Custom ESP32 builds for the home workshop.

A Busy Light running ESPHome and Home Assistant, and a Magic Mirror-based smart mirror -- both documented as they're built, not written up after the fact.

Busy Light

A WS2812-driven status light, wired to Home Assistant through ESPHome so a closed-door meeting turns the hallway light red automatically.

View build log →

Smart Mirror

A Magic Mirror build behind a two-way acrylic panel, running on the same Home Assistant instance for weather, calendar, and transit widgets.

View build log →

Hardware

How Busy Light is wired

Hover or tap a pin to see what it drives on the current build.

ESP32-WROOM-32 DevKitC

Hover or tap a highlighted pin to see how it's wired in this build.

Home Assistant integration

Busy Light is defined entirely in ESPHome YAML: alightplatform on the WS2812 data pin and abinary_sensoron the mode button, both exposed to Home Assistant as native entities with no custom integration required. A single automation flips the light based on calendar state.

Build log

2025-11-02

Busy Light: swapped the button debounce logic after false triggers.

2025-10-18

Busy Light: first working ESPHome + Home Assistant entity.

2025-09-30

Smart Mirror: two-way acrylic panel test-fitted in the frame.

2025-09-12

Smart Mirror: MagicMirror² running on a Pi behind the panel.

See the professional device work on IoTSee the other hands-on build on Bikeshed

Building something similar?

Happy to compare notes on ESPHome or Home Assistant.

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