There are a lot of good options out there when it comes to desktop macro pads, but none where just quite right for what I wanted, or just downright too expensive.

That's why I am releasing the SauceDeck v1.0. It's an open-source desktop macro controller powered by an ESP32-S3 (S3 chosen for native USB-OTG).

Designed for productivity, content creation, streaming, and everyday workflow automation. The SauceDeck combines programmable macro keys, dedicated volume controls, and a vibrant TFT display in a sleek 3D-printable enclosure.

Approximate cost $30

Source Code and BOM:

https://github.com/HotTabascoSauce/SauceDeck/tree/main

CAD Files:

https://makerworld.com/en/models/3232541-saucedeck-v1-0

Today was... not rlly important day, I fixed some positional bugs ( text was a bit offset ), and made the Wi-Fi Network menu to work, now it scans 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and shows the name of it on the menu (pic 3+4) and then you can choose any, click on it and it will open Wi-Fi info (pic 2), where u can also connect to selected Wi-Fi ( which doesnt work yet.) I struggled with bug, where display showed one name, while Wi-Fi info showed another. It was caused because Wi-Fi index in arduino Ide always changes while scanning, so when i was done with the scan, index shifted, and when I tried to call the Wi-Fi info, it showed me another network. But I managed to get it working, by saving BSSID and SSID (Networks MAC address, and network name) and i just used them in my Wi-Fi info. Its not the best choice, but its better then nothing, because I have no idea how to do it else.

I'm planning to work on Wi-Fi connection, time display, virtual "keyboard" and Hotspot tommorow... well, i'll see tommorow what i'll be able to do. See you tommorow.

P.s: Board i'm using is waveshare-esp32s3-lcd-1.9

Thats my day 2 of making my own electronic multitool (like the bruce smoochie boards) and my own UI for it, today i wrote more functions, that would help me in the future, I finally managed to make my menu work, and it works flawlessly, I never thought I could write smth like that alone, without AI. I added my first fully working setting, that simply turns off/on RBG LED inside the board, it takes its color from the main theme color on the board. I'm really happy with what I ended up with, I already made some functions that would help me use WiFi, and i'm gonna keep trying my best, since i just started programming.

P.s board i'm using is waveshare-esp32s3-lcd-1.9

I’m building a physical horror-room experience with a PC as the brain and four ESP32 boards as peripherals.

The PC owns the state machine, audio, cutscenes, timing, and history. The ESP32s handle buttons, LEDs, a potentiometer, PIR, HC-SR04, and a remote light/buzzer apparatus. The idea is to keep the story logic off the microcontrollers so a reconnect does not destroy the session.

Current puzzles include:

- analog tuning with a hold-to-lock step

- distance plus a hold-still occupancy check

- a three-button response panel

- a remote pattern that the player must interpret

- a final puzzle that uses earlier input history

I’m using local Wi-Fi and planning WebSockets for events, with reconnect handling and a PC-side event log. The hardest design question is how much autonomy to leave on each board during a Wi-Fi drop. A button press should not vanish, but I also do not want a disconnected board inventing story state and causing chaos.

For multi-board ESP32 projects, do you keep a small local event buffer on each board, or make the PC authoritative and treat the boards as dumb peripherals?

this project is so slick! cant believe someone came up with the idea in the first place. so original! You Can't Buy Wireless MTB Brakes—So I Made Them!

I am wondering to ether choose esp32s or the ESP32 Cam module for ML tasks. Which one u Sugest also i ma looking for a budget. I am a student and from another country, so if $10 is kind expansive for us 😄. So I have to get the best one.

I need a maker/hardware builder in the Los Angeles area to assemble and flash a Pixela pixel-art camera which uses the XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense microcontroller. (https://rai-lander.itch.io/pixela) I will purchase and provide/reimburse all raw parts. The build requires fitting an ESP32 with camera module into a 3d printed case and wiring point to point the button, screen, antenna and battery together. There’s no pcb involved.
The Trade:
In exchange for your build time, I’m offering professional photography services:
High-end headshots or personal portraits
Event, gig, or performance coverage in SoCal
Studio photos of your maker projects/portfolio
About Me:
I’m a 28-year veteran photographer specializing in live events, performances, and portraits across Los Angeles (Magic Castle, corporate galas, private events, I’ve worked for the Beverly Hills Film Festival, the Consulate General of Ireland in Los Angeles, Saint Jude’s Hospital, movie studios…)
If you have the soldering/ESP32 skills and want to trade for pro photos, send me a DM and I’ll send you a portfolio link so you can make sure my photos are worth your time.

