Best of Hardware — June 2025

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    Article
    Avatar of lobstersLobsters·48w

    Writing a basic Linux device driver when you know nothing about Linux drivers or USB

    A detailed walkthrough of creating a Linux device driver for a Nanoleaf RGB LED device from scratch. The author explores USB fundamentals, explains HID devices, demonstrates using libusb with Rust to communicate with hardware, and covers practical aspects like udev rules and interrupt handling. The tutorial progresses from basic device enumeration to implementing a working userspace driver that can control LED colors and handle device responses.

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    Article
    Avatar of lethainIrrational Exuberance·50w

    My desk setup in 2025.

    A detailed breakdown of a multi-device desk setup supporting 2-3 Mac laptops and a Windows gaming desktop through a single Thunderbolt connection. The setup features a CalDigit TS5 Plus dock as the central hub, Apple Studio Display, Beelink mini PC with external GPU, professional microphone, and various productivity accessories. The author emphasizes the importance of seamless device switching and cable management in creating an efficient workspace.

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    Article
    Avatar of twostopbitsTwo Stop Bits·50w

    The Sega Master System is still being made and sold in Brazil 36 years later

    The Sega Master System continues to be manufactured and sold in Brazil 36 years after its original launch, thanks to TecToy's ongoing production. Brazil's unique gaming culture developed due to high import tariffs and trade restrictions in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which forced local companies to create their own gaming ecosystem. Unlike other markets where the Master System became obsolete, it remains popular among nostalgic adults and families buying affordable first consoles for children. TecToy's partnership with Sega succeeded where Nintendo failed, as Nintendo refused to work with Brazilian manufacturers, leading to unlicensed alternatives like the Phantom System. The console's persistence reflects Brazil's economic realities and represents a gaming culture built on local ingenuity rather than simple nostalgia.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·50w

    manaskamal/XenevaOS: The Xeneva Operating System

    XenevaOS is a custom operating system built from scratch supporting both x86_64 and ARM64 architectures. It features the Aurora hybrid kernel, a compositing window manager called Deodhai, graphics library Chitralekha, and includes networking, audio, USB3, and storage support. The OS comes with built-in applications like a file browser, calculator, terminal, and audio player, and welcomes open-source contributions from developers interested in low-level system development.

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    Article
    Avatar of codemotionCodemotion·49w

    Mini PCs: Tiny powerhouses for every need

    Mini PCs have evolved from niche gadgets to versatile computing solutions that can handle office work, gaming, AI experimentation, and home server setups. These compact devices offer significant computing power in a small form factor, consume minimal energy, and can run various operating systems including lightweight Linux distributions. While they can't match high-end gaming rigs for demanding titles, they excel at productivity tasks, retro gaming, cloud gaming, and running lightweight AI models. With configurations ranging from fanless office models to AI-optimized workstations, mini PCs provide an affordable and space-efficient alternative to traditional desktop computers.

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    Article
    Avatar of collectionsCollections·49w

    Framework Laptop 12: A Modular, Durable Convertible Laptop with Linux Support

    Framework introduces the Laptop 12, a convertible 2-in-1 device featuring modular design with replaceable components like motherboard, RAM, and I/O ports. Built with colorful plastic exterior over metal frame, it meets MIL-STD-810 durability standards and includes 360-degree hinge with touchscreen support. The laptop maintains excellent Linux compatibility with Ubuntu 25.04 and Fedora Workstation 42 support, continuing Framework's commitment to repairability and modularity.

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    Video
    Avatar of primeagenThePrimeTime·50w

    PewDiePie IS RUINING MY LIFE

    PewDiePie documents his journey building custom hardware projects using Raspberry Pi and Linux, creating a dog monitoring camera, smart nightstand device, and Tamagotchi-inspired habit tracker. The projects showcase practical DIY alternatives to commercial smart home devices, emphasizing privacy and customization over convenience. He demonstrates setting up cameras, sensors, 3D printing cases, and implementing features like temperature monitoring, voice commands, and meditation timers while learning Linux commands and hardware integration.

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    Article
    Avatar of hnHacker News·51w

    AdamCAD: AI Powered CAD

    AdamCAD is an AI-powered CAD platform that generates 3D designs from text prompts in seconds. It offers text-to-CAD functionality, image-to-3D conversion, parameter-based refinement, and integration with professional CAD software. The tool aims to accelerate prototyping for hardware teams by enabling rapid 3D model creation through natural language descriptions.

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    Video
    Avatar of youtubeYouTube·48w

    This Laptop Runs LLMs Better Than Most Desktops

    The Asus Flow Z13 2025 with AMD's Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 APU can run 110 billion parameter LLMs thanks to its 128GB of unified memory, outperforming many desktop setups. The APU combines CPU and GPU on a single chip, allowing the GPU to access large amounts of shared memory. However, unlike Apple's true unified memory architecture, AMD's implementation requires pre-allocating memory between CPU and GPU at boot time. Performance testing shows that manual memory allocation settings significantly outperform auto settings, with 16GB GPU allocation often providing optimal results. The system's 235 GB/s memory bandwidth enables competitive performance against Apple Silicon, though the memory copying process during model loading reveals architectural limitations compared to true unified memory systems.

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