# Rubber Ducking

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-09-30
- Length: 1h 01m
- Episode: 460
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/460-rubber-ducking/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss engineering troubleshooting methodologies, including 'rubber ducking' and the importance of engineering notebooks, illustrated by Chris's debugging of an STM32 timer using GDB. They examine the market for low-cost electronics from China, with Dave Jones analyzing an $8.70 precision instrument found on AliExpress, and discuss the history and current state of companies like Motorola and Atari. The hosts also cover Jerry Ellsworth's new Kickstarter for the Cast AR augmented reality headset and the commercial availability of Boston Dynamics' Spot robot.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=0) Introduction and Book Discussion
- [2:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=175) Debugging STM32 Timers with GDB
- [10:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=615) The GCC Compiler Bug and Volatile Variables
- [14:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=855) Rubber Ducking and Engineering Notebooks
- [18:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=1125) Atari Notebooks and Grass Valley History
- [29:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=1744) Motorola's History and Spinoffs
- [32:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=1977) Analyzing an $8.70 Precision Instrument from China
- [42:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=2572) Boston Dynamics Spot and Robot Pricing
- [48:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=2925) Jerry Ellsworth and Cast AR Kickstarter
- [54:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking#t=3278) Scientific Method in Troubleshooting

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- STM32 (chip)
- GDB (tool)
- AliExpress (company)
- Motorola (company)
- Atari (company)
- Grass Valley (company)
- Cast AR (product)
- Boston Dynamics Spot (product)
- NXP (company)
- Freescale (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- Keithley (company)
- Evernote (tool)
- Unity (tool)
- PIC (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [016 - Supercon 2018 Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-11-10-016-supercon-2018-part-1) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [197: Smell the Transistor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-26-197-smell-the-transistor) (Embedded.fm)
- [387: Bucket of Spiders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-09-23-387-bucket-of-spiders) (Embedded.fm)
- [200: Oops](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-17-200-oops) (Embedded.fm)
- [467: Temporary Axolotl](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-12-29-467-temporary-axolotl) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-09-30-rubber-ducking. 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 The Amp Hour.