v1.5.1: double-size trend arrow, equal spacing around the euro sign on flip and nixie displays

README.md

@@ -10,19 +10,21 @@ Three display styles, configurable in the settings dialog:
 | Style | Description |
 |---|---|
 | *Plain text* | Trend-colored text (green/red/grey) |
-| *Split-flap board* | Airport board: white characters on black flaps, cascading flip animation on price changes, trend LED |
+| *Split-flap board* | Airport board: white digit flaps, white € sign and a trend arrow in the default font. On a price change all flaps first reset to 0 (swept over ~2 s), then take their new values — the whole cycle spreads over the configured cascade time |
-| *Nixie tubes* | Retro amber glowing digits in glass tubes (with a soft flicker), trend LED |
+| *Nixie tubes* | Retro amber glowing digits in glass tubes with configurable random flicker, white € sign and a trend arrow in the default font |
 
-In the split-flap and nixie styles the digits keep their display color and the
+In the split-flap and nixie styles a trend arrow sits right of the € sign:
-trend (up/down/unchanged) is shown on a small LED next to the display.
+green ▲ when the price went up, red ▼ when it went down. When the price is
-Display style changes apply immediately, without restarting the shell.
+unchanged the last arrow stays; on the very first reading (and on API errors)
+no arrow is shown. Display style changes apply immediately, without
+restarting the shell.
 
-| Situation | Plain text color | Trend LED |
+| Situation | Plain text color | Arrow in flip/nixie modes |
 |---|---|---|
-| Price up | green | green |
+| Price up | green | green ▲ |
-| Price down | red | red |
+| Price down | red | red ▼ |
-| Price unchanged / first reading | grey | grey |
+| Price unchanged | grey | last arrow stays |
-| API failure (network error, 4xx/5xx, rate limit 429) | `--` | grey |
+| First reading / API failure | grey / `--` | no arrow |
 
 Format: `68,969 €` (thousands separators follow the system locale, rounded to
 whole euros) preceded by the bundled Bitcoin icon in the compact and full
@@ -35,7 +37,10 @@ representations.
   5 minutes. A hint text in the config dialog explains this.
 - **Split-flap cascade (seconds)** — default 3, range 1–15. Spreads the flip
   animation of a price change evenly over this many seconds (applies to the
-  split-flap display style).
+  split-flap display style). Only shown when that style is selected.
+- **Nixie flicker (0 = off)** — default 40, range 0–100. Random cathode-dropout
+  flicker of the nixie tubes; 0 disables it, higher values flicker more often
+  and deeper. Only shown when the nixie style is selected.
 
 Configurable via right-click on the widget → *Configure Bitcoin Price…* → *General*.
 

contents/config/main.xml

@@ -20,6 +20,12 @@
       <min>1</min>
       <max>15</max>
     </entry>
+    <entry name="nixieFlicker" type="Int">
+      <label>Nixie tube flicker intensity (0 = off, 100 = frequent and deep)</label>
+      <default>40</default>
+      <min>0</min>
+      <max>100</max>
+    </entry>
     <entry name="refreshMinutes" type="Int">
       <label>Refresh interval in minutes (minimum 5 because of the CoinGecko rate limit)</label>
       <default>5</default>

contents/ui/DisplayFlip.qml

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 /*
  * Split-flap display mode — airport departure board style.
- * White characters on black cells with a flap split line;
+ * Only digits are shown as flaps; the euro sign is rendered as plain
- * changed characters flip with a cascading animation.
+ * text (default font, white) next to the board, followed by a trend
+ * arrow (green up / red down; unchanged keeps the last arrow).
+ * On a price change the board first resets every flap to "0" (swept
+ * over ~2 s), then takes the new values (swept over the remainder of
+ * the cascade setting).
  * Pure QtQuick so it can be tested outside the plasmoid shell.
  */
 
