Have you ever hung out at your local power station?

A little forethought never goes astray. Are you still measuring twice and cutting once, or are you 3D printing endless revisions to dial things in? 😄

right at this very moment, somebody is plotting a plotter, somebody is plotting with a plotter, and somebody is plotting to write about their plotter and send it in to the Hackaday tips line... ...look, we write about a lot of plotters.

Is it just us or was this peak design?

Does the Windows 11 taskbar calendar often crash for you? We'd love to hear your experiences.

Pour one out for your friends cursed with keyboards that *don't* have CTRL at the bottom left corner of the layout.

Do you ever wonder if there's someone out there still using Windows 8?

Huge thanks to our sponsors for helping make Hackaday Europe 2026 possible⚡ We can’t wait for an incredible weekend of talks, workshops, demos, and nonstop hacking with the best hardware community around🙌 ⚡Powered by @e14community @Makera_Inc @arduino @ifixit @edgeimpulse @fibreseek3d @supplyframe

As computers grew more powerful and gained colorful displays, somehow they felt less arcane...

Quite a legacy.

One of Iomega's last gasps - the handsome 750MB Zip drive. Notably, it could read - but not write - the original 100MB Zip disk format.

Burn Notice: older than you think

Worth remembering—Iomega had some sleek peripherals on the market well before Apple ended the Reign of Beige in the late 1990s.

The classic 3.5mm headphone jack still has its diehards to this day, but the world has largely moved on...

In the early days of Hackaday, Nokia 3310 screens were a popular part to include in projects. The world has since moved on...

Does a donut machine count as a 3D printer if it can only print donuts?

Fun fact: Hackaday does not have a Sega Hacks category. We may never have a Sega hacks category...

Prior to its buyout and shutdown, Netscape established the Mozilla Foundation to handle the development and maintenance of future browsers.

In 1999, Netscape Communications Corporation had 2,500 employees. By 2008, the company was defunct.

Microsoft only put the Xbox 360 into series production 69 days before the September 14, 2005 launch date. This, combined with the high initial failure rate due to the red ring of death (RROD), was a major cause of initial supply shortages in the console's first year on sale.

Yes, there's something almost anthropomorphic about these cats eyes...

Did anyone touch type or do word processing on the Amiga 500? It didn't exactly have the best key feel...

One can see the appeal of the Pocket386. One can also see the appeal of a machine running a 1GHz+ CPU, with a lot more RAM, and wireless networking... ...if only such a thing existed.

In manufacturing, a small change to the product can totally alter your process. For example... let's say you're putting a MEMS microphone on a PCB. Easy enough to assemble, but it affects the manufacturing process—because you can no longer simply wash the boards without risking damage to the component. Everything has an impact!

Thankfully, airliners are not actually out there bombing civilian areas with frozen human waste on the regular. hackaday.com/2025/11/21/hand…

Here are the three winners of the Hackaday #ComponentAbuseChallenge! 🔶 LED candles by Miroslav Hancar This project created LED candles that flicker like real candles and can be activated with an actual flame. 🔶 Need an Electrical Slip Ring? by Luke J. Barker. This project created a slip ring to transfer electricity from a stationary base to a spinning device that has a motor. 🔶 Boosting voltage with a cable by Craig D This project re-purposes a cable as a voltage boosting device. Read more about the winners and check out the Honorable Mentions → hubs.la/Q03TQb7V0 Thank you to the awesome folks at @digikey for sponsoring this challenge!

You too can film things with a tiny plastic pill, thanks to recent reverse-engineering efforts! However, this is one camera you probably don't want to buy used...

Only one day remaining to submit your projects to the Hackaday & DigiKey #ComponentAbuseChallenge! Three winners will score a $150 shopping spree to @digikey hubs.la/Q03RTpn70

There are challenges caused by ever-larger SD card sizes. Older equipment that can only use 2GB or 4GB cards? Difficult to use when the lowest capacities start at 32GB. Want to backup an image of your single-board computer's OS? The file grows ever larger...

