Command-line serial porter: sercat connects Windows consoles to COM ports
Pipes stdin to a COM port and redirects serial output to stdout, enabling scripted hardware interaction, debugging, and protocol testing from the console. Spectrum Integrators' sercat is a Windows command-line utility that treats serial ports as standard data streams, with port discovery, configurable baud rates, and a single-executable design. It fits embedded systems engineers, developers working with hardware, and administrators who need a lightweight tool for serial diagnostics and automation.
What does sercat actually do?
sercat opens a serial device and maps it to standard input and output so you can use pipes and redirection in the shell. The tool lists available COM ports with a command-line flag, accepts a baud-rate argument for matching device timing, and runs as a single executable without installation. This makes it possible to send raw data from scripts and capture device responses directly to files or other processes.
Does it slow down your system during a serial session?
The utility is designed for low overhead: it runs as a lightweight single executable and operates within the console process, so CPU and memory impact is minimal during normal use. Because it performs direct stream I/O to the COM interface and does not spawn heavy background services, it can run alongside other tasks without requiring additional system daemons or persistent drivers beyond the OS serial stack.
Do I need technical knowledge to use sercat?
The tool expects familiarity with command-line piping and serial parameters: you specify ports and baud rates via arguments and use shell redirection for automation. Casual users will need to know COM port names and the device's communication settings. For scripted workflows, the app supports batch files and PowerShell pipelines, so an engineer comfortable with console commands can automate repetitive serial interactions.
sercat suits engineers who script serial workflows; use it when you need minimal tooling.
For developers and system administrators who prefer command-line control, sercat provides deterministic, scriptable access to serial devices without a GUI layer. It sacrifices terminal conveniences found in full-featured emulators in exchange for direct stdin/stdout mapping and simple port listing. Recommended.
