Getting Started with ESP32: ESP-IDF GitHub Examples Explained

INTRODUCTION When I started working with the ESP32 and its ESP-IDF framework, I found myself stuck and facing numerous problems when trying to develop even the most basic tasks: How do you initialize an I2C bus? How do you program a periodic timer? All of these questions kept coming up until I discovered how to make use of the documentation provided and look at simple examples to learn how to perform the most basic tasks with ESP-IDF, and then scale my project from there. Keep reading to find out how to get started with ESP-IDF in a practical way. INSTALLATION (You can skip this section if you’re already familiar with it.) The first step is to install ESP-IDF using the IDE you prefer.…

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Secure Bootloader Design: A Complete Guide for Embedded Systems

INTRODUCTION The bootloader is a very important part of embedded systems. It doesn’t always have to be present, but in most commercial embedded products it’s an essential component. Keep reading and I’ll explain why. A bootloader is essentially an additional piece of firmware, separate from our main application that we program into the device through a programmer (for example via JTAG) to handle very specific tasks like mainly updating the system so we don’t have to rely on JTAG programming once the device is deployed in the field. It’s often said that it’s the first piece of code executed by the microcontroller, which isn’t entirely accurate. What we (as users) typically flash is the User Bootloader. Meanwhile, the chip manufacturer usually preloads a…

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WHY DID I START USING DREAMSOURCELAB LOGIC ANALYZERS?

INTRODUCTIONLogic analyzers are a basic tool in any electronics lab. They serve many purposes: from debugging errors, measuring timing between different processes, checking and sniffing communications and even identifying signals on a PCB.Throughout my career I’ve worked with different types of logic analyzers: from high-end devices like Saleae, to very cheap ones that cost around €10–15.My recommendation here is to always avoid those very low cost analyzers. When you’re trying to debug one of those annoying bugs that can take you more than a day to find, the last thing you need is to doubt whether your logic analyzer is working properly.On the other hand, analyzers like Saleae work flawlessly. Their hardware, probes, and software are excellent, but I think they’ve become too…

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