Files
LEDMatrix/docs/PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE.md
T
Claude 4808132436 docs: correct semantically stale content across the user and developer guides
A second-pass content audit checked the guides' substantive claims
against the code (the first pass only fixed mechanical drift). Fixes:

- GETTING_STARTED: described booting a prebuilt SD image and seeing
  default clock/weather plugins — neither exists. Now documents the real
  install (Pi OS Lite + one-shot installer / first_time_install.sh) and
  that displays come from the Plugin Store. Duration and ordering
  instructions moved to the Rotation tab where the controls actually
  live.
- WEB_INTERFACE_GUIDE: three whole tabs were undocumented (Rotation,
  Backup & Restore, Tools) and the Display tab's Vegas Scroll section
  was unmentioned. Fonts overrides are per display element (not per
  plugin); Logs has an Auto-scroll checkbox (not a Pause button); the
  aspirational keyboard-shortcut list and no-JS claim removed.
- TROUBLESHOOTING: the hand-written service-file template (wrong user,
  wrong ExecStart, dropped the autostart gate) replaced with the real
  systemd/ units + install scripts; recovery steps no longer copy
  placeholder units verbatim; WiFi curl endpoint corrected to /api/v3/;
  cache-clearing advice now targets the real cache locations.
- ADVANCED_FEATURES: removed a false claim that CacheManager has no
  delete(); fixed two example snippets that raise TypeError
  (BackgroundDataService and get_config_file_mode signatures); fixed
  cache paths, a 5-minute TTL that is actually 1 hour, and the vegas
  table now links the complete 26-key reference.
- EMULATOR_SETUP_GUIDE: documented run.py flags that don't exist
  (--plugin/--test-plugins) removed in favor of dev_server.py and
  check_plugin.py; shipped emulator config values corrected (browser
  adapter default on :8888, not pygame).
- PLUGIN_QUICK_REFERENCE: drag-and-drop reordering is shipped, not
  'not yet supported'; discovery-fallback and registry-repo claims
  corrected. PLUGIN_API_REFERENCE: get_vegas_segment_width returns
  panels, not pixels. CONTRIBUTING: the repo uses flake8/mypy/bandit
  pre-commit hooks, not black/ruff, and tests need requirements-test.txt.
- SKIN_SYSTEM/DEVELOPER_QUICK_REFERENCE: stale module paths.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01SXb4mKcAkVaxkeTb3YnAdr
2026-08-06 01:56:13 +00:00

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# Plugin API Reference
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)
- [Display Manager](#display-manager)
- [Cache Manager](#cache-manager)
- [Plugin Manager](#plugin-manager)
---
## BasePlugin
All plugins must inherit from `BasePlugin` and implement the required methods. The base class provides access to managers and common functionality.
### Available Properties
```python
self.plugin_id # Plugin identifier (string)
self.config # Plugin configuration dictionary
self.display_manager # DisplayManager instance
self.cache_manager # CacheManager instance
self.plugin_manager # PluginManager instance
self.logger # Plugin-specific logger
self.enabled # Boolean enabled status
```
### Required Methods
#### `update() -> None`
Fetch/update data for this plugin. Called based on `update_interval` specified in the plugin's manifest.
**Example**:
```python
def update(self):
cache_key = f"{self.plugin_id}_data"
cached = self.cache_manager.get(cache_key, max_age=3600)
if cached:
self.data = cached
return
self.data = self._fetch_from_api()
self.cache_manager.set(cache_key, self.data)
```
#### `display(force_clear: bool = False) -> None`
Render this plugin's display. Called during display rotation or when explicitly requested.
**Parameters**:
- `force_clear` (bool): If True, clear display before rendering
**Example**:
```python
def display(self, force_clear=False):
if force_clear:
self.display_manager.clear()
self.display_manager.draw_text(
"Hello, World!",
x=5, y=15,
color=(255, 255, 255)
)
self.display_manager.update_display()
```
### Optional Methods
#### `validate_config() -> bool`
Validate plugin configuration. Override to implement custom validation.
