Live_RC/windows/README.md

Windows 11 installation

This folder contains the supported Windows 11 installation and start scripts for RC RaceCore.

Supported runtime

• 64-bit Windows 11 (x64 or arm64)
• Node.js 22 or 24 LTS
• npm 10 or newer
• bundled AMMC runtime in AMMC\windows64

Node.js 18 and 20 are not supported by the current native SQLite dependency.

Recommended installation

1. Extract or clone the complete repository, preferably to a short path such as C:\Live_RC.
2. Double-click windows\install.bat.
3. Approve the Node.js LTS installation if Windows asks for it.
4. Wait until the script reports Windows setup completed.
5. The installer runs npm.cmd restart, leaving the backend running in the background.
6. Open http://localhost:8081.

The installer:

• checks the Windows architecture
• checks Node.js and installs current LTS with winget when needed
• installs/checks Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 x64 Runtime for bundled AMMC
• runs npm.cmd ci from package-lock.json
• verifies that Express loads
• opens an in-memory SQLite database through better-sqlite3
• verifies ammc-amb.exe, ammc.dll, and MyLapsSDK.dll
• creates data\ and logs\
• runs npm.cmd restart so both new installations and updates use the installed code immediately

Run from PowerShell instead when you want options:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process Bypass
.\windows\setup.ps1

Install, add inbound firewall rules for 8081 and decoder channels 9000-9003, and start the server:

Start-Process powershell -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList '-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File .\windows\setup.ps1 -OpenFirewall -StartServer'

Manual installation

Install Node.js 22 or 24 LTS, then run in the repository root:

npm.cmd ci
npm.cmd run verify
npm.cmd start

npm.cmd ci installs exactly the dependency versions in package-lock.json. The install fails early with an actionable message if Node.js is unsupported. The post-install verification also fails if the native SQLite module cannot run.

The project intentionally uses better-sqlite3 v12.11.x. That release provides a working prebuilt Windows binary for the supported Node.js versions. The package is explicitly listed in allowScripts so npm 12 may run its binary installer; do not use npm.cmd ci --ignore-scripts.

Use npm.cmd from PowerShell when local execution policy blocks npm.ps1. The plain npm command works normally from Command Prompt (cmd.exe).

Runtime commands

npm.cmd start
npm.cmd run status
npm.cmd restart
npm.cmd stop
npm.cmd run start:fg

• npm.cmd start starts server.js in the background.
• npm.cmd run status reads data\server.pid and reports process state.
• npm.cmd restart restarts the background process.
• npm.cmd stop stops it.
• npm.cmd run start:fg runs in the current terminal for troubleshooting.
• stdout is written to logs\server.out.log.
• stderr is written to logs\server.err.log.
• SQLite data is written to data\rc_timing.sqlite.

Windows helper scripts

• windows\install.bat: install, verify, and restart the backend
• windows\start_backend.bat: start the Node backend in the background
• windows\restart_backend.bat: restart the Node backend after copied or pulled updates
• windows\start_ammc.bat: start bundled AMMC manually
• windows\start_all.bat: start AMMC, backend, and open the browser
• windows\stop_all.bat: stop the backend and ammc-amb.exe

Manual AMMC start with a decoder IP:

windows\start_ammc.bat 192.168.1.10

The script resolves the executable to:

AMMC\windows64\ammc-amb.exe

You can override its defaults before starting:

set DECODER_IP=192.168.1.10
set WS_PORT=9000
windows\start_ammc.bat

Managed AMMC from the web UI

For the complete decoder/IP diagram and examples for Main, Split, and Pit roles, see ..\docs\decoder-setup.md or the Swedish guide.

The recommended normal operation is to let the backend manage AMMC:

1. Start RC RaceCore with npm.cmd start.
2. Open Settings.
3. Enable Managed AMMC.
4. Set the Main decoder IP and WebSocket port 9000.
5. Optionally enable Split (9001) and Pit entry/exit (9002/9003) with the IP address of each physical decoder.
6. Save and click Start AMMC.
7. Use the server WebSocket URLs and connect the decoders.

AMMC always runs on the computer that runs npm.cmd start. Opening the UI from a laptop does not start AMMC on that laptop.

Network access

• Admin/UI/backend: TCP 8081
• Main AMMC WebSocket: TCP 9000
• Optional Split/Pit AMMC WebSockets: TCP 9001-9003

Each physical decoder has its own IP. Each AMMC process on the Windows backend has its own WebSocket port. Main is the only channel that counts laps; Split records intermediate times, while Pit entry and Pit exit open and close a timed pit stop.

Find the Windows server address with:

ipconfig

Then open this from another computer on the LAN:

http://<windows-server-ip>:8081

Do not expose the full admin UI directly to the internet. Publish only /public-overlay/* through a reverse proxy when an external overlay is needed.

Native dependency troubleshooting

better-sqlite3 normally installs a prebuilt Windows binary and does not require Visual Studio. If npm falls back to compiling it:

1. Confirm node --version reports Node 22 or 24.
2. Move the repository to a short ASCII path such as C:\Live_RC.
3. Run the Node native-tools installer as Administrator:

& "C:\Program Files\nodejs\install_tools.bat"

4. Reopen PowerShell and run:

npm.cmd ci
npm.cmd run verify

Update an existing installation

Stop the service, update the files, reinstall locked dependencies, verify, and restart:

npm.cmd stop
git pull
npm.cmd ci
npm.cmd run verify
npm.cmd restart

Keep data\ when updating. It contains the SQLite database, saved state, PID file, and local AMMC configuration.