Pico-100BASE-TX: Bit-Banged 100 MBit/s Ethernet and UDP Framer for RP2040/RP2350

Someone just taught a tiny Raspberry Pi microcontroller to scream 100‑megabit Ethernet through two pins, no real network chip, just pure timing magic. The project bit‑bangs a TX‑only (send‑only) Fast Ethernet link and frames UDP packets (a simple, speed-first internet format) to push about 11 MB/s. The repo even warns: “Do not connect to PoE” and suggests proper resistors or a pulse transformer, noting ASUS boards act picky without them. Translation: it’s a fast hack, not a safety certificate. The comments erupted. One camp is the “Because we can” crowd, calling it hacker art and dreaming up cheap high-speed sensor streaming and radio demos. Another camp rolled in with hard hats: if you need Ethernet, use a real PHY (the chip that normally speaks Ethernet), don’t play chicken with magnetics. rasz dropped the Hacker News link and the debate lit up. HarHarVeryFunny asked the practical question: will the CPU have time to do anything besides bit‑banging, or is this just a party trick? Cue memes about “Ethernet by vibes,” “two wires to rule them all,” and “Corporate IT seeing this: panic detected.” Supporters point to the demo streaming radio signal data; skeptics clap back that blasting packets without receiving isn’t a network, it’s a fire hose. Both sides agree: it’s bold, it’s risky, and it’s hilarious. Also, please don’t plug it into your office switch without the right parts.