Hand recorder: headsets without the colour module

Without the Arcturus module, XRService runs the side cameras through the
ISP ("ISP enabled for tracking cameras (main VFE available)"): NV12 on
vfe0 and vfe1, pitch 1152. ft-camd published only grey cameras, so it
dropped them, and the recorder stopped at "ft-camd publishes only 2 of 4
mono cameras" whatever was restarted.

- ft-camd reads a tracking camera's NV12 luma as its grey image.
- ft-hands and check_sides name the cameras by XRService's numbering in
  its log (TrackingCameraInit index 0-3), not by capture pipe, which
  moves with the module; a camera whose size isn't its calibration's is
  left out. sides.json says which device each camera was.
- camcheck reports the camera map, the ISP routing and which cameras
  ft-camd is missing; the recorder says so instead of "restart it",
  restarts its own ft-camd once when that's the only problem, and keeps
  the map in session.json.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
(cherry picked from commit 4db5266cf7)

hands/camcheck.py

@@ -56,13 +56,19 @@ ANSI = re.compile(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m")
 STAMP = re.compile(r"^\w{3} \w{3} \d{2} \d{4} (\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2})\.\d+ (\w+): ?(.*)$")
 # Lines worth reading; anything else is skipped before the regexes (the log grows by MBs a day).
 KEYS = ("FPGA", "VCINT", "Created", "TrackingCameraInit", "Closing tracking camera", "Streaming",
-        "systemd suspend", "systemd resume", "XRService logging to", "Exiting XRService")
+        "systemd suspend", "systemd resume", "XRService logging to", "Exiting XRService", "ISP ")
+# XRService's numbering of its tracking cameras (the TrackingCameraInit index): ft-hands names
+# them this way too (track/main.cpp, cameras_from_xrservice_log).
+NAMES = ("slam_left", "slam_right", "upper_left", "upper_right")
 RE_PASSTHRU = re.compile(r"Passthrough connected but FPGA is (\S+) - loading VCINT")
 RE_INTERLEAVE = re.compile(r"Upper cameras FPGA interleaving support: (\d)")
 RE_TASKS = re.compile(r"Created (\d+) tasks \((\d+) tracking, (\d+) passthrough\)")
 RE_INIT = re.compile(r"TrackingCameraInit: index: (\d+)\. video device: /dev/video(\d+)")
 RE_STREAM = re.compile(r"Streaming resumed \(FPGA: (\S+), VC interleaving: (\w+)\)")
 RE_STATE = re.compile(r"FPGA state check: (\S+)")
+# Without the colour module XRService runs the side cameras through the ISP, as NV12 on other
+# capture pipes (vfe0 and vfe1), and the upper pair on vfe3 and vfe4.
+RE_ISP = re.compile(r"ISP (enabled|disabled) for tracking cameras")
 
 
 class LogState:
@@ -85,7 +91,7 @@ class LogState:
     def _new_episode(self, t):
         self.closed = False
         self.episode = {"start": t, "fpga_before": "", "vcint": "", "interleave": None, "tasks": None,
-                        "inits": {}, "stream": "", "failure": "", "evidence": []}
+                        "inits": {}, "stream": "", "isp": None, "failure": "", "evidence": []}
         if self.closed_at:
             self.episode["evidence"].append(self.closed_at)
 
@@ -146,6 +152,12 @@ class LogState:
             ep["interleave"] = int(m.group(1))
             ep["evidence"].append(short)
             return
+        m = RE_ISP.search(text)
+        if m:
+            ep = self._ep(t)
+            ep["isp"] = m.group(1) == "enabled"
+            ep["evidence"].append(short)
+            return
         m = RE_TASKS.search(text)
         if m:
             ep = self._ep(t)
@@ -184,6 +196,12 @@ class LogState:
         got = tuple(self.nodes[i] for i in (2, 3) if i in self.nodes)
         return got if len(got) == 2 else UPPER_NODES
 
