# 181: Work on It for Ten Years

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2016-12-30
- Length: 1h 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/181-work-on-it-for-10-years

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics joins the hosts of Embedded.fm and The Amp Hour for a crossover holiday episode discussing expertise, prototyping tools, and industry trends. The conversation covers the limitations of MicroPython on custom hardware, the value of analog circuit design, and the importance of writing to clarify technical thinking. They also share personal updates on learning calculus, using VR for exercise, and the future of solar energy and automation.

## Chapters

- [0:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=10) Introduction and Event Announcement
- [5:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=300) Expertise and Learning from 'Peak'
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=712) Prototyping Tools: Analog Discovery vs. Saleae
- [19:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=1187) Education: Programming Languages and Electronics
- [33:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=2017) Analog Circuits and PWM Design
- [42:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=2557) Writing and Technical Communication
- [1:01:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=3687) MicroPython and Hardware Modules
- [1:07:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=4022) 3D Printing, VR, and Solar Energy
- [1:20:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years#t=4858) Automation, Career, and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Contextual Electronics (company)
- The Amp Hour (company)
- Embedded.fm (company)
- Analog Discovery (tool)
- Saleae (tool)
- Arduino (product)
- Micro Python (product)
- nRF52 (chip)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- BeagleBone (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Flybrix (product)
- Fusion 360 (tool)
- Tesla (company)
- Solar City (company)
- LDC1000 (chip)
- Hemmingway App (tool)
- Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise (product)
- The Way Things Work Now (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Work on it for 10 years...](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-12-30-work-on-it-for-10-years) (The Amp Hour)
- [Pedantic or Andrantic](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-03-pedantic-or-andrantic) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 256: 0, 256, 400, 100, and 10000000](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-02-09-ep-256-0-256-400-100-and-10000000) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [The Art Of Staying Interested In Electronics - Exponible Electronics Ennui](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-04-09-the-art-of-staying-interested-in-electronics-exponible-electronics-ennui) (The Amp Hour)
- [The Secret Life of Circuits with lcamtuf / Michał Zalewski](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-06-04-the-secret-life-of-circuits-with-lcamtuf-micha-zalewski) (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/2016-12-30-181-work-on-it-for-ten-years. 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.