_system.plugin_loader.requirements_are_satisfied', return_value=False)
     @patch('subprocess.run')
     def test_install_dependencies_apt_conflict_retry_also_fails(
-        self, mock_subprocess, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
+        self, mock_subprocess, mock_satisfied, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
     ):
         """Still tolerates the failure (returns True) if the --ignore-installed
         retry itself fails, matching the prior soft-fallback behavior."""
@@ -267,14 +271,15 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
         retry_attempt = MagicMock(returncode=1, stderr="some other pip error")
         mock_subprocess.side_effect = [first_attempt, retry_attempt]
 
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
 
         assert result is True
         assert mock_subprocess.call_count == 2
 
+    @patch('src.plugin_system.plugin_loader.requirements_are_satisfied', return_value=False)
     @patch('subprocess.run')
     def test_install_dependencies_apt_conflict_retry_times_out(
-        self, mock_subprocess, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
+        self, mock_subprocess, mock_satisfied, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir
     ):
         """A retry timeout must be tolerated the same way as a retry failure
         (return True), not propagate to the outer TimeoutExpired handler and
@@ -293,7 +298,47 @@ class TestPluginLoader:
             subprocess.TimeoutExpired(cmd="pip", timeout=300),
         ]
 
-        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
 
         assert result is True
         assert mock_subprocess.call_count == 2
+
+    @patch('subprocess.run')
+    def test_install_dependencies_already_satisfied_skips_pip(self, mock_subprocess, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir):
+        """A requirement already satisfied in the current environment shouldn't invoke pip."""
+        plugin_dir = tmp_plugins_dir / "test_plugin"
+        plugin_dir.mkdir()
+        requirements_file = plugin_dir / "requirements.txt"
+        requirements_file.write_text("pytest>=1.0\n")
+
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
+
+        assert result is True
+        mock_subprocess.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_install_dependencies_requires_plugins_dir(self, plugin_loader, tmp_plugins_dir):
+        """plugins_dir is a required argument, not an optional trust-me flag --
+        calling without it must fail loudly (TypeError) rather than silently
+        falling back to trusting plugin_dir unchecked."""
+        plugin_dir = tmp_plugins_dir / "test_plugin"
+        plugin_dir.mkdir()
+
+        with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+            plugin_loader.install_dependencies(plugin_dir, "test_plugin")
+
+    @patch('subprocess.run')
+    def test_install_dependencies_rejects_path_outside_plugins_dir(
+        self, mock_subprocess, plugin_loader, tmp_path, tmp_plugins_dir
+    ):
+        """A plugin_dir that doesn't actually live inside plugins_dir (e.g. a
+        manifest-derived id crafted to traverse elsewhere) must be rejected
+        rather than read from -- this is the path-injection containment
+        check CodeQL flagged as missing."""
+        outside_dir = tmp_path / "outside"
+        outside_dir.mkdir()
+        (outside_dir / "requirements.txt").write_text("requests>=2.0\n")
+
+        result = plugin_loader.install_dependencies(outside_dir, "evil_plugin", plugins_dir=tmp_plugins_dir)
+
+        assert result is False
+        mock_subprocess.assert_not_called()

test/test_plugin_manager_schema_soft.py

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+"""
+Tests for PluginManager._validate_config_schema_soft (Phase 1, warn-only schema
+validation).
+
+Contract:
+- A schema violation logs a warning and marks the plugin degraded in the health
+  tracker, but never raises and never changes load pass/fail behaviour.
+- A valid config (or no schema) clears any stale degraded flag.
+- The method is safe when no health tracker is wired.
+"""
+
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from src.plugin_system.plugin_manager import PluginManager
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def pm():
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmp:
+        manager = PluginManager(plugins_dir=str(Path(tmp) / "plugins"))
+        manager.schema_manager = MagicMock()
+        yield manager
+
+
+def test_invalid_config_marks_degraded_without_raising(pm):
+    pm.health_tracker = MagicMock()
+    pm.schema_manager.load_schema.return_value = {"type": "object"}
+    pm.schema_manager.validate_config_against_schema.return_value = (
+        False,
+        ["Missing required field: 'api_key'"],
+    )
+
+    pm._validate_config_schema_soft("youtube-stats", {})
+
+    pm.health_tracker.set_degraded.assert_called_once()
+    plugin_id, reason = pm.health_tracker.set_degraded.call_args[0]
+    assert plugin_id == "youtube-stats"
+    assert "api_key" in reason
+
+
+def test_valid_config_clears_degraded(pm):
+    pm.health_tracker = MagicMock()
+    pm.schema_manager.load_schema.return_value = {"type": "object"}
+    pm.schema_manager.validate_config_against_schema.return_value = (True, [])
+
+    pm._validate_config_schema_soft("p", {"api_key": "x"})
+
+    pm.health_tracker.set_degraded.assert_called_once_with("p", None)
+
+
+def test_no_schema_clears_degraded(pm):
+    pm.health_tracker = MagicMock()
+    pm.schema_manager.load_schema.return_value = None
+
+    pm._validate_config_schema_soft("p", {})
+
+    pm.health_tracker.set_degraded.assert_called_once_with("p", None)
+
+
+def test_validation_exception_is_swallowed(pm):
+    pm.health_tracker = MagicMock()
+    pm.schema_manager.load_schema.return_value = {"type": "object"}
+    pm.schema_manager.validate_config_against_schema.side_effect = RuntimeError("boom")
+
+    # Must not raise — the validation machinery failing must never break loading.
+    pm._validate_config_schema_soft("p", {})
+
+
+def test_safe_without_health_tracker(pm):
+    pm.health_tracker = None
+    pm.schema_manager.load_schema.return_value = {"type": "object"}
+    pm.schema_manager.validate_config_against_schema.return_value = (False, ["err"])
+
+    # Must not raise even though there is no tracker to record against.
+    pm._validate_config_schema_soft("p", {})

test/test_plugin_system.py

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 from pathlib import Path
 from src.plugin_system.plugin_manager import PluginManager
 from src.plugin_system.plugin_state import PluginState
+from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import PluginResourceMonitor
 
 class TestPluginManager:
     """Test PluginManager functionality."""
@@ -74,18 +75,67 @@ class TestPluginManager:
             
             # No manifest in pm.plugin_manifests
             result = pm.load_plugin("non_existent_plugin")
-            
+
             assert result is False
             assert pm.state_manager.get_state("non_existent_plugin") == PluginState.ERROR
 
+    def test_run_scheduled_updates_calls_update_with_resource_monitor(
+        self, mock_config_manager, mock_display_manager, mock_cache_manager
+    ):
+        """Regression test: run_scheduled_updates() must actually call a
+        plugin's update() when self.resource_monitor is set (as it is in
+        every real deployment -- display_controller.py and web_interface/
+        app.py both assign a real PluginResourceMonitor after construction).
+
+        Previously, the resource_monitor branch wrapped the call in a
+        function stored as a *class* attribute on a dynamically-built type
+        (`type('obj', (object,), {'update': monitored_update})()`), which
+        the descriptor protocol turns into a bound method on access --
+        silently passing the synthetic instance as an implicit first
+        argument to monitored_update(), which takes none. Every plugin's
+        scheduled update failed with "monitored_update() takes 0 positional
+        arguments but 1 was given" and was silently swallowed into a
+        circuit-breaker retry loop that never succeeded, so plugin data
+        (scores, odds, etc.) never refreshed.
+        """
+        with patch('src.plugin_system.plugin_manager.ensure_directory_permissions'):
+            pm = PluginManager(
+                plugins_dir="plugins",
+                config_manager=mock_config_manager,
+                display_manager=mock_display_manager,
+                cache_manager=mock_cache_manager
+            )
+
+            plugin_instance = MagicMock()
+            plugin_instance.enabled = True
+            plugin_instance.update = MagicMock()
+
+            pm.plugins["test_plugin"] = plugin_instance
+            pm.plugin_manifests["test_plugin"] = {"update_interval": 10}
+            pm.state_manager.set_state("test_plugin", PluginState.ENABLED)
+            # Plain MagicMock, not the mock_cache_manager fixture: this test
+            # is about run_scheduled_updates() actually invoking update()
+            # through the resource-monitor wrapper, not about
+            # PluginResourceMonitor's own cache-backed metrics persistence
+            # (which calls cache_manager.get(..., memory_ttl=...) --
+            # a kwarg the fixture's mock_get() doesn't accept).
+            pm.resource_monitor = PluginResourceMonitor(MagicMock())
+
+            pm.run_scheduled_updates(current_time=time.time())
+
+            plugin_instance.update.assert_called_once()
+            assert "test_plugin" in pm.plugin_last_update
+            assert pm.state_manager.get_state("test_plugin") == PluginState.ENABLED
+
 
 class TestPluginLoader:
     """Test PluginLoader functionality."""
     
     def test_dependency_check(self):
         """Test dependency checking logic."""
-        # This would test _check_dependencies_installed and _install_plugin_dependencies
-        # which requires mocking subprocess calls and file operations
+        # Covered by test_plugin_loader.py's install_dependencies tests,
+        # which exercise requirements_has_real_deps/requirements_are_satisfied
+        # and the pip subprocess fallback.
 
 
 class TestPluginExecutor:

test/test_resource_monitor.py

@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+"""
+Tests for src/plugin_system/resource_monitor.py
+
+Focus areas:
+- Execution-time metrics are captured regardless of psutil availability.
+- CPU sampling is non-blocking (regression guard for the previous
+  ``cpu_percent(interval=0.1)`` call that blocked 100 ms per monitored call).
+- Resource limits are enforced.
+"""
+
+import time
+
+import pytest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import (
+    PluginResourceMonitor,
+    ResourceLimits,
+    ResourceLimitExceeded,
+    PSUTIL_AVAILABLE,
+)
+
+
+def _cache():
+    cache = MagicMock()
+    cache.get.return_value = None
+    return cache
+
+
+class TestExecutionTimeMetrics:
+    def test_monitor_call_returns_value_and_records_call(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=False)
+        result = mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: 42)
+        assert result == 42
+        metrics = mon.get_metrics("p")
+        assert metrics.call_count == 1
+        assert metrics.total_execution_time >= 0.0
+
+    def test_avg_and_max_execution_time(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=False)
+        mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: time.sleep(0.01))
+        mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: None)
+        summary = mon.get_metrics_summary("p")
+        assert summary["call_count"] == 2
+        assert summary["max_execution_time"] >= summary["avg_execution_time"] >= 0.0
+
+    def test_exception_propagates_but_is_still_timed(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=False)
+
+        def boom():
+            raise ValueError("nope")
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            mon.monitor_call("p", boom)
+        # Execution time is still recorded even when the call raised.
+        assert mon.get_metrics("p").execution_time >= 0.0
+
+
+class TestNonBlockingCpu:
+    def test_cpu_sampling_is_fast_when_disabled(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=False)
+        start = time.time()
+        for _ in range(50):
+            mon._get_process_cpu_percent()
+        # The old implementation blocked ~0.1s/call (~5s for 50). Non-blocking
+        # must complete near-instantly.
+        assert time.time() - start < 0.5
+        assert mon._get_process_cpu_percent() == 0.0
+
+    @pytest.mark.skipif(not PSUTIL_AVAILABLE, reason="psutil not installed")
+    def test_cpu_sampling_is_fast_with_psutil(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=True)
+        assert mon._process is not None
+        start = time.time()
+        for _ in range(30):
+            mon._get_process_cpu_percent()
+        # 30 blocking 0.1s samples would be ~3s; non-blocking must be well under.
+        assert time.time() - start < 0.5
+
+    def test_monitor_call_does_not_block_on_cpu_sampling(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache())  # enable depends on psutil
+        start = time.time()
+        for _ in range(25):
+            mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: None)
+        # 25 * 0.1s = 2.5s under the old blocking bug; must be far faster now.
+        assert time.time() - start < 1.0
+
+
+class TestResourceLimits:
+    def test_execution_time_limit_raises(self):
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(_cache(), enable_monitoring=False)
+        mon.set_limits("p", ResourceLimits(max_execution_time=0.001))
+        with pytest.raises(ResourceLimitExceeded):
+            mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: time.sleep(0.02))
+
+    def test_reset_metrics_clears_counts(self):
+        cache = _cache()
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(cache, enable_monitoring=False)
+        mon.monitor_call("p", lambda: None)
+        assert mon.get_metrics("p").call_count == 1
+        mon.reset_metrics("p")
+        assert mon.get_metrics("p").call_count == 0
+
+
+class TestForceReload:
+    def test_force_reload_refreshes_stale_snapshot(self):
+        """A read-only consumer must see the writer process's latest persisted
+        metrics rather than a pinned first snapshot."""
+        cache = MagicMock()
+        persisted = {"value": None}  # only the metrics key returns data
+
+        def cache_get(key, max_age=None, memory_ttl=None):
+            return persisted["value"] if key.startswith("plugin_metrics:") else None
+
+        cache.get.side_effect = cache_get
+        mon = PluginResourceMonitor(cache, enable_monitoring=False)
+
+        # First read snapshots empty metrics.
+        assert mon.get_metrics_summary("p")["call_count"] == 0
+
+        # The display service later persists real metrics.
+        persisted["value"] = {"call_count": 7, "total_execution_time": 1.4}
+
+        # Plain read stays stale...
+        assert mon.get_metrics_summary("p")["call_count"] == 0
+        # ...force_reload picks up the persisted values and bypasses memory.
+        fresh = mon.get_metrics_summary("p", force_reload=True)
+        assert fresh["call_count"] == 7
+        assert any(c.kwargs.get("memory_ttl") == 0 for c in cache.get.call_args_list)

test/test_snapshot_policy.py

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+"""Tests for the snapshot write policy (src/common/snapshot_policy.py).
+
+The invariants that matter:
+- unchanged frames are NEVER re-encoded (the old code PNG-encoded identical
+  frames at 5 fps, 24/7)
+- the file mtime never goes stale enough to trip the health check's 60s
+  degraded threshold (api_v3 get_hardware_status)
+- a viewer gets full cadence; no viewer drops to the idle keepalive
+"""
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
+
+from src.common.snapshot_policy import (  # noqa: E402
+    IDLE_INTERVAL,
+    TOUCH_INTERVAL,
+    VIEWER_INTERVAL,
+    SnapshotAction,
+    decide,
+)
+
+
+class TestViewerCadence:
+    def test_changed_frame_with_viewer_writes_at_full_rate(self):
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - VIEWER_INTERVAL,
+                      last_touch_ts=0, viewer_fresh=True,
+                      frame_changed=True) is SnapshotAction.WRITE
+
+    def test_changed_frame_with_viewer_respects_min_interval(self):
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - VIEWER_INTERVAL / 2,
+                      last_touch_ts=100.0, viewer_fresh=True,
+                      frame_changed=True) is SnapshotAction.SKIP
+
+    def test_unchanged_frame_with_viewer_never_writes(self):
+        """A static screen with a viewer must not burn PNG encodes."""
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=90.0, last_touch_ts=90.0,
+                      viewer_fresh=True,
+                      frame_changed=False) is SnapshotAction.SKIP
+
+
+class TestIdleCadence:
+    def test_changed_frame_without_viewer_waits_for_idle_interval(self):
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - IDLE_INTERVAL / 2,
+                      last_touch_ts=100.0, viewer_fresh=False,
+                      frame_changed=True) is SnapshotAction.SKIP
+
+    def test_changed_frame_without_viewer_writes_at_idle_rate(self):
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - IDLE_INTERVAL,
+                      last_touch_ts=0, viewer_fresh=False,
+                      frame_changed=True) is SnapshotAction.WRITE
+
+
+class TestHealthKeepalive:
+    def test_stale_mtime_gets_touched(self):
+        """Whatever else happens, mtime must be bumped within TOUCH_INTERVAL
+        so the health check (60s threshold) never reads the display as dead."""
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - TOUCH_INTERVAL,
+                      last_touch_ts=100.0 - TOUCH_INTERVAL, viewer_fresh=False,
+                      frame_changed=False) is SnapshotAction.TOUCH
+
+    def test_touch_applies_with_viewer_too(self):
+        """Viewer watching a static screen: no writes, but health stays green."""
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=100.0 - TOUCH_INTERVAL - 1,
+                      last_touch_ts=100.0 - TOUCH_INTERVAL - 1, viewer_fresh=True,
+                      frame_changed=False) is SnapshotAction.TOUCH
+
+    def test_recent_touch_suppresses_another(self):
+        assert decide(now=100.0, last_write_ts=0.0,
+                      last_touch_ts=100.0 - TOUCH_INTERVAL / 2, viewer_fresh=False,
+                      frame_changed=False) is SnapshotAction.SKIP
+
+    def test_touch_interval_stays_under_health_threshold(self):
+        """api_v3's hardware status treats snapshot age >= 60s as degraded.
+        Keep a 2x margin so scheduling jitter can't trip it."""
+        assert TOUCH_INTERVAL <= 30
+
+    def test_worst_case_mtime_age_is_bounded(self):
+        """Simulate any interleaving: from any state, within one policy call
+        after TOUCH_INTERVAL elapses, mtime gets refreshed (WRITE or TOUCH)."""
+        for viewer in (True, False):
+            for changed in (True, False):
+                action = decide(now=1000.0, last_write_ts=900.0,
+                                last_touch_ts=900.0, viewer_fresh=viewer,
+                                frame_changed=changed)
+                assert action in (SnapshotAction.WRITE, SnapshotAction.TOUCH)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    sys.exit(pytest.main([__file__, "-v"]))

