# Ep. 13 - Hardware Release Cycle

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2024-02-01
- Length: 1h 06m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle
- Listen: http://opulo.io

## Summary

Stephen Oz and Lucian Chepar of Opulo explain the rigorous process of managing hardware release cycles for their open-source Lumen and Feeder machines, contrasting the permanence of hardware with the fluidity of software. They detail the internal workflows involving PLM software like Alaini and tools like Auto Bomb, as well as the external impacts on inventory, documentation, and product pages. The discussion highlights specific engineering challenges, such as managing scope creep, handling legacy stock, and ensuring full permutation compatibility across complex dependency trees of parts and firmware.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=0) Introduction: Hardware vs Software Release Cycles
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=144) Managing Scope Creep and Release Pacing
- [8:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=486) Internal Release Planning and Validation
- [12:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=769) PLM, Inventory, and Stock Management
- [19:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=1197) Public Release: GitHub, Webstore, and Documentation
- [32:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=1947) Hardware Permanence and Field Fixes
- [41:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=2467) Full Permutation Compatibility and Upgradability
- [54:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-02-01-ep-13-hardware-release-cycle#t=3289) Automation Tools: Auto Bomb and Alaini

## Topics

- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Opulo (company)
- Lumen (product)
- Feeder (product)
- Alaini (tool)
- Auto Bomb (tool)
- GitHub (tool)
- Marlin (other)
- OpenPnP (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Product Lifecycle Management with Michael Corr](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-14-product-lifecycle-management-with-michael-corr) (The Amp Hour)
- [A Benchtop Pick and Place with Stephen Hawes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-01-21-a-benchtop-pick-and-place-with-stephen-hawes) (The Amp Hour)
- [AI-Powered PLM: The Future of Hardware Product Lifecycle Management](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-07-01-ai-powered-plm-the-future-of-hardware-product-lifecycle-management) (OnTrack)
- [Git for Hardware Engineers with Valentina Ratner and Kyle Dumont](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2023-06-06-git-for-hardware-engineers-with-valentina-ratner-and-kyle-dumont) (The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast)
- [AI Tooling with Matt Liberty and Luke Beno](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-04-23-ai-tooling-with-matt-liberty-and-luke-beno) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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