docs(slicer-api): switch sidecar to pre-built images on GHCR + Docker Hub (#1657)

  Local build via Docker git context required `git` in the BuildKit worker,
  which QNAP Container Station and Synology DSM don't provide. Both sidecar
  images are now published to ghcr.io/maziggy/{orca-slicer-api,bambu-studio-api}
  and docker.io/maziggy/{orca-slicer-api,bambu-studio-api}; compose pulls
  :latest by default, SIDECAR_TAG=bambuddy-X.Y.Z pins per release.

  Wiki, slicer-api README, .env.example, and CHANGELOG aligned. Build-from-source
  path kept under "Building from source (advanced)" for forks / dev work.

  Both images are linux/amd64 only — OrcaSlicer ARM64 on hold pending upstream
  fix; BambuStudio doesn't publish ARM64.

docker-publish-beta.sh

@@ -43,11 +43,15 @@ NC='\033[0m' # No Color
 # Parse arguments
 VERSION=""
 PARALLEL=false
+SKIP_SIDECARS=false
 for arg in "$@"; do
     case $arg in
         --parallel)
             PARALLEL=true
             ;;
+        --skip-sidecars)
+            SKIP_SIDECARS=true
+            ;;
         *)
             if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
                 VERSION="$arg"
@@ -191,3 +195,23 @@ echo "  docker pull ${GHCR_IMAGE}:${VERSION}"
 echo "  docker pull ${GHCR_IMAGE}:beta"
 echo ""
 echo -e "${YELLOW}Reminder: Set package to Private in GitHub → Packages → Settings${NC}"
+
+# ============================================================
+# Sidecar images (orca-slicer-api + bambu-studio-api) — beta channel = GHCR private
+# ============================================================
+SIDECAR_SCRIPT="/opt/claude/projects/orca-slicer-api/docker-publish-sidecars.sh"
+if [ "$SKIP_SIDECARS" = true ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Skipping sidecar images (--skip-sidecars).${NC}"
+elif [ ! -x "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Sidecar helper not found at ${SIDECAR_SCRIPT} — skipping sidecar build.${NC}"
+else
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}  Publishing sidecar images (beta channel)${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    SIDECAR_ARGS="--channel beta --version ${VERSION}"
+    [ "$PARALLEL" = true ] && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --parallel"
+    "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" $SIDECAR_ARGS
+fi

docker-publish-daily-beta.sh

@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ PARALLEL=false
 PUSH_GHCR=true
 PUSH_DOCKERHUB=true
 SKIP_RELEASE=false
+INCLUDE_SIDECARS=false
 for arg in "$@"; do
     case $arg in
         --parallel)
@@ -70,17 +71,22 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
         --skip-release)
             SKIP_RELEASE=true
             ;;
+        --include-sidecars)
+            INCLUDE_SIDECARS=true
+            ;;
         --help|-h)
-            echo "Usage: $0 [--parallel] [--ghcr-only] [--dockerhub-only] [--skip-release]"
+            echo "Usage: $0 [--parallel] [--ghcr-only] [--dockerhub-only] [--skip-release] [--include-sidecars]"
             echo ""
             echo "Build and publish a daily beta Docker image using the APP_VERSION from config.py."
             echo ""
             echo "Options:"
-            echo "  --parallel       Build both architectures simultaneously"
-            echo "  --ghcr-only      Only push to GitHub Container Registry"
-            echo "  --dockerhub-only Only push to Docker Hub"
-            echo "  --skip-release   Build+push without creating/updating GitHub release"
-            echo "  --help, -h       Show this help"
+            echo "  --parallel          Build both architectures simultaneously"
+            echo "  --ghcr-only         Only push to GitHub Container Registry"
+            echo "  --dockerhub-only    Only push to Docker Hub"
+            echo "  --skip-release      Build+push without creating/updating GitHub release"
+            echo "  --include-sidecars  Also rebuild + push orca-slicer-api and bambu-studio-api"
+            echo "                      images (off by default — slicer rebuilds are expensive)"
+            echo "  --help, -h          Show this help"
             exit 0
             ;;
         *)
@@ -419,3 +425,26 @@ if [ "$PUSH_DOCKERHUB" = true ]; then
     echo "  docker pull ${DOCKERHUB_IMAGE}:daily"
     echo "  docker pull ${IMAGE_NAME}:daily  # shorthand"
 fi
+
+# ============================================================
+# Sidecar images (orca-slicer-api + bambu-studio-api) — opt-in for daily
+# ============================================================
+SIDECAR_SCRIPT="/opt/claude/projects/orca-slicer-api/docker-publish-sidecars.sh"
+if [ "$INCLUDE_SIDECARS" != true ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Sidecar images not rebuilt (daily default).${NC}"
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Pass --include-sidecars to also publish orca-slicer-api + bambu-studio-api.${NC}"
+elif [ ! -x "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Sidecar helper not found at ${SIDECAR_SCRIPT} — skipping sidecar build.${NC}"
+else
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}  Publishing sidecar images (daily channel)${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    SIDECAR_ARGS="--channel daily --version ${VERSION}"
+    [ "$PARALLEL" = true ]        && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --parallel"
+    [ "$PUSH_GHCR" = false ]      && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --dockerhub-only"
+    [ "$PUSH_DOCKERHUB" = false ] && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --ghcr-only"
+    "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" $SIDECAR_ARGS
+fi

