FastLED - The Universal LED Library

Transform any microcontroller into an LED powerhouse.

Drive 30,000+ LEDs on high-end devices • Sub-$1 compatibility on tiny chips • Background rendering for responsive apps • Nearly every LED chipset supported • #2 most popular Arduino library

⚡ Get Blinking in 30 Seconds

#include <FastLED.h>
#define NUM_LEDS 60
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() { 
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, 6>(leds, NUM_LEDS); 
}

void loop() {
  leds[0] = CRGB::Red; FastLED.show(); delay(500);
  leds[0] = CRGB::Blue; FastLED.show(); delay(500);
}

✅ Works on Arduino, ESP32, Teensy, Raspberry Pi, and 50+ other platforms

🚀 Why FastLED?

Massive Scale	Tiny Footprint	Background Rendering	Universal
Drive 30,000 LEDs on Teensy 4.1	Runs on $0.50 ATtiny chips	ESP32/Teensy render while you code	Works on 50+ platforms
50 parallel strips on Teensy	<2KB on Arduino Uno	Never miss user input	Nearly every LED chipset

🎯 Performance: Zero-cost global brightness • High-performance 8-bit math, memory efficient on platforms that need it. 🔧 Developer Experience: Quick platform switching • Extensive examples • Active community support

📂 Source Code Directory Structure

FastLED's codebase is organized into several major areas. Each directory contains a README with detailed documentation:

Path	Description
src/README.md	Overview of the FastLED source tree including public headers, core foundation, effects, platforms, sensors, and third-party integrations
src/fl/README.md	FastLED core library (fl::) providing cross-platform STL-like containers, graphics primitives, math, async, JSON, and I/O utilities
src/fx/README.md	FX library with 1D/2D effects, video playback, composition utilities, and links to effect subdirectories
src/platforms/readme.md	Platform directory overview with backend selection guide, controller types, board-specific documentation, and links to all platform subdirectories

Table of Contents

• 🆕 Latest Feature
• ⭐ Community Growth
• 🆕 Latest Features
• 🌍 Platform Support
• 📦 Installation
• 📚 Documentation & Support
• 🎮 Advanced Features
• 🤝 Contributing

📊 Detailed Build Status

Arduino Family

Core Boards:

ARM Boards: *

ATtiny Series: **

*Notes: * Giga-R1 support added in 3.9.14 • ** ATtiny4313 has limited memory (WS2812 Blink + APA102 examples only)

Teensy Series

Standard Models:

Special Features:

NRF52 (Nordic)

*Note: NRF52 XiaoBLE board has mbed engine but doesn't compile against Arduino.h for unknown reasons.

Apollo3 (Ambiq)

*Beta support added in 3.10.2

STM32 (STMicroelectronics)

*Note: STM103TB has limited PlatformIO support

Silicon Labs (SiLabs)

*MGM240 (EFR32MG24) support for Arduino Nano Matter, SparkFun Thing Plus Matter, and Seeed Xiao MG24 Sense boards

Raspberry Pi Pico

ESP32 (Espressif)

ESP8266:

ESP32 Classic:

ESP32 S-Series:

ESP32 C-Series: *

ESP32 Advanced:

Special Features:

QEMU Tests:

Legacy:

*Notes: * ESP32-C2 support added in 3.9.10 • Espressif compatibility evaluation

Specialty Platforms

x86:

WebAssembly:

Library Size Validation

Core Platforms:

Teensy Platforms:

⭐ Community Growth

🆕 Latest Features

FastLED 3.10.3: UCS7604 RGBW Chipset Support (BETA)

New 16-bit RGBW LED chipset support for ARM M0/M0+ platforms (SAMD21/SAMD51). The UCS7604 is a high-resolution 4-channel LED driver with configurable bit depth (8/12/14/16-bit) and dual data rates (800kHz/1.6MHz).

FastLED.addLeds<UCS7604, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);  // 16-bit mode, 800kHz

⚠️ Beta Status: Currently ARM M0/M0+ only. Hardware validation ongoing. See examples/UCS7604_Basic for usage.

FastLED 3.10.2: Corkscrew Mapping

See examples/FestivalStick/FestivalStick.ino

Fastled.3.10.2-1.mp4

FastLED 3.10.0: Animartrix Out of Beta

Advanced animation framework for complex LED visualizations and effects.

