STM32CubeIDE programmer and ST-LINK GDB server on Linux

This article discusses how to create a minimal set-up for running a gdb server on Linux using ST tools.

ST provides the STM32CubeIDE, which is an IDE based on Eclipse and designed to include the entire STM32 workflow. I am not super fan of all this super complex and bloated IDEs, as they tend force a fixed development strategy on the user. I therefore tried to look for alternatives.

Python matplotlib: insets and aligned legends

Sometimes it is needed to create a plot with several lines and to assign a legend to each of them, which quite often ends in cumbersome and clunky legends. In my opinion, a more elegant way is include the legend as aligned text aside to each plot line, which is possible using Python and matplotlib.

Furthermore, to better highlight some details it is also possible to use an inset, hence to add a box which zooms a particular detail of the plot.

In the following is the Python code. The style is optimised for an IEEEtran journal.

Import a RF design (and logos) from svg, png or Gerber files into Kicad

KiCad is a wonderful software for PCB designing, it is open-source and can handle the complete workflow from the schematic to the final layout.

Unfortunately, it is not (yet) intended for RF circuit and antenna design. In these cases, a suitable program should be used, which could be ADS, CST, HFSS, or others. These are expensive but, unfortunately, the open-source tools are still not complete enough. I generally use multiple open-source tools depending of the requirements and quite often compare the results to evaluate the correctness.

Long story short, I was facing with the need to create a PCB by incorporating some custom Inductive Power Transfer coils, which I could export to a Gerber file from CST and some patch antennas and matching circuits, from ADS. The idea was to import the different parts from the Gerbers into different footprints, which are then assigned to schematics blocks and placed on the PCB.

There are no ways (yet) to get it simply by using some pre-baked functions, but some tricks are needed.

This post is a walk-through different options that can be used. I try to compare the options and outline the strengths of each one.

Notice that the same methods can be used to produce custom logos or any custom shape.

Visually engaging periodic plots using Python

In order to obtain periodic images with a technical feel to be embedded in a website, I decided to compose them with Python and Matplotlib. The plots are essentially some sums and multiplications of "noisy" sines.

Reduce screen blue light - f.lux and RedShift

Day by day, artificial lights with a huge blue spectrum are becoming more ubiquitous.
By mean of the melatonin mechanism it is said blue light can influence the ability to sleep.
In pre-fluorescent era, the standard was the incandescent bulb: this bulb is known to radiate similarly to a 3500K black body, thus with a low blue component and with a low effect on the melanopsin-containing cells in your retina which reacts to light.
The change to fluorescent and led [and...] lights has changed the paradigm.

Change MAC address in Sabayon/Gentoo Linux

If, for any reason, you want to change your MAC address in Sabayon/Gentoo Linux, there are two easy way to do it.
Everything is done as root.