Ask HN: How to get started in building casual, practical hardware? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How to get started in building casual, practical hardware?

4 pointsansc4 comments

Hi HN!

I have a very broad understanding of software development, including the hardware that constitutes a computer. I do not know any electronics directly however, e.g. how to calculate or circuits or the like. I am familiar with gates and could build a basic theoretical CPU with them though.

For a long time I've been wanting to learn how to build something that "bridges" the software with hardware. Examples such as automatic dispensers which can be controlled from a microcontroller, turning the coffee machine from a microcontroller -- that kind of "hacky" home stuff.

Usually I never have any issues learning the basics of a hobby, but for some reason this have been very daunting for me and I never get a good intuitive grasp for it and have a hard time even getting started.

Do anyone have any success stories with learning this as a hobby? Do you need to understand circuits and electronics? People usually say "just start on a project you want to do", but with electronics I find it really hard to even know what questions to ask and get comprehensible results from it on Google. It would be nice to go through 1200 pages of The Art of Electronics, but it's hard to justify it and it's probably not the happiest/most valuable experience for me (I assume?).

FWIW, I am in a similar position. There is a hardware project I want to build, but had no idea where to start. I asked ChatGPT to guide me and it has gone very well. I haven't actually built anything yet, but my mental state is 100% different. I prompted with something like,

"You are an expert consumer hardware designer and builder. I am a software developer and I want to make a hardware project for the first time. Here are my requirements: _____. Please make a plan to teach me how to build a prototype at home. Start off with a high-level overview and we'll dive into details as we go"

> Examples such as automatic dispensers which can be controlled from a microcontroller, turning the coffee machine from a microcontroller

While the goal-oriented mindset might get you tangible results, it lacks curiosity which is the essence to truly understanding and loving anything. Maybe toy with a circuit simulator [1] (check out the samples under menu point "circuits") and see how your interest evolves?

[1] http://lushprojects.com/circuitjs/circuitjs.html

The second part of "just start," is "and allow yourself to suck."

It's a hobby.

For electronics you need a multi-meter.

Get the cheapest one.

If you must shop, get the cheapest one that beeps upon continuity.

Buy a "300 piece" electronics kit for $20.

Buy a $15 soldering iron.

Then you will have everything you need to start if electronics is actually something you want to do...versus electronics being an idea you like to have.

Again, expect to suck and to fail if you do it because that is what learning something new feels like.

Good luck.

When I started there were just electronic components, and you could only begin there. Now there are hobbyist built circuits which you can hook together, and libraries of pre built software.

Starting where I did gave me a very clear understanding of how things work. But it is not instant gratification!

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