New matrix boards ordered. These are from Electrodragon and are chainable using jumpers (though they will likely work better if the jumpers are replaced with wires and just soldered (or use lower-profile jumpers). The current driver boards I have are not going to fit in the box due to the overhang of the board and the right-angle header pins. I could desolder and resolder new wires and/or headers, but that doesn't sound like fun. Not only that, but they do not attach to each other and would require some kind of backplane to hold them in place. For $26 shipped, I have a solution that will work (hopefully) much better. Will still need some structure behind it, but should be a more reliable setup.

On the software side, I've completely rewritten the matrix library to be much faster by using direct byte transfers from the font array to the buffer and by only syncing with the 7229 registers when necessary. Things were getting a little sluggish with only 4 matrices but with these optimizations it all looks very speedy now. Have also written the menu system and defined the menus and settings. Still waffling on the animation of the numbers--I'm not sure I like it enough to put the effort into the rewritten library.

I've ordered a couple panel-mount pushbuttons to operate the menus as well as a couple other miscellaneous parts. I think I have everything I need either in hand or on order now.

Time to stop ordering stuff and start building!