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Dilder

A real-time build journal for an open-source AI-assisted virtual pet.

Dilder is a Tamagotchi-style device built on a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a Waveshare 2.13" e-ink display, and a 3D-printed case — developed entirely in the open, one phase at a time.

What is Dilder?

Dilder is part hardware project, part learning experiment, part documentation exercise.

The goal is to build a functional pocket virtual pet from scratch — and document every decision, mistake, and breakthrough along the way. Hardware selection, enclosure design, firmware, animations, personality systems — all of it is public, with every AI prompt and design iteration logged.

If you've ever wanted to follow a project from "I have an idea" to "here's a working device," this is that.

Current Phase

Phase 1 — Hardware Assembly

We have a components list and a test bench plan. The e-ink display and Pi Zero are ordered. Next: power it on and display something.

See the hardware docs

Latest Update

Check the build journal for the most recent post.

  • Docs

    Hardware specs, wiring diagrams, setup guides, and code reference.

    Browse Docs

  • Blog

    Chronological build journal. Every phase, every milestone.

    Read the Blog

  • Discord

    Join the community server to ask questions and share your own build.

    Join Discord

  • Patreon

    Support the project and get early access to content and files.

    Support on Patreon

How This Project Works

The entire development process is public:

  • Every prompt submitted to the AI assistant is logged in the Prompt Log
  • Every hardware decision is documented in the Docs
  • Every build step is written up in the Blog
  • All source files are on GitHub

This is learn-in-public taken to its logical extreme.