FastLED 3.9.16: WaveFx / Multi Layer Compositing

Multi-layer compositing & time-based animation control for tech-artists.

fx_wave_demo_small.mp4

3.9.13	3.9.10	3.9.8	3.9.2
HD107 Turbo 40MHz LED support	ESP32 SPI Super stable WS2812 driver	Massive Teensy 50 parallel pins on 4.1	WS2812 Overclock Up to 70% speed boost

3.7.7	More Features
RGBW Support White channel LED strips	📋 Full Changelog 📺 Demo Videos

📺 Live Demos • 📋 Full Changelog

📖 Detailed Feature Information (Click to expand)

New in 3.10.2: Corkscrew Mapping

See examples/FestivalStick/FestivalStick.ino

Fastled.3.10.2-1.mp4

New in 3.10.0: Animartrix out of beta

New in 3.9.16: WaveFx / Multi Layer Compositing / Time-based animation control

Video:

fx_wave_demo_small.mp4

Major release for tech-artists!

Lots of improvements in this release, read the full change list here

Links

• This demo -> FxWave2d
  • Wave Simulation Library
• FireCylinder
  • Wraps around so that (0,y) ~= (width-1,y)
• TimeAlpha
  • Precision control of animations with time-based alpha transition.

New in 3.9.13: HD107 "Turbo" 40Mhz LED Support

New in 3.9.12: WS2816 "HD" LED support

New in 3.9.10: Super Stable WS2812 SPI driver for ESP32

New in 3.9.9: 16-way Yves I2S parallel driver for the ESP32-S3

*Note some users find that newer versions of the ESP32 Arduino core (3.10) don't work very well, but older versions do, see issue 1903

New in 3.9.8 - Massive Teensy 4.1 & 4.0 WS2812 LED output

• Teensy 4.1: 50 parallel pins
• Teensy 4.0: 42 parallel pins

New in 3.9.2 - Overclocking of WS2812

Update: max overclock has been reported at +70%: https://www.reddit.com/r/FastLED/comments/1gkcb6m/fastled_FASTLED_OVERCLOCK_17/

New in 3.7.7 - RGBW LED Strip Support

🌍 Platform Support

Platform Categories

Arduino Family	ESP32 Series	Teensy	ARM	Specialty
Uno, Nano, Mega Due, Giga R1, R4	ESP32, S2, S3, C3 C6, H2, P4	3.0, 3.1, 4.0, 4.1 LC + OctoWS2811	STM32, NRF52 Apollo3, Silicon Labs	Raspberry Pi WASM, x86

FastLED supports 50+ platforms! From sub-$1 ATtiny chips to high-end Teensy 4.1 with 50 parallel outputs.

📦 Installation

Quick Install Options

Arduino IDE	PlatformIO	Package Managers
Library Manager → Search "FastLED" → Install	lib_deps = fastled/FastLED	pio pkg install --library "fastled/FastLED"
Or install latest release .zip	Add to platformio.ini	Command line installation

Template Projects

• 🎯 Arduino + PlatformIO Starter - Best of both worlds, works with both IDEs
• 🚀 FastLED Examples - 100+ ready-to-run demos
• 🌐 Web Compiler - Test in your browser

Arduino IDE Setup Instructions (Click to expand)

After installing the Arduino IDE, add FastLED through the Library Manager:

📚 Documentation & Support

📖 Documentation	💬 Community	🐛 Issues	📺 Examples
API Reference	Reddit r/FastLED	GitHub Issues	Live Demos
Doxygen Docs	1000s of users & solutions	Bug reports & feature requests	GitHub Examples

Need Help? Visit r/FastLED - thousands of knowledgeable users and extensive solution history!

🎮 Advanced Features

Performance Leaders: Parallel Output Records

Platform	Max Parallel Outputs	Performance Notes
Teensy 4.1	50 parallel strips	Current record holder - Example
Teensy 4.0	42 parallel strips	High-performance ARM Cortex-M7
ESP32DEV	24 via I2S + 8 via RMT	I2S Example
ESP32-S3	16 via LCD/I2S + 4 via RMT	LCD/I80 Example (NEW!), I2S Example
ESP32-P4	16 via LCD (RGB or I80) + RMT	See LCD docs - Supports both RGB and I80 modes

Note: The new LCD driver is recommended over I2S for better Serial debugging support and memory efficiency. ESP32-P4 supports both RGB and I80 LCD modes. Some ESP32 Arduino core versions (3.10+) have compatibility issues with I2S. Older versions work better - see issue #1903

