Learn to program a computer in 15 minutes

This is a program.

Not a video. Code, running in your browser.
In 15 minutes, this can be breathing on a device in your hands.

Every program follows the same pattern:

Input → Process → Output

What you'll need

15 min

First build time

$12

Initial hardware cost

ESP32 (Small Computer)

∞

Things you can build

Ready to make it real?

Most people need to order one first

What You Need

One small computer. One cable.

ESP32

~$12

A tiny computer with WiFi & Bluetooth. This is what professionals use to prototype real products. Yours forever to keep and modify.

Get it on Amazon →

The threshold will be here.

Bookmark this page. Come back when it arrives.

Quick Check

Make sure you're ready.

Computer (not phone) Web flashing needs a desktop or laptop.
Chrome or Edge browser Firefox and Safari don't support this yet.
ESP32 plugged in Connect it now with a USB data cable.

The Ritual

You're about to write code onto a computer

_________

"Flashing" means transferring your program to the chip's memory. Once it's there, the chip runs your code forever - no computer needed.

Plug in your ESP32

USB cable to computer.

Click Flash below

Select the USB/Serial device.

Wait ~30 seconds

Watch the progress indicator.

Watch the LED

Is it breathing?

0% Preparing...

Press once you see the light

You're a builder now.

The code from your browser is now running on physical hardware in your hands.

WHAT YOU PROVED

Programming is just instructions
The pattern: Input → Process → Output
You can make digital things physical

THE PATH AHEAD

Done

LED

Sensors

∞

Anything

See code Tutorials

Troubleshooting

No device appears
Try a different USB cable—most are charge-only.
Flash fails
Try a different USB port. Unplug, wait 5s, replug.
LED doesn't breathe
Unplug and replug the ESP32.
Mac issues
Search "CH340 driver Mac" and install.
Windows issues
Get CP210x drivers from Silicon Labs.
Still stuck
Email wja326@lehigh.edu

What Is CRUMB?

The Idea

CRUMB teaches electronics through doing. Genesis Zero proves you can program a computer in 5 minutes. The barriers were never real.

The Pattern

Every computer: Input → Process → Output. Your phone. Your car. This chip. Once you see it, you can build anything.

The Path

Genesis Zero: Onboard LED — 5 min
Genesis One: External LED — 15 min
Genesis Two: Sensors — 30 min
Genesis ∞: Whatever you imagine

Philosophy

Open source. GPL-3.0. Technology should adapt to humans.