I built an Open Source screen timer for the m5stickc (Arduino)
I've never posted on ShowHN before, but I wanted to share my Xmas 2025 project; to try a new approach to controlling our kids screen time. This also involved massively over-engineering a solution in order to play with a shiny new gadget (and avoid the in laws at Christmas, obviously) I've shared some learnings on AI coding with embedded devices, and how I approached the product design/hardware selection side of things. The Web App is at https://screenie.org - and I'm Open Sourcing the device and web app code later today (links to follow on that site)
I built an Open Source screen timer for the m5stickc (Arduino) launched on January 6, 2026 with 17 votes, #754 of 14,584 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches.
In plain words
A screen timer for the M5StickC microcontroller built with Arduino, designed to help manage children's screen time. The project includes open-source hardware code and a companion web app at screenie.org. The builder documented the design process, hardware selection decisions, and lessons learned using AI for embedded device coding. Both the device firmware and web application code are freely available as open source.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
I love a good coding side-project in the holidays. (sound the nerd klaxon 📣) It’s fun to solve problems and learn new systems in a more relaxed environment where a couple of beers and a bit of YOLO refactoring are actively encouraged. And, of course, a suitable excuse for playing with new shiny things. It’s a been a fun Christmas, but there have been some interesting challenges. Our two children (age 11 and 13) get a screen time allowance each day – and they want to share it across multiple devices. Getting the various parental control systems (iOS, MacOS, Family Link, Nintendo and PS5) to sync nicely with each other is impossible, and manually moving around the screen…from partridge.works
Pricing, as stated on its site
Free — Open source screen timer project with no pricing information found. Being open source software, it appears to be freely available.
checked September 2026 · prices change
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