llms.txt
# Atech documentation
Atech (atech.dev) is a modular electronics kit from Copenhagen: pre-built modules slide into numbered ports on an ESP32-S3 motherboard, no soldering. You describe what to build at atech.dev, the AI picks modules and writes the firmware, and you upload it from the browser.
Board: 12 module ports (1-7, 9-11, 13-14). Port 8 is the USB-C socket, port 12 the reset button. Double-width modules take two neighbouring ports on one side: 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 9-10, 10-11, 13-14. Moving a module means moving it in the editor too and uploading again.
Needs: a desktop Chromium browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Arc; uploading uses Web Serial, which Firefox, Safari and phones lack) and a USB-C data cable (charge-only cables cannot program the board).
Steps: 1) describe the build at atech.dev, 2) put the modules where the diagram shows, 3) plug in over USB-C (no driver), 4) pick WiFi (add WiFi credentials in the connection pill; 2.4 GHz only) or USB (click "Connect device via USB" once), 5) click "Upload Code".
Protocol: the board speaks JSON. Events come from the board: {"event_type":"sensor|button|state|log","key":"<event key>","value":<value>}. Actions go to it: {"action":"<action key>","value":<value>}. Over WiFi: WebSocket wss://gateway.atech.dev/ws/live/<project id>; the board's messages arrive as {"type":"device_event","payload":{...}}, you send {"type":"send_to_device","device_id":"<project id>","payload":{...}}. Over USB: 115200 baud, one JSON object per line; from the board {"type":"event","payload":{...}}, to the board {"action":...,"value":...}. The project id is in the editor's Docs tab under "Your project".
Modules: Temperature & Humidity (aht20_sensor), Air Quality (scd40_air_quality), Distance Sensor (vl53l5cx_distance), Orientation Sensor (icm40608_imu), Button (button_module), Light Grid (neopixel_grid), Color Display (st7735_tft, 2 ports), Big Screen (st7789_tft, 2 ports), DC Motor (dc_motor), Knob (rotary_encoder_knob, 2 ports), Microphone (microphone, 2 ports), Robot Arm Integrator (robot_arm), Speaker (speaker, 2 ports), Soil Sensor (soil_sensor).
Own agent: pip install atech (Python SDK, open source) gives Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or any coding agent the module catalogue and an offline compiler: atech list-modules, atech build, atech upload.
Troubleshooting: board will not connect or upload fails -> unplug and replug, close other atech.dev tabs and the Arduino Serial Monitor (one program can hold the port), use a data cable, no hub, press reset, on Linux join the dialout group. No upload button -> not a desktop Chromium browser. Board offline after upload -> wait up to 60 s, then replug or reset; on WiFi check the credentials. Code connects but nothing arrives -> board is not online, check "Receiving frames" in the connection pill. Connection refused -> wrong project id in the address. Action ignored -> the firmware only accepts actions of the modules in that build.
Help: Discord https://discord.gg/B6kuhUW27S, hello@atech.dev. Full reference with every event and action: https://atech.dev/llms.txt. Connector for Claude, ChatGPT and other assistants (MCP): https://atech.dev/mcp
## Module reference
### Temperature & Humidity (aht20_sensor)
Events the board sends:
- temperature (float C): Temperature reading in Celsius e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"temperature","value":23.5,"module_type":"aht20"}
- humidity (float %RH): Relative humidity percentage e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"humidity","value":65.2,"module_type":"aht20"}
### Air Quality (scd40_air_quality)
Events the board sends:
- co2 (int ppm): CO2 concentration in parts per million e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"co2","value":712,"module_type":"scd40"}
- temperature (float C): Temperature reading in Celsius (from the SCD40's onboard sensor used for CO2 compensation) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"temperature","value":23.5,"module_type":"scd40"}
- humidity (float %RH): Relative humidity percentage (from the SCD40's onboard sensor used for CO2 compensation) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"humidity","value":48.1,"module_type":"scd40"}
### Distance Sensor (vl53l5cx_distance)
Events the board sends:
- distance (int mm): Distance measurement in millimeters e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"distance","value":1250,"module_type":"vl53l5cx"}
- min_distance (int mm): Minimum distance across all 64 zones e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"min_distance","value":450,"module_type":"vl53l5cx"}