+    def camera_map(self):
+        """{calibration name: /dev/videoN's N} from the latest camera start's TrackingCameraInit
+        lines (the whole log's when that start has none yet)."""
+        inits = (self.episode or {}).get("inits") or self.nodes
+        return {NAMES[i]: node for i, node in sorted(inits.items()) if 0 <= i < len(NAMES)}
+
     def tracking_nodes(self):
         got = tuple(self.nodes[i] for i in range(TRACKING) if i in self.nodes)
         return got if len(got) == TRACKING else SIDE_NODES + UPPER_NODES
@@ -353,7 +371,9 @@ def check(log=None, proc=True, ring=True, ring_path=None):
         status, reason = "unknown", "no XRService log in %s" % LOG_DIR
     out = {"log": path, "xrservice": None, "ring": None,
            "episode": state.snapshot()["episode"] if state else {},
-           "failure": state.snapshot()["failure"] if state else ""}
+           "failure": state.snapshot()["failure"] if state else "",
+           "map": {name: {"node": n, "pipe": pipe_name(n)} for name, n in state.camera_map().items()} if state else {},
+           "ring_missing": []}
 
     if proc:
         if pid is None:
@@ -389,13 +409,30 @@ def check(log=None, proc=True, ring=True, ring_path=None):
             evidence.append("ft-camd (pid %d, %s): %d mono cameras: %s" % (
                 r["writer_pid"], "running" if r["alive"] else "stale ring", len(r["mono"]), names))
             if r["alive"] and len(r["mono"]) < TRACKING and status == "ok":
-                status, reason = "degraded", ("ft-camd publishes only %d of %d mono cameras (it started while "
-                                              "they were missing: restart it)" % (len(r["mono"]), TRACKING))
+                have = {c["node"] for c in r["mono"]}
+                want = state.tracking_nodes() if state else SIDE_NODES + UPPER_NODES
+                out["ring_missing"] = [n for n in want if n not in have]
+                status, reason = "degraded", ("ft-camd publishes only %d of %d mono cameras (missing: %s)" % (
+                    len(r["mono"]), TRACKING, " ".join("video%d" % n for n in out["ring_missing"]) or "?"))
     out.update(status=status, reason=reason, evidence=evidence,
                summary="ok" if status == "ok" else "%s: %s" % (status, reason))
     return out
 
 
+def pipe_name(node):
+    """The capture pipe behind /dev/videoN (msm_vfe3_video0 and so on), or ""."""
+    try:
+        with open("/sys/class/video4linux/video%d/name" % node) as f:
+            return f.read().strip()
+    except OSError:
+        return ""
+
+
+def is_ring_short(result):
+    """XRService runs all the tracking cameras, but ft-camd doesn't publish them all."""
+    return bool(result) and result.get("status") == "degraded" and bool(result.get("ring_missing"))
+
+
 def is_vcint_failure(result):
     return bool(result) and result.get("status") == "degraded" and result.get("reason") == VCINT_REASON
 

hands/camd/xrcams.c

@@ -544,22 +544,26 @@ static void probe_cameras(xr_state_t *st)
 /*
  * qcom-camss can report bytesperline as the visible width while the VFE
  * writes a larger aligned pitch. sizeimage is right, so derive the pitch.
+ * For NV12, plane 0 normally holds the chroma rows after the luma (the side
+ * cameras through the ISP: 1056 wide, 1152 bytes a row); if it's too small for
+ * that, it holds the luma alone.
  */
 unsigned xr_camera_stride(const xr_camera_t *c)
 {
     if (!c->height || !c->planesize[0])
         return c->bytesperline ? c->bytesperline : c->width;
 
-    double bpp = 1.0;
-
-    if (c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV12 || c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV21)
-        bpp = 1.5;
-
-    unsigned s = (unsigned)((double)c->planesize[0] / ((double)c->height * bpp));
+    bool yuv = c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV12 || c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV21;
+    unsigned s = (unsigned)((double)c->planesize[0] / ((double)c->height * (yuv ? 1.5 : 1.0)));
 
     if (s >= c->width && s <= c->width * 4)
         return s;
 
+    s = (unsigned)(c->planesize[0] / c->height);
+
+    if (yuv && s >= c->width && s <= c->width * 4)
+        return s;
+
     return c->bytesperline ? c->bytesperline : c->width;
 }
 
