The latest articles on DEV Community by Geo (@geo_tp). https://dev.to/geo_tp https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3528245%2F1b8cec38-5621-402d-854f-f534ab39be0e.png https://dev.to/geo_tp en Geo Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:07:48 +0000 https://dev.to/geo_tp/open-source-project-esp32-bus-pirate-a-hardware-hacking-tool-that-speaks-every-protocol-24gl https://dev.to/geo_tp/open-source-project-esp32-bus-pirate-a-hardware-hacking-tool-that-speaks-every-protocol-24gl <p><a href="https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fz68em25w7hhftcaqd5iz.png" alt="ESP32 Bus Pirate banner logo" width="800" height="169"></a></p> <p><strong><a href="https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate</a></strong></p> <h2> 🔌 Hack Hardware with the ESP32 Bus Pirate </h2> <p>Ever wanted a powerful protocol analyzer that doesn’t cost a fortune? ESP32 Bus Pirate is an open-source firmware that turns any ESP32-S3 board into a multi-protocol hardware toolbox — and you can get the necessary hardware for around $10. Flash it once and a cheap, pocketable ESP32 becomes a serial console, I²C/SPI inspector, 1-Wire reader, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth sniffer, IR sender/decoder, HID emulator, Sub-GHz tool, and more — all accessible via a fast USB serial terminal or a browser-based CLI.</p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fwuwfus8sk0muvl3pjccz.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fwuwfus8sk0muvl3pjccz.png" alt="A photo of a cardputer using ESP32 Bus Pirate in SubGhz mode" width="800" height="1066"></a></p> <h2> 🏴‍☠️ What the Bus Pirate Actually Is </h2> <p>The Bus Pirate is a long-standing open hardware project that exposes low-level bus access from a simple terminal. Think of it as a universal bridge between your computer and electronic parts: it lets you</p> <ul> <li><p>discover unknown peripherals,</p></li> <li><p>read and write chip registers and memories,</p></li> <li><p>observe exchanges between modules,</p></li> <li><p>debug hardware without re-flashing firmware on the target,</p></li> <li><p>assist in reverse-engineering tasks.</p></li> </ul> <p>Originally built for benches and labs, the Bus Pirate streamlines everyday tasks like scanning an I²C bus, dumping SPI flash, or sniffing UART traffic. The ESP32 Bus Pirate brings the same utility with modern extras — wireless access, USB HID emulation, IR, and radio support (Subghz, RF24 and more).</p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fw2vlojd2vll870hm7lps.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fw2vlojd2vll870hm7lps.png" alt="A photo of a M5Stick C Plus2 using the ESP32 Bus Pirate in SPI flash mode" width="800" height="1066"></a></p> <h2> 🌐 Three Ways to Control It </h2> <ul> <li><p>USB Serial — low-latency, scriptable, and familiar for embedded work.</p></li> <li><p>Web CLI — control the device from any browser over Wi-Fi; same commands, remote convenience.</p></li> <li><p>Standalone - on device screen and keyboard, available for the Cardputer.</p></li> </ul> <p>All interfaces provide the same feature set.</p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fgpg5z9fncrzxqr0ggnnk.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fgpg5z9fncrzxqr0ggnnk.png" alt="Presentation showing the different CLI modes of the ESP32 Bus Pirate" width="800" height="1088"></a></p> <p><a href="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fqk96egytvgixax4hze8r.png" class="article-body-image-wrapper"><img src="https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=800%2Cheight=%2Cfit=scale-down%2Cgravity=auto%2Cformat=auto/https%3A%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Farticles%2Fqk96egytvgixax4hze8r.png" alt="Presentation showing the standalone CLI mode of the ESP32 Bus Pirate" width="800" height="739"></a></p> <h2> Github &amp; Supported Devices </h2> <p>See <a href="https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate</a> for more details and the list of supported devices.</p> esp32 arduino cpp learning