Drop unused Microsoft.Bcl.HashCode, fix README typo

HashCode.Combine is called nowhere; the package (and its DLL in the dist
zip) was dead weight since the Core projects were created.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

PlasmaNew/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,206 @@
+# PlasmaNew — reverse-engineering the real cockpit plasma display
+
+Working notes and reference material for the cockpit plasma display.
+
+**End goal: a hardware replica.** The original Babcock plasma panels are
+starting to fail and are effectively irreplaceable. The plan is to drive a
+modern **128 × 32 LED array** with a **modern microcontroller** that reads
+the same RS-232 serial bus and speaks the same command protocol as the
+original PD01D221 — a drop-in replacement, functionally identical from the
+host's side, with none of the plasma physics or high voltage.
+
+[vPLASMA](../src/VPlasma.App/) (the C# app in this repo) is the software
+counterpart and serves the replica directly: it is an **executable
+specification** of the display's behavior and a **test oracle**. Every
+command semantic pinned down in `VPlasmaDevice` ports straight to the
+replica's firmware, and the same differential-test rig (real panel vs.
+vPLASMA) validates the replica. vPLASMA today is built from *observed
+traffic* (the game's driver + a factory test tool); grounding it in the
+*actual hardware* — protocol, fonts, and timing — feeds both the emulator
+and the replacement firmware.
+
+## What the display is
+
+A **commercial off-the-shelf Babcock Display Products Division PD01D221** —
+"128 × 32 dot-matrix, gas-plasma display with controller and DC-DC
+converter," with an RS-232C serial interface and a dedicated microprocessor
+for refresh and the user interface. Built by **Cherry** (PCB assembly
+**4317-C**, Made in Taiwan, © 1994). See [`PD01D221.pdf`](PD01D221.pdf)
+(Babcock doc 9200-0109 Rev A).
+
+Product family (the suffix letter = how much is on the board):
+
+| Model | Contents |
+|-------|----------|
+| PD01**B**22B | 128×32 panel + driver electronics only (host refreshes it) |
+| PD01**F**221 | + on-board DC-DC converter |
+| PD01**D**221 | **+ controller: RS-232C, dedicated microprocessor** ← this unit |
+
+**VWE used it stock — no custom fonts or bitmaps were installed.** So the
+display's behavior is entirely the standard Babcock PD-series firmware, and
+the `ESC P` "graphics" the game drew were rendered at runtime by the game,
+not preloaded. Nothing on the display is VWE-specific.
+
+## Board inventory
+
+Chip IDs read from the photos below.
+
+| Ref | Part | Role |
+|-----|------|------|
+| U1 | **Motorola MC68HC11D0** (44-pin QFP, mask 1C17F, wk 28/94) | ROMless HC11 MCU — the controller. Runs from external bus in expanded mode. |
+| U3 | **TI TMS27PC512** (PLCC-32, −150 ns, Singapore) | **64 KB OTP EPROM = the firmware** (stock Babcock code + fonts). Standard 27C512. |
+| U2 | QFP ~100-pin, label **"35GWP004 REV A 3994"** | Custom Cherry display/scan **ASIC** (wk 39/94). Drives the HV stage. *Not* the firmware. |
+| U4 | **Mosel MS62256L-10** | 32 KB SRAM — frame buffer / scratch. |
+| U7 | **Supertex HV7708** | 32-channel high-voltage plasma driver (more HV off-frame). |
+| U5 | **Maxim MAX202CWE** | RS-232 transceiver — the serial interface. |
+| — | **MAX707** | Reset / watchdog supervisor. |
+| Y1 | **7.3728 MHz** crystal | E-clock = 1.8432 MHz; gives exact standard baud rates. |
+
+Memory picture: ROMless HC11 + external 64 KB EPROM (code + fonts) + 32 KB
+SRAM + custom scan ASIC + HV drivers. A 64 KB program EPROM for a 128×32
+panel implies far more feature set than the game ever used.
+
+## Reference photos
+
+| File | Shows |
+|------|-------|
+| [`mpul-2026-07-07-152834.jpeg`](mpul-2026-07-07-152834.jpeg) | Controller overview: MC68HC11D0 (U1), the "35GWP004" ASIC (U2), HV7708 (U7), MAX202, MAX707. |
+| [`silkscreenl-2026-07-07-152841.jpeg`](silkscreenl-2026-07-07-152841.jpeg) | Cherry silkscreen: PCB **4317-C**, © 1994, "Made in Taiwan". |
+| [`unknown-2026-07-07-153818.jpeg`](unknown-2026-07-07-153818.jpeg) | The **TMS27PC512 EPROM** (U3, initially unidentified), Mosel SRAM (U4), HC11. |
+| [`jumpers-2026-07-07-163733.jpeg`](jumpers-2026-07-07-163733.jpeg) | The **JP1** config header next to the HC11. |
+
+## Datasheet-confirmed facts (`PD01D221.pdf`, doc 9200-0109 Rev A)
+
+- Serial format **8N1**, baud **jumper-selectable 4800 / 9600 / 19.2K /
+  38.4K** (the game uses 9600).
+- "Choice of standard fonts and styles" (= `ESC K` / `ESC H`); "program
+  custom characters" (a custom-char download command — **exists but VWE
+  didn't use it**); "graphic input commands / overlays" (= `ESC P`).
+- Serial is **bidirectional**. Connector **J1**: pin 2 TxD (display→host),
+  pin 3 RxD (host→display), pin 4 CTS, pin 8 DTR ("display ready"), pin 5
+  GND. The game drove it write-only (flow control disabled, TxD ignored),
+  so vPLASMA's listen-only model is faithful.
+- Also carries an 8-bit **parallel** port (J2), unused by the game.
+- **The datasheet does *not* contain the `ESC` command table.** That's a
+  separate Babcock programming/user manual, which is **not available online**
+  (checked general web, datasheetarchive, bitsavers, archive.org, resellers;
+  only this datasheet was ever digitized). Sources for it: ask Babcock
+  directly (La Mirada CA, (714) 994-6500, babcockinc.com), or reconstruct it
+  from the dump + the sources we already have.
+
+## Command protocol recovered so far
+
+From the game driver (`TeslaRel410\CODE\RP\MUNGA_L4\L4PLASMA.CPP`) and the
+factory test tool (`…\VWETEST\VGLTEST\PLASMA.EXE`). Full grammar lives in
