[HN Gopher] Tiny Computers from Texas: The Early History of the ...
       ___________________________________________________________________
        
       Tiny Computers from Texas: The Early History of the Microcontroller
        
       Author : klelatti
       Score  : 44 points
       Date   : 2024-01-07 18:59 UTC (4 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (thechipletter.substack.com)
 (TXT) w3m dump (thechipletter.substack.com)
        
       | the__alchemist wrote:
       | Very cool!
       | 
       | I think programming a microcontroller without an operating system
       | is a good exercise for most coders / software engineers. It gives
       | you a perspective of how much you can accomplish using MMIO and
       | an imperative programming language. (C, C++, Rust generally).
       | 
       | These days, microcontrollers span a range of price points and
       | capabilities. (CPU speed, flash, RAM, onboard peripherals etc).
       | There are even <$1 32-bit ones (See STM32C0), and ones that cost
       | $10-20 and have 2MB of flash run at 500Mhz, have 64-bit FPUs,
       | loads of hardware IO protocols and ADC/DAC channels etc. Also
       | some that are ~$3USD and have onboard Wi-Fi, Btle, LoRa etc, and
       | can run for years on small batteries.
        
       | AnimalMuppet wrote:
       | I remember that "I invented the microprocessor" patent claim. I'm
       | glad he lost in the end. Gaming the system with patent
       | continuations isn't the same as doing the technical work
       | necessary to create practical CPUs-on-a-chip, and doesn't deserve
       | to be rewarded.
        
       | jwhitlark wrote:
       | This is a nicely in depth and enjoyable read, especially as a
       | long time software engineer, who's recently become interested in
       | raspberry pi's and microcontrollers.
        
       ___________________________________________________________________
       (page generated 2024-01-07 23:00 UTC)