First, a Look at the Result

The image below shows a little cat typing on a keyboard.

Displayed above it is computer system information, such as CPU usage and memory status.

If you start typing, the cat will type along with you.

I am using a 2.8-inch screen from CyD. I initially assumed it was a landscape-oriented display, but only realized it was actually portrait-oriented after flashing the firmware.

Demonstration

Webpage URL: Bongo_cat

First, plug in your ESP32 CyD board; then, open the website and follow the on-screen prompts to flash the firmware.

I’d like to offer a specific heads-up here: after I flashed the firmware, I started typing on my keyboard, but the cat didn’t react. I initially suspected a USB connectivity issue and tried switching through several different USB ports.

However, to actually enable interactive behavior—so that the cat responds to your actions—you also need to install the corresponding “cat” executable program on your computer. This program detects the ESP32 board and transmits the keyboard input data, as well as system metrics like CPU usage, to the device.

So, be sure to keep that in mind!

One advantage of the CyD board is that it serves as a small, secondary display—completely independent of your main monitor. The downside, however, is that while I’m typing, I rarely actually look at my CyD screen.

In most scenarios, I imagine it’s intended more for others to watch—which actually suits me quite well, as I prefer not to have any extraneous elements cluttering my main screen or obstructing my view while I work.

Some Reflections

I have to say, the ecosystem surrounding the CyD board is much like that of the Raspberry Pi: if you can dream it up, there’s almost certainly a corresponding project for it already.

If I had tried to build this “cat” project from scratch myself, I have no idea how long it would have taken; but if you have a specific need or idea, chances are high that someone in the CyD community has already implemented it.

That is the true benefit of a robust ecosystem.

I plan to explore other CyD projects in the future to see which ones might be a good fit for my own needs.