Tyler August writes that the Cheap Yellow Display (CYD) ESP32 dev boards can be transformed into a Portable Digital Assistant, reminiscent of 1990s Palm devices. Rather than using an emulator, user sau412 developed custom firmware for the CYD that includes features like a Gopher browser, RSS and Wikipedia readers, various games, a BASIC interpreter, a calendar, calculator, contact list, ebook reader, and translator.
- The project can be set up in approximately five minutes using a web-based flasher.
- An SD card is required to test all the available applications.
- This project provides an alternative for those looking for Palm OS-style functionality on modern hardware without needing x86 or ARM emulators like Pumpkin OS.
- The project can be set up in approximately five minutes using a web-based flasher.
- An SD card is required to test all the available applications.
- This project provides an alternative for those looking for Palm OS-style functionality on modern hardware without needing x86 or ARM emulators like Pumpkin OS.
mediacutlet writes about pocket-tank, a project featuring a 14-million-parameter LLM that manages a virtual aquarium on an ESP32-S3 microcontroller. Distilled from a much larger 26-billion-parameter teacher model into a compact 7.56 MB file, the "brain" operates entirely offline without any network connection. The system uses a three-layer architecture consisting of a physics/reflex layer, an LLM advisor for decision-making (such as feeding or socializing), and a progression layer to manage long-term growth and life events like fish births and aging.
- The model is distilled from gemma4:26b into the smaller student version.
- Decisions made by the LLM are implemented via a reflex layer running at 25–30 frames per second.
- It supports an "installer" that allows users to flash firmware directly through a web browser using Web Serial.
- The project includes a PC simulator and support for QEMU emulation of the ESP32 hardware.
- The model is distilled from gemma4:26b into the smaller student version.
- Decisions made by the LLM are implemented via a reflex layer running at 25–30 frames per second.
- It supports an "installer" that allows users to flash firmware directly through a web browser using Web Serial.
- The project includes a PC simulator and support for QEMU emulation of the ESP32 hardware.
This page provides instructions and tools to install or update the Pocket Tank application on supported hardware, specifically the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.8 board. Users can perform standard installations, updates that preserve existing data, or a full wipe via an "Erase" function using compatible web browsers like Chrome or Edge.
- The app includes a 7.5 MB model for local processing; no external communication is required once installed.
- Updating the firmware preserves fish names, badges, sand dollars, and decorations.
- To reset the tank manually without this page: hold `BOOT` and tap the screen to confirm the wipe.
- Troubleshooting involves waking a sleeping device by firmly pressing the `PWR` button or putting it into bootloader mode using `BOOT`.
- The app includes a 7.5 MB model for local processing; no external communication is required once installed.
- Updating the firmware preserves fish names, badges, sand dollars, and decorations.
- To reset the tank manually without this page: hold `BOOT` and tap the screen to confirm the wipe.
- Troubleshooting involves waking a sleeping device by firmly pressing the `PWR` button or putting it into bootloader mode using `BOOT`.
shell scripts to automate the Ubuntu environment setup for the Waveshare ESP32-S3 Touch AMOLED 1.8.
Gleb Shalimov presents esp_ble_finder, a BLE scanning tool designed for the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-1.8 hardware. The application helps users locate nearby devices by monitoring RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) through a visual dotted UI and auditory feedback that mimics parking sensors.
- Uses an AMOLED display to show signal strength with dots and a filling line indicator.
- Features "parking-sensor clicks" where audio speed increases as the user gets closer to the target device.
- Allows users to hunt for specific devices by editing the `TARGET_NAME` in the source code.
- Includes a mute function that silences speaker clicks while maintaining the scan and visual updates.
- Uses an AMOLED display to show signal strength with dots and a filling line indicator.
- Features "parking-sensor clicks" where audio speed increases as the user gets closer to the target device.
- Allows users to hunt for specific devices by editing the `TARGET_NAME` in the source code.
- Includes a mute function that silences speaker clicks while maintaining the scan and visual updates.
Joe Brockmeier writes about the CrossPoint Reader project, an MIT-licensed initiative aimed at providing high-performance replacement firmware for small, inexpensive ESP32-based e-readers. The project seeks to overcome the limitations of stock manufacturer firmware by improving EPUB rendering, adding features like offline dictionary support and web-based file management, and enhancing overall usability without introducing resource-heavy applications.
- Version 1.5.0 introduced improved CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) text rendering and right-to-left support.
- The firmware includes a built-in web server for easy wireless file transfers via HTTP.
- A Calibre plugin is available to optimize EPUB files specifically for the hardware's memory constraints.
- The project supports reading progress synchronization through KOReader protocols or Hardcover service integration.
