WildernessLabs · adrianstevens · Jul 13, 2025 · Jul 13, 2025 · Jul 13, 2025
diff --git a/.github/workflows/develop-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/develop-ci.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
       uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v1
       with:
         dotnet-version:
-          8.0.x
+          9.0.200
 
     - name: Build Meadow.ProjectLab
-      run: dotnet build -c Release Meadow.ProjectLab/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.sln
+      run: dotnet build -c Release Meadow.ProjectLab/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.slnx
diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.sln b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.sln
diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.slnx b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab.slnx
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+<Solution>
+  <Folder Name="/_External/">
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Contracts/Source/Meadow.Contracts/Meadow.Contracts.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Core/Source/implementations/f7/Meadow.F7/Meadow.F7.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Core/Source/Meadow.Core/Meadow.Core.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Core/Meadow.Foundation.Core.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Libraries_and_Frameworks/Audio.MicroAudio/Driver/Audio.MicroAudio.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Libraries_and_Frameworks/Graphics.MicroGraphics/Driver/Graphics.MicroGraphics.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Libraries_and_Frameworks/Graphics.MicroLayout/Driver/Graphics.MicroLayout.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Libraries_and_Frameworks/Serialization.MicroJson/Driver/Serialization.MicroJson.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Displays.TftSpi/Driver/Displays.TftSpi.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/ICs.IOExpanders.Mcp23xxx/Driver/ICs.IOExpanders.Mcp23xxx.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/ICs.IOExpanders.Pca9685/Driver/ICs.IOExpanders.Pca9685.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/ICs.IOExpanders.Sc16is7x2/Driver/ICs.IOExpanders.Sc16is7x2.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Sensors.Atmospheric.Ahtx0/Driver/Sensors.Atmospheric.Ahtx0.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Sensors.Atmospheric.Bme68x/Driver/Sensors.Atmospheric.Bme68x.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Sensors.Hid.Xpt2046/Driver/Sensors.Hid.Xpt2046.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Sensors.Light.Bh1750/Driver/Sensors.Light.Bh1750.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Foundation/Source/Meadow.Foundation.Peripherals/Sensors.Motion.Bmi270/Driver/Sensors.Motion.Bmi270.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Logging/Source/Meadow.Logging/lib/Meadow.Logging.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Modbus/src/Meadow.Modbus/Meadow.Modbus.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="../../Meadow.Units/Source/Meadow.Units/Meadow.Units.csproj">
+      <Deploy />
+    </Project>
+    <Project Path="../../MQTTnet/Source/MQTTnet/MQTTnet.csproj" />
+  </Folder>
+  <Project Path="Meadow.ProjectLab/Meadow.ProjectLab.csproj">
+    <Deploy />
+  </Project>
+  <Project Path="ProjectLab_Demo/ProjectLab_Demo.csproj">
+    <BuildType Project="Debug" />
+    <Deploy />
+  </Project>
+</Solution>
diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ConnectorProviderV3.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ConnectorProviderV3.cs
@@ -7,9 +7,17 @@ namespace Meadow.Devices;
 
 internal class ConnectorProviderV3 : IConnectorProvider
 {
+    private ProjectLabRs485Connector? _rs485Connector;
+
     public Rs485Connector GetRs485UartConnector(ProjectLabHardwareBase projLab)
     {
-        throw new PlatformNotSupportedException("RS485 is not supported on hardware revisions before 3.e");
+        if (_rs485Connector == null)
+        {
+            // create it with no parameters - it will throw only if a client tries to actually use it
+            _rs485Connector = new ProjectLabRs485Connector();
+        }
+
+        return _rs485Connector;
     }
 
     public ModbusRtuClient GetModbusRtuClient(ProjectLabHardwareBase projLab, int baudRate = 19200, int dataBits = 8, Parity parity = Parity.None, StopBits stopBits = StopBits.One)

diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ConnectorProviderV3e.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ConnectorProviderV3e.cs
@@ -22,20 +22,22 @@ public ConnectorProviderV3e(ProjectLabHardwareBase projLab, II2cBus i2CBus)
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
-            Resolver.Log.Error($"Unable to connect to UART expander: {ex.Message}", Constants.LogGroup);
+            Resolver.Log.Warn($"Unable to connect to UART expander: {ex.Message}", Constants.LogGroup);
         }
     }
 
     public Rs485Connector GetRs485UartConnector(ProjectLabHardwareBase projLab)
     {
         if (Resolver.Device is not F7CoreComputeV2) throw new NotSupportedException();
-        if (_uartExpander == null)
-        {
-            throw new NotSupportedException("No UART expander detected");
-        }
 
         lock (_rs485SyncRoot)
         {
+            if (_uartExpander == null)
+            {
+                // create it with no parameters - it will throw only if a client tries to actually use it
+                _rs485Connector = new ProjectLabRs485Connector();
+            }
+
             if (_rs485Connector == null)
             {
                 _rs485Connector = new ProjectLabRs485Connector(_uartExpander, _uartExpander.PortB);

diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLab.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLab.cs
@@ -13,18 +13,41 @@ public abstract class ProjectLabFeatherApp : App<F7FeatherV2, ProjectLab, IProje
 }
 
 /// <summary>
-/// A base class for F7 Core Compute-based, Project Lab-targeted applications 
+/// A base class for F7 Core Compute (v4 and earlier)-based, Project Lab-targeted applications 
 /// </summary>
 public abstract class ProjectLabCoreComputeApp : App<F7CoreComputeV2, ProjectLab, IProjectLabHardware>
 {
 }
 
+/// <summary>
+/// A base class for F7 Core Compute (v5)-based, Project Lab-targeted applications 
+/// </summary>
+public abstract class ProjectLabV5App : App<F7CoreComputeV2, ProjectLabV5, IProjectLabHardware>
+{
+}
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Represents Project Lab hardware and exposes its peripherals
+/// </summary>
+public class ProjectLabV5 : ProjectLab
+{
+    protected override IPin GetMcpResetPin(IF7CoreComputeMeadowDevice ccm)
+    {
+        return ccm.Pins.PH10;
+    }
+}
+
 /// <summary>
 /// Represents Project Lab hardware and exposes its peripherals
 /// </summary>
 public class ProjectLab : IMeadowAppEmbeddedHardwareProvider<IProjectLabHardware>
 {
-    private ProjectLab() { }
+    protected ProjectLab() { }
+
+    protected virtual IPin GetMcpResetPin(IF7CoreComputeMeadowDevice ccm)
+    {
+        return ccm.Pins.PB4; // this is where it is on the 4.e
+    }
 
     /// <summary>
     /// Create an instance of the ProjectLab class
@@ -72,6 +95,7 @@ public IProjectLabHardware Create(IMeadowDevice device)
                 mcpInterrupt = device.CreateDigitalInterruptPort(f.Pins.D09, InterruptMode.EdgeRising, ResistorMode.InternalPullDown);
                 mcpReset = device.CreateDigitalOutputPort(f.Pins.D14);
 
+                logger?.Info("creating Mcp_1 at 0x20");
                 mcp = new Mcp23008(i2cBus, address: 0x20, mcpInterrupt, mcpReset);
 
                 logger?.Trace("Mcp_1 up");
@@ -87,7 +111,9 @@ public IProjectLabHardware Create(IMeadowDevice device)
         {
             try
             {
-                mcpReset = device.CreateDigitalOutputPort(c.Pins.PA10);
+                var reset = GetMcpResetPin(c);
+                Resolver.Log.Info($"Using MCP reset pin {reset.Name}");
+                mcpReset = device.CreateDigitalOutputPort(reset);
 
                 mcp = new Mcp23008(i2cBus, address: 0x27, resetPort: mcpReset);
 

diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabHardwareV3.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabHardwareV3.cs
@@ -133,12 +133,12 @@ internal ProjectLabHardwareV3(IF7CoreComputeMeadowDevice device, II2cBus i2cBus)
 
