sub_counter is a project which utilizes a Raspberry Pi and an LED matrix to display a subscriber number from a social media site profile.
The python file can be set up to fetch subscriber information from an API at a given interval (every second, every hour, every day) and then display it to the matrix.
This project uses the luma library to create the virtual image for the LED matrix and then draw that image to the LED matrix.
The idea for this project hit me when I was in Belgium a few years ago in a bar in Brussels and noticed that the bar had a subscriber counter for their Instagram account. It was hanging on the wall and analog-based, like an old clock radio where the numbers switch via small plastic flappers. You could pull out your phone and follow/unfollow the bar and watch the count change in real-time. Curious about this, I looked up these devices online to find that they cost several 1000s of dollars!
I thought it would be fun to make a simple, cost effective one. With all of the parts included, depending on what Raspberry Pi unit you have, this would cost at most $50, although you might want to spend additional money on some sort of case. Also, depending on how big of a display you want, and how many subscribers you want to display, you may need to cascade several of the display units together.
I used the HiLetGo MAX7219 Dot Matrix Module for this project. They are $8.50 USD on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=8x8+LED+Matrix
I am using the Raspberry Pi 4 4GB for prototyping but any unit with GPIO pins for the LED matrix and Internet connectivity will work.
Special thanks to Wayne at devscover.com for inspiring this project.