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Linux is one of the last bastions for the tinkerer (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 2 days ago by bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works to c/linux@lemmy.world

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Thought of this the other day. I bet a lot of us are like this, because in today's world a lot of things we used to tinker with are gone (electronics are made to be single use and unfixable, cars are proprietary and can rarely be modified or worked on without many many thousands of dollars now, etc).

Sure, there are still hardcore electronics projects going on and people doing massive restoration projects and such, but i consider them basically geniuses, not just tinkerers who enjoy messing around and learning in their spare time while working 50 hours a week.

Im glad linux gives us a space to exist!

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[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

This is it.

You don't have to tinker anymore, but if you want to, you can do so, so much more that years ago.

I created a handheld physiotherapy game console for sick kids using a Lilygo T-HMI ESP32-S3 board for €17. Performance-wise it's somewhere between GBA and NDS. I built an OS with an app system where the users can load games from the SD card. It's got a 3D printed shell and monitors inhalation/physiotherapy using an off-the-shelf air pressure sensor. All of that was doable as a one-man hobby project within a year.

I created a smartphone keyboard attachment. Blackberry spare keyboard, custom self-designed Arduino-compatible PCB, custom firmware, parametarized 3D printed shell. Works like any old USB keyboard and connects to the phone via USB C. I have been using this as a daily driver for the last four years.

All of that can be done on a tight budget as hobby projects next to real work. The resources are just available. No university degree necessary.

Tinkering much easier (and you have more abilities) than ever before!

[–] bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

This is so cool! I applaud you. I always figure all that stuff already exists so why build it again

[–] squaresinger@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Thank you!

These two things didn't exist before I made them. My physiotherapy game console is currently the only one available, and in total the only one that is open source.

There is by now another smartphone keyboard attachment, the Clicks, but there wasn't when I made my keyboard, and there still isn't another one for the Fairphone 4 and the Samsung Galaxy A54.