Files
LEDMatrix/test/test_scroll_helper_continuous.py
ChuckBuildsandClaude 7b6b7cd153 Sub-pixel scrolling: motion at the frame rate, not the pixel rate
With integer positioning the number of distinct frames per second equals the
scroll speed in px/s, however fast the loop renders. Measured at 50px/s and
78.7fps, 36% of frames were byte-identical: the extra frames cost work and
bought no motion, and what was left was 50 discrete 1px steps a second.

Two things were wrong with the pre-existing sub-pixel support. get_visible_portion
never consulted sub_pixel_scrolling — it always took the integer path, so the flag
and _get_visible_portion_subpixel were dead code. And that implementation needed
scipy.ndimage.shift, which is not installed on the target devices (HAS_SCIPY is
False there), so it would not have interpolated even if reached. Verified both:
positions 1000.0 and 1000.5 produced identical frames either way.

Blending is now wired up and implemented with numpy. Two details make it
affordable: slice cached_array directly instead of building two PIL images only
to convert them straight back (the naive version measured 15x the integer path),
and use fixed-point uint16 multiply-add rather than float32, which suits the Pi's
cores and gives finer weighting than the panel can resolve. Result 0.939ms
against 0.237ms — 0.70ms added per frame, a 1065fps ceiling.

Measured on hardware: 81.2 fps with blending on, against 78.7 with it off, so no
cost within noise — and every frame is now a distinct position rather than one in
three being a repeat.

The trade is a slight horizontal softening of text, since each frame blends two
positions. Set smooth_scroll false for maximum crispness.

Also benchmarked and cleared as non-issues: extending the strip costs 9.4ms on an
11,000px strip and trimming 2.5ms, both under one frame at this rate.

Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01KEZK1P1Q1fu5pcuVrkrCFZ
2026-07-29 15:14:41 -04:00

