DashScene Documentation

Welcome to the DashScene documentation. This guide provides technical information to help you set up and operate your DashScene display instances (“Dash Instances”) reliably.

Our documentation is a work in progress and will be expanded over time as we add more features, deployment options, and best-practice guides.

1. System Hardware Requirements

This section outlines the system requirements for running Dash Instances.

1.1 Supported Raspberry Pi Devices

Recommended (Supported)

  • Device: Raspberry Pi 5
  • CPU: Quad-core 2.4 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Storage: 32 GB or larger (microSD or SSD)
  • Operating System (Required): Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit (current stable release)
  • Browser: Google Chrome or Chromium (latest)
Note
  • The 64-bit stable release of Raspberry Pi OS is not supported for DashScene due to known performance issues.

Minimum (Supported)

  • Device: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
  • CPU: Quad-core 1.8 GHz
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM
  • Storage: At least 32 GB (microSD or SSD)
  • Operating System (Required): Raspberry Pi OS 32-bit (current stable release)
  • Browser: Google Chrome or Chromium (latest)
Note
  • See note above regarding 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS.
  • Display resolutions of greater than 1920 × 1080 (1080p) may result in poor performance.
  • The minimum supported configuration is suitable for typical DashScene layouts. More resource-intensive configurations (e.g., complex layouts, heavy use of animations, or multiple high-resolution content sources) may experience reduced performance, such as less smooth animations. For these scenarios, the recommended configuration (above) is strongly advised.

1.2 Network and Power Requirements

  • Network Connectivity
    • A stable high-speed internet connection is required for Dash Instances to retrieve content and updates.
    • Recommended: Wired Ethernet for production displays. Wi-Fi may be used where wiring is not practical but can be more sensitive to interference and signal loss.
  • Power & Operating Conditions
    • Use the official or vendor-recommended power supply for Raspberry Pi devices.
    • Ensure adequate ventilation around the device and display, especially for 24/7 operation.
    • Avoid placing devices in environments with excessive heat, dust, or moisture.

1.3 Display Requirements

Minimum Display Requirements

  • Resolution: 1280 × 720 (720p)
  • Connection: HDMI (or another display connection compatible with the device)

Recommended Display Characteristics

  • Resolution: 1080p or higher (e.g., 4K) when used with recommended hardware (e.g., Raspberry Pi 5)
  • Usage: Commercial- or professional-grade display recommended for continuous operation

1.4 Other Configurations (Not Officially Supported)

DashScene is optimized and tested primarily for Raspberry Pi devices running Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit). Other environments may work, but are not officially supported.

An example of a configuration that is generally capable of running DashScene, but is not part of our supported test matrix:

  • Device: Windows PC
  • Operating System: Windows 11
  • CPU: 1.6 GHz or faster (64-bit)
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Storage: At least 128 GB total disk space
  • Browser: Google Chrome

DashScene may also function on:

  • Smart TVs with built-in browsers
  • Streaming devices (e.g., Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV) using web browser apps
  • Casting setups (e.g., Chrome tab casting / Chromecast)
  • Android tablets running Android 5.1 (API level 22) or later with a current version of Google Chrome or another Chromium-based browser

Support status: These configurations are unsupported and intended for experimentation only. DashScene may function, but performance, reliability, and feature compatibility are not guaranteed. In addition, reliable automatic start-up after device reboot or power loss (e.g., auto-launching the browser in kiosk mode) is not guaranteed on these platforms. DashScene support may ask you to reproduce issues on a supported Raspberry Pi configuration.

2. Browser Requirements

DashScene requires a modern Chromium-based browser:

  • Supported browsers:
    • Google Chrome
    • Chromium
  • Recommendation: Use a current, supported version for security and performance.
  • Suggested Settings:
    • Hardware acceleration enabled (where available)
    • Kiosk or full-screen mode enabled on display devices
  • Browser extensions: Ad blockers, content filters, or aggressive security/privacy extensions may interfere with DashScene. For production displays, we recommend running a clean browser profile without additional extensions.

3. Basic Troubleshooting

If your Dash Instance is not displaying correctly, appears frozen, or is not updating:

  1. Refresh the Dash Instance
    • Close the browser tab or window running DashScene.
    • Reopen the browser and reload your DashScene URL.
  2. Restart the Browser
    • Fully exit the web browser running DashScene.
    • Open the browser again and navigate back to your DashScene URL.
  3. Restart the Device
    • Use the operating system’s restart/shutdown option to safely reboot the Raspberry Pi or computer.
    • After the reboot, open the browser and return to your DashScene URL.
  4. Check the Display
    • Confirm the display is powered on and set to the correct input.
    • Ensure HDMI or other display cables are firmly connected.
  5. Check Network Connectivity
    • Verify that the device is connected to the internet (wired or Wi-Fi).
    • Update network settings if your Wi-Fi name, password, or router has changed.

If the issue persists after restarting the browser and device, please contact your system administrator or DashScene support with details (device model, operating system, browser version, and what you see on screen).