[adolph]

It is a really nice minimal package with maximal software. I recently hooked one up to an 8x8 panel of WS2812 rgb LEDs and then found the WLED ecosystem which installs directly from browser (https://install.wled.me/) and has a web/mobile app front end to control the array, accept button inputs, integrate with iot home stuff.

  1. Flash D1 mini from browser via USB
  2. Solder 3 wires (5v+, ground, data)
  3. Power up D1 Mini from USB
  4. Have fun with some blinkenlights

WLED Project: https://kno.wled.ge/

[cronix]

Yes, but they're going away from 8266 and going to ESP32. They've already dumped support for the audio reactive version due to low processing power of the 8266. There are ESP32's in D1 Mini form factor.

[adolph]

Yes, I was on the fence about mentioning that 8266 isn't great for new work since it is going away (however slowly). Additionally, moving to Espressif's newer SoC adds security features that 8266 doesn't have. In my mind the route forward is ESP32-C3 for low power and ESP-C6 for speed/capacity, since both are on RISC-V ISA as opposed to ESP32[-S[2,3]]'s LX7.

[Edit] Also, I hadn't looked at the WeMos ESP32 mini, but the examples I saw aren't pinout compatible (prolly b/c the 32 has a lot more) and don't have the handy 5v boost converted pin. That means that the above WS2812 project would need to add a 3-5v boost converter. Not a biggie, but 50% more parts...

[bobsmooth]

Support for the 8266 is going to be maintained for the main branch. It's still plenty powerful for running up to 1k leds.

[pantalaimon]

GCC will forever be stuck at version 5.4 for this though