Fab Academy 2026 – Week 01
Project Management & Principles and Practices
Week 01 Reflection
I am very excited to start my Fab Academy journey. In the first global meeting, I greeted more than 200 members and saw some familiar faces such as Saheen, Rico, and Camila, which gave me a lot of energy.
The Fab Academy network really feels like a family: warm, open, and full of kindness.
In Week 1, our main tasks were to learn how to use Git and Gitlab, build the basic structure of our personal website, and start thinking about the convept sketch of our final project.
1. Final Project Concept Sketch
What does it do?
This project starts from the object: “Fu” (福) sticker we hang on the door every Chinese New Year. Instead of using paper that fades over time, I want to make a small electronic “Fu” decoration that can stay with the family all year round.
On the wall, it looks like a glowing “Fu” character, always bright and festive. Below it hangs a simple pull-ring, similar to the one on an old bedside lamp.
With a gentle pull, the display changes:
- First pull: shows the current time
- Second pull: shows today’s weather, so you know how to dress before going out
It keeps the feeling of “good fortune arrives” (福到了), while adding everyday usefulness.
Who is it for?
This project is designed for a real home, not just a technical demo.
It is for:
- Family members who enjoy traditional decorations
- Parents who want a quick glance at the weather before leaving
- Elders who prefer simple physical interaction instead of mobile apps
- Guests who notice it on the wall and smile when they see it glow
How does it work?
Inside the device, there is a custom PCB that controls the system.
By default, the LED display shows a red or golden “Fu” character. When the pull-ring is activated, the system switches display modes:
- One pull shows a digital clock
- Another pull shows weather icons and temperature information via WiFi
My Inspiration
Chinese New Year 2026 is coming soon, and I want to decorate my home. Last year, I hand-wrote a large “Fu” character with ink on special paper. I really loved it, but one year later, the color had faded.
This made me think: can I make a “Fu” that doesn’t fade? And not only decorative, but also useful in daily life?
Although there are many LED signs and weather gadgets in the maker world, I have not seen one that combines:
- A traditional “Fu” symbol
- A simple pull-string interaction
- A long-lasting display
- A warm, home-like feeling
This project turns a once-a-year decoration into something that stays with the family, and it helps me practice Fab Academy skills in a very personal way.
2. Learning Git and GitLab
What is Git?
This was my first time working with Git and GitLab. Before starting, I searched for background information using Perplexity.
Git is a tool that helps people track changes to files (usually code). It allows users to safely edit files, return to earlier versions, and collaborate without overwriting each other’s work.
I understand Git as a combination of “track changes” and a “time machine” for a project folder.
What is SSH?
SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure way to connect my computer to a remote server. It uses encryption and key-based authentication to make sure only authorized users can access and modify files on GitLab.
I followed the tutorial shared by Fab Academy alumni Camila: https://fabacademy.org/2019/docs/FabAcademy-Tutorials/week01_principles_practices_project_management/git_simple.html
Install Git
After installing Git, I verified the installation using:
Setting my name and email
To configure Git, I set my user name and email using the following commands: git config --global user.name "Alison Yang" git config --global user.email alison.yang@seeed.cc
After that, I used the command below to confirm that the information was saved correctly: cat ~/.gitconfig
Setting up the SSH key The SSH key works like a personal key that proves I have permission to modify data on GitLab.
I created an SSH key using the ssh-keygen command and selected id_ed25519 as the key type. After generating the key, I copied the public key and pasted it into GitLab under Settings → SSH Keys. I adjusted the title and left the expiration date blank.
After setting up the SSH key, I cloned my repository, added a test file, committed it, and pushed it to GitLab to make sure everything worked correctly.
One important thing I learned is that it is better not to use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V for terminal commands when possible. Typing commands manually or using the mouse helps avoid hidden formatting errors.
3. Building My Website with MkDocs
After finishing the Git and GitLab setup, I started building my personal website.
I chose MkDocs because it is a simple and clean static site generator designed specifically for project documentation, which fits Fab Academy very well.
Installing Python
Before using MkDocs, Python is required.
Python is a programming language used to tell computers what to do. In this case, Python helps run MkDocs and handle the behind-the-scenes part of the website. The visual layout that users see in the browser is still based on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
I installed Python and checked the installation using the command line.
Building the website
After installing Python and MkDocs, I created my website, previewed it locally in the browser, and edited the content files. Once I updated the information on my website, the basic structure of the site was completed.
4. Using Tools for Better Management: VS Code and Squoosh
To manage my files more efficiently, I used Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and Squoosh.
VS Code is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft. It supports multiple platforms and provides features such as syntax highlighting, smart code completion, and integrated Git tools. It is especially convenient for editing Markdown files and managing folders like docs and images.
After downloading VS Code, I opened my local project folders directly from my Windows computer. This made editing and managing .md files much easier compared to using basic text editors.
Image compression with Squoosh
I used Squoosh to compress images before uploading them to my website.
After compression, image sizes were reduced significantly, for example from 454 KB to 90 KB, and converted from PNG to JPEG format. This helped me understand that compressing images can greatly reduce disk space usage and bandwidth for uploads and downloads.
All images were successfully compressed and optimized.
Another useful feature I noticed is that VS Code automatically refreshes and updates file sizes and previews in the Explorer panel after reopening the folder, which makes file management more convenient.
