Whether it’s computer resource utilization, stock prices, social media updates, or the current weather, there is an endless stream of information demanding our attention. Some of this data doesn’t rise to a level of importance that warrants taking up real estate on our PC monitors. However, that doesn’t mean we aren’t interested in glancing at it every so often.

For use cases like these, a maker going by the handle lachimalaif has a great solution. It is called ESP32 DataDisplay, and it is a tiny multifunctional desktop terminal. To build it, you will only need a single electronic component — a “cheap yellow display,” specifically the esp32-2432s028. This board comes equipped with an ESP32-WROVER-32 microcontroller and a 2.8-inch 240×320 touchscreen display.