- Update to the algorithm for generating an optional video link
The algorithm that generates an optional video link has been updated to work correctly even for races where individual racers have different start times.
In the previous version, the value field used to generate the URL contained the total race duration for the given racer. For correct calculation of the time position in the video, it is much more appropriate to use the time elapsed since the start of the race, which has now been fixed. - Fix for an error in race result calculation
A bug affecting races with the start type “Chip start” or “Mass and chip start” has been fixed. In some cases, the results were not displayed at all and the results list was empty. This issue has now been resolved. - Fix for sound signals (“beeping”) on the Race Start page
For interval and individual starts, sound signals were not working. This is due to limitations of modern browsers, which do not allow a page to work with audio until the user performs some interaction. A bell button is now available on the Race Start page next to the Settings button; it must be clicked to activate (or deactivate) the audio system. - Fix for an introduced bug when sending individual results to racers
In some cases, individual results were sent too early—before the newly recalculated race results were saved. This could result in incomplete data being sent (missing times or rankings). This bug has been fixed. - Improved handling of application shutdown
Application shutdown stability has been improved. In some cases, the system could freeze during shutdown; this issue has now been resolved. - RaceMeter operating system migration
A migration of the operating system on which RaceMeter runs is now available. The migration can be started on the page Administration → System Management.
The migration is a technically demanding and time-consuming process consisting of the following steps:- Upgrade of the operating system Buster → Bullseye
- Upgrade of the operating system Bullseye → Bookworm
- Upgrade of the old kernel to the Bookworm kernel
- Installation of Python 3.7.15 into a custom location
- Start of the RaceMeter application
A system reboot occurs between each step.
After a successful migration, the system should start automatically and run the RaceMeter application on:
the Raspbian Bookworm operating system with the new kernel and Python 3.7.15.
Why is the migration necessary?
RaceMeter uses a number of libraries and features (e.g. integration with Google Sheets, email, Tor, Tailscale, etc.) that are continuously evolving. Older versions of the operating system are no longer supported.
In the near future, a transition to Python 3.10.19 is planned, which would be problematic or impossible to install on Raspbian Buster. Python version 3.10.19 has been chosen as a compromise—some libraries used by RaceMeter are not yet available in newer versions.
Migration process
During the migration, it is not possible to display information in the browser because major system changes temporarily prevent the web server and the RaceMeter application from running. Therefore, information about the migration progress is displayed:- on the RaceMeter display
- or on a monitor connected via HDMI
The migration takes approximately 40 minutes and requires an internet connection.
It is recommended to perform a Complete system backup (Administration → System Management) before starting the migration. If the migration fails, the system can be restored by installing a new system and restoring from the backup.During the migration, it is also recommended to connect RaceMeter to an external power adapter.
Version check
Before the migration, you should see the following version at the bottom of the application: 26.0.1 (buster)
After a successful migration, you should see: 26.0.1 (bookworm) - Change during device startup
After the migration, a “snake” (boot screen) will first appear on the display during RaceMeter startup, and only after the RaceMeter application starts will the system logo be shown. - Next step after migration
After completing the migration, a new section allowing installation of Python 3.10.19 will appear on the page Administration → System Management.
This Python version will need to be installed in order to update RaceMeter to future versions. These will be primarily compiled for Python 3.10, and it is very likely that versions for Python 3.7.15 will no longer be created.