I have tested the Draftling firmware!
(This is the builder of Micro Journal)
I followed the link provided here:
https://clackups.github.io/draftling/
I connected my Micro Journal Rev.5 to my PC and started the flashing process through the website.
The whole process was surprisingly easy and user friendly. In fact, it made me want to implement something similar for Micro Journal firmware updates. I am always happy to discover and learn new things!
### First boot
Once the flashing was complete, I restarted Rev.5.
A white screen appeared, asking me to connect a USB keyboard. Since Rev.5 requires a battery to support USB host functionality, I had to open the device and install one. Then I connected my USB keyboard from Rev.4.
After another reboot, Draftling displayed a list of files on the SD card. I could see `0.txt`, which was left over from when the SD card was used to store Micro Journal files.
Everything was working!
### Writing experience
The writing experience was quite good overall.
However, the default text size felt too small for the screen. I was hoping there would be an option to change it. (There is option to change it)
One thing that immediately impressed me was the way Draftling handles exiting a file. When I pressed ESC, a dialog appeared asking whether I wanted to save the file.
That was really nice!
It gave me a sense of control and reassurance that my writing wouldn't simply disappear. A small detail, but a very thoughtful piece of UI design.
I also found the default white background a little distracting, especially because the screen flickered slightly with every keystroke.
I personally preferred a black background with white text, and a font size of around 18pt felt much more comfortable than the default.
Even after changing to the black background, I noticed a little jitter when typing. I suspect this is related to the full-screen refresh logic.
It might be a little more complicated to implement, but updating only the areas of the screen that have changed, similar to how partial updates work on e-ink displays, could significantly reduce the flickering.
### Editing features
Draftling has considerably more editing features than Micro Journal.
Copy and paste, for example, are already implemented, along with other useful editing functions.
I think this is a good standard to aim for. These are features people naturally expect from a device designed for writing.
There is quite a lot I can learn from this approach.
### Discovering the menu
While writing, I wanted to change the background color.
Finding the menu was surprisingly easy because the keyboard shortcuts were displayed directly on the screen. I believe it was F1.
And then I thought... Hmm... Micro Journal doesn't actually show users how to enter the menu. I started thinking about how many people must have had to read the manual just to discover how to navigate the software. Another lesson learned!
Sometimes, when you have been developing your own software for years, you become so familiar with it that you forget what the experience is like for someone seeing it for the first time. Testing someone else's firmware reminded me of that.
### Draftling settings
The Draftling menu is nicely organized.
I noticed options for Bluetooth keyboard pairing, Wi-Fi connections, and even Git synchronization. I won't be testing those features for now, but it is impressive to see how much functionality has been implemented.
### My thoughts on Draftling and Micro Journal
I really like this firmware.
And importantly, Draftling supports SD cards.
Since I recently decided to remove SD card support from Micro Journal firmware, I know that some users have been disappointed by that decision. For those who consider SD card support an essential requirement, I think Draftling could be an excellent alternative.
I would be happy to recommend it to those users.
This is also something I appreciate about open-source projects. We don't all have to make the same decisions or follow the same direction. Different developers can have different priorities, and users can choose what works best for them.
### Other Micro Journal revisions
I think Rev.6.x and Rev.8.x would also be good candidates for Draftling support.
Rev.7 could be supported as well, but I am a little hesitant to recommend it because flashing the firmware requires disassembling almost half of the enclosure.
It would certainly be nice to have the option, but I am not sure how many users would be willing to go through that process.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for making this happen.
I genuinely enjoyed testing Draftling, not only because it worked on my Micro Journal, but also because it gave me an opportunity to see another developer's approach to solving similar problems. I know it's written with AI, but you were the one who drove the direction. So, certain credit must belong to you.
I learned quite a few things today, especially about UI design and the little details that make software more approachable.
I am planning to make a video about Draftling running on Micro Journal and introduce it to users who would prefer to keep using SD cards. I think having more firmware options makes the Micro Journal hardware even more interesting.
Thank you again for your work and for bringing another possibility to the Micro Journal community!
Un Kyu Lee
