# Glasgow Interface Explorer

> Use FPGA-based open hardware and Python applets to read and write SPI flash, I2C EEPROM and parallel memory chips, determine JTAG pinouts, debug supported processors and analyze UART, SPI and QSPI transactions on physical devices.

- Type: Tool
- Targets: Firmware · Protocol
- Category: Firmware tools
- Relationship: Foundation tool
- Sources reviewed: 2026-10-17
- Added to the catalog: 2026-10-17
- Original resource: <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/intro.rst>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/glasgow-interface-explorer/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/glasgow-interface-explorer/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/glasgow-interface-explorer/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- Requires Glasgow hardware, bought pre-assembled or built from the open design, plus physical access and correct wiring to the target; some targets need external power. The manual lists its features as working with a revC board, except the analyzer2 logic-analyzer applet, which is currently revD0+ only.
- Windows has self-contained MSI installers for Windows 7 SP1 or newer (Windows 7 also needs update KB4457144). Other platforms use the documented git and pipx source install with Python >=3.13,<3.16; Linux also needs the supplied udev rules. The repository has no tagged releases, and the package metadata marks the software as alpha.
- Dual-licensed 0BSD or Apache-2.0. The built-in cycle-accurate logic analyzer for debugging applets is documented as temporarily removed pending internal architecture improvements. Applets cover the documented interfaces and memory or processor families; the target interface and parameters must still be identified, and Glasgow does not extract firmware automatically.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/intro.rst>
2. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/license.rst>
3. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/purchase.rst>
4. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/install/binary.rst>
5. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/docs/manual/src/install/source.rst>
6. <https://github.com/GlasgowEmbedded/glasgow/blob/d51713b2141bba7958a073e99166ad01f5024c42/software/pyproject.toml>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.