**Returns**: `True` if config is valid, `False` otherwise
#### `has_live_content() -> bool`
Check if plugin currently has live content. Override for live priority plugins.
**Returns**: `True` if plugin has live content
#### `get_live_modes() -> List[str]`
Get list of display modes to show during live priority takeover.
**Returns**: List of mode names
#### `cleanup() -> None`
Clean up resources when plugin is unloaded. Override to close connections, stop threads, etc.
#### `on_config_change(new_config: Dict[str, Any]) -> None`
Called after plugin configuration is updated via web API.
#### `on_enable() -> None`
Called when plugin is enabled.
#### `on_disable() -> None`
Called when plugin is disabled.
#### `get_display_duration() -> float`
Get display duration for this plugin. Can be overridden for dynamic durations.
**Returns**: Duration in seconds
#### `get_info() -> Dict[str, Any]`
Return plugin info for display in web UI. Override to provide additional state information.
### Dynamic-duration hooks
Plugins that render multi-step content (e.g. cycling through several games)
can extend their display time until they've shown everything. To opt in,
either set `dynamic_duration.enabled: true` in the plugin's config or
override `supports_dynamic_duration()`.
#### `supports_dynamic_duration() -> bool`
Return `True` if this plugin should use dynamic durations. Default reads
`config["dynamic_duration"]["enabled"]`.
#### `get_dynamic_duration_cap() -> Optional[float]`
Maximum number of seconds the controller will keep this plugin on screen
in dynamic mode. Default reads
`config["dynamic_duration"]["max_duration_seconds"]`.
#### `is_cycle_complete() -> bool`
Override this to return `True` only after the plugin has rendered all of
its content for the current rotation. Default returns `True` immediately,
which means a single `display()` call counts as a full cycle.
#### `reset_cycle_state() -> None`
Called by the controller before each new dynamic-duration session. Reset
internal counters/iterators here.
### Live priority hooks
Live priority lets a plugin temporarily take over the rotation when it has
urgent content (live games, breaking news). Enable by setting
`live_priority: true` in the plugin's config and overriding
`has_live_content()`.
#### `has_live_priority() -> bool`
Whether live priority is enabled in config (default reads
`config["live_priority"]`).
#### `has_live_content() -> bool`
Override to return `True` when the plugin currently has urgent content.
Default returns `False`.
#### `get_live_modes() -> List[str]`
List of display modes to show during a live takeover. Default returns the
plugin's `display_modes` from its manifest.
### Vegas scroll hooks
Vegas mode shows multiple plugins as a single continuous scroll instead of
rotating one at a time. Plugins control how their content appears via
these hooks. See [ADVANCED_FEATURES.md](ADVANCED_FEATURES.md) for the user
side of Vegas mode.
#### `get_vegas_content() -> Optional[PIL.Image | List[PIL.Image] | None]`
Return content to inject into the scroll. Multi-item plugins (sports,
odds, news) should return a *list* of PIL Images so each item scrolls
independently. Static plugins (clock, weather) can return a single image.
Returning `None` falls back to capturing whatever `display()` produces.
#### `get_vegas_content_type() -> str`
`'multi'`, `'static'`, or `'none'`. Affects how Vegas mode treats the
plugin. Default `'static'`.
#### `get_vegas_display_mode() -> VegasDisplayMode`
Returns one of `VegasDisplayMode.SCROLL`, `FIXED_SEGMENT`, or `STATIC`.
Read from `config["vegas_mode"]` or override directly.
#### `get_supported_vegas_modes() -> List[VegasDisplayMode]`
The set of Vegas modes this plugin can render. Used by the UI to populate
the mode selector for this plugin.
#### `get_vegas_segment_width() -> Optional[int]`
For `FIXED_SEGMENT` plugins, the number of *panels* the segment
occupies in the scroll (pixel width = panels × `single_panel_width`,
from `display.hardware.cols`). `None` uses the default of 1 panel.
