# 293: Skateboard Tricks

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-06-27
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 293
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/293-skateboard-tricks

## Summary

Limor Fried, founder and lead engineer of Adafruit, discusses the evolution of her Manhattan-based company from dorm-room kits to a manufacturing operation with 100 employees and 4,000 products. She details the development of the PyGamer and PyBadge, the strategic importance of the open-source TinyUSB stack by engineer Hathach, and the critical role of documentation in making hardware accessible to makers and the assistive tech community. Fried also reflects on the healthy competition within the open-source hardware ecosystem, the challenges of scaling product lines, and the long-term sustainability of assistive technology through open standards.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=6) Introduction and Adafruit Overview
- [4:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=266) Adafruit's Origins and Growth
- [7:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=432) Product Development and Documentation
- [12:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=728) PyGamer and PyBadge Launch
- [15:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=923) Open Source Hardware and Cloning
- [19:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=1143) Competition and Cooperation in Maker Community
- [21:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=1298) TinyUSB and Bluetooth Challenges
- [30:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=1856) Assistive Tech and Open Source Longevity
- [34:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks#t=2085) Advice for Software Engineers and Company Culture

## Topics

- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Adafruit (company)
- PyGamer (product)
- PyBadge (product)
- TinyUSB (tool)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- MakeCode Arcade (tool)
- SparkFun (company)
- Digi-Key (company)
- Radio Shack (company)
- MicroCenter (company)
- OSH Park (company)
- Saleae (company)
- Arduino (tool)
- Hathach (other)
- Becky (other)
- Bre (other)
- Phil (other)
- Bunnie Huang (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 16 - Open Hardware with Thea Flowers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [Ep. 23 | Arduino Co-founder Massimo Banzi on How Arduino Took the World by Storm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-04-29-ep-23-arduino-co-founder-massimo-banzi-on-how-arduino-took-the-world-by-storm) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Motivational Speaker](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-05-05-motivational-speaker) (The Amp Hour)
- [Shonky Stiver Stultiloquence](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2011-08-09-shonky-stiver-stultiloquence) (The Amp Hour)
- [An Interview with Ian Lesnet - Bus Buccaneer Builder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-12-11-an-interview-with-ian-lesnet-bus-buccaneer-builder) (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/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks. 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.