- Version 1.5.0 introduced improved CJK (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) text rendering and right-to-left support.
- The firmware includes a built-in web server for easy wireless file transfers via HTTP.
- A Calibre plugin is available to optimize EPUB files specifically for the hardware's memory constraints.
- The project supports reading progress synchronization through KOReader protocols or Hardcover service integration.
Tim Brookes writes about seven projects you can build with the Cheap Yellow Display (CYD), an affordable ESP32 board with an integrated LCD touch screen that lets you skip soldering and breadboards entirely. The projects span a weather station, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth penetration testing suite (ESP32 Marauder), a Bluetooth MP3 player, a retro mini TV for videos and games, a Gran Turismo 7 racing dashboard, a Home Assistant music remote, and an ESPHome smart home controller.
- The weather station pulls from both Open-Meteo and OpenWeatherMap and supports a DHT22 sensor for local temperature readings
- The ESP32 Marauder CYD port covers hardware from 1.9-inch non-touch models up to 3.5-inch touch displays
- The retro mini TV is a 3D-printed Simpsons replica combining the Anemoia-ESP32 NES emulator and MiniLegoTV video player
- The GT7 dashboard works because Gran Turismo 7 publishes telemetry over UDP on the local network, a feature shared by other racing simulators
- The CYD Jukebox pairs with Music Assistant to unify local files and streaming services like Apple Music behind one interface
- The weather station pulls from both Open-Meteo and OpenWeatherMap and supports a DHT22 sensor for local temperature readings
- The ESP32 Marauder CYD port covers hardware from 1.9-inch non-touch models up to 3.5-inch touch displays
- The retro mini TV is a 3D-printed Simpsons replica combining the Anemoia-ESP32 NES emulator and MiniLegoTV video player
- The GT7 dashboard works because Gran Turismo 7 publishes telemetry over UDP on the local network, a feature shared by other racing simulators
- The CYD Jukebox pairs with Music Assistant to unify local files and streaming services like Apple Music behind one interface
This GitHub repository serves as a comprehensive collection of community-contributed resources for the Uxn virtual machine and its Uxntal programming language. It includes links to learning materials, documentation, emulators across various platforms (including desktop, web, and other hardware systems), creative applications, utilities, games, and specialized development tools like assemblers and disassemblers.
- Includes support for multiple languages targeting Uxn, such as C via chibicc-uxn and B via Crust.
- Features emulators for retro-style hardware including Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation Vita.
- Provides a list of community forums and IRC channels for discussion.
- Includes support for multiple languages targeting Uxn, such as C via chibicc-uxn and B via Crust.
- Features emulators for retro-style hardware including Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and PlayStation Vita.
- Provides a list of community forums and IRC channels for discussion.
Jenny List writes that the Cheap Yellow Display (CYD), an ESP32-based board with a resistive touchscreen and SD card slot, can be used to browse Wikipedia offline. By utilizing Kiwix builds processed into a custom format for the ESP32's browser firmware, users can store vast amounts of knowledge on a modern SD card without needing an active network connection.
- Alun Morris developed the project which allows browsing entire offline Wikipedia databases.
- The device is particularly useful for enthusiasts focused on off-grid living or offline data access.
- This builds upon previous work by Morris involving an ESP32 web browser.
- Alun Morris developed the project which allows browsing entire offline Wikipedia databases.
- The device is particularly useful for enthusiasts focused on off-grid living or offline data access.
- This builds upon previous work by Morris involving an ESP32 web browser.
eenk is a custom firmware for Xteink ESP32-powered e-ink reader devices that turns them into dedicated interactive fiction players. Stories are written in inkle's Ink scripting language, compiled via the eenky IDE (a fork of Inky), and run on-device using the inkcpp C++ runtime. The project includes a browser-based web flasher for firmware installation and library management over USB with no drivers or WiFi required.
- Supports three hardware models: X3 (ESP32-C3, 792×528), X4 (ESP32-C3, 800×480, USB-C), and X4 Pro (ESP32-S3, 800×480, touchscreen, backlight)
- Uses Papyrix firmware's text layout and rendering pipeline for custom fonts that can be applied per story or globally
- Images (cover art, thumbnails, inlined) are bundled with stories using the same pattern as Inky's web export
- Supports three hardware models: X3 (ESP32-C3, 792×528), X4 (ESP32-C3, 800×480, USB-C), and X4 Pro (ESP32-S3, 800×480, touchscreen, backlight)
- Uses Papyrix firmware's text layout and rendering pipeline for custom fonts that can be applied per story or globally
- Images (cover art, thumbnails, inlined) are bundled with stories using the same pattern as Inky's web export
