Build a Bluetooth desk button that lights up when Claude needs permission, lets you approve the action physically, and celebrates successful runs. Claude Code handles the device protocol and firmware, even if hardware is new to you.
Source episode · 47:51
How I AI: Felix Rieseberg's Claude Workflows for 3D House Design and a $20 Hardware Buddywith Claire Vo
Felix shows a small Wi-Fi and Bluetooth device with a screen, then connects it to Claude Desktop as a physical permission button.
A Bluetooth hardware buddy paired with Claude Desktop that displays permission requests and sends approval when you press its button.
Anthropic AI assistant
Anthropic AI assistant
Step by step
Follow the sequence once, then adapt the prompts, checks, and handoffs to your own setup.
5 steps
Choose a small programmable device with Bluetooth, a screen, and a physical button. Felix used an inexpensive self-contained device that also had Wi-Fi. Save the product page and board documentation so Claude Code can identify the chip, display, button pins, and flashing process.
Connect the device by USB and open Claude Code in an empty project folder. Give it the board documentation and describe the full interaction: show a small Claude character, celebrate successful work, display permission requests, and send approval when the physical button is pressed. Ask Claude to create the firmware, build instructions, and flashing command.
I want Claude to live on this device. Use the attached board documentation to identify the display, button, and Bluetooth interface. Build firmware that shows a small Claude character, celebrates when a task succeeds, and displays Claude Desktop permission requests. When I press the physical button, send approval back over Bluetooth. Include the exact build and flashing commands for this board.
Open Claude Desktop and go to Help, then Troubleshooting. Enable Developer Mode and let the app restart. The Developer menu should appear in the system menu bar after the restart.
Open Developer, choose Open Hardware Buddy, and put the device into pairing mode. Select the device when it appears, confirm the passcode if prompted, and wait for Claude Desktop to report that the connection is active.
Run a harmless task that requires permission, such as asking Claude to create a test file in a temporary folder. Confirm that the device lights up or makes a sound, shows the request, and lets the task continue only after you press the button.
Turn an idea into a PRD, user stories, and a plan.
After the steps
How to recover when the loop fails and where human judgment helps.
Recover
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