test/test_vegas_render_pipeline_recompose.py

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+"""
+Regression tests for RenderPipeline.should_recompose()'s pending-updates check.
+
+PR #299 added a check so a plugin's live score/status change (a "pending
+update" in StreamManager) triggers a hot-swap within a few seconds instead
+of waiting for a full scroll cycle to complete. PR #330 (multi-display sync)
+refactored should_recompose() and dropped that check entirely -- not just
+gated behind the new sync-mode deferral it added, but removed outright, so
+even standalone (non-sync) installations silently lost live-refresh and fell
+back to waiting for full cycle boundaries (which, depending on
+min/max_cycle_duration, can be minutes).
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+from src.vegas_mode.config import VegasModeConfig
+from src.vegas_mode.render_pipeline import RenderPipeline
+
+
+class FakeDisplayManager:
+    width = 64
+    height = 32
+
+
+def _make_pipeline(sync_manager=None):
+    stream_manager = MagicMock()
+    stream_manager.get_buffer_status.return_value = {'staging_count': 0}
+    pipeline = RenderPipeline(VegasModeConfig(), FakeDisplayManager(), stream_manager)
+    pipeline.sync_manager = sync_manager
+    return pipeline, stream_manager
+
+
+class TestShouldRecompose:
+    def test_cycle_complete_always_recomposes(self):
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline()
+        pipeline._cycle_complete = True
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = False
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is True
+
+    def test_no_pending_updates_no_staging_does_not_recompose(self):
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline()
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = False
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is False
+
+    def test_pending_updates_on_visible_segment_triggers_recompose(self):
+        """The actual regression: a live-updated plugin currently in view
+        must trigger a recompose instead of waiting for cycle end."""
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline()
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = True
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is True
+
+    def test_staging_buffer_content_triggers_recompose(self):
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline()
+        stream_manager.get_buffer_status.return_value = {'staging_count': 1}
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = False
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is True
+
+    def test_sync_active_defers_pending_updates_to_cycle_boundary(self):
+        """Sync-mode deferral (PR #330's actual intent) must still hold:
+        pending updates alone must NOT trigger a mid-cycle hot-swap when a
+        follower display is attached, since that causes a visible
+        freeze+jump on the follower. This must keep working after
+        restoring the non-sync pending-updates check above."""
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline(sync_manager=MagicMock())
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = True
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is False
+
+    def test_sync_active_still_recomposes_on_cycle_complete(self):
+        pipeline, stream_manager = _make_pipeline(sync_manager=MagicMock())
+        pipeline._cycle_complete = True
+        stream_manager.has_pending_updates_for_visible_segments.return_value = True
+        assert pipeline.should_recompose() is True

test/test_web_api.py

@@ -759,3 +759,54 @@ class TestDottedKeyNormalization:
         teams = soccer_cfg.get('leagues', {}).get('eng.1', {}).get('favorite_teams')
         assert isinstance(teams, list), f"Expected list, got: {type(teams)}"
         assert teams == [], f"Expected empty default list, got: {teams}"
+
+
+class TestPluginHealthRoutes:
+    """Phase 1: /plugins/health and /plugins/metrics build per-installed-id so
+    they surface cross-process data persisted by the display service."""
+
+    def test_health_route_builds_per_installed_id(self, client, mock_plugin_manager):
+        from web_interface.blueprints.api_v3 import api_v3
+        from src.plugin_system.plugin_health import PluginHealthTracker
+
+        cache = MagicMock()
+        cache.get.return_value = None
+        api_v3.plugin_manager = mock_plugin_manager
+        mock_plugin_manager.plugin_manifests = {'p1': {}, 'p2': {}}
+        mock_plugin_manager.health_tracker = PluginHealthTracker(cache)
+
+        resp = client.get('/api/v3/plugins/health')
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        data = resp.get_json()['data']
+        assert set(data.keys()) == {'p1', 'p2'}
+        assert data['p1']['is_healthy'] is True
+        assert data['p1']['degraded'] is False
+
+    def test_health_route_reports_not_available_without_tracker(self, client, mock_plugin_manager):
+        from web_interface.blueprints.api_v3 import api_v3
+        api_v3.plugin_manager = mock_plugin_manager
+        mock_plugin_manager.health_tracker = None
+
+        resp = client.get('/api/v3/plugins/health')
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        body = resp.get_json()
+        assert body['data'] == {}
+        assert 'not available' in body['message'].lower()
+
+    def test_metrics_route_builds_per_installed_id(self, client, mock_plugin_manager):
+        from web_interface.blueprints.api_v3 import api_v3
+        from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import PluginResourceMonitor
+
+        cache = MagicMock()
+        cache.get.return_value = None
+        api_v3.plugin_manager = mock_plugin_manager
+        mock_plugin_manager.plugin_manifests = {'p1': {}}
+        mock_plugin_manager.resource_monitor = PluginResourceMonitor(
+            cache, enable_monitoring=False
+        )
+
+        resp = client.get('/api/v3/plugins/metrics')
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        data = resp.get_json()['data']
+        assert 'p1' in data
+        assert data['p1']['call_count'] == 0

test/test_web_settings_ui.py

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+"""
+Smoke tests for the settings tooltips + search UI.
+
+These render the settings partials through Flask and assert that every settings
+field carries:
+  - a stable search anchor id (`id="setting-..."` on its .form-group), and
+  - an info tooltip (`class="help-tip"` emitted by the help_tip macro).
+
+They guard against macro/import breakage and against fields losing their anchor
+or tooltip when partials are edited. See web_interface/static/v3/js/tooltips.js
+and settings-search.js for the consumers of this markup.
+"""
+
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+from flask import Flask
+
+PROJECT_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+sys.path.insert(0, str(PROJECT_ROOT))
+
+
+# A realistic-enough config so the hand-written partials render every field.
+REALISTIC_CONFIG = {
+    "web_display_autostart": True,
+    "timezone": "America/Chicago",
+    "location": {"city": "Dallas", "state": "Texas", "country": "US"},
+    "plugin_system": {
+        "auto_discover": True,
+        "auto_load_enabled": True,
+        "development_mode": False,
+        "plugins_directory": "plugin-repos",
+    },
+    "schedule": {},
+    "dim_schedule": {"dim_brightness": 30},
+    "sync": {"role": "standalone", "port": 5765, "follower_position": "left"},
+    "display": {
+        "hardware": {
+            "rows": 32, "cols": 64, "chain_length": 2, "parallel": 1,
+            "brightness": 95, "hardware_mapping": "adafruit-hat-pwm",
+            "led_rgb_sequence": "RGB", "multiplexing": 0, "panel_type": "",
+            "row_address_type": 0, "scan_mode": 0, "pwm_bits": 9,
+            "pwm_dither_bits": 1, "pwm_lsb_nanoseconds": 130,
+            "limit_refresh_rate_hz": 120, "disable_hardware_pulsing": False,
+            "inverse_colors": False, "show_refresh_rate": False,
+        },
+        "runtime": {"gpio_slowdown": 3, "rp1_rio": 0},
+        "double_sided": {"enabled": False, "copies": 2, "axis": "horizontal"},
+        "use_short_date_format": False,
+        "dynamic_duration": {"max_duration_seconds": 180},
+        "vegas_scroll": {
+            "enabled": False, "scroll_speed": 50, "separator_width": 32,
+            "target_fps": 125, "buffer_ahead": 2,
+            "plugin_order": [], "excluded_plugins": [],
+        },
+        "display_durations": {"clock": 15, "weather": 30},
+    },
+}
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def client():
+    base = PROJECT_ROOT / "web_interface"
+    app = Flask(
+        __name__,
+        template_folder=str(base / "templates"),
+        static_folder=str(base / "static"),
+    )
+    app.config["TESTING"] = True
+
+    from web_interface.blueprints import pages_v3 as pv
+
+    mock_cm = MagicMock()
+    mock_cm.load_config.return_value = REALISTIC_CONFIG
+    mock_cm.get_raw_file_content.return_value = REALISTIC_CONFIG
+    mock_cm.get_config_path.return_value = "config/config.json"
+    mock_cm.get_secrets_path.return_value = "config/config_secrets.json"
+    pv.pages_v3.config_manager = mock_cm
+    pv.pages_v3.plugin_manager = MagicMock(plugins={})
+
+    app.register_blueprint(pv.pages_v3, url_prefix="/v3")
+    return app.test_client()
+
+
+# Settings tabs that must expose searchable, tooltipped fields.
+SETTINGS_TABS = ["general", "display", "durations", "schedule", "wifi"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("tab", SETTINGS_TABS)
+def test_settings_partial_has_tooltips_and_anchors(client, tab):
+    resp = client.get(f"/v3/partials/{tab}")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, f"{tab} partial failed to render"
+    body = resp.get_data(as_text=True)
+
+    assert 'class="help-tip"' in body, f"{tab}: no tooltips rendered"
+    assert 'id="setting-' in body, f"{tab}: no search anchors rendered"
+    # Every settings field should be both anchored and tooltipped; tooltip count
+    # should not exceed anchor count (each field has at most one help_tip).
+    anchors = body.count('id="setting-')
+    tips = body.count('class="help-tip"')
+    assert tips >= 1 and anchors >= 1
+    assert tips <= anchors, f"{tab}: more tooltips ({tips}) than anchors ({anchors})"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("tab", SETTINGS_TABS)
+def test_settings_partial_has_per_tab_filter(client, tab):
+    body = client.get(f"/v3/partials/{tab}").get_data(as_text=True)
+    assert 'class="settings-filter' in body, f"{tab}: per-tab filter box missing"
+
+
+def test_display_tooltip_carries_rich_text(client):
+    # The brightness tooltip should include the authored guidance, not just a label.
+    body = client.get("/v3/partials/display").get_data(as_text=True)
+    assert 'id="setting-display-brightness"' in body
+    assert "Recommended:" in body  # rich detail authored into a tooltip
+
+
+def test_search_index_endpoint(client):
+    """The server-built search index powers the global settings search."""
+    resp = client.get("/v3/settings/search-index")
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+    data = resp.get_json()
+    assert isinstance(data, dict) and isinstance(data.get("fields"), list)
+    fields = data["fields"]
+    assert len(fields) >= 40, "expected the core settings fields to be indexed"
+
+    by_id = {f["anchorId"]: f for f in fields}
+    # Representative fields across tabs must be present with usable text.
+    for anchor in ("setting-general-timezone", "setting-display-brightness",
+                   "setting-wifi-password", "setting-durations-clock"):
+        assert anchor in by_id, f"{anchor} missing from search index"
+        entry = by_id[anchor]
+        assert entry["label"], f"{anchor} has no label"
+        assert entry["help"], f"{anchor} has no tooltip help"
+        assert entry["tab"] and entry["tabLabel"]
+
+    # Every entry must carry a non-empty label and a stable anchor id.
+    assert all(f["label"] and f["anchorId"].startswith("setting-") for f in fields)
+    # Section context is captured for grouped fields (e.g. Display hardware).
+    assert by_id["setting-display-brightness"]["section"] == "Hardware Configuration"
+
+
+def test_plugin_config_partial_has_filter_and_nested_anchors():
+    """Plugin config tabs expose the per-tab filter and anchor nested fields.
+
+    The client fixture has no installed plugins, so render the partial directly
+    with a schema that includes a nested section (render_nested_section).
+    """
+    from jinja2 import Environment, FileSystemLoader, select_autoescape
+
+    env = Environment(
+        loader=FileSystemLoader(str(PROJECT_ROOT / "web_interface" / "templates")),
+        autoescape=select_autoescape(["html"]),
+    )
+    plugin = {
+        "id": "demo-plugin", "name": "Demo Plugin", "description": "A demo",
+        "enabled": True, "author": "me", "version": "1.0.0",
+    }
+    schema = {
+        "type": "object",
+        "properties": {
+            "title_text": {"type": "string", "title": "Title Text",
+                           "description": "The heading."},
+            "advanced": {
+                "type": "object", "title": "Advanced Options",
+                "description": "Nested options.",
+                "properties": {
+                    "scroll_speed": {"type": "integer", "title": "Scroll Speed",
+                                     "description": "Pixels per second."},
+                },
+            },
+        },
+    }
+    config = {"title_text": "Hi", "advanced": {"scroll_speed": 50}}
+    html = env.get_template("v3/partials/plugin_config.html").render(
+        plugin=plugin, schema=schema, config=config
+    )
+
+    assert 'class="settings-filter' in html, "plugin config: per-tab filter box missing"
+    assert "nested-content" in html, "plugin config: nested section not rendered"
+    assert 'id="setting-' in html, "plugin config: no search anchors rendered"
+    assert 'class="help-tip"' in html, "plugin config: no tooltips rendered"

web_interface/app.py

@@ -160,6 +160,22 @@ api_v3.health_monitor = health_monitor
 from src.cache_manager import CacheManager
 api_v3.cache_manager = CacheManager()
 
+# Wire plugin health/metrics for the web process. The display service records
+# health and execution-time metrics to the shared on-disk cache; giving the web
+# process its own tracker/monitor backed by that same cache lets the health API
+# routes (/api/v3/plugins/health, /plugins/metrics) read that persisted data.
+# Guarded so any init failure degrades to "not available" rather than breaking
+# the web server.
+try:
+    from src.plugin_system.plugin_health import PluginHealthTracker
+    from src.plugin_system.resource_monitor import PluginResourceMonitor
+    plugin_manager.health_tracker = PluginHealthTracker(api_v3.cache_manager)
+    plugin_manager.resource_monitor = PluginResourceMonitor(api_v3.cache_manager)
+except Exception as _hm_err:  # pragma: no cover - defensive startup guard
+    logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(
+        "Could not enable plugin health/metrics for web UI: %s", _hm_err
+    )
+
 app.register_blueprint(pages_v3, url_prefix='/v3')
 app.register_blueprint(api_v3, url_prefix='/api/v3')
 
@@ -592,9 +608,23 @@ def display_preview_generator():
     import base64
     from PIL import Image
     import io
-    
+
     snapshot_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview.png"  # nosec B108 - fixed path matches display_manager; only read here
+    # Viewer marker: this generator only runs while the broadcaster has
+    # subscribers (it exits with no clients), so touching the marker each
+    # loop tells the DISPLAY service a browser is actually watching — it
+    # only pays for full-rate PNG snapshot encodes while this stays fresh
+    # (see src/common/snapshot_policy.py).
+    viewer_marker_path = "/tmp/led_matrix_preview_viewer"  # nosec B108 - fixed path matches display_manager
     last_modified = None
+
+    def _touch_viewer_marker():
+        try:
+            with open(viewer_marker_path, 'a'):
+                pass
+            os.utime(viewer_marker_path, None)
+        except OSError:
+            pass  # display side treats a missing marker as "no viewer"
     
     # Get display dimensions from config
     try:
@@ -611,6 +641,7 @@ def display_preview_generator():
     
     while True:
         try:
+            _touch_viewer_marker()
             # Check if snapshot file exists and has been modified
             if os.path.exists(snapshot_path):
                 current_modified = os.path.getmtime(snapshot_path)

web_interface/blueprints/api_v3.py

@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ def save_schedule_config():
         }
 
         mode = data.get('mode', 'global')
+        schedule_config['mode'] = mode
 
         if mode == 'global':
             # Simple global schedule
@@ -2073,6 +2074,18 @@ def get_installed_plugins():
                 return None
 
         def _build_plugin_entry_inner(plugin_info, plugin_id):
+            # Capture runtime state (state machine + error context) before the
+            # manifest merge below can shadow the 'state' key. get_all_plugin_info
+            # attaches this via PluginStateManager.get_state_info(); surfacing it
+            # lets the UI show *why* a plugin isn't running instead of just
+            # 'loaded: false'.
+            state_info = plugin_info.get('state')
+            plugin_state = None
+            plugin_error_info = None
+            if isinstance(state_info, dict):
+                plugin_state = state_info.get('state')
+                plugin_error_info = state_info.get('error_info')
+
             # Re-read manifest from disk to ensure we have the latest metadata
             manifest_path = Path(api_v3.plugin_manager.plugins_dir) / plugin_id / "manifest.json"
             if manifest_path.exists():
@@ -2154,6 +2167,8 @@ def get_installed_plugins():
                 'enabled': enabled,
                 'verified': verified,
                 'loaded': plugin_info.get('loaded', False),
+                'state': plugin_state,
+                'error_info': plugin_error_info,
                 'last_updated': last_updated,
                 'last_commit': last_commit,
                 'last_commit_message': last_commit_message,
@@ -2173,6 +2188,31 @@ def get_installed_plugins():
         logger.error('Error in get_installed_plugins', exc_info=True)
         return jsonify({'status': 'error', 'message': 'An error occurred; see logs for details'}), 500
 
+def _installed_plugin_ids():
+    """Best-effort list of installed plugin IDs for the web process.
+
+    Health/metrics state is written by the separate display service to the
+    shared on-disk cache, so the tracker's in-memory set is empty here. We
+    enumerate the installed plugins and read each one's persisted summary by ID
+    instead of relying on the tracker's in-memory `get_all_*` view.
+    """
+    pm = api_v3.plugin_manager
+    manifests = getattr(pm, 'plugin_manifests', None)
+    if not manifests:
+        # Only pay for a discovery scan when we haven't discovered anything yet;
+        # subsequent polls reuse the already-populated manifest map.
+        try:
+            pm.discover_plugins()
+        except Exception:
+            logger.debug('discover_plugins failed while listing plugin ids', exc_info=True)
+        manifests = getattr(pm, 'plugin_manifests', None)
+    try:
+        return list(manifests.keys()) if manifests else []
+    except Exception:
+        logger.debug('listing plugin_manifests failed while building plugin ids', exc_info=True)
+        return []
+
+
 @api_v3.route('/plugins/health', methods=['GET'])
 def get_plugin_health():
     """Get health metrics for all plugins"""
@@ -2188,8 +2228,23 @@ def get_plugin_health():
                 'message': 'Health tracking not available'
             })
 
