You can skip to my portfolio here.

Hello, I am Fernando Valle, but I usually go under the ELMFER penname on the internet. I’m a guy who is invested into engineering through a path of perpetual learning. Because I learn a lot of new concepts and technologies, I became fixated on creating projects with my unique twists using interesting tools, or even breaking stuff in the interest of figuring out what can be done.

What I Do

My current primary focus is low level programming on embedded systems and graphics programming. Utilizing microcontrollers such as the ESP32 and Raspberry Pico alongside small Linux computers like the Raspberry Pi Zero had helped me to learn these lower level concepts, often integrating graphics programming as well.

The Teensy Stopwatch, running a graphical stopwatch application on an embedded platform.

In fact, my two largest projects incorporates these concepts. For instance, one of my latest big projects is CodeNode Microcontrollers, a Minecraft mod that adds a virtual MOS 6502 microcontroller that can be programmed in assembly, allowing players to control Redstone with an emulated embedded platform.

A micro controller block controlling a piston and a noteblock using the sin function.

Thanks to Minecraft modding, I had been introduced to graphics programming, and I find it useful for expressing my creativity in many of my other projects. I find it interesting because it is a niche intersection of art and programming because it requires configuring graphics pipelines and writing shaders to make a computer to draw something unique and dynamic.

For example, my engine simulator project, Engine Music, uses OpenGL to draw an articulating engine by creating parametric meshes for each part, rendering them in their proper positions, and applying a clever blending technique to show motion blur for showing emphasis on the engine’s speed.

Engine Music simulating a VTwin engine at 15kHz.

Portfolio

There are various projects that I have worked on that had broaden my scope of programming. Let me introduce them to you.

CodeNode Microcontrollers – Java/C++ Game Modding - Hardware Emulation

An interactive learning platform in Minecraft for embedded systems and bare- metal assembly development on microcontrollers, utilizing a simulated 6502 processor with I/O peripherals, such as UART and interrupts. The platform positively impacted hundreds of learners through comprehensive documentation of the microcontroller’s architecture, registers, peripherals, and address space.

More information found in its official Modrinth project page.

Engine Music – Realtime Engine Simulator

A comprehensive internal combustion engine simulator written in C++, leveraging real-time engine parameters, fluid dynamics principles, Newtonian physics, OpenGL for visual feedback, and signal processing for audio.

Parkour Recorder – Java Minecraft Mod

A quality-of-life mod for add recording and playback features in Minecraft using Fabric mod loader, OpenGL for dynamic 3D/UI rendering, and animation techniques such as interpolations and easing.

More information found in its official CurseForge project page.

Teensy Stop Watch – Embedded App Development

Firmware-based stop-watch application for the Teensy 4.0 microcontroller attached to a TFT display. Utilized C++ for software graphics font/shape rendering, Python for font atlas generation, and EasyEDA for PCB design.

More information found in the project’s article.

Workbench Lighting System – Embedded DC-DC Control

A robust dual-channel workbench lighting system for optimal LED brightness control. Used low-level C++ firmware to incorporate voltage sensing, PID controls, and UART for remote monitoring.

More information found in the project’s article.

Workout Placita – Fitness Tracker

In collaboration with my group at UT Austin coding-bootcamp, the fitness tracker app that allows a user to login and create their own personal workout profile. Within their profile, the user can select the type of workout they want to share and write a description about it. Front-end was created with React and ExpressJS for the backend server.

Camera Motion Rig

A camera gimbal that enables smooth camera movements for recording high quality videos. The system consists of a 2 axis CNC machine with two stepper motors and an Arduino. It is meant to be mounted onto a camera tripod, and it is controlled using a remote that contains a screen and a joystick.

More information found in the project’s article.

PSM – Pitch Shift Music Browser Extension

A small browser extension for Firefox that adds the ability to shift the pitch of any YouTube video using vanilla Javascript. It enables “relistening” to music by hearing in a different key than usual.

Neural Network Visualizer

A visualizer of a simple neural network that can be trained to mimic an OR gate. Created in C++ alongside ImGui for quick input controls, and OpenGL for rendering the network.

Minecraft World Saver

In collaboration with my little brother, Minecraft World Saver is a desktop app that serves to manage and automate backups of Minecraft worlds. It used RayLib for the app framework and Clay for computing the UI layout.

Hydroponics System Control Panel

A program designed to view and control the status of a hydroponic system (developed by the student organization S.A.R.E) via a computer. Able to send commands, visualize the gantry, and use a gamepad for manual control. Created with C++ and OpenGL alongside a custom framework for drawing UI.

The project’s repository can be found on GitHub.