-
ESP32 – Getting Started with ESP-IDF
This tutorial will walk you through the process of setting up ESP-IDF using a Docker container and build a basic blinking LED example from this repository: https://github.com/ShawnHymel/course-iot-with-esp-idf/. Here is a video version of the guide: Why ESP-IDF? The Espressif IoT Development Framework (ESP-IDF) is the official software development kit for the ESP32 family of microcontrollers.…
-
ByteGrader: An Open Source, Modular Autograder for Embedded Systems (and Beyond)
Autograders are systems that automatically evaluate and score student programming assignments by running their code against predefined tests, providing instant feedback without human intervention. My latest project, ByteGrader, is a modular, lightweight, open source autograding engine that provides powerful automated grading capabilities through a simple API, allowing educational institutions to integrate autograding into any existing…
-
Highlights and Hot Takes from Open Sauce 2025
I’m standing outside, waiting for the shuttle to take a few of us to Adam Savage’s cave (yes, the cave from Tested), when a tall, friendly gentleman with a British accent offers four of us a ride in his rental car. He’s clearly a creator, so we all pile in. As we drive, we introduce…
-
Monitoring Stack and Heap Usage in Zephyr: How to Detect Memory Leaks
Memory management is one of the most critical aspects of embedded systems development. In resource-constrained environments like microcontrollers, running out of memory can cause system crashes, unpredictable behavior, or complete failure. This tutorial will show you how to monitor both heap and stack memory usage in Zephyr RTOS to detect memory leaks before they become…
-
Staying Current with Embedded Systems Tools, Languages, and Frameworks Without Getting Overwhelmed
Too Many Tools. Not Enough Time. In the fast-moving world of embedded systems, staying current often feels like trying to drink from a firehose. Every few weeks, there’s a new RTOS, toolchain, board, protocol, or abstraction layer claiming to make development “easier” or “faster.” You’re probably juggling deadlines while also asking yourself: This is the…