-        # Get health summaries for all plugins
-        health_summaries = api_v3.plugin_manager.health_tracker.get_all_health_summaries()
+        tracker = api_v3.plugin_manager.health_tracker
+        # Build per-plugin summaries by ID so persisted (cross-process) health
+        # is included, then fold in any in-memory-only entries.
+        health_summaries = {}
+        for pid in _installed_plugin_ids():
+            try:
+                # force_reload: this process only reads; bypass the in-memory
+                # snapshot so each poll reflects the display service's latest
+                # persisted state.
+                health_summaries[pid] = tracker.get_health_summary(pid, force_reload=True)
+            except Exception:
+                logger.debug('Could not read health summary for %s', pid, exc_info=True)
+        try:
+            for pid, summary in tracker.get_all_health_summaries().items():
+                health_summaries.setdefault(pid, summary)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.debug('get_all_health_summaries failed', exc_info=True)
 
         return jsonify({
             'status': 'success',
@@ -2264,8 +2319,22 @@ def get_plugin_metrics():
                 'message': 'Resource monitoring not available'
             })
 
-        # Get metrics summaries for all plugins
-        metrics_summaries = api_v3.plugin_manager.resource_monitor.get_all_metrics_summaries()
+        monitor = api_v3.plugin_manager.resource_monitor
+        # Build per-plugin summaries by ID so persisted (cross-process) metrics
+        # are included, then fold in any in-memory-only entries.
+        metrics_summaries = {}
+        for pid in _installed_plugin_ids():
+            try:
+                # force_reload: read-only path — bypass the in-memory snapshot so
+                # each poll reflects the display service's latest persisted metrics.
+                metrics_summaries[pid] = monitor.get_metrics_summary(pid, force_reload=True)
+            except Exception:
+                logger.debug('Could not read metrics summary for %s', pid, exc_info=True)
+        try:
+            for pid, summary in monitor.get_all_metrics_summaries().items():
+                metrics_summaries.setdefault(pid, summary)
+        except Exception:
+            logger.debug('get_all_metrics_summaries failed', exc_info=True)
 
         return jsonify({
             'status': 'success',
@@ -7184,6 +7253,74 @@ def set_auto_enable_ap_mode():
             'message': 'An error occurred; see logs for details'
         }), 500
 
+@api_v3.route('/wifi/radio', methods=['GET'])
+def get_wifi_radio():
+    """Get current WiFi radio state (enabled/disabled) and wired-fallback status."""
+    try:
+        from src.wifi_manager import WiFiManager
+
+        wifi_manager = WiFiManager()
+        state = wifi_manager.get_wifi_radio_state()
+
+        return jsonify({
+            'status': 'success',
+            'data': state
+        })
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error("Error getting WiFi radio state", exc_info=True)
+        return jsonify({
+            'status': 'error',
+            'message': 'An error occurred; see logs for details'
+        }), 500
+
+@api_v3.route('/wifi/radio', methods=['POST'])
+def set_wifi_radio():
+    """Turn the WiFi radio on or off.
+
+    Body: {"enabled": bool, "force": bool (optional)}. Disabling is refused
+    unless Ethernet is connected or force=True, to avoid locking the user out
+    of this web interface.
+    """
+    try:
+        from src.wifi_manager import WiFiManager
+
+        data = request.get_json(silent=True) or {}
+        if 'enabled' not in data:
+            return jsonify({
+                'status': 'error',
+                'message': 'enabled is required'
+            }), 400
+
+        # Parse defensively: bool("false") is True, so mirror the string-aware
+        # coercion used for `force` — the endpoint is a public contract, not just
+        # the shipped UI (which always sends real JSON booleans).
+        _enabled_raw = data['enabled']
+        enabled = _enabled_raw is True or (isinstance(_enabled_raw, str) and _enabled_raw.lower() in ('true', '1', 'yes'))
+        _force_raw = data.get('force', False)
+        force = _force_raw is True or (isinstance(_force_raw, str) and _force_raw.lower() in ('true', '1', 'yes'))
+
+        wifi_manager = WiFiManager()
+        success, message, reason = wifi_manager.set_wifi_radio(enabled, force=force)
+
+        if success:
+            return jsonify({
+                'status': 'success',
+                'message': message,
+                'data': wifi_manager.get_wifi_radio_state()
+            })
+        else:
+            return jsonify({
+                'status': 'error',
+                'message': message,
+                'reason': reason
+            }), 400
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error("Error setting WiFi radio state", exc_info=True)
+        return jsonify({
+            'status': 'error',
+            'message': 'An error occurred; see logs for details'
+        }), 500
+
 @api_v3.route('/cache/list', methods=['GET'])
 def list_cache_files():
     """List all cache files with metadata"""

web_interface/blueprints/pages_v3.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-from flask import Blueprint, render_template, flash
+from flask import Blueprint, render_template, flash, jsonify
 from jinja2 import TemplateNotFound
 from markupsafe import escape
+from html.parser import HTMLParser
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -22,6 +23,114 @@ plugin_store_manager = None
 
 pages_v3 = Blueprint('pages_v3', __name__)
 
+
+class _SettingsIndexParser(HTMLParser):
+    """Extract searchable settings fields from a rendered partial's HTML.
+
+    Captures one entry per ``<div class="form-group" id="setting-…">``: the
+    anchor id, ``data-setting-key``, the field's ``<label>`` text, the
+    ``.help-tip`` tooltip text (``data-tooltip``), and the nearest preceding
+    ``<h3>``/``<h4>`` section heading. Parsing the *rendered* HTML (rather than
+    the schema) guarantees the anchor ids match the live DOM exactly, so the
+    search index cannot drift from what users actually see.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, tab, tab_label):
+        super().__init__(convert_charrefs=True)
+        self.tab = tab
+        self.tab_label = tab_label
+        self.fields = []
+        self._section = ''
+        self._field = None
+        self._depth = 0            # open-div depth within the current field
+        self._in_label = False
+        self._label_parts = []
+        self._in_heading = False
+        self._heading_parts = []
+
+    def handle_starttag(self, tag, attrs):
+        a = {k: (v or '') for k, v in attrs}
+        classes = a.get('class', '').split()
+        # Section headings (only when not already inside a field)
+        if tag in ('h3', 'h4') and self._field is None:
+            self._in_heading = True
+            self._heading_parts = []
+        if tag == 'div':
+            fid = a.get('id', '')
+            if self._field is None and 'form-group' in classes and fid.startswith('setting-'):
+                self._field = {
+                    'anchorId': fid,
+                    'key': a.get('data-setting-key', '') or fid[len('setting-'):],
+                    'label': '',
+                    'help': '',
+                    'section': self._section,
+                    'tab': self.tab,
+                    'tabLabel': self.tab_label,
+                }
+                self._depth = 1
+                return
+            if self._field is not None:
+                self._depth += 1
+        if self._field is not None:
+            if tag == 'label' and not self._field['label']:
+                self._in_label = True
+                self._label_parts = []
+            if tag == 'button' and 'help-tip' in classes and not self._field['help']:
+                self._field['help'] = a.get('data-tooltip', '')
+
+    def handle_data(self, data):
+        if self._in_label:
+            self._label_parts.append(data)
+        elif self._in_heading:
+            self._heading_parts.append(data)
+
+    def handle_endtag(self, tag):
+        if tag in ('h3', 'h4') and self._in_heading:
+            self._in_heading = False
+            self._section = ' '.join(''.join(self._heading_parts).split()).strip()
+            return
+        if self._field is None:
+            return
+        if tag == 'label' and self._in_label:
+            self._in_label = False
+            self._field['label'] = ' '.join(''.join(self._label_parts).split()).strip()
+        elif tag == 'div':
+            self._depth -= 1
+            if self._depth <= 0:
+                if self._field['label']:
+                    self.fields.append(self._field)
+                self._field = None
+                self._depth = 0
+
+
+def _partial_html(loader):
+    """Run a partial loader and return its HTML string ('' on error)."""
+    try:
+        result = loader()
+    except Exception:
+        logger.warning("search-index: partial render failed", exc_info=True)
+        return ''
+    if isinstance(result, str):
+        return result
+    if isinstance(result, tuple):  # loaders return (msg, status) on error
+        return ''
+    try:
+        return result.get_data(as_text=True)
+    except Exception:
+        return ''
+
+
+def _extract_settings_fields(html, tab, tab_label):
+    parser = _SettingsIndexParser(tab, tab_label)
+    parser.feed(html)
+    return parser.fields
+
+
+# Cache the built index keyed on the installed-plugin set. Core labels/tooltips
+# are static template text, so only a change in installed plugins invalidates it.
+_SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE = {'sig': None, 'fields': None}
+
+
 @pages_v3.route('/')
 def index():
     """Main v3 interface page"""
@@ -111,6 +220,56 @@ def load_plugin_config_partial(plugin_id):
         return '<div class="text-red-500 p-4">Error loading plugin config; see logs for details</div>', 500
 
 
+@pages_v3.route('/settings/search-index')
+def settings_search_index():
+    """Return a flat JSON index of every searchable setting (core + plugin).
+
+    Powers the web UI's global settings search. Built by rendering the settings
+    partials server-side and extracting field metadata, then cached per
+    installed-plugin set so it is off the display's hot path.
+    """
+    # Core settings tabs: (activeTab value, human label, loader).
+    core_tabs = [
+        ('general', 'General', _load_general_partial),
+        ('display', 'Display', _load_display_partial),
+        ('durations', 'Durations', _load_durations_partial),
+        ('schedule', 'Schedule', _load_schedule_partial),
+        ('wifi', 'WiFi', _load_wifi_partial),
+    ]
+    try:
+        plugin_ids = []
+        if pages_v3.plugin_manager:
+            try:
+                pages_v3.plugin_manager.discover_plugins()
+                plugin_ids = sorted(
+                    pi.get('id') for pi in pages_v3.plugin_manager.get_all_plugin_info()
+                    if pi.get('id')
+                )
+            except Exception:
+                logger.warning("search-index: could not enumerate plugins", exc_info=True)
+
+        sig = tuple(plugin_ids)
+        if _SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE['sig'] == sig and _SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE['fields'] is not None:
+            return jsonify({'fields': _SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE['fields']})
+
+        fields = []
+        for tab, label, loader in core_tabs:
+            fields.extend(_extract_settings_fields(_partial_html(loader), tab, label))
+
+        for pid in plugin_ids:
+            info = pages_v3.plugin_manager.get_plugin_info(pid) or {}
+            label = info.get('name', pid)
+            html = _partial_html(lambda pid=pid: _load_plugin_config_partial(pid))
+            fields.extend(_extract_settings_fields(html, pid, label))
+
+        _SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE['sig'] = sig
+        _SEARCH_INDEX_CACHE['fields'] = fields
+        return jsonify({'fields': fields})
+    except Exception:
+        logger.error("Error building settings search index", exc_info=True)
+        return jsonify({'fields': []}), 500
+
+
 @pages_v3.route('/plugin-ui/<plugin_id>/web-ui/<path:filename>')
 def serve_plugin_web_ui(plugin_id, filename):
     """Serve a plugin's web_ui/ HTML fragment as a standalone page.

web_interface/static/v3/app.css

@@ -766,6 +766,153 @@ button.bg-white {
     }
 }
 
+/* ============================================================================ */
+/* Settings tooltips (help_tip macro + tooltips.js)                             */
+/* ============================================================================ */
+
+/* The (i) info trigger placed next to a setting label. */
+.help-tip {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    width: 1.15rem;
+    height: 1.15rem;
+    margin-left: 0.375rem;
+    padding: 0;
+    border: none;
+    background: transparent;
+    color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+    font-size: 0.8125rem;
+    line-height: 1;
+    cursor: help;
+    vertical-align: middle;
+    border-radius: 9999px;
+    transition: color 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+.help-tip:hover,
+.help-tip:focus-visible {
+    color: var(--color-primary);
+}
+
+.help-tip:focus-visible {
+    outline: 2px solid var(--color-primary);
+    outline-offset: 2px;
+}
+
+/* Singleton tooltip panel appended to <body> by tooltips.js. */
+#ledm-tooltip {
+    position: fixed;
+    z-index: 1000;
+    max-width: 20rem;
+    padding: 0.5rem 0.75rem;
+    background: var(--color-surface);
+    color: var(--color-text-secondary);
+    border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
+    font-size: 0.8125rem;
+    line-height: 1.45;
+    white-space: pre-line; /* renders authored "\n" line breaks */
+    pointer-events: none;  /* never steals hover/click from the page */
+    animation: tooltipFade 0.12s ease;
+}
+
+#ledm-tooltip[hidden] {
+    display: none;
+}
+
+@keyframes tooltipFade {
+    from { opacity: 0; }
+    to { opacity: 1; }
+}
+
+/* ============================================================================ */
+/* Settings search — global header dropdown + per-tab filter                    */
+/* ============================================================================ */
+
+#settings-search-results {
+    background: var(--color-surface);
+    border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow-lg);
+    z-index: 50;
+    padding: 0.25rem;
+    max-height: min(60vh, 24rem);
+    overflow-y: auto;
+}
+
+.ssr-group {
+    padding: 0.375rem 0.625rem 0.25rem;
+    font-size: 0.6875rem;
+    font-weight: 700;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    letter-spacing: 0.04em;
+    color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+    position: sticky;
+    top: 0;
+    background: var(--color-surface);
+}
+
+.ssr-option {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    width: 100%;
+    text-align: left;
+    padding: 0.4rem 0.625rem;
+    border: none;
+    background: transparent;
+    border-radius: 0.375rem;
+    cursor: pointer;
+    color: var(--color-text-primary);
+}
+
+.ssr-option:hover,
+.ssr-option.active {
+    background: var(--color-info-bg);
+}
+
+.ssr-label {
+    font-size: 0.875rem;
+    font-weight: 500;
+}
+
+.ssr-help {
+    font-size: 0.75rem;
+    color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+    overflow: hidden;
+    text-overflow: ellipsis;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+    max-width: 100%;
+}
+
+.ssr-empty {
+    padding: 0.75rem 0.625rem;
+    font-size: 0.8125rem;
+    color: var(--color-text-tertiary);
+}
+
+/* Flash highlight applied to a field after search navigation. */
+@keyframes settingFlash {
+    0% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(37, 99, 235, 0); }
+    25% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 3px var(--color-primary); }
+    100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(37, 99, 235, 0); }
+}
+
+.setting-flash {
+    animation: settingFlash 1.4s ease;
+    border-radius: 0.5rem;
+}
+
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+    #ledm-tooltip { animation: none; }
+    .setting-flash {
+        animation: none;
+        outline: 2px solid var(--color-primary);
+        outline-offset: 2px;
+    }
+}
+
 /* Removed .divider and .divider-light - not used anywhere */
 