@@ -12,12 +16,36 @@ Row {
 
     // wired by the parent loader
     property string display: "--"
-    property color trendColor: "#9e9e9e"
+    // 1 = up, -1 = down, 0 = unchanged -> keep showing the last arrow
-    // seconds over which the cascade to a new price is spread
+    property int trendDir: 0
+    property int lastDir: 0
+    onTrendDirChanged: {
+        if (trendDir !== 0) {
+            lastDir = trendDir;
+        }
+    }
+    // total seconds over which the reset-to-zero + new value cycle spreads
     property int flapSeconds: 3
 
     spacing: height * 0.06
 
+    function digitsOf(s) {
+        var out = "";
+        for (var i = 0; i < s.length; i++) {
+            var ch = s.charAt(i);
+            if ((ch >= "0" && ch <= "9") || ch === "-") {
+                out += ch;
+            }
+        }
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    // UI-only derived values (euro/arrow visibility); logic must not rely
+    // on these — QML gives no ordering guarantee between a change handler
+    // and the re-evaluation of dependent bindings.
+    readonly property string digitsOnly: digitsOf(display)
+    readonly property string boardText: digitsOnly.length > 0 ? digitsOnly : "--"
+
     property var chars: []
     property bool ready: false
     readonly property real cellFont: height * 0.72
@@ -26,7 +54,7 @@ Row {
     readonly property int flapDuration: 260
 
     Component.onCompleted: {
-        chars = display.split("");
+        chars = boardText.split("");
         ready = true;
     }
 
@@ -34,23 +62,26 @@ Row {
         if (!ready) {
             return;
         }
-        var nc = display.split("");
+        // compute from display directly: derived bindings may still be
+        // stale at this point (QML makes no ordering guarantee)
+        var digits = digitsOf(display);
+        var nc = (digits.length > 0 ? digits : "--").split("");
         var n = Math.max(chars.length, nc.length);
-        // spread the changed cells evenly across flapSeconds
+
-        var changed = [];
+        // Phase 1: every flap resets to "0", swept over ~2 s.
+        // Phase 2: every flap takes its new value, swept over the
+        // remainder of the total cascade time.
+        var total = Math.max(1, flapSeconds) * 1000;
+        var resetSpan = Math.min(2000, Math.floor(total * 2 / 3));
+        var valueStart = resetSpan;
+        var resetStep = n > 1 ? Math.floor(Math.max(0, resetSpan - flapDuration) / (n - 1)) : 0;
+        var valueStep = n > 1 ? Math.floor(Math.max(0, total - valueStart - flapDuration) / (n - 1)) : 0;
+
         for (var i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-            var from = i < chars.length ? chars[i] : "";
+            var cell = rep.itemAt(i);
             var to = i < nc.length ? nc[i] : "";
-            if (from !== to) {
-                changed.push([i, to]);
-            }
-        }
-        var span = Math.max(1, flapSeconds) * 1000 - flapDuration;
-        var step = changed.length > 1 ? Math.max(0, Math.floor(span / (changed.length - 1))) : 0;
-        for (var j = 0; j < changed.length; j++) {
-            var cell = rep.itemAt(changed[j][0]);
             if (cell) {
-                cell.flipTo(changed[j][1], j * step);
+                cell.schedule(to, i * resetStep, valueStart + i * valueStep);
             }
         }
         chars = nc;
@@ -70,28 +101,43 @@ Row {
             border.color: "#26262b"
             border.width: 1
 
-            // plain property (not a binding) so the flip animation
+            // plain properties (not bindings) so the animations control
-            // controls when the character actually changes
+            // when the character actually changes
             property string ch: ""
-            property string pendingCh: ""
+            property string targetCh: ""
+            property string animCh: ""
 
             Component.onCompleted: {
                 ch = root.chars[index] !== undefined ? root.chars[index] : "";
             }
 
