pyledstrip-examples

A collection of Python implementation examples and lighting effects built using the pyledstrip client library. These scripts demonstrate how to stream color data over UDP to WS2812/WS2812b LED strips.

Table of Contents

• Overview of Examples
• Common Arguments
• Usage Examples
• Experimental Features
• License

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Overview of Examples

Script	Description
boomerangs.py	Spawns multiple light pulses that travel down the strip, bounce off the boundaries, and cross paths.
disco.py	A flashing stroboscopic party light animation using random color palettes.
fireworks.py	Simulates a realistic fireworks show: rocket launch, fuse burning, particle explosion, gravity acceleration, and decay.
mod.py	Uses modular arithmetic to project shifting patterns of color blocks across the strip.
noise.py	Renders smooth, Perlin-like 1D noise transitions for fluid organic color shifts.
off.py	A simple utility to turn off all LEDs on the strip.
rainbow.py	A slowly rolling, custom-calibrated rainbow. Uses specific RGB points to counteract unequal LED dye intensities.
sines.py	Superimposes multiple sine waves with different frequencies and phase-shifts to create shifting wave gradients.
smooth.py	Smoothly interpolates and fades transitions between random colors.
snake.py	A classic snake segment that crawls along the LED strip, reflecting or wrapping around boundaries.
static_pattern.py	Fills the strip with a static, non-moving color pattern.
walker.py	A random walk particle that leaves behind a fading trail of light.

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Common Arguments

All scripts use pyledstrip's command line argument parser. The most common parameters include:

• --host HOST: (Required) IP address or hostname of the LED strip controller (e.g., an ESP8266 or piledstrip-server).
• --port PORT: UDP port of the controller (default is 7777).
• --leds LED_COUNT: Total number of LEDs on the strip (default: 300).
• --power_limit POWER_LIMIT: Power limit factor between 0.0 and 1.0 to restrict current draw (default: 0.2).
• --brightness BRIGHTNESS: Overall brightness multiplier (0.0 to 1.0).

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Usage Examples

Run a script by providing the target host and LED count:

# Run the calibrated rainbow animation
python3 rainbow.py --host 192.168.1.50 --leds 450

# Run the fireworks simulation
python3 fireworks.py --host 192.168.1.50 --leds 300

# Turn all LEDs off
python3 off.py --host 192.168.1.50 --leds 300

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Experimental Features

The experiments/ directory contains more advanced or specialized scripts:

1. Lamprecht (experiments/lamprecht/)

• Contains custom installation-specific scripts: LamprechtEins.py and LamprechtZwo.py which define complex layered behaviors.

2. Physics (experiments/physics/)

• gradient.py: Visualizes physics gradients on the strip.
• show_heightmap.py & plot_heightmap.py: Utilities to read and inspect/display 2D heightmap JSONs.

3. Sound-reactive (experiments/sound/)

• vu_meter.py: A sound-reactive volume unit (VU) meter showing audio amplitude.
• amplitude.py: Monitors microphone/audio input amplitude.
• record.py: Records audio signals to help calibrate sound-reactive parameters.

Note: Sound-reactive scripts require audio input libraries such as pyaudio or sounddevice.

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License

This project is open-source. See the LICENSE file for details (MPL-2.0).