 /* Enhanced Spacing Utilities - Only unique classes not in main utility section */

web_interface/static/v3/js/plugins/api_client.js

@@ -340,11 +340,25 @@ const PluginAPI = {
      * @returns {Promise<Object>} Health data
      */
     async getPluginHealth(pluginId = null) {
-        const endpoint = pluginId 
+        const endpoint = pluginId
             ? `/plugins/health/${pluginId}`
             : '/plugins/health';
         const response = await this.request(endpoint);
         return response.data || {};
+    },
+
+    /**
+     * Get plugin resource metrics (execution time, memory, cpu).
+     *
+     * @param {string} pluginId - Optional plugin identifier (null for all)
+     * @returns {Promise<Object>} Metrics data keyed by plugin id
+     */
+    async getPluginMetrics(pluginId = null) {
+        const endpoint = pluginId
+            ? `/plugins/metrics/${pluginId}`
+            : '/plugins/metrics';
+        const response = await this.request(endpoint);
+        return response.data || {};
     }
 };
 

web_interface/static/v3/js/settings-search.js

@@ -0,0 +1,477 @@
+/*
+ * settings-search.js — global settings search + per-tab filter for the v3 UI.
+ *
+ * Two features share one lightweight index built from the same markup the
+ * tooltip work standardizes (.form-group[id^="setting-"] + <label> +
+ * .help-tip[data-tooltip]), so it can never drift from what is rendered:
+ *
+ *   1. Global search (header box): finds settings across ALL tabs, even ones
+ *      not yet opened, by fetching a single server-side JSON index
+ *      (/v3/settings/search-index) built from all rendered partials.
+ *      Clicking a result switches to the tab, waits for the field to load,
+ *      then scrolls to and flashes it.
+ *   2. Per-tab filter (the .settings-filter box under a partial title):
+ *      hides non-matching fields on the current tab. Delegated, so it keeps
+ *      working across HTMX swaps.
+ *
+ * The server owns index generation (including plugin enumeration) and caches
+ * it per installed-plugin set, so the client makes exactly one JSON request.
+ */
+(function () {
+    'use strict';
+
+    if (window._settingsSearchInit) return;
+    window._settingsSearchInit = true;
+
+    var MAX_RESULTS = 25;
+
+    function debounce(fn, ms) {
+        var t;
+        return function () {
+            var args = arguments, ctx = this;
+            clearTimeout(t);
+            t = setTimeout(function () { fn.apply(ctx, args); }, ms);
+        };
+    }
+
+    // True when every search term is present in the haystack.
+    function termsMatch(hay, terms) {
+        return terms.every(function (t) { return hay.indexOf(t) !== -1; });
+    }
+
+    function textOf(el) {
+        return (el && el.textContent ? el.textContent : '').replace(/\s+/g, ' ').trim();
+    }
+
+    // --- Index building -------------------------------------------------------
+
+    var buildPromise = null;
+
+    // Fetch the prebuilt index from the server (one literal-URL JSON request)
+    // and cache it for the session. Each entry gets a lowercased `hay` haystack
+    // for matching. The server owns which tabs/plugins are included.
+    function buildIndex(force) {
+        if (window._settingsIndex && !force) return Promise.resolve(window._settingsIndex);
+        if (buildPromise && !force) return buildPromise;
+
+        buildPromise = fetch('/v3/settings/search-index', { headers: { 'X-Requested-With': 'settings-search' } })
+            .then(function (r) { return r.ok ? r.json() : { fields: [] }; })
+            .then(function (data) {
+                var fields = (data && data.fields) || [];
+                fields.forEach(function (f) {
+                    f.hay = [f.label, f.help, f.key, f.tabLabel, f.section].join(' ').toLowerCase();
+                });
+                window._settingsIndex = fields;
+                return fields;
+            })
+            .catch(function () {
+                // Don't cache the failure: clear the in-flight promise so a
+                // later call can retry after a transient fetch error.
+                buildPromise = null;
+                return [];
+            });
+        return buildPromise;
+    }
+
+    // --- Global search UI -----------------------------------------------------
+
+    var input = null, resultsBox = null, activeIndex = -1, currentResults = [];
+
+    function search(q) {
+        q = q.trim().toLowerCase();
+        if (!q) return [];
+        var terms = q.split(/\s+/);
+        var out = [];
+        (window._settingsIndex || []).some(function (entry) {
+            if (termsMatch(entry.hay, terms)) out.push(entry);
+            return out.length >= MAX_RESULTS; // stop once we have enough
+        });
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    function span(cls, text) {
+        var s = document.createElement('span');
+        s.className = cls;
+        s.textContent = text;
+        return s;
+    }
+
+    // Build the dropdown with DOM nodes + textContent (never innerHTML) so
+    // setting labels/help can never be interpreted as markup.
+    function renderResults(results) {
+        currentResults = results;
+        activeIndex = -1;
+        resultsBox.textContent = '';
+        if (!results.length) {
+            resultsBox.appendChild(span('ssr-empty', 'No settings found.'));
+            openResults();
+            return;
+        }
+        var lastTab = null;
+        results.forEach(function (r, i) {
+            if (r.tabLabel !== lastTab) {
+                const group = document.createElement('div');
+                group.className = 'ssr-group';
+                group.textContent = r.tabLabel;
+                resultsBox.appendChild(group);
+                lastTab = r.tabLabel;
+            }
+            var sub = r.section ? (r.section + ' · ') : '';
+            var snippet = r.help ? r.help.split('\n')[0] : '';
+            var opt = document.createElement('button');
+            opt.type = 'button';
+            opt.className = 'ssr-option';
+            opt.setAttribute('role', 'option');
+            opt.id = 'ssr-' + i;
+            opt.setAttribute('data-idx', String(i));
+            opt.appendChild(span('ssr-label', r.label));
+            var helpText = snippet ? (sub + snippet) : (sub ? r.section : '');
+            if (helpText) opt.appendChild(span('ssr-help', helpText));
+            resultsBox.appendChild(opt);
+        });
+        openResults();
+    }
+
+    function openResults() {
+        resultsBox.classList.remove('hidden');
+        // .hidden has no effect without a matching CSS rule (this app's stylesheet
+        // is a hand-picked utility subset, not full Tailwind) - force it directly,
+        // same as the revealNode/collapseNode fallback below.
+        resultsBox.style.display = '';
+        if (input) input.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'true');
+    }
+    function closeResults() {
+        resultsBox.classList.add('hidden');
+        resultsBox.style.display = 'none';
+        activeIndex = -1;
+        if (input) {
+            input.setAttribute('aria-expanded', 'false');
+            input.removeAttribute('aria-activedescendant');
+        }
+    }
+
+    function highlight(idx) {
+        var opts = resultsBox.querySelectorAll('.ssr-option');
+        opts.forEach(function (o) { o.classList.remove('active'); });
+        if (idx < 0 || idx >= opts.length) { activeIndex = -1; return; }
+        activeIndex = idx;
+        var el = opts.item(idx);
+        el.classList.add('active');
+        el.scrollIntoView({ block: 'nearest' });
+        input.setAttribute('aria-activedescendant', el.id);
+    }
+
+    // --- Navigation to a setting ---------------------------------------------
+
+    function getAppData() {
+        var appEl = document.querySelector('[x-data="app()"]') || document.querySelector('[x-data]');
+        if (!appEl) return null;
+        if (appEl._x_dataStack && appEl._x_dataStack[0]) return appEl._x_dataStack[0];
+        if (appEl.__x && appEl.__x.$data) return appEl.__x.$data;
+        return null;
+    }
+
+    function setActiveTab(tab) {
+        var data = getAppData();
+        if (data) { data.activeTab = tab; return true; }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    function waitForElement(id, timeout) {
+        return new Promise(function (resolve) {
+            var existing = document.getElementById(id);
+            if (existing) { resolve(existing); return; }
+            var host = document.getElementById('tab-content') || document.body;
+            var done = false;
+            var obs = new MutationObserver(function () {
+                var el = document.getElementById(id);
+                if (el && !done) {
+                    done = true;
+                    obs.disconnect();
+                    resolve(el);
+                }
+            });
+            obs.observe(host, { childList: true, subtree: true });
+            setTimeout(function () {
+                if (!done) { done = true; obs.disconnect(); resolve(document.getElementById(id)); }
+            }, timeout || 6000);
+        });
+    }
+
+    function isNodeHidden(node) {
+        return node.classList.contains('hidden') ||
+            (node.style && node.style.display === 'none') ||
+            window.getComputedStyle(node).display === 'none';
+    }
+
+    function revealNode(node) {
+        // toggleSection handles the class, inline display, and chevron.
+        if (node.id && typeof window.toggleSection === 'function') {
+            window.toggleSection(node.id);
+        } else {
+            node.classList.remove('hidden');
+            node.style.display = 'block';
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Re-collapse a nested section the filter previously opened. toggleSection is
+    // state-based, so only toggle while the node is actually visible.
+    function collapseNode(node) {
+        if (isNodeHidden(node)) return;
+        if (node.id && typeof window.toggleSection === 'function') {
+            window.toggleSection(node.id);
+        } else {
+            node.classList.add('hidden');
+            node.style.display = 'none';
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Reveal any collapsed nested section (from render_nested_section) so the
+    // target field is actually visible before we scroll to it.
+    function revealAncestors(el) {
+        var node = el.parentElement;
+        while (node && node !== document.body) {
+            if (node.classList && node.classList.contains('nested-content') && isNodeHidden(node)) {
+                revealNode(node);
+            }
+            node = node.parentElement;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Like revealAncestors, but tags each section we open so the per-tab filter
+    // can restore the original collapsed layout once the query is cleared.
+    function expandNestedFor(el) {
+        var node = el.parentElement;
+        while (node && node !== document.body) {
+            if (node.classList && node.classList.contains('nested-content') && isNodeHidden(node)) {
+                revealNode(node);
+                node.dataset.filterExpanded = '1';
+            }
+            node = node.parentElement;
+        }
+    }
+
+    function flash(el) {
+        el.classList.remove('setting-flash');
+        // force reflow so re-adding the class restarts the animation
+        void el.offsetWidth;
+        el.classList.add('setting-flash');
+        var clear = function () { el.classList.remove('setting-flash'); el.removeEventListener('animationend', clear); };
+        el.addEventListener('animationend', clear);
+    }
+
+    function navigateToSetting(entry) {
+        closeResults();
+        // Clear the box so it doesn't re-open stale results when refocused.
+        if (input) input.value = '';
+        setActiveTab(entry.tab);
+        waitForElement(entry.anchorId, 6000).then(function (el) {
+            if (!el) return;
+            revealAncestors(el);
+            // Let the tab transition settle before scrolling.
+            setTimeout(function () {
+                el.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'center' });
+                flash(el);
+            }, 60);
+        });
+    }
+
+    // --- Wire up the header search box ----------------------------------------
+
+    function initSearchBox() {
+        input = document.getElementById('settings-search');
+        resultsBox = document.getElementById('settings-search-results');
+        if (!input || !resultsBox) return;
+
+        // Warm the index in the background so the first search is instant.
+        var warm = function () { buildIndex().catch(function () {}); };
+        if ('requestIdleCallback' in window) {
+            requestIdleCallback(warm, { timeout: 4000 });
+        } else {
+            setTimeout(warm, 3000);
+        }
+
+        input.addEventListener('focus', function () {
+            buildIndex().then(function () {
+                if (input.value.trim()) renderResults(search(input.value));
+            });
+        });
+
+        input.addEventListener('input', debounce(function () {
+            var q = input.value;
+            if (!q.trim()) { closeResults(); return; }
+            // Focus may have left during the debounce (typed then clicked away);
+            // don't re-open a dropdown the user has already dismissed.
+            if (document.activeElement !== input) return;
+            buildIndex().then(function () {
+                if (document.activeElement === input) renderResults(search(q));
+            });
+        }, 200));
+
+        input.addEventListener('keydown', function (e) {
+            var opts = resultsBox.querySelectorAll('.ssr-option');
+            if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                if (resultsBox.classList.contains('hidden')) { renderResults(search(input.value)); return; }
+                highlight(Math.min(activeIndex + 1, opts.length - 1));
+            } else if (e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                highlight(Math.max(activeIndex - 1, 0));
+            } else if (e.key === 'Enter') {
+                const chosen = currentResults.at(activeIndex >= 0 ? activeIndex : 0);
+                if (chosen) {
+                    e.preventDefault();
+                    navigateToSetting(chosen);
+                }
+            } else if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+                closeResults();
+                input.blur();
+            }
+        });
+
+        resultsBox.addEventListener('mousedown', function (e) {
+            // mousedown (not click) so it fires before the input blur closes us
+            var opt = e.target.closest('.ssr-option');
+            if (!opt) return;
+            e.preventDefault();
+            const idx = parseInt(opt.getAttribute('data-idx'), 10);
+            const chosen = currentResults.at(idx);
+            if (chosen) navigateToSetting(chosen);
+        });
+
+        // Close when a click/tap lands outside the search widget. Capture phase
+        // (the `true`) runs on the way DOWN, before any bubbling stopPropagation
+        // from Alpine/HTMX/widget handlers can swallow the event — a plain
+        // bubble-phase document listener was being eaten and never closing us.
+        // pointerdown also covers touch (Raspberry Pi screen).
+        document.addEventListener('pointerdown', function (e) {
+            if (!input || resultsBox.classList.contains('hidden')) return;
+            var wrap = document.getElementById('settings-search-wrap');
+            var inside = wrap ? wrap.contains(e.target)
+                              : (e.target === input || resultsBox.contains(e.target));
+            if (!inside) closeResults();
+        }, true);
+
+        // Reliable dismiss: close shortly after focus leaves the box. Result
+        // selection uses mousedown + preventDefault (focus stays on the input),
+        // so this never fires on a result click; the guard covers focus landing
+        // in the results list (e.g. dragging its scrollbar).
+        input.addEventListener('blur', function () {
+            setTimeout(function () {
+                if (resultsBox && resultsBox.contains(document.activeElement)) return;
+                closeResults();
+            }, 120);
+        });
+
+        // A tab swap (including our own search navigation) should dismiss it.
+        document.body.addEventListener('htmx:afterSwap', closeResults);
+    }
+
+    // --- Per-tab filter (delegated) -------------------------------------------
+
+    function filterScope(input) {
+        // Return the nearest tab/content container, or null — never `document`,
+        // which would let the filter hide setting fields across unrelated tabs.
+        return input.closest('.plugin-config-tab') ||
+               input.closest('[id$="-content"]') ||
+               input.closest('.bg-white') ||
+               null;
+    }
+
+    function fieldHay(fg) {
+        var label = textOf(fg.querySelector('label'));
+        var tip = fg.querySelector('.help-tip');
+        var help = tip ? (tip.getAttribute('data-tooltip') || '') : '';
+        var key = fg.getAttribute('data-setting-key') || fg.id.replace(/^setting-/, '');
+        return (label + ' ' + help + ' ' + key).toLowerCase();
+    }
+
+    function applyTabFilter(scope, q) {
+        q = q.trim().toLowerCase();
+        var terms = q ? q.split(/\s+/) : [];
+        var fields = scope.querySelectorAll('.form-group[id^="setting-"]');
+        var anyVisible = false;
+
+        fields.forEach(function (fg) {
+            var show = !terms.length || termsMatch(fieldHay(fg), terms);
+            fg.style.display = show ? '' : 'none';
+            if (show) {
+                anyVisible = true;
+                // Expand any collapsed nested section holding this match so it
+                // is actually visible (plugin tabs default their sections shut).
+                if (terms.length) expandNestedFor(fg);
+            }
+        });
+
+        if (!terms.length) {
+            // Filter cleared: restore the sections we opened and un-hide every
+            // nested-section wrapper, leaving user-expanded sections untouched.
+            scope.querySelectorAll('.nested-content[data-filter-expanded]').forEach(function (nc) {
+                collapseNode(nc);
+                delete nc.dataset.filterExpanded;
+            });
+            scope.querySelectorAll('.nested-section').forEach(function (ns) { ns.style.display = ''; });
+        } else {
+            // Hide nested-section wrappers whose fields all filtered out.
+            scope.querySelectorAll('.nested-section').forEach(function (ns) {
+                var secFields = ns.querySelectorAll('.form-group[id^="setting-"]');
+                var visible = 0;
+                secFields.forEach(function (f) { if (f.style.display !== 'none') visible++; });
+                ns.style.display = (secFields.length > 0 && visible === 0) ? 'none' : '';
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Hide section headings whose settings all got filtered out. A visible
+        // nested-section (plugin tabs) counts as content for its parent heading,
+        // so a heading isn't hidden while a subsection below it still has matches.
+        var nodes = scope.querySelectorAll('h3, h4, .form-group, .nested-section');
+        var headings = [];
+        var current = null;
+        nodes.forEach(function (node) {
+            if (node.tagName === 'H3' || node.tagName === 'H4') {
+                current = { el: node, total: 0, visible: 0 };
+                headings.push(current);
+            } else if (current && node.matches('.form-group[id^="setting-"]')) {
+                current.total++;
+                if (node.style.display !== 'none') current.visible++;
+            } else if (current && node.classList.contains('nested-section')) {
+                current.total++;
+                if (node.style.display !== 'none') current.visible++;
+            }
+        });
+        headings.forEach(function (h) {
+            // Only auto-hide headings that exclusively group settings fields.
+            h.el.style.display = (terms.length && h.total > 0 && h.visible === 0) ? 'none' : '';
+        });
+
+        // Toggle the "no matches" note if the filter box provides one.
+        const wrap = scope.querySelector('.settings-filter-wrap');
+        if (wrap) {
+            const empty = wrap.querySelector('.settings-filter-empty');
+            if (empty) empty.classList.toggle('hidden', !(terms.length && !anyVisible));
+        }
+    }
+
+    document.addEventListener('input', function (e) {
+        var box = e.target.closest ? e.target.closest('.settings-filter') : null;
+        if (!box) return;
+        var scope = filterScope(box);
+        if (scope) applyTabFilter(scope, box.value);
+    });
+
+    // --- Boot -----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    if (document.readyState === 'loading') {
+        document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', initSearchBox);
+    } else {
+        initSearchBox();
+    }
+
+    // Expose for debugging / programmatic use.
+    window.LEDMatrixSettingsSearch = {
+        buildIndex: buildIndex,
+        navigateToSetting: navigateToSetting
+    };
+
+    console.log('[SettingsSearch] registered');
+})();

