Hello! I am ToughDev, an embedded systems engineer, full stack software developer, and retro hardware enthusiast. Since the early 2000s, I have been exploring the world of computers, electronics, and reverse engineering — experimenting with everything from bare-metal microcontrollers to full-stack web and mobile development. I also manage and deploy server infrastructure on both Windows and Linux platforms.
In recognition of my contributions to the developer community, I was honored as the 2024 CodeProject Most Valuable Author.
At toughdev.com, I document my experiments, share custom tools, and write technical deep dives — covering embedded design, vintage computing, and hardware/software integration.
What I Do
Over the years, I have built and restored systems across a wide range of platforms, from 8-bit microcontrollers to modern ARM architectures. My work includes:
- Writing low-level firmware in C/C++ and assembly
- Developing custom bootloaders and recovery tools
- Debugged Windows internals and kernel-mode drivers
- Reverse engineering undocumented protocols
- Restoring bricked devices and repurposing legacy hardware
I have also built desktop applications, mobile apps, backend systems, and web tools as part of delivering complete, end-to-end products.
When I am not soldering, debugging microcontrollers, or decoding raw bytes, I enjoy documenting retro tech, sharing insights, and helping others understand how complex systems work, and how to bring them back to life.
Areas of Expertise
- Embedded Systems (Assembly, C, C++, KiCad, EasyEDA)
- Custom protocol analysis (RS-232, RS-485, USB, CAN)
- Microcontrollers (PIC, AVR, STM32, Raspberry Pi, ESP32)
- Reverse Engineering (IDA Pro, Ghidra)
- Retro Computing (DOS, Windows 9x, BIOS/bootloaders, vintage hardware such as 68k Macintoshes)
- RF Projects (AM/FM transmitters, receivers, signal decoding)
- Desktop Development (VB.NET, C#, Win32 API, WCF, WPF, MFC, ATL)
- Mobile Development (Android: Java/Kotlin, iOS: Objective-C/Swift)
- Web Development (HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, JSP)
- VoIP Systems (Asterisk, FreePBX, 3CX)
- Database Administration (MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, NoSQL, MongoDB)
- Server Administration (Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Windows Server)
Highlighted Projects
Explore some of my most ambitious and technically intriguing creations—projects that push the boundaries of legacy computing, embedded design, and reverse engineering.
- ️Super 8086 Box – PC XT emulator with Adlib, MPU-401, joystick, and NE2000 support
- Go-oo Office English edition – an OpenOffice port for Windows 98 that can open Office 2007 documents
- dsMP3 – A full-band radio with MP3 playback/recording using dsPIC33EP512MC502 & Si4735 (also featured on Hackaday)
- Text-to-Speech on PIC – Embedded TTS engine on PIC24FJ64GA002
- picojpeg for PIC24 – a JPEG decoder for PIC24HJ128GP202
Fascinating Reads
I love knowledge sharing and enjoy writing in-depth articles that explore the quirks, inner workings, and forgotten corners of technology. Here are a few of my personal favorites:
- Revisiting Borland Turbo C/C++ – a nostalgic look at one of the best IDEs from the 90s (also featured on Hackaday)
- Tandy 2500RSX vintage PC – exploring the powerful 386 system I grew up with.
- Tweaking the AlphaSmart Neo prinout quality – by modifying the PCL printer codes embedded in its firmware
Inspiring TV Shows
Beyond my technical work, I enjoy watching documentaries that deepen my understanding of system failures and data recovery. A couple of my favorites include:
- Air Crash Investigation – especially fascinated by the discussion of flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) analysis, system failure modes, and data recovery techniques.
- Discovery Channel nature and adventure series – programs such as Deadliest Catch and BBC Planet Earth that highlight survival in harsh environments and showcase the resilience of the natural world.
Contact
I am open to collaborations, consulting, or technical partnerships in embedded systems, legacy hardware restoration, reverse engineering projects, as well as full stack software development.