936: Realtime LED Wall With React + Websockets (I Let Strangers Control It)

Scott, Wes, and CJ dive into Wes’s Hackweek project: a real-time, web-controlled LED grid. They break down the hardware build, custom 3D-printed diffuser, ESP32 microcontroller, and Cloudflare durable objects powering live pixel art, GitHub activity displays, and interactive web drawings.Show Notes00:00 Welcome to Syntax!02:03 Wes’ Hackweek project: a web-controlled LED grid03:52 The hardware: LED panels, soldering, and powerWS2812 LED panels06:38 ESP32 microcontroller and WLED firmware explainedESP32 Microcontroller10:57 Power supply challenges and injection fixes15:05 Debugging and testing a DIY LED matrix15:56 Shorts, blown circuits, and melted wires17:58 Designing and 3D-printing the diffuser for crisp pixels21:29 The software: Cloudflare Durable Objects + Party ServerCloudflare Durable ObjectsParty.server22:18 Real-time sync and state management across clientsParty Client28:43 Connecting the server to the LED hardware41:51 Open access fun: scripts, NSFW images, and moderationCloudflare tunnel44:10 Live demos45:34 Future plans: stats, rooms, and making it always-onHit us up on Socials!Syntax: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn ThreadsWes: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn ThreadsScott: X Instagram Tiktok LinkedIn ThreadsRandy: X Instagram YouTube Threads.