# torvalds/GuitarPedal

Linus learns analog circuits

Repository: https://github.com/torvalds/GuitarPedal
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/guitarpedal
Language: C
License: GPL-2.0
License Family: copyleft
Last push: 2026-08-18T17:07:36+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 61/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 98, release rhythm 35, longevity 25
- inputs: {"age_days": 351, "days_push": 15, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2263, forks 107 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:32.050904+00:00)

## What it is
A digital guitar pedal project by Linus Torvalds built around an RP2354A microcontroller and a TI audio codec, with seventeen software-defined effects running on a dedicated core. The repo contains KiCad hardware files, DSP and effect code, embedded firmware, a browser-based WebMIDI editor, and a validation test suite.

## Use cases
- build a DIY digital guitar effects pedal
- run audio effects like biquad filters and LFOs on a microcontroller
- edit pedal effects from a browser over USB MIDI
- learn analog and embedded audio circuit design
- test DSP effect code on a host machine before flashing firmware
- customize guitar pedal firmware for RP2040/RP2350 hardware

## When to choose
- you want to build or modify an open-source digital guitar pedal
- you need a reference design combining pico-sdk, tinyusb, and real-time audio DSP
- you want host-testable effect code shared between firmware and a web editor

## When to avoid
- you need a polished consumer product with a friendly on-device UI
- you want a general-purpose audio plugin or DAW effect rather than standalone hardware
- you need extensive documentation - the docs are sparse
- you only build on non-Linux platforms without willingness to sort out toolchain requirements yourself

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: active
- function: audio-processing, embedded, sdk, testing, developer-tools
- domain: embedded-systems, hardware, audio, cross-platform
- platform: embedded, windows, python, browser
- tags: guitar-pedal, dsp, firmware, rp2354a, usb-midi, kicad, pico-sdk, audio-effects, webmidi, diy-hardware, audio, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- torvalds/GuitarPedal (main) score 61

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:32.050904+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:42:30.291876+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/torvalds/GuitarPedal (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:32.050904+00:00, sha 71596bf58265)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.