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TechQuiet 12d · day 15

Developer builds open-source story box for kids using ESP32

A parent with no electronics experience created Marelleo, an RFID-based toy that plays stories, as alternative to subscription-based devices.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 10d ago5 pieces3 likes & upvotes7 comments Hacker NewsMastodonLobsters

What to know

  • A parent with minimal electronics experience built Marelleo, an open-source RFID-based story box for his kids, after becoming frustrated with subscription-model competitors like Toniebox, Lunii, and Yoto.
  • The project uses an ESP32 microcontroller—chosen for affordability and simplicity—and a breadboard for risk-free prototyping, with help from Claude and self-directed learning.
  • Marelleo offers the same core functionality as commercial devices (figurine triggers story playback) but without locked-in content purchases or proprietary control.

singpolyma Developer, author

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump posts

Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Oct 31, 2 AM; 5 pieces over 16 days (5 posts) Oct 27, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Oct 27, 2 PM — quietOct 27, 6 PM — quietOct 27, 10 PM — quietOct 28, 2 AM — quietOct 28, 6 AM — quietOct 28, 10 AM — quietOct 28, 2 PM — quietOct 28, 6 PM — quietOct 28, 10 PM — quietOct 29, 2 AM — quietOct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 10 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 6 PM — quietOct 29, 10 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 6 AM — quietOct 30, 10 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 10 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — 3 pieces · 3 posts — Mastodon 2, Lobsters 1Oct 31, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Oct 31, 10 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 10 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 9 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 9 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 9 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 9 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 9 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 9 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 9 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 9 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 9 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 9 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 9 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 9 PM — quietNov 7, 1 AM — quietNov 7, 5 AM — quietNov 7, 9 AM — quietNov 7, 1 PM — quietNov 7, 5 PM — quietNov 7, 9 PM — quietNov 8, 1 AM — quietNov 8, 5 AM — quietNov 8, 9 AM — quietNov 8, 1 PM — quietNov 8, 5 PM — quietNov 8, 9 PM — quietNov 9, 1 AM — quietNov 9, 5 AM — quietNov 9, 9 AM — quietNov 9, 1 PM — quietNov 9, 5 PM — quietNov 9, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 9 AM — quietToday, 1 PM — quietToday, 5 PM — quiet 12
Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 6Nov 8now · 9:50 PM ET
  1. 2

    Marelleo project shared across social platforms

    The Marelleo post was cross-posted to Mastodon by multiple users, reaching new audiences on federated social networks with links back to the original Hacker News discussion.

  2. 3 days quiet
  3. 1

    Developer publishes Marelleo project on Hacker News

    singpolyma posted a detailed writeup of Marelleo, an open-source story box built with ESP32, describing the motivation, design choices, and learning process. The post became a Show HN submission detailing how the project emerged from frustration with the subscription model of commercial story boxes.

    “The gesture is perfect. The business model, much less so. All these boxes work the same way: the object sells for a more or less reasonable price, and the money is made afterwards, on the content.”
    — singpolyma · source