320: Why Isn't This Working?

Embedded.fm · 14 Feb 2020 · 1h 18m · Episode 320

What this episode covers

Chris Gammell, founder of Contextual Electronics and host of The Amp Hour, discusses his journey learning embedded firmware as a hardware consultant. He details his personal project using an STM32F030 and an EFM8 microcontroller, the challenges of debugging with GDB and Vim, and the value of hiring tutors and using books like 'Making Embedded Systems' to build confidence and technical depth.

Mentioned

Companies
Contextual Electronics, Adafruit, JLCPCB
Products
The Amp Hour
Chips
STM32F030, EFM8, nRF52
Tools
GDB, Vim, KiCad

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 18m

    Why isn't this working?

    Chris Gammell, founder of Contextual Electronics, explains his transition from hardware consulting to learning embedded firmware to stabilize his income. He details his personal project involving an STM32F030 and a 433MHz transmitter, highlighting the steep learning curve of moving from Arduino to bare-metal C development. Gammell and guests Elecia White and Dave Jones discuss the importance of hiring tutors, using build logs for debugging, and the specific frustrations of dealing with obscure Chinese components and complex microcontroller peripherals like SPI displays and I2S audio.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 09m

    Just Add Salt

    Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Dave Jones of EEV Blog discuss Gammell's purchase of a vintage HP 8753D VNA and the high cost of test equipment. They analyze the complexity of setting up a firmware development environment for an STM32 microcontroller, debating the trade-offs between using vendor IDEs like STM32CubeIDE versus manual toolchains like GCC and Visual Studio Code. The conversation also covers the limitations of current AI auto-routing tools for PCBs and a review of university-level electronics textbooks.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 01m

    Rubber Ducking

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss engineering troubleshooting methodologies, including 'rubber ducking' and the importance of engineering notebooks, illustrated by Chris's debugging of an STM32 timer using GDB. They examine the market for low-cost electronics from China, with Dave Jones analyzing an $8.70 precision instrument found on AliExpress, and discuss the history and current state of companies like Motorola and Atari. The hosts also cover Jerry Ellsworth's new Kickstarter for the Cast AR augmented reality headset and the commercial availability of Boston Dynamics' Spot robot.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 03m

    Blogging Electronics with Pallav Aggarwal

    Pallav Aggarwal of CAPUF Embedded discusses his approach to blogging about electronics, focusing on the CH32V003 microcontroller and teardowns of cellular modules. He explains how his consulting firm helps clients with design optimization, power consumption, and transitioning from prototype to high-volume manufacturing. Aggarwal highlights the challenges of working with low-cost MCUs like the WCH CH32V003 and Ambiq Apollo, noting the lack of vendor support and the importance of community-driven documentation. He also shares insights on the Indian hardware ecosystem, tool choices like Saleae Logic and Joulescope, and the emerging role of AI in electronics design.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 14m

    Reunion Impedance Matching and 2023 Predictions

    Chris Gammell hosts a reunion with past guests Alvaro, Dave Jones, and Ariel Briner to discuss the state of electronics in 2023. The group covers trends in robotics, IoT, and embedded firmware, with Alvaro detailing his work on ocean buoys using STM32 and Blues Wireless modules, and Dave Jones discussing his scaling Electron Labs. They also debate the utility of AI in engineering, the rise of RISC-V, and specific debugging challenges like Unicode handling in cellular modems and SSID-related crashes.

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