Vibecoding hardware
jasonleow • 9 Aug 2026 •
Fascinating new trend on Twitter: vibecoding hardware.
Not on Raspberry Pi, but actual mini devices like a smart watch or phone, but cheaper and slower. Check out this directory.
The ESP32 is a mass-produced CPU designed for small hardware systems…. Writing code for small boards like the ESP32 used to be quite difficult. The languages are low-level—C, C++, MicroPython—the SDKs are minimal, the firmware is undocumented, and the most difficult bugs require at least an HSK-4. – @steveruizok
Indeed. In the past, it was a specialized technical hobby to even code these things. And who has time to learn C or C++??!! But now, Claude can do any programming language for you. English is your programming language now. Now we’re seeing vibecoders make games on small wearables, pomodoro timers, digital pets (aka tamagotchi - remember?), even a guitar tuner!
How about vibecoding digital clocks, mini dashboards, showing air quality, UV intensity? Next level: Program my smart washing machine, coffee machine, fridge, lights, TV?
What hardware will you make?
Comments
Interesting, ESP32s are widely used alongside Arduinos as DEV boards. I’ve got at least a dozen lying around and one actively deployed at my heating system with ESPHome and temp sensors. I don’t think they are as low-level as the author writes; we had them in an optional class for microelectronics in school too.
So is the innovation here being able to program already-existing electronic devices to do different stuff?
@Winkletter Abacus… sounds interesting! You got to try it
@phaidenbauer Oh you’re already doing it, nice, very nice. Yeah pretty good for smart home kind of devices right?
@therealbrandonwilson Yes! Maybe not washing machines, but these small cheap devices with sensors and all on them
@jasonleow Exactly, ESPHome abstracts a bunch of coding work too, so you basically simply say which sensor is on which pin and “magic” happens (completely without AI). But coding/research also got easier; I was recently researching how to build an air quality sensor (as prebuilt stuff is quite expensive), and I can build one for maybe $20 instead of buying one for $80. Sure, it might look ugly, but who cares if it works? :)
I wonder if I could set up a controller that links a hardware abacus as an input device?