Geek Funk Labs

"Geeking out" is diving deep into a topic you love. Learning all the tricks, watching every season, soaking up the history. Funk is deep, on-the-one. It tugs at the medulla because it feels right. The combo works as a mashup, but it's not just each for the sake of itself. These projects are here because I'm interested in the subjects, and I like making good music, but understanding why something feels right and how to make it work better can lead to more than just tinkering or jamming around. When the code hums, the music grooves, interfaces start to disappear, and everything just works, it's not just Geek and Funk - it's Geek Funk.

Purpose

Everything published by Geek Funk Labs is developed with an open-source philosophy. The source code, hardware designs, and documentation are intended to be resources to learn from — not just products to consume, because we believe that creators work best when they are free to understand and modify every aspect of their tools. I sell kits and assembled hardware because not everyone wants to source components, solder boards, or troubleshoot manufacturing problems before they can start creating. Purchasing a kit also helps support future development, but it is never the only way to participate.

The focus of this site is the why of these projects. Geek Funk Labs is deeply embedded in the web, as we all increasingly are. Documentation and source code live on GitHub, products for sale on Tindie and Lectronz, video demos on YouTube, discussions/announcements on social sites, apps, and forums. Wide distribution and separation of concerns can be positive things. This is a place for me to try to collect and share my thoughts about why certain choices were made in projects, what future developments might be, and what's the best way for technology to work, and hopefully encourage discussion. Your input is welcome!

Connect

There are lots of ways to connect with Geek Funk Labs—whether you need help, have an idea to share, or want to contribute. The Report Issue and Discuss links on each project page are the best places for project-specific questions, bug reports, and ideas, where others can join the conversation as well. For more general feedback, use the organization GitHub Discussions page or send an email. If you'd like to support Geek Funk Labs, buying a kit or making a small donation is always appreciated, but just as valuable are your ideas, bug reports, documentation, code, and participation in the community.

About Me

I'm Bill Peterson (also known as white2rnado). Professionally, I teach physics and astronomy , while conducting research on binary stars. Outside the classroom I spend an unreasonable amount of time writing software, designing electronics, building synthesizers, and writing/performing music. Many of the projects on this site exist because they turned out to be useful in one of those pursuits. Geek Funk Labs is where those interests overlap. Rather than treating science, engineering, and art as separate disciplines, I enjoy finding places where they inform one another. A synthesizer can be an engineering project, a programming exercise, and a musical instrument all at once. I hope what you find here inspires you to make something of your own.