-            function flipTo(newCh, delay) {
+            // schedule the two-phase cycle: reset to "0", then target
+            function schedule(t, resetDelay, valueDelay) {
+                targetCh = t;
+                resetTimer.interval = Math.max(0, resetDelay);
+                resetTimer.restart();
+                valueTimer.interval = Math.max(0, valueDelay);
+                valueTimer.restart();
+            }
+
+            function startFlip(newCh) {
                 if (newCh === ch) {
                     return;
                 }
-                pendingCh = newCh;
+                animCh = newCh;
-                delayTimer.interval = Math.max(0, delay);
+                flipAnim.restart();
-                delayTimer.restart();
             }
 
             Timer {
-                id: delayTimer
+                id: resetTimer
                 interval: 0
-                onTriggered: flipAnim.start()
+                onTriggered: cell.startFlip("0")
+            }
+
+            Timer {
+                id: valueTimer
+                interval: 0
+                onTriggered: cell.startFlip(cell.targetCh)
             }
 
             transform: Scale {
@@ -110,7 +156,7 @@ Row {
                     easing.type: Easing.InQuad
                 }
                 ScriptAction {
-                    script: cell.ch = cell.pendingCh
+                    script: cell.ch = cell.animCh
                 }
                 NumberAnimation {
                     target: scaleTransform
@@ -141,15 +187,35 @@ Row {
         }
     }
 
-    // trend LED (green/red/grey) — boards are monochrome, so the
+    // breathing room between the board and the currency sign
-    // trend shows here instead of in the letter color
+    Item {
-    Rectangle {
+        width: root.height * 0.22
-        width: root.height * 0.14
+        height: 1
-        height: width
+    }
-        radius: width / 2
+
+    // euro sign in the plain-text font, white
+    Text {
         anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
-        color: root.trendColor
+        text: "\u20AC"
-        border.color: "#26262b"
+        visible: root.digitsOnly.length > 0
-        border.width: 1
+        color: "#ffffff"
+        font.family: Qt.application.font.family
+        font.pixelSize: root.height * 0.85
+    }
+
+    // same breathing room between the euro sign and the arrow
+    Item {
+        width: root.height * 0.22
+        height: 1
+    }
+
+    // trend arrow: green up / red down; unchanged keeps the last arrow
+    Text {
+        anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+        text: root.lastDir > 0 ? "\u25B2" : "\u25BC"
+        visible: root.digitsOnly.length > 0 && root.lastDir !== 0
+        color: root.lastDir > 0 ? "#2ecc71" : "#e74c3c"
+        font.family: Qt.application.font.family
+        font.pixelSize: root.height * 1.0
     }
 }

contents/ui/DisplayNixie.qml

@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 /*
  * Nixie tube display mode — retro amber glowing digits in glass tubes.
  * Glow is faked with layered text copies, so no QtGraphicalEffects
- * dependency. Pure QtQuick: testable outside the plasmoid shell.
+ * dependency. Tubes flicker randomly (nixie cathode style); the
+ * flicker intensity is configurable (0 = off, 100 = nervous).
+ * The euro sign is plain text (default font, white), followed by a
+ * trend arrow (green up / red down; unchanged keeps the last arrow).
+ * Pure QtQuick: testable outside the plasmoid shell.
  */
 
 import QtQuick 2.15
@@ -11,13 +15,34 @@ Row {
 
     // wired by the parent loader
     property string display: "--"
-    property color trendColor: "#9e9e9e"
+    // 1 = up, -1 = down, 0 = unchanged -> keep showing the last arrow
+    property int trendDir: 0
+    property int lastDir: 0
+    onTrendDirChanged: {
+        if (trendDir !== 0) {
+            lastDir = trendDir;
+        }
+    }
+    // 0 = no flicker, 100 = frequent and deep flicker
+    property int flickerIntensity: 40
 
     spacing: height * 0.05
 
-    readonly property string digits: display.replace(/[^0-9]/g, "")
+    function digitsOf(s) {
+        var out = "";
+        for (var i = 0; i < s.length; i++) {
+            var ch = s.charAt(i);
+            if (ch >= "0" && ch <= "9") {
+                out += ch;
+            }
+        }
+        return out;
+    }
+
+    readonly property string digits: digitsOf(display)
     readonly property real tubeWidth: height * 0.52
     readonly property real glowFont: height * 0.80
+    readonly property bool flickerOn: flickerIntensity > 0 && digits.length > 0
 