+[`../src/VPlasma.Core/Protocol/PlasmaProtocol.cs`](../src/VPlasma.Core/Protocol/PlasmaProtocol.cs).
+
+| Bytes | Meaning |
+|-------|---------|
+| `ESC @` | Clear screen, reset text state |
+| `ESC L` | Home cursor |
+| `ESC G n` | Cursor mode (00/FF hidden, 01 steady, 03 flashing) |
+| `ESC K n` | Font select (0–7; FF = default) |
+| `ESC H n` | Text attributes (intensity / underline / reverse / flash) |
+| `ESC P s y x w h  data…` | Graphics write: MSB = leftmost pixel |
+| BS / HT / LF / VT / CR | Cursor motion |
+
+The Babcock manual (or a firmware dump) would fill in exact operand
+encodings, tab stops, the `ESC P` "screen" byte, and any commands the game
+never used.
+
+## JP1 configuration header
+
+Traced pin-by-pin (see the jumper photo). **JP1 is firmware-read
+configuration, not CPU mode select** — each shunt ties a GP port pin the
+firmware polls at boot. Shunt to GND = logic 0.
+
+| JP1 pos | HC11 pin | Function |
+|---------|----------|----------|
+| 1 | pin 24 / PA0 | Baud select bit 0 |
+| 2 | pin 22 / PA2 | Baud select bit 1 |
+| 3 | pin 21 / PA3 | Option (unknown) |
+| 4 | pin 15 / PD5 | Option (unknown) |
+| 5 | pin 14 / PD4 | Option (unknown) |
+| 6 | pin 13 / PD3 | Option (unknown) |
+| 7 | J2 SEL → +5 V | Parallel interface select |
+
+Positions 1–2 = the datasheet's baud "JUMPER 1 / JUMPER 2." Positions 3–6
+are four unknown firmware option bits — candidates for a hidden factory
+self-test / diagnostic mode.
+
+HC11 pin map cross-checked while tracing: PD0–PD5 = pins 10–15, PA0–PA7 =
+pins 24–17 (descending).
+
+**MODA/MODB are hardwired high (expanded mode) through a diode to +5 V — not
+jumper-selectable.** So bootstrap mode cannot be entered by moving a jumper;
+it needs a mode-pin override. (Exact diode circuit still to be characterized.)
+
+## Firmware-dump plan
+
+Goal: get the 64 KB EPROM image, disassemble the HC11 code to recover the
+full command table + font bitmaps + timing, then differential-test vPLASMA
+against the real panel on identical byte streams. The recovered spec feeds
+**both** vPLASMA and the replacement firmware.
+
+1. **Free, no-solder — hunt for a diagnostic mode.** Capture J1 TxD while
+   power-cycling normally (may emit a banner/version), then step the four
+   unknown config jumpers (PA3, PD5, PD4, PD3) through combinations watching
+   TxD for a factory self-test or ROM dump.
+2. **Serial bootstrap (conditional).** Bootstrap needs MODA = MODB = 0 at the
+   reset edge; they're pulled to +5 V via a diode. If that circuit has a
+   series resistor (or a diode-OR node), pull both low during a reset pulse
+   and run the standard **Motorola AN1060** dump loader out J1 — no cutting.
+   If hard-tied, a single trace cut/lift is needed. *Blocked on the diode
+   details.*
+3. **Reliable fallback — read the EPROM directly.** PLCC-32 test clip on U3
+   with the HC11 held in reset, or hot-air U3 off and read it in a 27C512
+   adapter. Guaranteed image.
+
+Safety: the panel runs on a few hundred volts from the on-board DC-DC. Keep
+all work in the logic corner (HC11 / EPROM / MAX202); never probe the HV
+section or the panel connector while powered.
+
+## Open items
+
+- Characterize the MODA/MODB diode circuit → decide if serial bootstrap is a
+  tack-a-wire job or needs a trace cut.
+- Capture J1 TxD across config-jumper combinations (path 1).
+- Obtain the Babcock PD01D programming manual, **or** dump the U3 EPROM.
+- Once we have the command table + fonts: fold into `VPlasmaDevice`, replace
+  the public-domain 5×7 stand-in with the real Babcock glyphs, and
+  differential-test against the hardware.
+- **Prototype the replica.** A modern MCU (RP2040 / ESP32 / Teensy) reads the
+  command stream into the same command parser and drives a 128×32 LED matrix
+  from the same frame buffer — the per-pixel lit / half-intensity / flash
+  flags in `VPlasmaDevice` map directly onto PWM brightness + blink. An amber
+  matrix best mimics the neon-orange plasma; for a true cockpit swap, match
+  the original active area (~12.75" × 3.15", ~0.1" pitch = 128×32).
+
+## Replica interface — USB, not RS-232
+
+The cockpit PCs are now **Win x64**, so the replica likely needs **no real
+serial port**: a native-USB MCU presenting as a **USB CDC virtual COM port**
+is transparent — the host opens `COMx` and can't tell it isn't a UART. This
+deletes the RS-232 transceiver and connector from the BOM. Consequences:
+
+- **Baud is cosmetic** over USB CDC (the 9600/… setting is accepted as a
+  no-op; the two baud-select jumpers need no hardware equivalent).
+- **Timing becomes instant** rather than ~1 ms/byte — harmless for a display,
+  and vPLASMA can still throttle to mimic the original for differential tests.
+- **Pin the COM number** the host expects (original was COM2) in Device
+  Manager so it drops in with no host-side config change.
+- **DTR/RTS still cross** the CDC link if any host logic ever needs them (the
+  game didn't use flow control).
+- **Power gotcha:** USB alone can't drive the LED array at full brightness —
+  use USB for data + a **separate DC feed** for the LEDs (or USB-C PD).
+
+Transparency assumes the host reaches the display as a Windows `COMx`
+endpoint — e.g. DOSBox-X `serial2=directserial realport:COMx`, which a USB
+CDC port satisfies perfectly. Confirm the current drive path.
+
+## Status
+
+**Parked pending a firmware dump.** The software emulator (vPLASMA) is built
+and released; this hardware/protocol thread is blocked on getting the U3
+EPROM image (or the Babcock programming manual). Resume at the dump plan
+above once a dump is in hand.

