# The Spark Gap - Episode 17

- Show: [The Spark Gap](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap)
- Published: 2014-10-08
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17
- Listen: https://thesparkgap.net/the-spark-gap-episode-17

## Summary

Hosts Carl and Corey discuss the fragmented landscape of in-circuit programmers and debuggers for embedded systems, highlighting the pain of dealing with incompatible protocols like JTAG, SWD, and proprietary interfaces from vendors such as NXP, Microchip, and ST. They detail the high cost of commercial tools like the SEGGER J-Link and the risks of relying on bootloaders, citing a $58,000 loss by SparkFun on their MicroView Kickstarter due to a bootloader overwrite error. The hosts advocate for understanding memory maps and linker scripts, and suggest building custom programmers or using open-source tools like OpenOCD to gain deeper knowledge of microcontroller internals and avoid vendor lock-in.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=0) Introduction: The Pain of In-Circuit Programmers
- [2:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=179) Fragmented Ecosystem: NXP, Microchip, and ST Tools
- [10:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=620) Protocols Explained: JTAG, SWD, and ICSP
- [15:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=942) Bootloader Risks: The SparkFun MicroView Failure
- [20:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=1251) Linker Scripts, Memory Maps, and Costly IDEs
- [25:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=1554) Building Custom Programmers and OpenOCD
- [37:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=2270) Reverse Engineering: Joe Grand's J-Tagulator
- [40:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-10-08-the-spark-gap-episode-17#t=2435) Commercial Programmer Pricing and Rackets

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- NXP (company)
- LPC Link 2 (product)
- Freescale (company)
- OpenSDA (other)
- SEGGER (company)
- J-Link (product)
- Microchip (company)
- PICkit 2 (product)
- STMicroelectronics (company)
- ST-Link (product)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- MSP430 (chip)
- OpenOCD (tool)
- SparkFun (company)
- MicroView (product)
- Joe Grand (other)
- J-Tagulator (product)
- Bus Pirate (product)
- Dangerous Prototypes (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [010 - T0015! Part 0x3 - Debug Interfaces](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-05-15-010-t0015-part-0x3-debug-interfaces) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [422: It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-28-422-its-not-a-bug-its-a-feature) (Embedded.fm)
- [467: Temporary Axolotl](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-12-29-467-temporary-axolotl) (Embedded.fm)
- [215: Heisenbugs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-09-14-215-heisenbugs) (Embedded.fm)
- [Loopback](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-11-06-loopback) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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