Hardware Podcasts

A Jumperless Breadboard with Kevin Cappuccio

The Amp Hour · 26 Feb 2025 · 1h 14m · Episode 689

What this episode covers

Kevin Cappuccio, founder of Jumperless, discusses the V5 iteration of his jumperless breadboard, an interactive prototyping platform featuring an RP2350 microcontroller and a dense matrix of CH446Q analog crossbar switches. He explains the hardware architecture, including the use of LM2660MX charge pumps to drive the switches with ±9V, custom spring clips, and 445 RGB LEDs for visual feedback. The conversation covers the routing algorithm, which minimizes resistance by stacking parallel paths, and the probe's ability to detect position and signal type through a single jack. Cappuccio highlights the product's educational value, open-source firmware, and the community-driven development via Discord and GitHub.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
GLC, 3M, Adafruit, Elikro, Crowd Supply, WCH, Zarlink, Microchip, Analog Devices, Cypress, JLC
Products
Jumperless
Chips
RP2350, CH446Q, LM2660MX, WS2811
Also
Zephyr

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Electromaker Show · 39m

    Jumperless V5 Creator Interview! Arduino Alvik Giveaway, Raspberry Pi VSCode Extension, and more!

    Kevin Cappucio, creator of the Jumperless project, discusses the release of Jumperless V5, a software-defined breadboard that eliminates jumper cables using analog crossbar switches and the RP2350B microcontroller. The episode highlights the board's ability to provide real-time voltage and current profiling via 451 LEDs and a dedicated probe, alongside a demonstration of Bitluni's LED magnet matrix using binary code modulation. Additionally, the host covers the new Raspberry Pi Pico VSCode extension for streamlined development and introduces the Arduino Alvik robotics kit as the product of the week.

    PCB design & layoutEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 09m

    532: It's Still Real Fire

    Kevin Santo Cappuccio, founder of Architeuthis Flux, discusses Jumperless, an open-source breadboard that replaces physical jumper wires with software-controlled analog crossbar switches and 445 RGB LEDs. He explains the device's architecture, including the Raspberry Pi Pico running MicroPython, the high-frequency performance of the switches, and the upcoming modular Barnacle Board. The conversation covers use cases in audio synthesis, education for dyslexic learners, and the challenges of manufacturing a luxury hardware product as a solo founder.

    PCB design & layoutEmbedded firmware
    6 chapters

  • The Electromaker Show · 40m

    Amazing Jumperless Breadboard, ESP32 Screens, Zimablade Servers and RISCV EVERYTHING

    The host discusses Jumperless, a software-defined breadboard by Kevin Santo Capuccio (Archetois) that uses analog crosspoint switches and an RP2040 to eliminate physical jumpers, featuring a browser-based Wokwi bridge. He highlights Scott W. Harden’s project enabling audio playback on an Arduino Uno R3 using only its 32KB flash, and Volos Projects’ ESP32 Nano handheld console using a GC9A01 circular display. The episode also covers the ZimaBlade server pre-launch from IceWhale, which supports DDR3/DDR4 RAM and GPU attachment for local AI, and Sipeed’s new RISC-V devices including the LycheePi 4A cluster, tablet, and console.

    Prototyping & iterationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    1 chapters

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 22m

    069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings

    Ian from Dangerous Prototypes discusses the evolution of the BusPirate, culminating in the BusPirate 5, which utilizes an RP2040 microcontroller and features an LCD, adjustable power supply, and current sensing. He details the creation of DirtyPCBs and other services like DirtyCables, explaining how he automated PCB ordering in Shenzhen to disrupt the market. Ian also shares anecdotes about his time in Huaqiangbei, including the 'Expressway to Pleasure' project and his experiences with local manufacturing quirks.

    PCB design & layoutMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 18m

    505: Potato in a Number Field

    Peter Griffin, a data analytics consultant and embedded enthusiast, discusses his work with the Jumperless Breadboard, a software-configurable prototyping tool, and his unconventional GUIs built in Excel and Google Colab. He details the technical challenges of using Microsoft's Data Streamer plugin for serial communication, specifically its failure to assert the DTR line, and shares insights on advanced Excel features like Power Query and pivot tables for hardware-in-the-loop testing. The conversation also covers his 'puppy communication buttons' project and the complexities of training dogs to use them.

    EDA & CAD toolsPrototyping & iteration
    6 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.