🛠️Introduction
For me one of worst things I can do is buy something. It needs a lot of time to choose and filter bad products, low quality or hoax items, bad prices etc. and end product is still not exactly what’s needed, just what sells best). Hence I wrote the other page about buying reasonably.
Clearly some inventions aren’t possible to do yourself. Or not completely, i.e. they still require parts to buy or materials and tools. But at least you can choose which parts yourself with DIY.
Surely it’d be difficult nowadays for a self made car, plane, etc. due to many regulations and long list of requirements to allow use in public. It’s likely easier for police to deal with standard made cars, not with millions of user made variations.
Doing everything yourself would need a lot of time too. Even a lifetime. Although it is possible by free people living in jungles, people living by themself (centuries ago), possibly sustainable farmers, and other very rare cases nowadays.
The do it yourself approach (DIY) for me was always important. Mainly for software (programs etc), hardware (keyboards, electronics), etc. But it can go far, even into building a house.
🤔Reasons
There are several reasons why DIY or product modifications are IMHO very needed and the best approach:
- Firstly, there is no such thing as a product that has all features / properties that I need, with proper control and interface (knobs, convenient buttons, menu, etc). This can only be achieved by modifying or developing it myself, according to my current needs.
I now see all electronics products just as ingredients for further modification. Ideally I would create one from start, but can be too much time and effort spent. - Secondly, I am an anti-consumer, I usually hate buying. It needs a lot of time for research, to find a product that is closest to: not a hoax/hype, reliable, functional, fair-priced, still cheap, durable (will work for long), allows repairs, looks okay, black, etc. (all at once; add needed, strike out not needed😄). On top of that I don’t like spending money (I like saving it) to support companies, which constantly produce (soon-to-be) garbage on purpose.
- Reusable. Many parts in few of my projects, lasted for more than one project. They were reused. E.g. when I start a project I can reuse parts from other past projects, like MCU board, display, switches, even universal PCB or wires. I’m sure for people DIY making stuff e.g. from wood, for house, boat, van, etc. this can also be true, some materials last for long.
It is a way more reasonable approach than mass producing soon to be garbage products (like fast fashion cloths, smartphones, etc.). - Lastly, it is a fun and easy hobby that grants better, more customized products for daily use. Many times now, allowing me to have features or functionalities that aren’t available at all. And I’m not adding yet here, because most likely they may never be available. Simplicity and low cost are driving factors for mass producing (stupid items), not: feature fullness, repairability, open source, customizability, etc.
🪟My DIY examples
From my projects, here are lots of examples for DIY wins:
- 📻Kitchen HiFi.
First major in 2020, then 2023 and 2026.
This was a cassette player from 1997. I basically modified it ever since. Was likely the first product I did and I’m still going to. - ⌨️Keyboards, my firmware (latest 2020, previous 2018, oldest 2005, keys mod).
Honestly the number of features on screen with my keyboard is just way higher than any commercial product. It is also easier for me to use. - 🖱️Mouse 2026
- 💧PC water cooling 2026 and previous until 2022. Fan controller 2021.
Surely there isn’t too much we can do to build a PC. For me buying a console (or even a laptop or smartphone) is the worst.
OFC we can’t produce CPU, GPU or chips ourself, that’s one reason for chip factories and electronics industry.
But definitely putting a PC from parts was always for me the best approach.
And the way to cool a PC is something for DIY too. Instead of so many stupid overpriced PC mods (like RGB fans, fancy PC cases, too expensive WC solutions), etc.
OFC if you’re into PC with lights or such it’s also something that can be done DIY way (e.g. with a MCU and WS2812B LEDs). - 📖Double Commander fork 2019. A PC program that I use always daily. Didn’t have few things I needed and I had to do them. It could be hard to convince original developers to add something I only find useful, and there’s no need to.
Color center 2017, a tool program made just for managing my coloring list and helping me transition them easier from the worse Total Commander. - ▶️Original: cAmp audio player 2020 (older 2009), so old now, yet it’s still for me the (daily used) program that nobody else could do the way I did, I had to do it my way, quite early in life. Even one feature (of like 10) isn’t done elsewhere (like filtering, rating, bookmarks, or time display).
- 📁Build Console (useful tool I made at work) 2017, few people at work used it too. I’m sure large companies wouldn’t even allow spending work time by employees creating work tools. Employees convenience (or anything for them really) etc. is not their profit, just a waste.
- 🎛️SXIV 2002 my old music tracker program, was a free alternative to any commercial one. Was limited, but surely way more convenient to use and better looking, than any other made.
- even more in projects …
⌛Conclusions
DIY is IMHO the only solution, not anything commercial, at least for the things that can be done so.
For me surely DIY is great in software, electronics, and possibly other daily appliances or even house elements.
With DIY I got parts reused, I can fix, adjust or modify it later, etc. I set the budget (or price).
It gives freedom and low cost. It promotes learning, not addiction to buying (consumerism).
And most importantly for me: it makes it possible to have stuff that isn’t commercially available, and probably won’t. Crucial everyday useful things and software.
I recently found this channel (mainly DIY RC toys) very inspiring and enlightening.
There are plenty of DIY electronic projects now e.g. on hackaday.