What does it really take to build electronics as a hobbyist?

Feb 01, 2026

A lot of people think hardware is just “software with wires.” It’s not.

Let me take you through a recent project I’ve been working on - and why electronics projects demand a very different mindset from software ones.

I’m currently working on low-level display software for LCDs, and repeatedly wiring a 16×2 LCD on a breadboard was slowing me down.

So I decided to solve the problem properly.

I designed a custom “LCD Socket and Pin Board,” a small PCB that lets me connect the LCD using jumper wires only, no breadboard required. Simple goal. Very real constraints.

Unlike software, hardware mistakes cost money, time, and shipping delays.

Every decision matters before you hit “order.”

That’s when the real learning began.

Cost

Total cost: $27 USD

Includes:

Manufacturing
Assembly
Design corrections
Shipping to Canada
~50% discount from the manufacturer

Manufacturer based in China (the most affordable option I found)

15 days from order to delivery via Canada Post

For context: this was cheaper than I expected and more affordable than hardware used to be.

Process

Here’s the exact workflow I followed (using KiCAD):

Created the electronic schematic
Assigned component footprints (physical placement)
Routed the board (electrical connections)
Exported & modified files for manufacturing (Gerbers, BOM, pick-and-place files, etc.)
Made design corrections to ensure the board would actually work

Every step forced me to think ahead - there’s no “quick patch” once a PCB is shipped.

This project reinforced a key truth:

Hardware rewards precision upfront, not iteration afterward.

That’s a fundamentally different mental model from software—and one every engineer should experience at least once.

Next steps

Test the board
Use it to continue building the LCD library I’m working on (more on that later 👀)
I won’t be selling these boards - but that’s not the point.

If you’ve ever thought about building your own electronics - for personal projects or business - this is the best time in history to do it.

That said, I still believe the barrier to entry is high.

If we lower it further, the possibilities are enormous.