     Repeater {
         model: root.digits.length
@@ -48,6 +73,11 @@ Row {
                 opacity: 0.06
             }
 
+            // digit + glow layers, flickered as one group
+            Item {
+                id: glowGroup
+                anchors.fill: parent
+
                 Text {
                     id: glowText
                     anchors.centerIn: parent
@@ -73,46 +103,81 @@ Row {
                         font: parent.font
                         scale: 1.10
                     }
+                }
+            }
 
-                // occasional gentle nixie flicker
+            // nixie flicker: random dropout of the cathode glow.
+            // repeat: true keeps the cycle alive; each trigger reschedules
+            // the next interval (intensity 40 -> ~4 s between flicks,
+            // 100 -> ~1.5 s).
             Timer {
-                    interval: 2200 + Math.random() * 3200
+                id: flickTimer
-                    repeat: false
+                repeat: true
-                    running: root.visible && root.digits.length > 0
+                running: root.flickerOn
+                interval: 1500
                 onTriggered: {
-                        flick.stop();
+                    flick.restart();
-                        flick.start();
+                    scheduleNext();
-                        interval = 2200 + Math.random() * 3200;
-                        restart();
                 }
+
+                function scheduleNext() {
+                    var base = 6000 - root.flickerIntensity * 45;
+                    interval = Math.max(700, base * (0.6 + Math.random() * 0.8));
                 }
+
+                Component.onCompleted: scheduleNext()
+            }
+
             SequentialAnimation {
                 id: flick
-                    NumberAnimation {
+                ScriptAction {
-                        target: glowText
+                    script: {
-                        property: "opacity"
+                        var range = root.flickerIntensity / 100 * 0.75;
-                        to: 0.82
+                        glowGroup.opacity = 1 - (0.15 + Math.random() * range);
-                        duration: 70
                     }
+                }
+                PauseAnimation { duration: 40 + Math.random() * 140 }
                 NumberAnimation {
-                        target: glowText
+                    target: glowGroup
                     property: "opacity"
                     to: 1.0
-                        duration: 140
+                    duration: 90 + Math.random() * 160
-                    }
+                    easing.type: Easing.OutQuad
                 }
             }
         }
     }
 
-    // currency indicator, dim amber like an indicator lamp
+    // breathing room between the tubes and the currency sign
+    Item {
+        width: root.height * 0.22
+        height: 1
+    }
+
+    // euro sign in the plain-text font, white
     Text {
         anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
         text: "\u20AC"
-        color: "#8a5a20"
-        font.family: "DejaVu Serif"
-        font.pixelSize: root.glowFont * 0.6
         visible: root.digits.length > 0
+        color: "#ffffff"
+        font.family: Qt.application.font.family
+        font.pixelSize: root.height * 0.85
+    }
+
+    // same breathing room between the euro sign and the arrow
+    Item {
+        width: root.height * 0.22
+        height: 1
+    }
+
+    // trend arrow: green up / red down; unchanged keeps the last arrow
+    Text {
+        anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
+        text: root.lastDir > 0 ? "\u25B2" : "\u25BC"
+        visible: root.digits.length > 0 && root.lastDir !== 0
+        color: root.lastDir > 0 ? "#2ecc71" : "#e74c3c"
+        font.family: Qt.application.font.family
+        font.pixelSize: root.height * 0.9
     }
 
