# Why isn't this working?

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-02-14
- Length: 1h 18m
- Episode: 479
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/479-why-isnt-this-working/

## Summary

Chris Gammell, founder of Contextual Electronics, explains his transition from hardware consulting to learning embedded firmware to stabilize his income. He details his personal project involving an STM32F030 and a 433MHz transmitter, highlighting the steep learning curve of moving from Arduino to bare-metal C development. Gammell and guests Elecia White and Dave Jones discuss the importance of hiring tutors, using build logs for debugging, and the specific frustrations of dealing with obscure Chinese components and complex microcontroller peripherals like SPI displays and I2S audio.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=0) Introduction: Ampedded Crossover and Consulting Context
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=144) Chris Gammell's Motivation for Learning Firmware
- [5:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=323) Personal Project: STM32F030 and 433MHz Transceiver
- [8:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=494) The Hard Way: GDB, Vim, and Command Line Tools
- [13:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=791) The Value of Paid Tutors and Structured Learning
- [22:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=1323) Debugging Challenges: Mislabelled Boards and SPI Displays
- [33:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=1997) IDEs, HALs, and the Cost of Abstraction
- [47:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=2830) Dave Jones's MIDI Project and Peripheral Frustrations
- [55:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=3301) Debugging Methodologies: Build Logs and Journaling
- [1:04:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working#t=3872) Active Reading, Books, and Knowledge Management

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- LCSC (other)
- JLC (other)
- DigiKey (other)
- STM32F030 (chip)
- nRF52840 (chip)
- nRF52832 (chip)
- EFM8LB1264E (chip)
- VNA (tool)
- GDB (tool)
- Vim (tool)
- Arduino IDE (tool)
- CubeMX (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- Adafruit (company)
- Analog Devices (company)
- CERN (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [320: Why Isn't This Working?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-14-320-why-isnt-this-working) (Embedded.fm)
- [484: Collecting My Unhelpful Badge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-09-05-484-collecting-my-unhelpful-badge) (Embedded.fm)
- [173: Everything's Amazing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-26-173-everythings-amazing) (Embedded.fm)
- [405: Bacta Tank for Your Brain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-03-11-405-bacta-tank-for-your-brain) (Embedded.fm)
- [328: Debugging Like a Monkey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-04-23-328-debugging-like-a-monkey) (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/2020-02-14-why-isnt-this-working. 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.