complete personal project · jun 2026 – aug 2026

weather-buddy / build.log

Not every project needs to be some awesome learning experience or super cool; sometimes it should just be useful. Checking the weather usually means finding my phone and opening an app, so I built a little desk buddy instead.

hardware: ESP32-S3, custom PCB, TMP102 indoor temp sensor, 3.5in ST7796 SPI TFT (480×320), 3D-printed case

software: ESP-IDF v5.4, OpenWeather API client, SNTP time sync

Four-section dashboard (indoor temp, outdoor temp, weather icon/condition, date/time) updated region-by-region instead of full-screen redraws.
Self-contained WiFi and location setup: hold the button at boot to open a captive portal, enter WiFi credentials and coordinates from a phone, saved to NVS for future boots.
After setup, that same button toggles the display on/off; powered over USB-C.

Weather Buddy breadboard prototype — early breadboard prototype, validating sensor + display wiring before the PCB

Weather Buddy's unpopulated custom PCB — the custom PCB, unpopulated: forgot to photograph it assembled before it went in the case. 9-pin header for the TFT on the left, temp sensor footprint on the right, USB-C in the top-left corner, ESP32-S3 dev kit in the center

Finished Weather Buddy, front view — finished device, front view: outside + inside conditions on the TFT

Finished Weather Buddy, side view — side profile of the finished enclosure

github