Here are the articles, videos, and tools that we’ve been excited about this November.

We hope you enjoy these links, and we look forward to hearing what you’ve been reading in the comments or on the Interrupt Slack.

Articles & Learning

• BLE performance analysis with pyshark | robdobson.com
  Streamline BLE communication debugging with these tools for analyzing captured BLE packets.

• Confusing git terminology
  Really great overview of common things that confuse me still with Git. - Eric

• Implementing Regular Expressions
  Amazing articles about regular expressions. I learned a lot! - Noah

• Building an occupancy sensor with a $5 ESP32 and a serverless DB
  Fun project writeup for a BLE-beacon-scanning occupancy sensor (I particularly liked the connecting of bits of cloud + on-device software). - Noah

• Malloc tutorial
  A nicely worked example malloc implementation. - Noah

• GNU Coverage (gcov) for an Embedded Target with VS Code | MCU on Eclipse
  Learn how to use GNU gcov (coverage) with an embedded target in Visual Studio Code, including details on toolchain, semihosting, and debugging probes.

• Why I think C++ is still a desirable coding platform compared to Rust
  Interesting comparison of C++ and Rust. Good alternative to most I’ve read and some interesting viewpoints. - Recommended by Interrupt Slack community member, Niall Cooling

• Making the most of Picolibc with Zephyr // Zephyr Tech Talk #007
  A discussion on various aspects of Picolibc led by Keith Packard. Picolibc is an extremely adaptable C library designed for embedded systems, and has recently been adopted as the default C library in Zephyr.

• Coding in C for MCUs: Sort Structs to Save Code Size
  A neat way to minimize code size, organizing structure members from smallest to largest, on ARM Cortex-M-based MCUs with limited resources.

• Exploring Startup Implementations: Newlib (ARM) - Embedded Artistry
  Explore the program startup process and its numerous with a specific emphasis on Newlib for ARM in the context of embedded systems development. Yet another great in-depth resource from Embedded Artistry.

• Webinar: Getting Started with Zephyr RTOS (On Demand)
  Curious about Zephyr? Jacob Beningo and Memfault Ambassador Mohammed Billoo will teach you about Zephyr’s main components, navigating the codebase, building custom applications, and how to leverage Memfault to gain firmware insights.

• Default and named arguments in C functions | by Aliaksandr Kavalchuk
  Investigate the use of default and named arguments in C functions to improve development convenience and enhance practical application.

• Memory safety in C++, Zig, & Rust (part 1) - YouTube
  An excellent overview of Rust’s safety features in comparison to other languages.

• Memfault Webinar - NXP, Memfault & Golioth: Observability & Device Management for IoT (Recording)
  Integrate complementary IoT cloud services over a single, secure connection using Memfault, Golioth, and NXP Semiconductors, allowing you to proactively manage and monitor your devices.

• VS Code: Cure the Extension Creep with Profiles | MCU on Eclipse
  Too many extensions slowing down your VS Code? Enter: Profiles! Easily switch between different setups for your projects, including settings, keybindings, and extensions.

• Memfault Webinar - How Embedded Device Observability Helps Latch Build Ultra-Reliable Products (Recording)
  Discover how Memfault customers such as Latch collect high-quality debugging and performance data from their devices in the field and use it to ensure their customers get the best possible product.

• Getting Started With Zephyr: Saving Data To Files - Mohammed Billoo
  Memfault Ambassador, Mohammed Billoo, uses the nRF52840 dev kit to demonstrate how to make your Zephyr RTOS application store data on a microSD card – perfect for devices with intermittent internet access.

• 2023 State of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry - Semiconductor Industry Association
  Great report from the Semiconductor Industry Association.

• Webinar: Accelerate development and optimize in-field device quality with remote debugging and monitoring - nordicsemi.com (Recording)
  Learn how to use Nordic + Memfault together to yield LTE, Bluetooth LE, & Wi-Fi based solutions that enable you to launch products faster than ever and manage high-performance device fleets at scale in a dynamically evolving RF environment.

Projects & Tools

• Advent of Code 2023
  Solve 2 riddles programmatically each day until Christmas. - Recommended by Interrupt Slack community member, Mo Ger

• POV Candle - mitxela.com
  Really cool mini volumetric display using an RP2040. - Noah

• Battery-free wireless microrobots
  So cool! A battery-free autonomous robot the size of a penny that operates on energy harvested from solar and radio waves.

News & Announcements

• Azure RTOS Is Now Eclipse ThreadX | The Eclipse Foundation
  Microsoft announced they are contributing Azure RTOS to the Eclipse Foundation under the Eclipse ThreadX open source project.

Upcoming Events

• Memfault Webinar - Managing Issues and Improving Products After Launch
  Join our quarterly embedded panel on December 14th with Phillip Johnston (Embedded Artistry) and Thea “Stargirl” Flowers (Winterbloom) as we discuss the numerous post-launch challenges we’ve faced after decades of collective experience bringing products to market, and how to best tackle them. Register here to get the recording sent to you afterward.

• FOUNDERS & FRIENDS at CES 2024
  Heading to CES 2024? Request an invite to attend FOUNDERS & FRIENDS on Thursday, January 11th, hosted by Misty West and Memfault. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers while networking with some of the hardware industry’s key decision-makers, and get an exclusive preview of some of the latest advancements in cutting-edge technology.