Tools
Tools are what you use on your devices — to build them, power them, measure them, and program them. They split into three groups:
| Group | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Power & Hand Tools | Supplying power and physically assembling/reworking hardware (bench supply, soldering, hand tools). |
| Measurement Instruments | Answering "what is this signal actually doing?" (multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyzer). |
| Programmers & Debuggers | Getting code onto a chip and stepping through it (ST-Link, J-Link, USB-UART). |
A debugging workflow
When something doesn't work, move down this ladder:
- Multimeter — is it even powered? Is GND continuous? Right voltage on VCC?
- Logic analyzer / oscilloscope — is the signal present and the right shape/timing?
- Debugger — set a breakpoint and watch the code's actual behaviour.
Before powering or soldering
Read Lab Rules & Safety: ventilation when soldering, eye protection, power down before wiring, and correct LiPo/Li-ion handling.