Level Shifter Circuit - simulation and real world test. - Hey there! If you're around my age, you'll probably get nostalgic over the sound of old school tape loading on the ZX Spectrum. I took a deep dive into how the data loads, using my oscilloscope to break it all down, and even built a circuit to handle the signal for my ESP32. Throw in some cool simulations using CircuitLab, and I'm all set! Plus, I discovered a neat trick using diodes to perfect the signal. Hands-on and really quite fun!

A Life in Tech - The Early Years - I was fortunate enough to enter the world in 1971 alongside Intel's 4004 microprocessor – a moment that ushered in the digital era as we know it. Although a bit of an educational renegade, my curiosity steered me down a path filled with ZX Spectrums, Christmas wish lists, dangerously strewn cables and a legion of half-disassembled childhood toys. In spite of the haphazard approach to my intellectual explorations, I eventually managed to grasp the fundamentals of assembly language and savoured the glory of publishing a small utility, all whilst navigating the complex prepubescent minefield of Dungeons & Dragons. Looking back, I wish I could've broken out of my shell to learn more from my peers and mentors. Still, I cherish these nerdy memories and the doors they opened for me in life...

The Center of Computing History - Faced with free time in Cambridge, I decided to visit the Center of Computing History. It's a bit quirky and tucked away in an industrial park, but worth finding. Right in the entrance, you'll see the Megaprocessor, a 16-bit processor that's programmed to play Tetris. But the highlight for me was seeing the prototype ZX Spectrum, the computer that sparked my interest in tech. Though they didn't have a working Spectrum, I got a kick out of programming on a ZX81 and playing with a BBC Micro. They've even got a room full of consoles and the first ever Apple 1. Though I recorded some footage, I spent most of my time just soaking in the history of computing.

Old school tape loading - If you're anything like me, the nostalgic screeches of ZX Spectrum games loading might bring a smile to your face. I've taken a trip down memory lane by working on my own tribute to this iconic machine—introducing the ESP32 Rainbow. It’s on Crowd Supply, where we're closing in on full funding! This blog post walks you through the journey of harnessing audial data to load games directly into my emulator—faster and more reliable than those temperamental cassette decks from our childhood.

ESP32 Audio Input - MAX4466, MAX9814, SPH0645LM4H, INMP441 - In this blog post, I've delved deep into the world of audio input for ESP32, exploring all the different options for getting analogue audio data into the device. After discussing the use of the built-in Analogue to Digital Converts (ADCs), I2S to read ADCs with DMA, and using I2S to read directly from compatible peripherals, I go on to present hands-on experiments with four different microphones (MAX4466, MAX9814, SPH0645, INPM441). This comprehensive look at getting audio into the ESP32 should be a valuable resource for anyone hungry for a deep-dive into ESP32's audio capabilities, complete with YouTube videos for an even more detailed look!

How do we debug? - Today, we dissected a classic programmer joke about the stages of debugging and why we find it funny while it reflects a dire situation. We pondered why our first instinct is to dismiss a bug, dug into invalid claims about machines, and appreciated the shift from denial and blame to accepting responsibility and finding solutions. After deconstructing the old stages of debugging, we reconstructed healthier, proactive stages with prime focus on problem-solving. Next, we explored different types of bugs from easy user interface bugs to the complex Heisenbugs. Lastly, I highlighted logging, debuggers, and good old human brainpower as instrumental tools for debugging. Be patient, be a detective.