Category Archives: javascript

Turning That Old Hoverboard Into A Learning Platform

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

[Isabelle Simova] is building Hoverbot, a flexible robotics platform using Ikea plastic trays, JavaScript running on a Raspberry Pi and parts scavenged from commonly available hoverboards.

Self-balancing scooters a.k.a. Hoverboards are a great source of parts for such a project. Their high torque, direct drive brushless motors can drive loads of 100 kg or more. In addition, you also get a matching motor controller board, a rechargeable battery and its charging circuit. Most hoverboard controllers use the STM32F103, so flashing them with your own firmware becomes easy using a ST-link V2 programmer.

The next set of parts you need to …read more

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Posted in hoverboard, ikea, javascript, node, node.js, NPM, Raspberry Pi, robot, robots hacks, Self-balancing scooters, STM32F103, Teleoperation, The Hackaday Prize, ultrasonic sensor, ultrasonic transducer | Leave a comment

TensorFlow in your Browser

Posted on April 16, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

If you want to explore machine learning, you can now write applications that train and deploy TensorFlow in your browser using JavaScript. We know what you are thinking. That has to be slow. Surprisingly, it isn’t, since the libraries use Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) acceleration. Of course, that assumes your browser can use your GPU. There are several demos available, include one where you train a Pac Man game to respond to gestures in your webcam to control the game. If you try it and then disable accelerated graphics in your browser options, you’ll see just what a speed up …read more

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Posted in javascript, machine learning, neural network, Software Development, software hacks, tensor flow, tensorflow | Leave a comment

A Wrencher On Your Oscilloscope

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

We like oscilloscope art here at Hackaday, so it was natural to recently feature a Javascript based oscilloscope art generator on these pages, along with its companion clock. Open a web page, scribble on the screen, see it on the ‘scope.

As part of our coverage we laid down the challenge: “If any of you would like to take this further and make a Javascript oscilloscope Wrencher, we’d love to make it famous“. Which of course someone immediately did, and that someone was [Ted] with this JSFiddle. Hook up your soundcard’s left and right to X and Y …read more

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Posted in javascript, jolly wrencher, oscilloscope art, scope art, software hacks, wrencher | Leave a comment

Running Programs On Paper

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

It’s a simple fact that most programs created for the personal computer involve the same methods of interaction, almost regardless of purpose. Word processors, graphics utilities, even games – the vast majority of interaction is performed through a keyboard and mouse. However, sometimes it can be fun to experiment with alternative technologies for users to interact with code – Paper Programs is an exciting way to do just that.

Paper Programs is a combination of a variety of existing technologies to create a way of interacting with code which is highly tangible. The setup consists of a projector, and a …read more

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Posted in interaction, interactive, javascript, paper, programming, projector | Leave a comment

Running Programs On Paper

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

It’s a simple fact that most programs created for the personal computer involve the same methods of interaction, almost regardless of purpose. Word processors, graphics utilities, even games – the vast majority of interaction is performed through a keyboard and mouse. However, sometimes it can be fun to experiment with alternative technologies for users to interact with code – Paper Programs is an exciting way to do just that.

Paper Programs is a combination of a variety of existing technologies to create a way of interacting with code which is highly tangible. The setup consists of a projector, and a …read more

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Posted in interaction, interactive, javascript, paper, programming, projector | Leave a comment

Tiny Programming Langauge in 25 Lines of Code

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

There are certain kinds of programs that fascinate certain kinds of software hackers. Maybe you are into number crunching, chess programs, operating systems, or artificial intelligence. However, on any significant machine, most of the time those activities will require some sort of language. Sure, we all have some processor we can write hex code for in our head, but you really want at least an assembler if not something sturdier. Writing languages can be addictive, but jumping right into a big system like gcc and trying to make changes is daunting for anyone. If you want a gentle introduction, check …read more

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Posted in interpreter, javascript, parser, recursive descent, software hacks, transpiler | Leave a comment

Tiny Programming Langauge in 25 Lines of Code

Posted on January 23, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

There are certain kinds of programs that fascinate certain kinds of software hackers. Maybe you are into number crunching, chess programs, operating systems, or artificial intelligence. However, on any significant machine, most of the time those activities will require some sort of language. Sure, we all have some processor we can write hex code for in our head, but you really want at least an assembler if not something sturdier. Writing languages can be addictive, but jumping right into a big system like gcc and trying to make changes is daunting for anyone. If you want a gentle introduction, check …read more

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Posted in interpreter, javascript, parser, recursive descent, software hacks, transpiler | Leave a comment

Lowering JavaScript Timer Resolution Thwarts Meltdown and Spectre

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Fernando Gomes

The computer security vulnerabilities Meltdown and Spectre can infer protected information based on subtle differences in hardware behavior. It takes less time to access data that has been cached versus data that needs to be retrieved from memory, and precisely measuring time difference is a critical part of these attacks.

Our web browsers present a huge potential surface for attack as JavaScript is ubiquitous on the modern web. Executing JavaScript code will definitely involve the processor cache and a high-resolution timer is accessible via browser performance API.

Web browsers can’t change processor cache behavior, but they could take away malicious …read more

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Posted in intel, javascript, Meltdown, news, security hacks, slider, software hacks, Spectre, web browser | Leave a comment

Programmable Christmas Tree is a JavaScript Interpreter

Posted on December 24, 2017 by Fernando Gomes

Here at Hackaday, we find Christmas time very exciting because it means an influx of holiday-themed hacks that really help us get into the festive mood. [Andrew’s] programmable Christmas tree hosted at HackMyXmas is certainly one of our favorites. The project consists of a 500 RGB LEDs wrapped around a typical Christmas tree and controlled by a Teensy.  However, not settling for the typical, simple and cyclical pattern for the LEDs, [Andrew] decided the tree had to be programmable of course! So, a single board computer (a C.H.I.P) running Linux was used to provide a Wifi connection and a web …read more

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Posted in Holiday Hacks, javascript, led hacks, Nodejs, RGB LED, xmas, xmas tree | Leave a comment

Virtual CPU Stays on Script

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Fernando Gomes

Some will see it as a great thing, and others as an example of how JavaScript is being abused daily, but [Francis Stokes] decided to design his own CPU architecture and implemented a virtual version of it using JavaScript. The CPU is a 16-bit affair and has a simplified assembly language. The code is on GitHub, but the real value is [Francis’] exposition of the design in the original post.

While discussing the design, [Francis] reveals his first pass at the instruction set, discussed what he found wrong about it, and then reveals the final set composed of real instructions …read more

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Posted in javascript | Leave a comment