“Hardware is a multi-disciplinary challenge that requires multi-disciplinary talent.///
The interest in both hardware, and software’s role in differentiating it, has given rise to a new technical skill set that MacBeth says is becoming one of the most powerful combinations in the industry: “It’s the systems-oriented software engineer who understands concepts like power management, radio signals, network communication for small devices.” The problem is, right now, this is a very difficult person to recruit.
“My advice for startup founders is that you need to hire generalists,” says MacBeth. “This applies equally to hardware startups. It’s easier for those people to have perspective on how entire systems work together. People who are generalists with deep computer science backgrounds can be placed on any kind of software problem.”
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, or even use Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for MakeCode, CircuitPython, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell with Google Hangouts On-Air is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
