# 484: Collecting My Unhelpful Badge

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2024-09-05
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 484
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/484

## Summary

Elecia White and Christopher White discuss embedded software engineering challenges, including using semihosting for debugging STM32 microcontrollers when UARTs are unavailable, and strategies for navigating new codebases. They address the pitfalls of choosing microcontrollers without firmware input, highlighting risks like NDAs and lack of community support, and speculate on the documentation quality of the new RP2350. The conversation also covers career advice, such as building skills through a 'skills tree' and the value of master's degrees in embedded systems.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=7) Introduction: Pointers, C, and Optimization
- [5:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=354) Hard Faults and Linker Script Memory Allocation
- [9:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=572) Strategies for Navigating New Codebases
- [22:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=1362) Semihosting Setup and STM32 Debugging
- [29:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=1746) Embedded Skills Trees and Master's Degrees
- [36:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=2206) RP2350 Speculation and Documentation Risks
- [39:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=2362) Choosing Microcontrollers: Community and NDAs
- [50:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge#t=3013) Personal Updates: Drumming and Ham Radio

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Memfault (company)
- STM32 (chip)
- RP2350 (chip)
- Zephyr (tool)
- MPLAB (tool)
- OpenOCD (tool)
- VSCode (tool)
- Source Insight (tool)
- Sourcetrail (tool)
- OpenGrok (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Why isn't this working?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working) (The Amp Hour)
- [Reunion Impedance Matching and 2023 Predictions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-01-09-reunion-impedance-matching-and-2023-predictions) (The Amp Hour)
- [Just Add Salt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-12-09-just-add-salt) (The Amp Hour)
- [Check The Dummy Box](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-03-04-check-the-dummy-box) (The Amp Hour)
- [Blogging Electronics with Pallav Aggarwal](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-03-11-blogging-electronics-with-pallav-aggarwal) (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/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge. 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.