Wiring Best Practices for High-Parallel Setups

Applies to: Teensy/ESP32/etc. driving WS2812/WS2813/SK6812 (1-wire) and APA102/clocked chips

📐 Critical Wiring Rules - Eliminate flickering and corruption (Click to expand)

1. Star/Bus Ground Architecture

• Tie every ground together: controller GND, each strip GND, PSU GNDs, shield/braid
• Use low-impedance connections (soldered/crimped, not tape-only)
• Keep ground paths short
• Verify: <20mV DC drop between controller and strip GNDs under load

Why: Data line voltage is measured against controller ground. Weak ground = corrupt bits.

2. Twisted Pair: Data + Ground

• Run each data line twisted with its own ground wire end-to-end
• Use Cat5/6: one pair per output (data on one wire, other wire as return)
• Bond shield to GND at controller side if using shielded cable

Why: Minimizes EMI pickup/emissions and preserves signal integrity over distance.

3. Level Shifting to 5V Logic

• 3.3V microcontrollers need level shifting for 5V LED strips
• Use 74HCT245 (8ch), 74HCT541 (8ch), or 74HCT125/126 (4ch) buffers
• Place 33–220Ω series resistors at buffer output (before twisted pair)
• Keep buffers close to controller

Why: Restores full-swing logic and reduces ringing/reflections.

Example: 16-Output Teensy Setup

Grounds → ground bus → Teensy GND
Level shifters: 2× 74HCT245 (16 channels), powered at 5V
Per channel: Buffer → 33–100Ω → twisted pair → strip DIN/GND
At strip start: 1000µF cap across +5V/GND
Power injection as needed; keep data/power runs separate

Troubleshooting Tips

• Signal issues? Try underclocking: FASTLED_OVERCLOCK=0.8 in platformio.ini build flags
• Long runs failing? Insert dummy LED near controller (set to black, offset array index)
• Intermittent glitches? Ensure all PSUs share the same AC circuit

Quick Do/Don't

• ✅ Do: Star/bus ground, twisted pairs, HCT buffers, source resistors, big cap at strip
• ❌ Don't: Float grounds, share one ground for many runs, use unbuffered 3.3V for long 5V lines

Following these practices eliminates 90% of "random sparkle/corruption" issues.

Exotic Setups (120+ Outputs!)

Custom shift register boards can achieve extreme parallel output:

• ESP32DEV: 120-output virtual driver
• ESP32-S3: 120-output S3 driver

🚀 Platform-Specific Driver Configuration

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Teensy Platform

⚡ ObjectFLED Driver - DEFAULT driver for Teensy 4.x with advanced parallel output

Overview

The ObjectFLED driver is an advanced parallel output driver specifically optimized for Teensy 4.0 and 4.1 boards when using WS2812 LEDs. It provides massive parallel output capacity and is enabled by default on Teensy 4.x - no configuration needed!

Parallel Output Capacity

• Teensy 4.1: Up to 50 parallel strips
• Teensy 4.0: Up to 42 parallel strips
• Performance: ~7x more strips than OctoWS2811

Default Usage

#include <FastLED.h>

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
void setup() {
    // ObjectFLED is used automatically on Teensy 4.x
    FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

Disabling ObjectFLED (Reverting to Legacy Driver)

If you encounter compatibility issues or wish to use the standard clockless driver instead of ObjectFLED, you can disable it by defining FASTLED_NOT_USES_OBJECTFLED before including the FastLED header:

#define FASTLED_NOT_USES_OBJECTFLED
#include <FastLED.h>

Re-enabling ObjectFLED (Explicitly)

While ObjectFLED is the default for Teensy 4.0/4.1, you can explicitly enable it (though not strictly necessary) using:

#define FASTLED_USES_OBJECTFLED
#include <FastLED.h>

🎯 WS2812Serial Driver - High-performance serial-based LED control

Overview

The WS2812Serial driver leverages serial ports for LED data transmission on Teensy boards, providing non-blocking operation and precise timing.

Configuration

To use this driver, you must define USE_WS2812SERIAL before including the FastLED header.

#define USE_WS2812SERIAL
#include <FastLED.h>

Then, use WS2812SERIAL as the chipset type in your addLeds call. The data pin is not used for this driver.

