> Could you elaborate a bit more on “formalize mechanical devices”?

It made me remember yesterday's post about SparkFun's new Al La Carte thing ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24920043 ) - and now I want a service that lets me design a machine in this using it's "standard parts", and then order a physical version of it :-)

I wonder if some combination of lego/mechano style components, 3D printing, and magnetic electrical connections for batteries/switches/leds/motors could work? (Somewhat like this: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/178314466469771331/ which I had as a kid way back...)