Category Archives: software

Chronos hacking update

JP Norair has been hacking away with the TI 433 MHz Chronos. My project is OpenTag, which is a 433 MHz centric IoT/M2M stack. It’s 433-centric because it implements DASH7 and because it makes design assumptions that multihop is not of great importance (at 433 MHz, it certainly isn’t). You can check the wiki, which […]

Design Spark free schematic layout software

In examining the design files for the Maker Shed pulse sensor we noted that they weren’t produced using Eagle. Instead, the files were generated using Design Spark’s free Schematic Layout Software. This is a free (activation required at no charge) PCB design alternative and is available from the Design Spark website. These are the sample […]

28C3: Hack the planet with Code Hero and Makerhoods

In this rapid fire lightning talk from the 28C3 Chaos Communication Congress held recently in Berlin, Alex Peake highlights the learning initiative known as Code Hero. “Code Hero, a game that teaches you how to make games so you can make games that teach everything else to make all knowledge playable.” (Well, that clears everything […]

MSP430 online code editior, compiler, and programmer

Here is an online IDE for MSP430 microcontrollers. You can edit your code, compile, and program it, all online. All that is required is to sign in with a Google account. You edit C-code within your web browser without having to install an IDE such as IAR or CCS on your computer. The files are […]

Cadsoft Eagle review by a new user

Pete decided to try out Cadsoft Eagle and write about his experience. The first impression wasn’t the best. I finally decided to download and learn to use the industry-standard PCB and schematic layout software: Eagle. I’ve tried a bunch of others, and quite frankly, got tired of always using “also ran” software. The majority of […]

CPLD breakout board ported to KiCad

Numanto Lab ported one of our CPLD breakout boards from the original Eagle files to the open source KiCad. CPLD breakout board design in KiCad based on design by Ian Lesnet of Dangerous Prototypes. This board is completely designed in KiCad in 3-4 hours. Get the CoolRunner-II development board for $15 and XC9572XL dev-board  for […]

KTechlab IDE: Open source software for microcontroller simulation

KTechlab is an open source microcontroller simulation and development application. It features circuit simulation, firmware development, a C compiler, and a flash programmer. So far it supports only old PIC16F84 uCs. KTechLab is a an IDE for microcontrollers and electronics. It supports circuit simulation, program development for microcontrollers and simulating the programmed microcontroller together with its […]

Xilinx ISE Design Suite v 13.4 now available

Xilinx has announced the availability of Version 13.4 of their ISE Design Suite. This download includes the free Webpack version of the ISE and is available for Windows and Linux. This release introduces their new MicroBlaze Micro Controller System (MCS), making a MicroBlaze-based processing system available in the ISE WebPACK edition. This is the software […]

SPICY Schematics: A schematic editor and SPICE simulator for iPad

SPICY is an electronics schematic editor and SPICE simulator for the iPad. A free version is available at iTunes. SPICY is fast, intuitive, and allows you to literally draw circuits with your fingers. Create, save, edit, share, simulate, export and send screenshots to email, SPICY is a must have for students and working engineers alike. […]

Java circuit simulator

BrentBXR tipped us of about this cool and educational tool. It’s an interactive electronics circuit simulator. It has some pretty cool features, like having the direction of the current animated on the circuit traces, or highlighting the high signal traces in digital circuits. There is a bunch of circuit examples ranging from Ohm’s law demonstrations […]

Matchstiq SDR transceiver

Drone writes to inform us of a new SDR: Here is an interesting new handheld SDR transceiver called Matchstiq from Epiq solutions. 300MHz to 3.8GHz. I sure would like to know how they’re implementing the configurable suboctave RF filters. There is on-board CPU, DSP, and Xilinx Spartan FPGA. Noise figure at 8dB is nothing to […]

Compile Bus Pirate GUI under Windows

Vincent wrote a guide to compiling the open source cross platform GUI for the Bus Pirate. There’s also a new Windows binary for the project that doesn’t require installation, you can download it here. Via the forum. Get your own handy Bus Pirate for $30, including world-wide shipping. Also available from our friendly distributors..

EagleUp v4.3 released

EagleUp is a combination of export/import scripts that export your Eagle PCB to a SketchUp 3D model. Here’s what you get in version V4.3: fixed curved board outlines (see below the note on outline curves) eagleUp now supports 1:1 scaling as well eagleUp also includes functions for scaling and measuring the final circuit automatic resizing […]

OpenSCAD – the programmers solid 3D CAD modeler

If you’ve looking for open source 3D modeling software that focuses more on the CAD and less on the artistic/game dev aspects, consider Openscad. Think design of machine parts, not movie animation. It takes a different approach than other 3D modeling software. OpenSCAD is not an interactive modeler. Instead it is something like a 3D-compiler […]