electronics.dev

Apple’s new iPhone Air might look like a futuristic, ultra-thin smartphone, but under the hood, it’s closer to an Apple Watch strapped to a giant battery. In this episode, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down the wild engineering behind making phones slimmer than ever: iPhone Air Deep Dive: * Why the iPhone Air’s PCB layout looks more like a smartwatch than a phone * How Apple carved down the circuit board to a tiny “plateau” under the camera * The real limits of *batteries, casings, and glass thickness* * Why reducing *just 1 mm* of thickness is brutally hard * Tricks like *embedded resistors* inside the PCB stack-up * Why thinner phones aren’t just aesthetic — they change the entire board design Beyond the iPhone — Startup Life & Silicon Valley: * What “honest tells” are — from biology to founder culture * The strange power moves of Silicon Valley investors and founders * Why outfits are status signals in tech * Lessons from Reddit’s messy founder history * How investor–founder dynamics shifted in the past 15 years * The psychology of saying “no” to meetings (and why it makes you work harder) If you’ve ever wondered how Apple keeps packing a supercomputer into a device smaller than your wallet or what it’s really like building hardware startups in Silicon Valley, this episode blends both worlds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Auto-routing sounds simple: connect the traces, hit “go,” and let the software handle the rest. But in reality, PCB auto-layout is one of the hardest problems in electronics.In this episode of electronics.dev, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down why auto-routing is so difficult: from impedance matching and creepage rules to high-speed signal integrity and noise coupling.They also explore the new wave of AI-driven solutions and whether they can finally deliver on the promise of hands-free PCB layout. Along the way, the duo dives into:* Why traditional auto-routers often fail on complex boards* The trade-offs between speed and quality in modern routing algorithms* How engineers use SAT solvers and constraint systems to optimize pin assignments* What tools like Quilter and DeepPCB are getting right (and wrong)* Why AI-assisted optimization might work better than full AI-generated layouts* How the future of PCB design could be shaped by deterministic solvers + AI refinementIf you’ve ever wondered why PCB design still feels like an art form, and whether AI will finally make auto-routing reliable, this conversation offers an inside look at the problem and the potential solutions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Custom chip design is no longer reserved for billion-dollar tech giants. In this episode, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) explore how advances in tooling, prototyping, and the EDA industry are making custom silicon accessible to startups, makers, and engineers like never before.You’ll discover:* How Tesla’s early battery management challenges led to unique custom chip solutions* The surprising economics of a $7K run for 5,000 prototype chips* Why most microcontrollers still use massive 90nm processes, and why that works* Analog vs. digital scaling: where Moore’s Law still applies and where it doesn’t* Funding trends in hardware startups, from Diode to SnapMagic* The state of open-source electronics after the OpenSauce conference* CNC milling “micron accuracy” claims: myth vs. reality* Why PCB milling often isn’t worth the time for serious prototypingWhether you’re a hardware engineer, startup founder, or electronics enthusiast, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the tools, economics, and decisions shaping the next generation of hardware. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

AI Isn’t Coming For Electronics Design. It’s Already Here. Matt (founder of Atopile) and Seve (founder of TSCircuit) return with a deep dive into the rapidly shifting world of electronics and mechanical design. In this episode, they discuss how AI is reshaping every part of the hardware stack: from PCB layouts to robotic assembly. What you'll learn today: * Why "arms in a box" robotics startups are booming * How Meta’s world models might replace control loops * The explosive growth of synthetic data for training AIs * Why OpenCascade and legacy CAD tools are holding engineers back * The rise of custom, code-native CAD kernels like Zoo * The power of constraint-based design thinking * Could text-to-CAD finally be useful in real workflows? * Why betting on “X as code” years ago is paying off now Whether you’re a hardware engineer, an AI researcher, or a curious builder, this conversation reveals the core changes happening right now in how electronics are designed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

