remove debug prints

minor re-factor as needed for that
don't store entities statically, let the LBM generate them.

this works around Minetest's reload-positioning inaccuracy at very large
positive or negative X/Z coords (tested -18000/+18000 at all four corners,
both new signs and after reboot)

api.lua

@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ signs_lib.standard_steel_groups.attached_node = nil
 signs_lib.standard_wood_sign_sounds  = table.copy(minetest.registered_items["default:sign_wall_wood"].sounds)
 signs_lib.standard_steel_sign_sounds = table.copy(minetest.registered_items["default:sign_wall_steel"].sounds)
 
+signs_lib.default_text_scale = {x=10, y=10}
+
 signs_lib.standard_yaw = {
 	0,
 	math.pi / -2,
@@ -83,7 +85,57 @@ signs_lib.rotate_walldir = {
 -- Initialize character texture cache
 local ctexcache = {}
 
-signs_lib.wallmounted_rotate = function(pos, node, user, mode)
+-- entity handling
+
+minetest.register_entity("signs_lib:text", {
+	collisionbox = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 },
+	visual = "mesh",
+	mesh = "signs_lib_standard_wall_sign_entity.obj",
+	textures = {},
+	static_save = false
+})
+
+function signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
+	local objects = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)
+	for _, v in ipairs(objects) do
+		v:remove()
+	end
+end
+
+function signs_lib.spawn_entity(pos, texture)
+	local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
+	local def = minetest.registered_items[node.name]
+	if not def or not def.entity_info or not def.entity_info.yaw[node.param2 + 1] then return end
+
+	local text_scale = (node and node.text_scale) or signs_lib.default_text_scale
+	local objects = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)
+	local obj
+
+	if #objects > 0 then
+		obj = objects[1]
+	else
+		obj = minetest.add_entity(pos, "signs_lib:text")
+	end
+
+	obj:setyaw(def.entity_info.yaw[node.param2 + 1])
+
+	if not texture then
+		obj:set_properties({
+			mesh = def.entity_info.mesh,
+			visual_size = text_scale,
+		})
+	else
+		obj:set_properties({
+			mesh = def.entity_info.mesh,
+			visual_size = text_scale,
+			textures={texture},
+		})
+	end
+end
+
+-- rotation
+
+function signs_lib.wallmounted_rotate(pos, node, user, mode)
 	if not signs_lib.can_modify(pos, user) then return false end
 
 	if mode ~= screwdriver.ROTATE_FACE or string.match(node.name, "_onpole") then
@@ -93,17 +145,12 @@ signs_lib.wallmounted_rotate = function(pos, node, user, mode)
 	local newparam2 = signs_lib.rotate_walldir[node.param2] or 0
 
 	minetest.swap_node(pos, { name = node.name, param2 = newparam2 })
-	for _, v in ipairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)) do
-		local e = v:get_luaentity()
-		if e and e.name == "signs_lib:text" then
-			v:remove()
-		end
-	end
+	signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
 	signs_lib.update_sign(pos)
 	return true
 end
 
-signs_lib.facedir_rotate = function(pos, node, user, mode)
+function signs_lib.facedir_rotate(pos, node, user, mode)
 	if not signs_lib.can_modify(pos, user) then return false end
 
 	if mode ~= screwdriver.ROTATE_FACE or string.match(node.name, "_onpole") then
@@ -113,18 +160,11 @@ signs_lib.facedir_rotate = function(pos, node, user, mode)
 	local newparam2 = signs_lib.rotate_facedir[node.param2] or 0
 
 	minetest.swap_node(pos, { name = node.name, param2 = newparam2 })
-	for _, v in ipairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)) do
-		local e = v:get_luaentity()
-		if e and e.name == "signs_lib:text" then
-			v:remove()
-		end
-	end
+	signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
 	signs_lib.update_sign(pos)
 	return true
 end
 
-local DEFAULT_TEXT_SCALE = {x=10, y=10}
-
 -- infinite stacks
 
 if not minetest.settings:get_bool("creative_mode") then
@@ -235,15 +275,6 @@ local fences_with_sign = { }
 
 -- some local helper functions
 
-local function split_lines_and_words(text)
-	if not text then return end
-	local lines = { }
-	for _, line in ipairs(text:split("\n")) do
-		table.insert(lines, line:split(" "))
-	end
-	return lines
-end
-
 local math_max = math.max
 
 local function fill_line(x, y, w, c, font_size, colorbgw)
@@ -422,26 +453,55 @@ local function make_sign_texture(lines, pos)
 	return table.concat(texture, "")
 end
 
