Kerrick McGowanDread7us / Developer

Embedded systems · software integration

Software you can
put your hands on.

I’m Kerrick, an independent developer working where software meets hardware. I build device interfaces, connect useful services, and turn hands-on testing into better everyday tools.

Explore my work Read résumé ↗
C / C++PythonESP32LVGLPlatformIO

Project-led experience. Firmware, web applications and integration work, with public source where available, credited foundations and clear validation notes.

All public repositories ↗

Selected work

Useful software.
From devices to workflows.

Local speech, device interfaces, infrastructure monitoring, camera tools and AI-assisted support workflows.

01Local speech · embedded UI

Muse Storyteller

A storytelling companion with local Whisper Base recognition, Piper narration and a reader that highlights words as they play.

  • Integrated speech, playback controls and real device-setting commands across the Core2 and Module LLM.
  • Added a local conversation library and Recorder with retained raw transcripts, plus a separate AI-reviewed copy.
  • Documented source preparation, asset licensing, private configuration and hardware-validation limits.
Core2 v1.1 + Module LLMC / C++ · Python · ESP-IDF · LVGL
Hardware-tested integration · public source previewView source
02Touch-first e-paper

supportFORGE Field Terminal

A portable field-terminal project combining a grayscale touch interface, live infrastructure telemetry and hardware diagnostics.

  • Developed retained-state screens for systems, device status, weather, battery and radio workflows.
  • Built hardware-qualification and touch-calibration workflows, with explicit refresh and low-power policies.
  • Separated implemented telemetry and direct-radio functions from physical checks and future features.
LILYGO T5 E-Paper S3 ProC++17 · PlatformIO · ESP32-S3
Active development · hardware qualificationView source
03Infrastructure at a glance

supportFORGE Hardware Monitor

A button-driven, monochrome e-paper dashboard for infrastructure monitoring and device status.

  • Created dashboard, network and server-telemetry views for a small hardware display.
  • Integrated configurable primary/fallback telemetry endpoints and kept local secrets outside source control.
  • Focused on clipping, navigation and battery-friendly display refresh behavior.
M5Stack CoreInkC++ · Arduino · PlatformIO
Public firmware projectView source
04Firmware adaptation

M1 / T-1000 Remote Edition

A maintained firmware edition that brings classic M1 remote controls and accurate button legends to T-1000.

  • Adapted the interface and control labels to the target hardware.
  • Preserved upstream attribution and documented a tested update workflow.
  • Published the edition as a credited fork rather than presenting the upstream platform as original work.
MonstaTek M1 / T-1000C · embedded controls
Maintained community forkView source
05Camera platform · local AI

Camera Command Center

A local-first camera platform bringing live views, recording, searchable media and verified cloud offload into one interface.

  • Moved the central Library, storage workflows and Coral analysis to a dedicated CM5 coordinator while retaining independent camera nodes.
  • Built themed fullscreen controls, persistent zoom, timestamped object annotations and a unified DVR/cloud Library.
  • Added per-camera storage rules, verified Google Drive offload, motion zones and source-side pre-recording on the camera CM5.
Raspberry Pi 3 / 4 · CM5 · USB Coral TPUPython · JavaScript · FFmpeg · SQLite
Deployed personal installation · private sourceProject overview
06AI-assisted support · Web application

supportFORGE

An AI-assisted platform for creating and organizing support content, bringing article, transcription and video tools into connected workflows.

  • Developed AI-assisted article, transcription and video workflows that turn recordings and technical knowledge into reusable support content.
  • Improved access to saved content and processing feedback, backed by automated regression tests and browser acceptance checks.
  • Refined responsive interfaces, organization-scoped access and single-use account setup, supported by isolated testing and rollback-ready releases.
React · TypeScript · Node.js · REST APIsContent workflows · asynchronous processing · responsive UI
Active product developmentProduct website

How I approach the work

The details are
part of the product.

Good hardware software has to behave well when it is touched, disconnected, restarted and used again.

01 / Interaction

Make the next action clear.

Readable status, consistent controls and feedback that tells people what actually happened.

02 / Integration

Respect the whole system.

Work with device constraints, service ownership, local storage and existing upstream foundations.

03 / Verification

Show what is proven.

Distinguish successful builds from physical tests. Keep limitations and unfinished work visible.

Kerrick McGowan’s GitHub avatar

A longer-running curiosity

Android roots. Hardware focus.

My earlier work includes Android development and device customization under Dread 7us on XDA. In 2012, I published an HTC EVO 4G LTE utility for configuring supported clock/voltage options, building on credited community work. Today, my public projects focus on embedded interfaces and software integration.

XDA profile ↗Original Android project ↗

Let’s build something useful

Have a device, an interface,
or an integration in mind?

I’m interested in conversations about embedded software, device experiences and practical integration work.

Get in touch ↗LinkedIn ↗GitHub ↗