### Orientation Sensor (icm40608_imu)
Events the board sends:
- accel_x (float g): X-axis acceleration in g e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"accel_x","value":0.98,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- accel_y (float g): Y-axis acceleration in g e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"accel_y","value":0.05,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- accel_z (float g): Z-axis acceleration in g e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"accel_z","value":0.12,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- gyro_x (float deg/s): X-axis rotation rate in degrees/second e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"gyro_x","value":12.5,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- gyro_y (float deg/s): Y-axis rotation rate in degrees/second e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"gyro_y","value":-5.2,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- gyro_z (float deg/s): Z-axis rotation rate in degrees/second e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"gyro_z","value":0.8,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- pitch (float deg): Pitch angle (nose up/down), -90..+90 e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"pitch","value":15.2,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- roll (float deg): Roll angle (left/right tilt), -180..+180 e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"roll","value":-8.4,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- tilt (float deg): Total tilt from upright (0 = flat face-up, 180 = flat face-down) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"tilt","value":12,"module_type":"icm40608"}
- orientation (string): Coarse orientation: face_up, face_down, edge_right, edge_left, edge_front, edge_back, unknown e.g. {"type":"state","key":"orientation","value":"face_up","module_type":"icm40608"}
- shake (int): Edge-triggered shake/tap event (fires once per spike >1.8g) e.g. {"type":"button","key":"shake","value":1,"module_type":"icm40608"}
### Button (button_module)
Events the board sends:
- button_press (int): Button press event (value=1) e.g. {"type":"button","key":"button_1","value":1}
- button_release (int): Button release event (value=0) e.g. {"type":"button","key":"button_1","value":0}
### Light Grid (neopixel_grid)
Actions you send:
- set_color (rgb_object): Set all LEDs to RGB color e.g. {"action":"set_color","value":{"r":255,"g":0,"b":0}}
- brightness (int): Set LED brightness (0-255) e.g. {"action":"brightness","value":128}
- clear (null): Turn off all LEDs e.g. {"action":"clear","value":null}
- set_pixel (pixel_object): Light a single LED by linear index (0-8 for 3x3 grid). r/g/b are 0-255. e.g. {"action":"set_pixel","value":{"index":4,"r":255,"g":0,"b":0}}
- set_pixel_xy (pixel_xy_object): Light a single LED by row/column (0-2 each on the 3x3 grid) e.g. {"action":"set_pixel_xy","value":{"row":1,"col":1,"r":255,"g":0,"b":0}}
- set_row (pixel_row_object): Set every LED in row N (0-2) to RGB e.g. {"action":"set_row","value":{"row":0,"r":0,"g":255,"b":0}}
- set_column (pixel_col_object): Set every LED in column N (0-2) to RGB e.g. {"action":"set_column","value":{"col":0,"r":0,"g":0,"b":255}}
### Color Display (st7735_tft) - takes 2 ports
Actions you send:
- display_text (string): Display text on a cleared screen using the default font (white on black) e.g. {"action":"display_text","value":"Hello World"}
- draw_text (styled_text_object): Draw text at (x, y) with size multiplier and RGB565 color. Does NOT clear screen first. e.g. {"action":"draw_text","value":{"text":"Hi","x":10,"y":20,"size":2,"color":65535}}
- draw_pixel (point_object): Draw a single pixel at (x, y) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_pixel","value":{"x":80,"y":40,"color":65504}}
- draw_line (line_object): Draw a line from (x0, y0) to (x1, y1) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_line","value":{"x0":0,"y0":0,"x1":159,"y1":79,"color":65535}}
- draw_rect (rect_object): Draw an unfilled rectangle outline at (x, y) with size (w, h) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_rect","value":{"x":20,"y":20,"w":40,"h":30,"color":2016}}
- fill_rect (rect_object): Draw a filled rectangle at (x, y) with size (w, h) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"fill_rect","value":{"x":20,"y":20,"w":40,"h":30,"color":63488}}
- draw_circle (circle_object): Draw an unfilled circle outline centered at (x, y) with radius r in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_circle","value":{"x":80,"y":40,"r":20,"color":2047}}
