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RASPBERRY PI PICORP2350RP2040

Pico.Lab: turn a Raspberry Pi Pico into a browser-based scope and logic analyzer

Flash one .uf2 and a Pico 2 becomes a 4-channel scope, 8-channel logic analyzer with UART/I2C/SPI decode and bus tool you open in any browser.

Difficulty:Beginner

What it is

Free firmware that turns a Raspberry Pi Pico into a pocket scope, logic analyzer and bus tool you use from a web browser.

What you need

How hard

Beginner. Drag one .uf2 onto the Pico and open a browser. Building from source needs the Pico SDK.

Key Facts

  • Board: Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (RP2350) or Pico (RP2040); custom Pico.Lab board optional
  • Scope: 4 channels, about 400 kHz bandwidth
  • Logic analyzer: 8 channels, up to 100 MS/s, UART/I2C/SPI decode
  • Also: GPIO, data logger (CSV), UART terminal, I2C/SPI masters, serial CLI
  • UI: served over USB Ethernet at http://pico.lab, no host software
  • Power supply tool: Pico.Lab board only
  • License: GPL-3.0

About This Project

Pico.Lab, by Maximilian Kern (CoretechR), is an open-source embedded bring-up tool for the Raspberry Pi RP2350 and RP2040. It serves a window-based web interface straight from the Pico's flash over a virtual USB Ethernet link, so there is no host software, driver or WebUSB: plug it in, open http://pico.lab (or http://192.168.7.1) in any browser, and drag tool windows around. The tools are a 4-channel oscilloscope (an overclocked ADC with DMA streaming, about 400 kHz of bandwidth), an 8-channel logic analyzer that captures at up to 100 MS/s with UART, I2C and SPI decoders, GPIO control with pull-ups and PWM, a data logger with CSV export, a UART terminal, and I2C and SPI masters for scanning and raw transactions. There is also a serial CLI at 115200 baud for scripting. It runs best on the author's custom Pico.Lab board, which adds a 1.65-5.5 V logic range, an adjustable 1-5 V power rail with current measurement, a 12 V analog input range with op-amp buffers, and ESD and over-voltage protection; the power supply controller only works on that board. But the firmware is compatible with a standard Raspberry Pi Pico (RP2040) or Pico 2 (RP2350) out of the box: hold BOOTSEL, plug in, and drop the matching .uf2 file on the drive. The author is upfront that a $1 microcontroller on a USB 1.1 link won't match a dedicated scope or logic analyzer; it is meant for quick questions like why an I2C sensor won't answer. The author also notes AI generated much of the firmware, web frontend and docs. GPL-3.0.

Source & Attribution

Source: GitHub
License: GPL-3.0
Last verified: 10/23/2026
Pico.Lab: turn a Raspberry Pi Pico into a browser-based scope and logic analyzer

Illustration

How to Build It
Drop the Pico.Lab .uf2 on a Pico 2 (or Pico), plug it in and open http://pico.lab for a scope, logic analyzer and bus tools.

Steps

  1. 1

    Get the firmware

    Download the .uf2 that matches your board (RP2350 for the Pico 2, RP2040 for the original Pico) from the PicoLab repo.

  2. 2

    Flash

    Hold BOOTSEL while plugging the Pico in, then drag the .uf2 onto the drive that appears.

  3. 3

    Open the UI

    Reconnect by USB. The Pico shows up as a network adapter and hands your computer an address; open http://pico.lab, or http://192.168.7.1 if local DNS doesn't work.

  4. 4

    Debug

    Open the scope, logic analyzer (with UART/I2C/SPI decode), I2C scanner or UART terminal as windows. Remember it's a $1 MCU on USB 1.1, not a bench instrument.

  5. 5

    Script it

    For automation, connect to the USB serial port at 115200 baud and type help for the CLI commands.

Bill of Materials

Parts list

3 parts · 3 linked

Heads up: some Buy links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, MCU Atlas may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which parts we list. How this works

Not included: The custom Pico.Lab board (optional; adds the power supply tool, 12 V analog range and 1.65-5.5 V logic), Jumper wires or probes to reach your circuit

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