README.md

@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ The two apps need a crossed serial link. Install a
 (e.g. `COM1 ⇄ COM11`), then:
 
 1. Run `VRio.App`, pick `COM11`, **Open**.
-2. RIOJoy will always poit to `COM1`.
+2. RIOJoy will always point to `COM1`.
 
 RIOJoy's DTR open-pulse shows up in the wire log (DSR handshake), its ~55 ms
 analog polling drives the "analog polls served" counter, and every click on
@@ -107,11 +107,15 @@ a null-modem cable work the same way.
 
 The cockpit's second serial device is the **plasma display**: a 128×32
 dot-matrix panel on COM2 (9600 8N1, no flow control) that the game draws
-mission text and status graphics on. `VPlasma.App` is its software replica:
-a bare-glass window that opens **COM12** (the device end of the plasma's
-null-modem pair) on startup — retrying while the port is missing or busy,
-port status in the title bar — decodes the display's command stream, and
-renders the dot matrix in plasma orange, text mode included.
+mission text and status graphics on. The software replica comes in two
+forms. **Built into vRIO**: the panel's encoder strip hosts the glass at
+top left, with its own port row in the control strip (label colour = port
+status; auto-opens **COM12** at startup when present). And standalone,
+`VPlasma.App`: a bare-glass window that opens **COM12** (the device end of
+the plasma's null-modem pair) on startup — retrying while the port is
+missing or busy, port status in the title bar. Both decode the display's
+command stream and render the dot matrix in plasma orange, text mode
+included; only one can hold COM12 at a time.
 
 The command set was recovered from two Tesla 4.10 artifacts:
 `CODE\RP\MUNGA_L4\L4PLASMA.CPP` (the game's driver — it renders everything

src/VPlasma.App/PlasmaCanvas.cs

@@ -11,10 +11,14 @@ namespace VPlasma.App;
 /// </summary>
 internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
 {
-    private const int DotPitch = 5;  // 4 px dot + 1 px gap → a 640×160 dot field
-    private const int DotSize = 4;
     private const int Bezel = 4;
 
+    // Dot geometry: an N px pitch renders (N−1) px dots with a 1 px gap. The
+    // standalone glass uses the default pitch 5 (4 px dots, a 640×160 dot
+    // field); vRIO embeds the same control at pitch 3 to fit its encoder strip.
+    private readonly int _dotPitch;
+    private readonly int _dotSize;
+
     private static readonly Color BezelColor = Color.FromArgb(20, 18, 16);
     private static readonly Color GlassColor = Color.FromArgb(26, 14, 6);
     private static readonly Color UnlitDot = Color.FromArgb(46, 24, 10);
@@ -30,14 +34,14 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
     private PlasmaCursorMode _cursorMode;
     private int _cellWidth = 6, _cellHeight = 8;
 
