DevLog #4: Laying Everything Out!
Today, I worked more on laying out everything I wanted to have and finalizing my shopping list! Thank you to everyone who has been following my devlogs so far! I have basically no experience with electronics, so a lot of the components I’ve picked are based on AI suggestions and my own research. I’m definitely still figuring things out as I go.

Right now, I’m thinking about ordering the screen(if i can’t find a bigger one that fits my vision), microcontroller, and a few buttons for testing (and just to play around with!). I’ll also be watching tutorials on similar projects to learn more and get some inspiration before I commit to the rest of the parts.

Shopping list so far!
Display: Waveshare 2.4” LCD Display Module (240×320)
Microcontroller: Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040
Battery: 3.7 V LiPo battery
Audio amp: Adafruit I2S Amplifier BFF
Speaker: Adafruit Mini Oval Speaker — 8 Ω 1 W
Button switches: EVQQ2K01W tactile switches
Knob: Surface Mount Rotary Encoder — EC11J

DevLog #3: Continue on Cadding

I cadded out the cases (still a placeholder right now) and found an online model for the screen I will be using. But unfortunately, I found out that the screen does not fit in the space. So I will have to look for a new one or slightly tweak the size of the Tamadoro.

DevLog #2: Cadding out the layouts

Today I researched different electronics I might consider using and started laying them out in a 3x3in case. I realized I need not just a seeed xiao, but also a speaker and a battery. This is quite sad because I am now not sure if I can fit everything in

DevLog #1: Initial Planning!

The idea of combining a Tamagotchi with a Pomodoro timer hit me, and I thought it would be adorable to build it into a sticky-note-sized pocket device! Working keeps your mind focused, and your focus keeps your little pet alive and happy.

I started by planning the interaction I wanted for the Tamagotchi, then designed the layout for the machine. Overall, I want to go for a cute and simple design.

I also started selecting electronics I want, including a screen, a D-pad, a button, and a knob. Since I am not super experienced with electronics, I am still doing my research.

For the enclosure and button caps, I am planning on designing them in CAD first and then sending them to print with resin. One concern I have is that resin does not have the color I want, so I will also consider other options, such as PLA/PETG printing.