- fill_circle (circle_object): Draw a filled circle centered at (x, y) with radius r in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"fill_circle","value":{"x":80,"y":40,"r":20,"color":2047}}
- fill_screen (int): Fill the entire screen with a single RGB565 color (use 0 for black, 65535 for white) e.g. {"action":"fill_screen","value":0}
- set_rotation (int): Set display rotation: 0 = portrait, 1 = landscape (default), 2 = portrait flipped, 3 = landscape flipped e.g. {"action":"set_rotation","value":1}
- clear_screen (null): Clear the display to black e.g. {"action":"clear_screen","value":null}
### Big Screen (st7789_tft) - takes 2 ports
Actions you send:
- display_text (string): Display text on a cleared screen using the default font (white on black) e.g. {"action":"display_text","value":"Hello World"}
- draw_text (styled_text_object): Draw text at (x, y) with size multiplier and RGB565 color. Does NOT clear screen first. e.g. {"action":"draw_text","value":{"text":"Hi","x":20,"y":60,"size":2,"color":65535}}
- draw_pixel (point_object): Draw a single pixel at (x, y) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_pixel","value":{"x":160,"y":120,"color":65504}}
- draw_line (line_object): Draw a line from (x0, y0) to (x1, y1) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_line","value":{"x0":0,"y0":0,"x1":319,"y1":239,"color":65535}}
- draw_rect (rect_object): Draw an unfilled rectangle outline at (x, y) with size (w, h) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_rect","value":{"x":40,"y":60,"w":80,"h":90,"color":2016}}
- fill_rect (rect_object): Draw a filled rectangle at (x, y) with size (w, h) in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"fill_rect","value":{"x":40,"y":60,"w":80,"h":90,"color":63488}}
- draw_circle (circle_object): Draw an unfilled circle outline centered at (x, y) with radius r in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"draw_circle","value":{"x":160,"y":120,"r":40,"color":2047}}
- fill_circle (circle_object): Draw a filled circle centered at (x, y) with radius r in RGB565 color e.g. {"action":"fill_circle","value":{"x":160,"y":120,"r":40,"color":2047}}
- fill_screen (int): Fill the entire screen with a single RGB565 color (use 0 for black, 65535 for white) e.g. {"action":"fill_screen","value":0}
- set_rotation (int): Set display rotation: 0 = portrait, 1 = landscape upright on a left-side pair, 2 = portrait flipped, 3 = landscape upright on a right-side pair. Boot already picks the right landscape for the board side. e.g. {"action":"set_rotation","value":1}
- clear_screen (null): Clear the display to black e.g. {"action":"clear_screen","value":null}
### DC Motor (dc_motor)
Actions you send:
- motor_speed (int): Set motor speed (-255 to +255, negative=reverse) e.g. {"action":"motor_speed","value":200}
- motor_stop (null): Coast to stop (free spin, no holding torque) e.g. {"action":"motor_stop","value":null}
- motor_brake (null): Active brake (short the motor terminals: stops faster, holds position briefly) e.g. {"action":"motor_brake","value":null}
### Knob (rotary_encoder_knob) - takes 2 ports
Events the board sends:
- knob_position (int): Current encoder position (cumulative turns) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"knob_position","value":42,"module_type":"rotary_encoder"}
- knob_press (int): Knob button pressed e.g. {"type":"button","key":"knob_press","value":1}
Actions you send:
- set_ring_color (rgb_object): Set LED ring color e.g. {"action":"set_ring_color","value":{"r":255,"g":0,"b":0}}
- set_ring_brightness (int): Set LED ring brightness (0-255) e.g. {"action":"set_ring_brightness","value":128}
### Microphone (microphone) - takes 2 ports
Events the board sends:
- sound_level (int): RMS sound level (0-32767) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"sound_level","value":1200,"module_type":"microphone"}
- sound_detected (int): Sound above threshold detected e.g. {"type":"button","key":"sound_detected","value":1}
### Robot Arm Integrator (robot_arm)
Events the board sends:
- joint_positions (string): All 6 joint positions as comma-separated values (0-4095 each) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"joint_positions","value":"2048,2048,2048,2048,2048,2048","module_type":"robot_arm"}
- joint_temp (int C): Joint temperature in Celsius (specify joint in module_type) e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"joint_temp","value":38,"module_type":"robot_arm"}
Actions you send:
