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My Business Card Runs Linux

thirtythreeforty.net

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Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#331

Post by 1123581321 »

nabla9 wrote: post #172
neurostimulant wrote: post #67

To me it's truly mind-bogging that a tiny $1.42 chip contains almost everything needed to boot Linux: a 500mhz cpu, 32MB SDRAM, 2D GPU, SD/MMC support, and USB controller, all packaged inside a 10mm x 10mm chip? It makes me really want to get into embedded development.

Calling this embedded system feels like insult to the spirit of 'running light without overbyte', because it's so comically capable. My first PC had 66/33 MHz 80486 processor and 8 MB ram, 320 MB HDD. You could run AutoCAD, play Doom, Civilization, have dual boot for Linux, Windows 3.11 etc. It could compile Linux from source.

Lucky! We had the same 486 system but only a 40MB disk. I had to spend some lawn mowing money to get a 400MB second drive so I could install Sid Meier’s Gettysburg. :)

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#332

Post by monocasa »

kccqzy wrote: post #294
monocasa wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A female to C male adapters exist, but C female to A male adapters are forbidden by the spec. That means you need to create A peripherals if you want the largest audience.

Are you sure this is the case? I bought a couple of these to have newer peripherals work on my older laptop.

Yeah, they sell them but they're not supposed to. It's because putting an A on each end of a C cable and connecting two A hosts together can destroy the two A hosts.

Practically, since you can find them as you say, is that as a peripheral vendor in the west, you can't ship a C device with a C to A plug because you'll lose your license.

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#333

Post by coupdejarnac »

glaberficken wrote: post #32

Loved the article, but loved even more to learn about MicroPython. As an amateur programmer that has never actually physically handled hobby micro-controller type boards, but has read a lot about them, it was amazing to be able to try out the emulator at https://micropython.org/unicorn/ Make the leds blink, see how servo control works etc, all in the browser without having to actually buy any hardware! I had never se…

Hardware is so cheap and accessible these days, just get an Arduino board. There are lots of kits available with sensors and actuators, and it's all so easy to use it's like building with Legos.

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#334

Post by m-ee »

leggomylibro wrote: post #140
glaberficken wrote: post #32

Loved the article, but loved even more to learn about MicroPython. As an amateur programmer that has never actually physically handled hobby micro-controller type boards, but has read a lot about them, it was amazing to be able to try out the emulator at https://micropython.org/unicorn/ Make the leds blink, see how servo control works etc, all in the browser without having to actually buy any hardware! I had never se…

MicroPython is fantastic for education and rapid prototyping with hardware - definitely try it out! It can be difficult to make complex long-running applications because of post-GC memory fragmentation and frequent dynamic allocations by the VM, but the Python syntax makes it all worthwhile. It also has a supportive and friendly community where it's easy to get support, and the official 'PyBoards' are great. MakeCode…

We've made some pretty capable hardware at my job on top of the pyboard/micropython. We've outgrown it in certain cases but it's really powerful being able to build something for potential critical business needs (like one off testing platforms) without spending weeks rewriting drivers.

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#335

Post by ce4 »

icedchai wrote: post #295
zimmertr wrote: post #188

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh geez I can't imagine how long it would take to compile Linux on that slow of a processor.

Linux in the 90's wasn't as bloated as it was now. It definitely took well under an hour to compile a kernel. My first Linux box was a 386SX-16. I later upgraded to a 486DX4-100.

That doesn't sound right, it's still not bloated. The majority is drivers then comes the cpu arch folder that takes a big cut. You can check yourself with cloc:

http://cloc.sourceforge.net/

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#338

Post by m-ee »

dsign wrote: post #9

While I'm impressed by how low the bill of materials is, I can't but put into perspective the kind of skills the authors of the post has, and how mindbogglingly expensive they must be. Contrary to what the media says, it seems that the digital era has made (some) human beings more essential than ever ...

The bias of HN towards web dev is pretty funny sometimes. I'd definitely be very impressed if I received these business cards, it's more novel than other PCB business cards I've seen and took a lot more initiative and effort with all the sourcing and research required. But the design and integration work is something I'd expect any embedded systems engineer to be capable of, and the vast majority of those engineers are making less than all of you guys at FAANG talking about kubernetes or whatever it is that goes on there

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#339

Post by bschwindHN »

ethbro wrote: post #87
diegoperini wrote: post #76

I really want to learn being able compile and solder an embedded system but I don't know where to start. Assuming I have the parts, tools and materials, how can I learn where to put capacitors/resistors etc in a custom design? What kind of simulators are good at testing these ideas without needing to waste expensive components? What was missing in my Computer Engineering curriculum which paints those circuit parts (e…

Start with a simple, known-good design, then figure out why each part is there. After you get some experience reverse engineering existing designs, start trying to build something simple. Thinking blinking lights without a processor. Warning: Embedded tools are not user friendly. Because most people who use them, use them all the time. Eagle has a free tier. I think it's the EDA tool we used in my CS/CSE courses. The…

These days KiCad does a good job, especially if you're just starting out.

Some CERN developers started working on it a few years ago and it's been much improved since then.

Re: My Business Card Runs Linux

#340

Post by m-ee »

diegoperini wrote: post #76

I really want to learn being able compile and solder an embedded system but I don't know where to start. Assuming I have the parts, tools and materials, how can I learn where to put capacitors/resistors etc in a custom design? What kind of simulators are good at testing these ideas without needing to waste expensive components? What was missing in my Computer Engineering curriculum which paints those circuit parts (e…

Open source projects like Arduino and the Pyboard have schematics available. If you want to learn about about why those components are there read the datasheets for the major ICs, the board designer will usually be following the manufacturers recommendations.

Emulation is rarely ever done, it'd be a high effort project with a lot of nuance to specify external hardware and the hardware is cheap anyway. A rough flow for an embedded project would be to start with a development board from the MCU manufacturer to get a head start on firmware, move on to a custom dev board of your actual product but with more easily accessible pins and test points, and then iterate on the final formfactor board.

For a hobbyist start with an arduino and a pyboard connected to a breadboard. Once you're happy with the firmware and circuit design then start with the open source schematic and modify it to add your new components and lay it out on your custom board.

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