FastLED.addLeds<WS2812SERIAL, /* DATA_PIN */, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

Supported Pins & Serial Ports

Port	Teensy LC	Teensy 3.2	Teensy 3.5	Teensy 3.6	Teensy 4.0	Teensy 4.1
Serial1	1, 4, 5, 24	1, 5	1, 5, 26	1, 5, 26	1	1, 53
Serial2		10, 31	10	10	8	8
Serial3		8	8	8	14	14
Serial4			32	32	17	17
Serial5			33	33	20, 39	20, 47
Serial6			48		24	24
Serial7					29	29
Serial8						35

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ESP32 Platform

🚀 ESP32 LCD Driver - NEW! Memory-efficient parallel output using LCD peripheral (RECOMMENDED)

Overview

The LCD driver is a high-performance parallel output driver for ESP32 boards with LCD peripheral support. It uses hardware LCD peripherals to drive up to 16 parallel WS28xx LED strips with automatic chipset timing optimization.

Two Driver Variants:

• I80 Mode: Uses LCD_CAM/I80 peripheral with 3-word-per-bit encoding (6 bytes per bit)
• RGB Mode: Uses RGB LCD controller with 4-pixel-per-bit encoding (8 bytes per bit)

Key Advantages over I2S:

• ✅ More WS282x Chipsets: Better support for WS2811, WS2816, WS2813, etc.
• ✅ Better timing accuracy: Automatic PCLK optimization per chipset
• ✅ Serial output works: Unlike I2S, you can use Serial.print() for debugging
• ✅ Platform-agnostic: Automatically detects and uses available LCD peripheral

Supported Platforms

• ESP32-S3: LCD_CAM peripheral with I80 interface (3-word encoding)
• ESP32-P4: Both RGB LCD controller (4-pixel encoding) AND I80 interface (3-word encoding)
• Future ESP32 variants: Any chip with RGB or I80 LCD peripheral support

Configuration

To use the LCD driver instead of I2S, define FASTLED_ESP32_LCD_DRIVER before including FastLED:

#define FASTLED_ESP32_LCD_DRIVER
#include <FastLED.h>

CRGB leds1[NUM_LEDS];
CRGB leds2[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
    // Standard FastLED API - LCD driver auto-selected
    FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, 2>(leds1, NUM_LEDS);  // WS2812 on pin 2
    FastLED.addLeds<WS2811, 4>(leds2, NUM_LEDS);  // WS2811 on pin 4 (slower timing)
}

void loop() {
    // Your LED code here
    FastLED.show();
}

Without the define, FastLED defaults to the I2S driver (legacy behavior).

Performance

• Up to 16 parallel strips (all must use the same chipset)
• Memory usage:
  • I80 (S3): 144 KB per 1000 LEDs (6 bytes per bit)
  • RGB (P4): 192 KB per 1000 LEDs (8 bytes per bit)
• Recommended for new projects on ESP32-S3/P4

Examples

• Esp32S3I80 Example - Demonstrates LCD/I80 driver usage

Note: All parallel strips must use the same chipset timing. For per-strip timing control, use the RMT driver.

🔧 ESP32-S3 I2S Driver - Legacy parallel output using I2S peripheral

Overview

The ESP32-S3 I2S driver leverages the I2S peripheral for high-performance parallel WS2812 output on ESP32-S3 boards. This driver is a dedicated clockless implementation.

Note: The LCD driver (above) is now recommended for new projects on ESP32-S3 due to better memory efficiency and Serial debugging support.

Configuration

To use this driver, you must define FASTLED_USES_ESP32S3_I2S before including the FastLED header.

#define FASTLED_USES_ESP32S3_I2S
#include <FastLED.h>

Then, use WS2812 as the chipset type in your addLeds call. The data pin will be configured by the I2S driver.

FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

Note: This driver requires a compatible Arduino-ESP32 core/IDF.

📡 Generic ESP32 I2S Driver - Universal I2S support for ESP32

Overview

The generic ESP32 I2S driver provides parallel WS2812 output for various ESP32 boards (e.g., ESP32-DevKitC). It uses the I2S peripheral for efficient data transmission.

Configuration

To use this driver, you must define FASTLED_ESP32_I2S before including the FastLED header.

