# 123: Banished from Running Linux

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-10-28
- Length: 1h 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep123mp3

## Summary

Bob Coggeshall, co-author of sudo and founder of Small Batch Assembly, explains how he transitioned from a career in software to running a boutique electronics assembly service for makers. He details the technical challenges of automating low-volume PCB assembly, including building a custom pricing engine in Python and integrating with the Octopart Common Parts Library to streamline customer workflows. Coggeshall also discusses his personal projects, such as driving Nixie tubes with high-voltage circuits and using microcontrollers like the ATmega328 and Atmel SAM D20.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=6) Introduction and History of sudo
- [17:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=1047) Founding Small Batch Assembly and Buying the Machine
- [25:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=1518) Automating the Business with Python and PHP
- [44:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=2670) Pricing Models and the Common Parts Library
- [57:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=3449) Nixie Tube Driver Boards and High Voltage Design
- [1:05:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux#t=3945) Microcontroller Selection and Teaching Classes

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Small Batch Assembly (company)
- Mancorp MC400 (tool)
- Octopart (company)
- Common Parts Library (other)
- OSHPark (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Nixie tubes (product)
- ATmega328 (chip)
- Atmel SAM D20 (chip)
- KiCad (tool)
- Eagle (tool)
- Boldport (company)
- Astromech.net (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Jonathan Hirschman of PCB:NG](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-05-20-an-interview-with-jonathan-hirschman-of-pcb-ng) (The Amp Hour)
- [069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-04-17-069-canned-cheese-and-onion-rings) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Bob Widlar, Electronic Design, FIRST Robotics - Monday, Meta Monday](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-03-08-bob-widlar-electronic-design-first-robotics-monday-meta-monday) (The Amp Hour)
- [Secret Squirrel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel) (The Amp Hour)
- [Once Every Couple Months](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-07-23-once-every-couple-months) (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/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux. 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.