Review Japanese vocab using LED Matrix Modules. Try it now!

Creators & Developers
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Are you studying Japanese? Do you have too few distractions in your life? If so, I have the tool for you!

LED Matrix Vocab Randomizer

The app is live here: https://jpadgett314.github.io/led-matrix-vocab/

demo

The concept is simple! Each minute (by default), a new word appears. Leave the app running in the background while you work. If an unfamiliar word appears, return to the app for more info.

Offline use is supported! An install button will appear in/by the address bar, allowing you to save the app to your desktop and use it offline.

Inspired by https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/dotmatrixtool. Like dotmatrixtool, this app expects default firmware (or an identical serial interface).

Contributing

Github link

All code or suggestion contributions, big or small, are welcome. I’d love to work with you!

Goals

A few improvements are already on my todo list.

  • I’ll need to change the default word lists to be more useful (nobody wants to study the entirety of JLPT at once :sweat_smile:).
  • :white_check_mark: Custom lists are a must. Done!
  • UI improvements are desired, though I likely won’t, due to lack of skill in that area.
  • :white_check_mark: Move multi-firmware graphics to a separate repo. New repo created!
  • The animation framerate falls to 1hz when out of focus. Fix this, potentially by using a web worker.

I’m looking forward to hearing what you think :slight_smile:

9 Likes
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This is very cool! Nice job!

2 Likes
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Wow!! Very cool idea!

2 Likes
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Thanks for the twitter shoutout :person_bowing:

Announcing minor update:

0.2.0 - 2025-11-21

Added

  • Support for LED Matrix Modules with the following firmware: sigroot/FW_LED_Matrix_Firmware. This firmware performs favorably on grayscale mode (though the default firmware also works perfectly fine on grayscale mode). Firmware type detected automatically.

The above change was a brief tangent from the main functionality, which I will now return to.

Check out @Sigroot 's LED Matrix tools:

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Another minor update!

0.3.0 - 2025-11-24

Added

  • New “Custom Word Lists” panel with controls for creating, editing and deleting custom collections of words.

The multi-firmware support functionality is being split into a new repo.