This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/homeassistant by /u/oMatyeeo on 2026-02-22 10:22:54+00:00.
Hey fellow Tinkerers!
I am a seriously burnt out computer scientist. Approximately three years ago, I started woodworking as a hobby. Then I added some electronics to the mixture with 3D printing. I find it fascinating how much one can learn these days just from watching youtube and other educational platforms.
My projects got more and more ambitious. Now, I think they are interesting enough for others to take a look. Also, I'd like to inspire others to learn and make. It is the golden age of skill building and learning. So much information is available for free at our fingertips.
My last project is a dinosaur shaped night lamp that I made for my daughter. First, I only wanted to make it dimmable, but then one thing followed the other and I ended up with a multi-color, multi-mode night light with Home Assitant integration. I used tactile push buttons and rotary encoders to make the use of it fun for my daughter.
I made the source code of the project available in a GitHub repository under the MIT license. Please feel free to reuse, modify or redistribute. I am a seasoned software engineer, but this was my first C++ project. Suggestions for code improvements are welcome.
๐ฆ Project Summary
- MCU: ESP32 S3 (ESP-IDF via Arduino IDE)
- Control: REST HTTP API (Home Assistant integration)
- State reporting: MQTT
- LEDs: WS2812B addressable LEDs
- Body: 3D printed (black PETG)
- Base: Solid black walnut, hand finished
- Purpose: Soft, child-friendly smart night lamp with automation support
๐ฅ Full Build Process
I documented the entire process (electronics, 3D printing, and woodworking) here: https://youtu.be/Ppq_ptxz1BI
I welcome any feedback, especially if it is constructive.