# 293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-12-23
- Length: 43m
- Episode: 293
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/293-repeat

## Summary

Limor Fried, founder of Adafruit, discusses the company's 13-year history of manufacturing open-source hardware in New York, highlighting recent products like the PyGamer and PyBadge. She explains the engineering philosophy behind TinyUSB, an open-source USB stack developed by engineer Hathach to replace proprietary vendor stacks, and details the business model of supporting a community of 4,000 products. Fried emphasizes that while hardware design is easy, the value lies in firmware, documentation, and tutorials, which she balances with business operations and education.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=6) Introduction: Limor Fried and Adafruit's History
- [1:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=95) Lightning Round: Components and Engineering Tips
- [3:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=223) Adafruit's Mission and Growth from Kits to 4,000 Products
- [7:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=432) Balancing Engineering, Business, and Education at Adafruit
- [10:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=648) Product Completeness and Documentation Standards
- [12:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=728) PyGamer and PyBadge: Portable Gaming and Smart Badges
- [15:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=923) Open Source Hardware Licensing and Cloning
- [19:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=1143) Competition and Cooperation with SparkFun and Digi-Key
- [21:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=1298) TinyUSB: An Open Source USB Stack by Hathach
- [24:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=1444) Bluetooth Challenges and Assistive Tech Applications
- [29:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=1752) Business Meta-Info and Retail Logistics
- [34:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=2085) Advice for Software Engineers Entering Hardware
- [37:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat#t=2239) Company Culture, Benefits, and Community

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Adafruit (company)
- PyGamer (product)
- PyBadge (product)
- TinyUSB (tool)
- Hathach (other)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- MakeCode Arcade (tool)
- SparkFun (company)
- Digi-Key (company)
- Radio Shack (company)
- MicroCenter (company)
- OSHPark (company)
- Saleae (company)
- Bunnie Huang (other)
- Tindie (company)
- Crowd Supply (company)
- ATMakers (other)
- Stephen Hawking (other)
- Becky (other)
- Phil (other)
- Bre (other)
- Collin (other)
- Alicia Gibb (other)
- Ben Hencke (other)
- Alexander (other)
- Bailey (other)
- Matt (other)
- Ada King (other)
- Ada Lovelace (other)
- Elecia White (other)
- Christopher White (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)
- [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)
- [Don't Turn It On, Don't Take It Apart](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-05-13-dont-turn-it-on-dont-take-it-apart) (The Amp Hour)
- [Rubber Duck Incarnate](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-01-26-rubber-duck-incarnate) (The Amp Hour)
- [Arduino's Invisible Touch with Massimo Banzi](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-06-17-arduinos-invisible-touch-with-massimo-banzi) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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