In this episode of electronics.dev, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down a quiet revolution in electronics: designing circuit boards with code and compiler-like workflows, not traditional schematics. They dive into: * Why traditional EDA tools limit innovation* How constraints, templates, and AI are unlocking more expressive, testable circuit design* The surprising overlap between web layout (CSS) and PCB layout* How tools like atopile let you think in relationships, not in traces* What “spatial reasoning” really means for engineers, and why half of us may be bad at it* Why autonomous layout and reference design matching will change everything Along the way, the duo shares reflections on: * The enduring power of sketching in engineering* Using AI as a design partner (and critique engine)* How mechanical and electronics design differ, and what each can learn from the other* Why circuit fabrication is standardized, but placement logic is still tribal knowledge If you’ve ever written hardware configuration code, fought with schematic tools, or dreamt of a world where hardware is as programmable and composable as software, this episode is for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Seve (founder at tscircuit) and Matt (founder at atopile) tear into the wild intersection of geopolitics and hardware as they explore a North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile teardown. This episode reveals how Western components still end up in restricted military tech, and how second-hand supply chains blur the line between hobby electronics and weapons of war. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. From chip smuggling to the future of prototyping, this episode explores how electronics shape everything from missiles to laundry robots. What You’ll Learn Today: * How NXP, Analog Devices, and Fairchild chips wound up in a North Korean missile * The surprising link between PlayStation 2 and military supercomputers * Why chip reverse engineering is rarely worth it, unless you're a rogue state* How China is trying (and struggling) to close the chip tech gap* Why ASML is a single point of failure for the global chip industry* The future of humanoid robots and open-source robotics startups* A new “jumperless breadboard” that redefines prototyping* A wild idea for a fully automated PCB assembly shop Whether you're into defence tech, microcontroller ecosystems, or the nerdy tools reshaping prototyping and manufacturing, this episode will blow your mind! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Are we finally close to fabbing real PCBs at home?In this episode, Seve (tscircuit) and Matt (atopile) go deep into the state of DIY PCB fabrication: why it feels like the early days of 3D printing, what's still holding it back, and what could push it over the edge.We talk lasers, vias, copper, tariffs, and some surprising hacks people use to prototype faster without sending things to China.What You’ll Learn Today:* How fiber lasers are being used to blast copper off PCBs* Why vias are still the bottleneck for DIY PCB prototyping* What a $200K laser ablation machine actually does* How one engineer claims to make PCBs with no chemicals at all* Whether DIY sintered copper vias might actually work* How U.S. tariffs sparked a wave of fake “local” PCB fabs* Why 3D printing and PCB fab might follow the same path* What still needs to happen before in-house PCB manufacturing is truly usableWhether you're building hardware, designing boards, or just wondering what’s next for fast prototyping, this is one of our most technical and fun episodes yet. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder at tscircuit) and Matt (founder at atopile) for a no-fluff conversation about the future of electronics design. In this episode, the founders dive deep into:* Why designing PCBs with code is better than legacy schematic tools* How Chinese factories like JLCPCB dominate with software automation* The hidden costs of tariffs — and why they don’t actually help US manufacturing* Why open-source hardware and standards like ODB++ and IPC are a mess* Real talk on US vs. Chinese PCB fabs, and what needs to changeWhether you're a hardware engineer, startup founder, or just curious about how electronics are made, this episode is packed with firsthand insights, rants, and laughs.Bonus topics:* Automating your business taxes with AI* What “open source” really means in 2025* The surprisingly painful experience of launching a landing page This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Seve's original postPart 1 episodeThis episode continues where the last one left off, diving into Part 2 of Seve's blog post “13 Things I Wish I Knew Before Building an Autorouter.” 🧠⚡ Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) explore the deep technical challenges of auto-routing printed circuit boards using code, compiler toolchains, and caching, rather than traditional schematics-based tools.In this second half, they unpack:* Why caching is crucial for speeding up PCB auto-routing* Visualization as a debugging superpower* The power of PyInstrument and visual profiling tools* Why recursive functions and Monte Carlo methods often fail in optimization* Game dev tricks (like greedy A*) adapted for PCB pathfinding* The difference between grid-based vs intersection-based routing math* Why keeping results grounded in physical space (like millimeters) makes debugging easier* Using animation to catch stupid behavior before it goes live* How a meta-router manages multiple strategies in parallel* Insights from CNC machines and high-fidelity spatial modelingThis episode is packed with Seve and Matt's hands-on experiences, hard-won insights, and sharp advice for anyone building or using modern, code-first electronics design tools.🛠 Whether you're a PCB engineer, systems architect, or startup founder in the hardware space, this conversation is pure gold. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

