## What it does
Freedom Clock is a small e-ink desk device that wakes once a day, runs a FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) calculation locally, and displays one number: how many years your current savings could carry your lifestyle without earning. Then it goes back to sleep. The display is e-ink, so it's readable from across a room, uses almost no power, and doesn't glow at night. Battery lasts weeks between charges.
## Why I built it
I wanted a calm, glanceable answer to one question: have I bought enough time back yet? Most finance apps pull you into dashboards. This sits on the desk like a book and updates once a day.
Full story here:
https://miroremias.com/projects/from-bitcoin-block-clock-to-freedom-clock/
## Software setup
1. Install the Arduino IDE
2. Install 5 libraries via Library Manager:
- heltec-eink-modules (Todd Herbert)
- Heltec ESP32 Dev-Boards
- PubSubClient (Nick O'Leary)
- ArduinoJson (Benoit Blanchon)
- Adafruit GFX Library
3. Clone the repo and open `Freedom_Clock_HeltecVME.ino`
4. Select board: Heltec Vision Master E290
5. Click Upload — press RST when the progress bar starts
6. On first boot, the device creates a Wi-Fi setup network. Join it, open the setup page in a browser, enter your Wi-Fi credentials and financial settings, save.
7. Device connects and shows your freedom time on first refresh.
Full build guide: https://freedomclock.io/build/
## Browser calculator
If you want the number without building the hardware, there's a free in-browser calculator at https://freedomclock.io — no account, no server, nothing leaves your tab.
## Links
- GitHub (firmware + STL files): https://github.com/mr21free/freedom_clock_heltec_vme
- Site + calculator: https://freedomclock.io
- License: MIT
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