Firmware updates
Automatic over-the-air updates, the "what's new" popup, and the safety rails that make updating boring.
The ZerryBit updates itself over the air. When we release new firmware, your device picks it up during one of its own scheduled wake-ups. There is nothing to click and nothing to install.
How an update happens
- During a routine automatic wake, the check-in learns that a new version is available.
- The device downloads it (a progress screen appears for a minute or two), verifies it, and restarts into the new version.
- After a feature update, the next time the widgets load you'll see a small "Firmware updated" popup listing what's new. Press the Zerry button and it's gone for good. Small patch releases install silently, with no popup.
Updates deliberately install on automatic wakes only. If you press the button while an update is pending, the device shows your widgets first and leaves the update for the next scheduled wake. It will never make you wait when you're actually using it.
The safety rails
Updating a device you can't plug a cable into has to be boring and safe, so several protections stack up:
- Verified download. The image's integrity is checked before it is ever booted; a corrupted or truncated download is discarded and retried later.
- Two firmware slots. The new version installs alongside the old one, not over it.
- Trial boot. The first boot of a new version is probational: if the firmware crashes or fails its health checks, the device automatically rolls back to the previous version and carries on.
- Version guard. If the installed image doesn't match the version the update promised, the device reverts and pauses updates for a day rather than looping.
- Back-off. After repeated failed attempts (a flaky connection, say), the device stops retrying for 24 hours and keeps running its current firmware normally.
The practical summary: the worst realistic outcome of a bad update is that your device keeps running the version it already had.
Channels
| Channel | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Normal | Every device; stable releases |
| Experimental | Early builds for testing new features, occasionally offered to volunteers on our Discord |
Checking your version
Double-click the Zerry button, then Settings → About. You'll find the firmware version there, along with a manual "Check for firmware updates" if you don't want to wait for the next automatic wake.
What changed in each release is listed in the Changelog.