docker-publish.sh

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ VERSION=""
 PARALLEL=false
 PUSH_GHCR=true
 PUSH_DOCKERHUB=true
+SKIP_SIDECARS=false
 for arg in "$@"; do
     case $arg in
         --parallel)
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ for arg in "$@"; do
         --dockerhub-only)
             PUSH_GHCR=false
             ;;
+        --skip-sidecars)
+            SKIP_SIDECARS=true
+            ;;
         *)
             if [ -z "$VERSION" ]; then
                 VERSION="$arg"
@@ -282,3 +286,25 @@ if [ "$PUSH_DOCKERHUB" = true ]; then
     echo "  docker pull ${DOCKERHUB_IMAGE}:${VERSION}"
     echo "  docker pull ${IMAGE_NAME}:${VERSION}  # shorthand"
 fi
+
+# ============================================================
+# Sidecar images (orca-slicer-api + bambu-studio-api)
+# ============================================================
+SIDECAR_SCRIPT="/opt/claude/projects/orca-slicer-api/docker-publish-sidecars.sh"
+if [ "$SKIP_SIDECARS" = true ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Skipping sidecar images (--skip-sidecars).${NC}"
+elif [ ! -x "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${YELLOW}Sidecar helper not found at ${SIDECAR_SCRIPT} — skipping sidecar build.${NC}"
+else
+    echo ""
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}  Publishing sidecar images (stable channel)${NC}"
+    echo -e "${GREEN}================================================${NC}"
+    SIDECAR_ARGS="--channel stable --version ${VERSION}"
+    [ "$PARALLEL" = true ]        && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --parallel"
+    [ "$PUSH_GHCR" = false ]      && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --dockerhub-only"
+    [ "$PUSH_DOCKERHUB" = false ] && SIDECAR_ARGS="$SIDECAR_ARGS --ghcr-only"
+    "$SIDECAR_SCRIPT" $SIDECAR_ARGS
+fi

slicer-api/.env.example

@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@
 ORCA_API_PORT=3003
 BAMBU_API_PORT=3001
 
-# Slicer versions. Pinned for reproducibility — bump these when you want
-# a newer slicer and accept a fresh ~220 MB BambuStudio download.
-ORCA_VERSION=2.3.2
-BAMBU_VERSION=02.07.01.57
+# Sidecar image tag. Default is `latest` (current stable release).
+# Pinning options:
+#   bambuddy-X.Y.Z   pin to the sidecar image that shipped with Bambuddy X.Y.Z
+#                    (e.g. SIDECAR_TAG=bambuddy-0.2.5)
+#   daily            track the bambuddy:daily channel
+SIDECAR_TAG=latest

slicer-api/README.md

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ Enable the API path by:
 
 ```bash
 cd slicer-api/
-cp .env.example .env       # edit ports / versions if you like
+cp .env.example .env       # edit ports if you like
 
 # OrcaSlicer only (default profile):
 docker compose up -d
@@ -28,9 +28,15 @@ curl http://localhost:3001/health   # bambu-studio-api
 curl http://localhost:3003/health   # orca-slicer-api
 ```
 
-First build downloads the slicer's AppImage (~110 MB OrcaSlicer, ~220 MB
-BambuStudio) and compiles the Node wrapper. Takes 3–8 minutes per service.
-Subsequent runs reuse the local image — instant start.
+First start pulls pre-built images from GHCR (~110 MB OrcaSlicer,
+~220 MB BambuStudio). No local build, no git in the BuildKit worker,
+works on QNAP / Synology / Container Station out of the box.
+
+Both images are `linux/amd64` only. OrcaSlicer's ARM64 build is on hold
+pending an upstream extraction fix; BambuStudio doesn't publish ARM64
+at all. For ARM64 hosts (Raspberry Pi 4/5, Apple Silicon Linux), run
+the sidecar on a separate x86_64 box and point Bambuddy at it via the
+**Sidecar URL** field — the sidecar doesn't need to live next to Bambuddy.
 
 ## Ports
 
@@ -55,32 +61,40 @@ In the Bambuddy UI: **Settings → Slicer**:
 Leaving the URL field blank uses the `SLICER_API_URL` /
 `BAMBU_STUDIO_API_URL` environment defaults from Bambuddy's config.
 
