https://github.com/knifter/com_monitor
USB COM Info and Connection Monitor
https://github.com/knifter/com_monitor
Last synced: 26 days ago
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USB COM Info and Connection Monitor
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/knifter/com_monitor
- Owner: knifter
- Created: 2026-04-06T08:17:43.000Z (3 months ago)
- Default Branch: main
- Last Pushed: 2026-05-22T12:50:12.000Z (about 1 month ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-05-22T17:29:16.695Z (about 1 month ago)
- Language: Python
- Homepage:
- Size: 381 KB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
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README
# USB COM Monitor
Small always-on-top desktop widget that lists every connected COM port at a glance — port name, VID/PID, how long it has been plugged in, whether it is open or free, plus a flash animation as ports come and go. Double-clicking a port opens a built-in serial terminal for it.
Useful during embedded development when you want to watch ports enumerate and talk to them without keeping Device Manager and a separate terminal program open.
## Features
- **Live port list** — port name, VID:PID, age, a colour status dot (green = free, red = open by another process, yellow = just appeared), open/free status, serial number / hub location, and the Windows description.
- **Flash on connect** — a newly appeared port flashes amber and fades back over the highlight duration; ports present at startup don't flash.
- **Removed ports linger** — unplugged ports stay listed in red and fade out for a configurable time so you can see what just disappeared.
- **Custom names** — give any device a memorable label, keyed by VID:PID:serial so it sticks across re-plugs.
- **Stays out of the way** — always-on-top (optionally dropped after idle), optional move-to-back on idle, and an opacity fade when you're not interacting with it. Transparency is adjustable.
- **Per-device memory** — names, serial settings, and terminal window size/position are saved per device in `settings.json`.
### Using it
- **Open a terminal** — click a row's **Status** cell. If the port is busy or the device is unplugged, the row shows *waiting* and the terminal opens automatically as soon as the port is free again.
- **Edit a custom name** — double-click the **Serial / Loc** cell, type a name, and press **Enter** (**Esc** cancels). Clear the text to remove the name.
- **Edit settings** — click the **⚙** button in the title bar. The dialog covers highlight duration, how long removed ports stay, always-on-top and its idle drop, move-to-back on idle, the fade-after-idle delay (0 = fade immediately on leaving), and live-preview sliders for window and terminal transparency.
## Terminal
A serial terminal opens in its own borderless window per device. Each remembers its own size and position.
- **Send / receive** — RX and TX are colour-coded in the output pane; type in the input line and press **Enter** to send, with a configurable line ending.
- **Smart auto-scroll** — follows new data only when you're already at the bottom, so scrolling up to read holds your position.
- **Connect / Disconnect** — toggle the connection from the title bar; the row's status reflects the live connection state.
- **Reconnect on unplug** — optionally keeps the terminal open when the device is removed and reconnects automatically when it returns.
- **Modem lines** — optional title-bar **RTS** / **DTR** buttons to drive those outputs (green = asserted), plus live **CTS** / **DSR** / **DCD** indicators. Choose *None*, *RTS/DTR* (controls only), or *Full* (controls + indicators) per device.
- **Pin (📌)** — toggle the terminal's always-on-top independently of the main window.
- **Clear** the output, or open the **⚙** port settings.
- **Resizable** from any edge or corner; drag the title bar to move.
### Port settings
Open the terminal's **⚙** to set **baud, data bits, parity, stop bits, line ending, signals** (None / RTS/DTR / Full), and **reconnect-on-unplug**. Settings are saved per device (VID:PID:serial) and applied immediately on save.