Working with electronics is different from software. In the software world, we can change code, break code, debug code, and fix code as many times as we want with no real harm. We can also freely back up and restore states and data. When working with electronics, we do not have this luxury. We're in the physical world, and if something gets damaged, it's final!
Components and circuits made of components, including a Raspberry Pi, can become damaged and fail in many different ways due to them being connected incorrectly, oversupplying too much voltage, supplying or sourcing too much current, overheating, and even mishandling delegate components to the point that they physically break or are damaged by static electricity from your body.
When a component fails, it can fail in a few different ways:
- It fails in a puff of smoke, melts, or otherwise displays a physical sign that it has been damaged.
- It fails silently, with no visual indication...