- move_joint (string): Move a single joint: value is 'joint_id:position[:time_ms]' e.g. '3:2048:500' e.g. {"action":"move_joint","value":"3:2048:500"}
- move_all (string): Move all 6 joints: value is 'p1,p2,p3,p4,p5,p6[:time_ms]' e.g. '2048,2048,2048,2048,2048,2048:1000' e.g. {"action":"move_all","value":"2048,2048,2048,2048,2048,2048:1000"}
- center_all (string): Center all joints to 2048. Value is optional time_ms e.g. '1000' e.g. {"action":"center_all","value":"1000"}
- set_torque (string): Set torque: value is 'on' or 'off' (all joints) e.g. {"action":"set_torque","value":"on"}
### Speaker (speaker) - takes 2 ports
Actions you send:
- play_tone (frequency_object): Play a tone at given frequency for duration (ms) e.g. {"action":"play_tone","value":{"frequency":440,"duration":1000}}
- speaker_stop (null): Stop any sound e.g. {"action":"speaker_stop","value":null}
- play_note (frequency_object): Like play_tone but with a short gap between notes. Better for melodies (85% sound, 15% silence) e.g. {"action":"play_note","value":{"frequency":523,"duration":250}}
- play_chord (chord_object): Play multiple frequencies simultaneously (max 4) for the given duration in ms e.g. {"action":"play_chord","value":{"frequencies":[261,329,392],"duration":600}}
- set_volume (float): Set output volume (0.0 silent .. 1.0 max). Persists across tones. e.g. {"action":"set_volume","value":0.5}
### Soil Sensor (soil_sensor)
Events the board sends:
- moisture (float %): Calibrated soil moisture, 0-100 % e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"moisture","value":42.7,"module_type":"soil_sensor"}
- conductance (float uS): Conductance between the prongs in microsiemens, the uncalibrated physical measurement e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"conductance","value":18.4,"module_type":"soil_sensor"}
- soil_raw (int counts): Raw oversampled ADC reading, 0-65472. High means dry. Record this when calibrating e.g. {"type":"sensor","key":"soil_raw","value":31200,"module_type":"soil_sensor"}
- soil (string): Probe condition: warming up, probe open, saturated, or ok e.g. {"type":"state","key":"soil","value":"probe open"}
Actions you send:
- calibrate_dry (null): Record the current reading as the 0% point. Call with the probe held in air e.g. {"action":"calibrate_dry","value":null}
- calibrate_wet (null): Record the current reading as the 100% point. Call with the prongs standing in water e.g. {"action":"calibrate_wet","value":null}
- read_now (null): Force an immediate measurement instead of waiting for the next timer tick e.g. {"action":"read_now","value":null}
- set_status_color (string): Set the on-module status LED, as "r,g,b" with each 0-255. Takes the LED out of its automatic red-to-green-to-blue moisture ramp until set_status_auto e.g. {"action":"set_status_color","value":"0,40,0"}
- set_status_auto (null): Return the status LED to its automatic moisture ramp: red dry, green moist, blue submerged e.g. {"action":"set_status_auto","value":null}
- set_status_off (null): Turn the on-module status LED off. set_status_auto turns it back on e.g. {"action":"set_status_off","value":null}
- set_status_brightness (int): Brightness of the automatic LED ramp, 0-255; default 24 e.g. {"action":"set_status_brightness","value":24}
## Build with your own agent
Install: pip install atech or uv pip install atech. SDK on PyPI: https://pypi.org/project/atech/
- atech list-modules: Every module in the catalog, with its API.
- atech build: Compile the project to ESP32 firmware, offline.
- atech upload: Flash the board over USB-C.
Prompt to give the agent:
Install the Atech Python SDK and use it to build my project:
pip install atech
Atech is a modular electronics platform: pre-built hardware modules snap into
numbered ports on an ESP32 motherboard, with no soldering or wiring. The SDK
ships the module catalog, each module's API, and a bundled compiler that builds
and flashes the board offline.
Before you write any code, ask me:
1. Which Atech board do I have, and how many ports does it have?
2. Which modules do I own? Run `atech list-modules` to see every module the
SDK knows about, and ask me which of those I actually have in hand.
3. Which port is each module plugged into?
If I don't have a board yet, or I'm missing a module the build needs, point me
to https://atech.dev/buy and suggest which kit fits what I described.
Then:
- Write the project file describing the build, using only modules I confirmed
I own and the ports I confirmed they're in.
- Run `atech build` and fix anything it reports.
- Run `atech upload` to flash my board, and tell me what to expect it to do.
