Hardware Podcasts

138: Quit Yer Whining

Embedded.fm · 10 Feb 2016 · 1h 19m

What this episode covers

Hosts Alicia and Christopher White discuss listener questions regarding BASIC, C++ automatic destructors, and microcontroller selection. They detail the criteria for choosing microcontrollers, such as cost, power, and peripherals, and compare ARM Cortex-M processors with 8-bit architectures like PIC and Atmel. The conversation also covers programming paradigms, including object-oriented, functional, and procedural styles, and addresses ethical dilemmas in engineering.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Airware, ARM, Atmel, Microchip
Chips
Cortex-M, PIC, Atmega

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Predictable Designs Podcast · 18m

    Microcontroller Showdown: Selecting the Best One for Your Project

    Host John Teel explains how to select the right microcontroller for electronic products, warning against mid-project changes and emphasizing the need for 'room to grow' in GPIO and performance. He categorizes microcontrollers into 8-bit, 16-bit, and 32-bit families, detailing specific architectures like the 8051, PIC, AVR, MSP430, STM32, and ESP32. Teel compares their costs, peripherals, and development ecosystems, noting that 32-bit chips like the STM32 and ESP32 have become cost-competitive with 8-bit options while offering superior features.

    Microcontrollers & dev platforms
    1 chapters

  • Predictable Designs Podcast · 18m

    Microcontroller or Microprocessor - Which Do You Need for Your Project?

    John Teel, host of the Predictable Designs Podcast, explains how to choose between a microcontroller (MCU) and a microprocessor (MPU) for electronic products. He argues that 90% of projects should start with an MCU, citing the STM32F469 as a high-performance example that bridges the gap for displays. Specific use cases like 1080p video, USB 3.0, and complex GUIs require an MPU, while battery life and simple control favor an MCU. Teel also contrasts development platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi to guide prototype-to-production decisions.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsPCB design & layout
    1 chapters

  • The Spark Gap · 31m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 16

    Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the newly announced Arm Cortex-M7 microcontroller, analyzing its performance metrics, instruction set architecture, and market positioning relative to the Cortex-M4 and application processors like the Raspberry Pi's ARM11. They compare STMicroelectronics' STM32F7 series, which implements the M7 core, against Microchip's PIC32MZ series, noting the latter's lower performance and significant silicon errata issues. The conversation highlights the blurring line between microcontrollers and microprocessors, with the M7 offering high performance suitable for complex IoT and embedded applications, though potentially at the cost of power efficiency compared to lower-end M0/M4 parts.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsDebugging & failure analysis
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 12m

    Distribution, Wozniak & Robots - Early Eight-bit Endgame

    Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the industry shift away from 8-bit microcontrollers, citing Freescale's announcement of its new ARM-based Kinetis L series and the end of development for legacy 8-bit parts. They analyze the business strategy behind this move, contrasting it with Microchip's decision to stick with proprietary MIPS cores to avoid commoditization, and debate the future role of component distributors like DigiKey and Avnet in an era of direct-to-consumer sales and online information. The conversation also covers the challenges of engineering management, including flawed design reviews and the 'MBA playbook' mentality, before highlighting a Wi-Fi deploying robot project and a teardown-based electronics course.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsSourcing & supply chain
    6 chapters

  • The Spark Gap · 36m

    The Spark Gap - Episode 1

    Hosts Karl and Corey discuss the role of microcontrollers in embedded electronics, starting with a clarification that Arduino is a software ecosystem and community rather than a microcontroller itself. They analyze the trade-offs of abstraction in Arduino, citing a specific failure where the library's slow ADC sampling rate made it unsuitable for audio processing. The conversation then compares various manufacturers, highlighting Microchip's longevity and documentation, NXP's I2C ecosystem, and the challenges of using Freescale parts due to fragmented documentation and lack of community support.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsEmbedded firmware
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.