microcontroller Archives

Winsage

March 6, 2026

FRANK OS 1.0 Launches With a Retro Windows 95-Like Desktop

FRANK OS is a newly launched open-source graphical desktop operating system specifically designed for microcontrollers, with its first official version, 1.0, now available. It is built on FreeRTOS rather than the Linux kernel, optimized for the RP2350 microcontroller, which has approximately 520 KB of SRAM and dual CPU cores. The operating system features a desktop environment reminiscent of Windows 95, including overlapping windows, a taskbar, and a start-menu-style launcher. It supports standard desktop behaviors and allows users to switch between applications using an Alt+Tab-style interface. FRANK OS comes preloaded with nine lightweight applications, such as an interactive terminal, a C compiler, classic games, and a ZX Spectrum emulator. Programs can be compiled as ARM ELF binaries and loaded from an SD card. The system is aimed at hobbyists and experimental use.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Developer Runs Minecraft On Smart Lightbulb

Developer Vimpo has established a Minecraft server on a budget smart lightbulb using the BL602 microcontroller. The server, called Ucraft, is a lightweight system that lacks many traditional features but operates effectively. The binary size is approximately 46 KB without the authentication library and 90 KB with it. Memory consumption varies based on active players, peaking at around 70 KB with authentication for up to 10 players, or dropping to 20 KB without it.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

Game server hosting just found its most unlikely platform in a cheap bulb

A hardware enthusiast named Vimpo successfully hosted a Minecraft server on a budget-friendly smart LED bulb using a BL602 RISC-V microcontroller, which operates at 192 megahertz and has 276 kilobytes of RAM and 128 kilobytes of ROM. He implemented a lightweight server software called Ucraft, with a binary size of approximately 46 kilobytes without authentication and 90 kilobytes with authentication. While Ucraft meets basic hosting demands, it lacks most features of a standard Minecraft server. This project demonstrates the flexibility of embedded systems and highlights innovative uses of technology.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

This bright spark built a 90 KB Minecraft server and got it running on a Wi-Fi-equipped lightbulb

YouTuber Vimpo successfully ran a custom Minecraft server, named Ucraft, on a modified Wi-Fi smart lightbulb. The lightbulb was altered by removing its glass exterior to access the BL602 RISC-V chip, which was connected to a microcontroller with a USB port. The server binary is compact, measuring 46 KB without the authentication library and 90 KB with it, and uses a maximum of 70 KB of memory with ten players. The server supports basic minigames like TNT run, although it has limitations on blocks and map sizes.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Hardware hacker installs Minecraft server on a cheap smart lightbulb — single 192 MHz RISC-V core with 276KB of RAM, enough to run tiny 90K byte world

A hardware hacker named Vimpo installed a Minecraft server on a budget-friendly smart lightbulb, utilizing the bulb's BL602 RISC-V-powered microcontroller. Vimpo disassembled an LED bulb from AliExpress, soldered connections to its headers, and used a USB-to-serial adapter for communication. The software aspect involved using Ucraft, a compact implementation available on GitHub, which has a binary size of approximately 46K bytes without authentication and 90K bytes with it. Memory usage varies with active players, reaching a maximum of around 70K bytes with 10 players connected. Ucraft, however, lacks most features of the vanilla server.

AppWizard

November 10, 2025

This Lamp Runs Minecraft

Hackers have shifted their focus from running Doom on unconventional devices to establishing Minecraft servers on unexpected platforms. A recent achievement involves running a Minecraft server on an IoT light bulb, utilizing a BL602 RISC-V-powered microcontroller. The server, named Ucraft, was optimized to fit within the microcontroller's limited memory and storage, condensing the software to just a few tens of kilobytes. The microcontroller was extracted from the bulb, new firmware was flashed onto it, and then it was soldered back into place to host Minecraft worlds. Despite limitations in world size and available items, the server operates effectively, providing a responsive gaming experience.

AppWizard

October 21, 2025

Building A Minecraft Lantern For Halloween

A team at Hulk has created a 3D-printed replica of the Minecraft lantern for Halloween. The lantern features a 3D printed enclosure that mimics the game's design and is made of six parts assembled with acrylic lenses to diffuse light. It uses an Arduino Nano to control lighting effects with NeoPixel LED rings, allowing customizable RGB colors through integrated rotary pots. The lantern is powered by an 18650 lithium-ion cell and a TP4056 module for battery maintenance. This project exemplifies the merging of technology and creativity in the maker community.

AppWizard

September 20, 2025

World’s Smallest Minecraft Server Runs On a Tiny ESP32 Microchip

An inventive project called bareiron has created a custom Minecraft server on an ESP32 microcontroller, which is the size of a penny. The server operates with 400KB of memory and a 160MHz processor, significantly less than the typical requirements for a Minecraft server. To manage terrain generation, the project uses bilinear interpolation instead of the standard Perlin noise method, allowing for smooth landscape gradients while conserving memory. Biomes are represented as circular islands on a grid, with their types determined by a repeating pattern linked to the world’s seed. Cave systems are generated by mirroring the surface landscape, and ores are placed sparingly at depth. Crafting and inventory management have been simplified, with items directly added to the player's inventory instead of dropping. The server can load a chunk in about 200 milliseconds, though performance may decrease with more than three players. It operates on a trust-based model for player actions, which may lead to potential cheating.