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ComChan is a free, open-source serial monitor that runs in a terminal. It can read from and write to serial-connected devices, with options for logging, automatic port detection, configuration files and plotting. A basic session starts by specifying a serial port and baud rate:
comchan -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -r 115200
What is ComChan?
ComChan (short for Communication Channel) is a Rust command-line tool for communicating with embedded systems and other serial devices. The official ComChan GitHub repository describes it as “A Blazingly Fast Serial Monitor for Embedded Systems and Serial Communication”; that is the project’s description, not an independent benchmark result.
It is designed for a terminal-first workflow rather than a graphical serial console. The command reference names Arduino, ESP32, Teensy and Raspberry Pi as target families, and lists minicom, picocom, screen, tio and cu as related tools. Those references establish the use case, not a measured comparison between programs.
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How do you install ComChan?
The official README documents several installation routes. Cargo is the standard option, and the optional ratty and ble features can be requested during installation:
#1 Best Overall
- 3.5-inch color screen, upgraded to use IPS full-viewing panel, 320x480 resolution, 300cd/m2 brightness and up to 16.7M RGB colors to ensure excellent display effects.
- Newly upgraded to a capacitive touch panel, the touch is more sensitive and precise compared to the resistive screen.
- On-board level conversion circuit, compatible with 5V and 3.3V MCUs. Adopt 4-wire SPI serial bus to save I/O pins.
- The input supports 2.54 pin header interface and FPC extension interface, and comes with a micro TF card slot for easy storage expansion.
- Provide rich sample learning programs (ESP32/STM32/Arduino R3&Mega2560/C51/CH32), provide underlying driver technical support, and update the information online.
cargo install comchan
cargo install comchan --features ratty,bleThe README also lists AUR packages, prebuilt binaries through cargo binstall, installation through elda, and building from source with Git and Cargo. Availability and feature requirements can change, so consult the official README for the current instructions. A precise current release version is not established here.
How do you connect ComChan to an Arduino or ESP32?
Connect the board to the computer, identify the serial port it exposes, and use the baud rate expected by the device’s firmware. The command reference gives examples including /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyACM0 and COM3; the right port depends on the operating system and hardware.
Rank #2
- 4.0 inches TN capacitive touch screen with 320x480 resolution of 65K colors and rich display colors. Brightness 300(cd/m2).
- Newly upgraded to a capacitive touch panel. Compared with resistive screens, it is more convenient to use and more accurate to touch
- ST7796S Driver. On board level conversion circuit, compatible with 5V and 3.3V MCU Adopting a 4-wire SPI serial bus to save I/O pins.
- Module input supports 2.54 pin interface and FPC extension interface. Equipped with micro TF card slot for easy storage expansion
- Provide rich example learning programs (ESP32/STM32/Arduino R3&Mage2560/C51/CH32). Provide low-level driver technical support, and update information online
- Find the port. Use the device’s operating-system port name, or try ComChan’s automatic detection with
--auto. - Start the monitor. Replace the example port and baud rate with the values for your board and firmware:
comchan -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -r 115200 - Send or receive data. ComChan supports reading from and writing to serial devices. Ensure the firmware and monitor use compatible serial settings.
A board with native USB serial may connect directly. For bare UART devices, or hardware without a usable host USB interface, a USB-to-UART adapter is a practical way to connect its transmit, receive and ground signals to the computer. Confirm voltage compatibility and wiring for the specific hardware; the port examples alone do not establish those details.
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On Linux, access permissions may prevent opening a serial device. The command reference notes that users may need membership in the dialout or uucp group, depending on the system.
Rank #3
- Use the i2c protocol to reduce the occupation of I/O ports, making it easier to add to the project, and less wiring is more beautiful.
- Commonly used in: Internet of things, DIY project, home animation, smartbuilding, maker's DIY project.
- Compatible with all current development boards, such as Arduino, Raspberry pi, Tinkerboard, Nano pi, Banana pi, stm32 and so on
- With a potentiometer used to adjust backlight (Color: Blue) and contrast.Power supply: 5v and I2C address is: 0x27 Module dimension: 80mm x 35mm x 11mm
What can ComChan do beyond basic monitoring?
The project’s current README lists features for serial workflows, wireless streaming, debugging and data capture. Their availability may depend on installation options and the connected hardware.
- Logging and replay: save sessions and replay data from
.logor.csvfiles. - Plotting: display numeric serial data in terminal plot types and export plots as SVG. A documented example is
comchan --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 115200 --plot; plotting expects numeric input. - CSV output and views: stream data continuously to CSV, or inspect it in hex and pretty-hex views.