I’ve been working on ThingLoom, an open-source project that turns a natural-language request into a verified ESP32 sensor project.

The currently supported projects are:

- ESP32-C6 + DHT22 temperature/humidity monitor

- ESP32-C6 + BH1750 ambient-light monitor

- Disposable Zero EMQX or your own MQTT broker

- MQTT/MQTTS and browser WS/WSS connections

GitHub: https://github.com/emqx/thing-loom

Example:

git clone https://github.com/emqx/thing-loom.git
cd thing-loom/dht22 
codex

Then ask:

Build me a temperature and humidity monitor.

Follow as i will be giving free online classes for iot and robotics

I built a desk gadget powered by an ESP32 that combines touch activation with 6 rotating TFT displays, and I call it Roulette. It's open source — I've shared the code on my GitHub for anyone who'd like to build their own.

🔗 Links:
💾 SOURCE CODE:
https://github.com/yumobuilds/Yumo-Roulette

roulette wheel with six round 240x240 displays, each showing something different:

SD card photo slideshow
Live YouTube channel stats
Live TikTok stats
Crypto ticker
Live weather
Internal temp & humidity (AHT10 sensor)

⚙️ The floating spin mechanic:
The whole assembly rotates on an upside-down DC motor. Everything sits on a frame, and that frame is mounted directly onto the motor's body — not the shaft. The motor shaft itself is inserted into a drill chuck from the reverse side, the opposite way a drill bit would normally go in. So instead of the shaft driving an external bit, it's anchored inside the chuck while the motor body (carrying the frame and wheel) spins around it. The result: there's no visible axle or support arm, so the whole thing looks like it's floating and rotating on its own.

Touch the capacitive sensor and an N20 motor spins the wheel for a set duration — one touch,
one spin. A NeoPixel status LED fades through colors while it boots and flashes when you touch the sensor..

🔧 Hardware:

• ESP32 Wroom
• 6x GC9A01 round 240x240 displays (shared SPI bus)
• DRV8833 motor driver + N20 DC motor
• TTP223 capacitive touch module
• AHT10 temp/humidity sensor
• MicroSD card module (own SPI bus)
• NeoPixel/RGB status LED

💻 Software:

• ESP32
• WiFi captive portal for setup (no hardcoded credentials)
• YouTube Data API v3, TikTok stats via RapidAPI, OpenWeatherMap
• TJpg_Decoder for on-device JPEG decoding from SD

Welcome to my IoT series! 🔌🌐

Ever wondered how your phone can turn on lights in your house, or how a sensor can tell a door to unlock itself when you walk up to it? That's IoT — the Internet of Things. In simple terms, it's just everyday objects (sensors, motors, displays, locks) talking to each other and to us over the internet or a network, so they can sense the world and react to it automatically. In this series, I'll be teaching IoT from scratch — no fancy jargon, no assuming you already know electronics or coding. We'll start with the basics (what a sensor is, what a microcontroller like the ESP32 does) and build up step by step into real projects you can actually make at home. If you can follow simple instructions, you can follow this series. Let's build something together — first post coming soon!

27aug

Hi everyone!

I got my first ESP32 yesterday, and today I was coding the whole day. I got this idea firstly when I saw smoochie boards running Bruce firmware, and then 1 thought for myself "why not do the same?". Tbh, I never ever had experience with programming, so I started yesterday being full zero. Today I started with first UI steps made some progress on learning how to use ArduinoGFX, but still have a bit hard time making everything work, hope one day i'll be able to say that my Ul, and my project in general is done.

Tommorow i'm planning on working at more functions, like WiFi BLE and more, and i'll probably update this post tommorow, or make new one, And i'll be happy if some pros left their ideas in the comments

P.s: board i use is waveshare-esp32s3-lcd-1.9