Collins Mesue
Computer Engineer at MacZ Repair
Collins Asibong Mesue is a Computer Engineer and developer who thrives at the intersection of software architecture and physical hardware.
On the software side, Collins brings a wealth of experience in DevOps, IT support, and cross-platform mobile development (Kotlin Multiplatform and Jetpack Compose), having built specialized tools like TekTrak(Repair Shop Management App) and FacePass (Biometric Attendance Tracking App). As a Google Certified Associate Cloud Engineer and OPEN EDG certified Python programmer, he is dedicated to building scalable, automated systems.
On the hardware side, Collins takes his engineering skills down to the logic board. As the Founder and Lead Engineer at MacZ Repair, he tackles component-level hardware failures, advanced microsoldering, and firmware diagnostics—frequently using Python to automate complex repair workflows.
Collins is deeply invested in the developer community. He has served as a GDSC Lead at Kampala International University and as a mentor for the Google Africa Developer Scholarship (GADS) program. As a returning speaker who has taken the stage at PyCon Uganda and DevFest Kampala, he is passionate about demystifying the physical layer of technology for software engineers.
Abstract
The Premise Hardware repair is often viewed as a black box. But what happens when the physical components are fine, and the underlying firmware is the culprit? In this talk, we will explore how Python can bridge the gap between software engineering and board-level hardware diagnostics, transforming a standard Raspberry Pi into an automated repair bench tool. We will walk through the creation of a custom Python utility that interfaces directly with laptop and smartphone logic boards using the SPI protocol. You will learn how to bypass the operating system entirely to read, validate, and manipulate BIOS firmware directly at the chip level. We will cover extracting OEM keys, parsing binary dumps to verify Intel Management Engine configurations, and automating file validation—turning tedious manual hex editing into an efficient, scriptable pipeline. Whether you are a software developer curious about the physical layer or a systems engineer wanting to interact directly with embedded systems, this session will demystify hardware communication using libraries like spidev and struct. Talk Outline The Hardware Barrier (5 mins): Introduction to board-level diagnostics and why software developers usually avoid the physical layer. The Raspberry Pi as a Bench Tool (5 mins): Understanding GPIO logic levels and the required hardware setup (test clips, logic shifters, and common grounds). Speaking SPI with Python (10 mins): Using the spidev library to send JEDEC standard commands. Dumping firmware directly from a motherboard flash chip. Binary Analysis and Automation (10 mins): Hashing for read validation. Using the re module to locate and extract embedded Windows product keys from the ACPI MSDM table. Using struct to unpack byte data and identify Intel Management Engine versions from the $MN2 manifest. The Live Resurrection Demo (10 mins): Executing a live SPI flash to restore a bricked motherboard on stage. Future Implementations & Q&A (5 mins): Expanding to I2C for battery diagnostics. Key Takeaways Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of how to apply standard Python automation techniques to physical hardware problems. They will learn how to read raw binary data, interface directly with ICs, and build custom tools that solve real-world technical repair challenges.