# 479: Make Your Voice Heard

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2024-06-13
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 479
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/479

## Summary

Carles Cufí, an open source software engineer at Nordic Semiconductor, discusses the company's strategic shift to Zephyr and the development of the nRF Connect SDK. He explains the architectural decisions behind maintaining a downstream SDK, including the use of binary blobs and proprietary licensing, to balance open-source collaboration with commercial control. Cufí also provides guidance for developers on navigating Zephyr's steep learning curve, highlighting resources like the Memfault 'Practical Zephyr' series, Nordic's DevAcademy, and the community Discord server.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=6) Introduction: Carles Cufí and Nordic Semiconductor
- [8:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=494) Lightning Round: Barcelona, Macros, and Debugging
- [11:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=682) Zephyr Kernel APIs and Learning Resources
- [14:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=853) Navigating Zephyr's Steep Learning Curve
- [23:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=1435) The Complexity of Devicetree and Kconfig
- [28:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=1719) Nordic's Transition to Open Source and Zephyr
- [38:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=2296) Why Nordic Maintains a Downstream SDK (NCS)
- [50:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=3038) Testing Strategies and Sample Management
- [1:00:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-13-479-make-your-voice-heard#t=3649) Advice: Making Your Voice Heard in Engineering

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Zephyr (other)
- Nordic Semiconductor (company)
- nRF Connect SDK (other)
- Memfault (company)
- Parrot (company)
- Symbian (other)
- nRF5340 (chip)
- nRF8001 (chip)
- QEMU (tool)
- Git (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Benjamin Cabé Nose Zephyr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-12-11-benjamin-cabe-nose-zephyr) (The Amp Hour)
- [#011: Memfault Joins Nordic Semiconductor: What This Means for the Future of Connected Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-07-01-011-memfault-joins-nordic-semiconductor-what-this-means-for-the-future-of-connec) (Coredump Sessions)
- [Open Source Firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-10-31-open-source-firmware) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Challenges in Hardware Development | HARDWARIO s.r.o.'s Pavel Hübner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-06-21-challenges-in-hardware-development-hardwario-s-r-o-s-pavel-hubner) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Brewing Electronics with Eli Hughes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-10-05-brewing-electronics-with-eli-hughes) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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