maker community

Espressif's latest ESP32 chip can now boot Linux, a milestone for a microcontroller line traditionally limited to bare-metal and RTOS work. Reports note the low-cost chip is approaching entry-level Raspberry Pi capability, sparking debate among makers about whether cheap microcontrollers could soon replace single-board computers for simple projects.

Hackaday has published a piece exploring the use of OpenSCAD, the open-source 3D modelling software usually associated with parametric design and 3D printing, in a gardening context. The writeup has drawn modest attention among open-source hardware enthusiasts, who enjoy seeing maker tools applied outside their usual workshop settings, though details of the project itself remain limited to the article.

Several independent projects have discovered that the widely used ESP32 microcontroller contains undocumented software-defined radio capabilities, allowing the cheap chip to receive radio signals beyond its intended use. Hobbyists are sharing experiments and discussing what hidden functions might exist in other everyday hardware, reigniting interest in the ESP32 among the maker and radio community.

A developer has built a smart home device using a roughly $6 ESP32 microcontroller that outperforms comparable IKEA products, and released the design as open source. The project shows hobbyists can replicate or beat commercial smart home hardware at a fraction of the price, and it is drawing large attention from the maker and home automation communities who are praising the low cost and open approach.

CHOMPI, the portable sampler instrument popular with musicians and bedroom producers, has been released as open-source, covering both its hardware and software. The move lets users modify, repair, and build on the design freely, and makers of DIY synths are already discussing what the release means for the hobbyist music-tech community.

The CHOMPI Sampler, a small standalone audio sampler popular with hobbyist musicians, has been released as an open source project. Its design files are now publicly available, allowing users to study, modify and build their own versions of the device. The move has drawn attention in the maker and electronic music communities, where open sourcing music hardware is often celebrated as a way to encourage experimentation and community-driven development.

A new tutorial explains how to build a Raspberry Pi-based AI companion featuring a real-time animated face created with Rive AI. The project combines affordable hardware, AI software, and expressive animation, and is being shared across robotics, coding, and engineering communities. Enthusiasts are discussing it as an accessible entry point into personal AI robotics.

CHOMPI, the pocket-sized sample-based music instrument, has been released as open source. The makers have published the device's code, allowing users and developers to inspect, modify and build upon the project. The move is drawing attention from the hardware music community, where open-sourcing a commercial instrument is seen as a notable gesture toward user customization and community-driven development.

A hobbyist robotics project called dogsbod has been presented online: a homemade quadruped robot designed, built and programmed from scratch to walk across complex terrain. The writeup describes the design and construction process and cites the builder's long-standing fascination with four-legged robots as the motivation for the build.

Jussi Pakkanen, creator of the Meson build system, has been invited by Norwegian Unix user group NUUG to speak in Oslo. His talk, "Building a Super 8 Film Scanner at Home", describes how he repaired a 1970s projector and built a scanner using a Raspberry Pi, stepper motors, 3D-printed parts and machine vision to digitise Super 8 film.

Several independent projects have discovered that ESP32 microcontrollers, widely used in low-cost electronics, can function as software-defined radio receivers, a capability never officially documented by manufacturer Espressif. Hobbyists are sharing experiments and code, suggesting the cheap chips could be used for receiving radio signals without extra hardware, opening new possibilities for DIY radio and IoT projects.

An open source tricorder project, inspired by the Star Trek scanning device, has been developed with a focus on genuine scientific measurement rather than novelty gadgetry. The build combines sensors and open hardware to capture real environmental data, and it is drawing attention in the maker community for its emphasis on practical, science-first design over sci-fi gimmickry.

London-based ceramicist Bisila Noha has been named winner of the 2026 Tacchini Prize, according to Wallpaper*. Her work draws on her Equatorial Guinean and Spanish heritage, exploring culture, community and feminism through clay. The profile highlights her blend of traditional craft techniques with contemporary political and social themes, positioning her among the most talked-about makers in design right now.

A call is going around asking founders and independent developers to share what they are currently building so more people can discover it. The prompt, tagged with BuildInPublic, Startups and IndieHackers, invites makers to promote their projects in public rather than working quietly. Responses and shares suggest an active community of indie hackers eager to trade visibility and feedback on early-stage work.

Seamark, a free open-source logbook for sailors, has introduced itself to the fediverse. The app lets users import a GPX track and see distance sailed, night hours, countries and sea areas passed, crew and weather records, all plotted on one chart. Built by a solo developer, it is aimed at sailors who want their entire sailing life recorded in one place.

A new open-source project called JBR-001 offers a fully 3D-printable desktop companion robot powered by an Arduino Uno Q. The design and build instructions are published on Arduino's Project Hub, letting anyone download, print and assemble the robot themselves. Makers and hobbyists are sharing the project, praising its accessibility and the growing range of open-source robotics hardware available to home builders.

The Chompi, a compact and distinctive music sampler known for its playful design, has been released as open source. That means its hardware and software files are now publicly available, letting musicians and makers study, modify and build their own versions. Coverage of the release highlights the device's popularity among electronic music hobbyists and the broader trend of boutique audio makers opening up their designs to the community.

The COMPRESSED Zine and Music Fair took place in San Diego, bringing together independent publishers, zine makers, and musicians for a combined celebration of self-published print and live music. A report from The Comics Journal offers a firsthand look at the event, describing the listening, browsing, and community spirit on display, and highlighting the fair as a gathering point for San Diego's independent creative scene.

An independent software maker building a SaaS product in public reports that paid plans are now live, three days before the official launch. The previous weekly update had added sample photos to the homepage and atomic credit charging to the billing system. The latest post teases that further details on what changed this week are coming.

Adafruit has highlighted a second version of a 3D-printable enclosure that houses a Meshtastic LoRa node together with a 3-watt solar panel, designed to work as an outdoor base station for off-grid mesh networking. The design is being shared with the maker community as part of the weekly 3D printing roundup, drawing interest from hobbyists building self-sufficient community radio networks.

A call is going around the build-in-public community asking founders to share links to what they are currently building, with the promise that someone reading might become their first user. The prompt, tagged under BuildInPublic and IndieHackers, is drawing small but active engagement from indie makers looking for early feedback and initial customers.

A technology hobbyist has shared a write-up of building a smart desk, describing it as the sort of geeky project they enjoy. The post details their do-it-yourself work integrating electronics into a home workspace, and it is drawing attention and small engagement within tech communities interested in home automation and maker projects.

The Chompi, a small DIY-friendly tape-effect sampler popular with experimental musicians, has been released as open source. Makers of the hardware published its designs, letting anyone build, modify, or extend the instrument themselves. Hobbyists and synth enthusiasts are sharing the news across maker and music communities, praising the move as a boost for DIY hardware.