Add-on standard

SAO badges

The Shitty Add-On (SAO) is the standardized 1.69bis expansion connector that lets badges host interchangeable add-on boards — LEDs, sensors, displays, and novelties designed by the community. These badges document an SAO connector and the badge-hacking ecosystem around it.

AND!XOR DC26 Badge: Unofficial DEF CON 26 ESP32-WROVER Wild West of IoT badge

DEF CON 26 · United States · 2018

AND!XOR DC26 Badge

Unofficial DEF CON 26 ESP32-WROVER Wild West of IoT badge

The AND!XOR DC26 Badge was an unofficial DEF CON 26 badgelife board themed as the Wild West of IoT, built around an ESP32-WROVER module with WiFi/Bluetooth, a color LCD, microSD, IS31FL3736-driven RGB lighting, CP2102N USB serial, LULZCODE scripting, the B.E.N.D.E.R. console challenge, and badge-to-badge networking ambitions.

DEF CON 27 · United States · 2019

AND!XOR DC27 Badge

Unofficial DEF CON 27 nRF52840 hardware-hacking badge

The AND!XOR DC27 Badge was an unofficial DEF CON 27 badgelife board built around a Rigado BMD-340 / Nordic nRF52840 core with an IS31FL3741 LED matrix, light pipes, glow-in-the-dark capacitive touch, USB-C, FT2232H hardware-hacking bridge, SWD/Tag-Connect programming paths, SAO 1.69bis support, BOTNET mesh behavior, and B.E.N.D.E.R. v2.0 challenges.

ARAMCON 2019 Badge: nRF52840 e-paper smart badge with audio, NeoPixels, and SAO

ARAMCON 2019 · Israel · 2019

ARAMCON 2019 Badge

nRF52840 e-paper smart badge with audio, NeoPixels, and SAO

A source-backed ARAMCON 2019 smart badge record for an nRF52840 conference badge with a 2.9-inch e-paper display, accelerometer, flash, MP3/WMA audio codec, Cherry MX keys, NeoPixels, SAO connector, CircuitPython support, and public KiCad hardware files.

BSidesKC 2019 Conference Badge: ESP8266 Badge Pirates badge with Wi-Fi beacon game

BSidesKC 2019 · United States · 2019

BSidesKC 2019 Conference Badge

ESP8266 Badge Pirates badge with Wi-Fi beacon game

The BSidesKC 2019 conference badge was a Badge Pirates ESP8266 badge with Wi-Fi behavior, reverse-mount LEDs, participant/speaker/organizer/volunteer/sponsor/pirate variants, a related Jr Hacker badge, and a rights-cleared repository photo served locally as optimized WebP.

BSidesROC 2019 · United States · 2019

BSidesROC 2019 Electronic Badge

Reprogrammable ATTINY85 badge with dual SAO ports

The BSidesROC 2019 badge is preserved through the official event archive and badge page, which describe a fully working reprogrammable electronic badge, about 200 assembled units, PCB fallback for attendees without the assembled option, and a best-hacked-badge contest.

linux.conf.au 2021 Open Hardware Miniconf · Australia · 2021

LCA2021 SwagBadge

Online linux.conf.au ESP32-era SwagBadge and DagBadge hardware programme

linux.conf.au 2021's Open Hardware Miniconf is represented by a source-backed SwagBadge and DagBadge programme: badges were built and mailed to delegates, then covered by official software, hardware, SAO, test-jig, firmware, and show-and-tell sessions.

CrikeyCon 8 · Australia · 2022

CrikeyCon 8 Badge

Simple LED and SAO-header soldering badge

A CrikeyCon 8 conference badge with a documented simple LED circuit, soldering workflow, three blue 1206 LEDs, current-limiting resistors, optional coin-cell holder, and 2x3 Simple Add-On header power path.

Hackaday Supercon 2022 · United States · 2022

Hackaday Supercon 2022 Voja4 Badge

Front-panel 4-bit computer badge with 272 LEDs

The 2022 Hackaday Supercon 6 badge, also documented as Voja4, was a front-panel-style 4-bit computer badge designed by Voja Antonic and implemented on a PIC24FJ256GA704 with 272 LEDs, direct button programming, serial save/load, internal flash storage, SAO serial expansion, and a public assembler/emulator/tooling archive.

linux.conf.au 2022 Open Hardware Miniconf · Australia · 2022

LCA2022 SwagBadge and Rockling SAO Kit

Updated SwagBadge, FPGA SAOs, and Rockling hardware-kit trail

linux.conf.au 2022's Open Hardware Miniconf publicly documented hardware kits, an updated LCA2022 SwagBadge, two SAOs, a Rockling FPGA audio processor, Theremin and Party Button SAOs, and a hardware-design session for the OHMC2022 Rockling and Swag Badge.

