Firmware Detect — hardware fixture campaign

Raw data captured while designing the Firmware Detect feature.

Collected: 2026-07-18 on this WSL + Windows workstation.
Method: esptool flash_id / get_security_info (authoritative for Espressif, works without MicroPython), mpremote raw-REPL / CircuitPython REPL for runtime fields, and UF2 INFO_UF2.TXT / boot_out.txt for bootloader-only boards.
Purpose: ground-truth for the Detect parsers/matcher and the autoset rules. Prefer capturing esptool dumps on a bare or briefly-disconnected board so Detect stays esptool-primary.

These are verbatim field notes; some boards were re-probed multiple times (same model, distinct unique_id/MAC) to harden family/variant matching.

Fixture 1 — ESP32-P4 (COM4)

esptool (authoritative — works without MicroPython):

Chip: ESP32-P4 (revision v1.3)
Features: Dual Core + LP Core, 400MHz
Crystal: 40MHz
MAC: e8:f6:0a:e0:f0:70
Flash: 32 MB
Secure Boot / Flash Encryption: Disabled

MicroPython (optional enrichment — this board happened to have it):

sys.implementation._build: ESP32_GENERIC_P4-C6_WIFI
machine string mentions external ESP32-C6 Wi-Fi
machine.freq(): 360 MHz (running; chip max from esptool is 400)
esp.flash_size(): 33554432 (32 MB) — matched physical
gc.mem_free(): ~33 MB (strong external-RAM signal)
Partitions: only factory 4 MB @ 0x10000 (no vfs row); LittleFS df ~28 MB

Autoset: board ESP32_GENERIC_P4; variant from MP _build = C6_WIFI (without MP, leave variant unset and offer C5/C6); flash 32 MB.

Fixture 2 — ESP32-S3 (COM5 → COM6 in bootloader)

esptool (after machine.bootloader(); native USB remapped COM5→COM6):

Chip: ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.1)
Features: Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded Flash 8MB (GD)
Crystal: 40MHz; USB mode: USB-Serial/JTAG
MAC: f4:12:fa:8d:95:cc
Flash: 8 MB (quad, 3.3V eFuse)

MicroPython: Generic ESP32S3 module with ESP32S3, MP 1.24.0, freq 160 MHz, esp.flash_size() 8 MB, gc.mem_free() ~214 KB → no SPIRAM. Partitions: factory ~2 MB, df ~6 MB.

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3, default variant, 8 MB. UX note: native USB-Serial/JTAG chips can change COM port on bootloader entry — re-enumerate by MAC/serial before reconnecting.

Fixture 3 — ESP32-S3 Octal-SPIRAM (COM8)

MicroPython (primary; esptool failed while MP held the port):

machine: Generic ESP32S3 module with Octal-SPIRAM with ESP32S3
MP 1.25.0-preview; unique_id/MAC 84fce66c8d0c
freq 240 MHz; esp.flash_size() 8 MB; gc.mem_free() ~8.3 MB → strong SPIRAM signal (contrast fixture 2 ~214 KB)

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3, variant SPIRAM_OCT (machine string says Octal-SPIRAM), 8 MB.

Fixture 4 — ESP32-S3 with SPIRAM, machine string silent (COM10)

machine: Generic ESP32S3 module with ESP32S3 (no SPIRAM in string)
MP 1.21.0 (older; no vfs module); USB serial bogus 123456
unique_id 70041dad86c4; freq 160 MHz; flash 8 MB
gc.mem_free() ~8.3 MB → SPIRAM present despite generic string

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3, variant SPIRAM (not OCT — string omits "Octal"; heap proves external RAM), 8 MB. esptool failed after disconnect and bootloader (native-USB hazard).

Fixture 5 — Adafruit Metro M7 (MIMXRT1011) — non-ESP (COM12)

Not Espressif. esptool correctly fails ("No serial data").

platform: mimxrt; machine Adafruit Metro M7 with MIMXRT1011DAE5A
MP 1.22.2; unique_id 7be8715dd7794453; freq 500 MHz; mem_free ~60 KB
USB VID/PID 61525 / 38914

Autoset: port mimxrt; no ESP partition/flash/security UI.

Fixture 6 — ESP32-S3 Arduino firmware, no MicroPython (COM13)

Bare / non-MP path — Detect succeeds with esptool only.