> The full source for `BasePlugin` lives in
> `src/plugin_system/base_plugin.py`. If a method here disagrees with the
> source, the source wins — please open an issue or PR to fix the doc.
---
## Display Manager
The Display Manager handles all rendering operations on the LED matrix. Available as `self.display_manager` in plugins.
### Properties
```python
display_manager.width # Display width in pixels (int)
display_manager.height # Display height in pixels (int)
```
### Core Methods
#### `clear() -> None`
Clear the display completely. Creates a new black image.
**Note**: Does not call `update_display()` automatically. Call `update_display()` after drawing new content.
**Example**:
```python
self.display_manager.clear()
# Draw new content...
self.display_manager.update_display()
```
#### `update_display() -> None`
Update the physical display using double buffering. Call this after drawing all content.
**Example**:
```python
self.display_manager.draw_text("Hello", x=10, y=10)
self.display_manager.update_display() # Actually show on display
```
### Text Rendering
#### `draw_text(text: str, x: int = None, y: int = None, color: tuple = (255, 255, 255), small_font: bool = False, font: ImageFont = None, centered: bool = False) -> None`
Draw text on the canvas.
**Parameters**:
- `text` (str): Text to display
- `x` (int, optional): X position. If `None`, text is centered horizontally. If `centered=True`, x is treated as center point.
- `y` (int, optional): Y position (default: 0, top of display)
- `color` (tuple): RGB color tuple (default: white)
- `small_font` (bool): Use small font if True
- `font` (ImageFont, optional): Custom font object (overrides small_font)
- `centered` (bool): If True, x is treated as center point; if False, x is left edge
**Example**:
```python
# Centered text
self.display_manager.draw_text("Hello", color=(255, 255, 0))
# Left-aligned at specific position
self.display_manager.draw_text("World", x=10, y=20, color=(0, 255, 0))
# Centered at specific x position
self.display_manager.draw_text("Center", x=64, y=16, centered=True)
```
#### `get_text_width(text: str, font) -> int`
Get the width of text when rendered with the given font.
**Parameters**:
- `text` (str): Text to measure
- `font`: Font object (ImageFont or freetype.Face)
**Returns**: Width in pixels
**Example**:
```python
width = self.display_manager.get_text_width("Hello", self.display_manager.regular_font)
x = (self.display_manager.width - width) // 2 # Center text
```
#### `get_font_height(font) -> int`
Get the height of the given font for line spacing purposes.
**Parameters**:
- `font`: Font object (ImageFont or freetype.Face)
**Returns**: Height in pixels
**Example**:
```python
font_height = self.display_manager.get_font_height(self.display_manager.regular_font)
y = 10 + font_height # Position next line
```
#### `format_date_with_ordinal(dt: datetime) -> str`
Format a datetime object into 'Mon Aug 30th' style with ordinal suffix.
**Parameters**:
- `dt`: datetime object
**Returns**: Formatted date string
**Example**:
```python
from datetime import datetime
date_str = self.display_manager.format_date_with_ordinal(datetime.now())
# Returns: "Jan 15th"
```
### Image Rendering
The display manager doesn't provide a dedicated `draw_image()` method.
Instead, plugins paste directly onto the underlying PIL Image
(`display_manager.image`), then call `update_display()` to push the buffer
to the matrix.
```python
from PIL import Image
logo = Image.open("assets/logo.png").convert("RGB")
self.display_manager.image.paste(logo, (10, 10))
self.display_manager.update_display()
```
For transparency support, paste using a mask:
```python
icon = Image.open("assets/icon.png").convert("RGBA")
self.display_manager.image.paste(icon, (5, 5), icon)
self.display_manager.update_display()
```
This is the same pattern the bundled scoreboard base classes
(`src/base_classes/baseball.py`, `basketball.py`, `football.py`,
`hockey.py`) use, so it's the canonical way to render arbitrary images.