-local function set_obj_text(obj, text, x, pos)
-	local split = split_lines_and_words
-	local text_ansi = Utf8ToAnsi(text)
-	local n = minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(pos).name]
-	local text_scale = (n and n.text_scale) or DEFAULT_TEXT_SCALE
-	local texture = make_sign_texture(split(text_ansi), pos)
-	obj:set_properties({
-		textures={texture},
-		visual_size = text_scale,
-	})
+function signs_lib.split_lines_and_words(text)
+	if not text then return end
+	local lines = { }
+	for _, line in ipairs(text:split("\n")) do
+		table.insert(lines, line:split(" "))
+	end
+	return lines
 end
 
-signs_lib.construct_sign = function(pos)
-	local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-	meta:set_string(
-		"formspec",
-		"size[6,4]"..
+function signs_lib.set_obj_text(pos, text)
+	local split = signs_lib.split_lines_and_words
+	local text_ansi = Utf8ToAnsi(text)
+	local n = minetest.registered_nodes[minetest.get_node(pos).name]
+	signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
+	signs_lib.spawn_entity(pos, make_sign_texture(split(text_ansi), pos))
+end
+
+local function make_widefont_nodename(name)
+	if string.find(name, "_widefont") then return name end
+	if string.find(name, "_onpole")  then
+		return string.gsub(name, "_onpole", "_widefont_onpole")
+	elseif string.find(name, "_hanging") then
+		return string.gsub(name, "_hanging", "_widefont_hanging")
+	else
+		return name.."_widefont"
+	end
+end
+
+function signs_lib.construct_sign(pos)
+	local form = "size[6,4]"..
 		"textarea[0,-0.3;6.5,3;text;;${text}]"..
-		"button_exit[2,3.4;2,1;ok;"..S("Write").."]"..
-		"background[-0.5,-0.5;7,5;signs_lib_sign_bg.jpg]")
+		"background[-0.5,-0.5;7,5;signs_lib_sign_bg.jpg]"
+	local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
+	local wname = make_widefont_nodename(node.name)
+
+	if minetest.registered_items[wname] then
+		local state = "off"
+		if string.find(node.name, "widefont") then state = "on" end
+		form = form.."label[1,3.4;Use wide font]"..
+			"image_button[1.1,3.7;1,0.6;signs_lib_switch_"..
+			state..".png;"..
+			state..";;;false;signs_lib_switch_interm.png]"..
+			"button_exit[3,3.4;2,1;ok;"..S("Write").."]"
+	else
+		form = form.."button_exit[2,3.4;2,1;ok;"..S("Write").."]"
+	end
+
+	local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
+	meta:set_string("formspec", form)
 	local i = meta:get_string("infotext")
 	if i == "" then -- it wasn't even set, so set it.
 		meta:set_string("infotext", "")
@@ -449,18 +509,12 @@ signs_lib.construct_sign = function(pos)
 end
 
 function signs_lib.destruct_sign(pos)
-	local objects = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)
-	for _, v in ipairs(objects) do
-		local e = v:get_luaentity()
-		if e and e.name == "signs_lib:text" then
-			v:remove()
-		end
-	end
+	signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
 end
 
 local function make_infotext(text)
 	text = trim_input(text)
-	local lines = split_lines_and_words(text) or {}
+	local lines = signs_lib.split_lines_and_words(text) or {}
 	local lines2 = { }
 	for _, line in ipairs(lines) do
 		table.insert(lines2, (table.concat(line, " "):gsub("#[0-9a-fA-F]", ""):gsub("##", "#")))
@@ -475,50 +529,45 @@ function signs_lib.update_sign(pos, fields)
 	text = trim_input(text)
 
 	local owner = meta:get_string("owner")
-	ownstr = ""
+	local ownstr = ""
 	if owner ~= "" then ownstr = S("Locked sign, owned by @1\n", owner) end
 
 	meta:set_string("text", text)
 	meta:set_string("infotext", ownstr..make_infotext(text).." ")
-
-	local objects = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)
-	local found
-	for _, v in ipairs(objects) do
-		local e = v:get_luaentity()
-		if e and e.name == "signs_lib:text" then
-			if found then
-				v:remove()
-			else
-				set_obj_text(v, text, nil, pos)
-				found = true
-			end
-		end
-	end
-	if found then
-		return
-	end
-
-	-- if there is no entity
-	local signnode = minetest.get_node(pos)
-	local signname = signnode.name
-	local def = minetest.registered_items[signname]
-	if not def.entity_info or not def.entity_info.yaw[signnode.param2 + 1] then return end
-	local obj = minetest.add_entity(pos, "signs_lib:text")
-
-	obj:setyaw(def.entity_info.yaw[signnode.param2 + 1])
-	obj:set_properties({
-		mesh = def.entity_info.mesh,
-	})
+	signs_lib.set_obj_text(pos, text)
 end
 
