This week on the Adafruit Learning System, we published a few new guides. Learn how to create DIY decorative resin keycaps, make a Neo Trinkey CircuitPython rubbery ducky, and learn how to do MacroPad remote procedure calls over USB to control Home Assistant.
Favorite New Guide
Ok, let’s be honest. The Adafruit MacroPad is just awesome! But it could be better if you could control things over the Internet or local network. Fear not, for there is a way. With the magic of Remote Procedure Calls, you can have your computer to do all of the networking stuff and return the results by telling it what you want over USB Serial and receiving the results back.
This project connects to Home Assistant to control lights using automations. To display the current state of the lights, the MacroPad will be publishing its control changes, and it will have the host computer subscribe to the MQTT topics of the devices to grab their state and change the color of the keys accordingly.
Since the MacroPad has a rotary encoder, this project uses it to control device dimming. Since the state of the lights and the brightness of the light can usually be controlled by the switch itself and the controls in Home Assistant, in addition to the MacroPad, it made sense to only send the MacroPad state changes, such as the rotary encoder changes, rather than trying to keep track of the state on the MacroPad itself.
ALS Deep Cut
With so many guides on the Adafruit Learning System, some amazing guides of years past get buried and lost. ALS Deep Cuts brings these guides back up to the surface. This week’s guide is from back in 2016.
For when you don’t want to go bump in the night, create your own tent lantern
Camping is fun, especially at night. Moon overhead, twinkling stars, campfires, rotating bear watches.
But there aren’t campfires in my tent. Sometimes, you just need light.
Introducing… the tent lantern.
When it’s 3 AM and I don’t want to disturb other campers, or reset my night-adjusted eyes, I need a gentle light. A headlamp is best suited for your head, and a flashlight is great for your hand. And both are too bright on their normal setting.
This 3D printed lantern features a 1200 mAh battery with charging circuit, two large LED backlights, and a hooked handle allowing you to hang on closed loops.
The Internet of Things
This week we published yet another guide showing you how to create a neat Internet of Things (IoT) device. If you are into this kind of thing, the Internet of Things category on the Adafruit Learning System now has over 280 guides!
Also be sure to check out the Adafruit IO blog, where you will learn all about the latest Adafruit IO updates, and what we are planning in the future. We also post our favorite IoT projects from around the web. There is also an IoT category on the normal Adafruit Blog!
Lastly, be sure to subscribe to the Internet of Things monthly newsletter which just went out today!
If you missed it, subscribe now! – You’ll get one newsletter each month.
The next newsletter goes out in a month and being subscribed the best way to keep up with all the Internet of Things. No spam, no selling lists, leave any time.
Over 3,800+ subscribers worldwide