Chip: ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2)
Features: Wi-Fi, BT 5 (LE), Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded PSRAM 8MB (AP_3v3)
Crystal 40MHz; USB-Serial/JTAG; MAC 30:30:f9:0f:6a:a4; Flash 8 MB (quad)
USB VID/PID 303A / 1001 (Espressif)

Autoset (no MP): ESP32_GENERIC_S3, variant SPIRAM (esptool reports Embedded PSRAM — no heap needed), 8 MB. Status: No MicroPython (Arduino/other).

Fixture 7 — Adafruit Feather RP2040 — non-ESP (COM14)

platform rp2; machine Adafruit Feather RP2040 with RP2040; MP 1.20.0
unique_id 47543634370b5929; freq 125 MHz; mem_free ~217 KB
USB VID 9114 (0x239A Adafruit — note: Adafruit ships both RP2040 and ESP32-S3 under this VID, so do not skip esptool on VID alone)

Autoset: port rp2; UF2 flash; no ESP UI.

Fixture 8 — ESP32-S3 CircuitPython (Qualia) — not MicroPython (COM16)

CircuitPython 9.0.5.

sys.platform: Espressif (CP style); implementation.name: circuitpython
machine Adafruit-Qualia-S3-RGB666 with ESP32S3; board_id adafruit_qualia_s3_rgb666
freq 240 MHz; mem_free ~8.3 MB → SPIRAM; USB VID/PID 9114 / 33096
esptool failed after disconnect (CP CDC may not expose ROM bootloader)

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3 (or Qualia), variant SPIRAM, flash unknown until esptool. Status: CircuitPython running (not MicroPython).

Fixture 9 — ESP32-S3 + Embedded PSRAM via CH343, no MicroPython (COM17)

esptool succeeded first try (external USB-UART, not native USB).

Chip ESP32-S3 (QFN56) (revision v0.2); Embedded PSRAM 8MB (AP_3v3)
Crystal 40MHz; MAC dc:da:0c:56:97:a8; Flash 8 MB; security Disabled
USB adapter: WCH CH343 VID 6790 / PID 21971

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3 / SPIRAM / 8 MB.

Fixture 10 — ESP32-S3 + Embedded PSRAM via CH343, no MicroPython (COM18)

Same profile as fixture 9. Distinct MAC dc:da:0c:48:ac:0c. Confirms Detect should key identity on MAC, not adapter serial (5837055051). Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3 / SPIRAM / 8 MB.

Fixture 11 — Waveshare RP2040-Plus 4MB (CircuitPython) — non-ESP (COM19)

USB VID 11914 (0x2E8A Raspberry Pi — true RPi VID)
CircuitPython 9.0.5; platform RP2040; machine Waveshare RP2040-Plus (4MB) with rp2040
board_id waveshare_rp2040_plus_4mb; freq 125 MHz; mem_free ~178 KB
uid de60c882cf8f7424

Autoset: port rp2; UF2 flash. Status: CircuitPython.

Fixture 12 — ESP32-S3 no SPIRAM (MicroPython) (COM10)

MP 1.21.0 on native USB. machine Generic ESP32S3 module with ESP32S3; unique_id 3485186bfcac (USB serial bogus 123456); freq 160 MHz; flash 8 MB; mem_free ~170 KB → no SPIRAM. Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3 / default / 8 MB. Contrast: fixture 4 had same string + MP + bogus serial but ~8 MB heap → SPIRAM. Heap (or esptool PSRAM feature) drives the variant, not the string.

Fixture 13 — Adafruit FunHouse (ESP32-S2, CircuitPython) (COM20)

First S2 fixture. CircuitPython 8.2.0.

platform Espressif; uname sysname ESP32S2; machine Adafruit FunHouse with ESP32S2
board_id adafruit_funhouse; freq 240 MHz; mem_free ~2.0 MB → likely PSRAM
USB VID/PID Adafruit 9114 / 33018

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S2 (or FunHouse), variant SPIRAM if present. Family mapper must accept uname ESP32S2 / CP Espressif → S2.

Fixture 14 — ESP32-S3 no SPIRAM (MicroPython) (COM10)

Same profile as fixture 12. Distinct unique_id 3485188d5428. Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC_S3 / default / 8 MB.

Fixture 15 — ESP32-S3 no SPIRAM (MicroPython) (COM10)

Same cohort as 12/14. unique_id c04e3003f630. Autoset: default / 8 MB.

Fixture 16 — Raspberry Pi Pico (MicroPython) — non-ESP (COM21)

platform rp2; machine Raspberry Pi Pico with RP2040; MP 1.23.0-preview
unique_id e462a052c73e4a29; freq 125 MHz; mem_free ~226 KB
USB VID/PID 11914 / 5 (RPi)

Autoset: port rp2; UF2 flash.

Fixture 17 — classic ESP32-PICO-V3-02 + Embedded PSRAM, no MicroPython (COM22)

First classic ESP32 (not S2/S3/P4). CH9102 UART (VID 6790 / PID 21972).

Chip ESP32-PICO-V3-02 (revision v3.0)
Features: Wi-Fi, BT, Dual Core + LP Core, 240MHz, Embedded Flash, Embedded PSRAM, Vref cal in eFuse
Crystal 40MHz; MAC e8:9f:6d:2e:ec:94; Flash 8 MB
get-security-info: not implemented (FF00) — treat as unknown, don't fail

Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC, variant SPIRAM, 8 MB.

Fixture 18 — Adafruit QT Py M0 (SAMD21) — UF2 bootloader (COM24 / was COM23)

Not ESP. In UF2 bootloader after replug.

Volume QTPY_BOOT (D:); INFO_UF2.TXT: UF2 Bootloader v1.23.1-adafruit, Model QT Py M0, Board-ID SAMD21E18A-QTPy-v0
USB Adafruit VID 0x239A, bootloader PID 203 (0x00CB)

Autoset: port samd; UF2 flash. Detect via UF2 volume label + INFO_UF2.TXT Board-ID.

Fixture 19 — Seeed XIAO nRF52840 Sense (CircuitPython) (COM26)

First nRF52 fixture. VID 10374 (0x2886 Seeed).

CircuitPython 8.2.0; platform nRF52840; uname nrf52
machine Seeed XIAO nRF52840 Sense with nRF52840; board_id Seeed_XIAO_nRF52840_Sense
uid 644cd1accbe535bb; freq 64 MHz; mem_free ~140 KB; CIRCUITPY on D:

Autoset: port nrf; UF2/nrfutil flash — not esptool. Status: CircuitPython.

Fixture 20 — classic ESP32-PICO-V3-02 + Embedded PSRAM, no MicroPython (COM28)

Same chip profile as fixture 17. CH9102. Distinct MAC 4c:75:25:ee:d7:08. Crystal warning once (41.01 vs 40 MHz normalized). Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC / SPIRAM / 8 MB.

Fixture 21 — Adafruit Feather RP2040 DVI (CircuitPython) (COM29)

platform RP2040; CircuitPython 8.2.0
machine/board_id Adafruit Feather RP2040 DVI / adafruit_feather_rp2040_dvi
uid df6254209f1b4f29; freq 252 MHz (overclocked vs stock 125); mem_free ~106 KB
MP tree has ADAFRUIT_FEATHER_RP2040 (no dedicated DVI board — closest match)

Autoset: port rp2 / ADAFRUIT_FEATHER_RP2040; UF2 flash. RP2 detect tool: picotool (BOOTSEL → RPI-RP2 volume, INFO_UF2.TXT Board-ID RPI-RP2); picotool info needs WinUSB via Zadig on Windows (mass-storage works without it).

Fixture 22 — ESP32-S3 no SPIRAM (MicroPython) (COM10)

Same profile as 12/14/15. Distinct unique_id ecda3b9956dc. Autoset: default / 8 MB.

Fixture 23 — Teensy 4.1 (IMXRT1062) CircuitPython (COM30)

First Teensy / high-end mimxrt. VID 9114 (Adafruit CDC on PJRC board).

CircuitPython 8.2.0; platform NXP IMXRT10XX / uname mimxrt10xx
machine/board_id Teensy 4.1 with IMXRT1062DVJ6A / teensy41
uid 2F057F67D2891A2AD600005002004200; freq 600 MHz; mem_free ~927 KB

Autoset: port mimxrt, board TEENSY41. Flashed → MP 1.29.0-preview via teensy_loader_cli (HalfKay HID — not esptool; Win32 HID build preferred over libusb on Windows). After flash: COM remaps (COM30→COM31), VID 0xF055.

Fixture 24 — SparkFun Thing Plus SAMD51 (CircuitPython) (COM32)

First SAMD51 fixture. VID 6991 (0x1B4F SparkFun).

CircuitPython 8.2.0; platform MicroChip SAMD51 / uname samd51
machine/board_id SparkFun Thing Plus - SAMD51 with samd51j20 / sparkfun_samd51_thing_plus
uid EA56D46D32573653202020321F4403FF; freq 120 MHz; mem_free ~216 KB

Autoset: port samd, board SPARKFUN_SAMD51_THING_PLUS (exact match). UF2 flash.

