196  Development and Tools

196.1 Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Use IoT Development Tools: Apply Python libraries and frameworks for IoT application development
  • Select Hardware Platforms: Use decision tools to choose appropriate MCUs and processors
  • Implement Device Selection Logic: Build automated systems for matching requirements to hardware
  • Configure Development Environments: Set up IDEs, compilers, and debugging tools for IoT development
  • Apply Best Practices: Follow coding standards and design patterns for embedded systems
  • Test IoT Applications: Implement unit testing and simulation for IoT software

196.2 Chapter Overview

This section covers the essential development tools, hardware platforms, and workflows for building IoT systems. The content is organized into three focused chapters that progressively build your expertise from hardware selection through professional development practices.

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flowchart LR
    subgraph HW["Hardware Selection"]
        A["MCU vs SBC<br/>Power Budget<br/>Cost Analysis"]
    end

    subgraph Proto["Serial Protocols"]
        B["I2C, SPI, UART<br/>Sensor Integration<br/>Bus Design"]
    end

    subgraph Dev["Development Workflow"]
        C["IDEs & Debugging<br/>CI/CD Pipelines<br/>OTA Updates"]
    end

    HW --> Proto --> Dev

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    style B fill:#E67E22,stroke:#2C3E50,color:#fff
    style C fill:#2C3E50,stroke:#16A085,color:#fff

196.3 Chapter Guide

196.3.1 1. Hardware Platform Selection

Start with Hardware Platform Selection β†’

Learn to choose between microcontrollers (Arduino, ESP32) and single-board computers (Raspberry Pi) based on power requirements, cost constraints, and processing needs. Includes decision trees, power budget calculations, and platform evolution from prototype to production.

Key Topics: - MCU vs SBC comparison and selection criteria - Power consumption analysis and battery life calculations - Cost optimization for scaled deployments - Platform evolution through project phases

196.3.2 2. Serial Communication Protocols

Continue to Serial Communication Protocols β†’

Master I2C, SPI, and UART protocols for connecting sensors and peripherals. Understand when to use each protocol based on speed, pin count, distance, and device count requirements.

Key Topics: - I2C bus architecture for sensor clusters - SPI high-speed communication for displays and flash - UART interfaces for GPS and Bluetooth modules - Common pitfalls and debugging techniques

196.3.3 3. Development Workflow and Tooling

Finish with Development Workflow and Tooling β†’

Establish professional development practices including IDE setup, version control workflows, CI/CD pipelines, hardware debugging, and Over-The-Air (OTA) update strategies.

Key Topics: - PlatformIO and VS Code configuration - Git Flow for embedded development teams - Automated testing and static analysis - Staged OTA rollouts with rollback capability

196.4 Prerequisites

Before diving into these chapters, you should be familiar with:

NoteCross-Hub Connections

Enhance your learning by exploring related resources:

196.5 What’s Next

Start with Hardware Platform Selection to learn how to choose the right processing platform for your IoT application, then progress through serial protocols and development workflows.

Begin with Hardware Platform Selection β†’