Further development of the STM32G0-based UCMOD-1, adding OLED and Qwiic connections while defining standard small and large UCMOD module form factors.
Welcome to JKTDEV.CO.UK — my personal engineering notebook, where I document projects, experiments, build logs, lessons learned, and the occasional technical rabbit hole along the way.
I’ve worked in and around software development for over 20 years, across everything from large-scale enterprise systems to embedded software, automation, hardware-adjacent projects, and practical prototyping. More recently, my focus has shifted further into electronics, PCB design, embedded systems, radio, test equipment, manufacturing, and small hardware building blocks.
At heart, I’m a tinkerer and builder. I enjoy projects that force me to learn something new — whether that means writing code, debugging hardware, designing a PCB, testing a tool, bringing up a board, or working out why something that looked simple on paper is misbehaving on the bench.
This site is where I capture that process — warts and all.
Some articles are polished write-ups. Others are closer to field notes from whatever I am working on at the time. That might include designing a circuit, ordering PCBs, testing a regulator under load, debugging an embedded board, experimenting with radio, trying out tools, or documenting the decisions behind a prototype.
A lot of the content now revolves around electronics, embedded systems, PCB design, practical prototyping and the process of turning ideas into working hardware. Software development, automation, AI, amateur radio and the occasional unrelated technical experiment still make appearances along the way.
Much of the engineering work documented here also feeds into Protoworks, my product design and prototyping business in Northern Ireland, including its Building Block Boards, UCMOD modules, tools and other products. I also run Ards Tech Fix, providing practical software troubleshooting and workflow automation for local businesses across the Ards Peninsula. JKTDEV remains my personal engineering notebook — a place for documenting the work, learning, mistakes and thinking behind those builds, as well as projects that have nothing to do with either business.
Recent articles are listed below.
Building a Simple Workshop Inventory System
Starting work on a simple QR-code-based inventory system for tracking tools, equipment and materials across workshops and other physical locations.
Defining the UCMOD Auxiliary Connector
Defining a standard auxiliary connector for UCMOD microcontroller modules, providing additional peripheral interfaces and microcontroller-specific GPIO.
Software Testing the UCMOD-0 over RS485
Software testing the ATtiny1614-based UCMOD-0, configuring its clock and brown-out detection, measuring RS485 bus voltages and sending data to a Raspberry Pi Pico.
Programming and Testing the UCMOD-0 with Arduino and UPDI
Programming and performing the first software tests on the ATtiny1614-based UCMOD-0 using Arduino, megaTinyCore and an UPDI Friend.
Maker Night and Designing the UCMOD-1
A visit to Farset Labs’ Maker Night in Belfast, followed by progress on the STM32G0-based UCMOD-1 microcontroller module.
First Hardware Tests of the UCMOD-0 and RS485 Rev C
Testing the Rev C Isolated RS485 Building Block Board and the first ATtiny1614-based UCMOD-0 microcontroller module.
Defining the Protoworks Product Ranges
Defining the three Protoworks product ranges — Just Boards, Building Block Boards and Industrial Boards — and the design philosophy behind them.
Tweaking the UCMOD-0 Microcontroller Module
A small revision to the ATtiny1614 UCMOD-0 module, adding UPDI power isolation and a connector layout compatible with the Adafruit UPDI Friend.
Two Simple Boards for the Just Boards Range
Designing two simple, self-assembly PCBs: a UPDI Friend to Tag-Connect adapter and a breakout board for UCMOD microcontroller modules.
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