#define FASTLED_ESP32_I2S
#include <FastLED.h>

Then, use WS2812 as the chipset type in your addLeds call:

FastLED.addLeds<WS2812, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);

DMA Buffer Configuration

For improved resilience under interrupt load (e.g., Wi-Fi activity), you can increase the number of I2S DMA buffers:

#define FASTLED_ESP32_I2S_NUM_DMA_BUFFERS 4

⚠️ ESP32 RMT Driver Configuration - Critical performance and compatibility information

⚡ Performance Alert

Important: The RMT4 and RMT5 drivers use completely different APIs. FastLED's custom RMT4 driver is specifically optimized for LED control and significantly outperforms Espressif's generic RMT5 wrapper in terms of:

• Performance: Lower interrupt overhead and better timing precision
• Wi-Fi resistance: Dual-buffer design prevents flickering under Wi-Fi load
• Efficiency: Direct hardware control vs. abstraction layer overhead
• Strip capacity: RMT4 uses worker pools to support more LED strips; RMT5 lacks worker pools and is limited by hardware channels (particularly restrictive on ESP32-C3 with only 2 TX channels)

FastLED includes two RMT driver implementations:

• RMT4 driver: FastLED's custom, highly-optimized driver with direct RMT peripheral control
• RMT5 driver: Wrapper around Espressif's led_strip component (ESP-IDF 5.0+)

By default, FastLED automatically selects:

• ESP-IDF 5.0+: Uses RMT5 driver (for compatibility)
• ESP-IDF 4.x and earlier: Uses RMT4 driver

Forcing RMT4 Driver (Recommended for Performance)

To force the use of FastLED's optimized RMT4 driver, you have two options:

Option 1: Arduino IDE - Downgrade ESP32 Core

• Use any ESP32 Arduino Core version below 3.0.
• These versions use ESP-IDF 4.x and below which defaults to RMT4

Option 2: PlatformIO - Set Build Flag

For ESP-IDF 5.0+ environments, set FASTLED_RMT5=0 as a build flag:

[env:esp32]
platform = espressif32
board = esp32dev
framework = arduino
lib_deps = fastled/FastLED
build_flags =
    -D FASTLED_RMT5=0

📚 PlatformIO Users: For a complete quick start guide with FastLED and PlatformIO, check out our official starter template: github.com/fastled/platformio-starter

⚠️ Critical: RMT4 and RMT5 drivers cannot coexist in the same sketch. Espressif's ESP-IDF will cause a boot crash if it detects both drivers attempting to initialize. You must choose one or the other at compile time.

Note: Using RMT4 is strongly recommended if you experience flickering with Wi-Fi enabled or need maximum LED performance. RMT4 uses ESP-IDF's legacy RMT APIs which are still maintained for backward compatibility in ESP-IDF 5.x, though marked as deprecated.

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Silicon Labs (MGM240/EFR32MG24) Platform

🔧 ezWS2812 GPIO Driver - Optimized bit-banging with cycle-accurate timing

Overview

The EZWS2812_GPIO driver uses optimized GPIO bit-banging with cycle-accurate timing calibrated for 39MHz and 78MHz CPU frequencies. This driver is always available and requires no hardware peripherals.

Performance

• ~400Hz refresh rate
• No hardware peripheral consumption
• Optimized assembly-level timing

Usage

#include <FastLED.h>

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
void setup() {
    // GPIO-based controller on pin 7
    FastLED.addLeds<EZWS2812_GPIO, 7, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

⚡ ezWS2812 SPI Driver - Hardware-accelerated maximum performance

Overview

The EZWS2812_SPI driver provides hardware SPI acceleration for maximum performance (~1000Hz refresh rate). This driver consumes a hardware SPI peripheral and must be explicitly enabled.

Why Opt-In Required

Following the same pattern as ObjectFLED for Teensy, the SPI controller must be explicitly enabled to prevent accidentally consuming the SPI peripheral that may be needed for other components (SD cards, displays, sensors).

Configuration

Required define before including FastLED:

#define FASTLED_USES_EZWS2812_SPI  // MUST be before #include
#include <FastLED.h>

CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];
void setup() {
    // SPI-based controller (consumes hardware SPI)
    FastLED.addLeds<EZWS2812_SPI, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

Performance

• ~1000Hz refresh rate (2.5x faster than GPIO)
• Hardware-accelerated
• Consumes one SPI peripheral

ℹ️ Important Notes - Compatibility and limitations

Supported Boards

• Arduino Nano Matter
• SparkFun Thing Plus Matter
• Seeed Xiao MG24 Sense

LED Compatibility

The EZWS2812_GPIO and EZWS2812_SPI controllers are optimized specifically for WS2812 LEDs only. For other LED chipsets (SK6812, TM1809, UCS1903, etc.), FastLED automatically uses the generic clockless driver which supports all timing variants but with standard performance.

