last modified: October 23, 2025
Posted on 2019-11-30— Projects
I walk you through flashing custom firmware to your Pimoroni snowflake decoration using an SWD J-Link and Atmel Studio. I cover hardware, wiring, software setup, and step-by-step build and flash instructions so you can safely program your boards. Read the full guide for tips and troubleshooting.
Posted on 2019-04-15— Recommendations
I've been developing software for over 20 years and share how my language preferences shifted—from assembler and C to Python, Swift, C++, Go and Rust. I outline use-cases and trade-offs in a personal, practical way; if you're deciding what to learn, please read the full post for detailed guidance.
Posted on 2018-05-06— C++, Improve your Code
I show how a small C++ flags template makes embedded register bitmasks safer and much easier to read. I'll explain why macros and CMSIS-style definitions lead to errors, and walk through clear C++11 examples and a simple driver. Read on to see the implementation and usage.
Posted on 2017-03-04— How and Why
I guide you through writing a near-final firmware for my cheap plant watering sensor, describing module structure, incremental development, and practical tests. I cover ADC sampling, oscillator checks, EEPROM settings and a prototype fix for the push-button. If you’re building a similar device, I invite you to read the full post.
Posted on 2017-02-25— Projects
I built a compact ATtiny programming adapter to pre-program ATtiny13A chips before soldering, with a 50mil JTAG header, USB power, LED, and jumper options for other packages. I share EAGLE files, PCB ordering info and usage notes — read the post for photos, GitHub links and details.