So, if you haven't figured it out yet, don't feel bad. I certainly didn't get it immediately. IOT changes everything. Especially for embedded processors. I've even coined a name for processors that don't support WiFi and Bt. CLEP for Crappy Little Embedded Processors. Why on earth would you want to use anything else other than a ESP32 or ESP8266?

THe new Lattice iCE40 Ultra Plus is equally impressive.

If you've got an application, please drop me a note.

Over the last few years there has been a very pronounce and well defined change in the landscape for embedded systems. For instance, the going price today (circa May 3, 2017) for an ESP32 development board is around $6.50. The processor will serve up web pages at around 150 Mb/s, has around 500 KB of ram, with up to 4 MBytes of flash. Way cool.

With PCB tools we like Kicad we are empowered to design high performance boards. Board houses like SeeedStudios offer 4/4 mil multilayer boards at incredible prices.

Along with all of this relentless progress components have continued to get smaller. Freaky small. Components are now small enough to require microscopes. This project makes use of QFN packages with 0.5 mm pitches, and lots of 0402 caps and resistors. For the most part, the EU board represent what I consider the practical limit for hand assembled boards.

This project will attempt to document some of the tools and techniques available necessary to achieve success.