-## Where the source lives
+## Where the images live
 
-Both images build from the
-[`maziggy/orca-slicer-api`](https://github.com/maziggy/orca-slicer-api)
-fork (`bambuddy/profile-resolver` branch). The Compose file uses
-Docker's git build context, so you don't need to clone it manually —
-Docker pulls the repo at build time.
+Pre-built images are published to two registries on every Bambuddy
+stable release:
 
-The fork patches AFKFelix's upstream wrapper with the `inherits:`
-chain resolver, `from: "User"` → `"system"` rewrite, `# ` clone-prefix
-strip, and sentinel-value strip — all empirically required to slice
-real GUI exports without segfaulting the CLI. Once those land
-upstream, this Compose file can be flipped to pull from
-`ghcr.io/afkfelix/orca-slicer-api` directly.
+- `ghcr.io/maziggy/orca-slicer-api:latest` / `docker.io/maziggy/orca-slicer-api:latest`
+- `ghcr.io/maziggy/bambu-studio-api:latest` / `docker.io/maziggy/bambu-studio-api:latest`
 
-## Updating
+Each release also publishes a versioned tag (`:bambuddy-X.Y.Z`) so you
+can pin to the sidecar that shipped alongside a specific Bambuddy
+release — set `SIDECAR_TAG=bambuddy-0.2.5` in `.env`.
 
-Bump the versions in `.env`, then:
+Both images are built from the
+[`maziggy/orca-slicer-api`](https://github.com/maziggy/orca-slicer-api)
+fork (`bambuddy/profile-resolver` branch). The fork patches AFKFelix's
+upstream wrapper with the `inherits:` chain resolver, `from: "User"`
+→ `"system"` rewrite, `# ` clone-prefix strip, and sentinel-value
+strip — all empirically required to slice real GUI exports without
+segfaulting the CLI. Once those land upstream, the compose file can be
+flipped back to `ghcr.io/afkfelix/orca-slicer-api`.
+
+## Updating
 
 ```bash
-docker compose --profile bambu build --no-cache
+docker compose pull
 docker compose --profile bambu up -d
 ```
 
-`--no-cache` is needed because the Dockerfile downloads the AppImage
-inline; Docker won't re-fetch it on a version change otherwise.
+That's it — Compose pulls the current `:latest` (or whatever
+`SIDECAR_TAG` you've pinned to) and recreates the containers.
+
+To roll back to the sidecar that shipped with a previous Bambuddy
+release, set `SIDECAR_TAG=bambuddy-X.Y.Z` in `.env` and re-run the two
+commands above.
 
 ## Troubleshooting
 

slicer-api/docker-compose.yml

@@ -17,18 +17,17 @@
 #   docker compose up -d                       # starts OrcaSlicer only
 #   docker compose --profile bambu up -d       # starts both
 #
-# First build pulls the source from the fork over git (~5 min — downloads
-# the BambuStudio AppImage, ~220 MB) and caches the image locally.
-# Subsequent runs reuse the cache. Pin the slicer versions via .env.
+# First start pulls pre-built images from GHCR (~110 MB OrcaSlicer,
+# ~220 MB BambuStudio). No local build, no git in the BuildKit worker,
+# works on QNAP / Synology / Container Station out of the box.
+#
+# Both images are linux/amd64 only. OrcaSlicer's ARM64 path is on hold
+# pending an upstream extraction fix; BambuStudio doesn't publish ARM64
+# at all.
 
 services:
   orca-slicer-api:
-    build:
-      context: https://github.com/maziggy/orca-slicer-api.git#bambuddy/profile-resolver
-      dockerfile: Dockerfile
-      args:
-        ORCA_VERSION: "${ORCA_VERSION:-2.3.2}"
-    image: bambuddy-orca-slicer-api:orca${ORCA_VERSION:-2.3.2}
+    image: ghcr.io/maziggy/orca-slicer-api:${SIDECAR_TAG:-latest}
     container_name: orca-slicer-api
     restart: unless-stopped
     ports:
@@ -46,12 +45,7 @@ services:
       retries: 3
 
   bambu-studio-api:
-    build:
-      context: https://github.com/maziggy/orca-slicer-api.git#bambuddy/profile-resolver
-      dockerfile: Dockerfile.bambu-studio
-      args:
-        BAMBU_VERSION: "${BAMBU_VERSION:-02.07.01.57}"
-    image: bambuddy-bambu-studio-api:bambu${BAMBU_VERSION:-02.07.01.57}
+    image: ghcr.io/maziggy/bambu-studio-api:${SIDECAR_TAG:-latest}
     container_name: bambu-studio-api
     restart: unless-stopped
     ports: