Business Strategy

Starlink’s Dirty Secret: The Satellites Are the Easy Part

Most analysis fixates on SpaceX’s satellite count and launch speed. But Starlink’s real bottleneck is a patchwork of ground gateways that determine where the service actually works. This unofficial map reveals the strategic footprint—dense in the US and Europe, gaping holes elsewhere. For anyone betting on Starlink, the battle isn’t in space. It’s on the ground.

One Engineer Spent Months Getting KiCad to Run in a Browser. The Hardest Part Was Figuring Out How to Charge for Something That’s Free.

A solo developer ported KiCad to the browser using WebGL and Emscripten—a technical wonder. But the real challenge is monetizing a free, open-source tool without alienating the community. This is the story of one engineer’s bet on the Red Hat model for PCB design, and the tension between open-source altruism and commercial survival.