Update a Controller from FW 0.9.X to FW 0.12.X

Step-by-step migration guide for moving a Controller, its config, and its project from FW 0.9.X to FW 0.12.X.

What changes during this migration

Moving from FW 0.9.X to FW 0.12.X is not just a regular firmware update. In practice, it consists of three follow-up steps:

OTA update the Controller from FW 0.9.X to FW 0.12.X in the legacy Studio
migrate the Controller config from 0.9 configs to 0.12 configs in Main Studio
migrate the project so it no longer uses deprecated blocks

Until all three steps are completed, the project may not behave correctly in the newer Studio environment.

When to use legacy Studio and when to use Main Studio

Use this simple rule:

if the Controller is still on FW 0.9.X, connect through studio.spectoda.com
once the Controller has been updated to FW 0.12.X, continue through main-studio.spectoda.com

So the firmware update happens first in the legacy Studio, and only then do you continue with config and project migration in Main Studio.

1. OTA update the Controller to FW 0.12.X

Open studio.spectoda.com.
Connect to the Controller that is running FW 0.9.X.
Start the OTA update and update the Controller to FW 0.12.X.
Wait until the update finishes completely and the Controller boots again.

The practical goal of this step is simple: move the Controller from the historical FW 0.9.X line to a firmware generation that Main Studio can work with.

If you are migrating multiple Controllers in one installation, it is safer to finish the firmware update on all affected units first and only then continue to the next migration step.

Legacy Studio: connecting to the Controller and starting OTA update to FW 0.12.X

The screenshot highlights where to open the Controller connection in the legacy Studio and where to start the Controller OTA update.

2. Migrate the Controller config from 0.9 to 0.12

Open main-studio.spectoda.com.
Connect to the updated Controller.
Migrate the Controller config from 0.9 configs to 0.12 configs.
Save and confirm the changes so the Controller is running on the new config layer.

This step matters because a firmware update alone does not automatically mean the Controller is already using the FW 0.12.X config model.

Main Studio: selecting FW 0.12 presets in the Config Editor

The screenshot shows the Config Editor and the FW 0.12.X preset selection used to move the Controller config from the old format to the new one.

3. Migrate the project in Main Studio

Open the project in main-studio.spectoda.com.
Find all red deprecated blocks.
Replace them with the new blocks that correspond to FW 0.12.X and Main Studio.
Review the project after the changes and save it.

At this stage the work is no longer about the Controller firmware itself, but about the project logic. Blocks from the FW 0.9.X era may appear as deprecated in Main Studio and have to be replaced manually with their newer equivalents.

Main Studio: migrating the old controller block and deprecated project parts

The screenshot shows an example of converting an old controller block and related project structure to the newer Main Studio setup.

Migration checklist

The migration is complete only when all of the following are true:

the Controller is no longer running FW 0.9.X and is now on FW 0.12.X
the Controller is now serviced through Main Studio, not the legacy Studio
the Controller config is no longer in the old 0.9 format
the project no longer contains any red deprecated blocks
the installation has been functionally checked after opening the project in Main Studio

Most common practical mistake

The most common misunderstanding is assuming that the OTA firmware update is enough by itself. For this migration, it is not.

If, after the firmware update:

you do not migrate the Controller config
or you do not migrate the project and replace deprecated blocks

then the Controller may already be on a newer firmware line, but the overall project still will not be fully migrated into the FW 0.12.X and Main Studio environment.