         if (RevisionNumber < 15) // before 3.e
         {
-            Logger?.Trace("Hardware is 3.d or earlier");
+            Logger?.Trace($"HW Revision: {RevisionNumber} Hardware is 3.d or earlier");
             _connectors = new ConnectorProviderV3();
         }
         else
         {
-            Logger?.Trace("Hardware is 3.e or later");
+            Logger?.Trace($"HW Revision: {RevisionNumber} Hardware is 3.e or later");
             _connectors = new ConnectorProviderV3e(this, i2cBus);
         }
     }

diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabHardwareV5.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabHardwareV5.cs
@@ -397,9 +397,9 @@ internal override DisplayConnector CreateDisplayConnector()
            nameof(Display),
             new PinMapping
             {
-                new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_CS, _device.Pins.PB15),
+                new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_CS, _device.Pins.PB4),
                 new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_RST, _device.Pins.PB8),
-                new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_DC, _device.Pins.PB14),
+                new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_DC, _device.Pins.PI11),
                 new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_CLK, _device.Pins.SPI5_SCK),
                 new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_COPI, _device.Pins.SPI5_COPI),
                 new PinMapping.PinAlias(DisplayConnector.PinNames.DISPLAY_LED, Mcp_1.Pins.GP5),

diff --git a/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabRs485Connector.cs b/Source/Meadow.ProjectLab/ProjectLabRs485Connector.cs
@@ -7,11 +7,17 @@ namespace Meadow.Devices;
 
 public class ProjectLabRs485Connector : Rs485Connector
 {
-    private readonly Sc16is752 _expander;
+    private readonly Sc16is752? _expander;
     private ISerialPort? _serialPort;
     private ModbusRtuClient? _modbusClient;
     private ModbusRtuServer? _modbusServer;
 
+    internal ProjectLabRs485Connector()
+        : base("Unsupported hardware", new SerialPortName("null", "null", null))
+    {
+
+    }
+
     internal ProjectLabRs485Connector(Sc16is752 expander, SerialPortName portName)
         : base("RS485", portName)
     {
@@ -23,13 +29,24 @@ internal ProjectLabRs485Connector(Sc16is752 expander, SerialPortName portName)
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public override ISerialPort CreateSerialPort(int baudRate = 9600, int dataBits = 8, Parity parity = Parity.None, StopBits stopBits = StopBits.One, int readBufferSize = 1024)
     {
+        if (_expander == null)
+        {
+            throw new NotSupportedException("No UART expander detected");
+        }
+
+        Resolver.Log.Info("Creating RS485 serial port...");
         _serialPort = _expander.PortB.CreateRs485SerialPort(baudRate, dataBits, parity, stopBits);
         return _serialPort;
     }
 
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public override IModbusBusClient CreateModbusBusRtuClient(int baudRate = 19200, int dataBits = 8, Parity parity = Parity.None, StopBits stopBits = StopBits.One)
     {
+        if (_expander == null)
+        {
+            throw new NotSupportedException("No UART expander detected");
+        }
+
         Resolver.Log.Info("Creating Modbus RTU client...");
         lock (_expander)
         {
@@ -55,6 +72,11 @@ public override IModbusBusClient CreateModbusBusRtuClient(int baudRate = 19200,
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public override IModbusServer CreateModbusBusRtuServer(int baudRate = 19200, int dataBits = 8, Parity parity = Parity.None, StopBits stopBits = StopBits.One)
     {
+        if (_expander == null)
+        {
+            throw new NotSupportedException("No UART expander detected");
+        }
+
         Resolver.Log.Info("Creating Modbus RTU server...");
         lock (_expander)
         {

diff --git a/Source/ProjectLab_Demo/MeadowApp.cs b/Source/ProjectLab_Demo/MeadowApp.cs
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ namespace ProjectLab_Demo;
 
 // Change to ProjectLabFeatherApp for Project Lab V1 or V2
 // Change to ProjectLabCoreComputeApp for Project Lab V3+
-public class MeadowApp : ProjectLabCoreComputeApp
+// public class MeadowApp : ProjectLabCoreComputeApp // <-- this is for V3/v4
+public class MeadowApp : ProjectLabV5App // this is for v5+
 {
     private DisplayController? displayController;