-    public PlasmaCanvas()
+    public PlasmaCanvas(int dotPitch = 5)
     {
+        _dotPitch = dotPitch;
+        _dotSize = dotPitch - 1;
         SetStyle(ControlStyles.AllPaintingInWmPaint | ControlStyles.UserPaint |
                  ControlStyles.OptimizedDoubleBuffer | ControlStyles.FixedWidth |
                  ControlStyles.FixedHeight, true);
-        Size = new Size(
-            VPlasmaDevice.Width * DotPitch + 2 * Bezel,
-            VPlasmaDevice.Height * DotPitch + 2 * Bezel);
+        Size = SizeFor(dotPitch);
         BackColor = BezelColor;
 
         _blinkTimer.Tick += (_, _) =>
@@ -49,6 +53,11 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
         _blinkTimer.Start();
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Control size at a given dot pitch: the dot field plus bezel.</summary>
+    public static Size SizeFor(int dotPitch) => new(
+        VPlasmaDevice.Width * dotPitch + 2 * Bezel,
+        VPlasmaDevice.Height * dotPitch + 2 * Bezel);
+
     /// <summary>Snapshot the device state and repaint. Call on the UI thread.</summary>
     public void UpdateFrom(VPlasmaDevice device)
     {
@@ -77,7 +86,7 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
 
         using (var glass = new SolidBrush(GlassColor))
             g.FillRectangle(glass, Bezel - 4, Bezel - 4,
-                VPlasmaDevice.Width * DotPitch + 7, VPlasmaDevice.Height * DotPitch + 7);
+                VPlasmaDevice.Width * _dotPitch + 7, VPlasmaDevice.Height * _dotPitch + 7);
 
         using var unlit = new SolidBrush(UnlitDot);
         using var lit = new SolidBrush(LitDot);
@@ -86,7 +95,7 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
         for (int y = 0; y < VPlasmaDevice.Height; ++y)
         {
             int rowOffset = y * VPlasmaDevice.Width;
-            int py = Bezel + y * DotPitch;
+            int py = Bezel + y * _dotPitch;
             for (int x = 0; x < VPlasmaDevice.Width; ++x)
             {
                 byte dot = _frame[rowOffset + x];
@@ -96,7 +105,7 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
                 {
                     brush = (dot & VPlasmaDevice.PixelHalf) != 0 ? half : lit;
                 }
-                g.FillRectangle(brush, Bezel + x * DotPitch, py, DotSize, DotSize);
+                g.FillRectangle(brush, Bezel + x * _dotPitch, py, _dotSize, _dotSize);
             }
         }
 
@@ -108,7 +117,7 @@ internal sealed class PlasmaCanvas : Control
             int cy = _cursor.Row * _cellHeight + _cellHeight - 1;
             if (cy < VPlasmaDevice.Height)
                 for (int i = 0; i < _cellWidth && cx + i < VPlasmaDevice.Width; ++i)
-                    g.FillRectangle(lit, Bezel + (cx + i) * DotPitch, Bezel + cy * DotPitch, DotSize, DotSize);
+                    g.FillRectangle(lit, Bezel + (cx + i) * _dotPitch, Bezel + cy * _dotPitch, _dotSize, _dotSize);
         }
     }
 

src/VPlasma.Core/VPlasma.Core.csproj

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="System.Memory" Version="4.5.5" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Bcl.HashCode" Version="1.1.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="PolySharp" Version="1.14.1">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers; buildtransitive</IncludeAssets>

src/VRio.App/MainForm.cs

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 using System.Diagnostics;
 using System.IO.Ports;
+using VPlasma.App;
+using VPlasma.Core.Device;
 using VRio.Core.Device;
 using VRio.Core.Input;
 
@@ -8,15 +10,40 @@ namespace VRio.App;
 /// <summary>
 /// vRIO main window: the interactive cockpit panel on the left (the same
 /// functional map RIOJoy's profile editor shows) and a control strip on the
-/// right — COM port, device settings, and a live wire log. Open the COM port,
-/// point RIOJoy at the other end of the null-modem pair, and every click here
-/// arrives at RIOJoy exactly as if the physical cockpit sent it.
+/// right — COM ports, device settings, and a live wire log. The panel's
+/// encoder strip also hosts the built-in plasma glass (the vPLASMA display
+/// emulator) on its own COM port. At startup the usual ports
+/// (<see cref="PreferredPort"/>, <see cref="PreferredPlasmaPort"/>) are
+/// opened automatically when available; otherwise open them by hand. Point
+/// RIOJoy at the other end of the null-modem pair, and every click here
+/// arrives at RIOJoy exactly as if the physical cockpit sent it; point the
+/// game's COM2 passthrough at the plasma pair and the glass lights up.
 /// </summary>
 internal sealed class MainForm : Form
 {
+    /// <summary>
+    /// vRIO's usual port: the device end of the COM1⇄COM11 com0com pair.
+    /// Auto-opened at startup when present and free; the picker still allows
+    /// any other port.
+    /// </summary>
+    private const string PreferredPort = "COM11";
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The built-in plasma's usual port: the device end of the COM2⇄COM12
+    /// com0com pair (the game's COM2 passthrough opens the other end).
+    /// </summary>
+    private const string PreferredPlasmaPort = "COM12";
+
     private readonly VRioDevice _device = new();
     private readonly VRioSerialService _service;
+    private readonly VPlasmaDevice _plasmaDevice = new();
+    private readonly VPlasmaSerialService _plasmaService;
     private readonly PanelCanvas _canvas = new();
+    private readonly PlasmaCanvas _plasmaCanvas = new(PanelCanvas.PlasmaDotPitch)
+    {
+        Location = PanelCanvas.PlasmaSlot,
+    };
+    private int _selfTestPage;
     private readonly InputRouter _router;
     private readonly XInputGamepad _gamepad = new();
     private readonly KeyboardLampMirror _lampMirror;
@@ -25,6 +52,16 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
     private readonly string _bindingsPath = Path.Combine(
         Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData), "vRIO", "bindings.txt");
 
+    // Port rows: one line per built-in device — a name label whose colour is
+    // the port status (green = open, gray = closed), the port picker, and an
+    // Open/Close button. The one Rescan button refreshes both pickers.
+    private readonly Label _rioLabel = new()
+    {
+        Text = "vRIO",
+        Location = new Point(12, 15),
+        AutoSize = true,
+        ForeColor = Color.Gray,
+    };
     private readonly ComboBox _portBox = new()
     {
         Location = new Point(80, 12),
@@ -33,13 +70,20 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
     };
     private readonly Button _rescan = new() { Text = "Rescan", Location = new Point(214, 11), Width = 52 };
     private readonly Button _openClose = new() { Text = "Open", Location = new Point(272, 11), Width = 46 };
-    private readonly Label _linkStatus = new()
+    private readonly Label _plasmaLabel = new()
     {
-        Text = "Port closed.",
-        Location = new Point(12, 42),
+        Text = "vPLASMA",
+        Location = new Point(12, 45),
         AutoSize = true,
         ForeColor = Color.Gray,
     };
+    private readonly ComboBox _plasmaPortBox = new()
+    {
+        Location = new Point(80, 42),
+        Width = 128,
+        DropDownStyle = ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList,
+    };
+    private readonly Button _plasmaOpenClose = new() { Text = "Open", Location = new Point(272, 41), Width = 46 };
 
     private readonly CheckBox _spring = new() { Text = "Stick springs back to center", Location = new Point(10, 24), AutoSize = true, Checked = true };
     private readonly Button _centerAxes = new() { Text = "Center all axes", Location = new Point(10, 52), Width = 140, Height = 26 };
@@ -103,7 +147,8 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
         AutoSize = true,
         ForeColor = Color.Gray,
         Text = "Left-click a cell: momentary press.  Right-click: latch it down.  " +
-               "Drag the X/Y box and the Z / L / R gauges to move the axes.",
+               "Drag the X/Y box and the Z / L / R gauges to move the axes.  " +
+               "Double-click the plasma glass to cycle its self-test pages; right-click it to reset.",
     };
 
     private readonly TextBox _logBox = new()
@@ -144,11 +189,14 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
         KeyPreview = true; // form-level key routing for the input bindings
 
         _service = new VRioSerialService(_device);
+        _plasmaService = new VPlasmaSerialService(_plasmaDevice);
         _router = new InputRouter(_device);
         _lampMirror = new KeyboardLampMirror(_device);
 
-        // Panel canvas, scrolled if the window is smaller than the grid.
+        // Panel canvas, scrolled if the window is smaller than the grid. The
+        // plasma glass rides along as a child in the encoder strip's left slot.
         var scroller = new Panel { Dock = DockStyle.Fill, AutoScroll = true, BackColor = Color.FromArgb(28, 28, 28) };
+        _canvas.Controls.Add(_plasmaCanvas);
         scroller.Controls.Add(_canvas);
 
         Controls.Add(scroller);
@@ -177,8 +225,22 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
         _service.HostHandshake += high => RunOnUi(() =>
             PrependLog(high ? "Host raised DTR (board-reset handshake)" : "Host dropped DTR"));
 
+        // Built-in plasma glass: a pure listener on its own port, same gestures
+        // as the standalone vPLASMA — double-click cycles the self-test pages,
+        // right-click resets the display to its power-on state.
+        _plasmaDevice.Updated += () => RunOnUi(() => _plasmaCanvas.UpdateFrom(_plasmaDevice));
+        _plasmaService.Logged += line => RunOnUi(() => PrependLog($"vPLASMA: {line}"));
+        _plasmaService.ConnectionChanged += open => RunOnUi(() => OnPlasmaConnectionChanged(open));
+        _plasmaCanvas.DoubleClick += (_, _) => RunPlasmaSelfTest();
+        _plasmaCanvas.MouseClick += (_, e) =>
+        {
+            if (e.Button == MouseButtons.Right)
+                _plasmaDevice.Reset();
+        };
+
         _rescan.Click += (_, _) => RefreshPorts();
         _openClose.Click += (_, _) => ToggleOpen();
+        _plasmaOpenClose.Click += (_, _) => TogglePlasmaOpen();
         _spring.CheckedChanged += (_, _) => _canvas.StickSpringsBack = _spring.Checked;
         _centerAxes.Click += (_, _) =>
         {
@@ -242,12 +304,15 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
             _lampMirror.Dispose();
             _rawKeyboard.Dispose();
             _service.Dispose();
+            _plasmaService.Dispose();
         };
 
         RefreshPorts();
         UpdateStatus();
         PrependLog("vRIO ready. Open a COM port, then point RIOJoy at the other end of the pair.");
         LoadBindings();
+        _plasmaCanvas.UpdateFrom(_plasmaDevice); // paint the power-on frame
+        AutoOpenPreferredPorts();
     }
 
     private Panel BuildControlStrip()
@@ -265,11 +330,13 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
             BorderStyle = BorderStyle.FixedSingle,
         };
 
-        panel.Controls.Add(new Label { Text = "COM port:", Location = new Point(12, 15), AutoSize = true });
+        panel.Controls.Add(_rioLabel);
         panel.Controls.Add(_portBox);
         panel.Controls.Add(_rescan);
         panel.Controls.Add(_openClose);
-        panel.Controls.Add(_linkStatus);
+        panel.Controls.Add(_plasmaLabel);
+        panel.Controls.Add(_plasmaPortBox);
+        panel.Controls.Add(_plasmaOpenClose);
 
         var device = new GroupBox { Text = "Device", Location = new Point(12, 68), Size = new Size(306, 88) };
         device.Controls.AddRange(new Control[] { _spring, _centerAxes, _lampsOff });
@@ -296,26 +363,80 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
 
     private void RefreshPorts()
     {
-        string? current = _portBox.SelectedItem?.ToString();
-        _portBox.Items.Clear();
-        foreach (string name in SerialPort.GetPortNames().Distinct().OrderBy(n => n, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
-            _portBox.Items.Add(name);
+        string[] names = SerialPort.GetPortNames().Distinct()
+            .OrderBy(n => n, StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase).ToArray();
+        // An open service's picker is disabled and shows the served port;
+        // leave it alone so the display can't drift from reality.
+        if (!_service.IsOpen)
+            RefreshPicker(_portBox, names);
+        if (!_plasmaService.IsOpen)
+            RefreshPicker(_plasmaPortBox, names);
+    }
 
-        if (_portBox.Items.Count == 0)
+    private static void RefreshPicker(ComboBox box, string[] portNames)
+    {
+        string? current = box.SelectedItem?.ToString();
+        box.Items.Clear();
+        foreach (string name in portNames)
+            box.Items.Add(name);
+
+        if (box.Items.Count == 0)
             return;
-        int idx = current is null ? -1 : _portBox.Items.IndexOf(current);
-        _portBox.SelectedIndex = idx >= 0 ? idx : 0;
+        int idx = current is null ? -1 : box.Items.IndexOf(current);
+        box.SelectedIndex = idx >= 0 ? idx : 0;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Startup convenience: if a device's usual port exists, select it and try
+    /// to open it. Failures (port missing, or busy because another vRIO/app
+    /// holds it) just log — no modal box at launch — and leave the manual
+    /// pickers in charge.
+    /// </summary>
+    private void AutoOpenPreferredPorts()
+    {
+        AutoOpen(_portBox, PreferredPort, _service.Open);
+        AutoOpen(_plasmaPortBox, PreferredPlasmaPort, _plasmaService.Open);
+    }
+
+    private void AutoOpen(ComboBox box, string port, Action<string> open)
+    {
+        int idx = box.Items.IndexOf(port);
+        if (idx < 0)
+        {
+            PrependLog($"{port} not present — pick a port and open it manually.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        box.SelectedIndex = idx;
+        try
+        {
+            open(port);
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex) when (ex is IOException or UnauthorizedAccessException or InvalidOperationException or ArgumentException)
+        {
+            PrependLog($"{port} is present but could not be opened ({ex.Message.TrimEnd('.')}) — open it manually once it frees up.");
+        }
     }
 
     private void ToggleOpen()
     {
         if (_service.IsOpen)
-        {
             _service.Close();
-            return;
-        }
+        else
+            OpenFromPicker(_portBox, _service.Open);
+    }
 
