The Secret Life of Circuits with lcamtuf / Michał Zalewski

The Amp Hour · 4 Jun 2026 · 59m · Episode 725

What this episode covers

Security researcher and electronics enthusiast Michał Zalewski (lcamtuf) discusses his new book, The Secret Life of Circuits, published by No Starch Press, which aims to bridge the gap between hobbyist plumbing analogies and college-level calculus in teaching electronics. Zalewski argues for teaching modern practical problem-solving, focusing on FETs and modern components like MCUs rather than obsolete parts, while also sharing his passion for collecting and reverse-engineering vintage calculators. He reflects on the intersection of software security and hardware, the impact of AI on creative work, and the economic challenges of selling handmade physical products in a market dominated by cheap manufacturing.

Mentioned

Companies
No Starch Press, Snapchat, Google, Casio, Sharp, Texas Instruments
Products
The Secret Life of Circuits, Sokoban
Chips
LM741
Also
lcamtuf, Michał Zalewski, Chris Gammell, Rowhammer, Tim Mitzella

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