web_interface/static/v3/js/tooltips.js

@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+/*
+ * tooltips.js — accessible, delegated tooltip controller for the v3 web UI.
+ *
+ * A single controller handles every `.help-tip` trigger on the page, including
+ * ones inside partials that HTMX swaps in later, with zero per-field wiring.
+ * Triggers are emitted by the `help_tip` Jinja macro (partials/_macros.html) as
+ * <button class="help-tip" data-tooltip="..."><i class="fas fa-circle-info">.
+ *
+ * Behaviour:
+ *   - hover (mouse)            -> show / hide
+ *   - keyboard focus           -> show / hide (only for :focus-visible)
+ *   - click / tap              -> toggle (the touch path)
+ *   - Escape / outside click   -> hide
+ * The tooltip text is set via textContent (XSS-safe) and supports "\n" line
+ * breaks via CSS `white-space: pre-line`. Styling lives in app.css and uses the
+ * --color-* theme vars, so light/dark mode work automatically.
+ */
+(function () {
+    'use strict';
+
+    if (window._tooltipsInit) return;
+    window._tooltipsInit = true;
+
+    var panel = null;
+    var currentTrigger = null;
+
+    function getPanel() {
+        if (panel) return panel;
+        panel = document.createElement('div');
+        panel.id = 'ledm-tooltip';
+        panel.setAttribute('role', 'tooltip');
+        panel.hidden = true;
+        document.body.appendChild(panel);
+        return panel;
+    }
+
+    function positionPanel(trigger) {
+        var p = getPanel();
+        var margin = 8;
+        var rect = trigger.getBoundingClientRect();
+        var pw = p.offsetWidth;
+        var ph = p.offsetHeight;
+        var vw = document.documentElement.clientWidth;
+        var vh = document.documentElement.clientHeight;
+
+        // Prefer above the trigger; flip below if it would clip the top.
+        var top = rect.top - ph - margin;
+        var placedBelow = false;
+        if (top < margin) {
+            top = rect.bottom + margin;
+            placedBelow = true;
+        }
+        // Keep it on screen vertically as a last resort.
+        if (top + ph > vh - margin) top = Math.max(margin, vh - ph - margin);
+
+        // Center horizontally on the trigger, clamped to the viewport.
+        var left = rect.left + rect.width / 2 - pw / 2;
+        if (left < margin) left = margin;
+        if (left + pw > vw - margin) left = Math.max(margin, vw - pw - margin);
+
+        p.style.top = Math.round(top) + 'px';
+        p.style.left = Math.round(left) + 'px';
+        p.setAttribute('data-placement', placedBelow ? 'below' : 'above');
+    }
+
+    function show(trigger) {
+        var text = trigger.getAttribute('data-tooltip');
+        if (!text) return;
+        var p = getPanel();
+        p.textContent = text;
+        p.hidden = false;
+        // Measure after it is displayed, then position.
+        positionPanel(trigger);
+        trigger.setAttribute('aria-describedby', 'ledm-tooltip');
+        currentTrigger = trigger;
+    }
+
+    function hide() {
+        if (!panel) return;
+        panel.hidden = true;
+        if (currentTrigger) {
+            currentTrigger.removeAttribute('aria-describedby');
+            currentTrigger = null;
+        }
+    }
+
+    function triggerFrom(target) {
+        return target && target.closest ? target.closest('.help-tip') : null;
+    }
+
+    // --- Delegated listeners on document (survive HTMX swaps) ---
+
+    document.addEventListener('mouseover', function (e) {
+        var t = triggerFrom(e.target);
+        if (t) show(t);
+    });
+
+    document.addEventListener('mouseout', function (e) {
+        var t = triggerFrom(e.target);
+        if (!t) return;
+        // Ignore moves that stay within the same trigger.
+        var to = e.relatedTarget;
+        if (to && t.contains(to)) return;
+        if (currentTrigger === t) hide();
+    });
+
+    document.addEventListener('focusin', function (e) {
+        var t = triggerFrom(e.target);
+        if (!t) return;
+        // Only auto-show on keyboard focus, so a mouse/touch focus does not
+        // fight the click handler below.
+        var focusVisible;
+        try {
+            focusVisible = t.matches(':focus-visible');
+        } catch { // older browsers without :focus-visible
+            focusVisible = true;
+        }
+        if (focusVisible) show(t);
+    });
+
+    document.addEventListener('focusout', function (e) {
+        var t = triggerFrom(e.target);
+        if (t && currentTrigger === t) hide();
+    });
+
+    document.addEventListener('click', function (e) {
+        var t = triggerFrom(e.target);
+        if (t) {
+            // Prevent an enclosing <label> from toggling its control, and
+            // prevent form submission.
+            e.preventDefault();
+            e.stopPropagation();
+            if (currentTrigger === t && !getPanel().hidden) {
+                hide();
+            } else {
+                show(t);
+            }
+            return;
+        }
+        // Click anywhere else closes an open tooltip.
+        if (panel && !panel.hidden && !panel.contains(e.target)) hide();
+    });
+
+    document.addEventListener('keydown', function (e) {
+        if (e.key === 'Escape' && panel && !panel.hidden) hide();
+    });
+
+    // Reposition while visible; close when content is swapped out.
+    window.addEventListener('scroll', function () {
+        if (currentTrigger && panel && !panel.hidden) positionPanel(currentTrigger);
+    }, true);
+    window.addEventListener('resize', function () {
+        if (currentTrigger && panel && !panel.hidden) positionPanel(currentTrigger);
+    });
+    document.body.addEventListener('htmx:afterSwap', function () {
+        // The current trigger may have been removed by the swap.
+        if (currentTrigger && !document.body.contains(currentTrigger)) hide();
+    });
+
+    console.log('[Tooltips] controller registered');
+})();

web_interface/templates/v3/base.html

@@ -882,6 +882,25 @@
 
                 <!-- Connection status and theme toggle -->
                 <div class="flex items-center space-x-4">
+                    <!-- Global settings search -->
+                    <div class="relative hidden sm:block" id="settings-search-wrap">
+                        <input id="settings-search"
+                               type="text"
+                               role="combobox"
+                               aria-expanded="false"
+                               aria-autocomplete="list"
+                               aria-controls="settings-search-results"
+                               aria-label="Search settings"
+                               placeholder="Search settings…"
+                               autocomplete="off"
+                               class="form-control text-sm pl-8 pr-4 py-1.5 w-48 lg:w-64">
+                        <i class="fas fa-search absolute left-3 top-1/2 transform -translate-y-1/2 text-gray-400 text-xs" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+                        <div id="settings-search-results"
+                             role="listbox"
+                             aria-label="Settings search results"
+                             class="hidden absolute right-0 mt-1 w-80 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto"></div>
+                    </div>
+
                     <!-- Theme toggle -->
                     <button id="theme-toggle"
                             type="button"
@@ -4747,7 +4766,11 @@
 
     <!-- Custom v3 JavaScript -->
     <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='v3/app.js') }}" defer></script>
-    
+
+    <!-- Settings tooltips + settings search -->
+    <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='v3/js/tooltips.js') }}" defer></script>
+    <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='v3/js/settings-search.js') }}" defer></script>
+
     <!-- Modular Plugin Management JavaScript -->
     <!-- Load utilities first -->
     <script src="{{ url_for('static', filename='v3/js/utils/error_handler.js') }}" defer></script>

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/_macros.html

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+{# ============================================================================ #}
+{# Shared UI macros for the v3 web interface.                                    #}
+{#                                                                               #}
+{# Import at the top of a partial with:                                          #}
+{#   {% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}                               #}
+{#                                                                               #}
+{# These power the settings tooltips and the settings search feature:           #}
+{#   - help_tip(text, label): the (i) info icon whose hover/focus tooltip        #}
+{#       explains a setting. This replaces the old always-visible <p> help.      #}
+{#   - fg_id(tab, key): stable anchor id for a .form-group so global search      #}
+{#       can scroll to it (e.g. "setting-display-brightness").                   #}
+{#   - settings_filter(): the per-tab filter box shown under a partial title.    #}
+{# ============================================================================ #}
+
+{# Info (i) tooltip trigger placed next to a setting label.                      #}
+{# `text` supports "\n" line breaks (rendered via CSS white-space: pre-line).    #}
+{# Renders nothing when `text` is empty so callers can pass through schema data. #}
+{% macro help_tip(text, label='') -%}
+{%- if text -%}
+<button type="button" class="help-tip" data-tooltip="{{ text }}"
+        aria-label="{% if label %}Help for {{ label }}{% else %}More information{% endif %}">
+<i class="fas fa-circle-info" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+</button>
+{%- endif -%}
+{%- endmacro %}
+
+{# Stable anchor id for a settings field's .form-group wrapper. #}
+{% macro fg_id(tab, key) -%}setting-{{ tab }}-{{ key }}{%- endmacro %}
+
+{# Per-tab filter box. Place directly under a partial's <h2> title block. #}
+{# The delegated handler in settings-search.js scopes to the enclosing tab. #}
+{% macro settings_filter(placeholder='Filter these settings…') -%}
+<div class="settings-filter-wrap relative mb-6">
+<input type="text"
+class="settings-filter form-control text-sm pl-9 pr-4 py-2 w-full"
+placeholder="{{ placeholder }}"
+aria-label="Filter settings on this tab"
+autocomplete="off">
+<i class="fas fa-search absolute left-3 top-1/2 transform -translate-y-1/2 text-gray-400 text-sm" aria-hidden="true"></i>
+<p class="settings-filter-empty text-sm text-gray-500 mt-3 hidden">No settings match your filter.</p>
+</div>
+{%- endmacro %}

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/backup_restore.html

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="space-y-6" id="backup-restore-root">
 
     <!-- Security warning -->
@@ -70,12 +71,12 @@
 
                 <h3 class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 mt-4 mb-2">Choose what to restore</h3>
                 <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-2 text-sm text-gray-700">
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-config" checked> <span>Main configuration</span></label>
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-secrets" checked> <span>API keys (secrets)</span></label>
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-wifi" checked> <span>WiFi configuration</span></label>
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-fonts" checked> <span>User-uploaded fonts</span></label>
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-plugin-uploads" checked> <span>Plugin image uploads</span></label>
-                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-reinstall" checked> <span>Reinstall missing plugins</span></label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-config" checked> <span>Main configuration</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Restore config.json — display settings, schedules, location, and plugin configuration.', 'Main configuration') }}</label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-secrets" checked> <span>API keys (secrets)</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Restore config_secrets.json — your weather, sports, and other service API keys.\nLeave off if you prefer to re-enter keys by hand.', 'API keys') }}</label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-wifi" checked> <span>WiFi configuration</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Restore saved WiFi network names and credentials.', 'WiFi configuration') }}</label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-fonts" checked> <span>User-uploaded fonts</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Restore any custom fonts you uploaded via the Fonts tab.', 'User-uploaded fonts') }}</label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-plugin-uploads" checked> <span>Plugin image uploads</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Restore images and files that plugins let you upload (logos, backgrounds, etc.).', 'Plugin image uploads') }}</label>
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2"><input type="checkbox" id="opt-reinstall" checked> <span>Reinstall missing plugins</span>{{ ui.help_tip('After restoring, re-download any plugins that were installed in the backup but are missing now.', 'Reinstall missing plugins') }}</label>
                 </div>
 
                 <div class="mt-4 flex gap-2">

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/display.html

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
     <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
         <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Display Settings</h2>
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Configure LED matrix hardware settings and display options.</p>
     </div>
 
