Bare-metal MCUBoot Port on Renode
Setting up a bare-metal port of MCUBoot on an nrf52 and simulating in Renode
Category: Tools
Pulse Transitions Library
A Python library for analyzing step and pulse responses, inspired by Matlab’s pulse and transition metrics.
Antmicro Kmake
A KiCad build tool with some surprising features
Categories:
Ordering From Macrofab with KiCad
Quick guide to using KiCad, kicad-xyrs, and kicad-make with MacroFab for PCB assembly.
EDA Tools
Electronics Design Automation (EDA) Build Tools
Electromagnetic Simulators List
List of primarily FDTD simulators with some resources and notes.
OpenEMS Optimizing Simulator
Parametric Electro-Magnetic Optimization Workflow with OpenEMS, Docker, and Python
Managing Openscad Projects
How to structure OpenSCAD projects for reuse and scalability, using OPENSCADPATH, Makefiles, and modular design to manage complexity.
FreeCAD Make
Automate FreeCAD project exports with Makefiles using the freecad-make tool—ideal for multi-version mechanical assemblies and clean project organization.
Categories:
Device Control GUI and Binary Distribution
How to wrap a Python CLI in a basic GUI and package it as a standalone Windows executable for firmware updating and field diagnostics.
KiCad 8 Makefile
Improvements to the PCBA build environment
Categories:
KiCad Testpoints Plugin
The KiCad Testpoints PCM plugin generates test point reports directly from KiCad — filling a gap that most EDA tools handle poorly or not at all.
Spreadsheet Wrangler
spreadsheet-wrangler is a command-line Python tool for merging, filtering, and transforming spreadsheet data — useful for BOM management and flat data processing.
Categories:
Rectangle Packaging Problem / Efficient 2D Packing
Solving the 2D rectangle packing problem in Python using the rectpack library, with OpenSCAD for visualizing layouts and generating CNC tool paths.
Object Oriented OpenSCAD
Using vectors as pseudo-objects in OpenSCAD to write polymorphic, generic algorithms — a practical pattern for more maintainable parametric designs.
pyetest: Electronics Testing Tool & Method
pyetest is a Python library for pass/fail electronics test scripting, using spreadsheets as test definitions to reduce custom code and simplify automated test setups.
Categories:
Scripting FreeCAD from an AppImage
How to use FreeCAD’s Python scripting interface from an AppImage installation, including setting up the environment to call FreeCAD functions from outside the GUI.
KiCad Board Outlines
Improved mechanical workflow
KiCad 7 Build Environment
Writing a KiCad Makefile
Categories:
Fixed Point Python Libraries
Evaluating the best library for fixed point algorithm development & testing
kicad-parts-placer
kicad-parts-placer automates exact batch placement of components in KiCad layouts using centroid files — ideal for test fixture pogo pins and mounting holes.
Categories:
Timing Diagrams
An Exploration of Timing Diagram Tools
Tool: object-symbols-parser
object-symbols-parser is a CLI tool for analysing ELF symbol tables, helping identify what’s causing section size overruns in embedded firmware builds.
Categories:
Sigrok + $10 Logic Analyzer
Getting useful I2C and SPI debug capability from a $10 FX2 logic analyzer using Sigrok — a portable option when away from the lab.
KiCad PCBNew Scripting: Basic scripting beyond the built in terminal
How to use the KiCad PCBNew scripting API outside the built-in terminal, loading boards with LoadBoard and enabling proper unit tests for PCB plugins.
KiCad PCBNew Scripting: Removing Ref Des From Silk Screen
When to move reference designators off the silkscreen onto the fabrication layer in tight KiCad designs, with a Python script to automate the cleanup.
Text Formatting In the Terminal
An introduction to the Rich Python library for terminal output — tables, live displays, and clean formatting that makes scripts easier to use.
Categories:
Jupyter Notebooks & Photon Budgets
Why Jupyter notebooks are the right tool for photon budgets and optical feasibility analyses, with a practical silicon thermopile measurement example.
Jupyter Notebook Tools & Setup
Generating Beautiful Jupyter Notebook Reports
ISP Programming
In-System Programming Library for NXP M0s