# Ep. 16 - Open Hardware with Thea Flowers

- Show: [Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast)
- Published: 2024-03-14
- Length: 1h 25m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers
- Listen: http://opulo.io

## Summary

Thea Flowers, president of OSHWA and founder of the open-source hardware synthesizer company Winter Bloom, discusses her journey from high school Linux contributions to working at Google and launching her own business. She details the design and construction of 'Hubble,' a custom test jig for calibrating analog synthesizer modules, and explains her strategy for managing firmware updates across different hardware revisions like the Castro and Pollux. Flowers also shares her philosophy on open source, addressing cloning, community contribution, and the importance of empowering users to own and repair their devices.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=0) Introduction and Career Background
- [12:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=746) Open Source Software Contributions and Keycanus
- [30:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=1817) Founding Winter Bloom and Open Source Philosophy
- [36:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=2171) Manufacturing Process and the Hubble Test Jig
- [45:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=2707) Firmware Strategy and Hardware Compatibility
- [58:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=3507) Cloning, Competition, and Open Source Ethics
- [1:09:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2024-03-14-ep-16-open-hardware-with-thea-flowers#t=4177) Advocacy, OSHWA, and Community Reciprocation

## Topics

- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Winter Bloom (company)
- Keycanus (tool)
- Hubble (tool)
- Castro and Pollux (product)
- OSHWA (company)
- KDE (other)
- Google (company)
- Fender (company)
- JHS Pedals (company)
- Behringer (company)
- Cynthrotech (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Prusa (company)
- Voron (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [359: You Can Never Have Too Many Socks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-11-18-359-you-can-never-have-too-many-socks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-06-27-293-skateboard-tricks) (Embedded.fm)
- [45: Yanking on a Cat's Tail Is the Only Way to Learn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-04-02-45-yanking-on-a-cats-tail-is-the-only-way-to-learn) (Embedded.fm)
- [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)

## Citing this page

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