TOOLS WE WATCH

The watchlist 1309 tools monitored

Every tool we monitor for new releases and features — the raw feed behind the daily newsletter. The whole watchlist is below: tools that recently shipped carry their latest version and activity; the rest read monitored until they do. Click any column heading to filter by it — type a name, pick a category, narrow by license — and click the arrows to sort.

Browse the alphabetical tool directory for descriptions and links to every tool.

Releases per week, last 52 weeks

week of Sep 28: 717 from 185 tools · 4-week avg 454

700

717

Tools monitored

1,309

+770 since Jul 13

Tools that shipped

185

week of Sep 28 · +12 vs 4-week avg

Releases

717

week of Sep 28 · +263 vs 4-week avg

showing 1309 / 1309

Put your hardware to work.

Find a setup, compare the tradeoffs, and keep up with what changes.

What do you need for the job?

Task

Device budget (USD; accessories extra)

What do you already own?

Check the devices and prerequisites you can reuse. Target compatibility still needs checking.

Hardware you own

Prerequisites you already have

Computer with compatible host softwareUSB data cable compatible with the device and hostTarget connection leads / probes matched to the pinout

Bus Pirate 5 is a documented option, but its current price is not captured. We cannot establish whether it fits your budget.

Device subtotal

Not captured

Accessory costs, tax and shipping are not included.

What it enables

Read a UART console

Read serial output from a device on your bench.

Still needed

3 prerequisites

Computer with compatible host software; USB data cable compatible with the device and host; Target connection leads / probes matched to the pinout

Availability

Stock unknown

Stock not captured; confirm with the seller. Match voltage, ground, pinout and baud rate before connecting. Protocol support alone does not establish compatibility with your target.

Software & setup

Serial terminal and the adapter’s supported host driver or firmware.

Before buying anything

If you already have a voltage-compatible USB-to-UART adapter, you may not need a multi-protocol board. Devices outside this shortlist have not been assessed here.

Why this recommendation? Sources and alternatives

We compare only the documented options below, prefer a compatible device you own, then use the lowest captured device price among shipping options not listed as sold out, backordered or preorder. Unknown stock still needs confirmation. This is not an independent compatibility test or a complete market search.

Tigard — Dedicated UART plus SPI, JTAG, SWD and I²C interfaces. Documentation ↗; reviewed 2026-10-05; $49.00 launch price · current price not captured, shipping, stock unknown.
GreatFET One — Programmable UART, SPI, I²C and JTAG support. Documentation ↗; reviewed 2026-10-05; $89.00 · checked 2026-11-04, shipping, sold out.
Bus Pirate 5 — Interactive UART and SPI with documented device examples. Documentation ↗; reviewed 2026-10-05; $42.50 launch price · current price not captured, shipping, stock unknown.

Selected evidence: Read the setup documentation ↗.

What does the other device offer?

First device

Compare with

A price difference cannot be calculated until both prices are captured. Compare the task support and limitations, not just the price.

Documented hardware comparison
Requirement or specification	Bus Pirate 5	Tigard
Generation	Bus Pirate 5 REV10	Tigard
Device price	$42.50 launch price · current price not captured	$49.00 launch price · current price not captured
Availability	shipping	shipping
Stock	Not captured	Not captured
Read a UART console	Interactive UART and SPI with documented device examples.	Dedicated UART plus SPI, JTAG, SWD and I²C interfaces.
Read an SPI flash chip	Interactive UART and SPI with documented device examples.	Dedicated UART plus SPI, JTAG, SWD and I²C interfaces.
Receive radio signals	Not assessed for this task	Not assessed for this task
Processor	Raspberry Pi RP2040 with 128 Mbit program flash	FTDI FT2232HQ dual high speed USB to multipurpose UART/FIFO
Interfaces	8 IO pins, 1.2-5 V; 1-Wire, I2C, SPI, UART, MIDI, serial LEDs	UART, SWD, JTAG, SPI, I2C, logic analyzer port
Power	1-5 V output supply, 0-500 mA current limit, current sense, resettable fuse	Level-shifters for 1.8 to 5.5 V; on-board 1.8 V, 3.3 V, 5.0 V or off-board vTarget
Display	240x320 pixel color IPS LCD	Not captured
Storage	1 Gbit NAND flash, appears as a USB drive	Not captured
Host interface	Not captured	USB Type C high-speed (480 Mbps)
Specification evidence	Source ↗	Source ↗

How to interpret task support

“Not assessed” means we have no task mapping, not that the device cannot do it. Support is based on the documentation below; target voltage, protocol, software and accessories still apply.

Read a UART console · Tigard: Task evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05. Match voltage, ground, pinout and baud rate before connecting. Protocol support alone does not establish compatibility with your target.
Read a UART console · Bus Pirate 5: Task evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05. Match voltage, ground, pinout and baud rate before connecting. Protocol support alone does not establish compatibility with your target.
Read an SPI flash chip · Tigard: Task evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05. Check chip voltage, pinout and power isolation. Some targets require an adapter, clip, desoldering or a different programmer. A board’s SPI support is not a guarantee for every chip.
Read an SPI flash chip · Bus Pirate 5: Task evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05. Check chip voltage, pinout and power isolation. Some targets require an adapter, clip, desoldering or a different programmer. A board’s SPI support is not a guarantee for every chip.

1309 tools monitored, updated as we add tools to the watch

TOOLS WE WATCH

The watchlist 1309 tools monitored

Releases per week, last 52 weeks

Put your hardware to work.

What do you need for the job?

Device subtotal

What it enables

Still needed

Availability

Software & setup

Before buying anything

What does the other device offer?

What changed for your hardware?

WiFi Pineapple Pager · WiFi Pineapple Pager 2.0.0-stable

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.20.0

ChameleonUltra · ChameleonUltra v2.3.0

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.19.1

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.19.0

Cynthion · Sold out · 1 · cynthion-board

Flipper Zero · Unleashed Firmware unlshd-094

ESP32 Marauder v8 · Sold out · v8 · marauder-v8

ESP32 Marauder v8 · Price · v8 · marauder-v8

Flipper Zero · Price · 1 · flipper-zero

WiFi Pineapple · Back in stock · mk7 · wifi-pineapple-mk7-basic

## TOOLS WE WATCH

The watchlist 1309 tools monitored

Releases per week, last 52 weeks

Put your hardware to work.

What do you need for the job?

Device subtotal

What it enables

Still needed

Availability

Software & setup

Before buying anything

What does the other device offer?

What changed for your hardware?

WiFi Pineapple Pager · WiFi Pineapple Pager 2.0.0-stable

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.20.0

ChameleonUltra · ChameleonUltra v2.3.0

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.19.1

ESP32 Marauder v8 · ESP32 Marauder v1.19.0

Cynthion · Sold out · 1 · cynthion-board

Flipper Zero · Unleashed Firmware unlshd-094

ESP32 Marauder v8 · Sold out · v8 · marauder-v8

ESP32 Marauder v8 · Price · v8 · marauder-v8

Flipper Zero · Price · 1 · flipper-zero

WiFi Pineapple · Back in stock · mk7 · wifi-pineapple-mk7-basic

TOOLS WE WATCH