March 17, 2026
Drama in aisle firmware
More than 135 open hardware devices flashable with your own firmware
135+ gadgets you can reprogram—fans cheer, skeptics cry ‘overpriced’ and ‘too small’
TLDR: A new directory touts 135+ gadgets you can reprogram yourself, but commenters say prices are inflated and the selection is small next to 3,000+ devices on Tasmota and OpenWrt. The debate blew up over cost, credibility, and even an eyebrow‑raising “swap the chip” hack—proof this space is heating up.
A new “Open Hardware Directory” claims more than 135 devices you can “flash” with your own software—meaning you can replace the built‑in code on gadgets and make them do what you want. Cue the confetti… and the comment-section crossfire.
On one side, people loved the idea of a one-stop shop for hacker‑friendly gear, from $9 ESP32 boards to beefier BeaglePlay and Banana Pi options. But the top comments turned the spotlight to two big gripes: price and scale. One user blasted that “prices for everything is 1.5 – 2.5X,” while another said the list feels like an ad for dev boards rather than a true buyer’s guide. Then came the mic drops: veterans pointed out that rival community lists already dwarf this newcomer—Tasmota’s templates cover almost 3,000 devices, and OpenWrt’s hardware table claims another ~3,000.
Spice level rose when a commenter tossed in a wild hack: just buy the same chip and swap it to sidestep “secure boot” (the lock that prevents unofficial software). The thread promptly split between “that’s clever” and “please don’t.” Meanwhile, jokesters quipped their junk drawers already beat 135, and another dubbed it “open-source, open wallet.” Verdict? Promising directory, messy rollout, and a community that’s not shy about receipts.
Key Points
- •The Open Hardware Directory lists 135+ devices that can be flashed with custom firmware.
- •Listings include SBCs, development boards, and modules with prices and detailed specs.
- •Highlighted hardware spans Banana Pi CM4 IO (RK3566), BeaglePlay (TI AM625), and multiple ESP32-based boards from LILYGO.
- •Waveshare’s ESP32-P4-Pico (RISC-V) and BeagleConnect Freedom (CC1352P7, Zephyr RTOS) broaden options for wireless and HMI projects.
- •An OpenEPaperLink access point combines ESP32-C6 and ESP32-S3 to manage IEEE 802.15.4 e-paper tags via WiFi.