### Weather Icons
#### `draw_weather_icon(condition: str, x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None`
Draw a weather icon based on the condition string.
**Parameters**:
- `condition` (str): Weather condition (e.g., "clear", "cloudy", "rain", "snow", "storm")
- `x` (int): X position
- `y` (int): Y position
- `size` (int): Icon size in pixels (default: 16)
**Supported Conditions**:
- `"clear"`, `"sunny"` → Sun icon
- `"clouds"`, `"cloudy"`, `"partly cloudy"` → Cloud icon
- `"rain"`, `"drizzle"`, `"shower"` → Rain icon
- `"snow"`, `"sleet"`, `"hail"` → Snow icon
- `"thunderstorm"`, `"storm"` → Storm icon
**Example**:
```python
self.display_manager.draw_weather_icon("rain", x=10, y=10, size=16)
```
#### `draw_sun(x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None`
Draw a sun icon with rays.
**Parameters**:
- `x` (int): X position
- `y` (int): Y position
- `size` (int): Icon size (default: 16)
#### `draw_cloud(x: int, y: int, size: int = 16, color: tuple = (200, 200, 200)) -> None`
Draw a cloud icon.
**Parameters**:
- `x` (int): X position
- `y` (int): Y position
- `size` (int): Icon size (default: 16)
- `color` (tuple): RGB color (default: light gray)
#### `draw_rain(x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None`
Draw rain icon with cloud and droplets.
#### `draw_snow(x: int, y: int, size: int = 16) -> None`
Draw snow icon with cloud and snowflakes.
#### `draw_text_with_icons(text: str, icons: List[tuple] = None, x: int = None, y: int = None, color: tuple = (255, 255, 255)) -> None`
Draw text with weather icons at specified positions.
**Parameters**:
- `text` (str): Text to display
- `icons` (List[tuple], optional): List of (icon_type, x, y) tuples
- `x` (int, optional): X position for text
- `y` (int, optional): Y position for text
- `color` (tuple): Text color
**Note**: Automatically calls `update_display()` after drawing.
**Example**:
```python
icons = [
("sun", 5, 5),
("cloud", 100, 5)
]
self.display_manager.draw_text_with_icons(
"Weather: Sunny, Cloudy",
icons=icons,
x=10, y=20
)
```
### Scrolling State Management
For plugins that implement scrolling content, use these methods to coordinate with the display system.
#### `set_scrolling_state(is_scrolling: bool) -> None`
Mark the display as scrolling or not scrolling. Call when scrolling starts/stops.
**Parameters**:
- `is_scrolling` (bool): True if currently scrolling, False otherwise
**Example**:
```python
def display(self, force_clear=False):
self.display_manager.set_scrolling_state(True)
# Scroll content...
self.display_manager.set_scrolling_state(False)
```
#### `is_currently_scrolling() -> bool`
Check if the display is currently in a scrolling state.
**Returns**: `True` if scrolling, `False` otherwise
#### `defer_update(update_func: Callable, priority: int = 0) -> None`
Defer an update function to be called when not scrolling. Useful for non-critical updates that should wait until scrolling completes.
**Parameters**:
- `update_func`: Function to call when not scrolling
- `priority` (int): Priority level (lower numbers = higher priority, default: 0)
**Example**:
```python
def update(self):
# Critical update - do immediately
self.fetch_data()
# Non-critical update - defer until not scrolling
self.display_manager.defer_update(
lambda: self.update_cache_metadata(),
priority=1
)
```
#### `process_deferred_updates() -> None`
Process any deferred updates if not currently scrolling. Called automatically by the display controller, but can be called manually if needed.
**Note**: Plugins typically don't need to call this directly.
#### `get_scrolling_stats() -> dict`
Get current scrolling statistics for debugging.