 function signs_lib.receive_fields(pos, formname, fields, sender)
-	if fields and fields.text and fields.ok and signs_lib.can_modify(pos, sender) then
+
+	if not fields or not signs_lib.can_modify(pos, sender) then return end
+
+	if fields.text and fields.ok then
 		minetest.log("action", S("@1 wrote \"@2\" to sign at @3",
 			(sender:get_player_name() or ""),
 			fields.text:gsub('\\', '\\\\'):gsub("\n", "\\n"),
 			minetest.pos_to_string(pos)
 		))
 		signs_lib.update_sign(pos, fields)
+	elseif fields.on or fields.off then
+		local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
+		local newname
+
+		if fields.on and string.find(node.name, "widefont") then
+			newname = string.gsub(node.name, "_widefont", "")
+		elseif fields.off and not string.find(node.name, "widefont") then
+			newname = make_widefont_nodename(node.name)
+		end
+		if newname then
+			minetest.log("action", S("@1 flipped the wide-font switch to \"@2\" at @3",
+				(sender:get_player_name() or ""),
+				(fields.on and "off" or "on"),
+				minetest.pos_to_string(pos)
+			))
+
+			minetest.swap_node(pos, {name = newname, param2 = node.param2})
+			signs_lib.construct_sign(pos)
+			signs_lib.update_sign(pos, fields)
+		end
 	end
 end
 
@@ -542,30 +591,6 @@ function signs_lib.can_modify(pos, player)
 	return false
 end
 
-local signs_text_on_activate = function(self)
-	local pos = self.object:getpos()
-	local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-	local signnode = minetest.get_node(pos)
-	local signname = signnode.name
-	local def = minetest.registered_items[signname]
-	local text = meta:get_string("text")
-	if text and def and def.entity_info then
-		text = trim_input(text)
-		set_obj_text(self.object, text, nil, pos)
-		self.object:set_properties({
-			mesh = def.entity_info.mesh,
-		})
-	end
-end
-
-minetest.register_entity("signs_lib:text", {
-	collisionbox = { 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 },
-	visual = "mesh",
-	mesh = "signs_lib_standard_wall_sign_entity.obj",
-	textures = {},
-	on_activate = signs_text_on_activate,
-})
-
 -- make selection boxes
 -- sizex/sizey specified in inches because that's what MUTCD uses.
 
@@ -602,6 +627,7 @@ function signs_lib.check_for_pole(pos, pointed_thing)
 		  or string.find(pnode.name, "default:fence_")
 		  or string.find(pnode.name, "_post")
 		  or string.find(pnode.name, "fencepost")
+		  or string.find(pnode.name, "streets:streetlamp_basic_top")
 		  or (pnode.name == "streets:bigpole" and pnode.param2 < 4)
 		  or (pnode.name == "streets:bigpole" and pnode.param2 > 19 and pnode.param2 < 24)
 		)
@@ -646,47 +672,7 @@ function signs_lib.register_fence_with_sign()
 	minetest.log("warning", "[signs_lib] ".."Attempt to call no longer used function signs_lib.register_fence_with_sign()")
 end
 
---[[
-The main sign registration function
-===================================
-
-Example minimal recommended def for writable signs:
-
-signs_lib.register_sign("foo:my_cool_sign", {
-	description = "Wooden cool sign",
-	inventory_image = "signs_lib_sign_cool_inv.png",
-	tiles = {
-		"signs_lib_sign_cool.png",
-		"signs_lib_sign_cool_edges.png"
-	},
-	number_of_lines = 2,
-	horiz_scaling = 0.8,
-	vert_scaling = 1,
-	line_spacing = 9,
-	font_size = 31,
-	x_offset = 7,
-	y_offset = 4,
-	chars_per_line = 40,
-	entity_info = "standard"
-})
-
-* default def assumes a wallmounted sign with on-pole being allowed.
-
-*For signs that can't support onpole, include in the def:
-	allow_onpole = false,
-
-* "standard" entity info implies the standard wood/steel sign model, in
-  wallmounted mode.  For facedir signs using the standard model, use:
-
-	entity_info = {
-		mesh = "signs_lib_standard_wall_sign_entity.obj",
-		yaw = signs_lib.standard_yaw
-	},
-
-]]--
-
-function signs_lib.register_sign(name, rdef)
-
+local function register_sign(name, rdef)
 	local def = table.copy(rdef)
 
 	if rdef.entity_info == "standard" then
@@ -698,6 +684,8 @@ function signs_lib.register_sign(name, rdef)
 		def.entity_info = rdef.entity_info
 	end
 
