Datenzwerg

Development

Install Python 3.11. Then

1. python -m venv venv
2. source venv/bin/activate
3. pip install -r requirements.txt

This will install all dependencies for firmware and documentation development into a virtual environment and activate it. To leave the virtual environment, run deactivate.

Firmware

The Datenzwerg firmware is based on esphome which gets installed as dependency when running the above setup command.

Note

The firmware currently requires ESPHOME 2025.7.4, as set in the requirements.txt. Other versions might cause errors.

To flash your own Datenzwerg, navigate to the firmware directory, then

1. Copy secrets-template.yaml to packages/secrets.yaml and fill in your WiFi and InfluxDB2 credentials.
2. Run esphome -s name <gnome> run datenzwerg-{psu|battery|sensortest}.yaml to compile and flash the firmware for your gnome named <gnome>.
   • psu: firmware optimized for deployment with a power supply; includes uptime, CO2 sensor and MQTT
   • battery: firmware optimized for deployment with a battery; disables uptime, CO2 sensor and MQTT but enables deepsleep
   • sensortest: firmware for testing all sensors; enables a webserver to check tracking

Models

The gnome model files are based on https://www.printables.com/model/260908-garden-gnome by Sci3D, released under CC-BY.

In the models directory, you will find the following files:

• Gnome body
  • datenzwerg_40p_1.2mm.blend: Main design file, edit with Blender
  • datenzwerg_40p_1.2mm_top.stl: Upper body, electronics compartment
  • datenzwerg_40p_1.2mm_bottom.stl: Lower body, feet, mount point
  • datenzwerg_40p_1.2mm_bottom_poe.stl: Lower body, feet, mount point, PoE versionA
  • datenzwerg_logo.svg: Logo in SVG format
• Gnome mounting
  • ground-plate-bottom.FCStd: Ground plate design file, edit with FreeCAD
  • ground-plate-bottom.stl: Ground plate bottom part
• Gnome transport L-Boxx
  • l-boxx-136-inlay.FCStd: L-Boxx Inlay design file, edit with FreeCAD
  • label-l-boxx.svg: Label for the L-Boxx
• Various labels
  • label-2024.svg: Gnome label for 37c3

Documentation

The documentation is built with MkDocs which gets installed as dependency when running the above setup command. The documentation source files are located in the docs directory, the configuration in mkdocs.yml in the project root.

To run a live-reload server, run

mkdocs serve

To build the documentation, run

mkdocs build