A barcode scanner does not have to be a passive reader.

TotalFreedom (TTF) lets you run your own custom firmware on a Brady IPS scanner — written in C, executed on the device itself. The scanner becomes a programmable edge node that can reshape, decrypt, validate and route barcode data before it ever reaches your system.

We write, compile and license these plugins for you, across all three TotalFreedom generations.

What TotalFreedom is

Instead of configuring what the scanner does, TotalFreedom lets you program it. Your plugin runs inside the scanner, on the data as it is decoded — no PC in the loop, no network round trip.

1

Barcode scanned → your plugin runs on-device → formatted output to your system

Two kinds of plugin are available:

Decode plugins give you direct access to the scanner’s image data — useful for decoding beyond the standard symbologies, but not every scanner model and firmware supports them. We confirm this per model before you commit.

Three generations supported

TotalFreedom has evolved across three hardware generations, and a plugin built for one will not run on another. We build for all of them:

The platform generation must match the scanner. Installing a plugin built for the wrong generation results in a load failure — so identifying the correct generation is the first step of every project, and part of ours.

We handle the cross-compilation, the toolchain quirks, the symbol and memory-model differences between generations, and the packaging that makes a plugin actually load and run. You describe the behaviour you need.

What you can build

A plugin can do far more than add a prefix.

Data transformation

• Decode and process compressed or Base64-encoded payloads on the device
• Reformat, split, join and reorder fields to fit your system’s structure
• Apply conditional logic: different output for different symbologies or patterns
• Validate data in the scanner — checksums, patterns, business rules — and reject bad reads

Workflow and control

• Plugin chains: several plugins execute in sequence, each reacting to the previous result
• Multi-step verification: scan order matters — validate a work order, then a part, then a finished code
• Timing and accumulation: combine data from several scans before outputting a single result
• Device feedback: green/red indication, different beeps for accept vs reject
• External control: drive indicators, relays or buzzers through GPIO

In short: the scanner can run a small state machine of your own design — with no change to your host system.

IP protection and licensing

Custom firmware usually carries sensitive logic — a decryption routine, a proprietary data format, a business rule. You should not have to hand that over.

Every plugin we deliver can include a license mechanism that protects your intellectual property.

• Per-device licensing — one device, one key. A plugin can be locked to a specific scanner serial number, so it runs only on hardware you authorise.
• Customer-defined licenses — the license scheme can be tailored to your requirements. You decide the scope and the rules; we implement the generation and verification.
• Offline verification — checking happens on the device. No network, no server, no call home.
• Batch generation — license keys can be produced in bulk for fleets.

The plugin and its licensing are yours to define. We build the protection to your specification.

How we work

AI-assisted development is what makes this fast. Our workflow takes a requirement to a compiled, installable plugin in a fraction of the time a traditional embedded project would take:

1

Requirement → plugin logic → C source → cross-compile → packaged plugin → your scanner

You provide the requirement and, where relevant, a sample of the data. We handle the analysis, the implementation, the build and the packaging, and verify that the plugin loads and runs on your model.

A representative example

The example below is generic and describes a common class of problem. We do not disclose any customer’s specific requirements, data or systems.

A common scenario: a scanner outputs an encoded payload — compressed and Base64-wrapped — rather than the plain value your operators and systems need. Without on-device processing, this means building a decryption service on the back end and changing the system flow.

With a Format plugin, the scanner processes the payload itself and outputs the clean, final value directly. The host system is untouched, the result is available instantly, and it works with no network connection.

Supported devices

Custom TotalFreedom plugins are built for Brady IPS scanners on the Gen7 platform, with per-generation builds available:

• TTF 2.0 — ARMv5 models
• TTF 3.0 — MIPS32r2 models
• TTF 4.0 — ARMv8.2 / i.MX models

Not sure which generation your scanner is? We identify it for you and pick the correct toolchain — this is part of the project. Scanners outside Gen7 can be discussed as custom work.

Pricing

All work is one-time — no subscriptions. Because every plugin is built to a specific requirement, projects start with a conversation about what you need the scanner to do. Tell us about your requirement and we’ll come back with a plan and a price. Full details on the scanner firmware pricing page.

Requirements and limits

• Scanner: a Brady IPS scanner on the Gen7 platform. The TotalFreedom generation (2.0 / 3.0 / 4.0) must match — we confirm this.
• Decode plugins are model and firmware dependent. We verify support for your specific scanner before starting.
• Licensing is optional; if you do not need IP protection, it can be omitted.
• Documentation and tooling are currently in Chinese; the English build arrives in October 2026.
• Fully offline: plugins run on the device — no network, no external service.

💬 Questions or a custom requirement?

This global site is brand new, and our online tools are currently in Chinese. Tell us what you need and we’ll set up a fast, tailored solution for you — an English version is coming in the next few weeks.

📧 sales@happylab.me · 🌐 global.happylab.me

HappyLab builds practical AI and browser-based tools for industrial device workflows.