Processor / CPU / Computer
To drive and control the LEDs you will need a computer, a tiny one at that. I chose a ‘NodeMcu v3’, as it is more than capable of doing the job and is very economical, at only a couple of bucks.
I purchased mine from https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007982713351.html I’d suggest you choose the Micro-USB option over the type C USB connector, as, if you are going to power everything by power bank, most low cost power bank leads come with Micro-USB leads and that’s really all that’s needed here. Perhaps also read the Power section before choosing type C, if you really want to go that way.
A NodeMCU processor
I did spot a few very slightly cheaper versions, but it was not clear if the headers come soldered or not, and for ease of assembly it is important that they are.
Another consideration for using this module is that if you use something different, you will probably need to change the enclosure for it.
The computer savvy amongst you might notice that this module has WiFi capability and thus it should be possible to dynamically change the LED programming from your phone. Whilst this certainly seems doable, I will leave it for someone else to do.
Install Arduino IDE.
Goto https://www.arduino.cc/en/software and download and install the latest version for your computer.
After installing allow it to run, it will make several firewall access requests, allow them. It will also fire off installs for several other, related, products, allow them. It will also request permission to install several device drivers, all them (click ‘install’).
Once it has ‘calmed down’, navigate to where you have saved the source file Link and attempt to open it.
It will then say
(Because that is one of Aruino’s ‘funny’ rules)
Click YES
You now need to install on library, click on the (Library Manager) icon
on the left and type ‘fastLED’, this will cut the list down to a few less entries, ‘FastLED by Daniel Garcia’ should be at the top, otherwise look down the list until you find it. Check the version listed in the comment (comments start with //) after the #include statement in the code window, this lists the highest version with which the figural project has been tested. Whilst you could simply click install to install the latest, this might not work at all well, as often newer versions do not work without significant changes to the code. If you chose the latest and it wont compile you can always come back here and use the dropdown to select a different version to install. Now click ‘Install’, after a little bit of activity, ‘Install’ will change to ‘Remove’. Click on the Library Manager icon again to close the Library Manager.
Now you need to select your ‘board’, go to the ‘Select Board’ at the top and click the dropdown, then ‘Select Other board and Port…’, then type NodeMCU and select ‘NoteMCU 1.0 (ESP12E Module)’ and click OK. In the bottom right of the window
will appear, click Yes. Wait until this completes, it will take a while, completing with a message similar to ‘Platform esp8266:esp8266@3.1.2 installed’.
You should then be able to click on the (verify)