I couldn't get on WiFi at the office at all. Corporate WiFi had a bunch of hoops to jump through that made ESP32 hard.

Once I got it working it felt really cool though. As a user I don't want to configure WiFi on the microcontroller at all. I would be really cool if I could walk up to a 'smart device' and set my phone next to it and do zero configuration.

Maybe you thought about my comment too much. You're right, I don't know you. That also means it is difficult to interpret intent and perspective, right? Not an easy task on the internet.

I don't think you should apologize for being defensive. I'm not upset and what you said does change how I interpret things. Hell, I now know you have way more experience than me in the domain! I'm still reserved on novelty but that doesn't mean you don't know something I don't.

Also, I want to be clear, not everything needs to be novel. There's tons of utility in things not being novel. I want to stress that because we both are in groups which overemphasize novelty (sometimes to a toxic level). Sometimes you should rebuild the wheel for the learning experience/fun. Hell, sometimes you should rebuild the wheel because it can be better, and one of the best ways to figure that out is just by rebuilding that wheel. Or maybe you just rebuild the wheel and show others how to do so (though I'd say there's novelty in that ;). My critique was not due to your work, but messaging. I think it is a fun project, but it came off as if pitching something like an Alexa but as if those devices didn't exist[0]. There's an entirely different take with "this is a fun thing I did (and here are some unique things)" vs "look at this novel thing".

I'll send an invite, but only on one condition: you also call me out on my BS lol. Friends aren't sycophants. Sycophants don't care outside themselves. Human relationships comes with conflict (are we even nerds if we don't argue about stupid nuances?). What matters is if at the end of the day friends can grab a beer together and be friends lol

[0] Back to the first paragraph. There's probably things I incorrectly assumed, especially due to the connection with OpenAI. I'm just getting a small glimpse of this, right? Sounds now like you weren't intending that message. It also sounds to me like that person was telling you something similar. "Over inflating" is "over selling" not "your work is meaningless." Pitch differently. If "for fun", just say that. Don't let anyone tell you there's something wrong with that. If there is something novel, then it's not coming across in your pitch. It's entirely possible you know something we don't. Though the reverse is true too lol.