Coredump Sessions

Summary:In today's Coredump Session, we sit down with Noah Pasek-Nelson and Chris Markus, the co-founders of BootLoop: an AI-powered platform purpose-built for firmware teams. The conversation gets into the real mechanics of how AI actually fits into embedded development workflows, from hardware bring-up and driver generation to hardware-in-the-loop testing and field debugging. Noah and Chris bring hard-won perspective from SpaceX, MIT, and FDA-regulated medical devices, and they don't shy away from the messy questions— hallucination, autonomy, trust, and what it actually takes to close the loop when your runtime is physical hardware.
Key Takeaways:
BootLoop is an AI platform built for the entire firmware lifecycle, from hardware bring-up through field debugging, not just code generation.
The two core pillars are hardware understanding (ingesting schematics, data sheets, netlists) and hardware interaction (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, GDB).
Firmware engineers only spend about 20% of their time writing code. The rest is testing, debugging, and validation, which is where BootLoop focuses.
Agents do their best work in tight feedback loops. BootLoop builds, flashes, and tests on device automatically so the agent can iterate without human intervention.
Hardware understanding eliminates hallucination by grounding the model in your specific chips, register maps, and pin configurations rather than public code averages.
Power optimization is a standout use case: feed in the data sheet, connect a power meter, set a target, and come back to optimized code.
BootLoop supports C, C++, Rust, Zephyr, bare metal, and embedded Linux. HDL and FPGA support is coming.
Sentinel, their field debugging product, automatically kicks off root cause analysis the moment a bug comes in from the field, before an engineer even sits down.
Pricing is a flat fee with unlimited usage, intentionally aligned so the incentive is correct code, not more code.
New chips are supported as fast as you can upload the documentation. There is no supported chips list.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro: AI at the Bench for Firmware Teams02:23 What Is BootLoop? Meet the Founders05:18 What Actually Changes Day-to-Day for Firmware Engineers07:13 The Hallucination Problem and How to Solve It in Hardware09:51 From Data Sheet to Flashed Device: A Live Workflow Demo11:20 Oscilloscopes, GDB, and Natural Language: Hardware Interaction Explained13:34 How Much Babysitting Does an AI Agent Actually Need?45:59 Greenfield vs. Brownfield: Where BootLoop Fits Best47:33 Audience Q&A: Business Model, Security, and Supported Chips57:35 Debugging in the Field: Sentinel, MCP, and Root Cause Analysis1:00:04 Closing Thoughts and How to Get a Demo
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Spotify DetailsIn today's Coredump Session, François Baldassari and Chris Coleman sit down with Ross Yeager, VP of Device Platform Software at Skydio, to explore how autonomy is reshaping modern robotics and what it takes to build drones that can truly think for themselves. Ross shares his journey from Boosted Boards to Skydio, unpacking how the company pioneered fully autonomous flight, built a vertically integrated manufacturing operation in California, and created a foundation that blends cutting-edge software and hardware. It’s a conversation about leadership, innovation, and the engineering mindset behind one of the most advanced drone platforms in the world.
Key Takeaways:
Ross Yeager's journey into embedded engineering began with a passion for electronics and product development.
Kickstarter projects provided valuable lessons in scaling production and managing customer expectations.
Working at Boosted Boards allowed Ross to experience the challenges of building products from scratch.
Safety is a critical concern in drone technology, with high stakes for reliability and performance.
Skydio's unique approach involves vertical integration, manufacturing drones in the U.S. for quality control.
The embedded engineering landscape has evolved, with new tools and technologies simplifying development.
Testing and quality assurance are paramount, with innovative methods to ensure reliability in drone operations.
Ross emphasizes the importance of curiosity and problem-solving in engineering roles.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro & Teasers
03:30 Ross's Path to Embedded Engineering07:52 Lessons from Kickstarter and Early Projects12:35 Transitioning to Boosted Boards and Micro-Mobility17:52 Challenges in Embedded Systems and Hardware Development22:45 Skydio's Unique Approach to Drone Technology30:06 Manufacturing Drones in the U.S.35:01 Embedded Engineering Challenges and Safety Considerations39:29 Testing and Quality Assurance in Drone Development46:47 Future of Skydio and Career Opportunities56:18 Closing Thoughts & Reflections
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Summary
In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris wrap up the year with a special milestone celebration for the 20th episode of the series. They take listeners behind the mic to reflect on how Coredump began, the moments that defined 2025, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect highlights from the year’s most talked-about discussions, bold predictions for what’s ahead in 2026, and the biggest live Q&A yet—where nothing is off the table.

