Add Bash Register article

content/Bash Register.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+Title: Bash Register
+Date: 2026-01-25
+Category: Creations
+Summary: An old cash register with a thermal receipt printer.
+Image: bash-register1.jpg
+
+The Bash Register is an old cash register that my friend and I stuck a Raspberry Pi Linux computer into. It's connected to a thermal receipt printer that prints images sent from the member portal [[Spaceport]] running at my local makerspace, [[Protospace]].
+
+![[bash-register1.jpg]]
+
+Protospace members are able to draw images on the portal:
+
+![[bash-register2.jpg]]
+
+Draw controls include colour, eraser, size, shade, undo history, and reset. The current drawing is stored in local storage so it doesn't get lost if the user accidentally navigates away.
+
+Once a drawing is submitted, its filename is sent to the Raspberry Pi via MQTT. A simple [Python script](https://git.tannercollin.com/tanner/bashregister/src/branch/master/main.py) listens for the message and then immediately downloads and prints it.
+
+All drawings are added to a gallery that can be publicly viewed [here](https://my.protospace.ca/gallery):
+
+![[bash-register3.png]]
+
+## Printing Garbage Bug
+
+While developing the code, I was having an issue where every second print would output several inches of garbage characters instead of the image. After hours of debugging it seemed related to the height of the image being printed. I used `git bisect` to narrow it down to a commit where the canvas's height was changed.
+
+It turned out to be a bug with the printer that happens when printing images with a height that's a multiple of 96 pixels tall:
+
+<https://github.com/python-escpos/python-escpos/issues/367>
+
+The fix for this was simply adjusting the aspect ratio of the canvas on the portal.

themes/lite/templates/base.html

@@ -50,10 +50,6 @@
 				height: auto;
 				color-scheme: light;
 			}
-			.floated {
-				float: left;
-				margin-right: 1rem;
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 			@media screen and (min-width:63rem) {
 				.content .aside {
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themes/lite/templates/index.html

@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ Lead Hardware Engineer - Critical Control, '16-'18
 Electrical Engineer - Pivotal Aero, '16-'16
 BSc Electrical Engineering - University of Calgary
 
-Blog
+Creations
 
-<a href=6>Makerspace Tours
+<a href=3>Bash Register
-<a href=p>Bypassing ISP Blocked Ports
+<a href=0>Protovac Terminal
-<a href=j>Japan Photography
+<a href=7>Fake Dog for Home Security
-<a href=h>Hydroponics
+<a href=5>Garage Door Opener Hack
-<a href=x>[more]</a>
+<a href=z>[more]</a>
 
 Projects
 
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ Projects
 <a href=n>Notica
 <a href=y>[more]</a>
 
-Creations
+Blog
 
-<a href=7>Fake Dog for Home Security
+<a href=h>Hydroponics
-<a href=5>Garage Door Opener Hack
+<a href=j>Japan Photography
-<a href=3>Theatre Acoustic Panels
+<a href=p>Bypassing ISP Blocked Ports
-<a href=0>Wine Crate Coffee Table
+<a href=6>Backup Strategy
-<a href=z>[more]
+<a href=x>[more]

themes/theme/templates/style.css

@@ -156,9 +156,10 @@
 			}
 
 			.content img {
-				width: 100%;
+				max-width: min(100%, 36rem);
-				max-width: 36rem;
+				max-height: 36rem;
 				height: auto;
+				width: auto;
 				display: block;
 				margin: 0 auto;
 			}