Hacker Vimpo Turns a Smart Lightbulb into a Minecraft Server
Hardware hacker Vimpo has pulled off a feat that sounds like science fiction — hosting a Minecraft server on a smart lightbulb. By modding a cheap RISC-V bulb controller, he proved that even the smallest devices can run complex software with enough creativity and precision engineering.
How a Lightbulb Became a Server
Vimpo used a budget smart lightbulb powered by the BL602 microcontroller — a 192 MHz single-core RISC-V chip with only 276 KB of RAM and 128 KB of ROM. By connecting to the device through a USB-to-serial adapter, he flashed a custom build of Ucraft — a lightweight Minecraft server implementation available on GitHub.The binary of Ucraft is tiny — just 46 KB without authentication and around 90 KB with an auth library. Despite these limitations, the server can host up to ten active players simultaneously. It’s a remarkable demonstration of micro-efficiency and open-source ingenuity.
RISC-V and the Future of Tiny Computing
The experiment showcases the potential of RISC-V architecture — a fully open hardware standard that continues to attract hackers and researchers worldwide. Running a networked sandbox game on a lightbulb not only pushes the limits of embedded systems but also proves how far community innovation can go without corporate hardware barriers.From Joke to Proof of Concept
What started as a joke — “Can you run Minecraft on a lightbulb?” — turned into a functional server capable of real-time play. Vimpo’s project has already inspired developers to experiment with other microcontrollers, IoT gadgets, and even kitchen appliances as mini-servers. In the right hands, a 3-watt lightbulb is no longer just a source of light — it’s a symbol of open hardware’s creative power.Editorial Team — CoinBotLab