Hackaday

Kert Gartner's ASCII Aquarium project transforms a cheap ESP32-based CYD (Cheap Yellow Display) into a desk toy simulated aquarium. ASCII sea creatures each have individual behaviors and respond to touch-based feeding. The project includes a hidden configuration menu, bitmap export, timekeeping functionality, and support for a 3D-printed enclosure. A display flip mode even supports beamsplitter setups for a unique visual effect.

Adorable ASCII Aquarium Lives On Your Desk

This is one of the cool projects people make just because.

<img src="https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--BH6JieTe--/f_auto/v1780666111/ugc/content_e8c63fe0-e662-4373-8e77-ba59621ac968?_a=BAMAMiWQ0" alt="ascii-aquarium.jpg">
I just put one together the other day. Is it useful? No, not really, but that’s ok. Sometimes the reason for a project is to do something silly that doesn’t solve any real problem except to scratch an itch to make something.

I need it
<img src="https://static.klipy.com/ii/925f17378dd1893b674a723c07535afe/69/f0/BaG6T64L.gif" alt="GIF">

Just ordered A CYD…this will be going on my desk at work in the very near future! 😁