ESP32 Bit Pirate, a Hardware Hacking Tool with WebCLI That Speaks Every Protocol
github.com23 points by geotp 2 hours ago
23 points by geotp 2 hours ago
I have an old v3.6 from Dangerous Prototypes that I still frequently use and works fine with a coding assistant over serial terminal for doing some wire-level debugging of firmware. I am definitely not interested in paying the Pi tax for a new one just to get improved scripting. The roughly $100 BP v6 price point means looking into a other analyzers is required. How does this ESP firmware really compare - can anyone who's used both say what's different other than wireless?
The two projects have fairly different directions, even though they overlap on most core wired protocol features.
The original Bus Pirate relies heavily on a more complex bytecode-style syntax for many lowlevel operations. The ESP32 version replaces most of that with simple, explicit commands that perform the same tasks through a more straightforward workflow
The ESP32 version also avoids flag heavy commands and uses interactive shells where appropriate. Its main additional strength is radio support not present on the original Bus Pirate, including WiFi, RFID/NFC, SubGHz, NRF24, FM, infrared, and Bluetooth.
It can also be controlled through the Web CLI from any phone, tablet, or device with a web browser, using integrated AI assistant to help with hardware task.
So it is not simply a cheaper Bus Pirate v6 clone
One thing in BP v6's favor is the RP2350 - which can be put into operation as a "data-cap analyser for GPIO" - true - but it can also be programmed for use as a full protocol tap for embedded projects which will also integrate the RP2350, or something like it, in an embedded design.
The ESP32 is great - I will get a couple for my toolbox, sitting alongside my own ancient Bus Pirate and things - but the RP2350 is a bit more BOM-friendly, imho. All of these things can be used to bring-up an embedded system - I'd really want to use the BP v6 to bring up an embedded system with an IO package I could emulate/integrate with the RP2350 on both sides of the design ..
This looks great! The Bus Pirate was quite a good tool. For hardware hacking there is also Glasgow Interface Explorer, which I've been using recently with AI with much success.
The main difference is that Glasgow has an FPGA on-board, and you (or AI) can create applets for custom protocols and serious high-speed hacking.
Wow, it speaks EVERY protocol? That's pretty impressive. I'll need to flash one of these so I can read CYCLADES data transmissions, whatever protocol those parallel port security keys use and LORAWAN. Does it also read any random protocol I just invented myself, out of the box?
Yes, it includes scripting and raw GPIO/bit-banging features, so you can read essentially any custom protocol yourself, including one you invented five minutes ago
Probably needs an asterisk after "speaks ALL protocols" to say "you will need to write the protocol handlers yourself, this does not speak all protocols out of the box".
Speaking of which, I wrote a program that can crack any encryption every designed. It just executes a python file in the same folder, you have to write the cracker yourself
@geotp
Any reason why C1 is not supported?
What do you mean by C1? Do you mean the ESP32-C3 or C5? If so, they are not supported mainly for performance and hardware capability reasons
ESP32 Bit Pirate is an open-source firmware that transforms compatible devices into versatile multi-protocol hacking tools, inspired by the original Bus Pirate.
It can sniff, send, script, and interact with digital protocols such as I2C, UART, SPI, and 1-Wire through either a Serial CLI or a Web CLI. It also supports wireless technologies including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Sub-GHz, and RFID.
Install the firmware in one click with the ESP32 Bit Pirate Web Flasher. The Wiki provides detailed guides for every mode and command, while ESP32 Bit Pirate Scripts offers a collection of ready-to-use examples and utilities.
For additional hardware capabilities, the ESP32 Bus Expander adds extra radio interfaces, while the ESP32 Bit Pirate Dock provides compatibility with original Bus Pirate adapters and accessories.
compatible with Cardputer?
Yes, it is compatible with both Cardputer models and many other devices, including the $5 ESP32S3 clone
I’m curious about how you used LLMs here?
Also, to what extent you designed this vs the LLM copying it?
My concern is all these vibe coded projects with huge readmes and fake GitHub stars are essentially just copying the work of others, and don’t really do anything new.
You can see in the git commit log how it has progressed slowly over a period of one year to get here.
So at least it is not a weekend vibe coded AI slop.
I’m not sure I fully understand the question.
The implementation is entirely new and was built specifically for this project, it is not copied from another project. LLMs were used as development tools, but the architecture, feature selection, integration, testing, and overall direction were designed and validated by contributors and me.