Pixel clock firmware with a message queue

A 32×8 LED matrix clock on the shelf. Make it show the time, then let the house push it messages — a timer from the kitchen, a "bins tonight" reminder — without the messages piling up or the clock disappearing.

Requirements

Render the time with a readable 5×7 font on a 32×8 matrix (a browser simulator of the matrix is in the repo)

Accept messages over MQTT with a priority and a lifetime

Show one message at a time, scrolling if it does not fit, returning to the clock in between

Higher priority pre-empts, equal priority queues, expired messages are dropped

Brightness follows an ambient light reading with a floor so it never goes fully dark

Bonus Points

A Home Assistant discovery payload so the clock appears as a notify target

esp32led-matrixmqtthome-assistant

Free stage

JuniorFree

Starter repo

You connect the GoShip MCP server to Claude Code or Cursor. It records your prompts, tool calls and test runs, and that record is what gets scored.

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