A team of our students made a programmable Christmas tree that is on display at the entrance to the math building.

It's a real feat of engineering and programming, and I am very proud of our students. It has 500 color led lights that are fully programmable. The students wrote software for measuring the xyz coordinates of each light, and made a programmable interface that anyone can use at https://jelka.fmf.uni-lj.si (in Slovenian “jelka” means "fir") to make their own pattern. They wrote a Python library, a Docker interface, and even created a custom Scratch-like visual programming language for controlling the lights. And 3 simulators, as apparently one was not enough. It's all at the web site.

If you are or know a teacher who would like their students to participate, see the contact tab on the web page.

Jelka FMF

Christmas tree at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana

Jelka FMF
@andrejbauer
Last year, the students were inspired by the wonderful @standupmaths video from 2020; from what I understand, the project grew significantly since then :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvlpIojusBE
I wired my tree with 500 LED lights and calculated their 3D coordinates.

If you support me on Patreon at any point in December 2020 I will film your name on my xmas tree while I give you a thumbs-up of appreciation. https://www.pa...

YouTube
@andrejbauer That’s a very nice project, and seasonally appropriate.
@andrejbauer How long until Bad Appletree?