# Clawdmeter puts Claude Code limits on a desk AMOLED

A Waveshare ESP32-S3 board tracks your Claude Code usage limits, while an animated Clawd mascot reacts to your prompts. When a session needs an answer, Clawd demands your attention.

- Category: Hardware (build)
- Made by: HermannBjorgvin on GitHub
- Original: https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter#clawdmeter
- On Afterware: https://afterware.xyz/p/clawdmeter-claude-code-usage-on-a-desk-display

## Can I build this?

- Difficulty: Beginner
- AI-buildability: 4/5 (Mostly firmware and desktop software, with the hardware being a ready-made dev board that needs only a USB cable.)
- Time: A weekend
- Cost: $50–100
- Parts: ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.16, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C6, Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-1.54
- Tools: USB data cable, computer with Bluetooth

Estimates based on the original write-up. How the AI-buildability score works: https://afterware.xyz/ai-buildability

## Build sheet

- Board: Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.16
- Display: 480×480 AMOLED
- Link: Bluetooth, desktop app
- Firmware: PlatformIO, ESP32-S3

## Starter prompt

```
Based on "Clawdmeter puts Claude Code limits on a desk AMOLED" on Afterware: https://afterware.xyz/p/clawdmeter-claude-code-usage-on-a-desk-display

Write ESP32-S3 firmware for a Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED board using the Arduino or PlatformIO framework. Receive usage percentage and reset-time values over BLE, draw two meters on the AMOLED, and show a simple idle, active and attention-needed animation. Expose the device as a BLE HID keyboard so the three buttons can send key presses back to the computer.
```

## Story

Clawdmeter turns a small ESP32 board into a usage gauge for Claude Code. A desktop app reads your limits and pushes them to the board over Bluetooth. The reference hardware is the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-AMOLED-2.16: a 480×480 AMOLED with three buttons and a speaker. Clawd lives on that screen. He reacts to prompts, cheers on progress, and switches to an attention animation when a session is waiting on you.

The board pairs with your computer as a keyboard, so its buttons send ordinary key presses. The firmware builds with PlatformIO, and each supported board gets its own environment. The list runs from 240×240 IPS panels to e-paper, round or square. Boards with less memory get a trimmed-down version of the animation.

Installers cover macOS (.dmg), Windows (.msi), Linux (.deb and AppImage) and a Nix flake. One caveat before you fork: the code uses Anthropic's brand assets and proprietary fonts. The author says it isn't licensed for copying.

## Resources

- [Project README](https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter#clawdmeter)
- [Latest release](https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter/releases/latest)
- [User guide](https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md#installation)
- [Development docs](https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter/blob/main/docs/development.md)
- [Board support reports](https://github.com/HermannBjorgvin/Clawdmeter/discussions/222)

Tags: esp32-s3, amoled, claude code, bluetooth hid, desk display, usage meter

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