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 Notes



00:00 Welcome to Syntax!


02:03 Wes’ Hackweek project: a web-controlled LED grid


03:52 The hardware: LED panels, soldering, and power

WS2812 LED panels





06:38 ESP32 microcontroller and WLED firmware explained

ESP32 Microcontroller





10:57 Power supply challenges and injection fixes


15:05 Debugging and testing a DIY LED matrix


15:56 Shorts, blown circuits, and melted wires


17:58 Designing and 3D-printing the diffuser for crisp pixels


21:29 The software: Cloudflare Durable Objects + Party Server

Cloudflare Durable Objects

Party.server





22:18 Real-time sync and state management across clients

Party Client





28:43 Connecting the server to the LED hardware


41:51 Open access fun: scripts, NSFW images, and moderation

Cloudflare tunnel





44:10 Live demos


45:34 Future plans: stats, rooms, and making it always-on



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