# 38: Blame the Monkey

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-02-12
- Length: 1h 01m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep38mp3

## Summary

Elecia White and producer Chris White discuss strategies for debugging 'insurmountable' problems in embedded systems, ranging from race conditions and stack overflows to non-reproducible hardware issues. They advocate for methodical approaches such as drawing system diagrams, writing detailed emails to clarify thoughts, and using the scientific method to isolate variables. The conversation also covers the importance of logging, reverting to known good code, and knowing when to walk away or accept a bug as a feature.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=7) Defining 'Stuck' and Complex System Problems
- [6:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=369) The Power of Google and Stack Exchange
- [12:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=773) Communication and Managing Stakeholders
- [17:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=1063) Drawing Diagrams and Verifying Assumptions
- [23:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=1419) Reproducibility, Logging, and Printfs
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=1692) Unit Testing Limits and Visibility Issues
- [36:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=2217) Scientific Method and Problem Definition
- [44:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey#t=2646) Accepting Bugs and Walking Away

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Stack Exchange (other)
- DMA (other)
- FFT (other)
- Netflix Chaos Monkey (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Debugging Methodologies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-05-17-debugging-methodologies) (Oxide and Friends)
- [A Debugging Odyssey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-12-19-a-debugging-odyssey) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Rubber Ducking](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking) (The Amp Hour)
- [Modern Embedded Systems Programming with Miro Samek](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2022-01-18-modern-embedded-systems-programming-with-miro-samek) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [Pedantic or Andrantic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-03-pedantic-or-andrantic) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-02-12-38-blame-the-monkey. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.