Contextual Electronics is a hands-on electronics training program built around one idea: you learn hardware by designing, building, and debugging real circuits — not by watching someone else do it.
The program was created by Chris Gammell, a hardware engineer and co-author of Practical Electronics for Inventors (5th Edition, forthcoming from McGraw-Hill). Chris has spent over a decade helping software engineers, hobbyists, and career changers build real hardware skills — from first schematic to fabricated board.
Every course is project-based. You design a real circuit, get a real board fabricated, solder real components, and troubleshoot real problems. Along the way, you build skills incrementally — each project adds new techniques while reinforcing the design-build-debug loop.
The program isn't linear. You pick the projects that match your level and interests, with difficulty ratings from 1 (introductory) to 5 (advanced). A private forum connects you with other members working through the same material.
Contextual Electronics is created and administered by Analog Life, LLC.