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Bench Talk for Design Engineers

Bench Talk

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Bench Talk for Design Engineers | The Official Blog of Mouser Electronics


Michael Parks, P.E. is the co-founder of Green Shoe Garage, a custom electronics design studio and embedded security research firm located in Western Maryland. He produces the Gears of Resistance Podcast to help raise public awareness of technical and scientific matters. Michael is also a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Maryland and holds a Master’s degree in systems engineering from Johns Hopkins University.


From Bare Metal to Zephyr: How RTOSes Power Embedded Systems
On September 8, 2025 in All, Computing, General, Open Source by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Curious how modern embedded systems handle complex tasks with precision and reliability? Discover how real-time operating systems like ZephyrOS help developers build smarter, faster, and safer applications—and why it might be time to level up your next project.
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129 Views
Tagged With: delays, deterministic, embedded, firmware, industrial, iot, kernel, low-latency, microcontroller, modular, open-source, os, processes, real-time operating system, rtos, scheduler, tasks, threads, timers, zephyr
Talking in Bits: Embedded System Protocols for Sharing Data
On June 13, 2025 in All, Computing, General, IoT by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
From smartwatches to cars, today’s gadgets are constantly talking—but how? Dive into the digital communication and protocols that make devices connect, share, and respond. Whether it's sensors, screens, or smart assistants, learn how they communicate to make tech work seamlessly.
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547 Views
Tagged With: 1-wire, audio interface, can, communication protocols, digital, embedded systems, i2c, i2s, microcontroller, miso, mosi, rs-485, scl, sda, serial, signaling, spi, synchronous, uart
Data at the Edge: Why Computing Is Coming Home from the Cloud
On May 28, 2025 in All, Computing, Industrial, IoT, Low Power by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Edge computing is transforming how we process data, shifting intelligence from the cloud to local devices. Explore how edge computing has evolved, from its underlying technologies to how it empowers engineers to build responsive, efficient, and intelligent systems at the edge.
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706 Views
Tagged With: ai, data processing, edge computing, embedded, iot, latency reduction, machine learning, real-time data analytics
Quantum Programming
On April 14, 2025 in All, Computing, General, STEAM by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Quantum programming is revolutionizing computing, moving beyond classical bits to harness superposition, entanglement, and interference. Languages like Cirq look familiar but operate on different principles. Explore how quantum gates, circuits, and algorithms are shaping the future of computation.
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711 Views
Tagged With: c#, cirq, entanglement, interference, qiskit, quantum algorithms, quantum circuits, quantum computing, quantum gates, quantum programming, qubits, superposition
Getting Started with Soldering: A Maker's Essential Skill
On April 4, 2025 in All, General, STEAM, Student Central by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Soldering is a key skill for makers and engineers, turning them from consumers to creators. It joins components to create strong electrical and mechanical connections. With the right tools, techniques, and practice, reliable joints are achievable with both through-hole and surface-mount components.
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812 Views
Tagged With: circuit board, how to solder, pcb, smd, soldering, soldering guide, soldering iron, soldering safety, soldering techniques, soldering tips, surface mount soldering, through-hole
Getting Started with Coding a DIY Project
On March 17, 2025 in All, Computing, General, Open Source by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Embedded systems integrate hardware and firmware, using languages like Arduino C++ and CircuitPython for microcontroller programming. Learn how to write and debug DIY electronics projects and explore IDEs, pseudocode, and debugging techniques to develop reliable embedded applications easily.
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872 Views
Tagged With: arduino, c++, circuitpython, coding, development, diy, electronics, embedded, firmware, microcontroller, micropython, programming
Embedded Development Using No-Code/Low-Code Platforms
On March 13, 2025 in All, Computing, Dev Tools, General, Open Source by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
No-code/low-code (NCLC) platforms allow non-programmers to build apps. Popular for desktop and web, they're expanding to embedded systems. Examine NCLC platforms’ capabilities and limitations, like tools with drag-and-drop interfaces for rapid development but limits on customization and performance.
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1026 Views
Tagged With: arduino, blocklyduino, development, embedded, labview, mendix, nclc, no-code/low-code, node-red, platform, scratch, torizon, visuino, xod
Coding for Automation: Programming a PLC
On January 3, 2025 in All, Automation, General, Industrial, IoT by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
PLCs bridge the industrial and information revolutions, evolving from manual rewiring to programmable automation and advanced networking, enabling IIoT integration and real-time data exchange. Early PLCs required assembly or Fortran knowledge, but ladder logic emerged as the dominant programming method.
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1308 Views
Tagged With: automation, digital, factory, iec 61131-3, industrial, industrial revolution 4.0, information, ladder logic, manufacturing, plc, programming
Optimizing Software for Multicore Arm Microcontrollers
On December 27, 2024 in All, Computing, General, Low Power by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Multicore Arm® MCUs revolutionize embedded systems with enhanced performance, efficiency, and power savings. Explore Cortex-A, Cortex-R, and Cortex-M configurations for diverse applications and learn programming models, parallel processing, and optimization techniques to maximize their capabilities.
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1243 Views
Tagged With: arm, compiler, concurrency, embedded systems, message handling, microcontrollers, multicore, parallel processing, programming, real-time, software development
Rust Programming Language for Microcontrollers
On June 21, 2024 in All, Computing, General by Mike Parks
Mike Parks
Rust is an increasingly popular language for embedded systems. It addresses limitations of C, like memory management and lack of package management, while offering features for safer concurrency and eliminating common bugs.
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1985 Views
Tagged With: c language, embedded rust working group, mcu, microcontrollers, programming, rust

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