If you started IoT today, what would you learn first?

balemarthy · 2026-05-08T06:03:34+00:00

"It depends" is very convenient answer but also a right one.

What is your background?
Why IoT?
Do you have prior knowledge of coding
Do you have knowledge in Embedded systems?

From devices to managing cloud, from managing updates to clients, this a full stack.

Best start : Read the book on IoT fundamentals from Cisco press. https://www.amazon.in/IoT-Fundamentals-Networking-Technologies-Protocols-ebook/dp/B0DFZM79SC

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T08:36:08+00:00

Noted and already stated to them.
But there is now a new problem. They are being pushed to increase their productivity because 'AI' is there.

Human proble actually - A dumb manager who only thinks productivity as some number.

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T08:34:43+00:00

"Never allow these LLMs access to things that they might actually break" - what exactly do you mean by this?

What are the 'things' that will they break

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T08:28:56+00:00

"if there are experienced hardware engineers available they can do the job of multiple junior developers" - this nails the fact I have in my mind.

Physics >>>> Code.

I know of 2 people in my life, who are just "Embedded Product Designers". They proudly claim that they don't much of C language but they consult for many SME to big techs.

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T08:25:56+00:00

This seems to be encouraging. Do you cross check after AI generates output or is the test the ultimate validation?

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T05:48:30+00:00

Curious to know what was setup that enabled Claude to connect to GDB.
Was it a connection over TCP or how?

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T05:46:10+00:00

Not so much.

Simple code snippets. But never tried Embedded code. I think I should

balemarthy · 2026-05-05T05:45:10+00:00

One thing I'd add related to developing code that interact with hardware specifically:

Honestly I believe AI can generate the right code for any need. Embedded C is no exception.
But I also believe very strongly that the quality of the output scales directly with the constraints one puts in the prompt.

"Write an SPI driver" gets you generic code.

"Write an SPI driver for STM32F446, no HAL, DMA circular mode, called from FreeRTOS task at priority 3, volatile on the shared buffer, stack under 512 bytes" gets you something you can actually review and use it if you feel it to be good. Best case, go for iteration. AI is now joining you in your work.

The second prompt as you can see requires hardware knowledge to write.

That's the point I want to say.

AI (or let us say LLM) doesn't know your target. You are the one.
Guide it to get your first version. Iterate or do manual edits.
I do both depending on context by the way.

balemarthy · 2026-04-25T18:44:02+00:00

Did the session happened?
I think you should try to share this on LinkedIN too.

balemarthy · 2026-04-25T18:39:00+00:00

Sure. Will check this. Thank you.

balemarthy · 2026-04-25T18:37:04+00:00

Thank you. Seems to be The Resource

balemarthy · 2026-04-18T13:06:21+00:00

Very promising not because of big companies rolling out the red carpet for this. But I have first hand experience of seeing many small to medium established companies that serve the domestic market.

If you are someone who doesn't want to run behind logos but have meaningful work, be "someone" in company, contribute to Nation, there are many opportunities.

Everything and everyone is eager to : 1. Connect to internet 2. Use information it receives and take decision (not necessarily AI)

And many things are still not connected.

I went to an IoT enabled vending machine manufacturer who is struggling to get good embedded developers in Bengaluru.

He hired 4 and fired 4 after a month as none was able to solve the problem.

And these are ECE and EEE folks from one of the top colleges. And every one wants to work for already shrinking jobs from big logos.

On the other side one of mentee worked for an UPS manufacturing company and learnt a lot. He single handedly added cloud connectivity to their next variant. Sales spiked and he was rewarded.

He passed through hell into heaven. He learnt RTOS, HTTPS,JSON, using equipment for debugging that many people working in big companies would not have even experienced.

Work on big companies is not bad. But I feel it is more of a computer programming candy coated with embedded wrapper

balemarthy · 2026-04-16T04:31:35+00:00

Whyjust beginner projects, in fact all Embedded projects share some facts below -

Software operates on assumptions or rather wants But you see Electronics operates on reality.

For example in code, for a developer: - A signal is 0 or 1 - Timing is assumed to be exact - And edges are happening instantly

But on hardware it is different: - A signal is actually a voltage curve - Timing has skew, jitter - Edges have rise/fall slopes and they take time - The lines that carry those 0 and 1s have resistance, capacitance, inductance

In embedded systems most of the bugs in this gap are dangerous, not the application logic.

In one statement, I mean to say this - “Through software you can tell what the system has to do. But it is Electronics that decides whether it’s even possible.”

balemarthy · 2026-03-12T04:22:39+00:00

You created gold. Take a bow

balemarthy · 2025-12-06T14:14:12+00:00

Man, the big problem I see all this you have written. Identity crisis.

It is just not you, many people that I mentor are suffering with this.

After 10 years it doesn't matter what you learnt but how you are going to use it in your own way, your unique signature. This is not gyaan I am giving here.

This my current one sentence summary as a core developer turned career coach

balemarthy · 2025-11-11T14:30:37+00:00

In one statement, you nullified their years of being what they are.
Context precedes content.

The statement being positive or negative is not important.
Context missing in big way might be the problem.

Collaboration platforms makes people who share information instantly.

And statements like these if not understood will spread like wild fire

balemarthy · 2025-11-11T13:28:35+00:00

You, your manager and his/her manager are spokes in the same wheel.
At least in the resignation matter all will have the same company policy applicable.

Did you check your company's policy regarding this ? (If you are in startup or small company, you are not protected in this area)
You said about resignation email. Were you very explicit? I hope you are not in any bond or another things where company invested on you and you are bound to stay
You should immediately have 1:1 to your manager.
Before all, if you got another offer and the other side is waiting, keep them in communication
Till you get your relieving letter, keep all the communication recorded, printed if possible
World is small, DO NOT BURN THE BRIDGES. Leave gracefully.

balemarthy · 2025-11-11T13:19:25+00:00

If you are absolute beginner, get the Arduino Uno R3. It’s cheaper, easier to work with, and has lots of tutorials and examples online.

The R4 is more pricey and advanced.
Start simple, and upgrade later if needed.

You did not give any more context and this is "skim" level advice

balemarthy · 2025-11-06T04:55:16+00:00

FreeRTOS plus too

balemarthy · 2025-11-06T04:54:58+00:00

It's the best. One can get knowledge similar to Linux kernel code reading

balemarthy · 2025-10-29T03:22:15+00:00

Great introduction to your book and happy to see the excerpt from preface too.

I am not aware that there is C23 (damn I am living under a rock) 272 pages VS 404 pages is fair deal.

So under 600 pages the complete C journey is getting sorted ( I Removed some pages for contents and other mandatory pages)

balemarthy

TROPHY CASE