@@ -591,7 +595,20 @@ void xr_camera_layout(const xr_camera_t *c, xr_layout_t *l)
     l->pitch = xr_camera_stride(c);
     l->width = c->width < l->pitch ? c->width : l->pitch;
 
-    if (c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV12 || c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV21) {
+    /*
+     * Without the colour module, XRService runs the side cameras through the
+     * ISP ("ISP enabled for tracking cameras (main VFE available)" in its log),
+     * and they come out NV12. They're mono sensors, so the luma is the image.
+     */
+    bool yuv = c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV12 || c->pixfmt == V4L2_PIX_FMT_NV21;
+
+    if (yuv && c->role && !strcmp(c->role, "tracking")) {
+        l->fmt  = XR_FMT_GREY8;
+        l->rows = c->height;
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if (yuv) {
         l->fmt  = XR_FMT_NV12;
         l->rows = c->height + c->height / 2;
     } else {

hands/rec/ft_handrec.py

@@ -457,11 +457,12 @@ class Backend(QObject):
         """Start stays off: the check found the cameras degraded (unless --ignore-cameras)."""
         return not self._ignore_cameras and self._camera.get("status") == "degraded"
 
-    def _check_now(self):
+    def _check_now(self, repair=False):
+        """repair (off this thread only: it may restart ft-camd, up to 15 s): see session.camera_check."""
         mod = self._runner()
         if not mod or self._session_options.get("dry_run"):
             return {"status": "unknown", "summary": "not checked (dry run)", "reason": "dry run", "evidence": []}
-        return mod.camera_check()
+        return mod.camera_check(repair=repair)
 
     @Slot()
     def checkCameras(self):
@@ -470,7 +471,7 @@ class Backend(QObject):
             return
         self._camera_busy = True
         self.cameraChanged.emit()
-        self._thread(lambda: self._cameraArrived.emit(self._check_now()))
+        self._thread(lambda: self._cameraArrived.emit(self._check_now(repair=True)))
 
     def _on_camera(self, result):
         self._camera = result
@@ -499,7 +500,7 @@ class Backend(QObject):
                 end = time.monotonic() + RECHECK_FOR_S
                 time.sleep(RECHECK_S * 2)
                 while time.monotonic() < end:
-                    result = self._check_now()
+                    result = self._check_now(repair=True)
                     # Done once a new XRService (a new log) has opened its cameras, ok or not.
                     if result.get("status") in ("ok", "degraded") and result.get("log") != before:
                         break

hands/rec/session.py

@@ -1153,11 +1153,33 @@ def _steamvr_version():
     return ""
 
 
-def camera_check():
-    """camcheck.check() (the XRService log, its open cameras where readable, ft-camd's ring);
-    never raises: a failure is "unknown"."""
+_camd_restarted = set()   # ft-camd pids camera_check(repair=True) has restarted: once each
+
+
+def _unit_pid(unit):
+    r = subprocess.run(host_command("systemctl", "--user", "show", "-p", "MainPID", "--value", unit),
+                       capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=30)
     try:
-        return camcheck.check()
+        return int(r.stdout.strip() or 0)
+    except ValueError:
+        return 0
+
+
+def camera_check(repair=False):
+    """camcheck.check() (the XRService log, its open cameras where readable, ft-camd's ring);
+    never raises: a failure is "unknown". repair (the window, never during a session): when
+    XRService runs every tracking camera but the recorder's own ft-camd doesn't publish them all
+    (it started while some were missing), restart it, once per ft-camd, and check again."""
+    try:
+        r = camcheck.check()
+        pid = (r.get("ring") or {}).get("writer_pid")
+        if repair and camcheck.is_ring_short(r) and pid not in _camd_restarted and _unit_pid(CAMD_UNIT) == pid:
+            _camd_restarted.add(pid)
+            stop_unit(CAMD_UNIT)
+            start_camd()
+            r = camcheck.check()
+            r["evidence"].append("restarted ft-camd (pid %d) because it published only some of the cameras" % pid)
+        return r
     except Exception as e:
         return {"status": "unknown", "summary": "unknown: the camera check failed (%s)" % e,
                 "reason": str(e), "evidence": []}
@@ -1169,6 +1191,10 @@ def camera_text(result):
         return ""
     if camcheck.is_vcint_failure(result):
         return camcheck.USER_TEXT
+    if camcheck.is_ring_short(result):
+        return ("The headset's tracking cameras are all running, but the recorder can't read some of them (%s). "
+                "Close the Hand Recorder, run ~/frametop/hands/rec/install.sh again, and open it again. If that "
+                "doesn't help, ask in the Frametop Discord." % result.get("reason", ""))
     return ("Not all of the headset's tracking cameras are running (%s). Restart SteamVR, or restart the "
             "headset if that doesn't fix it." % result.get("reason", ""))
 