337 lines
13 KiB
Python

"""
Tests for ScrollHelper's continuous-strip primitives.
append_content extends the strip to the right without disturbing motion, and
drop_scrolled_prefix reclaims what has already gone past. Together they let a
caller keep one endless strip instead of swapping a new one in, which is what
shows as a flash and a hard cut to already-full-screen content.
"""
import numpy as np
import pytest
from PIL import Image
from src.common.scroll_helper import ScrollHelper
from src.vegas_mode.geometry import column_has_ink
W, H = 128, 32
def helper():
return ScrollHelper(W, H)
def block(width, colour=(255, 255, 255), height=H):
return Image.new('RGB', (width, height), colour)
class TestAppendContent:
def test_first_append_builds_the_strip(self):
sh = helper()
assert sh.append_content([block(100)], item_gap=0)
assert sh.cached_image is not None
assert sh.total_scroll_width == sh.cached_image.width
def test_strip_grows_by_content_plus_gaps(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(100)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
assert sh.cached_image.width == 100
sh.append_content([block(50)], item_gap=10, element_gap=0)
# one leading gap of 10 then the 50px block
assert sh.cached_image.width == 160
assert sh.total_scroll_width == 160
def test_scroll_position_is_preserved(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(400)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 137.0
sh.total_distance_scrolled = 137.0
sh.append_content([block(200)], item_gap=16)
assert sh.scroll_position == 137.0
assert sh.total_distance_scrolled == 137.0
def test_appending_defers_completion(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(200)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_complete = True
sh.append_content([block(200)], item_gap=0)
assert not sh.scroll_complete
assert sh.total_distance_scrolled < sh.total_scroll_width
def test_existing_pixels_are_untouched(self):
sh = helper()
original = block(80, (10, 200, 10))
sh.create_scrolling_image([original], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
before = sh.cached_image.crop((0, 0, 80, H)).tobytes()
sh.append_content([block(40, (200, 10, 10))], item_gap=8)
assert sh.cached_image.crop((0, 0, 80, H)).tobytes() == before
def test_appended_content_sits_after_the_gap(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(50)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.append_content([block(30)], item_gap=12)
ink = column_has_ink(sh.cached_image)
assert ink[:50].all()
assert not ink[50:62].any() # the 12px gap
assert ink[62:92].all()
def test_array_and_image_stay_consistent(self):
# get_visible_portion slices cached_array but bounds-checks against
# cached_image.width, so a mismatch corrupts frames.
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(200)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.append_content([block(100)], item_gap=8)
assert sh.cached_array.shape[1] == sh.cached_image.width
assert sh.cached_array.shape[0] == sh.cached_image.height
def test_visible_portion_still_renders_after_append(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(300)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.append_content([block(300)], item_gap=8)
sh.scroll_position = 250.0
frame = sh.get_visible_portion()
assert frame is not None and frame.size == (W, H)
def test_empty_append_is_a_no_op(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(100)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
assert sh.append_content([]) is False
assert sh.cached_image.width == 100
def test_repeated_appends_accumulate(self):
sh = helper()
sh.append_content([block(100)], item_gap=0)
for _ in range(5):
sh.append_content([block(100)], item_gap=0)
assert sh.cached_image.width == 600
class TestDropScrolledPrefix:
def test_removes_consumed_columns(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(1000)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 500.0
sh.total_distance_scrolled = 500.0
removed = sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0)
assert removed == 500
assert sh.cached_image.width == 500
assert sh.scroll_position == 0.0
def test_keeps_the_requested_margin(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(1000)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 500.0
sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=100)
assert sh.scroll_position == 100.0
assert sh.cached_image.width == 600
def test_completion_difference_is_preserved(self):
# total_distance_scrolled and total_scroll_width must shift together, or
# trimming would spuriously complete or un-complete the cycle.
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(1000)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 600.0
sh.total_distance_scrolled = 600.0
before = sh.total_scroll_width - sh.total_distance_scrolled
sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0)
assert sh.total_scroll_width - sh.total_distance_scrolled == before
def test_never_trims_below_the_viewport(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(200)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 190.0
sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0)
assert sh.cached_image.width >= W
def test_no_op_before_anything_has_scrolled(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(500)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
assert sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0) == 0
assert sh.cached_image.width == 500
def test_no_op_with_no_strip(self):
assert helper().drop_scrolled_prefix() == 0
def test_visible_frame_is_unchanged_by_trimming(self):
# The whole point: trimming is invisible. Same pixels on screen before
# and after. Position chosen so the viewport is well clear of the end,
# i.e. not wrapping.
sh = helper()
items = [block(200, (255, 0, 0)), block(200, (0, 255, 0)),
block(200, (0, 0, 255))]
sh.create_scrolling_image(items, item_gap=20, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 300.0
