Why PCB Auto-Routing Is Harder Than You Think (And How AI Might Fix It)
Auto-routing sounds simple: connect the traces, hit “go,” and let the software handle the rest. But in reality, PCB auto-layout is one of the hardest problems in electronics.In this episode of electronics.dev, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down why auto-routing is so difficult: from impedance matching and creepage rules to high-speed signal integrity and noise coupling.They also explore the new wave of AI-driven solutions and whether they can finally deliver on the promise of hands-free PCB layout. Along the way, the duo dives into:* Why traditional auto-routers often fail on complex boards* The trade-offs between speed and quality in modern routing algorithms* How engineers use SAT solvers and constraint systems to optimize pin assignments* What tools like Quilter and DeepPCB are getting right (and wrong)* Why AI-assisted optimization might work better than full AI-generated layouts* How the future of PCB design could be shaped by deterministic solvers + AI refinementIf you’ve ever wondered why PCB design still feels like an art form, and whether AI will finally make auto-routing reliable, this conversation offers an inside look at the problem and the potential solutions. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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Why Custom Chips Are the Next Big Thing in Hardware Design
Custom chip design is no longer reserved for billion-dollar tech giants. In this episode, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) explore how advances in tooling, prototyping, and the EDA industry are making custom silicon accessible to startups, makers, and engineers like never before.You’ll discover:* How Tesla’s early battery management challenges led to unique custom chip solutions* The surprising economics of a $7K run for 5,000 prototype chips* Why most microcontrollers still use massive 90nm processes, and why that works* Analog vs. digital scaling: where Moore’s Law still applies and where it doesn’t* Funding trends in hardware startups, from Diode to SnapMagic* The state of open-source electronics after the OpenSauce conference* CNC milling “micron accuracy” claims: myth vs. reality* Why PCB milling often isn’t worth the time for serious prototypingWhether you’re a hardware engineer, startup founder, or electronics enthusiast, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the tools, economics, and decisions shaping the next generation of hardware. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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How AI Will Revolutionize PCB Design Faster Than You Think
AI Isn’t Coming For Electronics Design. It’s Already Here. Matt (founder of Atopile) and Seve (founder of TSCircuit) return with a deep dive into the rapidly shifting world of electronics and mechanical design. In this episode, they discuss how AI is reshaping every part of the hardware stack: from PCB layouts to robotic assembly. What you'll learn today: * Why "arms in a box" robotics startups are booming * How Meta’s world models might replace control loops * The explosive growth of synthetic data for training AIs * Why OpenCascade and legacy CAD tools are holding engineers back * The rise of custom, code-native CAD kernels like Zoo * The power of constraint-based design thinking * Could text-to-CAD finally be useful in real workflows? * Why betting on “X as code” years ago is paying off now Whether you’re a hardware engineer, an AI researcher, or a curious builder, this conversation reveals the core changes happening right now in how electronics are designed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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The Future of Circuit Boards: Code, Constraints, and LLMs
In this episode of electronics.dev, Seve (founder of tscircuit) and Matt (founder of atopile) break down a quiet revolution in electronics: designing circuit boards with code and compiler-like workflows, not traditional schematics. They dive into: * Why traditional EDA tools limit innovation* How constraints, templates, and AI are unlocking more expressive, testable circuit design* The surprising overlap between web layout (CSS) and PCB layout* How tools like atopile let you think in relationships, not in traces* What “spatial reasoning” really means for engineers, and why half of us may be bad at it* Why autonomous layout and reference design matching will change everything Along the way, the duo shares reflections on: * The enduring power of sketching in engineering* Using AI as a design partner (and critique engine)* How mechanical and electronics design differ, and what each can learn from the other* Why circuit fabrication is standardized, but placement logic is still tribal knowledge If you’ve ever written hardware configuration code, fought with schematic tools, or dreamt of a world where hardware is as programmable and composable as software, this episode is for you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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Inside a North Korean Missile: What Chips Are Inside?
Seve (founder at tscircuit) and Matt (founder at atopile) tear into the wild intersection of geopolitics and hardware as they explore a North Korean KN-23 ballistic missile teardown. This episode reveals how Western components still end up in restricted military tech, and how second-hand supply chains blur the line between hobby electronics and weapons of war. But the conversation doesn’t stop there. From chip smuggling to the future of prototyping, this episode explores how electronics shape everything from missiles to laundry robots. What You’ll Learn Today: * How NXP, Analog Devices, and Fairchild chips wound up in a North Korean missile * The surprising link between PlayStation 2 and military supercomputers * Why chip reverse engineering is rarely worth it, unless you're a rogue state* How China is trying (and struggling) to close the chip tech gap* Why ASML is a single point of failure for the global chip industry* The future of humanoid robots and open-source robotics startups* A new “jumperless breadboard” that redefines prototyping* A wild idea for a fully automated PCB assembly shop Whether you're into defence tech, microcontroller ecosystems, or the nerdy tools reshaping prototyping and manufacturing, this episode will blow your mind! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit electronics.dev
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