NorthSec 2022 · Canada · 2022

NorthSec 2022 Badge

ESP32 return-to-hallway badge with SAO hardware archive

NorthSec 2022 now has a source-backed badge record from NorthSec's official past-editions page and the public nsec-badge archive: an ESP32 WROOM32 electronic badge with CH340C USB serial, MCP73831 LiPo charging, AP2112 3.3 V regulation, twenty-four WS2811/5050 RGB LEDs, 0805 status LEDs, production Gerbers, BOM files, challenge image assets, and multiple SAO hardware directories.

Hackaday Berlin 2023 Voja4 Badge: Berlin-reskinned down-to-the-metal computer trainer

Hackaday Berlin 2023 · Germany · 2023

Hackaday Berlin 2023 Voja4 Badge

Berlin-reskinned down-to-the-metal computer trainer

Hackaday Berlin 2023 gave European attendees a Berlin-reskinned Voja Antonic Voja4 badge: a compatible revision of the 2022 Supercon down-to-the-metal computer trainer and retrocomputer, with public event sources tying it to the March 25-26 MotionLab.Berlin gathering and Saturday badge-hacking ceremony.

NorthSec 2023 Badge: AVR badge-chain interaction badge

NorthSec 2023 · Canada · 2023

NorthSec 2023 Badge

AVR badge-chain interaction badge

NorthSec 2023's public badge trail combines the official badge repositories with a first-hand technical writeup documenting an ATmega328PB attendee badge with CH340C USB serial, six push buttons, 16 WS2812B RGB LEDs, optional 128x32 OLED, AVR ISP, SAO connector, side-chain headers, BLE mesh controller-screen challenge behavior, and point-scoring badge-to-badge interaction.

CactusCon 12 · United States · 2024

CactusCon 12 Badge

Project NeoRogue ESP32-S3 badge archive

The CactusCon 12 badge is preserved through Badge Pirates' public CactusCon-12 repository, which includes KiCad CAD files, Gerbers, BOM exports, QA code, art assets, reference documents, and ProjectNeoRogue front/back raster outputs for the 2024 CactusCon badge.

Car Hacking Village at DEF CON 32 · United States · 2024

Car Hacking Village DC32 Main Badge

RP2040 CAN-bus badge with CHV SAO ecosystem

Car Hacking Village's DEF CON 32 badge ecosystem centered on a main RP2040 badge with CAN-network surfaces, four CHV SAO connectors, public board and firmware repositories, public CTF challenge notes, and IOActive's separately documented key-fob badge / SAO build.

HOPE XV Electronic Badge: ESP32-C3 badge with Badge Clinic and MicroPython workflow

HOPE XV · United States · 2024

HOPE XV Electronic Badge

ESP32-C3 badge with Badge Clinic and MicroPython workflow

The HOPE XV Electronic Badge was issued to in-person attendees as an ESP32-C3 badge with purple attendee boards, black pro boards, case variants, 16 WS2812-class RGB LEDs, buttons, IR blast behavior, vibration feedback, open hardware files, and MicroPython hacking notes.

BSides CDMX 2025 Badge: PY32F030 OLED and NeoPixel badge with role variants and Metro add-on

BSides CDMX 2025 · Mexico · 2025

BSides CDMX 2025 Badge

PY32F030 OLED and NeoPixel badge with role variants and Metro add-on

BSides CDMX 2025's Electronic Cats repository documents a Security BSides CDMX badge built around a Puya PY32F030F28U6TR, NeoPixels, OLED display, two AAA battery holder, Shitty Addon connector, role-specific KiCad hardware variants, a Metro add-on, public firmware, release HEX files, and BOM assets.

ICS Village DC33 FREE-WILi Badge: RP2350A ICS security badge tool

ICS Village at DEF CON 33 · United States · 2025

ICS Village DC33 FREE-WILi Badge

RP2350A ICS security badge tool

The ICS Village Badge for DEF CON 33 was a FREE-WILi and Intrepid Control Systems sponsored hands-on industrial-control-security badge tool with RP2350A control, ESP32-C6 Wi-Fi, sensors, GUI support, USB API, WASM scripting, and Build-A-Badge customization software.

Maritime Hacking Village at DEF CON 33 · United States · 2025

Maritime Hacking Village DC33 Differential Destroyer

Pico 2 maritime bus and voltage-glitching badge

The Differential Destroyer was Maritime Hacking Village's official DEF CON 33 badge, published as an OSHWA-certified open hardware platform for maritime bus work, scripting, signal interaction, and experimental voltage glitching.

NorthSec 2025 Badge: ESP32-C3 conference and CTF badge with SAO and IR pairing

NorthSec 2025 · Canada · 2025

NorthSec 2025 Badge

ESP32-C3 conference and CTF badge with SAO and IR pairing

NorthSec 2025's official badge repository documents an ESP32-C3-WROOM-02-N4 badge with eighteen NeoPixel RGB LEDs, five buttons, an IR pairing connector, two SAO v1.69bis connectors, USB-C or AAA battery power, and separate conference/CTF firmware builds.

seeess DC33 Tipsy Badge: RP2040 galvanic-vestibular badgelife badge

seeess at DEF CON 33 · United States · 2025

seeess DC33 Tipsy Badge

RP2040 galvanic-vestibular badgelife badge

The Tipsy Badge was an independent DEF CON 33 electronic badge by seeess, sold at the Hacker Warehouse vendor booth, with public CC BY-NC 4.0 repository documentation, firmware, a badge photo, 2xAAA power, RP2040 control, TFT display, buttons, LEDs, SAO port, custom photo storage, and galvanic vestibular stimulation modes.

BSides Ballarat 2026 · Australia · 2026

BSides Ballarat 2026 Underground Badge

Interactive ESP32 conference badge with screen, controls, badge-to-badge comms, and SAO support

BSides Ballarat 2026's public event page documents an Underground interactive conference badge designed and produced by Firnsy at Ballarat Hackerspace, with ESP32 processing, a screen, controls, badge-to-badge communication, SAO support, and a limited BSides SAO add-on; a public maker writeup also documents a third-party WS2812B Simple Add-On for the badge.

BSides Vilnius 2026 · Lithuania · 2026

BSides Vilnius 2026 Badge

Lithuanian STM32H5 electronic badge with SAO and sensor

An official Lithuanian Security BSides 2026 electronic badge documented by the BSides-Vilnius badge2026 repository as an STM32H563RIT6 board with an SAO connector, an environmental temperature/humidity sensor, an LCD, and USB DFU, built for the June 3-4, 2026 event at Kablys in Vilnius.

DEF CON 34 · United States · 2026

DEF CON 34 Badge

Planned electronic Human badge with SAO specs

DEF CON's official preregistration copy guarantees an onsite DEF CON 34 Human badge, an official badge-alert post says DEF CON 34 is an electronic badge year, and the official media server publishes DC34 SAO electrical and mechanical specifications that make the 2026 badge a source-backed planned electronic-badge record.

Add-on hardware

Companion Gear for SAO badges

Headers, extension cables, and I2C adapters for building and testing SAO add-ons. Category-level recommendations, not compatibility guarantees.

Seeed Studio exact

Replacement Displays

Display modules and related parts for repair and preservation planning.

Why this matches

This badge has a documented display signal. Matched technical signals: LCD.

Useful for preservation, repair planning, and careful display handling.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

SparkFun exact

SAO Headers

Headers and connector supplies for SAO repair, add-on testing, and preservation.

Why this matches

This badge has a documented SAO connector. Matched technical signals: SAO.

Useful for add-on repair, testing, display, and bench documentation.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

SparkFun likely

Display Headers and Connectors

Headers, sockets, and connector supplies for display repair or replacement work.

Why this matches

Display headers and connectors are useful for repair and preservation planning. Matched technical signals: LCD.

Useful for careful repair or replacement of small display modules.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

SparkFun likely

Qwiic / I2C Adapters

I2C adapter supplies for badge add-ons, sensors, and lab documentation.

Why this matches

SAO workflows often use I2C-compatible add-on testing and bench documentation. Matched technical signals: SAO.

Useful for development and documentation of hardware you own or are authorized to work on.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance

SparkFun likely

SAO Extension Cables

Extension wiring and jumper supplies for testing or displaying SAO add-ons away from the main badge.

Why this matches

Extension wiring is useful for testing and displaying SAO add-ons. Matched technical signals: SAO.

Useful for authorized bench testing and display setups.

Open vendor search

Vendor link · selected for technical relevance