The #ComponentAbuseChallenge highlights duality. Whether it is using parts for purposes that simply aren’t on the label or getting away with pushing them to their absolute maximum ratings or beyond, we want to see your creative projects! 2 Days left to submit those projects... hubs.la/Q03RR_RL0 Sponsored by @digikey

The best projects are last minute projects! 😆 There's four days left to submit yours to the Hackaday #ComponentAbuseChallenge hubs.la/Q03RRXnJ0 Sponsored by @digikey

Hackadayio user trashtronic, created the OP-AMP Weight Scale. This project's goal is bending IC's to measure weight, and it was submitted it to the Hackaday #ComponentAbuseChallenge. Submit your projects by Nov 11th. hubs.la/Q03RRDhq0 Three winners will score a $150 shopping spree thanks to @digikey!

The #HackadaySuperconference2025 Keynote: Crafting the Final Frontier with MakeItHackin (Andrew), Rick Sternbach, Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Michael Moore, Bear Burge, & Liz Kloczkowski is starting in 5 minutes at LACM!

The Tiny Tapeout Workshop with Pat Deegan starts in 10 minutes at 1PM, located on the 2nd floor of Supplyframe HQ #HackadaySuperconference2025

It's #Supercon time! Welcome to Day Zero of the #HackadaySuperconference2025 Registration and doors open at 9AM at @Supplyframe HQ, and don't forget to tag us in all your Supercon fun 😎

Hackadayio user bornach created the "Inductors are Wireless Power Sources" project and submitted it to the #ComponentAbuseChallenge In need of some inspiration? Check out the creative submissions to this fun challenge! hubs.la/Q03P7hJv0 This Challenge is open until November 11th, so enter your projects before then Sponsored by @digikey

Joey Jefferson is a Senior Mission Operations Engineer at Boeing’s Millennium Space Systems, and a former NASA JPL engineer who has helped fly iconic missions including Voyager, Cassini, SMAP, and Mars 2020. An internationally recognized musician and science communicator, his outreach has been featured on Netflix, NPR, NBC Nightly News and more. Celeste is a flight software engineer working on technologies for future Moon and Mars missions. She began her journey at Georgia Tech, where she first got hands-on experience building small satellites and exploring what’s possible in space. Sirina Nabhan graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. Sirina is a Systems Engineer for the Deep Space Network (DSN), where she translates project data needs into software architecture. She is also an advocate for promoting space exploration through outreach and social events. Russell Perry is a technical leader and founding engineer at Apex Space, driving spacecraft software from concept to orbit. He is an expert in flight software, embedded systems, and team building with a focus on autonomy and reliability.

Three more Super Speakers for this year's Supercon! 1️⃣ Bob Hickman is a former a Disney Imagineer, game industry verteran, and autonomous robotics technology leader. He's an enthusiast of algorithms, visualizations, and everything blinky. 2️⃣ Nathan Jones, an educator and embedded systems engineer, served in the US Army for 15 years as a Military Intelligence officer and an Assistant Professor at West Point Military Academy. He’s spoken at top engineering conferences and contributes regularly to Embedded Related and Digi-Key. 3️⃣ Rob Ludwick is a Fortune 500 software developer with 20 years’ experience and a love for Python. By night, he dives into electronics and ham radio, blending engineering roots with hands-on tech tinkering. #HackadaySuperconference2025

Nice! Did you get a big flood of early adopters on the first day?

