As a result, if you have a modern Raspberry Pi, the rpi-rgb-led-matrix API is perfect for this kind of project. If you have an underpowered one like I do, then you may run into roadblocks caused ...

Not that we’re complaining, of course. The latest entry into the pantheon of unusual timepieces is this ESP32-powered desk clock from [Alejandro Wurts] that features a folding LED matrix display.

To achieve this he created Fade, a custom programming language/framework for controlling LED animations from the ESP32. Fade is written for addressable RGB LEDs like the Neopixel/WS2812.