before = sh.get_visible_portion().tobytes()
assert sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0) > 0, "trim should have run"
after = sh.get_visible_portion().tobytes()
assert after == before
def test_refuses_to_trim_while_the_viewport_wraps(self):
# Wrapping reads the head of the strip into the right of the frame, so
# trimming the head there would visibly change the picture.
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(200)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 150.0 # 150 + 128 > 200, so wrapping
before = sh.get_visible_portion().tobytes()
assert sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0) == 0
assert sh.get_visible_portion().tobytes() == before
def test_array_and_image_stay_consistent_after_trim(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(900)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 400.0
sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=0)
assert sh.cached_array.shape[1] == sh.cached_image.width
class TestRemainingUnscrolled:
def test_counts_content_right_of_the_viewport(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(500)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
assert sh.remaining_unscrolled() == 500 - W
def test_shrinks_as_the_strip_scrolls(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(500)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 200.0
assert sh.remaining_unscrolled() == 500 - 200 - W
def test_never_negative(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(200)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 500.0
assert sh.remaining_unscrolled() == 0
def test_zero_with_no_strip(self):
assert helper().remaining_unscrolled() == 0
def test_grows_when_content_is_appended(self):
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(600)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
sh.scroll_position = 100.0
before = sh.remaining_unscrolled()
assert before > 0, "fixture should leave content ahead of the viewport"
sh.append_content([block(400)], item_gap=0)
assert sh.remaining_unscrolled() == before + 400
class TestContinuousScrollingEndToEnd:
def test_strip_can_be_extended_indefinitely_at_bounded_size(self):
"""The invariant that makes this viable: extend + trim keeps the strip
bounded while motion never stops."""
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([block(600)], item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
widths = []
for _ in range(20):
sh.scroll_position += 200
sh.total_distance_scrolled += 200
if sh.remaining_unscrolled() < 2 * W:
sh.append_content([block(600)], item_gap=16)
sh.drop_scrolled_prefix(keep_before=W)
widths.append(sh.cached_image.width)
# A frame must always be renderable.
assert sh.get_visible_portion() is not None
assert max(widths) < 3000, f"strip grew unbounded: max {max(widths)}"
assert not sh.scroll_complete, "continuous strip should never complete"
class TestSubPixelBlending:
"""
Integer positioning quantises motion to whole pixels, so distinct frames per
second equals scroll speed regardless of frame rate — at 50px/s and 78fps,
36% of frames were identical. Blending between neighbouring positions gives
motion at the frame rate instead.
"""
def _strip(self, width=2000):
rng = np.random.default_rng(0)
arr = (rng.random((H, width, 3)) * 255).astype(np.uint8)
sh = helper()
sh.create_scrolling_image([Image.fromarray(arr)],
item_gap=0, element_gap=0, lead_gap=0)
return sh
def _frame(self, sh, pos, subpixel):
sh.sub_pixel_scrolling = subpixel
sh.scroll_position = pos
return np.asarray(sh.get_visible_portion()).astype(int)
def test_integer_mode_ignores_the_fraction(self):
sh = self._strip()
a = self._frame(sh, 500.0, False)
b = self._frame(sh, 500.9, False)
assert np.array_equal(a, b), "integer positioning should not move sub-pixel"
def test_blending_moves_within_a_pixel(self):
sh = self._strip()
a = self._frame(sh, 500.0, True)
b = self._frame(sh, 500.5, True)
assert not np.array_equal(a, b)
def test_zero_fraction_matches_the_integer_frame(self):
# No interpolation to do, so it must be pixel-identical and take the
# cheap path.
sh = self._strip()
assert np.array_equal(self._frame(sh, 700.0, True),
self._frame(sh, 700.0, False))
def test_blend_is_monotonic_between_neighbours(self):
# Marching the fraction from 0 to 1 should approach the next integer
# frame, not wander.
sh = self._strip()
target = self._frame(sh, 501.0, False)
dists = []
for frac in (0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75):
f = self._frame(sh, 500.0 + frac, True)
dists.append(np.abs(f - target).mean())
assert dists == sorted(dists, reverse=True), f"not converging: {dists}"
def test_blend_endpoints_bracket_the_two_frames(self):
sh = self._strip()
near = self._frame(sh, 500.0, False)
far = self._frame(sh, 501.0, False)
mid = self._frame(sh, 500.5, True)
# Every blended pixel must lie between its two sources.
lo = np.minimum(near, far)
hi = np.maximum(near, far)
assert (mid >= lo - 1).all() and (mid <= hi + 1).all()
def test_output_size_and_mode_are_unchanged(self):
sh = self._strip()
sh.sub_pixel_scrolling = True
sh.scroll_position = 300.4
frame = sh.get_visible_portion()
assert frame.size == (W, H)
assert frame.mode == 'RGB'
def test_works_near_the_end_of_the_strip(self):
# One of the two slices wraps here; must not raise or missize.
sh = self._strip(width=600)
sh.sub_pixel_scrolling = True
sh.scroll_position = float(600 - W // 2) + 0.5
frame = sh.get_visible_portion()
assert frame is not None and frame.size == (W, H)
def test_works_at_the_very_last_column(self):
sh = self._strip(width=600)
sh.sub_pixel_scrolling = True
sh.scroll_position = 599.5
assert sh.get_visible_portion().size == (W, H)
@pytest.mark.parametrize("frac", [0.01, 0.1, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67, 0.9, 0.99])
def test_never_raises_across_the_fraction_range(self, frac):
sh = self._strip()
sh.sub_pixel_scrolling = True
sh.scroll_position = 400.0 + frac
assert sh.get_visible_portion().size == (W, H)