Become a sponsor to Robert Dale Smith

Hi, I'm Robert

I'm an independent builder. Embedded firmware, full-stack web, hardware design, robotics. I ship things and care about open standards.

My main open source project right now is Joypad OS, the firmware behind a growing ecosystem of game controller adapters, custom controllers, and accessibility builds.

Joypad OS

Joypad OS is the open source firmware behind a growing ecosystem of game controller adapters, custom controllers, and accessibility builds. If you've ever wanted to use a controller on a console it wasn't built for, hook a fight stick into something weird, mod a thrift store toy into a real gamepad, or build a controller for someone with limited mobility, Joypad OS is the firmware that makes it possible.

What it powers today

A community of hardware makers, hobbyists, and small businesses build their own adapters and controllers on Joypad OS. It runs on a wide range of microcontroller boards. Many of those products ship to real customers. Some have even been cloned, which is the open source equivalent of a five star review.

Why I'm building it

Game controllers should work the way keyboards and mice do. Any controller, any console, any computer. Plug and play. The console makers have spent thirty years making that impossible because lock-in is how they make money. Someone has to build the open standard from outside. That's me.

What's coming next

I'm layering AI on top of the same firmware. A controller that watches your screen, hears you, and plays games with you. Hints when you're stuck, co-op when you want company, full takeover when you want to watch. Working prototype on my bench. Slow today, faster tomorrow.

Why your sponsorship matters

Open source hardware firmware is hard to fund. There's no SaaS subscription, no app store cut, no monthly recurring anything. Just code, on hardware, owned by the person who bought it. Your sponsorship pays for:

• Time spent maintaining and extending the firmware
• New board support and driver work for community-requested hardware
• Prototype runs for new adapter and controller designs
• AI infrastructure for the next generation of features
• Keeping everything open source so anyone can build on it

If you've used Joypad OS in a product, contributed to the community, or just believe game controllers shouldn't be locked to one console, your sponsorship directly funds the future of how people play.

Thank you for supporting open hardware.

Robert