+	def.after_place_node = rdef.after_place_node or signs_lib.after_place_node
+
 	if rdef.entity_info then
 		def.on_rightclick       = rdef.on_rightclick       or signs_lib.construct_sign
 		def.on_construct        = rdef.on_construct        or signs_lib.construct_sign
@@ -717,8 +705,6 @@ function signs_lib.register_sign(name, rdef)
 			def.after_place_node = function(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing)
 				signs_lib.after_place_node(pos, placer, itemstack, pointed_thing, true)
 			end
-		else
-			def.after_place_node = rdef.after_place_node or signs_lib.after_place_node
 		end
 	end
 
@@ -819,7 +805,58 @@ function signs_lib.register_sign(name, rdef)
 		minetest.register_node(":"..name.."_hanging", hdef)
 		table.insert(signs_lib.lbm_restore_nodes, name.."_hanging")
 	end
+end
 
+--[[
+The main sign registration function
+===================================
+
+Example minimal recommended def for writable signs:
+
+signs_lib.register_sign("foo:my_cool_sign", {
+	description = "Wooden cool sign",
+	inventory_image = "signs_lib_sign_cool_inv.png",
+	tiles = {
+		"signs_lib_sign_cool.png",
+		"signs_lib_sign_cool_edges.png"
+	},
+	number_of_lines = 2,
+	horiz_scaling = 0.8,
+	vert_scaling = 1,
+	line_spacing = 9,
+	font_size = 31,
+	x_offset = 7,
+	y_offset = 4,
+	chars_per_line = 40,
+	entity_info = "standard"
+})
+
+* default def assumes a wallmounted sign with on-pole being allowed.
+
+*For signs that can't support onpole, include in the def:
+	allow_onpole = false,
+
+* "standard" entity info implies the standard wood/steel sign model, in
+  wallmounted mode.  For facedir signs using the standard model, use:
+
+	entity_info = {
+		mesh = "signs_lib_standard_wall_sign_entity.obj",
+		yaw = signs_lib.standard_yaw
+	},
+
+]]--
+
+function signs_lib.register_sign(name, rdef)
+	register_sign(name, rdef)
+
+	if rdef.allow_widefont then
+
+		wdef = table.copy(minetest.registered_items[name])
+		wdef.groups.not_in_creative_inventory = 1
+		wdef.horiz_scaling = wdef.horiz_scaling / 2
+
+		register_sign(name.."_widefont", wdef)
+	end
 end
 
 -- restore signs' text after /clearobjects and the like, the next time
@@ -856,12 +893,7 @@ minetest.register_lbm({
 			local oldfence =  signs_lib.old_fenceposts[node.name]
 			local newsign =   signs_lib.old_fenceposts_replacement_signs[node.name]
 
-			for _, v in ipairs(minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)) do
-				local e = v:get_luaentity()
-				if e and e.name == "signs_lib:text" then
-					v:remove()
-				end
-			end
+			signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
 
 			local oldmeta = minetest.get_meta(pos):to_table()
 			minetest.set_node(pos, {name = oldfence})
@@ -924,12 +956,7 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("regen_signs", {
 
 		for _, b in pairs(allsigns) do
 			for _, pos in ipairs(b) do
-				local objects = minetest.get_objects_inside_radius(pos, 0.5)
-				if #objects > 0 then
-					for _, v in ipairs(objects) do
-						v:remove()
-					end
-				end
+				signs_lib.delete_objects(pos)
 				local node = minetest.get_node(pos)
 				local def = minetest.registered_items[node.name]
 				if def and def.entity_info then

standard_signs.lua

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ signs_lib.register_sign("default:sign_wall_wood", {
 	},
 	entity_info = "standard",
 	allow_hanging = true,
+	allow_widefont = true
 })
 
 signs_lib.register_sign("default:sign_wall_steel", {
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ signs_lib.register_sign("default:sign_wall_steel", {
 	locked = true,
 	entity_info = "standard",
 	allow_hanging = true,
+	allow_widefont = true
 })
 
 minetest.register_alias("signs:sign_hanging", "default:sign_wall_wood_hanging")