I'm a software engineer by day and an engineer all the time. Even though working in software since high school, always wanted to work in something more "tangible."

Apart from mechanical and building engineering, electronics was always something that attracted me, not enough to make a career out of it but electronics are all around us and it pairs greatly with my software skills. Even though I can cheat with programming when working on a programmable IC (e.g. Arduino or Pico) I always strived to understand how to do it on a lower level and work with a live thing, electricity, and learn how it can be used to do the work I intend.

My side projects include the development of multiple small devices like simple lighting (in shelf lights), the budget scoreboard for tennis/paddle (using a remote control) for clubs who haven't started a remote car RC. I also try to get my nephew and niece interested in making "stuff" themselves, through programming (e.g., Micro Bit) and start on electronics as well, basic for now.

I have done "ok" so far but things get interesting when working with sensors and IC2 or SPI communication when things stop working and I don't know the point of failure and I miss software breakpoints. So, my next needs go through a simple power supply (which I'll probably try to build out of a PC power supply) and a better oscilloscope and signal generator for my debugging and testing bench.

My illustration is of my mobile lab, as Covid forced me to release the extra room to became a dedicated office. I just laid out a couple of projects I'm working on.

I must understand in order to explore the full power of a tool. I can use a component if I know what it does, but I must understand exactly why it is behaving like it is in order to use it effectively and, in electronics, a good oscilloscope goes a long way.

Thanks for your consideration!

Best regards,

João Lopes