@@ -1451,6 +1477,10 @@ class Session:
         cam = self._status.get("camera")
         if cam:
             self._session_json["camera"] = {"status": cam.get("status"), "reason": cam.get("reason", "")}
+            # which device each calibrated camera was (XRService's numbering) and whether XRService
+            # ran the side cameras through the ISP (no colour module): to check the names later
+            self._session_json["device"]["camera_map"] = cam.get("map") or {}
+            self._session_json["device"]["isp"] = (cam.get("episode") or {}).get("isp")
         if self.dry_run:
             self._session_json["dry_run"] = True
         if self.speed != 1:

hands/tests/test_camcheck.py

@@ -66,6 +66,22 @@ RESUME_OK = [L("12:30:00", "[SystemdInhibitor] Received systemd resume notificat
              for i, n in enumerate((9, 13, 6, 7))] + \
             [L("12:30:02", "[DeckardCaptureSource] Streaming resumed (FPGA: VCINT, VC interleaving: enabled)")]
 EXIT = [L("13:00:00", "XRService - main thread exiting"), L("13:00:00", "Exiting XRService")]
+# The colour module unplugged while SteamVR runs (2026-10-05 12:42): XRService reopens the
+# cameras with the side pair through the ISP on vfe0 and vfe1 (NV12); VCINT stays loaded, so the
+# upper pair stays on vfe2.
+UNPLUG = [L("12:42:25", "Received passthrough camera connection event (connected=0)"),
+          L("12:42:25", "[DeckardCaptureSource] Closing tracking camera interfaces camerasToUse: 1111"),
+          L("12:42:26", "FPGA state check: VCINT (register value: 0x00021211)"),
+          L("12:42:26", "Upper cameras FPGA interleaving support: 1 (Driver features available = 1 | VCINT loaded = 1)"),
+          L("12:42:26", "[buildMediaCtlSetupTasks] ISP enabled for tracking cameras (main VFE available)"),
+          L("12:42:26", "[buildMediaCtlSetupTasks] Created 4 tasks (4 tracking, 0 passthrough)")] + \
+         [L("12:42:26", "TrackingCameraInit: index: %d. video device: /dev/video%d. v4l subdevice: x" % (i, n))
+          for i, n in enumerate((0, 3, 6, 7))]
+# Started without the module (FrameEyeCameraFeed's layout): the upper pair on vfe3 and vfe4.
+NO_MODULE = [L("10:00:02", "[buildMediaCtlSetupTasks] ISP enabled for tracking cameras (main VFE available)"),
+             L("10:00:02", "[buildMediaCtlSetupTasks] Created 4 tasks (4 tracking, 0 passthrough)")] + \
+            [L("10:00:03", "TrackingCameraInit: index: %d. video device: /dev/video%d. v4l subdevice: x" % (i, n))
+             for i, n in enumerate((0, 3, 9, 13))]
 
 
 def state(lines):
@@ -128,6 +144,23 @@ class SyntheticLogs(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(status, "degraded")
         self.assertEqual(reason, "only 2 of 4 tracking cameras running")
 