**Returns**: Dictionary with scrolling state information
**Example**:
```python
stats = self.display_manager.get_scrolling_stats()
self.logger.debug(f"Scrolling: {stats['is_scrolling']}, Deferred: {stats['deferred_count']}")
```
### Available Fonts
The Display Manager provides several pre-loaded fonts:
```python
display_manager.regular_font # Press Start 2P, size 8
display_manager.small_font # Press Start 2P, size 8
display_manager.calendar_font # 5x7 BDF font
display_manager.extra_small_font # 4x6 TTF font, size 6
display_manager.bdf_5x7_font # Alias for calendar_font
```
---
## Cache Manager
The Cache Manager handles data caching to reduce API calls and improve performance. Available as `self.cache_manager` in plugins.
### Basic Methods
#### `get(key: str, max_age: int = 300) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get data from cache if it exists and is not stale.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `max_age` (int): Maximum age in seconds (default: 300)
**Returns**: Cached data dictionary, or `None` if not found or stale
**Example**:
```python
cached = self.cache_manager.get("weather_data", max_age=600)
if cached:
return cached
```
#### `set(key: str, data: Dict[str, Any], ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> None`
Store data in cache with current timestamp.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `data` (Dict): Data to cache
- `ttl` (int, optional): Time-to-live in seconds (for compatibility)
**Example**:
```python
self.cache_manager.set("weather_data", {
"temp": 72,
"condition": "sunny"
})
```
#### `clear_cache(key: Optional[str] = None) -> None`
Remove a specific cache entry, or all cache entries when called without
arguments.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str, optional): Cache key to delete. If omitted, every cached
entry (memory + disk) is cleared.
**Example**:
```python
# Drop one stale entry
self.cache_manager.clear_cache("weather_data")
# Nuke everything (rare — typically only used by maintenance tooling)
self.cache_manager.clear_cache()
```
### Advanced Methods
#### `get_cached_data(key: str, max_age: int = 300, memory_ttl: Optional[int] = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get data from cache with separate memory and disk TTLs.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `max_age` (int): TTL for persisted (on-disk) entry
- `memory_ttl` (int, optional): TTL for in-memory entry (defaults to max_age)
**Returns**: Cached data, or `None` if not found or stale
**Example**:
```python
# Use memory cache for 60 seconds, disk cache for 1 hour
data = self.cache_manager.get_cached_data(
"api_response",
max_age=3600,
memory_ttl=60
)
```
#### `get_cached_data_with_strategy(key: str, data_type: str = 'default') -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get data using data-type-specific cache strategy. Automatically selects appropriate TTL based on data type.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `data_type` (str): Data type for strategy selection (e.g., 'weather', 'sports_live', 'stocks')
**Returns**: Cached data, or `None` if not found or stale
**Example**:
```python
# Automatically uses appropriate cache duration for weather data
weather = self.cache_manager.get_cached_data_with_strategy(
"weather_current",
data_type="weather"
)
```
#### `get_with_auto_strategy(key: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get data with automatic strategy detection from cache key.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key (strategy inferred from key name)
**Returns**: Cached data, or `None` if not found or stale
**Example**:
```python
# Strategy automatically detected from key name
data = self.cache_manager.get_with_auto_strategy("nhl_live_scores")
```
#### `get_background_cached_data(key: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get background service cached data with sport-specific intervals.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
- `sport_key` (str, optional): Sport identifier (e.g., 'nhl', 'nba') for live interval lookup
**Returns**: Cached data, or `None` if not found or stale
**Example**:
```python
# Uses sport-specific live_update_interval from config
games = self.cache_manager.get_background_cached_data(
"nhl_games",
sport_key="nhl"
)
```
### Strategy Methods
#### `get_cache_strategy(data_type: str, sport_key: Optional[str] = None) -> Dict[str, Any]`
Get cache strategy configuration for a data type.
