# Agile Hardware Development with Gregor Gross

- Show: [The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast)
- Published: 2025-12-03
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross
- Listen: https://agileembeddedpodcast.com/episodes/agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross-2p1c6Adk

## Summary

Gregor Gross, founder of Alpha-board, a Berlin-based PCB design and agile hardware development service, explains how his company applies agile principles to hardware projects where fixed-price contracts are the norm. He details practical strategies such as breaking complex PCBs into testable modules and shields, using Zephyr OS sample boards for early software validation, and implementing automated documentation with KiCad to facilitate mixed hardware-software teams. Gross also discusses the cultural resistance to pair programming despite its proven quality benefits, the importance of Git integration for version control, and the contractual challenges of moving from fixed-price to hourly service agreements.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=0) Introduction: Gregor Gross and Alpha-board
- [3:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=199) Defining Agile Hardware and Contract Challenges
- [16:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=993) Practical Agile: Modules, Shields, and Zephyr OS
- [25:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=1533) Mixed Teams, Automated Documentation, and KiCad
- [29:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=1764) The Pair Programming Experiment and Team Resistance
- [39:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=2388) Customer Expectations and End-User Access
- [44:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2025-12-03-agile-hardware-development-with-gregor-gross#t=2670) Version Control, Git, and Schematic Style Guides

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Alpha-board (company)
- Zephyr OS (other)
- KiCad (tool)
- STM32 (chip)
- Andrew Greenberg (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [#064 - To transform or not to transform your hardware company to an all agile one next year, with Balint Horvath, Switzerland](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-11-21-064-to-transform-or-not-to-transform-your-hardware-company-to-an-all-agile-one-n) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [VC-Backed Hardware Design Collaboration is the (All) Spice of Life](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2023-05-30-vc-backed-hardware-design-collaboration-is-the-all-spice-of-life) (Moore's Lobby)
- [T-25-007 : Valentina Ratner - Mechanical Engineer to SaaS for Hardware CEO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/tradeoffs/2025-03-21-t-25-007-valentina-ratner-mechanical-engineer-to-saas-for-hardware-ceo) (TRADEOFFS)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (Embedded.fm)
- [165: Iterative Design Processes & Tools for Hardware Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-03-02-165-iterative-design-processes-tools-for-hardware-development) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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