Resources
Bill of Materials
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Waveshare 4.2in ePaper Display
- 3.7V LiPo Battery
- Adafruit 1000c Module
Ideas & Inspiration – An Open Source Distraction-Free Smart Journal
Like a lot of people, I regularly come across ideas, quotes and concepts that I don’t want to forget. The problem is that my usual options all had drawbacks. My phone was far too distracting, and while carrying a notebook worked surprisingly well, I kept losing them and eventually had to type everything into my computer anyway.
So I decided to build a dedicated device whose only job is capturing ideas.
The result is Ideas & Inspiration – a fully open-source smart journal built around a Raspberry Pi Zero, a 4.2″ Waveshare e-paper display and an M5Stack CardKB keyboard. The e-paper display is crisp, easy on the eyes and uses very little power, while the physical keyboard makes jotting down thoughts much more satisfying than typing on a touchscreen.
Power comes from a rechargeable LiPo battery through an Adafruit PowerBoost 1000, giving the journal a stable 5V supply while also handling battery charging. During development I actually discovered that my original charging and boost converter setup wasn’t reliable, so redesigning the power system became an important part of the project.
Once the hardware was working, I designed a simple interface focused entirely on writing. The journal lets you create timestamped notes, browse previous entries, respond to randomly generated inspiration prompts, back up all your notes over your local network, and safely shut the device down when you’re finished.
The enclosure was custom designed in Fusion 360 with a minimalist, slightly retro aesthetic, then 3D printed to keep everything compact and portable.
This project isn’t about replacing your phone or your laptop. It’s about having a dedicated tool that removes every excuse to get distracted when inspiration strikes.
As with all of my projects, everything is open source. You’ll find the CAD files, software and other resources below if you’d like to build your own, customise it, or use it as the starting point for your own version.