+    def test_camera_map_with_module(self):
+        st = state(START + GOOD_OPEN)
+        self.assertEqual(st.camera_map(), {"slam_left": 9, "slam_right": 13, "upper_left": 6, "upper_right": 7})
+
+    def test_module_unplugged(self):
+        st = state(START + GOOD_OPEN + UNPLUG)
+        self.assertEqual(st.verdict()[0], "ok")
+        self.assertIs(st.episode["isp"], True)
+        self.assertEqual(st.camera_map(), {"slam_left": 0, "slam_right": 3, "upper_left": 6, "upper_right": 7})
+        self.assertEqual(st.tracking_nodes(), (0, 3, 6, 7))
+
+    def test_started_without_module(self):
+        st = state(START + NO_MODULE)
+        self.assertEqual(st.verdict()[0], "ok")
+        self.assertEqual(st.camera_map(), {"slam_left": 0, "slam_right": 3, "upper_left": 9, "upper_right": 13})
+        self.assertEqual(st.upper_nodes(), (9, 13))
+
     def test_exited_and_empty(self):
         self.assertEqual(state(START + GOOD_OPEN + EXIT).verdict()[0], "unknown")
         self.assertEqual(state([]).verdict()[0], "unknown")
@@ -223,9 +256,9 @@ class RealLog(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(out.getvalue().split("\n")[0], "ok")
 
 
-def make_ring(path, mono_names, alive=True):
+def make_ring(path, mono_names, alive=True, nodes=None):
     """A ring header as ft-camd writes it (camd/fhring.h), no frames."""
-    cams = [(b"og01a1b", n.encode(), 9 + i) for i, n in enumerate(mono_names)]
+    cams = [(b"og01a1b", n.encode(), nodes[i] if nodes else 9 + i) for i, n in enumerate(mono_names)]
     hb = time.clock_gettime_ns(time.CLOCK_MONOTONIC) if alive else 1
     data = bytearray(camcheck.RING_HDR.pack(b"FHRING01", 1, 0, len(cams), 0, 0, 4242, 0))
     struct.pack_into("<Q", data, 40, hb)
@@ -252,6 +285,19 @@ class Ring(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(r["status"], "degraded")
         self.assertIn("ft-camd publishes only 2 of 4", r["reason"])
 
+    def test_ring_missing_the_side_cameras(self):
+        # an ft-camd from before NV12 support, without the colour module: only the upper pair
+        with open(self.log, "w") as f:
+            f.write("\n".join(START + NO_MODULE) + "\n")
+        make_ring(self.ring, ["og0ve10_5-003e_video9", "og0ve10_5-0060_video13"], nodes=[9, 13])
+        r = camcheck.check(log=self.log, proc=False, ring_path=self.ring)
+        self.assertEqual(r["status"], "degraded")
+        self.assertEqual(r["ring_missing"], [0, 3])
+        self.assertIn("missing: video0 video3", r["reason"])
+        self.assertTrue(camcheck.is_ring_short(r))
+        self.assertFalse(camcheck.is_vcint_failure(r))
+        self.assertEqual(r["map"]["slam_left"]["node"], 0)
+
     def test_four_cameras_in_ring(self):
         make_ring(self.ring, ["a_video9", "b_video13", "c_video6", "d_video7", "a_video9_dk"])
         r = camcheck.check(log=self.log, proc=False, ring_path=self.ring)

hands/tools/check_sides.py

@@ -34,8 +34,28 @@ from tools.show_set import index, read_set  # noqa: E402
 from tools import calib  # noqa: E402
 
 
-PIPES = {'msm_vfe3_video0': 'slam_left', 'msm_vfe4_video0': 'slam_right',    # as ft-hands maps them
+PIPES = {'msm_vfe3_video0': 'slam_left', 'msm_vfe4_video0': 'slam_right',    # with the colour module
          'msm_vfe2_video0': 'upper_left', 'msm_vfe2_video1': 'upper_right'}
+
+
+def ring_names():
+    """{/dev/videoN's N: calibration name} as ft-hands names them: by XRService's log
+    (camcheck.py), else by capture pipe (PIPES)."""
+    import camcheck
+    try:
+        by_log = {node: name for name, node in camcheck.read_log(camcheck.newest_log()).camera_map().items()}
+    except (OSError, ValueError):
+        by_log = {}
+    if by_log:
+        return by_log
+    out = {}
+    for path in os.listdir('/sys/class/video4linux'):
+        if path.startswith('video'):
+            with open('/sys/class/video4linux/%s/name' % path) as f:
+                name = PIPES.get(f.read().strip())
+            if name:
+                out[int(path[5:])] = name
+    return out
 PAIRS = {'side': ('slam_left', 'slam_right'), 'upper': ('upper_left', 'upper_right')}
 
