Documentation¶
Reference documentation for every aspect of the Dilder build. Unlike the blog, docs pages are kept up to date as the project evolves — they reflect current state, not build history.
The Namesake¶
Everything in these docs traces back to a single plush octopus named Jamal — rescued from a TEDi discount bin, anthropomorphized on a walk home, and now the spiritual mascot of the entire project. The digital octopus on the e-ink display is Jamal's avatar: same attitude, same refusal to take anything seriously, compressed into 250x122 pixels. When the docs reference "the octopus," that's who we're talking about. Full origin story here.
Sections¶
Hardware¶
Specs, wiring, and physical design.
- Materials List — every component, cost, and purchase link
- Wiring & Pinout — GPIO assignments and breadboard layout
- Enclosure Design — case dimensions, design constraints, concept renders
Setup¶
Getting a working development environment.
- Pico W Setup — firmware flash, serial REPL, and smoke test
- Display Setup — jumper wire connection, Waveshare driver, hello world
- Dev Environment — VSCode + MicroPico on Linux
Design¶
Custom hardware and game design documents.
- User Engagement Plan — gameplay loops, stat system, life stages, progression
- Custom PCB Design Research — PicoTop case study, Dilder board spec, KiCad learning path
- PCB Assembly & Prototyping — provider pricing, cost estimates, open-source reference boards
- Open-Source Board Designs — 7 reference designs with images, walkthroughs, and component overlap analysis
- Motion & Location Detection — step counting, WiFi fingerprinting, BLE scanning — no GPS needed
Software¶
Code architecture and reference.
- Project Structure — directory layout and module overview
Tools¶
Python utilities built to support the development workflow.
- DevTool (GUI) — Tkinter app with display emulator, serial monitor, firmware flash, asset manager, and more
- Setup CLI — interactive step-by-step environment setup for the Pico W C SDK toolchain
- Website Dev CLI — MkDocs site management with interactive menu
Reference¶
Official hardware documentation.
- Pico W — RP2040 specs, pinout, MicroPython firmware
- Waveshare e-Paper HAT — display specs, SPI protocol, driver setup
Looking for a step-by-step walkthrough?
The blog posts walk through each phase in narrative order. Docs are the reference; blog is the story.