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FastLED

FastLED — Arduino LED Library

FastLED is the go-to Arduino library for developers who want full programmatic control over addressable LEDs. It supports over 40 different LED chipsets.

Addressable LED strip controlled by FastLED
FeatureDetails
PlatformArduino, ESP32, ESP8266, Teensy, RP2040, many more
LicenseMIT
GitHubFastLED/FastLED

Why Use FastLED?

  • 40+ chipset support — WS2812B, APA102, SK6812, WS2815, TM1814, more
  • Advanced color math — HSV, color correction, temperature control, dithering
  • High performance — Optimized assembly for AVR, ARM, ESP32
  • Full control — Every pixel, every frame, nothing hidden
  • No network needed — Runs standalone

When to Choose FastLED Over WLED

Choose FastLED when…Choose WLED when…
You need to write custom codeYou want a ready-to-use solution
You need maximum performanceYou want web/mobile control
You’re building interactive projectsYou’re building a show/ambient system
You’re using non-standard chipsYou need 200+ built-in effects

Quick Example 

#include <FastLED.h>
#define LED_PIN 4
#define NUM_LEDS 60
CRGB leds[NUM_LEDS];

void setup() {
  FastLED.addLeds<WS2812B, LED_PIN, GRB>(leds, NUM_LEDS);
}

void loop() {
  fill_rainbow(leds, NUM_LEDS, 0, 7);
  FastLED.show();
  delay(20);
}