 
@@ -100,8 +120,9 @@ def live_pairs(count, names=PAIRS['side']):
     if not ring.alive():
         sys.exit('ft-camd isn\'t running (no heartbeat)')
     cams = {}
+    names_of = ring_names()
     for c in ring.cams:
-        name = PIPES.get(open('/sys/class/video4linux/video%d/name' % c.node).read().strip())
+        name = names_of.get(c.node)
         if name and not c.name.endswith('-dark'):
             cams[name] = c
     for k in range(count):

hands/track/main.cpp

@@ -63,7 +63,34 @@ namespace {
 
 volatile std::sig_atomic_t g_stop = 0, g_record = 0;
 
-// which calibrated camera each capture pipe carries (XRService's fixed routing)
+// Which calibrated camera each video device carries. XRService numbers its tracking cameras
+// (index 0 to 3: slam_left, slam_right, upper_left, upper_right) and logs the device each one
+// opened ("TrackingCameraInit: index: 0. video device: /dev/video9"). The devices depend on
+// the colour module: with it, the side cameras are on vfe3 and vfe4 and the upper pair on
+// vfe2; without it, XRService runs the side cameras through the ISP on vfe0 and vfe1, and the
+// upper pair on vfe3 and vfe4. So the running XRService's log decides; when it can't be read,
+// the capture pipes as they are with the module. {} if the log has no cameras.
+std::map<int, std::string> cameras_from_xrservice_log() {
+    static const char *const names[] = {"slam_left", "slam_right", "upper_left", "upper_right"};
+    const char *home = std::getenv("HOME");
+    std::ifstream in(std::string(home ? home : "") + "/.local/share/Steam/logs/xrservice.txt");
+    const std::string key = "TrackingCameraInit: index: ";
+    std::map<int, int> node_of;   // index -> N of /dev/videoN, from the latest camera start
+    std::string line;
+    while (std::getline(in, line)) {
+        if (line.find("XRService logging to") != std::string::npos) node_of.clear();
+        const auto at = line.find(key);
+        int index = -1, node = -1;
+        if (at != std::string::npos &&
+            std::sscanf(line.c_str() + at + key.size(), "%d. video device: /dev/video%d", &index, &node) == 2 &&
+            index >= 0 && index < 4)
+            node_of[index] = node;
+    }
+    std::map<int, std::string> out;
+    for (auto &[index, node] : node_of) out[node] = names[index];
+    return out;
+}
+
 const char *camera_for_pipe(int node) {
     char path[64], name[64] = "";
     std::snprintf(path, sizeof path, "/sys/class/video4linux/video%d/name", node);
@@ -302,6 +329,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     double decided_after_s = -1;
     if (sides_mode != "auto") truth = names_swapped, decided_by = sides_from, sides_state = "forced";
     std::string rec_dir;
+    std::string cams_json;   // which device each calibrated camera is (set below), for the sides files
     std::vector<std::pair<size_t, bool>> rec_names;   // from which recorded set on, names_swapped was what
     // DIR/sides.json beside a recording's sets.bin: how its side cameras are named. A set's
     // names are right when its names_swapped equals swapped (null: not known when recorded).
@@ -312,7 +340,8 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         write_file(rec_dir + "/sides.json",
                    "{\"swapped\": " + json_bool(truth) + ", \"decided_by\": " + json_str(truth ? decided_by : "") +
                        ", \"names_swapped\": [" + runs + "]" +
-                       (decision_evidence.empty() ? "" : ", \"evidence\": " + decision_evidence) + "}\n");
+                       (decision_evidence.empty() ? "" : ", \"evidence\": " + decision_evidence) +
+                       (cams_json.empty() ? "" : ", \"cameras\": " + cams_json) + "}\n");
     };
     auto start_recording = [&](const std::string &dir, std::string &e) {
         rec = std::make_unique<Recorder>();
@@ -340,19 +369,42 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     // (--with-color). Recorded names hold 15 characters, so "upper_right_dark" wouldn't fit.
     std::map<std::string, int> dark;
     std::map<std::string, Camera> used;
