Electronics
Created: 2026-09-23
Microcontrollers
A microcontroller is a cpu with flash memory for the program you want to load, and some RAM. There's no such thing as an OS (although there can be like FreeRTOS), the program is whatever is in flash memory.
Sometimes they can have other IO devices: timers, ADC (reads voltages), PWM, USB, and the chip-to-chip buses (UART/SPI/I2C), or wireless IO like bluetooth and wifi.
Examples:
- ESP32: Has wifi and bluetooth
- ATmega328 (Arduino's)
Every Type of Microcontroller Explained As Easily As Possible For Beginners!
Arduino is a pre-built board with a microcontroller and differing configurations depending on the version, for example the Arduino One has a ATmega328 microcontroller, some Digital and Analog I/O pins, USB, voltage regulator, etc
Needed Tools
In order
- An starter kit(?)
- Multimeter
- Soldering iron
- Wire stripper
- Variable power supply
- Oscilloscope