Workshops, Workshops, Workshops, the #HackadaySuperconference2025 has something for everyone to learn! Part Two 🔹 @arduino& @digikey Presents: From Blink to Think: Discover Arduino Uno Q with Leonardo Cavagnis & Tyler Wojciechowicz

Workshops, Workshops, Workshops, the #HackadaySuperconference2025 has something for everyone to learn! Part 1 🔹 Level Up Your Board Game with KiCad with Seth Hillbrand 🔹 Framework Mystery Boxes: Swap & Build with Nirav Patel & Framework 🔹 @digikey Presents: Introduction to Embedded Rust with Shawn Hymel 🔹 Bling It On: Programming Your Own Generative Art Matrix with Estefannie & Bob Hickman

Here's a few more #HackadaySuperconference2025 speakers joining us this year! 1️⃣ Cyril Engmann is a hardware hacker, firmware whisperer, and recovering government R&D lead. Now working independently, he builds expressive tools and machines that feel more human than high-tech. He’s part of the NYC Resistor crew and believes the best hardware has a point of view, especially if it’s a little weird. 2️⃣ Artem is a software engineer and electronics hobbyist, passionate for applying engineering practices in his professional projects, contributing to better software design and reliability. In his spare time he enjoys the freedom of pursuing a wide range of technical topics from electronics design and reverse engineering to ham radio. 3️⃣ Samy Kamkar, a reverse engineer once banned from computers for developing the fastest spreading computer virus, builds tools to explore the insecurities and privacy implications in everyday technologies, exploiting hardware, software, and physics from drones to iridescent chocolate. 4️⃣ Dr. Zachary Peterson, Professor of Computer Science at Cal Poly, develops and evaluates novel approaches that improve computing outreach and education. His work aims to increase awareness, build career pathways, and make learning computing concepts fun, inclusive, and engaging. A huge thank you to our sponsored @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

Hackadayio user Stephen created the TL431 rogowski coil current sensor project and submitted it to the Hackaday #ComponentAbuseChallenge. This challenge is where the number one rule is that you’ve got to break the rules, but the project has to work anyway. You’ve got until November 11th to submit your projects. Three creative hackers will win a $150 shopping spree thanks to @digikey Let the parts know no mercy! hubs.la/Q03P7mhq0

Here's another round of our #HackadaySuperconference2025 Speakers! 1️⃣ Amie Dansby blends cosplay, code, and creativity into a career that defies convention. With early roots in game development at Marvel Studios and now a senior software engineer at Microsoft, Amie’s work spans Xbox R&D, wearable tech, and 3D printing. She’s a LEGO Master, a body-hacking pioneer with four chip implants, and the force behind a custom ProtoPasta filament (Blood of My Enemies) which helps fund her Dansby Scholarship for Girls in STEM at the National Videogame Museum. 2️⃣ Karl Koscher is a hacker with a penchant for making abstract threats alarmingly real. His pioneering automotive security dissertation work has earned both IEEE and USENIX Test of Time awards, as well as a 2021 Golden Goose Award. 3️⃣ Arsenio Menendez is a Space Systems Engineer by day, and by night dives into everything from IR-focused remote sensing to Foreign Material Exploitation of adversarial tech. In his spare time he reverse engineers missiles and , builds high power lasers and tinkers with a wide range of thermal imaging systems. 4️⃣ DJ Harrigan is a designer and content creator who delights in using embedded hardware and digital fabrication technology to bring fictional devices to life. From retro-style wearable communicators to rotary cell phones and animatronic characters, he aims to showcase how modern technology can turn fictional concepts into functional objects. Sponsored by @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

