# 129: Atoms Not Bits

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-12-09
- Length: 1h 30m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep129mp3

## Summary

Matt Berggren, Senior Director of Product at Supply Frame and former Director of Product at Altium, discusses his vision for transforming electronics design through high-level abstraction and modular components. He details his Spartan 6 FPGA shield project, which allows Arduino-based cloud configuration of hardware, and explains the Wishbone bus standard as an open-source alternative to ARM's AHB/APB. Berggren also shares insights from his experience running grassroots electronics workshops, emphasizing the importance of substantive content over marketing to build trust in the maker community.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [6:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=363) Altium's History and Delphi Risks
- [16:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=984) Vision for Generative Circuits and Abstraction
- [40:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=2426) Spartan 6 FPGA Shield and Wishbone Bus
- [52:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=3148) Teaching Electronics and Workshop Challenges
- [1:01:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits#t=3683) Marketing, Hackaday, and Community Trust

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- SupplyFrame (company)
- Hackaday (company)
- Altium (company)
- Spartan 6 FPGA (chip)
- Wishbone (other)
- Arduino (product)
- Digico (company)
- NRF8001 (chip)
- ATmega328P (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Luke Valenty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-04-an-interview-with-luke-valenty) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Dave Vandenbout - Xceptional XESS Xenagogue](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-01-22-an-interview-with-dave-vandenbout-xceptional-xess-xenagogue) (The Amp Hour)
- [044 - Scots Army Knife](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-01-03-044-scots-army-knife) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [More Freeagle, More Benches and More Engineers on Twitter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-12-15-more-freeagle-more-benches-and-more-engineers-on-twitter) (The Amp Hour)
- [Pulled From A Working Environment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-07-01-pulled-from-a-working-environment) (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/2015-12-09-129-atoms-not-bits. 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.