# 146: The Loyal Opposition

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-04-07
- Length: 1h 25m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep146mp3

## Summary

Philip Freidin, founder of Fliptronics, discusses his open-source hardware platform OSHChip, a 16-pin DIP package containing a Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822 SoC designed to make Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) development accessible to hobbyists. He explains the engineering challenges of creating breadboard-compatible pins and details the companion CMSIS-DAP debugger, which allows drag-and-drop programming and debugging via Keil, mbed, and GCC toolchains. Freidin also shares his transition from 20 years of high-stakes consulting to selling products on Tindie, highlighting how Hackaday's promotion drove initial sales and how professional developers now use the platform for rapid prototyping.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=6) Introduction: Planet Labs Sponsor Read
- [2:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=153) Introduction: Philip Freidin and Fliptronics
- [3:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=201) Lightning Round: History and Preferences
- [12:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=775) OSHChip Hardware Design and Pin Engineering
- [22:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=1323) Programming, Debugging, and SoftDevice
- [31:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=1864) Marketing, Hackaday, and Tindie Sales
- [43:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=2601) Consulting Lessons and Client Management
- [56:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=3385) CMSIS-DAP Debugger and Open Source Tools
- [1:07:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition#t=4063) Future Vision: Hobbyist Chip Design Community

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- OSHChip (product)
- Fliptronics (company)
- Nordic Semiconductor (company)
- nRF51822 (chip)
- Keil (tool)
- mbed (tool)
- Hackaday (company)
- Tindie (other)
- CMSIS-DAP (tool)
- J-Link (tool)
- Seeed Studio (company)

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- [A Meeting Of The Davids](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-08-06-a-meeting-of-the-davids) (The Amp Hour)
- [Firmware, Netburner and Semiconductors - Chris's Capitalism Colloquy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-07-03-firmware-netburner-and-semiconductors-chriss-capitalism-colloquy) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ryan Cousins](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-11-11-an-interview-with-ryan-cousins) (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/2016-04-07-146-the-loyal-opposition. 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.