-        if (_portBox.SelectedItem?.ToString() is not { } port)
+    private void TogglePlasmaOpen()
+    {
+        if (_plasmaService.IsOpen)
+            _plasmaService.Close();
+        else
+            OpenFromPicker(_plasmaPortBox, _plasmaService.Open);
+    }
+
+    private void OpenFromPicker(ComboBox box, Action<string> open)
+    {
+        if (box.SelectedItem?.ToString() is not { } port)
         {
             MessageBox.Show(this, "No COM port selected. On a single PC, install a com0com virtual " +
                 "null-modem pair and open one end here.", "vRIO", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information);
@@ -324,7 +445,7 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
 
         try
         {
-            _service.Open(port);
+            open(port);
         }
         catch (Exception ex)
         {
@@ -336,12 +457,29 @@ internal sealed class MainForm : Form
     private void OnConnectionChanged(bool open)
     {
         _openClose.Text = open ? "Close" : "Open";
-        _portBox.Enabled = _rescan.Enabled = !open;
-        _linkStatus.Text = open ? $"Serving {_service.PortName} @ 9600 8N1." : "Port closed.";
-        _linkStatus.ForeColor = open ? Color.ForestGreen : Color.Gray;
+        _portBox.Enabled = !open;
+        _rioLabel.ForeColor = open ? Color.ForestGreen : Color.Gray;
         UpdateStatus();
     }
 
+    private void OnPlasmaConnectionChanged(bool open)
+    {
+        _plasmaOpenClose.Text = open ? "Close" : "Open";
+        _plasmaPortBox.Enabled = !open;
+        _plasmaLabel.ForeColor = open ? Color.ForestGreen : Color.Gray;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Feed the next canned self-test page through the plasma's wire parser —
+    /// the same end-to-end exercise the standalone vPLASMA runs on double-click.
+    /// </summary>
+    private void RunPlasmaSelfTest()
+    {
+        byte[] bytes = PlasmaSelfTest.BuildPage(_selfTestPage);
+        _plasmaDevice.OnReceived(bytes, bytes.Length);
+        _selfTestPage = (_selfTestPage + 1) % PlasmaSelfTest.PageCount;
+    }
+
     // ---- Keyboard / gamepad input -------------------------------------------
 
     /// <summary>

src/VRio.App/PanelCanvas.cs

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using VPlasma.App;
 using VRio.Core.Device;
 using VRio.Core.Panel;
 using VRio.Core.Protocol;
@@ -16,6 +17,10 @@ namespace VRio.App;
 /// fill toward full travel (negative on the wire for the throttle, positive
 /// for the pedals), and the stick covers ±80 around its center.
 ///
+/// <para>The strip's left slot hosts the built-in plasma glass: MainForm parks
+/// its <see cref="PlasmaCanvas"/> child at <see cref="PlasmaSlot"/>, and the
+/// strip height and gauge positions derive from the glass size.</para>
+///
 /// <para>Left-click = momentary press (release on mouse-up). Right-click =
 /// latch the button down / release it (handy for testing holds).</para>
 /// </summary>
@@ -24,16 +29,27 @@ internal sealed class PanelCanvas : Control
     // Cell geometry — identical to RIOJoy's PanelView so the two panels align.
     private const int CellW = 66;
     private const int CellH = 34;
-    private const int TopStrip = 78; // encoder strip: gauges end at 74, small gap to the grid
 
     private static readonly IReadOnlyList<PanelButton> AllButtons = CockpitLayout.Buttons();
 
-    // Encoder-strip geometry (same placement as RIOJoy's PanelView): Z gauge,
-    // the pedal gauges L / R, and the X/Y stick box.
+    // First grid row any group occupies (the shared layout leaves row 0
+    // empty). Rendering shifts all rows up by this, so the button grid starts
+    // right under the encoder strip instead of a blank cell row below it.
+    private static readonly int FirstRow = CockpitLayout.Groups.Min(g => g.OriginRow);
+
+    // Encoder-strip geometry. The built-in plasma glass parks at the strip's
+    // left edge (MainForm adds its PlasmaCanvas as a child at PlasmaSlot),
+    // the axis gauges — Z, the pedal gauges L / R, and the X/Y stick box —
+    // hug the grid's right edge, and the green status text fills the gap
+    // between them. The strip is exactly as tall as the glass.
+    internal const int PlasmaDotPitch = 3; // 2 px dots: the 128×32 glass fits the strip
+    internal static readonly Size PlasmaSize = PlasmaCanvas.SizeFor(PlasmaDotPitch);
     private const int StripTop = 6;
-    private const int StripH = 68;
+    internal static readonly Point PlasmaSlot = new(6, StripTop);
+    private static readonly int StripH = PlasmaSize.Height;
+    private static readonly int TopStrip = StripTop + StripH + 6; // button grid starts under the strip
     private const int Bar = 30;
-    private static readonly int BaseX = 6 * CellW - 100;
+    private static readonly int BaseX = GridWidth() - 6 - 200; // the gauge cluster spans 200 px, right-aligned
     private static readonly Rectangle BoxZ = new(BaseX, StripTop, Bar, StripH);
     private static readonly Rectangle BoxL = new(BaseX + 34, StripTop, Bar, StripH);
     private static readonly Rectangle BoxR = new(BaseX + 34 + 82 - Bar, StripTop, Bar, StripH);
@@ -109,19 +125,27 @@ internal sealed class PanelCanvas : Control
         base.Dispose(disposing);
     }
 