+    {{ ui.settings_filter('Filter display settings…') }}
+
     <!-- Hardware status banner: shown when display service is in fallback/simulation mode -->
     <div x-data="{ show: false, errorMsg: '' }"
          x-init="fetch('/api/v3/hardware/status').then(r => r.json()).then(d => {
@@ -37,8 +40,8 @@
             <h3 class="text-md font-medium text-gray-900 mb-4">Hardware Configuration</h3>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-4 2xl:grid-cols-4 gap-4 mb-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="rows" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Rows</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-rows" data-setting-key="display.hardware.rows">
+                    <label for="rows" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Rows{{ ui.help_tip('Number of LED rows on a single panel.\nCommon: 16, 32, or 64. Default: 32. Must match your panel.', 'Rows') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="rows"
                            name="rows"
@@ -46,11 +49,10 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="64"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Number of LED rows</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="cols" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Columns</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-cols" data-setting-key="display.hardware.cols">
+                    <label for="cols" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Columns{{ ui.help_tip('Number of LED columns on a single panel.\nCommon: 32 or 64. Default: 64. Must match your panel.', 'Columns') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="cols"
                            name="cols"
@@ -58,11 +60,10 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="128"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Number of LED columns</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="chain_length" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Chain Length</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-chain_length" data-setting-key="display.hardware.chain_length">
+                    <label for="chain_length" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Chain Length{{ ui.help_tip('How many panels are wired end-to-end in one chain.\nDefault: 2. Example: two 64×32 panels chained make a 128×32 display.', 'Chain Length') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="chain_length"
                            name="chain_length"
@@ -70,11 +71,10 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="24"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Number of LED panels chained together</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="parallel" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Parallel</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-parallel" data-setting-key="display.hardware.parallel">
+                    <label for="parallel" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Parallel{{ ui.help_tip('Number of separate chains driven in parallel from the HAT.\nDefault: 1. The Raspberry Pi supports up to 3 (some HATs allow more).', 'Parallel') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="parallel"
                            name="parallel"
@@ -82,13 +82,12 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="4"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Number of parallel chains</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="brightness" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Brightness</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-brightness" data-setting-key="display.hardware.brightness">
+                    <label for="brightness" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Brightness{{ ui.help_tip('Overall LED brightness (1–100%).\nLower is dimmer, higher is brighter. Recommended: 70–90 indoors, 90–100 in bright rooms.', 'Brightness') }}</label>
                     <div class="flex items-center space-x-2">
                         <input type="range"
                                id="brightness"
@@ -99,11 +98,10 @@
                                class="flex-1">
                         <span id="brightness-value" class="text-sm font-medium w-12">{{ main_config.display.hardware.brightness or 95 }}</span>
                     </div>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">LED brightness: <span id="brightness-display">{{ main_config.display.hardware.brightness or 95 }}</span>%</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="hardware_mapping" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Hardware Mapping</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-hardware_mapping" data-setting-key="display.hardware.hardware_mapping">
+                    <label for="hardware_mapping" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Hardware Mapping{{ ui.help_tip('How the LED panel is wired to the Pi.\nUse "Adafruit HAT PWM" for an Adafruit HAT/Bonnet with the PWM solder mod; "Adafruit HAT" without it; "Regular" for direct GPIO wiring.', 'Hardware Mapping') }}</label>
                     <select id="hardware_mapping" name="hardware_mapping" class="form-control">
                         <option value="adafruit-hat-pwm" {% if main_config.display.hardware.hardware_mapping == "adafruit-hat-pwm" %}selected{% endif %}>Adafruit HAT PWM</option>
                         <option value="adafruit-hat" {% if main_config.display.hardware.hardware_mapping == "adafruit-hat" %}selected{% endif %}>Adafruit HAT</option>
@@ -114,8 +112,8 @@
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="led_rgb_sequence" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">LED RGB Sequence</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-led_rgb_sequence" data-setting-key="display.hardware.led_rgb_sequence">
+                    <label for="led_rgb_sequence" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">LED RGB Sequence{{ ui.help_tip('Order the panel expects color channels in.\nChange this only if reds/greens/blues look swapped. Default: RGB.', 'LED RGB Sequence') }}</label>
                     <select id="led_rgb_sequence" name="led_rgb_sequence" class="form-control">
                         <option value="RGB" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('led_rgb_sequence', 'RGB') == "RGB" %}selected{% endif %}>RGB</option>
                         <option value="RBG" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('led_rgb_sequence', 'RGB') == "RBG" %}selected{% endif %}>RBG</option>
@@ -124,11 +122,10 @@
                         <option value="BRG" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('led_rgb_sequence', 'RGB') == "BRG" %}selected{% endif %}>BRG</option>
                         <option value="BGR" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('led_rgb_sequence', 'RGB') == "BGR" %}selected{% endif %}>BGR</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Color channel order for your LED panels</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="multiplexing" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Multiplexing</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-multiplexing" data-setting-key="display.hardware.multiplexing">
+                    <label for="multiplexing" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Multiplexing{{ ui.help_tip('Pixel-mapping scheme used by outdoor/specialty panels.\nLeave at 0 (Direct) for most indoor panels. Only change if the image is scrambled — try values until it looks right.', 'Multiplexing') }}</label>
                     <select id="multiplexing" name="multiplexing" class="form-control">
                         <option value="0" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('multiplexing', 0)|int == 0 %}selected{% endif %}>0 - Direct</option>
                         <option value="1" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('multiplexing', 0)|int == 1 %}selected{% endif %}>1 - Stripe</option>
@@ -154,21 +151,19 @@
                         <option value="21" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('multiplexing', 0)|int == 21 %}selected{% endif %}>21 - DoubleZMultiplex</option>
                         <option value="22" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('multiplexing', 0)|int == 22 %}selected{% endif %}>22 - P4Outdoor-80x40</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Multiplexing scheme for your LED panels</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="panel_type" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Panel Type</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-panel_type" data-setting-key="display.hardware.panel_type">
+                    <label for="panel_type" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Panel Type{{ ui.help_tip('Special initialization for panels with a specific driver chip (e.g. FM6126A, FM6127).\nLeave on Standard unless your panel stays blank or shows only the first pixel.', 'Panel Type') }}</label>
                     <select id="panel_type" name="panel_type" class="form-control">
                         <option value="" {% if not main_config.display.hardware.get('panel_type', '') %}selected{% endif %}>Standard</option>
                         <option value="FM6126A" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('panel_type', '') == "FM6126A" %}selected{% endif %}>FM6126A</option>
                         <option value="FM6127" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('panel_type', '') == "FM6127" %}selected{% endif %}>FM6127</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Special panel chipset initialization (use Standard unless your panel requires it)</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="row_address_type" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Row Address Type</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-row_address_type" data-setting-key="display.hardware.row_address_type">
+                    <label for="row_address_type" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Row Address Type{{ ui.help_tip('Row addressing scheme used by the panel.\nLeave at 0 (Default) unless your panel needs AB/ABC addressing — a wrong value shows a garbled or shifted image.', 'Row Address Type') }}</label>
                     <select id="row_address_type" name="row_address_type" class="form-control">
                         <option value="0" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('row_address_type', 0)|int == 0 %}selected{% endif %}>0 - Default</option>
                         <option value="1" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('row_address_type', 0)|int == 1 %}selected{% endif %}>1 - AB-addressed panels</option>
@@ -176,13 +171,12 @@
                         <option value="3" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('row_address_type', 0)|int == 3 %}selected{% endif %}>3 - ABC-addressed panels</option>
                         <option value="4" {% if main_config.display.hardware.get('row_address_type', 0)|int == 4 %}selected{% endif %}>4 - ABC Shift + DE direct</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Row addressing scheme — leave at Default (0) unless your panel requires a specific type</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="gpio_slowdown" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">GPIO Slowdown</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-gpio_slowdown" data-setting-key="display.runtime.gpio_slowdown">
+                    <label for="gpio_slowdown" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">GPIO Slowdown{{ ui.help_tip('Slows the GPIO signal so the panel keeps up.\nGuide: Pi 3 → 1–2, Pi 4 → 2–4, Pi 5 (PIO) → 1–3. Increase if the display shows garbage or flicker; in RIO mode higher values may improve performance.', 'GPIO Slowdown') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="gpio_slowdown"
                            name="gpio_slowdown"
@@ -190,22 +184,20 @@
                            min="0"
                            max="10"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Pi 3: 1&ndash;2 &middot; Pi 4: 2&ndash;4 &middot; Pi 5 PIO: 1&ndash;3. Increase if display shows garbage; in RIO mode higher values may improve performance.</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-rp1_rio" data-setting-key="display.runtime.rp1_rio">
                     <label for="rp1_rio" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">
-                        RP1 Backend <span class="text-xs text-gray-400 font-normal">(Pi 5 only)</span>
+                        RP1 Backend <span class="text-xs text-gray-400 font-normal">(Pi 5 only)</span>{{ ui.help_tip('Pi 5 RP1 coprocessor driver mode.\nPIO (0) is the default and uses less CPU. RIO (1) can push a higher refresh rate but inverts the GPIO Slowdown behavior. Ignored on Pi 3/4.', 'RP1 Backend') }}
                     </label>
                     <select id="rp1_rio" name="rp1_rio" class="form-control">
                         <option value="0" {% if main_config.display.get('runtime', {}).get('rp1_rio', 0)|int == 0 %}selected{% endif %}>0 &mdash; PIO (default, low CPU)</option>
                         <option value="1" {% if main_config.display.get('runtime', {}).get('rp1_rio', 0)|int == 1 %}selected{% endif %}>1 &mdash; RIO (higher throughput; slowdown inverted)</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Pi 5 RP1 coprocessor mode. Ignored on Pi 3/4.</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="scan_mode" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Scan Mode</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-scan_mode" data-setting-key="display.hardware.scan_mode">
+                    <label for="scan_mode" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Scan Mode{{ ui.help_tip('Order rows are refreshed in.\n0 = progressive (default), 1 = interlaced. Change only if you see banding or flicker on certain panels.', 'Scan Mode') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="scan_mode"
                            name="scan_mode"
@@ -213,13 +205,12 @@
                            min="0"
                            max="1"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Scan mode for LED matrix (0-1)</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="pwm_bits" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM Bits</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-pwm_bits" data-setting-key="display.hardware.pwm_bits">
+                    <label for="pwm_bits" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM Bits{{ ui.help_tip('Color depth per channel (1–11).\nHigher means smoother color but a lower refresh rate; lower means faster refresh with more banding. Default: 11 (this build defaults to 9).', 'PWM Bits') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="pwm_bits"
                            name="pwm_bits"
@@ -227,11 +218,10 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="11"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">PWM bits for brightness control (1-11)</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="pwm_dither_bits" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM Dither Bits</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-pwm_dither_bits" data-setting-key="display.hardware.pwm_dither_bits">
+                    <label for="pwm_dither_bits" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM Dither Bits{{ ui.help_tip('Time-dithering to gain apparent color depth (0–4).\nDefault: 0. Raising it can smooth gradients at the cost of a slightly lower refresh rate.', 'PWM Dither Bits') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="pwm_dither_bits"
                            name="pwm_dither_bits"
@@ -239,13 +229,12 @@
                            min="0"
                            max="4"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">PWM dither bits (0-4)</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="pwm_lsb_nanoseconds" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM LSB Nanoseconds</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-pwm_lsb_nanoseconds" data-setting-key="display.hardware.pwm_lsb_nanoseconds">
+                    <label for="pwm_lsb_nanoseconds" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">PWM LSB Nanoseconds{{ ui.help_tip('Base time for the least-significant color bit (50–500 ns).\nDefault: 130. Raising it can reduce flicker on some panels but lowers the maximum refresh rate.', 'PWM LSB Nanoseconds') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="pwm_lsb_nanoseconds"
                            name="pwm_lsb_nanoseconds"
@@ -253,11 +242,10 @@
                            min="50"
                            max="500"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">PWM LSB nanoseconds (50-500)</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="limit_refresh_rate_hz" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Limit Refresh Rate (Hz)</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-limit_refresh_rate_hz" data-setting-key="display.hardware.limit_refresh_rate_hz">
+                    <label for="limit_refresh_rate_hz" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Limit Refresh Rate (Hz){{ ui.help_tip('Caps the panel refresh rate (1–1000 Hz).\nDefault: 120. A steady cap reduces flicker in camera recordings and keeps timing consistent. Set higher or to the max your panel supports for the smoothest motion.', 'Limit Refresh Rate') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="limit_refresh_rate_hz"
                            name="limit_refresh_rate_hz"
@@ -265,7 +253,6 @@
                            min="1"
                            max="1000"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Limit refresh rate in Hz (1-1000)</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -276,7 +263,7 @@
             <p class="text-sm text-gray-600 mb-4">Show the same content on every panel in the chain &mdash; e.g. two 64&times;32 panels mirrored, or four panels as two identical screens. Rendered once and duplicated, so it adds no extra CPU. Takes effect after a display restart.</p>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-double_sided_enabled" data-setting-key="display.double_sided.enabled">
                     <label class="flex items-center gap-2">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                id="double_sided_enabled"
@@ -285,12 +272,12 @@
                                {% if main_config.display.get('double_sided', {}).get('enabled') %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Enabled</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Show the same content mirrored across every panel in the chain.\nRendered once and duplicated, so it adds no extra CPU. Takes effect after a display restart.', 'Double-Sided Enabled') }}
                     </label>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Mirror one screen across all panels.</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="double_sided_copies" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Copies</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-double_sided_copies" data-setting-key="display.double_sided.copies">
+                    <label for="double_sided_copies" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Copies{{ ui.help_tip('How many identical screens to split the panel area into (2–8).\nMust divide the panel evenly — e.g. 2 for a two-sided cube.', 'Copies') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="double_sided_copies"
                            name="double_sided_copies"
@@ -298,16 +285,14 @@
                            min="2"
                            max="8"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Number of identical screens. Must divide the panel evenly.</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="double_sided_axis" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Split Axis</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-double_sided_axis" data-setting-key="display.double_sided.axis">
+                    <label for="double_sided_axis" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Split Axis{{ ui.help_tip('Direction the display is divided into copies.\nHorizontal splits along the chained panels (side by side); Vertical splits along parallel chains (stacked).', 'Split Axis') }}</label>
                     <select id="double_sided_axis" name="double_sided_axis" class="form-control">
                         <option value="horizontal" {% if main_config.display.get('double_sided', {}).get('axis', 'horizontal') == 'horizontal' %}selected{% endif %}>Horizontal &mdash; chained panels (side by side)</option>
                         <option value="vertical" {% if main_config.display.get('double_sided', {}).get('axis', 'horizontal') == 'vertical' %}selected{% endif %}>Vertical &mdash; parallel chains (stacked)</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Horizontal splits the chain; vertical splits parallel outputs.</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>
@@ -317,7 +302,7 @@
             <h3 class="text-md font-medium text-gray-900 mb-4">Display Options</h3>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-disable_hardware_pulsing" data-setting-key="display.hardware.disable_hardware_pulsing">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="disable_hardware_pulsing"
@@ -325,10 +310,11 @@
                                {% if main_config.display.hardware.disable_hardware_pulsing %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Disable Hardware Pulsing</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Turn off hardware PWM pulsing.\nEnable this if the Pi audio is in use or you hear buzzing / see instability. Slightly increases CPU usage.', 'Disable Hardware Pulsing') }}
                     </label>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-inverse_colors" data-setting-key="display.hardware.inverse_colors">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="inverse_colors"
@@ -336,10 +322,11 @@
                                {% if main_config.display.hardware.inverse_colors %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Inverse Colors</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Invert every color the panel shows.\nDefault: off. Only needed for panels wired with inverted color logic.', 'Inverse Colors') }}
                     </label>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-show_refresh_rate" data-setting-key="display.hardware.show_refresh_rate">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="show_refresh_rate"
@@ -347,10 +334,11 @@
                                {% if main_config.display.hardware.show_refresh_rate %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Show Refresh Rate</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Overlay the live panel refresh rate on the display.\nUseful for tuning GPIO Slowdown and PWM settings; turn off for normal use.', 'Show Refresh Rate') }}
                     </label>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-use_short_date_format" data-setting-key="display.use_short_date_format">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="use_short_date_format"
@@ -358,6 +346,7 @@
                                {% if main_config.display.use_short_date_format %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Use Short Date Format</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Show dates in a compact form (e.g. 7/8 instead of July 8).\nHandy on narrow displays where space is tight.', 'Use Short Date Format') }}
                     </label>
                 </div>
             </div>
@@ -366,8 +355,8 @@
             <div class="mt-6 pt-4 border-t border-gray-300">
                 <h4 class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 mb-3">Dynamic Duration</h4>
                 <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                    <div class="form-group">
-                        <label for="max_dynamic_duration_seconds" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Max Dynamic Duration (seconds)</label>
+                    <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-max_dynamic_duration_seconds" data-setting-key="display.dynamic_duration.max_duration_seconds">
+                        <label for="max_dynamic_duration_seconds" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Max Dynamic Duration (seconds){{ ui.help_tip('Ceiling on how long a plugin may extend its own on-screen time (30–1800s).\nDefault: 180. Plugins with live content (e.g. a game in progress) can request extra time up to this limit.', 'Max Dynamic Duration') }}</label>
                         <input type="number"
                                id="max_dynamic_duration_seconds"
                                name="max_dynamic_duration_seconds"
@@ -375,7 +364,6 @@
                                min="30"
                                max="1800"
                                class="form-control">
-                        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Maximum time plugins can extend display duration (30-1800 seconds)</p>
                     </div>
                 </div>
             </div>
@@ -405,8 +393,8 @@
             <!-- Vegas Settings (shown when enabled) -->
             <div id="vegas_scroll_settings" class="space-y-4" style="{% if not main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('enabled', false) %}display: none;{% endif %}">
                 <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                    <div class="form-group">
-                        <label for="vegas_scroll_speed" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Scroll Speed (pixels/second)</label>
+                    <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_scroll_speed" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.scroll_speed">
+                        <label for="vegas_scroll_speed" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Scroll Speed (pixels/second){{ ui.help_tip('How fast the Vegas ticker scrolls (10–200 px/s).\nDefault: 50. Higher is faster but harder to read.', 'Scroll Speed') }}</label>
                         <div class="flex items-center space-x-2">
                             <input type="range"
                                    id="vegas_scroll_speed"
@@ -418,11 +406,10 @@
                                    class="flex-1">
                             <span id="vegas_scroll_speed_value" class="text-sm font-medium w-12">{{ main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('scroll_speed', 50) }}</span>
                         </div>
-                        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Speed of the scrolling ticker (10-200 px/s)</p>
                     </div>
 
-                    <div class="form-group">
-                        <label for="vegas_separator_width" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Separator Width (pixels)</label>
+                    <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_separator_width" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.separator_width">
+                        <label for="vegas_separator_width" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Separator Width (pixels){{ ui.help_tip('Blank gap inserted between each plugin block in the ticker (0–128 px).\nDefault: 32. Larger values make the boundary between plugins clearer.', 'Separator Width') }}</label>
                         <input type="number"
                                id="vegas_separator_width"
                                name="vegas_separator_width"
@@ -430,29 +417,26 @@
                                min="0"
                                max="128"
                                class="form-control">
-                        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Gap between plugin content blocks (0-128 px)</p>
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
                 <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                    <div class="form-group">
-                        <label for="vegas_target_fps" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Target FPS</label>
+                    <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_target_fps" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.target_fps">
+                        <label for="vegas_target_fps" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Target FPS{{ ui.help_tip('Frames per second the Vegas ticker aims to render.\nHigher = smoother scrolling but more CPU. Default: 125 (smoothest). Drop to 60/90 if the Pi runs hot.', 'Target FPS') }}</label>
                         <select id="vegas_target_fps" name="vegas_target_fps" class="form-control">
                             <option value="60" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('target_fps', 125) == 60 %}selected{% endif %}>60 FPS (Lower CPU)</option>
                             <option value="90" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('target_fps', 125) == 90 %}selected{% endif %}>90 FPS (Balanced)</option>
                             <option value="125" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('target_fps', 125) == 125 %}selected{% endif %}>125 FPS (Smoothest)</option>
                         </select>
-                        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Higher FPS = smoother scroll, more CPU usage</p>
                     </div>
 
-                    <div class="form-group">
-                        <label for="vegas_buffer_ahead" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Buffer Ahead</label>
+                    <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-vegas_buffer_ahead" data-setting-key="display.vegas_scroll.buffer_ahead">
+                        <label for="vegas_buffer_ahead" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Buffer Ahead{{ ui.help_tip('How many upcoming plugins to pre-render so the scroll never stalls.\nDefault: 2 (recommended). More uses extra memory; less saves memory but risks hitches.', 'Buffer Ahead') }}</label>
                         <select id="vegas_buffer_ahead" name="vegas_buffer_ahead" class="form-control">
                             <option value="1" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('buffer_ahead', 2) == 1 %}selected{% endif %}>1 Plugin (Less memory)</option>
                             <option value="2" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('buffer_ahead', 2) == 2 %}selected{% endif %}>2 Plugins (Recommended)</option>
                             <option value="3" {% if main_config.display.get('vegas_scroll', {}).get('buffer_ahead', 2) == 3 %}selected{% endif %}>3 Plugins (More buffer)</option>
                         </select>
-                        <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">How many plugins to pre-load ahead</p>
                     </div>
                 </div>
 
@@ -485,18 +469,17 @@
             </div>
 
             <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="sync_role" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Role</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-sync_role" data-setting-key="sync.role">
+                    <label for="sync_role" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Role{{ ui.help_tip('This unit\'s part in a two-display setup.\nStandalone = sync off. Set one Pi to Leader (drives the scroll) and the other to Follower (receives frames). Restart required after changing.', 'Sync Role') }}</label>
                     <select id="sync_role" name="sync_role" class="form-control" onchange="updateSyncUI()">
                         <option value="standalone" {% if main_config.get('sync', {}).get('role', 'standalone') == 'standalone' %}selected{% endif %}>Standalone (disabled)</option>
                         <option value="leader"     {% if main_config.get('sync', {}).get('role', 'standalone') == 'leader'     %}selected{% endif %}>Leader (drives scroll)</option>
                         <option value="follower"   {% if main_config.get('sync', {}).get('role', 'standalone') == 'follower'   %}selected{% endif %}>Follower (receives frames)</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Set Leader on one Pi, Follower on the other. Restart required after changing.</p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="sync_port" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">UDP Port</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-sync_port" data-setting-key="sync.port">
+                    <label for="sync_port" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">UDP Port{{ ui.help_tip('UDP port the two displays use to exchange frames (1024–65535).\nDefault: 5765. Must match on both Pis. If the ufw firewall is active, allow it with: sudo ufw allow ' ~ main_config.get('sync', {}).get('port', 5765) ~ '/udp', 'Sync UDP Port') }}</label>
                     <input type="number"
                            id="sync_port"
                            name="sync_port"
@@ -504,19 +487,14 @@
                            min="1024"
                            max="65535"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">
-                        Must match on both Pis. If ufw is active:
-                        <code class="text-xs bg-gray-200 px-1 rounded">sudo ufw allow {{ main_config.get('sync', {}).get('port', 5765) }}/udp</code>
-                    </p>
                 </div>
 
-                <div class="form-group" id="sync_position_group" style="display:none">
-                    <label for="sync_follower_position" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Position</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-display-sync_follower_position" data-setting-key="sync.follower_position" style="display:none">
+                    <label for="sync_follower_position" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Position{{ ui.help_tip('Which side of the leader this follower display sits on.\nSets whether this unit shows the left or right half of the extended scroll.', 'Follower Position') }}</label>
                     <select id="sync_follower_position" name="sync_follower_position" class="form-control">
                         <option value="left"  {% if main_config.get('sync', {}).get('follower_position', 'left') == 'left'  %}selected{% endif %}>Left of leader</option>
                         <option value="right" {% if main_config.get('sync', {}).get('follower_position', 'left') == 'right' %}selected{% endif %}>Right of leader</option>
                     </select>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Which side of the leader display this unit sits on.</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
 
@@ -795,7 +773,7 @@ if (typeof window.fixInvalidNumberInputs !== 'function') {
     function updateSyncUI() {
         const role = document.getElementById('sync_role').value;
         const bar = document.getElementById('sync_status_bar');
-        const posGroup = document.getElementById('sync_position_group');
+        const posGroup = document.getElementById('setting-display-sync_follower_position');
         if (role === 'standalone') {
             bar.classList.add('hidden');
             document.getElementById('sync_error_detail').classList.add('hidden');

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/durations.html

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
     <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
         <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Display Durations</h2>
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Configure how long each screen is shown before switching. Values in seconds.</p>
     </div>
 
+    {{ ui.settings_filter() }}
+
     <form hx-post="/api/v3/config/main"
           hx-ext="json-enc"
           hx-headers='{"Content-Type": "application/json"}'
@@ -15,9 +18,9 @@
 
         <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
             {% for key, value in main_config.display.display_durations.items() %}
-            <div class="form-group">
+            <div class="form-group" id="setting-durations-{{ key }}" data-setting-key="display.display_durations.{{ key }}">
                 <label for="duration_{{ key }}" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">
-                    {{ key | replace('_', ' ') | title }}
+                    {{ key | replace('_', ' ') | title }}{{ ui.help_tip('How long the ' ~ (key | replace('_', ' ')) ~ ' screen stays on before rotating to the next one, in seconds.\nRange: 5–600. Currently ' ~ value ~ 's.', key | replace('_', ' ') | title) }}
                 </label>
                 <input type="number"
                        id="duration_{{ key }}"
@@ -26,7 +29,6 @@
                        min="5"
                        max="600"
                        class="form-control">
-                <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">{{ value }} seconds</p>
             </div>
             {% endfor %}
         </div>