In this special guest episode, Matt (founder of Atopile) talks with Tyler Maran, founder and CEO of OmniAI, about how traditional OCR gives way to AI-native tools that actually work. OmniAI uses cutting-edge vision-language models to parse datasheets, extract data from messy PDFs, and interpret charts, with accuracy levels that leave legacy OCR in the dust. This episode dives deep into how modern AI models can read and understand electronics documentation, turning datasheets into structured, machine-usable formats like Markdown, HTML, and JSON. Forget brittle extraction rules and regex hacks — this is about intelligent parsing.💡 What you’ll learn today:* How OmniAI uses vision-language models to parse 600 million datasheet pages* Why LLMs are outperforming traditional OCR in accuracy and cost* The insane complexities of converting PDF charts into usable circuit data* How AI models handle errata, tribal logic, and embedded graphs* The concept of "thinking models" vs "simple models" for different document types* Why designing PCBs with code gives you a feedback loop, just like software* What “agent mode” looks like for parsing hardware documentation* Why human-level AI might be running on iPads in 2 years* How Matt uses Atopile and Cursor to compile hardware like softwarePlus: patent law hacks, robotic bartenders, anarchist hackerspaces, and how laziness can be a superpower in engineering. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they analyse OpenAI's impressive GPT-4.1 release and contrast it with Meta's controversial Llama 4 launch.In this episode, our hardware and AI experts explore:* OpenAI's brilliant strategy of releasing three GPT-4.1 variants: standard, mini, and nano* How the tiered approach allows developers to choose the right model for their specific needs* Why GPT-4.1's instruction-following capabilities make it ideal for agent-based applications* The stark contrast with Meta's Llama 4 release, which has failed to live up to its benchmark claims* Why no one has been able to reproduce Llama 4's claimed performance levels* The critical importance of single-GPU inference for edge computing applicationsThe duo also discusses fascinating related topics:* The economics of AI deployment and why local compute makes sense* How tariffs are reshaping tech manufacturing decisions* The revolutionary potential of edge AI for robotics* Why latency requirements make on-device AI essential for advanced applications* The future of modular electronics for AI developmentWhether you're an AI developer, hardware engineer, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers crucial insights into the evolving landscape of AI models and their deployment strategies. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Subtitle:Two hardware founders explore how AI models are transforming electronics development, sleep science, and creative imageryDescription:Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they dive into the AI revolution reshaping hardware development and everyday life. This dynamic conversation explores how cutting-edge AI models transform electronics design, personal health tracking, and creative expression.The duo unpacks:* How Gemini 2.5 Pro's massive 1 million token context window is revolutionizing hardware debugging and algorithm development* Why PCB auto-routing is finally becoming viable after decades of skepticism from hardware engineers* The viral phenomenon of "ghiblifying" photos with GPT-4o's image generation capabilities* Andre Karpathy's comprehensive sleep tracker experiment revealing which devices work (and which are "random number generators")* Why spatial hash indexing outperforms traditional quadtree structures for PCB routing algorithms* The shifting power dynamic between software and hardware development in the AI eraPlus fascinating tangents into:* The technical marvel inside Oura Ring's tiny form factor* Creative ways to visualize technical concepts using AI image generation* How to use Repo-mix to dump entire codebases into AI systems for debugging* The untapped potential of AI-assisted hardware design workflows* Morning routines of engineers and viral "5 am routine" videosWhether you're a hardware engineer looking to leverage AI in your workflow, a sleep optimization enthusiast, or just curious about the bleeding edge of technology, this conversation offers unique insights into how artificial intelligence transforms our tools and creative possibilities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve and Matt as they dive deep into the incredible story of Lilium, the billion-dollar electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) startup that promised to revolutionize air travel—and then spectacularly crashed.In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:* The shocking moment a multi-million dollar prototype caught fire* How startup culture clashed with aerospace engineering* The critical importance of rapid iteration in high-stakes technology* Why being caught between "startup" and "aerospace company" can be fatal* Insider stories from ground zero of an ambitious technological moonshotMatt shares firsthand experiences from his time as a mechanical engineer at Lilium, revealing:* The challenges of designing ultra-lightweight aircraft components* The complex world of aerospace prototyping* How a single patent can emerge from near-disaster* The psychological challenges of working in a high-pressure startup environmentWhether you're an engineer, entrepreneur, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers a gripping narrative of innovation, ambition, and the razor-thin line between breakthrough and failure.Warning: This podcast сontains explosive (literally!) engineering stories and startup drama that you won't find anywhere else.Timestamps:00:00 Claude 3.7 Sonnet13:50 Lilium Story This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they explore the most exciting developments in the electronics world, focusing on the groundbreaking KiCad 9 release and Microsoft's quantum computing breakthrough!In this information-packed episode, our tech experts dive deep into:* KiCad 9's revolutionary Inter-Process Communication (IPC) API and how it enables external applications to directly interact with KiCad projects* The embedded files feature in KiCad 9 that solves long-standing library management problems* Multiple track drag functionality and other quality-of-life improvements for PCB designers* The challenges of auto-routing and how AI and quantum computing might revolutionize the field* Microsoft's Majorana quantum computing chip breakthrough and its potential applications in electronics design* The shift of cutting-edge research from universities to private industryBut that's not all! Seve and Matt also explore fascinating tangents including:* The evolution of open-source projects like Docker/Podman and how they relate to KiCad's growth* The multi-phase approach to auto-routing and why it's such a difficult problem* The potential of AI in electronics design and the limitations of current approaches* The best PCB manufacturing services and their ordering interfaces (with special mention of Diode Dev's CLI ordering)Whether you're a professional hardware engineer, an electronics hobbyist, or just curious about the cutting edge of technology, this conversation offers unique insights into how the electronics design world is rapidly evolving with new tools and approaches.Watch as Seve and Matt break down complex concepts with real-world examples and share their expert perspectives on where the industry is heading next! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they analyze modern PCB design tools and what is on the horizon for electronics development.In this episode, the duo dives deep into:* The current state of PCB auto-routers and why engineers often distrust them* How chip auto-routers like Triton Route are revolutionizing silicon design* What PCB design could learn from silicon auto-routing algorithms* The importance of design intent in circuit board layout* Why USB-C port implementation often goes wrong (hint: it's about missing resistors!)* The challenge of impedance matching and differential pairs in PCB designPlus fascinating tangents into:* Building link-based vs. net-based design systems* How parts availability and supply chain risk should influence your design choices* The advantages of smooth vs. orthogonal traces in circuit boards* Why government contracts should consider open-source requirements* The powerful role of risk tolerance in Silicon Valley's startup ecosystemWhether you're a hardware engineer looking to improve your PCB designs, a startup founder navigating supply chain challenges, or just curious about the future of electronics design tools, this conversation offers unique insights from two founders at the cutting edge of hardware development.Watch Seve and Matt break down the intricacies of modern PCB design and share their vision for the future of electronics development tools. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) for a wide-ranging conversation on cutting-edge engineering across multiple domains. This episode takes you from the skies to the circuit board as they explore:* The fascinating physics behind Boom Supersonic's quiet supersonic flight technology* How stratification in the atmosphere can redirect sonic booms away from the ground* The evolution of jet engine design and the "suck, squeeze, bang, blow" cycle* The revolution happening in PCB design with modular reusable components* A deep dive into Atopile 0.3's groundbreaking solver that combines SMT and CAS capabilities* Why the "you can just do things" philosophy is driving innovation in hardware* How integrated electronics are transforming everything from rockets to aircraft enginesPlus entertaining tangents into:* The myth vs. reality of sonic booms breaking windows* The debate about using 100 nanofarad vs. 1 microfarad decoupling capacitors* The limitations of semantic versioning in evolving projects* Why are electronics becoming more tightly integrated with mechanical systems* The surprising similarities between Rocket Lab's Electron rocket and modern jet enginesWhether you're a hardware engineer, aerospace enthusiast, or just curious about the cutting edge of technology, this conversation offers fascinating insights into how innovation is happening across different engineering disciplines and why the boundaries between software and hardware continue to blur.Watch Seve and Matt break down complex engineering concepts while sharing their excitement for the future of technology development. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) for a fascinating deep dive into system reliability, test automation, and the future of PCB prototyping! 🔧In this episode, our hardware innovators explore:* The hidden math that determines if your projects will succeed or fail* How Tesla solved reliability issues in their MegaPack battery systems* Why most people's approach to testing is fundamentally broken* The exciting future of next-day PCB prototyping in the US* Game-changing AR/VR tools for electronics debuggingPlus exciting discussions on:* Running AI on ‘90s computers (and why it matters for today)* The revolution coming in rapid PCB prototyping* Different approaches to hardware debugging and test points* The fascinating world of solderless connectors and ultrasonic welding* Why China can prototype electronics so much faster than the US (and how we can catch up)Matt shares insights from his experience at Tesla, while Seve brings his expertise in modern testing practices and hardware development. Whether you're a hobbyist working on electronics projects, a professional engineer, or just curious about the future of technology manufacturing, this episode offers valuable insights into building more reliable systems.Watch as Matt and Seve break down complex engineering concepts into practical insights, and get a glimpse into the exciting future of rapid PCB prototyping that could revolutionize hardware development in the US. From probability theory to laser-etched PCBs, this conversation covers the cutting edge of hardware engineering and testing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they explore the fascinating world of modern electronics interconnects and why traditional wire harnesses might be on their way out. In this wide-ranging conversation, they dive into:* Why flex PCBs are becoming the go-to solution for complex electronics* How Tesla's Powerwall 3 uses origami-style flex PCBs to replace wire harnesses* The challenges of designing and manufacturing wire harnesses today* Why standardization isn't always the answer in electronics design* The role of flex PCBs in consumer electronics like DSLR cameras and gaming devicesPlus fascinating tangents into:* The emergence of AI agents in electronics design* The latest developments in DeepSeek and AI models* Dell's new modular port design and repairability in modern laptops* The evolution of MacBook ports and USB-C* Made-in-America manufacturing and rapid prototyping servicesWhether you're a hardware engineer looking to modernize your designs, a startup founder considering manufacturing options, or just curious about the future of electronics, this episode offers unique insights into how flex PCBs are transforming the industry.Watch Seve and Matt break down the technical challenges and opportunities in modern electronics design, from custom wire harnesses to cutting-edge flex PCB solutions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they dive deep into the latest hardware innovations reshaping the tech landscape. This wide-ranging discussion explores several groundbreaking developments in AI hardware and quantum computing.Key topics covered:* Google's Willow quantum chip and its impact on quantum computing benchmarks* Xreal's innovative AR glasses and their custom X1 chip* Sony's revolutionary IMX 500 image sensor with built-in AI processing* TSMC's new 2nm chip manufacturing facility in Arizona* The state of Intel and challenges in American chip manufacturingPlus fascinating tangents into:* The future of quantum computing applications* AR/VR hardware development trends* Edge AI processing and privacy implications* The changing landscape of chip manufacturing* Celebrity CEOs and tech leadership stylesThe conversation also touches on broader industry trends, including:* The evolution of American manufacturing* The role of technical vs. business leadership in tech companies* Privacy considerations in AI-enabled devices* The future of edge computing and AI processingWhether you're a hardware engineer, tech enthusiast, or industry professional, this discussion offers unique insights into the cutting-edge developments shaping the future of computing and AI hardware.Watch Seve and Matt break down the most exciting hardware innovations of 2024 and their implications for the future of technology. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev

Join Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) as they expose the outdated practices still dominating hardware testing and reveal the exciting solutions emerging from the software world.Matt shares stories from Tesla and other EV companies, explaining why current hardware validation is stuck in the past But there's hope! The duo explores:* Why Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) engineers are suddenly the most sought-after talent in Silicon Valley* How Tesla's automated testing practices are spreading across the industry* The open-source Cell Simulator project that's making battery testing accessible* Why traditional oscilloscopes are being replaced by software-native tools* The game-changing potential of PyTest for hardware validation* How integrated test infrastructure on PCBs is revolutionizing the fieldPlus fascinating tangents into:* The evolution of Python development tools* Version control challenges in hardware* The future of automated testing* Why traditional hardware companies are struggling to adaptWhether you're a hardware engineer frustrated with current testing practices, a software developer curious about hardware, or a tech enthusiast interested in where the industry is heading, this conversation offers unique insights into the fascinating transformation in hardware validation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev