Ledder LED Matrix Framework

Create animated pixel art and stream it to LED displays

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Live Demo

What is Ledder?

Ledder is a Node.js/TypeScript framework for creating real-time animated pixel art and streaming it to LED matrix displays. Developed by psy0rz, Ledder provides a web-based interface to control and adjust animations in real-time.

The framework supports multiple output methods:

• Web Browser – Preview animations directly in your browser
• Physical LED Panels – WS2812B strips, HUB75 panels, ESP32 devices
• Video Streaming – Chromecast, video output
• Network Protocols – WLED, Ledstream, Pixelflut
• Bluetooth Displays – IDM64x64 and other Bluetooth LED matrices

Installation

Requirements

• Node.js (latest LTS version recommended)
• npm or Docker
• Optional: FFmpeg (for video animations)

Option 1: Running with Node.js

Clone the repository and install dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/psy0rz/ledder.git
cd ledder
npm install
npm run build

Start the server:

npm start

It will automatically create a displayconf.js configuration file. Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000

Option 2: Running with Docker

From a cloned repository:

Create a displayconf.js file, then run:
docker-compose up --build

Using the official Docker image:

docker run --name ledder -p 3000:3000 -v ./displayconf.js:/app/displayconf.js psy0rz/ledder

Key Features

• Real-time Control – Adjust animations and parameters via web interface
• 60+ Built-in Animations – From simple patterns to complex 3D graphics
• TypeScript/JavaScript Development – Easy to create custom animations
• Multiple Display Support – Control multiple LED displays simultaneously
• MQTT Integration – Control via MQTT, create multiplayer games
• Preset System – Save and load animation configurations
• Flexible Layout System – Support for complex LED arrangements

Display Hardware Options

Ledder supports a wide range of LED display hardware:

Easy Setup

• WLED via DRGB mode – Up to 400 LEDs, simple network streaming
• Web Browser Display – Perfect for testing and development

Advanced Options

• Ledstream via ESP32 – Up to 8 channels × 256 LEDs = 2048 total
• Raspberry Pi with WS2812 – Standalone operation, up to 16 channels × 256 LEDs = 4096 total
• HUB75 Panels via Colorlight 5A-75B – FPGA-based controller for large displays
• Google Chromecast – Stream animations to your TV
• Pixelflut – Network protocol popular at hacker events and LAN parties
• IDM64x64 Bluetooth Display – Available on AliExpress

Animation Collections

Ledder comes with several animation collections:

Core Animations (by psy0rz)

• Classic effects: Fire, Plasma, Matrix rain, Rainbow patterns
• Games: Snake, Tetris, Pong
• Utilities: Clock displays, Weather info, Text scrollers
• Visualizers: Audio spectrum, VU meters

Rein's Collection (40+ animations)

• 3D Graphics: Rotating cubes, DNA helixes, perspective racing effects
• Retro Games: VIC-20 Digger, ASCII jet fighters, 80s demo scene tributes
• Fractals: Mandelbrot/Julia sets with animated zoom
• Simulations: Game of Life, weather/cloud layers, snowfall with wind
• MQTT Games: Multiplayer Pong and Tank Wars
• Sensor Displays: MQTT climate data visualization with temperature/humidity

Creating Your Own Animations

Ledder makes it easy to create custom animations using TypeScript or JavaScript. Check the Development documentation to get started.

Basic animation structure:

class MyAnimation extends LedderAnimation {
  render(display, time) {
    // Your drawing code here
  }
}

Documentation & Resources

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Credits & License

Ledder is developed by psy0rz (DatuX) and released under the GPL-3.0 license.

Contributors include: psy0rz (DatuX), Rein Velt, Rob (Monstertov), and wallieonline.

If you find Ledder useful, consider sponsoring the project or supporting via Ko-fi or PayPal.

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