My latest blog post: Adding Dark Mode to my Blog mikecoats.com/dark-mode/ I've finally caved; against my better judgement, I've added a dark colour scheme to my blog. In 2026, with modern CSS, this is easier than you might imagine.

Adding Dark Mode to my Blog

I've finally caved; against my better judgement, I've added a dark colour scheme to my blog. In 2026, with modern CSS, this is easier than you might imagine.

mikecoats.com

A quick one for the #circuitPython experts out there… Is there a SoftPWM or SoftServo library out there? Or is it time to bit the bullet and code up some janky timer based demo to get past the 8 PWM hardware limit on the ESP32-S3?

My latest blog post: Building Oops! All Servos! mikecoats.com/building-oop... Even though these were sponsored by JLCPCB, to save some money I opted to handle the THT components myself. I also ordered a few unpopulated PCBs to use as assembly jigs. #ad #electronics #openHardware #sponsored

Building Oops! All Servos!

Even though these boards were sponsored by JLCPCB, I still wanted to save some money, so I opted to handle the through-hole components myself. I also deliberately ordered a few unpopulated PCBs to use...

mikecoats.com

And now for the real test.. Did I get the level-shift topology right? Did I get the MOSFETs' pinouts correct? Are we translating 3v3 to 5v? YES! That's a relief! #electronics #openHardware

First test fit of an @adafruit.com QT Py. My footprint matches up exactly! Wunderbar! The clearance between USB-C and the current measurement header is a little closer than I'd have liked, but still fine.

I deliberately ordered a few unpopulated PCBs to use them as assembly jigs. Flipping the PCB over and using sockets in place of pin headers and vice versa works a real treat. Everything lines up perfectly. #ad #openHardware #sponsored

My Oops! All Servos! PCBs, sponsored by JLCPCB, have arrived! #ad #openHardware #sponsored

My latest blog post: Coming soon... Oops! All Servos! mikecoats.com/oops-all-ser... I'm proud to announce Oops! All Servos!, an expansion for XIAO/QT Py boards, breaking out all 11 GPIO pins into servo motor headers; development sponsored by JLCPCB. #ad #electronics #openHardware #openSource

Coming soon... Oops! All Servos!

I'm proud to announce Oops! All Servos!, an expansion board for XIAO/QT Py compatible microcontrollers, breaking out all 11 GPIO pins into servo motor headers, the development of which has been sponso...

mikecoats.com

That tense moment when taking inventory on a new order… Did I get all the parts, so I can start building? Did I get any freebies to pop up on the shelf for later? Never fear! Mouser's picking team hit 100.00%. Relief!

A question for my fellow electronics makers... what's your experience with "hand" applied conformal coatings for waterproofing PCBs? What are the options? Spray-on, paint-on, dipped? Do they apply well? Cure easily? Do they do the job? #make #maker #electronics #diy

A question for my fellow electronics makers... what's your experience with "hand" applied conformal coatings for waterproofing PCBs? What are the options? Spray-on, paint-on, dipped? Do they apply well? Cure easily? Do they do the job? #make #maker #electronics #diy

As promised, the SVG file for the zine is up on my Codeberg repo. codeberg.org/MikeCoats/va... #zine #openHardware

Mike Coats 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🌍♻️@mikecoats.social · 3w ago

My latest VanSpoof development: Installation instructions as a fold-your-own 'zine. Really easy to put together using Inkscape's built in template; the SVG will be up on my Codeberg repo later today. Folded, the zine fits neatly in my regular shipping boxes, too. #openHardware #diy #zine

I've just found my new favourite thing on the internet! People leaving positive reviews for their posties on the Royal Mail listing in the App Store.

My latest VanSpoof development: Installation instructions as a fold-your-own 'zine. Really easy to put together using Inkscape's built in template; the SVG will be up on my Codeberg repo later today. Folded, the zine fits neatly in my regular shipping boxes, too. #openHardware #diy #zine

Sneaky-peak of what's come together so far.

Mike Coats 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🌍♻️@mikecoats.social · last mo.