Driver Source

These drivers are based on the Silicon Labs ezWS2812 library and provide seamless FastLED API compatibility with enhanced performance for MG24-based boards.

Note: All I2S lanes must share the same chipset/timings. If per-lane timing differs, consider using the RMT driver instead.

Supported LED Chipsets

FastLED supports virtually every LED chipset available:

Clockless (3-wire)	SPI-based (4-wire)	Specialty
WS281x Family: WS2811, WS2812 (NeoPixel), WS2812-V5B, WS2815	APA102 / DotStars: Including HD107s (40MHz turbo)	SmartMatrix Panels
TM180x Series: TM1809/4, TM1803	High-Speed SPI: LPD8806, WS2801, SM16716	DMX Output
Other 3-wire: UCS1903, GW6205, SM16824E	APA102HD: Driver-level gamma correction	P9813 Total Control

RGBW Support: WS2816 and other white-channel LED strips • Overclocking: WS2812 up to 70% speed boost

More details: Chipset Reference Wiki

APA102 High Definition Mode

#define LED_TYPE APA102HD  // Enables hardware gamma correction
void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<LED_TYPE, DATA_PIN, CLOCK_PIN, RGB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

Read more: APA102 HD Documentation • Rust Implementation

🛠️ Development & Contributing

Ready to contribute? FastLED welcomes code contributions, platform testing, documentation improvements, and community support.

🔧 Development Setup & Contributing Guide (Click to expand)

Quick Development Setup

Zero pain setup - can be done from command line in seconds with uv or python:

Steps:

1. Fork the repository on GitHub
2. Clone your fork locally: git clone https://github.com/yourusername/FastLED.git
3. Test compilation: bash compile <platform> (e.g., bash compile uno compiles Blink by default)
4. Make your changes and test
5. Push to your fork and create a pull request

See our detailed Contributing Guide for more information.

Testing Other Devices

Use the compile script to test on 20+ platforms:

• Teensy series, ESP32 variants, Arduino family, ARM boards, and more
• Automated testing ensures compatibility across all supported platforms

How to Help

📋 How to Help	🔗 Resources
Code contributions: Bug fixes, new features, optimizations	Contributing Guide
Platform support: Help test on new/existing platforms	Platform Testing
Documentation: Improve examples, fix typos, add tutorials	Documentation
Community: Answer questions on Reddit, report issues	r/FastLED

Platform Porting: Information on porting FastLED to new platforms: PORTING.md

About FastLED

What's in the name? Originally "FastSPI_LED" focused on high-speed SPI, but evolved to support all LED types and became "FastLED" - everything fast, for LEDs.

Official Site: fastled.io - documentation, issues, and news

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Daniel Garcia, Founder of FastLED

In Memory of Daniel Garcia Daniel Garcia, the brilliant founder of FastLED, tragically passed away in September 2019 in the Conception dive boat fire alongside his partner, Yulia. This heartbreaking loss was felt deeply by the maker and developer community, where Daniel's contributions had left an indelible mark.

Daniel was more than just a talented programmer; he was a passionate innovator who transformed the way creators interacted with LED technology. His work on FastLED brought high-performance LED control to countless projects, empowering developers to craft breathtaking installations.

In his personal life, Daniel was known for his kindness and creativity. His pride in FastLED and the vibrant community it fostered was a testament to his dedication to open-source development and his commitment to helping others bring light into the world.

While Daniel is no longer with us, his legacy continues through the FastLED library and the countless makers who use it. The community he built serves as a living tribute to his ingenuity, generosity, and the joy he found in sharing his work with the world.

About the Current Contributor

Zach Vorhies, the current main contributor to FastLED, briefly worked with Dan in 2014 in San Francisco and was an avid user of the FastLED library for over 13 years. After Daniel Garcia’s untimely passing, Zach stepped up to ensure FastLED’s continued growth and development.

Zach has this to say about FastLED:

"The true power of FastLED lies in its ability to transform programmers into LED artists. Free space becomes their canvas; bending light is their medium. FastLED is a collective effort by programmers who want to manifest the world that science fiction writers promised us. -- To contribute code to FastLED is to leave behind a piece of something immortal."

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💫 In memory of Daniel Garcia and the vision that transforms programmers into LED artists

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