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$1 Microcontrollers (2017)

jaycarlson.net

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Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#51

Post by mmoskal »

not_the_fda wrote: post #46
amelius wrote: post #45

What I want more than $1 microcontrollers is a series of controllers that goes from low price/low performance to higher price/higher performance, but all programmable with the same open-source software stack. I don't want to read datasheets again whenever I need 100MHz more clock speed, or 1mW less power consumption. Because reading datasheets, at some point, feels like filling out tax forms.

The STM32 line is as close as you will get with this. Its HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) is MIT licensed and is very similar across products. Products in the same family are nearly pin compatible.

They are remarkably similar even at the register level - when you program with the LL (low level) library that essentially exposes hardware registers. I find LL easier to understand and work with than HAL.

BTW the license is mostly BSD not MIT with some additional libraries more restrictive.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#52

Post by monocasa »

timpattinson wrote: post #47
not_the_fda wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The STM32 line is as close as you will get with this. Its HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) is MIT licensed and is very similar across products. Products in the same family are nearly pin compatible.

Yeah, STM32 spans the range between the $1 and the STM32F7 at 200Mhz

Up to the H7 now that goes to 480mhz.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#53

Post by drewzero1 »

I just came across this site on Friday when looking for a possible replacement for some Digispark (ATTiny85 board) clones at work to connect to some 5v relay modules. I'm not too invested in the Arduino ecosystem at this point and am still looking into other options, haven't finished reading through the whole list yet.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#54

Post by voakbasda »

I stopped tinkering with electronics despite being a full-time embedded software engineer. I have designed small boards, but I only know enough EE to get myself in trouble. I prefer working with EEs that know their stuff, where our skills can compliment each others’.

I no longer work on “hobby” projects; such things become an albatross around my neck. If you deploy a hobby project in your life, you must maintain it. Forever. For that time cost, I want to work on a product that could go into production and pay for its own maintenance.

Unfortunately, I cannot stand being around people anymore. I had my entire life savings stolen by an ex, with the government’s help. When I tried to open back up and make new friends after that shit show was over, I was drugged and raped by the first guy that I invited into my house in over two years; he was never even arrested for what he did. And after over 25 years, I stopped playing music, because those “friends” all actively abandoned me when I decided to start carrying a sidearm daily. Collectively, these events destroyed my belief in the just rule of law and the goodness of humanity.

Overall, the above factors make me read articles like this with a mixture of excitement and possibility combined with depression and hopelessness. I do not have the resources for a side project, financially or emotionally. I cannot design and launch a side project, even though I am fully capable and that is what I most want to do.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#55

Post by oxplot »

Be careful spending time writing software/firmware for chips that may disappear tomorrow. Cost of the chip itself isn't everything, in fact it's one of the least important things if you're looking at long term cost. This is especially relevant in the current chip shortage climate which has made this point quite salient.

Whether it's a hobby project or a high volume production project, you don't want hundreds of hours of your time spent developing for it to go down the drain. In case of a hobby project, it probably means the one or two units you made are all that you're ever going to make. In case of a product you built in high volumes, it means a large gap in sales and lost revenue while you re-do the firmware for a new chip.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#56

Post by 0_____0 »

voakbasda wrote: post #54

I stopped tinkering with electronics despite being a full-time embedded software engineer. I have designed small boards, but I only know enough EE to get myself in trouble. I prefer working with EEs that know their stuff, where our skills can compliment each others’. I no longer work on “hobby” projects; such things become an albatross around my neck. If you deploy a hobby project in your life, you must maintain it.…

Sounds like you've had a series of incredibly traumatic experiences. I'm sorry to hear that, and I hope that you're able to find your way into friendships and relationships that allow you to trust again.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#57

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

waschl wrote: post #43

Semi-related: Since few months I am digging into tinkering and electronics. It’s really great to learn about modern era solutions which enable cool projects with low entry barrier. However, I happen to learn about new solutions (new sensors, actors, boards, ICs) more randomly than systematically. I tried to google for databases, blogs or news outlets, but couldn’t find anything suited for my consumerish needs. Going…

Usually if you have accounts at the major distributors(Arrow, Digi-Key, Newark, etc.), you'll get occasional updates passed on from some of the manufacturers whose parts they sell. But those are typically not the hobbyist/consumer items you may be looking for.

Perhaps sign up for a SparkFun account? I get a lot of OSHW and new module information from them.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#58

Post by monkmartinez »

voakbasda wrote: post #54

I stopped tinkering with electronics despite being a full-time embedded software engineer. I have designed small boards, but I only know enough EE to get myself in trouble. I prefer working with EEs that know their stuff, where our skills can compliment each others’. I no longer work on “hobby” projects; such things become an albatross around my neck. If you deploy a hobby project in your life, you must maintain it.…

Wow... Please, please talk to your PCP about these events and feelings. If you want help sorting through this, may I suggest; https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cognitive-beha...

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#59

Post by oxplot »

voakbasda wrote: post #54

I stopped tinkering with electronics despite being a full-time embedded software engineer. I have designed small boards, but I only know enough EE to get myself in trouble. I prefer working with EEs that know their stuff, where our skills can compliment each others’. I no longer work on “hobby” projects; such things become an albatross around my neck. If you deploy a hobby project in your life, you must maintain it.…

> If you deploy a hobby project in your life, you must maintain it. Forever.

Perhaps your definition of hobby is different to mine, but hobby projects are exactly the kind you can abandon in a heartbeat. No long term customers, no guarantees, no obligations. In fact, we hear about countless HW and SW projects being abandoned left and right, right here on HN on regular basis.

> For that time cost, I want to work on a product that could go into production and pay for its own maintenance.

Hobby and high volume production aren't necessarily mutually exclusive.

I wanted to build a custom board to use USB-C power in my projects. Except the cost of a dozen boards assembled was quite high. So I made a thousand or so to subsidize the cost of development and production for myself. The chip I used went out stock (global chip shortage related) but until it did, my "hobby" project paid for itself and actually made me a small profit as well.

Re: $1 Microcontrollers (2017)

#60

Post by auxym »

bloopernova wrote: post #48
amelius wrote: post #45

What I want more than $1 microcontrollers is a series of controllers that goes from low price/low performance to higher price/higher performance, but all programmable with the same open-source software stack. I don't want to read datasheets again whenever I need 100MHz more clock speed, or 1mW less power consumption. Because reading datasheets, at some point, feels like filling out tax forms.

I've wanted something similar when shopping at Adafruit. https://www.pcpartpicker.com has some pretty good search tools that I wish more vendors would copy.

Digikey's parametric search is hard to beat.
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