A sneak peak of the logo for my upcoming Open Hardware PCB project which was drawn with @johanpeitz.com's #picoCAD2. It's got to have the fastest zero-to-hero progression of any 3D tool I've ever played with. It's great! #openSource #openHardware

A sneak peak of the logo for my upcoming Open Hardware PCB project which was drawn with @johanpeitz.com's #picoCAD2. It's got to have the fastest zero-to-hero progression of any 3D tool I've ever played with. It's great! #openSource #openHardware

One for the UK Open Data and Honours systems nerds... Is there a single dataset of everyone who's ever been awarded an Honour such as OBE? I've seen the individual CSVs available for each event, but not a single searchable dataset. www.gov.uk/government/p... #openData

New Year's Honours lists 2014

The full New Year Honours lists for 2014, recognising the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.

gov.uk

My latest blog post: Peter de Jong Attractors mikecoats.com/peter-de-jong/ Last week I published a new web toy, a Peter de Jong attractor. Written in JavaScript, rendering to a canvas, it has a small amount of interactivity to alter coefficients and see visualisations change. #code #openSource

Peter de Jong Attractors

Last week I published a new web toy, a Peter de Jong attractor visualiser. Written in plain JavaScript and rendering to a canvas, it comes with a small amount of interactivity to alter the co-efficien...

mikecoats.com

My latest blog post: Keeping it old school, Unix style, with inetd services! mikecoats.com/simple-inetd... How to build quick and dirty network services, the Unixy, way with the venerable inetd approach. #networking #linux #openSource #rust #rustLang #software

Keeping it old school, Unix style, with inetd services!

How to build quick and dirty network services, the Unixy, way with the venerable inetd approach.

mikecoats.com

My latest blog post: Keeping it old school, Unix style, with inetd services! mikecoats.com/simple-inetd... How to build quick and dirty network services, the Unixy, way with the venerable inetd approach. #networking #linux #openSource #rust #rustLang #software

Keeping it old school, Unix style, with inetd services!

How to build quick and dirty network services, the Unixy, way with the venerable inetd approach.

mikecoats.com

Do you want to put your software development skills to good use, delivering services that help protect and restore Scotland's nature? We've two vacancies in our Development team for Senior Software Developers and they're now open! ejki.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/Candid... #GetHired

1009-314/1009-318 Senior Software Developer X2 - D Grade - February 2026

Job Title: 1009-314/1009-318 Senior Software Developer x2 | Grade: D | Hours: 35 (full-time) | Vacancy type: x2 Permanent | Location: NatureScot offices, home or hybrid | Closing date: Midnight 1st Ma...

ejki.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com

My latest blog post: Using a Spy! Break! Inject! to Sniff I2C Traffic mikecoats.com/spy-break-in... I've been emailing about debugging I2C with my Spy! Break! Inject! and I thought that writing this up as a blog post might be useful to others. #electronics #openHardware #reverseEngineering

Using a Spy! Break! Inject! to Sniff I2C Traffic

I've been exchanging emails, discussing debugging protocols like I2C with my Spy! Break! Inject! and I thought that writing this up as a blog post might be useful to others.

mikecoats.com

My biggest print to date! 🤞 I've never "filled" the build plate before. These will be two 4x2 gridfinity bins with vertical dividers to hold my @lectronz.com and @tindie.com stock. I'm finally getting around to bringing at least a modicum of organisation to my office. #3dPrinting

Spot the difference! (Other than one's been soldered up already.) #electronics #openHardware #qualityControl

Some "absolute units" of snowflakes falling in Inverness at the moment. #snow #uksnow #iv2

Finally got the snow that was forecast! #snow #uksnow #iv2

My latest blog post: Presents from PCBWay mikecoats.com/pcbway-prese... In early December, Emily from @pcbwayofficial.bsky.social sent me a short message saying they were preparing some small gifts in time for Christmas and asking if I was interested in receiving them? #sponsored

Presents from PCBWay

In early December, Emily from PCBWay sent me a short message saying they were preparing some small gifts in time for Christmas and asking if I was interested in receiving them?

mikecoats.com

My latest blog post: Trusted Certificates for Private Servers - Part 3 mikecoats.com/trusted-cert... In the final post in this series, I show how to retrieve trusted certificates for your internal infrastructure, performing DNS-01 challenges from within OpenWrt. #code #openWrt #linux #networking

Trusted Certificates for Private Servers - Part 3

In this third and final installment in the series, I'll demonstrate how to retrieve trusted certificates for your internal infrastructure, automatically performing DNS-01 challenges from within OpenWr...

mikecoats.com

My proofs of concept are complete! I've managed to print "Hello, world!" on my 4610-TG3 from some Rust code running on an ESP32-C6. I've also dumped the opening screens from Zork to get a feel for where the project's going. bsky.app/profile/mike... #electronics #esp32 #rustLang #riscV #vintage

Mike Coats 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇪🇺🌍♻️@mikecoats.social · 8mo ago

Time to get ready for some holiday reverse engineering. 10 points to the first person to guess what this board is from. #vintage #electronics #ibm

Bambu was closed sourced from the jump, still has numerous clones, and is still the market leader despite that. Open source isn't Prusa's problem, but he's really trying to become a problem for Open Source.