Disposable Vape Powers Surprisingly Fast Web Server
BUCHAREST, Romania – September 16, 2025 – A Romanian engineer has repurposed discarded electronic cigarettes into a functional, and surprisingly speedy, web server. Bogdan Ionescu, known online as Bogdanthegeek, detailed the ”Vapeserver” project, demonstrating the hidden computing potential within commonly disposed-of devices.
Ionescu’s initial interest stemmed from collecting old vapes for their batteries. However, more advanced models caught his attention, revealing complex microcontrollers beyond simple circuitry. He discovered a py32f002b chip featuring an ARM Cortex-M0+ processor at 24 MHz, 24 KB of Flash memory, and 3 KB of RAM – specifications modest enough to host a small web server.
Early tests yielded slow loading times – around 20 seconds with a 1.5-second ping. Through code optimization and package implementation,Ionescu dramatically improved performance,reducing latency to approximately 160 milliseconds with a ping of just 20 ms,rivaling more powerful systems.
The server operates via a USB-C connection, utilizing the Slip protocol for IP packet transmission and a minimalist TCP/IP stack.Remarkably,a complete webpage fits within the chip’s 20 KB of Flash memory.
Currently, the Vapeserver website is experiencing high traffic, resulting in intermittent 503 errors. Despite the overload, the project highlights the untapped potential residing within everyday, seemingly insignificant electronics. As of 3:35 pm today, the article has garnered 3042 readings.
