Author: Alex O'Donnell

Just when I thought I knew all the variants

27th August 2024

The NXP SYSTEM MANAGEMENT I2C, I3C AND SPI SELECTOR GUIDE, rev 7, introduces updated naming for the SPI interface, deviating from industry norms. OSHWA briefly proposed a similar convention but encountered an issue with an offensive acronym. Swift changes were made in response to calls for inclusive language in the industry. The evolving vocabulary of technology can be challenging to track. … More Just when I thought I knew all the variants

The Perfect Debug UART port

30th July 2024

The debug UART port is a critical tool in embedded systems for testing and monitoring. It relies on a solid serial connection for reliable operation. Implementing this port using a UART for serial communications is common, but it comes with challenges like TX/RX reversal and physical fitting issues. Using best practices can help ensure a reliable and effective debug UART port. … More The Perfect Debug UART port

A Travel Sabbatical

23rd July 2024

Sometimes, blogging has to take second place to other experiences. In this case, a trip to my homeland.

In between learning about historical, tourist, and preservation railways, I also spent time looking at other engineering feats in the UK. Oh, and I saw family and friends too. Here’s a quick post about my experiences taking a travel sabbatical. … More A Travel Sabbatical

Rebranding is hard

10th June 2024

I’m soft launching my résumé today! I’m not looking for work right now, but I had been gifted some time with a career coach, so it seemed like a good time to update everything. We spent quite some time going through who I was, who I am, and who I want to be professionally. We … More Rebranding is hard

The Runaway Project

10th May 2024

The writer finds themselves in a rapidly expanding role, transitioning from a planned sabbatical to unexpectedly leading two startup projects. They grapple with defining their current status—sabbatical, entrepreneur, or co-founder—and navigating new technical and business challenges. The journey is likened to a winding mountain road, with unknown perils and rewards. … More The Runaway Project

Mermaid – another text to diagram tool

9th April 2024

The post discusses various text-to-diagram tools like WebSequence Diagram, PlantUML, and WaveDrom, and introduces a newcomer, Mermaid. The author embraces Mermaid due to its automation capability, integration with GitHub, and support for block diagrams, expressing intent to use it for future architecture diagrams. The constant evaluation of tools to fill specific needs is emphasized. … More Mermaid – another text to diagram tool

Back from a break…

2nd April 2024

The author took a break and returned feeling relaxed, but faced a new challenge. In a startup without established infrastructure, they set up a workspace and various digital tools. They discussed the importance of storage solutions for efficient collaboration, and the need for a project management system. They sought suggestions for a low-cost project tracking solution. … More Back from a break…