Let me take you through a recent project I’ve been working on - and why electronics projects demand a very different mindset from software ones.

I’m currently working on low-level display software for LCDs, and repeatedly wiring a 16×2 LCD on a breadboard was slowing me down.

So I decided to solve the problem properly.

I designed a custom “LCD Socket and Pin Board,” a small PCB that lets me connect the LCD using jumper wires only, no breadboard required. Simple goal. Very real constraints.

Unlike software, hardware mistakes cost money, time, and shipping delays.

Every decision matters before you hit “order.”

That’s when the real learning began.

Cost

Total cost: $27 USD

Includes:

• Manufacturing

• Assembly

• Design corrections

• Shipping to Canada

• ~50% discount from the manufacturer

Manufacturer based in China (the most affordable option I found)

15 days from order to delivery via Canada Post

For context: this was cheaper than I expected and more affordable than hardware used to be.

Process

Here’s the exact workflow I followed (using KiCAD):

1. Created the electronic schematic

2. Assigned component footprints (physical placement)

3. Routed the board (electrical connections)

4. Exported & modified files for manufacturing (Gerbers, BOM, pick-and-place files, etc.)

5. Made design corrections to ensure the board would actually work

Every step forced me to think ahead - there’s no “quick patch” once a PCB is shipped.

This project reinforced a key truth:

Hardware rewards precision upfront, not iteration afterward.

That’s a fundamentally different mental model from software—and one every engineer should experience at least once.

Next steps

• Test the board

• Use it to continue building the LCD library I’m working on (more on that later 👀)

• I won’t be selling these boards - but that’s not the point.

If you’ve ever thought about building your own electronics - for personal projects or business - this is the best time in history to do it.

That said, I still believe the barrier to entry is high.

If we lower it further, the possibilities are enormous.

Imagine a world where:

• A functional robot costs under $100

• Hardware innovation is as accessible as software

That kind of shift wouldn’t just be incremental - it would be revolutionary.

If you’re a software engineer curious about hardware, or a hobbyist wondering if it’s “worth it,” it is.

Just be ready to think differently.

Even though most large companies are going mostly public cloud (e.g., Netflix, Walmart), I have adopted a hybrid cloud approach to deploying applications since my needs are not those of a multinational company.

I find public cloud pricey for founders without VC money, and though 80% of my applications run on my private cloud environment, I am still bullish on public cloud, especially platforms like Vercel, Laravel Cloud, Fly.io, etc. Below are three reasons why I am bullish:

1. Time is the most precious commodity.

   Cloud platforms save a lot of time. As a budding solopreneur, I have come to the realization that time is the most important asset at my disposal. I have found myself in situations where I spent hours that could have been spent elsewhere on sorting out Infrastructure issues.

2. The burden of securing your infrastructure is now shared.

   Security is one of the issues a lot of “techopreneurs” face. Security issues are unpredictable and can make or break your business. Although security is still your responsibility, using the cloud makes security easier, especially on the infrastructure level.

3. Compliance is now less of a headache.

   A lot of these platforms have compliance figured out. Rolling your own infrastructure will have you jumping through hoops to get your app & infrastructure to become compliant. Using a platform like Vercel reduces your audit scope because the auditor can rely on Vercel’s SOC 2 controls.

In conclusion, the public cloud is here to stay, as it will save your time, it is secure & helps with compliance.

Thanks for reading.

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