7/28/2026 - 81st Update!

Note: I wrote this back on 7/28/2026 but never published it here! (What? The return of Spark?) Well, not exactly, this is more of a thing for the latest announcement in #stardance-bulletin!

Here’s the edited video from a while back! It’s kinda for vertical/short form content, also, BIG EPILEPSY WARNING!!!

While you’re here, you should definitely check out fermion, the “spark v2” in a way! It has a very different architecture (that’s surprisingly hard to cad), so check that out! Anyways, here’s the log without further ado…

There’s really not that much to say.

On July 26th, Spark was repackaged into a box and put into storage, almost a week after returning to New York City. It’s still in an operational state, with few wires disconnected, only with the WiFi credentials incorrect.

For a logged 9 months and 2 weeks, a total of 287 days, with 80 progress updates in that time, Spark’s been on my mind for a long while, no doubt about that. Across the more than 64k words, 240+ hours, from the definitely overscoped original concept to the rush to finish it before Blueprint ended, Spark has existed between two whole YSWS programs, one used for design and one used for build.

I have to say, with more than three quarters of a year, a lot has changed, both outside, in my actual life, and with Spark, as the idea changed through every log, slowly and carefully. There were highs and lows, and really, really, low lows, from feeling lost at the end of day 9 of build, to the excitment of the first motor turning during day 11. But now, it’s all neatly packed in the garage, waiting to be used another day.

Spark isn’t gone, it still physically exists. It may not be resting on a giant wooden board I use for soldering next to my bed, but it still exists next to me through all the hard CAD and build days. It’s strange, this sudden change. For the last week, I haven’t really done much besides plan. And that’s probably a good thing, given all the planning Spark took. I haven’t really done much build, I haven’t really felt anything.

Post convention depressions, I have to say, is hitting pretty hard. After such insane fun and wonder for a week, it’s suddenly back to a cool, rainy day, here in New York City. Sleeping through the afternoon, after sleeping not enough hours in the morning. As the rain starts pouring from the sky again, I’ve been wondering what the meaning of joy is.

Alas, it might just be time. Adapting to such changes is obviously difficult, and the road of projects is too. But that doesn’t mean roadstops aren’t along the way. As I wrap up this update log, I want to leave a quick quote, one of my favorites.

It probably sounds like a dumb platitude to say “it’s not the destination, it’s the journey”, but truth is, we’re made up of journeys. You’re never going to be who you’re supposed to be unless you take that road.

…

There is room in there for surprise, for deviations, for re-evaluations. I wouldn’t dare deprive you of that adventure. You only get one, after all. I know, you’re tired; resting is part of the journey too. But not giving up…

Winter, in Housepets! (Rick Griffin, Dec 25, 2020)

That said, what’s next?

Well, first we’re gonna take a stepping stone. What’s next is still in concept form, but the unique constraints might require a custom PCB, which is where river comes in. First, it’s gonna be a quick project, just a custom PCB music player, just to jog the electrical skills.

But after a quick skip over a stream, what’s truly next? What’s the successor to Spark? What’s next to rival its top 1 status?

Fermion.

See ya around.