Build, Create & Learn: A Maker’s Journey

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take a step back to rethink how I share my work — and return to a more honest, conversational format that feels closer to the way I actually build, experiment, and learn.

Over the past weeks, I’ve been working on a new hardware-hacking project called HakFabrik, exploring whether real demand exists for a dedicated IoT security training device. From shaping the first concept and building the landing page to setting up a simple signup flow, this episode captures the early stages of validating an idea before writing a single line of firmware.

Alongside that, I’ve been expanding my home lab with a dedicated malware and reverse-engineering environment, isolated through VLANs and Proxmox — a place to safely experiment, analyze code, and dive deeper into cybersecurity without risking my main systems.

And after nearly twenty years on macOS, I’m finally jumping into the world of Linux as my daily driver, preparing my new laptop for everything from hacking tools to future firmware development for HakFabrik.

This episode marks a small shift in Season 2 — away from rigid scripting and back toward documenting the real moments, discoveries, and missteps that make up a maker’s journey.

Thanks for listening, and for following along as this adventure continues to evolve.

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take a short break from the deep technical dives into Embedded Linux to explore something more fundamental — curiosity.

During my visit to Maker Faire Salzburg, I met passionate creators, young experimenters, and communities that reminded me why I started making in the first place. It was a vivid reminder that curiosity is the common thread connecting every builder, designer, and engineer — and, interestingly, every hacker too.

In this episode, I reflect on what unites makers and hackers, why breaking things is part of learning, and how curiosity shapes our approach to both creativity and security. From soldering tables to cybersecurity labs, it’s all driven by the same desire: to understand how things work.

This episode marks a small turning point in Season 2 — a bridge between the embedded Linux journey so far and the next chapter of my exploration into ethical hacking and cybersecurity with my upcoming project.

Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to check out the companion article at https://herndlbauer.com/blog/a-makers-journey-podcast-episode-10/ — where I share some reflections on curiosity, and more behind-the-scenes notes from this journey.

In this new episode of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I take the next step into the world of Embedded Linux: writing, debugging, and cross-compiling my very first character driver.

After my initial “Hello Kernel” experiment, I wanted to go deeper — to understand how real drivers work, how they register with the kernel, and how data travels between user space and kernel space. Along the way, I learned the hard way how to debug without crashing the system, and how to cross-compile a kernel module from my Ubuntu machine to a Raspberry Pi.

This episode is about more than just code — it’s about exploring the invisible layers that make Linux so powerful, and why knowing what happens beneath the surface gives every maker a new kind of confidence.

Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to check out the companion article at https://herndlbauer.com/blog/a-makers-journey-podcast-episode-9/ — it includes the full source code and more details from my journey into the kernel.

In this season premiere of Build, Create & Learn – A Maker’s Journey, I begin a brand-new adventure: diving into Embedded Linux and Kernel Driver Development.

After years of working with microcontrollers and maker projects, I wanted to understand what really happens under the hood — how Linux talks to hardware, what lives inside the kernel, and why that matters for anyone building modern embedded systems.

I share how I set up a dedicated Linux environment, wrote my first “Hello Kernel” module, and what I learned along the way about the invisible bridge between user space and kernel space. It’s the start of a deeper exploration into the layers that make our devices tick — from bootloaders to drivers and everything in between.

Thanks for tuning in to this new season. Here’s to more building, creating, and learning — this time, inside the Linux kernel!

Ever wish you could ditch that annoying USB cable while working on your microcontrollers? In this episode, I share how I finally untethered my embedded development board using a Raspberry Pi – a real game-changer for my workflow!

Then, we dive into the exciting world of GPS for my FPV drone telemetry system. Join me as I recount the struggles (C++ library headaches and mysterious scrambled data) and the triumphs of getting the MTK3339 GPS sensor talking to my STM32. You'll hear about the detective work to find the right pins, the debugging breakthroughs, and the sheer excitement of finally getting a solid satellite fix.

It's an honest look at the real-world challenges and rewarding "aha!" moments of building complex systems. Tune in to hear the full story and what's next for our drone telemetry project!

Welcome back to Build, Create & Learn — A Maker’s Journey! In this episode, I’m taking you along on my early adventures with embedded programming using the STM32 microcontroller.

From that first blinking LED to the moment I finally got sensor data from the BME280, it’s been a ride full of bugs, head-scratching errors, and small wins that felt huge.

If you’re curious about embedded development or just enjoy the learning journey behind the scenes, this one’s for you. Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking back at their first “blinky” project, I hope you find something relatable in the process.

Check out the companion blog post for links, images, and the source code: herndlbauer.com