blokdots
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blokdots 3.0 - Prototype hardware visually, export real C++ for engineering

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blokdots is a visual tool for building interactive hardware. Connect sensors, motors, and more with a simple trigger-action interface — no coding required. 3.0 is a ground-up rebuild with our own C++ framework — replacing Firmata entirely. Export real C++ or JavaScript code, hand off to engineering, or go fully standalone: upload directly to Arduino, no more laptop needed! Connects to ProtoPie, Figma, and Socket.IO for integrated UI + hardware prototyping.

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Maker
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Hey everyone! I'm Olivier, one of the creators of blokdots.

With 3.0 we rebuilt everything from the ground up. We replaced Firmata with our own lightweight C++ framework and serial protocol — which finally unblocks us to build the things we always wanted to build.

What that unlocks in 3.0:

  • Standalone mode — upload your project and run it without a laptop connected

  • C++ code export — hand off to engineering or continue in the Arduino IDE yourself

  • Outputs as triggers — let actions fire from outputs, not just sensors

  • Multi I2C support — use multiple I2C components simultaneously

And this is just the beginning! Having full control over our stack opens up a lot of exciting directions we're already working toward.

We've been teaching and using blokdots in real design workflows for years, and the gap between "I have an idea" and "I have a working prototype" is still too wide. This is our ongoing attempt to close it.

Core features are free. Would love to hear what you build. 😊

this is really cool, congratulations on shipping! the figma + protopie hook is the real move! when a designer changes the digital prototype, does the hardware know? one-way (hardware fires, figma reacts) or bidirectional (figma state flows back to motors and LEDs)? congrats on your launch!

Maker

Thank you ! If the commands stay the same then the hardware prototype would know accordingly. At the moment ProtoPie works bidirectional, Figma only one-way, but we are working on improving our Figma integration!

Congrats on the launch! Sharing this with my maker friends at the fab lab.

Interesting to see a platform focused specifically on the Python ecosystem instead of trying to support everything at once. The developer workflow focus and AI-assisted productivity angle stood out to me.

Looks like a great product
Congratulations!
Also, how reliable is standalone mode for longer-running prototypes like running a demo loop at a trade show for 8+ hours?

Congrats on the launch! 🟨 Looks amazing!