Add serial messages for debugging

rotating-display-controller/rotating-display-controller.ino

@@ -104,6 +104,34 @@ void runStep() {
   }
 }
 
+// --- Serial Output Helpers ---
+
+void printStatus() {
+  Serial.print("Mode: ");
+  Serial.print(autoMode == AUTO ? "AUTO" : "MANUAL");
+  Serial.print(" | State: ");
+  Serial.print(_currState == MOVE ? "MOVE" : "WAIT");
+  Serial.print(" | Steps Left: ");
+  Serial.print(_stepsRemaining);
+  Serial.print(" | Speed: ");
+  Serial.print(turnSpeed);
+  Serial.print(" deg/s | Wait: ");
+  Serial.print(waitInterval);
+  Serial.println("s");
+}
+
+void printCommandAck(char cmd, String payload) {
+  Serial.print("> Command '");
+  Serial.print(cmd);
+  Serial.print(payload);
+  Serial.println("' received.");
+}
+
+void printError(String msg) {
+  Serial.print("ERROR: ");
+  Serial.println(msg);
+}
+
 // --- Setup ---
 void setup() {
   // Initialize pins
@@ -116,6 +144,8 @@ void setup() {
   Serial.begin(9600);
   while (!Serial) { ; } // Wait for serial port (optional for native USB)
   
+  Serial.println("=== Stepper Motor Controller Initialized ===");
+  
   // Initial State Setup
   autoMode = AUTO;
   waitInterval = 8.0;
@@ -131,6 +161,9 @@ void setup() {
   // Ensure we start in MOVE if we want immediate action, or WAIT if idle
   // Based on your logic: "initialized in MOVE state"
   _currState = MOVE;
+  
+  Serial.println("Ready. Commands: m[0|1], a[deg], s[deg/s], i[sec]");
+  printStatus();
 }
 
 // --- Loop ---
@@ -140,27 +173,46 @@ void loop() {
     String command = Serial.readString();
     command.trim(); // Remove whitespace
     
-    if (command.length() < 2) return; // Need at least 'a' + number
+    if (command.length() < 2) {
+      printError("Invalid command format (too short).");
+      return;
+    }
     
     char cmdType = command.charAt(0);
     String payload = command.substring(1);
     
+    printCommandAck(cmdType, payload);
+    
     switch (cmdType) {
       case 'm':
         // 'm0' for AUTO, 'm1' for MANUAL
         if (payload.length() > 0) {
           char modeChar = payload.charAt(0);
-          if (modeChar == '0' && autoMode != AUTO) {
+          if (modeChar == '0') {
-            autoMode = AUTO;
+            if (autoMode != AUTO) {
-            _currState = MOVE;
+              autoMode = AUTO;
-            _stepsRemaining = _stepCount;
+              _currState = MOVE;
-            _stepTime = millis();
+              _stepsRemaining = _stepCount;
-          } else if (modeChar == '1' && autoMode != MANUAL) {
+              _stepTime = millis();
-            autoMode = MANUAL;
+              Serial.println("  -> Mode switched to AUTO. Starting move cycle.");
-            _currState = MOVE; // Start moving immediately on switch
+            } else {
-            _stepsRemaining = _stepCount;
+              Serial.println("  -> Already in AUTO mode.");
-            _stepTime = millis();
+            }
+          } else if (modeChar == '1') {
+            if (autoMode != MANUAL) {
+              autoMode = MANUAL;
+              _currState = MOVE; // Start moving immediately on switch
+              _stepsRemaining = _stepCount;
+              _stepTime = millis();
+              Serial.println("  -> Mode switched to MANUAL. Moving once, then waiting.");
+            } else {
+              Serial.println("  -> Already in MANUAL mode.");
+            }
+          } else {
+            printError("Invalid mode. Use 'm0' (AUTO) or 'm1' (MANUAL).");
           }
+        } else {
+          printError("Missing mode argument (0 or 1).");
         }
         break;
         
@@ -168,7 +220,19 @@ void loop() {
         // 'a90' -> move 90 degrees
         {
           float angle = payload.toFloat();
-          calculateStepsForAngle(angle);
+          if (payload.length() == 0 || (angle == 0 && payload != "0")) {
+            printError("Invalid angle format.");
+          } else {
+            calculateStepsForAngle(angle);
+            Serial.print("  -> Moving ");
+            Serial.print(_stepCount);
+            Serial.print(" steps (");
+            Serial.print(angle);
+            Serial.println(" degrees).");
+            if (_stepCount == 0) {
+              Serial.println("  -> No movement required (0 degrees).");
+            }
+          }
         }
         break;
         
@@ -176,10 +240,16 @@ void loop() {
         // 's10' -> 10 deg/s
         {
           float speed = payload.toFloat();
-          if (speed > 0) {
+          if (payload.length() == 0 || speed <= 0) {
+            printError("Invalid speed. Must be > 0.");
+          } else {
             turnSpeed = speed;
             updateStepInterval();
-            // If currently in MOVE, the new interval applies on next step
+            Serial.print("  -> Speed set to ");
+            Serial.print(turnSpeed);
+            Serial.print(" deg/s (Step interval: ");
+            Serial.print(_stepInterval * 1000, 2);
+            Serial.println(" ms).");
           }
         }
         break;
@@ -188,12 +258,24 @@ void loop() {
         // 'i5' -> 5 seconds wait
         {
           float interval = payload.toFloat();
-          if (interval >= 0) {
+          if (payload.length() == 0 || interval < 0) {
+            printError("Invalid interval. Must be >= 0.");
+          } else {
             waitInterval = interval;
+            Serial.print("  -> Wait interval set to ");
+            Serial.print(waitInterval);
+            Serial.println(" seconds.");
           }
         }
         break;
+        
+      default:
+        printError("Unknown command. Use m, a, s, or i.");
+        break;
     }
+    
+    // Print status after every command for immediate feedback
+    printStatus();
   }
 
   // --- EXECUTION LOGIC ---
@@ -202,6 +284,14 @@ void loop() {
   if (_currState == MOVE && _stepsRemaining == 0) {
     _currState = WAIT;
     _waitTime = millis();
+    Serial.println("--- State: MOVE -> WAIT ---");
+    if (autoMode == AUTO) {
+      Serial.print("  Waiting ");
+      Serial.print(waitInterval);
+      Serial.println(" seconds before next cycle...");
+    } else {
+      Serial.println("  Waiting indefinitely for new command (MANUAL mode).");
+    }
   }
 
   // 2. Check if we should restart in AUTO mode
@@ -210,6 +300,10 @@ void loop() {
       _currState = MOVE;
       _stepsRemaining = _stepCount;
       _stepTime = millis(); // Reset step timer to prevent burst
+      Serial.println("--- State: WAIT -> MOVE ---");
+      Serial.print("  Auto-restart! Moving ");
+      Serial.print(_stepsRemaining);
+      Serial.println(" steps.");
     }
     // If MANUAL: Stay in WAIT indefinitely until new command
   }
@@ -221,6 +315,14 @@ void loop() {
       runStep();
       _stepTime = currentTime;
       _stepsRemaining--;
+      
+      // Optional: Print progress every 10 steps to avoid spam
+      // if (_stepCount > 0 && (_stepCount - _stepsRemaining) % 10 == 0) {
+      //   Serial.print("  Step: ");
+      //   Serial.print(_stepCount - _stepsRemaining);
+      //   Serial.print("/");
+      //   Serial.println(_stepCount);
+      // }
     }
   }
 }