Fixture 25 — STM32 NUCLEO-H743ZI2 (MicroPython) (COM33)

First stm32 fixture. VID 1155 (0x0483 STMicroelectronics).

MP 1.23.0-preview; platform pyboard; machine NUCLEO_H743ZI2 with STM32H743
unique_id 3d0022001151323435373638; freq tuple (400, 200, 100, 100) MHz; mem_free ~455 KB

Autoset: port stm32, board NUCLEO_H743ZI2. Flash via ST-Link MSD drag-drop of firmware.bin — not esptool. Flashed → MP 1.29.0-preview.

Fixture 26 — Adafruit PyRuler (SAMD21) CircuitPython (COM34)

CircuitPython 8.2.0; board_id pyruler; machine Adafruit PyRuler with samd21e18
uid DCF15C8B393952504A312E31203106FF; CIRCUITPY on D:; VID 9114

Autoset: port samd; no PYRULER in MP tree — closest ADAFRUIT_TRINKET_M0 / ADAFRUIT_QTPY_SAMD21. UF2 flash. Flash note: bootloader updated Trinket M0 v2→v4.0.0; official CP UF2 returned to TRINKETBOOT — app image not sticking. Left for later (out of scope).

Fixture 27 — Adafruit PyGamer (SAMD51) CircuitPython (COM36)

CircuitPython 9.0.3; platform MicroChip SAMD51 / uname samd51
machine/board_id Adafruit PyGamer with samd51j19 / pygamer
uid C04CD4883546395320202033481705FF; freq 120 MHz; mem_free ~155 KB

Autoset: port samd; no PYGAMER in MP tree — closest SAMD_GENERIC_D51X19 (samd51j19; contrast fixture 24 samd51j20). UF2 flash.

Fixture 28 — classic ESP32-PICO-V3-02 + Embedded PSRAM (COM37)

Same chip profile as 17/20. CH9102 (54B0007563). Distinct MAC 4c:75:25:ee:d8:b4. Autoset: ESP32_GENERIC / SPIRAM / 8 MB. Flashed → MP 1.29.0-preview ESP32_GENERIC-SPIRAM (needed erase-flash first — partial write left a corrupted VFS). mem_free ~2.0 MB.

Fixture 29 — Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express (CircuitPython) (COM38)

Second nRF52 fixture. VID 9114 Adafruit.

CircuitPython 8.2.0; platform nRF52840 / uname nrf52
machine/board_id Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Express with nRF52840 / feather_nrf52840_express
uid 79205479286866EB; freq 64 MHz; mem_free ~141 KB

Autoset: port nrf. MP tree has FEATHER52 (nRF52832) — not a 52840 match; closest Adafruit-bootloader build SEEED_XIAO_NRF52 UF2 family 0xADA52840. Flash note: FTHR840BOOT SoftDevice S140 6.1.1 — must build SEEED_XIAO_NRF52 with SOFTDEV_VERSION=6.1.1 (UF2 start 0x26000); default 7.3.0 UF2 fails. Flashed → MP 1.29.0-preview (USB VID becomes Seeed 0x2886).

Fixture 30 — Adafruit Trinket M0 (SAMD21) CircuitPython (COM41)

True Trinket M0 (contrast fixture 26 PyRuler clone). VID 9114.

CircuitPython 8.2.0; board_id trinket_m0; machine Adafruit Trinket M0 with samd21e18
uid 8F6CBA0D3546525020312E372C1418FF; CIRCUITPY on D:

Autoset: port samd, board ADAFRUIT_TRINKET_M0 (exact match). UF2 via TRINKETBOOT (double-reset).

Autoset rules distilled from these fixtures

Signal	Autoset
Chip family from esptool	`ESP32_GENERIC`, `_S2`, `_S3`, `_C3`, `_C6`, `_H2`, `_P4`, …
Single-core feature	`UNICORE` if that variant exists
PSRAM	esptool `Embedded PSRAM` → `SPIRAM`; machine `Octal-SPIRAM` → `SPIRAM_OCT`; else MP large heap → `SPIRAM`
Physical flash	`CONFIG_ESPTOOLPY_FLASHSIZE_*` + layout base
ESP32-P4 Wi-Fi	`C5_WIFI` / `C6_WIFI` only from MP `_build`/machine or explicit user pick
Identity key	MAC (esptool) — never the USB adapter serial (often bogus, e.g. `123456`)

Confidence: matched / family-only / unknown. Non-Espressif → suggested firmware port only, never a forced ESP32_GENERIC_*.