+    // Split from GridSize so the static gauge layout can use the width
+    // without touching TopStrip (which initializes after AllButtons).
+    private static int GridWidth()
+    {
+        int maxCol = 0;
+        foreach (PanelButton b in AllButtons)
+            if (b.Col > maxCol) maxCol = b.Col;
+        return (maxCol + 1) * CellW + 6;
+    }
+
     private static Size GridSize()
     {
-        int maxCol = 0, maxRow = 0;
+        int maxRow = 0;
         foreach (PanelButton b in AllButtons)
-        {
-            if (b.Col > maxCol) maxCol = b.Col;
             if (b.Row > maxRow) maxRow = b.Row;
-        }
-        return new Size((maxCol + 1) * CellW + 6, TopStrip + (maxRow + 2) * CellH);
+        // The last used row plus a small margin under the lowest group frame.
+        return new Size(GridWidth(), TopStrip + (maxRow - FirstRow + 1) * CellH + 6);
     }
 
     private static Rectangle Cell(int col, int row) =>
-        new(col * CellW + 2, TopStrip + row * CellH + 2, CellW - 4, CellH - 4);
+        new(col * CellW + 2, TopStrip + (row - FirstRow) * CellH + 2, CellW - 4, CellH - 4);
 
     // ---- Painting ----------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -142,7 +166,7 @@ internal sealed class PanelCanvas : Control
         {
             var frame = new Rectangle(
                 grp.OriginCol * CellW + 1,
-                TopStrip + grp.OriginRow * CellH + 1,
+                TopStrip + (grp.OriginRow - FirstRow) * CellH + 1,
                 grp.Cols * CellW,
                 (grp.Rows + 1) * CellH);
             g.DrawRectangle(groupPen, frame);
@@ -288,10 +312,12 @@ internal sealed class PanelCanvas : Control
             new Rectangle(BoxXY.X, BoxXY.Bottom - 16, BoxXY.Width, 14), Color.Gainsboro,
             TextFormatFlags.HorizontalCenter | TextFormatFlags.Bottom);
 
-        // The mockup's green status/instruction area, right of the gauges; the
-        // live axis readout sits directly under the status lines (painted per
-        // frame, so drags track).
-        var statusRect = new Rectangle(BoxXY.Right + 16, StripTop, Width - BoxXY.Right - 24, TopStrip - StripTop - 6);
+        // The mockup's green status/instruction area, between the plasma glass
+        // and the gauges; the live axis readout sits directly under the status
+        // lines (painted per frame, so drags track).
+        var statusRect = new Rectangle(
+            PlasmaSlot.X + PlasmaSize.Width + 12, StripTop,
+            BoxZ.Left - PlasmaSlot.X - PlasmaSize.Width - 24, StripH);
         if (statusRect.Width > 60)
         {
             using var statusFont = new Font("Consolas", 8f);
@@ -307,11 +333,11 @@ internal sealed class PanelCanvas : Control
 
             short WireAxis(RioAxis a) => WireAxisProvider?.Invoke(a) ?? Axis(a);
             string readout =
-                $"Z {WireAxis(RioAxis.Throttle),4}  L {WireAxis(RioAxis.LeftPedal),3}  R {WireAxis(RioAxis.RightPedal),3}  " +
+                $"Z {WireAxis(RioAxis.Throttle),4}  L {WireAxis(RioAxis.LeftPedal),3}  R {WireAxis(RioAxis.RightPedal),3}\n" +
                 $"X {WireAxis(RioAxis.JoystickX),3}  Y {WireAxis(RioAxis.JoystickY),3}";
             TextRenderer.DrawText(g, readout, statusFont,
                 new Rectangle(statusRect.X, readoutTop, statusRect.Width, statusRect.Bottom - readoutTop), green,
-                TextFormatFlags.Left | TextFormatFlags.Top | TextFormatFlags.SingleLine);
+                TextFormatFlags.Left | TextFormatFlags.Top);
         }
     }
 

src/VRio.App/VRio.App.csproj

@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <ProjectReference Include="..\VRio.Core\VRio.Core.csproj" />
+    <!-- The built-in plasma glass: vPLASMA's device/protocol core, plus its
+         canvas control compiled in directly (shared file, not a library —
+         VPlasma.Core stays UI-free). -->
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\VPlasma.Core\VPlasma.Core.csproj" />
+    <Compile Include="..\VPlasma.App\PlasmaCanvas.cs" Link="PlasmaCanvas.cs" />
   </ItemGroup>
 
   <!-- Stamp commit date + short sha into InformationalVersion; the window

src/VRio.Core/VRio.Core.csproj

@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@
 
   <ItemGroup>
     <PackageReference Include="System.Memory" Version="4.5.5" />
-    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Bcl.HashCode" Version="1.1.1" />
     <PackageReference Include="PolySharp" Version="1.14.1">
       <PrivateAssets>all</PrivateAssets>
       <IncludeAssets>runtime; build; native; contentfiles; analyzers; buildtransitive</IncludeAssets>