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/general.html

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
     <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
         <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">General Settings</h2>
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Configure general system settings and location information.</p>
     </div>
 
+    {{ ui.settings_filter() }}
+
     <form hx-post="/api/v3/config/main"
           hx-ext="json-enc"
           hx-headers='{"Content-Type": "application/json"}'
@@ -29,7 +32,7 @@
           class="space-y-6">
 
         <!-- Web Display Autostart -->
-        <div class="form-group">
+        <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-web_display_autostart" data-setting-key="web_display_autostart">
             <label class="flex items-center">
                 <input type="checkbox"
                        name="web_display_autostart"
@@ -37,15 +40,14 @@
                        {% if main_config.web_display_autostart %}checked{% endif %}
                        class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                 <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Web Display Autostart</span>
+                {{ ui.help_tip('Automatically start the web interface when the device boots.\nDefault: on. Turn off if you launch the web UI manually or run headless.', 'Web Display Autostart') }}
             </label>
-            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Start the web interface on boot for easier access.</p>
         </div>
 
         <!-- Timezone -->
-        <div class="form-group">
-            <label for="timezone" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Timezone</label>
+        <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-timezone" data-setting-key="timezone">
+            <label for="timezone" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Timezone{{ ui.help_tip('Time zone used for clocks, schedules, and time-based content.\nChoose the zone where the display physically lives so on/off schedules fire at the correct local time.', 'Timezone') }}</label>
             <div id="timezone_container" class="mt-1"></div>
-            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Select your timezone for time-based features and scheduling.</p>
         </div>
         <script>
         (function() {
@@ -80,8 +82,8 @@
 
         <!-- Location Information -->
         <div class="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-3 xl:grid-cols-3 2xl:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
-            <div class="form-group">
-                <label for="city" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">City</label>
+            <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-city" data-setting-key="location.city">
+                <label for="city" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">City{{ ui.help_tip('City used for weather, sunrise/sunset, and other location-based content.\nExample: Dallas.', 'City') }}</label>
                 <input type="text"
                        id="city"
                        name="city"
@@ -89,8 +91,8 @@
                        class="form-control">
             </div>
 
-            <div class="form-group">
-                <label for="state" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">State</label>
+            <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-state" data-setting-key="location.state">
+                <label for="state" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">State{{ ui.help_tip('State or region for your location.\nExample: Texas. Improves location-lookup accuracy.', 'State') }}</label>
                 <input type="text"
                        id="state"
                        name="state"
@@ -98,8 +100,8 @@
                        class="form-control">
             </div>
 
-            <div class="form-group">
-                <label for="country" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Country</label>
+            <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-country" data-setting-key="location.country">
+                <label for="country" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Country{{ ui.help_tip('Country code or name for your location.\nExample: US. Used with City and State for weather and geolocation.', 'Country') }}</label>
                 <input type="text"
                        id="country"
                        name="country"
@@ -115,7 +117,7 @@
 
             <div class="space-y-4">
                 <!-- Auto Discover -->
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-auto_discover" data-setting-key="plugin_system.auto_discover">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="auto_discover"
@@ -123,12 +125,12 @@
                                {% if main_config.get('plugin_system', {}).get('auto_discover', True) %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Auto Discover Plugins</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Scan the plugins directory for installed plugins each time the service starts.\nDefault: on. Leave on unless you manage plugins manually.', 'Auto Discover Plugins') }}
                     </label>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Automatically discover plugins in the plugins directory on startup.</p>
                 </div>
 
                 <!-- Auto Load Enabled -->
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-auto_load_enabled" data-setting-key="plugin_system.auto_load_enabled">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="auto_load_enabled"
@@ -136,12 +138,12 @@
                                {% if main_config.get('plugin_system', {}).get('auto_load_enabled', True) %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Auto Load Enabled Plugins</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Load every plugin marked enabled in the configuration at startup.\nDefault: on. Turn off to keep plugins installed but dormant.', 'Auto Load Enabled Plugins') }}
                     </label>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Automatically load plugins that are enabled in configuration.</p>
                 </div>
 
                 <!-- Development Mode -->
-                <div class="form-group">
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-development_mode" data-setting-key="plugin_system.development_mode">
                     <label class="flex items-center">
                         <input type="checkbox"
                                name="development_mode"
@@ -149,20 +151,19 @@
                                {% if main_config.get('plugin_system', {}).get('development_mode', False) %}checked{% endif %}
                                class="form-control h-4 w-4 text-blue-600 focus:ring-blue-500 border-gray-300 rounded">
                         <span class="ml-2 text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Development Mode</span>
+                        {{ ui.help_tip('Enable verbose logging and developer features for plugin debugging.\nDefault: off. Keep off for normal use — it increases log volume.', 'Development Mode') }}
                     </label>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-gray-600 text-sm">Enable verbose logging and development features for plugin debugging.</p>
                 </div>
 
                 <!-- Plugins Directory -->
-                <div class="form-group">
-                    <label for="plugins_directory" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Plugins Directory</label>
+                <div class="form-group" id="setting-general-plugins_directory" data-setting-key="plugin_system.plugins_directory">
+                    <label for="plugins_directory" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700">Plugins Directory{{ ui.help_tip('Folder (relative to the project root) where plugins are stored.\nDefault: plugin-repos. Only change this if you keep plugins in a custom location.', 'Plugins Directory') }}</label>
                     <input type="text"
                            id="plugins_directory"
                            name="plugins_directory"
                            value="{{ main_config.get('plugin_system', {}).get('plugins_directory', 'plugin-repos') }}"
                            placeholder="plugin-repos"
                            class="form-control">
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Directory where plugins are stored (relative to project root).</p>
                 </div>
             </div>
         </div>

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/plugin_config.html

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 {# Plugin Configuration Partial - Server-side rendered form #}
 {# This template is loaded via HTMX when a plugin tab is clicked #}
 
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
+
 {# ===== MACROS FOR FORM FIELD GENERATION ===== #}
 
 {# Render a single form field based on schema type #}
@@ -18,9 +20,8 @@
         {% if obj_widget == 'schedule-picker' %}
             {# Schedule picker widget - renders enable/mode/times UI #}
             {% set obj_value = value if value is not none else {} %}
-            <div class="form-group mb-4">
-                <label class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-1">{{ label }}</label>
-                {% if description %}<p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mb-2">{{ description }}</p>{% endif %}
+            <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-{{ field_id }}" data-setting-key="{{ full_key }}">
+                <label class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-1">{{ label }}{{ ui.help_tip(description, label) }}</label>
                 <div id="{{ field_id }}_container" class="schedule-picker-container mt-1"></div>
                 <input type="hidden" id="{{ field_id }}_data" name="{{ full_key }}" value='{{ (obj_value|tojson|safe)|replace("'", "&#39;") }}'>
             </div>
@@ -46,9 +47,8 @@
         {% elif obj_widget == 'time-range' %}
             {# Time range widget - renders start/end time inputs #}
             {% set obj_value = value if value is not none else {} %}
-            <div class="form-group mb-4">
-                <label class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-1">{{ label }}</label>
-                {% if description %}<p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mb-2">{{ description }}</p>{% endif %}
+            <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-{{ field_id }}" data-setting-key="{{ full_key }}">
+                <label class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-1">{{ label }}{{ ui.help_tip(description, label) }}</label>
                 <div id="{{ field_id }}_container" class="time-range-container mt-1"></div>
                 <input type="hidden" id="{{ field_id }}_data" name="{{ full_key }}" value='{{ (obj_value|tojson|safe)|replace("'", "&#39;") }}'>
             </div>
@@ -75,15 +75,11 @@
             {{ render_nested_section(key, prop, value, prefix, plugin_id) }}
         {% endif %}
     {% else %}
-        <div class="form-group mb-4">
+        <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-{{ field_id }}" data-setting-key="{{ full_key }}">
             <label for="{{ field_id }}" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-1">
-                {{ label }}
+                {{ label }}{{ ui.help_tip(description, label) }}
             </label>
-            
-            {% if description %}
-            <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mb-2">{{ description }}</p>
-            {% endif %}
-            
+
             {# Boolean - check for widget first #}
             {% if field_type == 'boolean' %}
             {% set bool_widget = prop.get('x-widget') or prop.get('x_widget') %}
@@ -1003,6 +999,7 @@
             {# Configuration Form Panel #}
             <div class="bg-gray-50 rounded-lg p-4">
                 <h3 class="text-md font-medium text-gray-900 mb-3">Configuration</h3>
+                {{ ui.settings_filter("Filter this plugin's settings…") }}
                 <div class="space-y-4 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto pr-2">
                     {% if schema and schema.properties %}
                         {# Use property order if defined, otherwise use natural order #}

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/schedule.html

@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
     <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
         <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Schedule Settings</h2>
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Configure when the LED matrix display should be active. You can set global hours or customize times for each day of the week.</p>
     </div>
 
+    {{ ui.settings_filter() }}
+
     <form id="schedule_form"
           hx-post="/api/v3/config/schedule"
           hx-ext="json-enc"
@@ -42,9 +45,9 @@
           class="space-y-6">
 
         <!-- Dim Brightness Level -->
-        <div class="bg-gray-50 rounded-lg p-4 mb-4">
+        <div class="form-group bg-gray-50 rounded-lg p-4 mb-4" id="setting-schedule-dim_brightness" data-setting-key="dim_schedule.dim_brightness">
             <label for="dim_brightness" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
-                Dim Brightness Level
+                Dim Brightness Level{{ ui.help_tip('Brightness the display drops to during dim hours (0–100%).\nApplies only while the display is on. Your normal brightness is currently ' ~ normal_brightness ~ '%.', 'Dim Brightness Level') }}
             </label>
             <div class="flex items-center space-x-4">
                 <input type="range"
@@ -59,7 +62,6 @@
                     {{ dim_schedule_config.dim_brightness | default(30) }}%
                 </span>
             </div>
-            <p class="mt-1 text-xs text-gray-500">Current normal brightness: {{ normal_brightness }}%</p>
         </div>
 
         <!-- Dim Schedule Picker Widget Container -->

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/tools.html

@@ -1,5 +1,23 @@
 <div class="space-y-6" id="tools-root">
 
+    <!-- System Diagnostics -->
+    <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
+        <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6 flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+            <div>
+                <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">System Diagnostics</h2>
+                <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Live CPU, memory, temperature, disk, and uptime for this Raspberry Pi.</p>
+            </div>
+            <button id="btn-diag-refresh" onclick="loadSystemDiagnostics()"
+                    class="shrink-0 inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-gray-700 bg-white hover:bg-gray-50">
+                <i class="fas fa-sync-alt mr-2"></i>Refresh
+            </button>
+        </div>
+
+        <div id="diag-panel" class="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 gap-4">
+            <div class="animate-pulse text-gray-400 col-span-full">Loading diagnostics…</div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- Git & Updates -->
     <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
         <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
@@ -123,6 +141,46 @@
         </div>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- Network Radio -->
+    <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
+        <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
+            <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Network Radio</h2>
+            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Turn the WiFi radio on or off. Full WiFi setup (scan, connect, hotspot) lives on the <span class="font-medium">WiFi</span> tab.</p>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+            <div>
+                <p class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">WiFi radio</p>
+                <p id="wifi-radio-note" class="text-xs text-gray-500 mt-0.5">Checking current state…</p>
+            </div>
+            <div class="shrink-0 flex flex-col items-end gap-2">
+                <!-- Toggle switch -->
+                <button id="wifi-radio-toggle" type="button" role="switch" aria-checked="false"
+                        onclick="onWifiRadioToggleClick()" disabled
+                        class="relative inline-flex h-6 w-11 flex-shrink-0 cursor-pointer rounded-full border-2 border-transparent bg-gray-200 transition-colors duration-200 ease-in-out focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-blue-500 focus:ring-offset-2 opacity-60">
+                    <span id="wifi-radio-knob" aria-hidden="true"
+                          class="pointer-events-none inline-block h-5 w-5 transform rounded-full bg-white shadow ring-0 transition duration-200 ease-in-out translate-x-0"></span>
+                </button>
+
+                <!-- Force-off confirm row (shown only when disabling without Ethernet is refused) -->
+                <div id="wifi-radio-force-row" class="hidden flex-col items-end gap-2">
+                    <span class="text-xs text-red-700 font-medium text-right max-w-xs">No wired connection detected — turning WiFi off will disconnect you from this page. Continue anyway?</span>
+                    <div class="flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <button onclick="forceDisableWifiRadio()"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-transparent text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-white bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700">
+                            Turn WiFi off anyway
+                        </button>
+                        <button onclick="hideWifiForceRow()"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-gray-700 bg-white hover:bg-gray-50">
+                            Cancel
+                        </button>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+        </div>
+        <div id="result-wifi-radio" class="hidden"></div>
+    </div>
+
     <!-- Services -->
     <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
         <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
@@ -157,6 +215,100 @@
         </div>
     </div>
 
+    <!-- System Power -->
+    <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
+        <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6">
+            <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">System Power</h2>
+            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Reboot or shut down the Raspberry Pi. The web interface will go offline.</p>
+        </div>
+
+        <div class="space-y-4">
+            <!-- Reboot -->
+            <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+                <div>
+                    <p class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Reboot</p>
+                    <p class="text-xs text-gray-500 mt-0.5">Runs <code class="bg-gray-100 px-1 rounded">sudo reboot</code>. The Pi will restart and come back online in a minute or two.</p>
+                </div>
+                <div class="shrink-0 flex flex-col items-end gap-2">
+                    <button id="btn-reboot" onclick="showPowerConfirm('reboot')"
+                            class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-amber-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-amber-700 bg-white hover:bg-amber-50">
+                        <i class="fas fa-power-off mr-2"></i>Reboot…
+                    </button>
+                    <div id="reboot-confirm-row" class="hidden flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <span class="text-xs text-amber-700 font-medium">Reboot now?</span>
+                        <button onclick="powerAction('reboot_system', 'btn-reboot', 'result-reboot', 'Reboot command sent — the Pi is restarting. This page will go offline and should return in a minute or two.'); hidePowerConfirm('reboot')"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-transparent text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-white bg-amber-600 hover:bg-amber-700">
+                            Yes, reboot
+                        </button>
+                        <button onclick="hidePowerConfirm('reboot')"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-gray-700 bg-white hover:bg-gray-50">
+                            Cancel
+                        </button>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            <div id="result-reboot" class="hidden"></div>
+
+            <!-- Shutdown -->
+            <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4 pt-4 border-t border-gray-100">
+                <div>
+                    <p class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">Shut down</p>
+                    <p class="text-xs text-gray-500 mt-0.5">Runs <code class="bg-gray-100 px-1 rounded">sudo poweroff</code>. The Pi will power off and must be unplugged/replugged (or power-cycled) to turn back on.</p>
+                </div>
+                <div class="shrink-0 flex flex-col items-end gap-2">
+                    <button id="btn-shutdown" onclick="showPowerConfirm('shutdown')"
+                            class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-red-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-red-700 bg-white hover:bg-red-50">
+                        <i class="fas fa-plug mr-2"></i>Shut Down…
+                    </button>
+                    <div id="shutdown-confirm-row" class="hidden flex items-center gap-2">
+                        <span class="text-xs text-red-700 font-medium">Power off now?</span>
+                        <button onclick="powerAction('shutdown_system', 'btn-shutdown', 'result-shutdown', 'Shutdown command sent — the Pi is powering off. You will need to power-cycle it to turn it back on.'); hidePowerConfirm('shutdown')"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-transparent text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-white bg-red-600 hover:bg-red-700">
+                            Yes, shut down
+                        </button>
+                        <button onclick="hidePowerConfirm('shutdown')"
+                                class="inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-gray-700 bg-white hover:bg-gray-50">
+                            Cancel
+                        </button>
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>
+            <div id="result-shutdown" class="hidden"></div>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Plugin Health -->
+    <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6">
+        <div class="border-b border-gray-200 pb-4 mb-6 flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
+            <div>
+                <h2 class="text-lg font-semibold text-gray-900">Plugin Health</h2>
+                <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Circuit-breaker status and per-plugin update timings recorded by the display service. A plugin whose <code class="bg-gray-100 px-1 rounded">update()</code> keeps failing is paused ("Circuit open") and retried automatically after a cooldown.</p>
+            </div>
+            <button id="btn-plugin-health-refresh" onclick="refreshPluginHealth(true)"
+                    class="shrink-0 inline-flex items-center px-3 py-2 border border-gray-300 text-sm font-medium rounded-md text-gray-700 bg-white hover:bg-gray-50">
+                <i class="fas fa-sync-alt mr-2"></i>Refresh
+            </button>
+        </div>
+        <div id="plugin-health-message" class="hidden mb-4 text-sm text-gray-500"></div>
+        <div class="overflow-x-auto">
+            <table class="min-w-full divide-y divide-gray-200">
+                <thead class="bg-gray-50">
+                    <tr>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Plugin</th>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Status</th>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Avg update</th>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Max update</th>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Updates</th>
+                        <th class="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium text-gray-500 uppercase tracking-wider">Last error</th>
+                    </tr>
+                </thead>
+                <tbody id="plugin-health-tbody" class="bg-white divide-y divide-gray-200">
+                    <tr><td colspan="6" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-gray-500">Loading…</td></tr>
+                </tbody>
+            </table>
+        </div>
+    </div>
+
 </div>
 
