TL;DR
An author argues that when hardware reaches end-of-life, manufacturers should be required to publish enough software details for the community to maintain or rebuild functionality. The proposal stops short of forcing full codebase releases, instead calling for basic hardware specs and connection protocols to be shared.
What happened
In a short essay published January 13, 2026, the author proposes that end-of-life (EOL) hardware should trigger mandatory software openness. Drawing on a personal example of a smart scale that still pairs over Bluetooth but lost useful app support, the piece frames unsupported software as effectively destroying otherwise functional devices. The author links the idea to progress made by the Right to Repair movement and calls for regulatory backing, ideally from the European Commission, to require companies to publish minimal resources — a GitHub repository with hardware specs and connection protocols — once a product is no longer supported. The essay cites a few industry references, praising rare cases where firms have opened resources and noting Spotify’s discontinuation of its $200 Car Thing in late 2024 as an instance of hardware being rendered worthless. The author emphasizes accessibility improvements in development tools as a reason community-driven fixes are feasible.
Why it matters
- Could reduce electronic waste by enabling community-maintained software for otherwise functional hardware.
- Shifts some control from manufacturers to users and independent developers when official support ends.
- Aligns with Right to Repair goals by addressing software obsolescence as well as hardware repairability.
- Lower barriers for reusing devices as modern low-code and accessible tooling make community development more practical.
Key facts
- Author published the essay on January 13, 2026.
- The writer owns a smart weight scale that still connects via Bluetooth but lost useful app support.
- The author says the scale's app previously stored data for up to five users.
- Proposal: require companies to publish basic GitHub repos with hardware specs and connection protocols when devices hit EOL.
- The author explicitly states they are not asking companies to open-source entire codebases tied to larger platforms.
- The piece references the Right to Repair movement as partial progress toward this goal.
- The author cites Bose as an example of a company that has done something similar, and points to Spotify’s 2024 discontinuation of its $200 Car Thing as an example of hardware rendered useless.
What to watch next
- Whether the European Commission or other regulators propose or adopt rules requiring published specs/protocols at EOL — not confirmed in the source.
- If more device makers routinely publish minimal hardware specs and connection protocols on public repositories — not confirmed in the source.
- Community projects that attempt to restore functionality for discontinued devices using shared protocols and repositories — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- End-of-life (EOL): A product status indicating the manufacturer no longer provides updates, support, or development for that item.
- Right to Repair: A consumer movement and set of policies advocating access to repair information, parts, and tools to enable device maintenance and reduce waste.
- Open-source software: Software whose source code is made publicly available so others can inspect, modify, and distribute it under specified license terms.
- GitHub repository: An online storage location for code and related documentation that enables version control and collaboration.
Reader FAQ
Does the author want companies to publish full internal codebases at EOL?
No. The author says they are not asking for entire codebases to be open-sourced, only basic specs and connection protocols.
What problem is this proposal trying to solve?
The piece aims to prevent functional hardware from becoming unusable due to withdrawn software support, reducing waste and empowering users.
Are any regulatory measures already in place to force this?
Not confirmed in the source.
Does the author provide examples of devices harmed by EOL software?
Yes; the author describes a smart scale they own and references Spotify’s discontinued $200 Car Thing from late 2024.
Home January 13, 2026 · 2 min read EOL. When hardware products reach end-of-life (EOL), companies should be forced to open-source the software. I think we've made strides in this…
Sources
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