The hottest Microcontrollers Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

Conway's Game of Life, in real life

lcamtuf’s thing • 7958 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. A physical Game of Life was built as a 17Ă—17 grid of illuminated mechanical switches driven by an AVR microcontroller, using row/column multiplexing and transistor drivers to handle the LEDs.
  2. Row scanning gives each LED a low duty cycle, so the design uses high peak currents, series resistors, MOSFETs/P-channel transistors, and firmware safeguards like a blackout window and watchdog to avoid thermal or software-induced damage.
  3. Mechanical switches provide a tactile, editable playfield with an analog speed knob, but they are the main cost driver; cheaper or fancier options (touchscreens, flip-dots) trade off price, feel, and complexity.

MAX30102 + ESP32-C3 0.4 inch OLED

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 15 Mar 26
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. You can build a compact heart-rate and SpO2 monitor by combining a MAX30102 sensor with an ESP32-C3 microcontroller and a 0.4 inch OLED display.
  2. The sensor itself is very cheap — around $3 — making this an affordable option for DIY health sensing projects.
  3. There’s a maker-friendly tutorial that explains the wiring and code so hobbyists can reproduce the project easily.

An Introduction to Arduino

wavesandcode • 99 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Arduino is a beginner-friendly microcontroller that lets you create electronic projects. It's easy to replace if you make mistakes.
  2. Basic components like breadboards, jumper wires, and LEDs are essential for building circuits. They help you connect and test your ideas quickly.
  3. Starting with simple projects is a great way to learn. Using resources like the Arduino Projects Book can guide you in building fun circuits.

Choosing a microcontroller

lcamtuf’s thing • 6530 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. When picking a microcontroller for simple projects, stick to 8-bit options like AVRs. They are easy to use and work well for tasks that don’t need a lot of speed or memory.
  2. For more demanding applications, like video processing or complex calculations, go for higher-end 32-bit microcontrollers. They are more powerful and can handle heavy data loads.
  3. If you need wireless connectivity and processing power, single-board computers are the way to go. They run full operating systems but can be more expensive and less efficient than microcontrollers.

Stop Using printf() - Debug ESP32 the Right Way

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Don't rely on printf() or GPIO pin waggling as your primary way to debug ESP32 projects.
  2. There are better, more reliable debugging approaches and tools you should use instead of ad‑hoc prints and pin toggles.
  3. Learn a structured debugging process — the "six stages of debugging" (covered in the video and short blog post) can help you diagnose problems more effectively.
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A Year In Chips

The Chip Letter • 8736 implied HN points • 30 Dec 23
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. The Chip Letter had 75 posts, over 500,000 views, and gained over 7,000 new subscribers in 2023.
  2. Highlighted posts included the story of Erlang at WhatsApp, the disappearance of minicomputers, and a celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Integrated Circuit.
  3. 2024 will bring posts on the history of microcontrollers, Moore's Law, the Motorola 6800, '8-bit', GPUs, TPUs, and more, with a 20% discount available for new annual subscriptions.

Working with OLEDs: SSD1353 & SSD1333

lcamtuf’s thing • 1836 implied HN points • 30 Jan 25
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. OLED displays are generally better for microcontroller projects than traditional LCDs. They are easier to use and deliver better performance and visuals.
  2. For projects with limited RAM or CPU, smaller OLED displays like the SSD1353 and SSD1333 can be effective. They are simple to set up with basic connections.
  3. Setting up these OLED displays involves a few key commands and configurations, making it manageable even for beginners. Once connected, getting them to display graphics is straightforward.

Oops I Did It Again

atomic14 • 346 implied HN points • 02 Aug 25
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. A new PCB was made, but it had a mistake where the LED didn't work because of wrong connections. The designer mixed up common cathode and common anode.
  2. Fixing the issue isn't too hard. It just requires desoldering the LED, adding solder resist, and reconnecting everything correctly.
  3. After making the adjustments, the LED finally worked, showing a successful blink. It took some effort and frustration to get there.

DACs and ADCs, or there and back again

lcamtuf’s thing • 1836 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Digital circuits often require digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters to interface with the physical world.
  2. For digital-to-analog conversion, architectures like binary-weighted DACs and R-2R DACs are commonly used, but the latter addresses practical issues with resistor values.
  3. Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) can be complex, involving methods like flash ADCs and slope-based ADCs, which use principles like comparison, integration, and sigma-delta modulation for accurate voltage readings.

MCU land, part 9: ST7789, the final frontier

lcamtuf’s thing • 1836 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Driving a 2.8" 240x320 IPS panel with a Microchip SAM S70 Cortex-M7 MCU can be surprisingly simple.
  2. The steps to set up the ST7789 display controller involve minimal and straightforward commands like hardware reset and configuration for color mode.
  3. Generating image data for the display in 16 bpp RGB565 color mode is achievable through tools like ImageMagick.

Episode 41: Better Built By Burkhard

burkhardstubert • 39 implied HN points • 01 May 23
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Qt for MCUs is designed for memory-constrained devices, making it ideal for low-cost electronics like appliances and wearables. This helps companies save money, especially when producing large volumes of products.
  2. Manufacturers are looking for a way to use the same software framework for both high-end and low-end devices. Doing this would allow them to reuse code and save time and resources when switching between different hardware.
  3. Recent advancements have made Qt for MCUs more efficient, allowing it to run on devices with very little memory. This is a game changer, as it opens up new possibilities for using Qt in even simpler and cheaper devices.

MSP430 I2C, and Trusting ChatGPT Wasted Weeks of My Life

Saying Less • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. Hardware communication involves protocols like I2C, UART, and SPI for connecting microcontrollers with peripherals.
  2. In I2C communication, there are master and slave devices, and the correct implementation details are crucial for success.
  3. Consulting the manufacturer's datasheet is essential for troubleshooting hardware issues, despite guidance from tools like ChatGPT.

Episode 10: Burkhard on Qt Embedded Systems

burkhardstubert • 19 implied HN points • 30 Sep 20
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. The Gartner study highlights various technologies that are influencing embedded systems in IoT, like Edge Networking and Embedded AI. These technologies will shape future Qt embedded systems significantly.
  2. Technologies like RISC-V offer chip vendors a cost-effective alternative to ARM by eliminating licensing fees. This could lead to more widespread use of RISC-V in embedded devices.
  3. Qt supports several protocols like CoAP and MQTT, making it suitable for developing applications in resource-constrained environments. The flexibility of Qt can facilitate efficient communication in IoT systems.

Low Cost Accurate Air Quality Sensor (PM/Temperature/Humidity)

The Halfway Point • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 24
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. You can build a low-cost air quality sensor using an ESP32 for under $120. It's a great way to monitor air quality without spending too much money.
  2. This sensor not only shows air quality data on a local website but also sends it to the cloud and alerts you when the air quality is poor. It's pretty handy!
  3. You can set everything up without soldering, making it easier and safer to use, especially in a small space where fumes might be a problem.

Offline Microcontroller Simulator

Barn Lab • 0 implied HN points • 18 Feb 23
đź•ą Technology Microcontrollers
  1. SimulIDE is a real-time electronic circuit simulator for hobbyists and students.
  2. The simulator requires the installation of Arduino IDE and libraries for custom functions.
  3. SimulIDE's UI can be clunky, but it offers real-time monitor features for checking register contents.