It's obviously way too late now but esphome is a very nice easy mode solution for the whole remote upload/logging/server/mqtt/iot widget thing if you don't want to drag in esp-idf. First time bootstrap is via serial/webusb and then it's all OTA.

You can write custom c++ modules for bits they don't have already, although that's pretty rare. Often used with HA but it works fine standalone with MQTT too, and deployment doesn't have to be from a server.

https://esphome.io/

I was just about to make a retractable light setup for my workshop. I hadn't thought of automating/motorizing it.

A simple pull reel was my goto, but that doesn't work in this application. Amazing work very smart and looks like a fun project.

I was surprised at how short the table was, after the note up top about why they needed five lights because the table's so long. It looks way too big for the table, its proportions look like it belongs over a table 1.5-2 meters longer.

That's probably down to the angle; the table is in fact over 3 metres long, and extendable.

I have a 9' dining table as well, and it can definitely be deceptive— mine would absolutely benefit from a "full length" lighting solution like this.

Ah, OK, that makes more sense then.

Where did you find these fixtures, OP? I see something similar offered by Feit, but not quite as elegant.

The lamp-holders and braided flex are from https://www.lampspares.co.uk/, and the bulbs themselves are from Heal's (https://www.heals.com/lighting/bulbs-and-fittings.html).

Love the ambience they create, nice work!

Overcomplicated lighting design

You might want to make it clearer you are OP and describing your work, I think some people might be reading this as dismissive criticism.

(Also, I don't think you can do it by edit, but next time note that you can submit both a URL and some accompanying text.)

Thanks, that's helpful - I am indeed the OP, and the "overcomplicated" part was intended as tongue-in-cheek self-criticism!

Yeah, I got it, but it might take a Brit or German! Unfortunately there are dismissive third-party comments like that sometimes, and seeing it grey (at the time) I almost voted down myself too, just then thought I recognised your username and double-checked.

One other thought actually - if you can still edit the title, you might get more attention from 'Show HN: The Danglepoise', since then people will know the author is around for discussion. Just anecdotally I would guess Show HNs tend to have more engagement/votes on average.

Anyway, nice project :)

I think that technically, as a blog post, this wouldn't be eligible for Show HN?

True, didn't really realise that actually, just read the rules. I'm sure I've seen similar as Show HNs.. but I guess maybe they had a GitHub project or whatever that tilts the scale.

>I think some people might be reading this as dismissive criticism.

This is exactly what I thought. I downvoted (now removed) thinking that it was a random passerby being dismissive.

Upvoted it purely to ensure the British self-deprecation is not mistakenly penalised.

Edit: cool project, well done!