Hello‑IoT Creative Desktop Ornament: An IoT Product Built with TencentOS tiny and IoT Explorer

The article introduces a prize‑winning entry from the Tencent Cloud IoT Application Innovation Competition. The project, named “Hello‑IoT Creative Desktop Ornament,” aims to personalize desktop environments by integrating a small IoT device with a WeChat Mini‑Program for remote control.

Why the product was created : The competition provided an opportunity to explore TencentOS tiny and the Tencent Cloud IoT Explorer platform, demonstrating the convenience and innovation of IoT while delivering a visually appealing and practical desktop accessory.

Why networking and a Mini‑Program are needed :

Cost reduction – using Wi‑Fi and a Mini‑Program eliminates the need for a costly touch‑screen.

Broader scenarios – the Mini‑Program enables future feature extensions.

Easier development – Mini‑Program UI development is simpler than embedded UI work.

Integration with Tencent Cloud – leveraging stable services and the broader Tencent ecosystem.

Technical principle demonstration :

1. Device‑side software hierarchy : The project uses the xFrame microcontroller framework to abstract hardware and adapt TencentOS tiny, allowing the same application code to run on different MCUs. A platform‑adaptation layer virtualizes peripherals (LCD, touch, keys, SPI Flash, file system, EEPROM) so development can be performed on Windows/Linux.

2. TencentOS tiny porting : The STM32F103VET6 board was ported by referencing an existing example, switching from HAL to the standard library, and adjusting the heap size from 0x6000 to 0x1000.

3. User‑interface development : The LemonGUI component framework was adopted to build the graphical interface, with a diagram of the GUI component hierarchy provided.

4. Integration with IoT Explorer : The device connects to the network via an ESP8266 module using AT commands, then registers with the IoT Explorer cloud platform. The author notes that using the cloud platform greatly simplifies networking and reduces development time.

5. WeChat Mini‑Program development : Leveraging prior Android UI experience, the Mini‑Program was quickly built. Existing cloud‑based smart‑lamp examples on GitHub were adapted to control the device.

Hardware platform : The prototype is built around an STM32F103VET6 MCU, equipped with an ESP8266 Wi‑Fi module, a JDY32 Bluetooth module, a W25Q128 Flash for fonts and assets, and an SD card for file storage. A custom PCB, LCD panel, and adjustable plastic stand complete the hardware.

Optimization directions :

Adopt lower‑cost hardware (e.g., a TKM32F499 MCU with 8 MB RAM and 240 MHz core).

Port TencentOS tiny to the new MCU by reusing existing source files.

Utilize the built‑in ESP8266 for Wi‑Fi connectivity to IoT Explorer.

Consider accessing the cloud platform via a native Android app instead of a Mini‑Program to avoid server‑side setup.

Conclusion : The combination of Tencent Cloud IoT Explorer and TencentOS tiny significantly accelerates development for consumer‑grade IoT products. The author, a novice to networking and cloud services, managed to set up the ESP8266 environment and achieve remote control within a day, highlighting the platform’s efficiency and ease of use.