2/21/2026 6 PM - Added the RP2040 and some basic power wiring

Added the power stuff to the schematic

I think KiCAD recently had an update, so some stuff in the schematic editor also changed. Makes some stuff kinda challenging lol (I love it!)

2/21/2026 10 PM - Updated Schematic

Heres a few stuff I did:

• Added the crystal oscilator (only has 3 pins because of the recent KiCAD symbol update, for all the reviewers seeing this lol)
• Added flash storage
• Added pin labels for GPIO and other pins.

2/22/2026 9 AM - Done with schematics

Okay, I think I am done with the schematics.

• I added the header pins
• Also added an extra switch (not covered in the guide!) because I didnt want to waste a GPIO pin.
• Added textboxes to label specific parts (was gonna do it before but I figured this is not the correct way to do it, it is prolly some other hierarchy feature lol. I was wrong.)

Here's an image of how the schematics look now:

2/22/2026 3 PM - Added components on the PCB

Okay, so now I think this is roughly how I am going to place the components on the PCB. This is not final, I might change this. I am quite happy with how this has gone. (Even though it has taken some time lol)

Here is how it looks:

2/22/2026 7 PM - Routed the PCB

Okay, just completed routing the PCB, and also moved a few components along the way.

This was quite a challenge lol. Especially this component (flash storage) is what I had to re-route the most:

Anyways, I am quite happy with how it turned out!

Did have to re-route it MULTIPLE times tho!

This is how the entire PCB looks now:

(pretty cool, right?)

Anyways, here is the DRC results:

(the exclusions come from the silkscreen clip for USB port)

2/22/2026 8 PM - Added some graphics

Yo! This will probably finish the designing PCB part. I just designed a simple graphic on the bottom (had to trace it by hand, ouch.)

Heres how it looks!

Also added some simple graphics at the front. (its just text with "https://kavyansh.org").

This took a while because I had to trace the hack club and orph logos manually (couldnt figure out import lol)

2/23/2026 - Re-routed PCB (again)

Okay, so I was told NOW that the decoupling capacitors need to be closer to the pins they are decoupling. Well. So I did. And had to reroute most of the board in the process :(

Anyways its done now, and here is how it looks: (0 DRC errors/warnings)

2/24/2026 - Deleted all the traces

Okay, I decided the placement of the decoupling capacitors werent good enough.

Decided to nuke all the traces and vias, then moved the caps.
Now im prolly gonna start tracing again lol.

2/25/2026 11 AM - Routed the GPIO pins (again)

Okay, I hope this is the last time i gotta do this lol.
I wired all the GPIO pins correctly to their header pins. Hope me best of luck lol.

Next I am prolly gonna do a ground fill.

2/25/2026 1 PM - Filled the ground

Okay, I completed the ground fill.

The reason why it took so long was all the DRC errors and stuff.

Currently standing at 0 DRC errors/warnings

Here is how the PCB looks right right now:

3/23/2026 - Delivered

So I just got the devboard (and blinky pcb) shipment in the mail.

bigger box is the devboard

I was wondering why does my devboard (which is smaller compared to the blinky pcb) need a bigger box, and I dont know lol

So I naturally opened the devboard box, and this is what I find

So they literally wedged it like that lol

So then, obviously, I opened the red packaging, and this is what I find

Cool graphics, aint it? (I know, I know, I am very very good at drawing :DD)

So then, again, naturally, I took all of them out, one at a time, and tested them with an LED and the GP25 button I placed there.

Here is the code I used for that:

import machine
import time

sw = machine.Pin(25, machine.Pin.IN, machine.Pin.PULL_DOWN)
led = machine.Pin(14, machine.Pin.OUT)

brightness_percent = 0

while True:
    if sw.value():
        brightness_percent = min(brightness_percent+0.0005, 1)
    else:
        brightness_percent = max(brightness_percent-0.0005, 0)

    print(sw.value())
    print(brightness_percent)

    r = 16

    for i in range(r):
        if i/(r-1) >= brightness_percent:
            led.value(0)
        else:
            led.value(1)

I know, my code sucks, but it works.

Another pic I took of the devboard: