electronics Archives - App Code Labs

January 9, 2019

Introduction to IoT: Build a Simple MQTT Subscriber Using ESP8266

Do you want to build a simple IoT device using ESP8266? With built-in WiFi, it’s a fantastic platform for IoT and home automation. In this tutorial you’ll learn how easy it is to build an MQTT subscriber that you can control with messages sent from anywhere on your network. In the previous article in this IoT series, you learned how...

Arduino/Electronics/ESP8266/IoT/MQTT

November 19, 2018

What’s an SoC? Defining system-on-chip is harder than you think.

As gadgets get more advanced, the technology inside them has been subtly changing. Not too long ago, microcontrollers were the mainstay of most battery-powered gadgets and appliances around the home. But over the last decade or so this has started to shift, and ever more devices are now based upon system-on-chips (SoCs). But what exactly is this new class of...

Electronics/Hardware/Microprocessors/SoC

November 7, 2018

Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: 9 Crucial Differences You Need to Know

A lot of newcomers ask which is best: Arduino or Raspberry Pi? There’s no “right” answer to that question. It depends entirely on your needs, because even though they look similar and cost roughly the same, it’s like comparing apples with oranges. There are a lot of differences between Raspberry Pi and Arduino. No-one has the time to read the...

Arduino/Electronics/Hardware/I/O/Linux/Raspberry Pi

March 10, 2018

Build an ATtiny44/24/84 Programmer Using an Arduino Nano

This tutorial will demonstrate how to build a programmer that can directly flash Atmel’s ATtiny range of microcontrollers, using only an Arduino Nano and a few additional parts. The programmer will work unmodified with the ATtiny44, ATtiny24 and ATtiny84, and is easy to adapt to the ATTiny25/45/85 by reconfiguring the breadboard wiring. Why Would I Use a Raw AVR Micro?...

Arduino/Electronics/Hardware/I/O

February 28, 2018

How to Read a Matrix Keypad Using Arduino

This tutorial shows you how to read a key matrix so you can hook up a simple keypad interface to your Arduino. This kind of functionality has almost endless uses, but it’s particularly useful for door entry and other security systems, as well as simple menu-driven GUIs for home automation. Why We Need This Many of the gadgets that we design as makers...