BTstack is BlueKitchen's implementation of the official Bluetooth stack. It is well suited for small, resource-constraint devices such as 8 or 16 bit embedded systems as it is highly configurable and comes with an ultra small memory footprint.
Targeting a variety of platforms is as simple as providing the necessary UART, CPU, and CLOCK implementations. BTstack is currently capable of connecting to Bluetooth-modules via: (H2) HCI USB, (H4) HCI UART + TI's eHCILL, and (H5) HCI Three-Wire UART.
On smaller embedded systems, a minimal run loop implementation allows to use BTstack without a Real Time OS (RTOS). If a RTOS is already provided, BTstack can be integrated and run as a single thread.
On larger systems, BTstack provides a server that connects to a Bluetooth module. Multiple applications can communicate with this server over different inter-process communication methods. As sockets are used for client/server communication, it's easy to interact via higher-level level languages, e.g. there's already a Java binding for use in desktop environments.
BTstack supports the Central and the Peripheral Role of Bluetooth 5 Low Energy specification incl. LE Secure Connections, LE Data Channels, and LE Data Length Extension. It can be configured to run as either single-mode stack or a dual-mode stack.
BTstack is free for non-commercial use. However, for commercial use, tell us a bit about your project to get a quote.
Third-party libraries (FOSS): List of used libraries and their licenses
Discussion and Community Support: BTstack Google Group
Protocols: L2CAP (incl. Enhanced Retransmission Mode and LE Data Channels), RFCOMM, SDP, BNEP, AVDTP, AVCTP, ATT, SM (incl. LE Secure Connections and Cross-transport key derivation).
Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP incl. Browsing, GAP, GATT, HFP, HID, HSP, IOP, SPP, PAN, PBAP Client.
GATT Service Servers: Battery (BAS), Bond Management (BMS), Cycling Power (CPS), Cycling Speed and Cadence (CSCS), Device Information (DID), Heart Rate (HRS), HID over GATT (HIDS) Device , Mesh Provisioning, Mesh Proxy, Nordic SPP, Scan Parameters (SCPS), TX Power (TPS), u-Blox SPP.
GATT Service Clients:: ANCS, Battery (BAS), Device Information (DID), HID-over-GATT (HOGP) Host, Scan Parameters (SCPP).
GATT Services are in general easy to implement and require short development time. For more GATT Services please contact us, or follow the implementation guidelines.
In Development: LE Audio and more.
It has been qualified with the Bluetooth SIG (QDID 166433) for A2DP 1.3.2, AVCTP 1.4, AVDTP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6.2, DID 1.3, GAVDP 1.3, HFP 1.8, HSP 1.2, PAN 1.0, PBAP Client 1.2, RFCOMM 1.2, SPP 1.2 BR/EDR protocol/profiles, BAS 1.0, CPP 1.1, CPS 1.1, CSCP 1.0, CSCS 1.0, DIS 1.1, HIDS 1.0, HOGP 1.0, HRP 1.0, HRS 1.0, SCPP 1.0, SCPS 1.0 GATT profiles as well as and GAP, GATT, IOP, SM of the Bluetooth Core 5.2 specification.
For information on Apple's MFi/iAP2 and Find My profiles, please contact us directly.
| Status | Port | Platform |
|---|---|---|
 |
libusb | Unix-based system with dedicated USB Bluetooth dongle |
| No build server | libusb-intel | Unix-based system with Intel Wireless 8260/8265 Controller |
 |
posix-h4 | Unix-based system connected to Bluetooth module via H4 over serial port |
| No build server | posix-h4-da14581 | Unix-based system connected to Dialog Semiconductor DA14581 via H4 over serial port |
| No build server | posix-h4-da14585 | Unix-based system connected to Dialog Semiconductor DA14585 via H4 over serial port |
| No build server | posix-h5 | Unix-based system connected to Bluetooth module via H5 over serial port |
| No build server | qt-h4 | Unix- or Win32-based Qt application connected to Bluetooth module via H4 over serial port |
| No build server | qt-usb | Unix- or Win32-based Qt application with dedicated USB Bluetooth dongle |
| No build server | windows-h4 | Win32-based system connected to Bluetooth module via serial port |
| No build server | windows-h4-da14585 | Win32-based system connected to Dialog Semiconductor DA14585 via H4 over serial port |
| No build server | windows-winusb | Win32-based system with dedicated USB Bluetooth dongle |
| No build server | windows-winusb-intel | Win32-based system with Intel Wireless 8260/8265 Controller |
| No build server | raspi | Raspberry Pi 3 or Raspberry Pi Zero W with built-in BCM4343 Bluetooth/Wifi Controller |
 |
daemon | TCP and Unix domain named socket client-server architecture supporting multiple clients |
 |
java | Java wrapper for daemon |
 |
mtk | daemon for rooted Android devices, based on Mediatek MT65xx processor, Java and C client-server API |
| No build server | freertos | FreeRTOS: Run BTstack on a dedicated thread, not thread-safe. |
| Chipset | Type | HCI Transport | SCO over HCI | BTstack folder | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atmel ATWILC3000 | LE | H4 | n.a. | atwilc3000 | Firmware size: 60 kB |
| Broadcom UART | Dual mode | H4, H5 | Probably | bcm | Max UART baudrate 2 mbps |
| Broadcom USB Dongles | Dual mode | USB | Yes | bcm | |
| CSR UART | Dual mode | H4, H5, BCSP | No (didn't work) | csr | |
| CSR USB Dongles | Dual mode | USB | Yes | csr | |
| Cypress CYW20704/20707 | Dual mode | H4, H5, USB | Probably | bcm | |
| Cypress CYW20819 | Dual mode | H4, H5, USB | Probably | bcm | Keep CTS high during power cycle |
| Cypress CYW43xxx | Dual mode + Wifi | H4, H5 | Don't know | bcm | Bluetooth + Wifi Combo Controller |
| Cypress PSoC 4 | LE | H4 | n.a. | HCI Firmware part of PSoC Creator kit examples | |
| Dialog Semiconductor DA145xx | LE | H4, SPI | n.a. | da14581 | Official HCI firmware used |
| Dialog Semiconductor DA1469x | LE | H4, SPI | n.a | HCI Firmware part of DA1469x SDK | |
| Espressif ESP32 | Dual mode + Wifi | VHCI, H4 | Yes | SoC with Bluetooth and Wifi | |
| Espressif ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 | LE + Wifi | VHCI, H4 | Yes | SoC with Bluetooth and Wifi | |
| EM 9301, 9304 | LE | SPI | n.a. | em9301 | Custom HCI SPI implementation |
| Intel Dual Wireless 3165, 8260, 8265 | Dual mode | USB | Probably | intel | Firmware size: 400 kB |
| Nordic nRF | LE | H4 | n.a. | Requires custom HCI firmware | |
| Realtek RTL8822CS | Dual mode + Wifi | H5 | Yes | Requires initial firmware and config | |
| Realtek USB Dongles | Dual mode + Wifi | USB | Yes | realtek | Requires initial firmware and config |
| Renesas RX23W | LE | H4 | n.a. | HCI Firmware part of BTTS | |
| STM STLC2500D | Classic | H4 | No (didn't try) | stlc2500d | Custom deep sleep management not supported |
| STM32-WB5x | LE | VHCI | n.a. | SoC with multi-protocol Radio co-processor | |
| Toshiba TC35661 | Dual mode | H4 | No | tc3566 | |
| TI CC256x, WL183x | Dual mode | H4, H5, eHCILL | Yes | cc256x | Also WL185x, WL187x, and WL189x |
More infos on supported chipsets
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
| chipset | Support for individual Bluetooth chipsets |
| doc | Sources for BTstack documentation |
| example | Example applications available for all ports |
| platform | Support for special OSs and/or MCU architectures |
| port | Complete port for a MCU + Chipset combinations |
| src | Bluetooth stack implementation |
| test | Unit and PTS tests |
| tool | Helper tools for BTstack |