It would be nice to try it with SAAS and then buy a local license.

It is similar to the Tydbit device [0] where you can program the device but it runs on their cloud. That is fine unless Tydbit goes out of business. That fear of loss stopped me from doing too much programming with it.

I think the same may be true here.

[0] https://tidbyt.com

If it supports ESC/POS commands then yes, otherwise no.

Looking at the code you shared, it seems like the cat has quite a different protocol than the bear. The opcodes seem different, and there seems to be some sort of crc happening that is completely absent in the bear. So I doubt my code will work without major adjustments.

In case you missed it, the first link you shared also has a "test unknown printer", so maybe yours is just a minor hardware iteration but might work nonetheless!

The portability of the whole setup makes it easy to bring to an LGS, it's always a treat to see people's reactions when I pull out the printer and they see how the deck works!

The fact that they make a loud noise every time an order comes through is useful for a restaurant kitchen, too.

The Epson TM-U220 is one model to consider.

I do get the impression companies are beginning to move back to traditional printed receipts, at least a bit, here in the UK.

I currently use a local LLM to scan my notes, meeting transcripts, todo list and calendar. I currently have an iPad that displays some items (e.g. if I have important personal tasks to do today that I might have forgotten) and I would love it to be printed out like this.

Nothing to do with generating novel text, it's just used as a flexible API to my existing text and items.

I wouldn't worry though, I have a feeling this is going away by the end of the decade.

A dumpster fire works well too: https://gizmodo.com/watch-your-feelings-about-2020-burn-in-a...

You can also use lp, lpr, or nc to send text and codes to it.

Mine is connected to my network via Ethernet. No RPi is required to send stuff to it from any computer on the network.

The home equivalent of a fast food kitchen ticket printer!

I think this is a fun little project, but only until people discover how annoying thermal printers are in actual use, combining all the user-hostility of printers with a tiny form factor.

If you want a really unique gimmick, you can get wireless bluetooth thermal printers that have belt loops. Intended as table-side receipt printers for waitstaff or ticket printers for transit.

Another unique feature receipt printers often have that regular ones don't: a 24V pulse "kicker", intended for firing the release solenoid on cash drawers. I'm sure someone can find a use for that.

(I spent some time in the POS software mines)

// Hardcoded token for authentication $authToken = 'your-secure-token-here';

// Set the printer name (adjust to your printer's name) $printerName = 'YourPrinterName';

// Allow only POST requests if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] !== 'POST') { http_response_code(405); echo json_encode(['error' => 'Method not allowed. Use POST.']); exit; }

// Check for token in the request if (empty($_POST['token']) || $_POST['token'] !== $authToken) { http_response_code(401); echo json_encode(['error' => 'Unauthorized: Invalid token.']); exit; }

// Check if a file was uploaded if (empty($_FILES['file']) || $_FILES['file']['error'] !== UPLOAD_ERR_OK) { http_response_code(400); echo json_encode(['error' => 'No file uploaded or file upload error.']); exit; }

// Get the uploaded file path $uploadedFile = $_FILES['file']['tmp_name']; $fileName = basename($_FILES['file']['name']);

// Use lp command to print the file $command = escapeshellcmd("lp -d " . escapeshellarg($printerName) . " " . escapeshellarg($uploadedFile)); exec($command, $output, $status);

// Check the status of the command if ($status === 0) { http_response_code(200); echo json_encode(['success' => "File '$fileName' sent to printer '$printerName'."]); } else { http_response_code(500); echo json_encode(['error' => 'Failed to print the file.']); }