Directory dependency graph for examples:

Directories
	AdafruitBridge

	AnalogOutput

	Animartrix

	Apa102

	Apa102HD

	Apa102HDOverride

	Async

	Audio

	AudioInput

	Blink

	BlinkParallel

	Blur

	Blur2d

	Chromancer

	ColorBoost

	ColorPalette

	ColorTemperature

	CompileTest

	Corkscrew

	Cylon

	DemoReel100

	Downscale

	EaseInOut

	Esp32S3I2SDemo

	EspI2SDemo

	FestivalStick

	Fire2012

	Fire2012WithPalette

	Fire2023

	FireCylinder

	FireMatrix

	FirstLight

	FxCylon

	FxDemoReel100

	FxEngine

	FxFire2012

	FxGfx2Video

	FxNoisePlusPalette

	FxNoiseRing

	FxPacifica

	FxPride2015

	FxSdCard

	FxTwinkleFox

	FxWater

	FxWave2d

	HD107

	HSVTest

	Json

	LuminescentGrand

	Luminova

	Multiple

	NetTest

	Noise

	NoisePlayground

	NoisePlusPalette

	OctoWS2811

	Overclock

	Pacifica

	PinMode

	Pintest

	Ports

	Pride2015

	RGBCalibrate

	RGBSetDemo

	RGBW

	RGBWEmulated

	SmartMatrix

	TeensyMassiveParallel

	TeensyParallel

	TwinkleFox

	UITest

	wasm

	WasmScreenCoords

	Wave

	Wave2d

	WS2816

	XYMatrix

	XYPath

Detailed Description

This document maps the example sketches, shows how to run them on different targets (Arduino/PlatformIO, Teensy, ESP32, WASM), and suggests learning paths. It mirrors the structure and tone of src/fl/README.md so you can quickly jump between concepts and runnable code.

Overview and Quick Start
How to Run Examples
- Arduino IDE (classic workflow)
- PlatformIO (boards and native host)
- Teensy/OctoWS2811
- ESP32 / I2S (parallel output)
- WASM (browser demos + JSON UI)
Directory Map (by theme)
- Basics and core idioms
- Color, palettes, and HSV
- Classic 1D effects
- 2D, matrices, mapping
- FX engine and higher-level utilities
- Audio and reactive demos
- Storage, SD card, and data
- Multiple strips, parallel, and high-density
- ESP/Teensy/SmartMatrix specifics
- WASM and UI
- Larger projects and showcases
Quick Usage Notes
Choosing an Example
Troubleshooting
Guidance for New Users
Guidance for C++ Developers

Overview and Quick Start

The examples/ directory contains runnable sketches that cover:

Getting started (blinking, first LED, pin modes)
Color utilities, palettes, and HSV/CRGB conversions
Classic 1D effects (Cylon, Fire, Twinkles, DemoReel100)
2D matrix helpers, XY mapping, and raster effects
Advanced pipelines like downscale/upscale and path rendering
Platform-specific demos (Teensy OctoWS2811, ESP I2S)
Browser/WASM examples with JSON-driven UI controls

Typical first steps:

Open an example in the Arduino IDE and change NUM_LEDS, chipset, and DATA_PIN to match hardware
For matrices, define width/height and choose serpentine vs. row-major mapping
For WASM or host exploration, use the WASM examples or the STUB platform (see below)

How to Run Examples

Arduino IDE (classic workflow)

Open an .ino file directly (e.g., examples/Blink/Blink.ino)
Edit the configuration near the top:
- LED type: FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, DATA_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS)
- Strip length: NUM_LEDS
- Brightness: FastLED.setBrightness(…)
Select your board and COM/serial port, then Upload

Tips:

For 2D examples, set WIDTH/HEIGHT and confirm wiring (serpentine vs. linear)
If the animation is mirrored or offset, adjust the mapping helper

PlatformIO (boards and native host)

Board-based workflows: create a platformio.ini that targets your MCU and copy an example sketch into a project src/ folder
Host/STUB workflows: use the STUB platform for local testing where appropriate (no hardware); advanced builds hook into src/platforms/stub/

The repository includes ci/native/ and ci/kitchensink/ PlatformIO configs you can reference for host builds and integration tests.

Teensy/OctoWS2811

Examples under examples/OctoWS2811* and related Teensy demos show multi-output patterns
Replace pin/channel configuration and buffer sizes to match your wiring; ensure you select the correct Teensy model in your IDE/toolchain

ESP32 / I2S (parallel output)

See examples/EspI2SDemo/ and examples/Esp32S3I2SDemo/
These demonstrate high-throughput I2S-driven output; choose a board definition matching your dev board and wiring
On some environments, parallel output requires specific pin sets and PSRAM settings; consult the sketch notes

WASM (browser demos + JSON UI)

examples/wasm/ and related WASM-focused examples run in the browser
The JSON UI system enables sliders, buttons, and other controls (see src/platforms/wasm and src/fl/ui.h)
Typical flow: build to WebAssembly, serve the app, and interact via the browser UI

Directory Map (by theme)

This list highlights commonly used examples. It is not exhaustive—browse the folders for more.