The #HackadaySuperconference2025 Keynote is all about Crafting the Final Frontier! Go with us beyond the stars ✨🌌 1️⃣ Andrew (aka MakeItHackin) is a hardware enthusiast, maker, and Trekkie! He started his electronics journey by hacking his toy tricorder in middle school, which eventually led to becoming involved with #BadgeLife. Other passions include reverse engineering and cyber security. 2️⃣ Bear Burge has over 40 years of experience in the television and movie industry as a professional prop fabricator, model maker, and machinist. He has created, fabricated, and designed iconic props for Star Trek, including Picard's Ressikan Flute, Geordi's VISOR, and Worf's baldric. 3️⃣ Denise Okuda was video playback supervisor on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and other Trek productions. She is coauthor of the Star Trek Encyclopedia and Chronology and recipient of the Art Directors Guild’s Lifetime Achievement award. She’s also a big fan of NFL football. 4️⃣ Liz Kloczkowski is an art director and author of “Resurrecting the Enterprise-D”, renowned for her contributions to Star Trek: Picard. She played a pivotal role in designing Picard’s iconic sets, including the Eleos 12, the Titan-A’s sickbay, transporter room, nacelle room, environmental control room, crew quarters, and a faithful recreation of the Enterprise-D bridge. 5️⃣ Michael W. Moore has worked in the entertainment industry for over 40+ years, specializing in prop fabrication and product development. Michael worked on multiple blockbusters including the Star Trek Franchise, and The Hobbit Trilogy, as well as cult classics such as Beetlejuice, Gremlins 2, Re-Animator. 6️⃣ Michael Okuda invented the iconic “LCARS” graphic style for Star Trek. He supervised graphics on four Star Trek series and six Trek movies. His work has earned him three primetime Emmy nominations and the NASA Exceptional Public Service medal. 7️⃣ Rick Sternbach is a Hugo and Emmy award-winning space and science fiction artist. His clients include NASA, Smithsonian, Analog and many others. With the rebirth of Star Trek, beginning with The Next Generation, Rick created new spacecraft, tricorders, phasers, and hundreds of other props and set pieces.

Here's another round of our #HackadaySuperconference2025 Speakers! 1️⃣ Aaron Eiche is an electronics nerd, 3D-printer enthusiast, and 80s child. He likes 8-bit computers, animatronics, and Laminar-flow-fountains. 2️⃣ Fangzheng Liu is a PhD candidate at the MIT Media Lab researching miniature robots and wireless sensor networks for planetary exploration. His “AstroAnt” robot landed on the Moon’s south pole in the Intuitive Machines IM-2 mission in March 2025. 3️⃣ Kay is a software engineer specializing in data security. Outside of work, they enjoy hands-on creative projects that blend code, aesthetics, and physicality - like machine embroidery, textiles, and other tangible hacks that make tech feel more personal and beautiful. 4️⃣ Josh Martin is a software engineer and maker with a Computer Engineering degree from Purdue. By day he builds web and mobile apps; by night he collects unique film cameras, amassing deep knowledge of their mechanics and quirks. Sponsored by @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

Check out the next round of #HackadaySuperconference2025 speakers! 1️⃣ Javier de la Torre is a multidisciplinary creator with a passion for exploring new and different ideas and mediums. Blending curiosity with a love for diverse experiences, Javier brings creative energy and versatility to every project. 2️⃣ Debra Ansell, aka "GeekMomProjects", started making illuminated wearables fifteen years ago. Her methods have evolved from conductive thread and sewable LEDs to creative soldering and custom PCBs. Her motto is "All tech is wearable if you try hard enough." 3️⃣ Jeremy Hong, an electrical engineering PhD student and licensed ham radio operator (KD8TUO), has over a decade of experience working with aerospace and defense contractors, specializing in hardware security, embedded systems, and high-reliability electronics. His research interests include RF and microwave electronics, hardware security, and the effects of radiation on microelectronics. 4️⃣ Douglas Goodwin makes durable images for an unstable, post-digital world. An engineer turned CalArts professor, he hacks new technologies into 19th-century processes. Thank you to our Supercon sponsored @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

