# 45: Yanking on a Cat's Tail Is the Only Way to Learn

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-04-02
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep45mp3

## Summary

Dave Anders, who works for CircuitCo, the manufacturer of the BeagleBone Black and MinnowBoard, discusses the nuances of open source hardware, contrasting fully open designs with 'open source friendly' products like the Flyswatter 2. He explains how CircuitCo manages production scaling for the BeagleBone Black to meet OEM demand and details the transition of the MinnowBoard to a 100% open hardware model in partnership with Intel. Anders also covers the business models of open hardware, noting that while tools like the original Flyswatter were fully open, later iterations restrict fabrication files to prevent poor-quality clones while still allowing software development.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=6) Introduction: Dave Anders and CircuitCo
- [2:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=138) BeagleBone Black Production and Supply
- [4:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=288) Open Source Hardware vs. Proprietary Boards
- [9:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=580) Gradients of Openness and Sigrok
- [14:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=846) History of Tin Can Tools and Flyswatter
- [20:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=1241) Software Licensing: GPL, BSD, and Creative Commons
- [27:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=1672) Open Source Development Tools and EDA
- [36:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=2209) Monetizing Open Source Hardware
- [42:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn#t=2561) MinnowBoard MAX and Intel Partnership

## Topics

- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- CircuitCo (company)
- BeagleBone Black (product)
- MinnowBoard (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Digiki (other)
- Mauser (other)
- Broadcom (company)
- Sigrok (product)
- Tin Can Tools (company)
- Hammerboard (product)
- Flyswatter (product)
- Flyswatter 2 (product)
- Panda Board (product)
- Google Glass (product)
- Amazon Kindle Fire (product)
- GCC (tool)
- OpenOCD (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Eagle CAD (tool)
- Intel (company)
- MinnowBoard MAX (product)

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- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Hardware, Surveys and Giveaways - Radular Rental Ranting](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-03-13-hardware-surveys-and-giveaways-radular-rental-ranting) (The Amp Hour)
- [Open Hardware and The Creative Economy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-08-31-open-hardware-and-the-creative-economy) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep. 16 - Open Hardware with Thea Flowers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)

## Citing this page

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