# 506: How Do I Fit a Whale Into an Apartment Building?

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2025-07-25
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 506
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/506

## Summary

Dmitry Grinberg, a software engineer known for running Linux on extremely constrained hardware, explains his projects including 8-pin Linux and Linux on the Intel 4004. He details how he emulates a MIPS processor on small microcontrollers like the STM32G031 to bypass memory constraints, allowing Debian to run on devices with as few as eight pins. Grinberg discusses the technical challenges of emulation, component selection, and his philosophy on open-source hardware documentation.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=6) Introduction: Dmitry Grinberg and Lightning Round
- [4:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=242) 8-pin Linux Project: Minimal Hardware and Boot Process
- [7:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=448) Microcontroller Selection: PIC16, AVR, and STM32G031
- [10:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=641) MIPS Emulation and Bootloader Architecture
- [16:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=961) Why MIPS? Emulation Efficiency and Linux Support
- [22:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=1337) Debian Minimal Rootfs and Custom Init System
- [31:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=1905) Linux on Intel 4004: The 4-bit Challenge
- [38:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=2308) Documentation Philosophy and Anti-ML Stance
- [46:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-07-25-506-how-do-i-fit-a-whale-into-an-apartment-building#t=2772) Future Projects: Transistors, Vacuum Tubes, and NandGame

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- STM32G031 (chip)
- Intel 4004 (chip)
- PIC16 (chip)
- Debian (other)
- MIPS (other)
- Prolific (company)
- AP Memory (company)
- Vilsion (company)
- NandGame (other)
- TubeTime (other)
- Eric Schlaepfer (other)
- Windell Oskay (other)
- Open Circuits (other)
- Mouser Electronics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [002 - Cheap And Easy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-08-30-002-cheap-and-easy) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Embedded Hardware with the Raspberry Pi Team](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-02-08-embedded-hardware-with-the-raspberry-pi-team) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep071: Measuring Micrometers, the Goldilocks Fit, Little Linear Motors, and 8-bit Games on ESP32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-06-11-ep071-measuring-micrometers-the-goldilocks-fit-little-linear-motors-and-8-bit-ga) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [LEDs Everywhere with Tim from Mitxela](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-07-08-leds-everywhere-with-tim-from-mitxela) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 276: A Mac on a Pico, Ropes on the Test Stand, A Battleship up on Blocks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-06-21-ep-276-a-mac-on-a-pico-ropes-on-the-test-stand-a-battleship-up-on-blocks) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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