**Parameters**:
- `data_type` (str): Data type (e.g., 'weather', 'sports_live', 'stocks')
- `sport_key` (str, optional): Sport identifier for sport-specific strategies
**Returns**: Dictionary with strategy configuration (max_age, memory_ttl, etc.)
**Example**:
```python
strategy = self.cache_manager.get_cache_strategy("sports_live", sport_key="nhl")
max_age = strategy['max_age'] # Get configured max age
```
#### `get_sport_live_interval(sport_key: str) -> int`
Get the live_update_interval for a specific sport from config.
**Parameters**:
- `sport_key` (str): Sport identifier (e.g., 'nhl', 'nba')
**Returns**: Live update interval in seconds
**Example**:
```python
interval = self.cache_manager.get_sport_live_interval("nhl")
# Returns configured live_update_interval for NHL
```
#### `get_data_type_from_key(key: str) -> str`
Extract data type from cache key to determine appropriate cache strategy.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
**Returns**: Inferred data type string
#### `get_sport_key_from_cache_key(key: str) -> Optional[str]`
Extract sport key from cache key for sport-specific strategies.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str): Cache key
**Returns**: Sport identifier, or `None` if not found
### Utility Methods
#### `clear_cache(key: Optional[str] = None) -> None`
Clear cache for a specific key or all keys.
**Parameters**:
- `key` (str, optional): Specific key to clear. If `None`, clears all cache.
**Example**:
```python
# Clear specific key
self.cache_manager.clear_cache("weather_data")
# Clear all cache
self.cache_manager.clear_cache()
```
#### `get_cache_dir() -> Optional[str]`
Get the cache directory path.
**Returns**: Cache directory path string, or `None` if not available
#### `list_cache_files() -> List[Dict[str, Any]]`
List all cache files with metadata.
**Returns**: List of dictionaries with cache file information (key, age, size, path, etc.)
**Example**:
```python
files = self.cache_manager.list_cache_files()
for file_info in files:
self.logger.info(f"Cache: {file_info['key']}, Age: {file_info['age_display']}")
```
### Metrics Methods
#### `get_cache_metrics() -> Dict[str, Any]`
Get cache performance metrics.
**Returns**: Dictionary with cache statistics (hits, misses, hit rate, etc.)
**Example**:
```python
metrics = self.cache_manager.get_cache_metrics()
self.logger.info(f"Cache hit rate: {metrics['hit_rate']:.2%}")
```
#### `get_memory_cache_stats() -> Dict[str, Any]`
Get memory cache statistics.
**Returns**: Dictionary with memory cache stats (size, max_size, etc.)
---
## Plugin Manager
The Plugin Manager provides access to other plugins and plugin system information. Available as `self.plugin_manager` in plugins.
### Methods
#### `get_plugin(plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Any]`
Get a plugin instance by ID.
**Parameters**:
- `plugin_id` (str): Plugin identifier
**Returns**: Plugin instance, or `None` if not found
**Example**:
```python
weather_plugin = self.plugin_manager.get_plugin("weather")
if weather_plugin:
# Access weather plugin data
pass
```
#### `get_all_plugins() -> Dict[str, Any]`
Get all loaded plugin instances.
**Returns**: Dictionary mapping plugin_id to plugin instance
**Example**:
```python
all_plugins = self.plugin_manager.get_all_plugins()
for plugin_id, plugin in all_plugins.items():
self.logger.info(f"Plugin {plugin_id} is loaded")
```
#### `get_enabled_plugins() -> List[str]`
Get list of enabled plugin IDs.
**Returns**: List of plugin identifier strings
#### `get_plugin_info(plugin_id: str) -> Optional[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get plugin information including manifest and runtime info.
**Parameters**:
- `plugin_id` (str): Plugin identifier
**Returns**: Dictionary with plugin information, or `None` if not found
**Example**:
```python
info = self.plugin_manager.get_plugin_info("weather")
if info:
self.logger.info(f"Plugin: {info['name']}, Version: {info.get('version')}")
```
#### `get_all_plugin_info() -> List[Dict[str, Any]]`
Get information for all plugins.