Key Takeaways:
Why Coredump Sessions started and how the show has evolved over 20 episodes
The biggest engineering lessons guests shared throughout 2025
The most surprising device failures and field behaviors teams faced this year
How firmware teams adapted to fast-changing toolchains and new requirements
The rise of AI-assisted debugging, testing, and development in embedded work
How security mandates tightened and reshaped device development
The recurring theme that real-world conditions rarely match lab assumptions
What François and Chris learned from producing the series behind the scenes
What the hosts expect to define embedded systems development in 2026
The expanded live Q&A format and how the community is shaping future episodes

Chapters:
00:00 Teasers
01:30 Intro/ Welcome
03:35 The Genesis of Core Dump
06:54 Favorite Moments and Lessons Learned
08:45 Clip Reaction: Nick Sinas's OTA Nightmare in the Snow
12:19 Clip Reaction: Lack of Security at Pebble
16:45 Clip Reaction: Dan Mangum on AI & Engineering
21:50 Clip Reaction: Vatsal at Ultrahuman Talks Always-On Devices
25:29 Clip Reaction: Chad from Gabb Talks Security
30:12 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026
35:59 The Rise of AI and Edge Computing
42:24 Evolving Skills for Firmware Engineers
47:01 Security in Embedded Systems
49:01 The Future of Testing in Embedded Development
53:15 Conclusions & Thank Yous

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Summary
In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris wrap up the year with a special milestone celebration for the 20th episode of the series. They take listeners behind the mic to reflect on how Coredump began, the moments that defined 2025, and the lessons learned along the way. Expect highlights from the year’s most talked-about discussions, bold predictions for what’s ahead in 2026, and the biggest live Q&A yet—where nothing is off the table.

Key Takeaways:
Why Coredump Sessions started and how the show has evolved over 20 episodes
The biggest engineering lessons guests shared throughout 2025
The most surprising device failures and field behaviors teams faced this year
How firmware teams adapted to fast-changing toolchains and new requirements
The rise of AI-assisted debugging, testing, and development in embedded work
How security mandates tightened and reshaped device development
The recurring theme that real-world conditions rarely match lab assumptions
What François and Chris learned from producing the series behind the scenes
What the hosts expect to define embedded systems development in 2026
The expanded live Q&A format and how the community is shaping future episodes

Chapters:
00:00 Teasers
01:30 Intro/ Welcome
03:35 The Genesis of Core Dump
06:54 Favorite Moments and Lessons Learned
08:45 Clip Reaction: Nick Sinas's OTA Nightmare in the Snow
12:19 Clip Reaction: Lack of Security at Pebble
16:45 Clip Reaction: Dan Mangum on AI & Engineering
21:50 Clip Reaction: Vatsal at Ultrahuman Talks Always-On Devices
25:29 Clip Reaction: Chad from Gabb Talks Security
30:12 Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2026
35:59 The Rise of AI and Edge Computing
42:24 Evolving Skills for Firmware Engineers
47:01 Security in Embedded Systems
49:01 The Future of Testing in Embedded Development
53:15 Conclusions & Thank Yous

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In today’s Coredump Session, François and Chris from Memfault sit down with Charles Taylor, co-founder of Ozlo Sleep, to explore the journey from Bose’s original Sleepbuds to the rebirth of a product designed to help people truly rest. The conversation traces how Ozlo revived this beloved idea, balancing power management, all-night comfort, and reliability in one of the most demanding consumer tech categories. Along the way, Charles shares lessons from bringing a hardware product back to life, testing technology people use in their sleep, and building a community that believes better rest starts with better engineering.
Key Takeaways:
Charlie's journey from engineering to entrepreneurship was accidental but rewarding.
The emotional connection users have with physical products is significant.
Sleep tech addresses the problem of noise disruption during sleep.
Kickstarter was used not just for funding but to build a community.
Firmware updates are crucial for improving user experience and product functionality.
Designing sleep earbuds involves unique challenges related to comfort and size.
Battery life and efficiency are critical in hardware development.
Sensing technology in sleep tech can provide valuable health data.
Testing and quality assurance are essential in product development.
Navigating FDA regulations is complex but necessary for medical-related devices.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro and Teasers02:02 Meet Charlie Taylor and the Ozlo Sleep Story06:13 Why Sleepbuds Exist and Why Noise Matters07:07 Rebuilding Bose’s Discontinued Sleepbuds09:15 The Hardest Parts of Hardware: Timelines and Vendors10:39 Kickstarter as Validation and Community Building15:57 Designing for Sleep: Comfort, Power, and Miniaturization23:16 The Ear as the USB to the Body: Sensing and Health Insights26:18 Testing Sleep Tech in the Real World33:34 Firmware as the Real Product and Ozlo’s Update Strategy45:38 Moving Toward Medical: FDA and Software Therapies55:17 Customer Feedback at Scale and Prioritizing What Matters
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