Here's a closer look at a some additional #HackadaySuperconference2025 Speakers! 1️⃣ Joe Needleman is a tinkerer, maker, and security researcher with a passion for hands-on problem solving. When he’s not exploring technology’s edges, he’s out enjoying the outdoors and new adventures. 2️⃣ Keith Penney is an electronics engineer in scientific R&D. He currently builds FPGA-based instrumentation for particle accelerators, and has extensive experience designing embedded devices for weird applications on shoestring budgets. An open-source advocate, Keith loves fussy details, creative solutions, and swapping knowledge with anyone willing to talk. 3️⃣ Kumar Abhishek is a lifelong electronics enthusiast driven by curiosity about hidden workings of everyday technology, and also a two-time Hackaday Prize finalist. By day he writes software for Big Tech. He shares a passion for music, books and travel. 4️⃣ John Duffy has been passionate about electronics since 7th grade, with recent focus on test equipment and metrology. He’s developing the open-source HydraMeter and has professional experience designing satellite test sets, scientific instruments, and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing machines. Sponsored by @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

Before you could play multiplayer games over dial-up, first you had to play phone tag. "Wait, what did you set it to? Okay, hang up and then dial back and I'll set it to answer..."

We're excited to welcome so many talented speakers to #HackadaySuperconference2025! Check out a few highlighted here and be sure to grab your tickets today 1️⃣ Allie Katz is a nonbinary professional inventor, product designer, and digital fabrication expert with a passion for Open Source hardware. Their creations are wildly diverse, ranging from a high fashion LED necklace that fights air pollution to a life-sized Adventure Time character who controls 3D printers. 2️⃣ SJ Jones is an aspiring computational designer in metal additive manufacturing, with experience in printing everything from bespoke biomedical implants to mission-critical aerospace components. Most passionate about redefining art in engineering. 3️⃣ Daryll Strauss has spent 30+ years advancing media and entertainment tech, from building Titanic’s Linux render farm to developing the first hardware-accelerated 3D driver for Linux. He now runs the Academy Software Foundation Zero Trust Working Group and spends his spare time doing hobbyist electronics, 3D printing, and writing software. 4️⃣ Davis DeWitt is a Los Angeles-based practical effects engineer, inventor, and filmmaker with 8+ years in film and TV. He worked in front of the camera as the electronics expert on Discovery Channel's Motor MythBusters, and behind the scenes building everything from on-screen robots to remotely controlled full-sized cars. A huge thank you to this event's sponsors @Supplyframe, @Digikey, & @FrameworkPuter

The countdown to the #HackadaySuperconference2025 continues... Check out a few of our amazing Speakers joining us on the Supercon stage this year, and don't forget to grab your tickets before they sell out! 1️⃣ Joe FitzPatrick is an instructor and researcher at Securing Hardware, specializing in silicon debug, security validation, and hardware penetration testing. For over a decade, he’s trained hundreds worldwide and developed tools, courses, and playful hardware hacks for conferences and the NSA Playset. 2️⃣ Elli Furedy is a polymath engineer, maker, and proud trans woman, with over ten years of experience spanning mobile, blockchain, AR/VR, and embedded systems. As the founder of Fail Factory and Alleycat Asset Acquisitions, Elli creates accessible, immersive tools and brings a systematic, user-centric approach to every project, continually exploring new ways tech can spark real-world connections. 3️⃣ Cprossu, aka Andrew Lewton, is a jack of all trades and tech tinkerer from 8088s to modern CPUs. He caught the computer bug as a kid in the early ’90s, and by age 7, he had his hands on an IBM 5150. By 9, he’d built his first PC from scrap parts, back when the idea of a kid owning their own computer was borderline absurd. 4️⃣ Reid Sox-Harris is a Toronto-based avionics designer and theatrical lighting enthusiast who fuses traditional stage design with a maker mindset to create exciting and innovative designs. He’s worked on productions of all sizes and is forever seeking the perfect mint chip ice cream. Sponsored by @Supplyframe, @digikey & @FrameworkPuter

Hackadayio user Miroslav Hancar used LEDs to create a temperature sensor LED Candle that can be extinguished with a touch of your fingers. This project was submitted to the Hackaday #ComponentAbuseChallenge, and you can join the challenge with your own Component Abuse project! hubs.ly/Q03LcfqB0 Sponsored by @DigiKey

Back in the old days, you connected to the Internet via a fine piece of wooden furniture.