Point-and-Click UI
mouse_overlay(True) enables a hardware-composited
cursor. Joystick movement drives the cursor and button presses
become click events.
// ADVANCED TOPICS
Gotchas
Notes for long-running apps, badge-to-badge IR exchanges, mouse overlay interfaces, orientation handling, and cleanup before exit.
Advanced
Flip Detection
Use imu_face_down() or continuous
imu_tilt_y() values to react when the badge hangs
upside down.
Native UI Helpers
ui_header(), ui_action_bar(), and
badge_ui helpers keep app screens visually consistent
with firmware menus.
Badge-to-Badge IR
Own the IR Hardware
Call ir_start() before sending or reading. Python gets
exclusive access while IR mode is active.
Use the Right Frame
Use ir_send(addr, cmd) for compact frames and
ir_send_words(words) for multi-word payloads up to 64
32-bit words.
Read Quickly
Poll ir_read() or ir_read_words() within
about 50 ms per frame or receiver buffers can drop data.
Tips and Gotchas
Manage Heap
Avoid large temporary objects, reuse buffers, call
gc.collect(), and split large source files into
modules.
Refresh Explicitly
Drawing calls update the framebuffer. Call oled_show()
before expecting pixels to appear.
Protect Matrix Drawing
Wrap direct matrix drawing in led_override_begin() and
led_override_end() so ambient firmware modes do not
overwrite the frame.
Do Not Double-Consume
button_pressed() consumes the event. Read it once per
loop and store the value.
Escape Chord
Holding all four face buttons for about one second force-exits a stuck app.
Be a Good Citizen
Before exiting, clear LEDs, stop haptics and tones, stop IR, and disable mouse overlay.