This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Geo
https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate
🔌 Hack Hardware with the ESP32 Bus Pirate
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.
🏴☠️ What the Bus Pirate Actually Is
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
discover unknown peripherals,
read and write chip registers and memories,
observe exchanges between modules,
debug hardware without re-flashing firmware on the target,
assist in reverse-engineering tasks.
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).
🌐 Three Ways to Control It
USB Serial — low-latency, scriptable, and familiar for embedded work.
Web CLI — control the device from any browser over Wi-Fi; same commands, remote convenience.
Standalone - on device screen and keyboard, available for the Cardputer.
All interfaces provide the same feature set.
Github & Supported Devices
See https://github.com/geo-tp/ESP32-Bus-Pirate for more details and the list of supported devices.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Geo
Geo | Sciencx (2025-09-25T05:07:48+00:00) Open source project ESP32 Bus Pirate – A Hardware Hacking Tool That Speaks Every Protocol. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/09/25/open-source-project-esp32-bus-pirate-a-hardware-hacking-tool-that-speaks-every-protocol/
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