DIY Microcontroller Projects for Hobbyists: The ultimate project-based guide to building real-world embedded applications in C and C++ programming

This book is an excellent opportunity for introduction into microcontroller programming in an enthusiastic way using basic C and C++ programming.It is made up of 14 chapters, of which 12 are diverse projects that may be caried out, the first two chapters give us an introduction to the microcontrollers which are recommended for the elaboration of these projects and that, also, provide a basic introduction to the programming languages which are suggested.Each program is extremely well explained in every necessary component, its connection, the parameters to maintain, and the code necessary for the correct use and interpretation.Projects range from the most basic concepts such as turning on and off an LED, to systems which are added to Internet of Things (IoT), passing to Sensors of Gas, Sound, Light, Humidity and Temperature, Ultrasonic Sensors, etc.Undoubtedly, this is a necessary guide for anyone who wants to have an introduction to the use of microcontrollers and not die in the process. This is a book which is very well made, well explained, with easy, and most importantly, stimulating projects in order to not stop there and to continue developing one’s creativity.In my opinion, it deserves 5 stars, since I will soon start to immerse myself in this world and I didn’t know where to start. It is a book that one must get and have as the basis for further projects.

This was not my usual cup of tea but remained immensely interesting. Typically, I focus more on the code and security side but this book offered some great knowledge on electrical diagrams and circuitry. When I initially added it to my collection, I was thinking microcontrollers in terms of using layered containers and infrastructure but this focuses on C+ programming (a refreshing review for me) and implementing Blue Pill and Curiosity Nano microcontrollers. If you haven’t done any electrical programming recently or are just looking to expand your knowledge, this is a great start.The authors cover all the required elements for constructing everything from a simple light, to water and temperature sensors. At the end, one of the most interesting projects is building a sensor and beeper to warn you during COVID if anyone approaches within 6 feet, and start buzzing. The following chapter then creates a sensor to time how long an action occurs, specifically tied to washing your hands. Good on them for including COVID requirements!The part about temperature, light, and particulate sensors is also great. I certainly could use the humidity application to make sure my office plants are watered nicely. The real key to the book is providing the basics to building your own microcontrollers with associated code. One of the shortfalls is many of the items (wires, sensors, solder-less breadboard)have to be purchased separately before starting although many can be used multiple times. These basics will help as users expand to more complicated microcontroller items. Recommend the book for anyone starting out with microcontroller projects.

I am in Chapter 4 and already I am having difficulty getting the STM to work with the Arduino IDE and the Curiosity Nano board is not working with the photoresistor. Nothing in the book provides advise on either problem. One of the authors did respond to my question regarding the Curiosity Nano board but the potential solution is something not discussed at all in the book.

This book is a good way to start coding microcontroller projects. If you are an enthusiast and get excited about hands-on projects, this book may be just for you.One of the things I liked about the book is the writing. It is streamlined and concise, focused on an entry level. Another aspect that I liked is that it provides several actual examples that can be implemented using two types of boards.On the flipside, some of the things that could be enhanced throughout the book is documenting and explaining the code. The snippets are shown, and explain what they do, but it took me some time to understand what each line of code did. The first two chapters (the basics on electronics and C programming language) may not be sufficient to implement some of the projects if you have no previous knowledge of electronics or low-level programming languages such as the C programming languages. Finally, a troubleshooting section could be of help to those who are really starting to implement these types of projects.Overall: I recommend this book to those who want to get hands-on experience on implementing simple microcontroller projects but be aware that you may need to invest additional time to learn some of the concepts presented in this book, if you do not have previous experience in implementing such projects.

A great introduction to the fundamental concepts necessary for DIY embedded projects (i.e. hardware components, basic coding concepts etc.). Each project is accompanied with a list of necessary components, simple wire diagrams and a github repo link for cloning of code. When new concepts are introduced such as de-bouncing a button, the WHY is discussed with multiple solutions, not just the HOW of fixing the problem. I also loved the tangible COVID-19 applications shown at the end of book.That being said, the book sometimes spreads itself too thin as both educational and a how-to. The concepts of some projects are covered in great detail while others are purely instruction ("do this, do that"). In addition, although "Further Resources" are provided, I would have loved to see a brief section of "Ideas of how to expand this project" or even just some probing questions to encourage the beginner to build something on top of the base projects.Overall, a strong beginner DIY book that should serve newcomers interested in embedded projects well!

As a hobbyist with experience writing microcontroller code in C and assembly language, this book is very helpful. It also would be helpful to a beginner hobbyist just starting out with its detailed code snippets, explanation of the code, and circuit diagrams. The only thing I wish was different is that the diagrams were printed in colour, but they're easy enough to read in greyscale.