# 56: Rodents of Unusual Size

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2014-06-18
- Length: 1h 13m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep56mp3

## Summary

Matt Haines and Tom Byrne from Electric Imp discuss their platform for building connected hardware, explaining how the Squirrel programming language and server-side agents simplify IoT development for web developers and makers. They detail specific projects like a Neopixel weather display, a Mars Curiosity rover mirror, and a Twitch-controlled HexBot, while highlighting the extensive open-source code and web service integrations available in their GitHub repository. The conversation also covers the 'BlinkUp' provisioning method, the choice of Squirrel over Java or Lua, and the benefits of using backend services like Firebase for data aggregation.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=6) Introduction to Electric Imp and Squirrel
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=414) Neopixel Weather Project and Agent Architecture
- [13:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=813) GitHub Repository and Web Services
- [18:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=1083) Keen IO, Prowl, and Firebase Use Cases
- [25:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=1516) Why Squirrel? Language Choice and BlinkUp
- [37:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=2233) Community Projects: Twitch Plays Pokemon and Mars Rover
- [41:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=2490) MQTT, Multi-Device Architecture, and IDE API
- [1:01:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-06-18-56-rodents-of-unusual-size#t=3700) Hackaday Prize and Contest Winners

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Electric Imp (company)
- Squirrel (other)
- Neopixel (product)
- Adafruit (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Keen IO (other)
- Firebase (other)
- Prowl (other)
- Twilio (other)
- Lockitron (product)
- MakeDeck (company)
- Arduino (product)
- Hackaday Prize (other)
- Pinoco (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview With Brandon Harris - Impish Internet Iamatology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-06-11-an-interview-with-brandon-harris-impish-internet-iamatology) (The Amp Hour)
- [Pi Powered Jägermachine, Anti-tracking hardware, Trojans inside AVR bootloaders, and more!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2022-10-03-pi-powered-jagermachine-anti-tracking-hardware-trojans-inside-avr-bootloaders-an) (The Electromaker Show)
- [The Magic of Calipers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-02-27-the-magic-of-calipers) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview With Luke Beno of Analog.io](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-10-23-an-interview-with-luke-beno-of-analog-io) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 150: Blackberry Runs Out of Juice, NODE has your pinouts, Rats learn DOOM, and 2021 is Done](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-01-07-ep-150-blackberry-runs-out-of-juice-node-has-your-pinouts-rats-learn-doom-and-20) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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