3 ms·

Depends on how much of the process you'd like to do! If you want to build the actual PCBs, I'd suggest starting by learning how to blink a single LED on a PCB.

Depends on how much of the process you'd like to do! If you want to build the actual PCBs, I'd suggest starting by learning how to blink a single LED on a PCB. I have two video series that teach that: * Shine on you crazy KiCad - Blink an LED using a RPi https://contextualelectronics.com/courses/shine-on-you-crazy-kicad/ https://contextualelectronics.com/courses/shine-on-you-crazy... * Getting To Blinky - Blink an LED using a 555 https://contextualelectronics.com/gtb https://contextualelectronics.com/gtb Both of those series will teach you how to use KiCad, which is open source and always improving. From there, you can learn how to design in an ESP32 or similar module. Or if you'd like, there are some other courses on the CE site that show you how to build other devices. As the other comments alude to, you'll need to dive into firmware and higher level software on the web side of things. I always recommend adafruit and sparkfun boards and tutorials to get started with that quickly. Building off of a known dev board is a good way to make sure you're actually making progress and not just troubleshooting your own hardware. Both of those companies create open source hardware, so you can take the files and use those as a reference or even as a starter project for whatever you want to build.

tim-- 6y ago
Chris! Thanks for introducing me to Contextual Electronics! This looks like a resource that fits the bill for what I was looking for almost exactly. > you'll need to dive into firmware and higher level software on the web side of things I was expecting that, and it isn't something I'm too afraid of getting my hands into. I am thinking maybe something a little beefier then the ESP32 (like a STM32, specifically the STM32MP157A) so that I have a little more room to play with. I think the ESP32 won't have enough RAM for what I really want the device to do.
- ChrisGammell 6y ago
  Great! Glad I could help! It's my course, in case that wasn't clear. Should have probably stated as much, but hopefully it's still what you're looking for. The free courses (the two linked above) are more than enough to get people started on KiCad and the other course resources are only if people want to keep following along. ESP32 is QUITE beefy, actually (and power hungry). But the STM32MP series is nice too, that's a newer offering. I think it comes down to how you'd prefer to develop code, especially at the beginning. If you're looking for an Arduino type solution, you will find a ton of resources for the ESP32. As for RAM, I interviewed a guy on my podcast (Mike Fikes) who actually put Clojure Script on an ESP32...so it can handle some pretty high level stuff! https://contextualelectronics.com/cep005-clojure-script-on-hardware-with-mike-fikes/ https://contextualelectronics.com/cep005-clojure-script-on-h... One thing I always encourage is that people follow the best examples and kits and tutorials they can on the internet. There are LOTS of things that can go wrong, and premature optimization for a production level component can lead to a lot of frustration and diving down the wrong rabbit holes. Best to follow good examples and make mistakes later (ie. I don't know how many examples of STM32WP projects there are on the internet yet)

tim-- 6y ago

Chris! Thanks for introducing me to Contextual Electronics! This looks like a resource that fits the bill for what I was looking for almost exactly. > you'll need to dive into firmware and higher level software on the web side of things I was expecting that, and it isn't something I'm too afraid of getting my hands into. I am thinking maybe something a little beefier then the ESP32 (like a STM32, specifically the STM32MP157A) so that I have a little more room to play with. I think the ESP32 won't have enough RAM for what I really want the device to do.

ChrisGammell 6y ago
Great! Glad I could help! It's my course, in case that wasn't clear. Should have probably stated as much, but hopefully it's still what you're looking for. The free courses (the two linked above) are more than enough to get people started on KiCad and the other course resources are only if people want to keep following along. ESP32 is QUITE beefy, actually (and power hungry). But the STM32MP series is nice too, that's a newer offering. I think it comes down to how you'd prefer to develop code, especially at the beginning. If you're looking for an Arduino type solution, you will find a ton of resources for the ESP32. As for RAM, I interviewed a guy on my podcast (Mike Fikes) who actually put Clojure Script on an ESP32...so it can handle some pretty high level stuff! https://contextualelectronics.com/cep005-clojure-script-on-hardware-with-mike-fikes/ https://contextualelectronics.com/cep005-clojure-script-on-h... One thing I always encourage is that people follow the best examples and kits and tutorials they can on the internet. There are LOTS of things that can go wrong, and premature optimization for a production level component can lead to a lot of frustration and diving down the wrong rabbit holes. Best to follow good examples and make mistakes later (ie. I don't know how many examples of STM32WP projects there are on the internet yet)