**Returns**: List of plugin information dictionaries
#### `get_plugin_directory(plugin_id: str) -> Optional[str]`
Get the directory path for a plugin.
**Parameters**:
- `plugin_id` (str): Plugin identifier
**Returns**: Directory path string, or `None` if not found
#### `get_plugin_display_modes(plugin_id: str) -> List[str]`
Get list of display modes for a plugin.
**Parameters**:
- `plugin_id` (str): Plugin identifier
**Returns**: List of display mode names
**Example**:
```python
modes = self.plugin_manager.get_plugin_display_modes("football-scoreboard")
# Returns: ['nfl_live', 'nfl_recent', 'nfl_upcoming', ...]
```
### Plugin Manifests
Access plugin manifests through `self.plugin_manager.plugin_manifests`:
```python
# Get manifest for a plugin
manifest = self.plugin_manager.plugin_manifests.get(self.plugin_id, {})
# Access manifest fields
display_modes = manifest.get('display_modes', [])
version = manifest.get('version')
```
### Inter-Plugin Communication
Plugins can communicate with each other through the Plugin Manager:
**Example - Getting data from another plugin**:
```python
def update(self):
# Get weather plugin
weather_plugin = self.plugin_manager.get_plugin("weather")
if weather_plugin and hasattr(weather_plugin, 'current_temp'):
self.temp = weather_plugin.current_temp
```
**Example - Checking if another plugin is enabled**:
```python
enabled_plugins = self.plugin_manager.get_enabled_plugins()
if "weather" in enabled_plugins:
# Weather plugin is enabled
pass
```
---
## Best Practices
### Caching
1. **Use appropriate cache keys**: Include plugin ID and data type in keys
```python
cache_key = f"{self.plugin_id}_weather_current"
```
2. **Use cache strategies**: Prefer `get_cached_data_with_strategy()` for automatic TTL selection
```python
data = self.cache_manager.get_cached_data_with_strategy(
f"{self.plugin_id}_data",
data_type="weather"
)
```
3. **Handle cache misses**: Always check for `None` return values
```python
cached = self.cache_manager.get(key, max_age=3600)
if not cached:
cached = self._fetch_from_api()
self.cache_manager.set(key, cached)
```
### Display Rendering
1. **Always call update_display()**: After drawing content, call `update_display()`
```python
self.display_manager.draw_text("Hello", x=10, y=10)
self.display_manager.update_display() # Required!
```
2. **Use clear() appropriately**: Only clear when necessary (e.g., `force_clear=True`)
```python
def display(self, force_clear=False):
if force_clear:
self.display_manager.clear()
# Draw content...
self.display_manager.update_display()
```
3. **Handle scrolling state**: If your plugin scrolls, use scrolling state methods
```python
self.display_manager.set_scrolling_state(True)
# Scroll content...
self.display_manager.set_scrolling_state(False)
```
### Error Handling
1. **Log errors appropriately**: Use `self.logger` for plugin-specific logging
```python
try:
data = self._fetch_data()
except Exception as e:
self.logger.error(f"Failed to fetch data: {e}")
return
```
2. **Handle missing data gracefully**: Provide fallback displays when data is unavailable
```python
if not self.data:
self.display_manager.draw_text("No data available", x=10, y=16)
self.display_manager.update_display()
return
```
---
## See Also
- [BasePlugin Source](../src/plugin_system/base_plugin.py) - Base plugin implementation
- [Display Manager Source](../src/display_manager.py) - Display manager implementation
- [Cache Manager Source](../src/cache_manager.py) - Cache manager implementation
- [Plugin Manager Source](../src/plugin_system/plugin_manager.py) - Plugin manager implementation
- [Plugin Development Guide](PLUGIN_DEVELOPMENT_GUIDE.md) - Complete development guide
- [Advanced Plugin Development](ADVANCED_PLUGIN_DEVELOPMENT.md) - Advanced patterns and examples