# #397.9 - An Interview with Dominic Spill

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-06-25
- Length: 33m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill/

## Summary

Dominic Spill, a software engineer at Great Scott Gadgets, discusses the full software stack for their open-source hardware tools like the HackRF One and Ubertooth One. He details the architecture from high-level GNU Radio down to the USB and firmware layers, explaining how they use abstraction layers like Osmocom to support multiple hardware platforms. Spill also shares insights into their development philosophy, emphasizing novel applications over raw performance, and describes the vibrant community at hacker camps like ToorCamp and EMF.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=0) Introduction and ToorCamp Context
- [1:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=110) Dominic Spill's Background and Great Scott Gadgets
- [4:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=266) Software Architecture and the GreatFET Platform
- [8:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=488) USB Stack Challenges and LibUSB
- [14:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=855) GNU Radio, Osmocom, and the Full Stack
- [18:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=1120) Hacker Camps and Community Culture
- [25:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-9-an-interview-with-dominic-spill#t=1521) Future of SDR and Novel Applications

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Great Scott Gadgets (company)
- HackRF One (product)
- Ubertooth One (product)
- Yardstick One (product)
- GreatFET (product)
- GNU Radio (tool)
- Osmocom (company)
- LibUSB (tool)
- FaceDancer (product)
- CC2400 (chip)
- LPC4300 (chip)
- RTL-SDR (product)
- BladeRF (product)
- PlutoSDR (product)
- USRP (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [057 - I Did Not Expect Sharks!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-05-09-057-i-did-not-expect-sharks) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [012 - Cheese vs. SDR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-06-29-012-cheese-vs-sdr) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [130: Criminal Training Camp (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-05-25-130-criminal-training-camp-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [498: To Consume Stickers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-04-04-498-to-consume-stickers) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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