Speed improvements to launch

server.py

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from src.engines.engine_manager import EngineManager
 from src.render_queue import RenderQueue
 from src.utilities.config import Config
 from src.utilities.misc_helper import (get_gpu_info, system_safe_path, current_system_cpu, current_system_os,
-                                       current_system_os_version, check_for_updates)
+                                       current_system_os_version, current_system_cpu_brand, check_for_updates)
 from src.utilities.zeroconf_server import ZeroconfServer
 from src.version import APP_NAME, APP_VERSION, APP_REPO_NAME, APP_REPO_OWNER
 
@@ -93,10 +93,6 @@ def start_server(skip_updates=False) -> int:
         ServerProxyManager.subscribe_to_listener()
         DistributedJobManager.subscribe_to_listener()
 
-        # check for updates for render engines if configured or on first launch
-        if Config.update_engines_on_launch or not EngineManager.get_engines():
-            EngineManager.update_all_engines()
-
         # get hostname
         local_hostname = socket.gethostname()
 
@@ -108,7 +104,7 @@ def start_server(skip_updates=False) -> int:
         # start zeroconf server
         ZeroconfServer.configure(f"_{APP_NAME.lower()}._tcp.local.", local_hostname, Config.port_number)
         ZeroconfServer.properties = {'system_cpu': current_system_cpu(),
-                                     'system_cpu_brand': cpuinfo.get_cpu_info()['brand_raw'],
+                                     'system_cpu_brand': current_system_cpu_brand(),
                                      'system_cpu_cores': multiprocessing.cpu_count(),
                                      'system_os': current_system_os(),
                                      'system_os_version': current_system_os_version(),
@@ -118,6 +114,11 @@ def start_server(skip_updates=False) -> int:
         ZeroconfServer.start()
         logger.info(f"{APP_NAME} Render Server started - Hostname: {local_hostname}")
         RenderQueue.start()  # Start evaluating the render queue
+
+        # check for updates for render engines if configured or on first launch
+        # if Config.update_engines_on_launch or not EngineManager.get_engines():
+        #     EngineManager.update_all_engines()
+
         api_server.join()
 
     except KeyboardInterrupt:

src/utilities/misc_helper.py

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import shutil
 import socket
 import string
 import subprocess
+import sys
 from datetime import datetime
 
 logger = logging.getLogger()
@@ -139,6 +140,29 @@ def current_system_cpu():
     # convert all x86 64 to "x64"
     return platform.machine().lower().replace('amd64', 'x64').replace('x86_64', 'x64')
 
+def current_system_cpu_brand():
+    """Fast cross-platform CPU brand string"""
+    if sys.platform.startswith('darwin'):  # macOS
+        try:
+            return subprocess.check_output(['sysctl', '-n', 'machdep.cpu.brand_string']).decode().strip()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    elif sys.platform.startswith('win'):  # Windows
+        try:
+            return platform.processor()  # Often sufficient, or fallback to env var
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+    elif sys.platform.startswith('linux'):
+        try:
+            with open('/proc/cpuinfo') as f:
+                for line in f:
+                    if line.startswith('model name'):
+                        return line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    # Ultimate fallback
+    return platform.processor() or 'Unknown CPU'
 
 def resources_dir():
     resource_environment_path = os.environ.get('RESOURCEPATH', None)
@@ -284,7 +308,11 @@ def get_gpu_info():
     def get_macos_gpu_info():
         """Get GPU info on macOS (works with Apple Silicon)"""
         try:
-            result = subprocess.run(['system_profiler', 'SPDisplaysDataType', '-json'], 
+            if current_system_cpu() == "arm64":
+                # don't bother with system_profiler with Apple ARM - we know its integrated
+                return [{'name': current_system_cpu_brand(), 'memory': 'Integrated'}]
+
+            result = subprocess.run(['system_profiler', 'SPDisplaysDataType', '-detailLevel', 'mini', '-json'],
                                 capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5)
             data = json.loads(result.stdout)
             
@@ -296,7 +324,7 @@ def get_gpu_info():
                         'name': display.get('sppci_model', 'Unknown GPU'),
                         'memory': display.get('sppci_vram', 'Integrated'),
                     })
-            return gpus if gpus else [{'name': 'Apple Silicon GPU', 'memory': 'Integrated'}]
+            return gpus if gpus else [{'name': 'Apple GPU', 'memory': 'Integrated'}]
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Failed to get macOS GPU info: {e}")
             return [{'name': 'Unknown GPU', 'memory': 'Unknown'}]