Have you ever wished your Pi Pico board could unleash its full potential and overcome some of its limitations? Are you frustrated by the RP2040's ADC quality being hampered by the onboard switching regulator's noise? Annoyed by design choices like the MicroUSB socket, the 2MB flash, or the absence of a reset button? Well, [Dmytro] has the solution – introducing Propico, an open-source Pi Pico redesign that maintains compatibility while addressing these concerns and adding several hacker-friendly features!

In this revamped design, [Dmytro] thoughtfully includes comfortably-spaced reset and boot buttons, a USB-C socket, and a dedicated low-noise voltage reference for the ADC. Furthermore, an extra LED and an I2C EEPROM footprint socket compatible with FRAM chips have been integrated. While preserving the original pinout, including the SWD connector, [Dmytro] introduces an extra RESET pin. The bottom side USB testpoints remain, with only the four testpoints altered for more practical signals. Notably, the switching regulator is replaced with the reliable 1117, sacrificing the ability to power your Pico from two AAs, but offering the convenience of drop-in 1117 replacement regulators.

What sets Propico apart is its fully open-source nature, with KiCad files readily available. Whether you want to create your Pi Pico footprint board, enhance this design further, or tailor it to your specific needs, the GitHub repository is at your disposal. The repository includes a comprehensive pinout diagram and a KiCanvas schematic for all your tinkering requirements. Just as we've seen drop-in replacements for classic components like the Pi Zero, the 7805, the 6502 CPU, and the DE9 serial port connector, Propico stands out as another welcome addition for enthusiasts and innovators alike.