- Multiple monitors: view two monitors side by side, and switch between monitor and plotter modes.
- BLE: stream wirelessly from supported BLE devices using the Nordic UART Service (NUS). The README specifically mentions devices such as those in the nRF52 series.
- RTT and defmt: receive logs over SWD. The README example supplies firmware and chip details:
comchan --rtt --elf path/to/firmware.elf --chip nRF52840_xxAA. - Simulation and 3D telemetry: the README also lists hardware simulation and 3D IMU telemetry, with Ratty terminal 3D support available through the optional feature install command.
- Configuration: generate a configuration file at
~/.config/comchan/comchan.toml; command-line flags override values from the file.
Can ComChan plot serial data?
Yes. ComChan has a terminal plotting mode, and the documented invocation is:
Rank #4
- The LCD has always been a device that acts as a window in human-computer interaction. For example, the prompt window on some instrument devices, the temperature and humidity prompt box, the device running status monitor, and the prompt screen of the counting device all have LCD figures.
- The common LCD1602, LCD2004, and LCD12864 are fabricated using liquid crystal materials and communicated using the I2C bus.
- It is a high-performance serial bus with bus rules and high-speed or low-speed device synchronization required for multi-master systems. The I2C bus has only two bidirectional signal lines, a serial data line (SDA) and a serial clock line (SCL).
- Compatible with all devices with I2C interfaces, such as Arduino, raspberry pi, beagle bone black, tinker board, stm32, esp32 and more.
- Package Includes:1 x LCD2004,1 x Jumpwire
comchan --port /dev/ttyUSB0 --baud 115200 --plotThe serial stream must contain numeric data for the plot workflow. If the incoming output is text or otherwise not numeric, use the monitor view instead. The README also lists SVG export for plots.
Is ComChan a minicom alternative?
It can serve as a terminal serial-monitor option, but the right choice depends on the workflow. ComChan’s documented feature set includes plotting, replay, BLE NUS streaming, RTT/defmt logs and side-by-side monitoring. The command reference lists minicom and other terminal tools as related programs, but does not provide a benchmark or a feature-by-feature comparison. It therefore does not establish that ComChan is faster or better than minicom, picocom, tio or a GUI monitor.
Best Value
- EASY I2C WIRING & SETUP: Simplify your projects with the I2C serial interface, requiring only four connections: VCC, GND, SDA, and SCL. This significantly reduces wiring complexity compared to parallel LCDs, making it ideal for both beginners and advanced users looking for a quick and clean setup.
- CRISP 16X2 CHARACTER DISPLAY: Features a clear display capable of showing 2 lines of 16 characters each, perfect for displaying sensor data, status messages, or user menus. The vibrant blue backlight ensures excellent readability in various lighting conditions.
- BROAD MICROCONTROLLER COMPATIBILITY: Engineered for versatility, this LCD module works seamlessly with a wide range of popular development boards. It is fully compatible with Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Tinkerboard, Nano pi, Banana pi, stm32, and other common microcontrollers.
- ADJUSTABLE BACKLIGHT AND CONTRAST: Easily fine-tune the display's readability using the built-in potentiometer on the rear of the module. This allows you to adjust the backlight brightness and character contrast to achieve the perfect viewing angle and clarity for your specific application.
- VERSATILE FOR DIY & STEM PROJECTS: An essential component for a variety of applications, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, school electronics projects, smart building dashboards, and custom DIY maker projects. We provide comprehensive after-sales support: complete digital documentation including user guides and technical references is available through our store customer service, and our support team is ready to assist with installation, programming, and troubleshooting to help you get started quickly.
| Decision point | What is established for ComChan |
|---|---|
| Interface | Terminal-first; it is not presented as a GUI serial monitor. |
| Serial communication | Reads from and writes to serial devices. |
| Setup | Supports port auto-detection and a configuration file; command-line flags override file values. |
| Capture and analysis | Lists logging, replay, plotting, continuous CSV output and SVG plot export. |
| Specialized connections | Lists BLE Nordic UART Service streaming and RTT/defmt over SWD. |
| Multiple ports | Lists two side-by-side monitor panes. |
| Performance and platform comparison | No independent benchmark or complete operating-system comparison is established by the cited command reference. |
Can ComChan monitor two serial ports?
Yes. The current README lists a dual-monitor mode with side-by-side panes. This is useful when comparing two serial streams at once, but the documentation summarized here does not specify additional limits or setup details for a particular operating system or device combination. Check the README for the current command-line syntax.
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