     // error / empty state
@@ -124,15 +189,4 @@ Row {
         font.pixelSize: root.glowFont * 0.8
         visible: root.digits.length === 0
     }
-
-    // trend LED (green/red/grey)
-    Rectangle {
-        width: root.height * 0.11
-        height: width
-        radius: width / 2
-        anchors.verticalCenter: parent.verticalCenter
-        color: root.trendColor
-        border.color: "#4a2e12"
-        border.width: 1
-    }
 }

contents/ui/configGeneral.qml

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
  * Config page for nl.a14r.bitcoinprice.
  * Follows the canonical Plasma 5 config dialog pattern:
  * Kirigami.FormLayout + cfg_ prefixed property aliases.
+ * Mode-specific settings are only visible for the matching style.
  */
 
 import QtQuick 2.15
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ Kirigami.FormLayout {
     property alias cfg_displayMode: modeCombo.currentIndex
     property alias cfg_refreshMinutes: intervalSpin.value
     property alias cfg_flapSeconds: flapSpin.value
+    property alias cfg_nixieFlicker: flickSpin.value
 
     Item {
         Kirigami.FormData.isSection: true
@@ -28,6 +30,7 @@ Kirigami.FormLayout {
 
     QQC2.SpinBox {
         id: flapSpin
+        visible: modeCombo.currentIndex === 1
         Kirigami.FormData.label: i18n("Split-flap cascade (seconds):")
         from: 1
         to: 15
@@ -35,6 +38,16 @@ Kirigami.FormLayout {
         editable: true
     }
 
+    QQC2.SpinBox {
+        id: flickSpin
+        visible: modeCombo.currentIndex === 2
+        Kirigami.FormData.label: i18n("Nixie flicker (0 = off):")
+        from: 0
+        to: 100
+        stepSize: 10
+        editable: true
+    }
+
     QQC2.SpinBox {
         id: intervalSpin
         Kirigami.FormData.label: i18n("Refresh interval (minutes):")

contents/ui/main.qml

@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ Item {
     // Seconds over which the split-flap display cascades to a new price
     readonly property int flapSeconds: Math.max(1, plasmoid.configuration.flapSeconds)
 
+    // Nixie tube flicker intensity (0 = off, 100 = frequent and deep)
+    readonly property int nixieFlicker: Math.max(0, Math.min(100, plasmoid.configuration.nixieFlicker))
+
     // 0 = plain text, 1 = split-flap board, 2 = nixie tubes
     property int displayMode: 0
     readonly property string modeSource: displayMode === 1 ? "DisplayFlip.qml"
@@ -139,10 +142,18 @@ Item {
                     source: root.modeSource
                     onLoaded: {
                         item.display = Qt.binding(function () { return root.displayText; });
+                        if (item.trendColor !== undefined) {
                             item.trendColor = Qt.binding(function () { return root.priceColor; });
+                        }
+                        if (item.trendDir !== undefined) {
+                            item.trendDir = Qt.binding(function () { return root.trend; });
+                        }
                         if (item.flapSeconds !== undefined) {
                             item.flapSeconds = Qt.binding(function () { return root.flapSeconds; });
                         }
+                        if (item.flickerIntensity !== undefined) {
+                            item.flickerIntensity = Qt.binding(function () { return root.nixieFlicker; });
+                        }
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -177,10 +188,18 @@ Item {
                     source: root.modeSource
                     onLoaded: {
                         item.display = Qt.binding(function () { return root.displayText; });
+                        if (item.trendColor !== undefined) {
                             item.trendColor = Qt.binding(function () { return root.priceColor; });
+                        }
+                        if (item.trendDir !== undefined) {
+                            item.trendDir = Qt.binding(function () { return root.trend; });
+                        }
                         if (item.flapSeconds !== undefined) {
                             item.flapSeconds = Qt.binding(function () { return root.flapSeconds; });
                         }
+                        if (item.flickerIntensity !== undefined) {
+                            item.flickerIntensity = Qt.binding(function () { return root.nixieFlicker; });
+                        }
                     }
                 }
 

metadata.desktop

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ X-KDE-ServiceTypes=Plasma/Applet
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-Author=Arnold Cordewiner
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-Email=hermes@a14r.be
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-Name=nl.a14r.bitcoinprice
-X-KDE-PluginInfo-Version=1.3.0
+X-KDE-PluginInfo-Version=1.5.1
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-Website=https://gitea.a14r.be/hermes/plasma-bitcoin-price
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-Category=Utilities
 X-KDE-PluginInfo-License=MIT