 <script>
@@ -397,7 +549,290 @@
         });
     }
 
+    // ── system diagnostics panel ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+    // Reads the existing /api/v3/system/status JSON endpoint (10s cached) for
+    // richer metrics (disk, uptime, memory MB) than the SSE stats stream carries.
+
+    function diagTile(icon, iconColor, label, value, sub) {
+        return `
+            <div class="bg-gray-50 rounded-lg p-4">
+                <div class="flex items-center">
+                    <div class="flex-shrink-0"><i class="fas ${icon} ${iconColor} text-xl"></i></div>
+                    <div class="ml-3 w-0 flex-1">
+                        <dt class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-500 truncate">${escHtml(label)}</dt>
+                        <dd class="text-lg font-medium text-gray-900">${escHtml(value)}</dd>
+                        ${sub ? `<dd class="text-xs text-gray-400 mt-0.5">${escHtml(sub)}</dd>` : ''}
+                    </div>
+                </div>
+            </div>`;
+    }
+
+    window.loadSystemDiagnostics = function() {
+        const panel = document.getElementById('diag-panel');
+        if (!panel) return;
+
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/status')
+            .then(r => {
+                if (!r.ok) return r.json()
+                    .then(d => Promise.reject(d.message || `HTTP ${r.status}`))
+                    .catch(() => Promise.reject(`HTTP ${r.status}`));
+                return r.json();
+            })
+            .then(res => {
+                const d = (res && res.data) || {};
+                const mUsedGb = d.memory_used_mb != null ? (d.memory_used_mb / 1024).toFixed(1) : null;
+                const mTotGb  = d.memory_total_mb != null ? (d.memory_total_mb / 1024).toFixed(1) : null;
+                const temp    = d.cpu_temp != null ? d.cpu_temp + '°C' : 'N/A';
+                panel.innerHTML =
+                    diagTile('fa-microchip', 'text-blue-600', 'CPU Usage',
+                        (d.cpu_percent != null ? d.cpu_percent : '--') + '%', null) +
+                    diagTile('fa-memory', 'text-green-600', 'Memory',
+                        (d.memory_used_percent != null ? d.memory_used_percent : '--') + '%',
+                        (mUsedGb && mTotGb) ? `${mUsedGb} / ${mTotGb} GB` : null) +
+                    diagTile('fa-thermometer-half', 'text-red-600', 'CPU Temp', temp, null) +
+                    diagTile('fa-hdd', 'text-indigo-600', 'Disk',
+                        (d.disk_used_percent != null ? d.disk_used_percent : '--') + '%',
+                        (d.disk_used_gb != null && d.disk_total_gb != null) ? `${d.disk_used_gb} / ${d.disk_total_gb} GB` : null) +
+                    diagTile('fa-clock', 'text-purple-600', 'Uptime', d.uptime || '--', null) +
+                    diagTile('fa-desktop', d.service_active ? 'text-green-600' : 'text-gray-400',
+                        'Display Service', d.service_active ? 'Active' : 'Inactive', null);
+            })
+            .catch(err => {
+                panel.innerHTML = `<div class="col-span-full text-sm text-red-600">Diagnostics unavailable: ${escHtml(String(err))}</div>`;
+            });
+    };
+
+    // ── system power (reboot / shutdown) ──────────────────────────────────────
+    // Like toolsAction, but a dropped connection is the expected, successful
+    // outcome (the Pi is going down), so it is reported as info, not an error.
+
+    window.powerAction = function(action, btnId, resultId, offlineMsg) {
+        setBusy(btnId, true);
+        const el = document.getElementById(resultId);
+        if (el) el.classList.add('hidden');
+
+        fetch('/api/v3/system/action', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
+            body: JSON.stringify({action})
+        })
+        .then(r => r.json().catch(() => ({status: 'success'})))
+        .then(data => {
+            if (data.status === 'error') {
+                showResult(resultId, false, data.message || 'Command failed');
+            } else {
+                showResult(resultId, true, offlineMsg);
+            }
+        })
+        .catch(() => {
+            // Connection dropped mid-request — expected when the Pi reboots/powers off.
+            showResult(resultId, true, offlineMsg);
+        })
+        .finally(() => setBusy(btnId, false));
+    };
+
+    window.showPowerConfirm = function(kind) {
+        document.getElementById(kind + '-confirm-row').classList.remove('hidden');
+        document.getElementById('btn-' + kind).classList.add('hidden');
+    };
+    window.hidePowerConfirm = function(kind) {
+        document.getElementById(kind + '-confirm-row').classList.add('hidden');
+        document.getElementById('btn-' + kind).classList.remove('hidden');
+    };
+
+    // ── WiFi radio toggle ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+    function renderWifiRadio(state) {
+        const toggle = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-toggle');
+        const knob   = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-knob');
+        const note   = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-note');
+        if (!toggle || !knob || !note) return;
+
+        const setKnob = (on) => {
+            if (on) {
+                knob.classList.remove('translate-x-0'); knob.classList.add('translate-x-5');
+                toggle.classList.remove('bg-gray-200'); toggle.classList.add('bg-blue-600');
+            } else {
+                knob.classList.remove('translate-x-5'); knob.classList.add('translate-x-0');
+                toggle.classList.remove('bg-blue-600'); toggle.classList.add('bg-gray-200');
+            }
+        };
+
+        if (!state || state.available === false) {
+            toggle.disabled = true;
+            toggle.classList.add('opacity-60');
+            toggle.setAttribute('aria-checked', 'false');
+            setKnob(false);
+            note.textContent = 'WiFi radio control is not available on this system (nmcli not found).';
+            note.className = 'text-xs text-gray-500 mt-0.5';
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const on = state.enabled === true;
+        toggle.disabled = false;
+        toggle.classList.remove('opacity-60');
+        toggle.setAttribute('aria-checked', on ? 'true' : 'false');
+        setKnob(on);
+        const eth = state.ethernet_connected
+            ? 'Wired connection detected — safe to turn WiFi off.'
+            : 'No wired connection — turning WiFi off will disconnect this page.';
+        note.textContent = `Radio is ${on ? 'on' : 'off'}. ${eth}`;
+        note.className = 'text-xs mt-0.5 ' + (state.ethernet_connected ? 'text-gray-500' : 'text-amber-600');
+    }
+
+    window.loadWifiRadio = function() {
+        fetch('/api/v3/wifi/radio')
+            .then(r => r.json())
+            .then(res => renderWifiRadio(res && res.data))
+            .catch(() => renderWifiRadio(null));
+    };
+
+    window.onWifiRadioToggleClick = function() {
+        const toggle = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-toggle');
+        if (!toggle || toggle.disabled) return;
+        const currentlyOn = toggle.getAttribute('aria-checked') === 'true';
+        setWifiRadio(!currentlyOn, false);
+    };
+
+    function setWifiRadio(enabled, force) {
+        const toggle = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-toggle');
+        const resultEl = document.getElementById('result-wifi-radio');
+        if (toggle) toggle.disabled = true;
+        if (resultEl) resultEl.classList.add('hidden');
+        hideWifiForceRow();
+
+        fetch('/api/v3/wifi/radio', {
+            method: 'POST',
+            headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},
+            body: JSON.stringify({enabled, force})
+        })
+        .then(r => r.json().then(d => ({ok: r.ok, d})))
+        .then(({ok, d}) => {
+            if (ok && d.status === 'success') {
+                if (d.data) renderWifiRadio(d.data); else window.loadWifiRadio();
+                showResult('result-wifi-radio', true, d.message || 'Done');
+            } else if (!enabled && !force && d.reason === 'no_ethernet') {
+                // Disable refused for safety (no wired fallback) — offer the force path.
+                showWifiForceRow();
+                window.loadWifiRadio();
+            } else {
+                showResult('result-wifi-radio', false, d.message || 'Failed to change WiFi radio.');
+                window.loadWifiRadio();
+            }
+        })
+        .catch(err => {
+            showResult('result-wifi-radio', false, 'Request failed: ' + err.message);
+            window.loadWifiRadio();
+        })
+        .finally(() => { if (toggle) toggle.disabled = false; });
+    }
+
+    window.forceDisableWifiRadio = function() {
+        hideWifiForceRow();
+        setWifiRadio(false, true);
+    };
+
+    function showWifiForceRow() {
+        const row = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-force-row');
+        if (row) { row.classList.remove('hidden'); row.classList.add('flex'); }
+    }
+    window.hideWifiForceRow = function() {
+        const row = document.getElementById('wifi-radio-force-row');
+        if (row) { row.classList.add('hidden'); row.classList.remove('flex'); }
+    };
+
+    // ── plugin health panel ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+    function phEscape(s) {
+        return String(s).replace(/[&<>"']/g, function (c) {
+            return { '&': '&amp;', '<': '&lt;', '>': '&gt;', '"': '&quot;', "'": '&#39;' }[c];
+        });
+    }
+    function phFmtSecs(v) {
+        if (typeof v !== 'number' || !isFinite(v)) return '—';
+        return v.toFixed(3) + 's';
+    }
+    function phStatus(h) {
+        if (!h) return { label: 'Unknown', cls: 'warning' };
+        if (h.circuit_state === 'open') return { label: 'Circuit open', cls: 'error' };
+        if (h.circuit_state === 'half_open') return { label: 'Recovering', cls: 'warning' };
+        if (h.degraded) return { label: 'Degraded', cls: 'warning' };
+        if (h.is_healthy) return { label: 'Healthy', cls: 'success' };
+        return { label: 'Unknown', cls: 'warning' };
+    }
+    async function refreshPluginHealth(force) {
+        const tbody = document.getElementById('plugin-health-tbody');
+        const msg = document.getElementById('plugin-health-message');
+        if (!tbody || !window.PluginAPI) return;
+        try {
+            if (force && PluginAPI.clearCache) PluginAPI.clearCache();
+            const results = await Promise.all([
+                PluginAPI.getPluginHealth(),
+                PluginAPI.getPluginMetrics()
+            ]);
+            const health = results[0] || {};
+            const metrics = results[1] || {};
+            const ids = Array.from(new Set(Object.keys(health).concat(Object.keys(metrics)))).sort();
+            if (!ids.length) {
+                if (msg) {
+                    msg.textContent = 'No plugin health data yet — it appears once the display service has run plugins.';
+                    msg.classList.remove('hidden');
+                }
+                tbody.innerHTML = '<tr><td colspan="6" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-gray-500">No data</td></tr>';
+                return;
+            }
+            if (msg) msg.classList.add('hidden');
+            let rows = '';
+            ids.forEach(function (id) {
+                const h = health[id] || {};
+                const m = metrics[id] || {};
+                const st = phStatus(h);
+                const lastErr = h.degraded_reason || h.last_error || '';
+                const calls = (typeof m.call_count === 'number') ? m.call_count : '—';
+                const errCell = lastErr
+                    ? '<span title="' + phEscape(lastErr) + '">' + phEscape(lastErr) + '</span>'
+                    : '<span class="text-gray-400">—</span>';
+                rows += '<tr>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 whitespace-nowrap text-sm font-medium text-gray-900">' + phEscape(id) + '</td>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 whitespace-nowrap"><span class="status-indicator ' + st.cls + '">' + st.label + '</span></td>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 whitespace-nowrap text-right text-sm text-gray-600">' + phFmtSecs(m.avg_execution_time) + '</td>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 whitespace-nowrap text-right text-sm text-gray-600">' + phFmtSecs(m.max_execution_time) + '</td>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 whitespace-nowrap text-right text-sm text-gray-600">' + calls + '</td>' +
+                    '<td class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-red-600 max-w-xs truncate">' + errCell + '</td>' +
+                    '</tr>';
+            });
+            tbody.innerHTML = rows;
+        } catch (e) {
+            const emsg = (e && e.message) ? e.message : String(e);
+            tbody.innerHTML = '<tr><td colspan="6" class="px-4 py-6 text-center text-red-500">Failed to load plugin health: ' + phEscape(emsg) + '</td></tr>';
+        }
+    }
+    window.refreshPluginHealth = refreshPluginHealth;
+
     // Load on first render; HTMX will have already swapped us in by this point.
     loadGitInfo();
+
+    // Plugin health: initial load + periodic refresh. Guard against duplicate
+    // timers if this partial is re-swapped in by HTMX; the handler re-resolves
+    // DOM nodes by id each tick.
+    refreshPluginHealth(false);
+    if (!window._pluginHealthTimer) {
+        window._pluginHealthTimer = setInterval(function () { refreshPluginHealth(true); }, 15000);
+    }
+
+    // System diagnostics: load now, then refresh every 10s. Clear any prior
+    // interval so re-swapping the partial doesn't stack. The recurring poll is
+    // gated on visibility — the partial stays in the DOM (hidden via x-show)
+    // when another tab is active, so without this it would keep hitting
+    // /api/v3/system/status every 10s and churn the Pi while off-screen.
+    if (window._diagPollInterval) clearInterval(window._diagPollInterval);
+    window.loadSystemDiagnostics();
+    window._diagPollInterval = setInterval(function () {
+        const panel = document.getElementById('diag-panel');
+        if (!panel || document.hidden || panel.offsetParent === null) return;
+        window.loadSystemDiagnostics();
+    }, 10000);
+
+    // WiFi radio current state.
+    window.loadWifiRadio();
 })();
 </script>

web_interface/templates/v3/partials/wifi.html

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+{% import 'v3/partials/_macros.html' as ui %}
 <div class="bg-white rounded-lg shadow p-6" x-data="wifiSetup()" x-init="init(); loadStatus()">
     <!-- Captive Portal Banner (shown when AP mode is active) -->
     <div x-show="status.ap_mode_active" 
@@ -23,6 +24,8 @@
         <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Configure WiFi connection for your Raspberry Pi. Access point mode will automatically activate when no WiFi connection is detected.</p>
     </div>
 
+    {{ ui.settings_filter('Filter WiFi settings…') }}
+
     <!-- Current WiFi Status -->
     <div class="mb-6 p-4 bg-gray-50 rounded-lg">
         <h3 class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 mb-2">Current Status</h3>
@@ -73,9 +76,9 @@
         <h3 class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 mb-4">Connect to WiFi Network</h3>
         
         <!-- Network Selection -->
-        <div class="form-group mb-4">
+        <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-wifi-ssid" data-setting-key="wifi.ssid">
             <label for="wifi-ssid" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
-                Step 1: Select Network
+                Step 1: Select Network{{ ui.help_tip('Choose the WiFi network to join.\nClick Scan to list nearby networks, or type the name manually below if it is hidden.', 'Select Network') }}
             </label>
             <div class="flex gap-2">
                 <select id="wifi-ssid" 
@@ -98,7 +101,6 @@
                     <span class="ml-2">Scan</span>
                 </button>
             </div>
-            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">Scan for available networks or manually enter SSID below.</p>
             <!-- Show selected network -->
             <div x-show="selectedSSID" class="mt-2 p-2 bg-blue-50 border border-blue-200 rounded text-sm" x-cloak>
                 <i class="fas fa-check-circle text-blue-600 mr-2"></i>
@@ -107,9 +109,9 @@
         </div>
 
         <!-- Manual SSID Entry -->
-        <div class="form-group mb-4">
+        <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-wifi-manual_ssid" data-setting-key="wifi.manual_ssid">
             <label for="manual-ssid" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
-                Or Enter SSID Manually
+                Or Enter SSID Manually{{ ui.help_tip('Type a network name by hand when it is hidden or not shown in the scan results.\nExact spelling and capitalization matter.', 'Enter SSID Manually') }}
             </label>
             <input type="text" 
                    id="manual-ssid"
@@ -120,19 +122,15 @@
         </div>
 
         <!-- Password -->
-        <div class="form-group mb-4">
+        <div class="form-group mb-4" id="setting-wifi-password" data-setting-key="wifi.password">
             <label for="wifi-password" class="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 mb-2">
-                Step 2: Enter Password
+                Step 2: Enter Password{{ ui.help_tip('Password for the selected network.\nLeave empty if the network is open (no password required).', 'WiFi Password') }}
             </label>
-            <input type="password" 
+            <input type="password"
                    id="wifi-password"
                    x-model="password"
                    placeholder="Enter password (leave empty for open networks)"
                    class="form-control">
-            <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-gray-600">
-                <i class="fas fa-info-circle mr-1"></i>
-                Enter the WiFi password. Leave empty if the network is open (no password required).
-            </p>
         </div>
 
         <!-- Connect Button -->
@@ -154,14 +152,10 @@
         </p>
         
         <!-- Auto-Enable Toggle -->
-        <div class="mb-4 p-4 bg-gray-50 rounded-lg border border-gray-200">
+        <div class="form-group mb-4 p-4 bg-gray-50 rounded-lg border border-gray-200" id="setting-wifi-auto_enable_ap_mode" data-setting-key="wifi.auto_enable_ap_mode">
             <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-4">
                 <div class="flex-1">
-                    <label class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 block mb-1">Auto-Enable AP Mode</label>
-                    <p class="text-xs text-gray-600">
-                        When enabled, AP mode will automatically activate when both WiFi and Ethernet are disconnected.
-                        When disabled, AP mode must be manually enabled.
-                    </p>
+                    <label class="text-sm font-medium text-gray-900 block mb-1">Auto-Enable AP Mode{{ ui.help_tip('Automatically start access-point mode when both WiFi and Ethernet are disconnected, so you can always reach the device to reconfigure it.\nDefault: on. When off, AP mode must be enabled manually.', 'Auto-Enable AP Mode') }}</label>
                 </div>
                 <div class="flex-shrink-0">
                     <button type="button"