+    // ft-camd's cameras by XRService's numbering, else by capture pipe (see camera_for_pipe);
+    // ft-ringplay's (no device) by the name it gives
+    const std::map<int, std::string> by_log = cameras_from_xrservice_log();
+    const char *named_by = by_log.empty() ? "capture pipe" : "XRService's log";
     for (int i = 0; i < ring.cameras(); ++i) {
-        if (ring.camera(i).flags & FH_CAM_COLOR) {
-            const std::string name = "color_video" + std::to_string(ring.camera(i).node);
+        const fh_ring_cam_t &rc = ring.camera(i);
+        if (rc.flags & FH_CAM_COLOR) {
+            const std::string name = "color_video" + std::to_string(rc.node);
             dark[name] = i, color[name] = i;
             continue;
         }
-        // ft-camd's cameras by capture pipe; ft-ringplay's (no device) by the name it gives
-        const char *name = camera_for_pipe(ring.camera(i).node);
-        if (!name && ring.camera(i).node < 0) name = ring.camera(i).name;
-        if (!name || !calib.count(name)) continue;
-        if (ring.camera(i).flags & FH_CAM_DARK) dark[std::string(name) + "_dk"] = i;
-        else index[name] = i, used[name] = calib[name];
+        const auto it = by_log.find(rc.node);
+        const char *name = rc.node < 0                ? rc.name
+                           : !by_log.empty()          ? (it == by_log.end() ? nullptr : it->second.c_str())
+                                                      : camera_for_pipe(rc.node);
+        if (!name || !calib.count(name)) {
+            if (!(rc.flags & FH_CAM_DARK)) std::fprintf(stderr, "video%d (%s): not one of the calibrated cameras, left out\n", rc.node, rc.name);
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (int(rc.width) != calib[name].width || int(rc.height) != calib[name].height) {
+            std::fprintf(stderr, "video%d (%s) is %ux%u, but %s is calibrated at %dx%d: left out\n", rc.node, rc.name,
+                         rc.width, rc.height, name, calib[name].width, calib[name].height);
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (rc.flags & FH_CAM_DARK) {
+            dark[std::string(name) + "_dk"] = i;
+        } else if (index.count(name)) {
+            std::fprintf(stderr, "video%d (%s) would be %s too (video%d is): left out\n", rc.node, rc.name, name,
+                         ring.camera(index[name]).node);
+        } else {
+            index[name] = i, used[name] = calib[name];
+            cams_json += std::string(cams_json.empty() ? "" : ", ") + json_str(name) + ": {\"node\": " +
+                         std::to_string(rc.node) + ", \"ring\": " + json_str(rc.name) + "}";
+        }
     }
+    cams_json = "{\"named_by\": " + json_str(named_by) + ", \"cameras\": {" + cams_json + "}}";
     // ft-camd tells the side cameras' buffers apart by XRService's allocation order, which
     // some XRService restarts reverse (see the top).
     const bool have_sides = index.count("slam_left") && index.count("slam_right");
@@ -397,7 +449,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     }
     const bool switching = automatic && !color.empty();
     Cams mode = switching || color.empty() ? Cams::Mono : fixed;
-    std::printf("cameras:");
+    std::printf("cameras (by %s):", named_by);
     for (auto &[name, i] : index) std::printf(" %s=video%d", name.c_str(), ring.camera(i).node);
     for (auto &[name, i] : color) std::printf(" %s", name.c_str());
     std::printf("  tracking with %s%s  models: %s%s, %d threads on CPUs", cams_name(mode),
@@ -446,6 +498,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
                        ", \"decided_after_s\": " + std::to_string(decided_after_s) +
                        ", \"evidence\": " + (decision_evidence.empty() ? "null" : decision_evidence) +
                        ", \"checking\": " + (checking ? side_check.json() : "null") +
+                       ", \"cameras\": " + (cams_json.empty() ? "null" : cams_json) +
                        ", \"updated_ns\": " + std::to_string(mono_ns()) + "}\n");
     };
     write_sides();