Basics and core idioms

Blink/ — minimal starting point
FirstLight/ — walk a single bright pixel along the strip
PinMode/ — simple input pin usage
RGBSetDemo/ — basic pixel addressing and assignment
RGBCalibrate/ — adjust color channel balance

Color, palettes, and HSV

ColorPalette/ — palette usage and transitions
ColorTemperature/ — white point and temperature helpers
HSVTest/ — HSV types and conversions
ColorBoost/ — saturation/luminance shaping for high visual impact

Classic 1D effects

Cylon/, FxCylon/ — scanning eye; FX variants use higher-level helpers
Fire2012/, Fire2012WithPalette/, FxFire2012/ — classic fire effect
TwinkleFox/, FxTwinkleFox/ — twinkling star fields
Pride2015/, FxPride2015/ — rainbow variants
DemoReel100/, FxDemoReel100/ — rotating showcase of many patterns
Wave/ — 1D wave toolkit

2D, matrices, mapping

XYMatrix/ — matrix mapping helpers and layouts
Wave2d/, FxWave2d/ — 2D wavefields
Blur2d/ — separable blur across a matrix
Downscale/ — render high-res, resample to panel resolution
Animartrix/ — animated matrix patterns and helpers
SmartMatrix/ — SmartMatrix integration sketch

FX engine and higher-level utilities

FxEngine/ — scaffolding for composing layers and frames
FxGfx2Video/ — utilities to pipe graphics into frame/video helpers
fx/ under src/ provides the building blocks used by these examples

Audio and reactive demos

Audio/ — audio input + analysis (simple and advanced variants)
Ports/PJRCSpectrumAnalyzer/ — Teensy-centric spectrum analyzer

Storage, SD card, and data

FxSdCard/ — SD-backed media and assets (see data/ subfolder)

Multiple strips, parallel, and high-density

Multiple/ — organize multiple arrays/segments
TeensyParallel/ — multi-output example
TeensyMassiveParallel/ — larger multi-output wiring
OctoWS2811/, OctoWS2811Demo/ — OctoWS2811 multi-channel output

ESP/Teensy/SmartMatrix specifics

EspI2SDemo/, Esp32S3I2SDemo/ — ESP32 parallel/I2S output
SmartMatrix/ — run on SmartMatrix hardware

WASM and UI

wasm/ — browser-targeted demo
WasmScreenCoords/ — UI overlay and coordinate visualization
Json/ — JSON-structured sketch example
UITest/ — showcase of JSON UI controls and groups

Larger projects and showcases

LuminescentGrand/ — complex, multi-file installation piece
Luminova/ — larger effect set
Chromancer/ — advanced example with assets and helpers

Quick Usage Notes

Always set the LED chipset, pin, color order, and NUM_LEDS to match your hardware:
- FastLED.addLeds<CHIPSET, DATA_PIN, COLOR_ORDER>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
- Common CHIPSETs: WS2812B, SK6812, APA102 (APA102 also needs CLK_PIN)
Adjust brightness and power: FastLED.setBrightness(…) and consider power limits for dense strips
For matrices, define WIDTH/HEIGHT and use serpentine or row-major helpers; verify orientation
Prefer using fl::Leds + XYMap for 2D logic when the example exposes those hooks
For high quality on low-res displays, render at higher resolution and downscale

Choosing an Example

New to FastLED: start with Blink → FirstLight → DemoReel100
Building a palette-based animation: ColorPalette and ColorTemperature
Making a 1D animation: Cylon, Fire2012, TwinkleFox
Driving a panel: XYMatrix, then try Downscale or Wave2d
Multi-output / high-density: OctoWS2811Demo, TeensyParallel
Browser demo / UI: wasm, UITest, Json
Advanced/experimental: Corkscrew (in src/fl), Fx* examples, and Chromancer

Troubleshooting

Nothing lights up:
- Re-check DATA_PIN, chipset, and COLOR_ORDER
- Confirm NUM_LEDS and power are correct; try a low brightness first
Colors look wrong: try GRB vs. RGB ordering; some strips invert green/red
Matrix appears mirrored or wrapped: change serpentine/row-major mapping or flip WIDTH and HEIGHT
ESP32 I2S pinning: verify the chosen pins are valid for your board’s I2S peripheral
Teensy multi-output: confirm channel count and buffer sizes match your wiring

Guidance for New Users

Include FastLED.h, pick your chipset, set NUM_LEDS, and get something simple running first
For matrices, draw into width/height coordinates and let mapping/wiring helpers translate to indices
Explore the palette and HSV examples for smooth color; try fill_rainbow and CHSV
When moving to larger builds, consider splitting configuration and effect code into separate files for clarity

Guidance for C++ Developers

Many examples are deliberately small; for more reusable building blocks, see src/fl/ and src/fx/
Prefer fl:: containers, views (fl::span), and graphics helpers for portability and quality
For UI/remote control on capable targets, use the JSON UI elements (see src/fl/ui.h) and WASM bridge (src/platforms/wasm)

This README will evolve alongside the examples. Browse subfolders for sketch-specific notes and hardware details. For the core library map and deeper subsystems, see src/README.md and src/fl/README.md.

Directories