Hi guys i made an app for xplane called a dataref bridge.

[steep epoch]

95% of flight sim users struggle with hardware integration.
Solution: X-Plane DataRef Bridge

This app is the ultimate middleware for home cockpit builders, creating a high-speed, two-way link between X-Plane 11 and your Arduino/HID hardware— For peeps who love coding controllers.

Key Features:

• Universal Hardware Interface: Connect multiple Arduinos and HID devices (joysticks, throttles, button boxes). Hybrid Mode uses HID for instant response + Serial for complex data (e.g., radio displays) No board type limitations!.
• Visual Input Mapping: Click to assign interface for buttons, switches, and axes to X-Plane commands or DataRefs. Includes an Axis Calibration Wizard with curves and dead zones. Supports logic-based triggers (e.g., engage only if 3 switches are on).
• Intelligent Output Management: Drive LEDs, 7-segment displays, and LCDs using real-time simulator data. Monitor any DataRef live and create internal variables for custom logic (e.g., “Autopilot Mode”).
• Developer Tools: Built-in DataRef search, live debugging, and support for custom DataRefs.
• Reliability & Flexibility: Async Python core (qasync) ensures smooth performance. Save/load aircraft-specific profiles (Cessna 172, 737, etc.).

Whether you’re building a simple button box or a full 737 overhead panel, X-Plane DataRef Bridge scales with your project—offering real-time control, ez coding, and seamless integration.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ezdTPhmqJE3orW2pWPwM9dX5ZSqRDxvq/view?usp=drivesdk

[whole hill]

Interesting concept. Is it like replacing mobiflight?

[steep epoch]

Not at all! I love mobiflight. This one is only for xplane use

I just had my pain points from using mf solved by making this:

No board type limits

Can be hybrid type firmware(HID + Serial)

Can put moar complex functions and libraries and upload it on whatever board i want.

Youre not limited to use specific types of electronic devices and components. You can even make proper matrices with these.

Has initial sync(so input states match immediately once u start xplane)

You can make ur own air manager display with this

Versatile af

[subtle hornet]

If that's something what in your opinion extend the possibilities, why not join our dev team and make MF even greater? 😃
We would love to cover with MobiFlight as many aspects as possible, improve things further so everyone with some dev experience and ideas is always welcome. 😃

[pliant sphinx]

Do you have a github repo?

[steep epoch]

https://github.com/Rororo098/Xplane-Dataref-Bridge

[pliant sphinx]

Thanks for sharing. Good luck! - and like @subtle hornet said: if there is something that you would like to see in MobiFlight, you can always create a PR and contribute to the project.

Out of curiosity: what exactly was missing in MobiFlight for you?

[steep epoch]

Thank you! Ill do that soon hehe I made that app cuz i was inspired of how mf connects devices and the sim--making flight simulation so immersive. But yea thats mostly it, its missing flexibility to use various types of microcontroller boards, electronic components (some require specific libraries to configure the EC's properly), making buttons matrices for a HID(tried various approaches to make one before using mf but it always lead to ghosting when pressing multiple buttons, and i dunno if this happens the same w others but ill also include the button state sync upon connecting mf to xplane. Used to happen to me many times before, dunno if its fixed now. Best of luck to you guys!

[pliant sphinx]

We have interfaces for everything, sims, controller, custom devices, and all kinds of extension capabilities. If you say MobiFlight is lacking flexibility then it's likely you didn't explore all capabilities.

[steep epoch]

Flexibility in SOME cost efficient methods i mean-- not all. I love mf and i still use it. I researched and made this to open more doors for more complex flight sim device systems :)) cant wait to see what people build using this. Also they can still use both mf and this and use whichever they prefer. The microcontroller is custom code and can still match what electronic components you made in mf.

[drifting venture]

Hi @steep epoch
Tried this last night, I can see my hid connected and all buttons and axis moving accordingly… but is not connecting to X-plane12,
Can this be run from a remote pc changing the correct X-plane machine ip-address?

[steep epoch]

Enable UDP networking - X-Plane 12 may have UDP disabled by default, so you may need to enable it in Settings → Network

keep in mind that i havent updated the datarefs database for xplane 12 yet so there may be some datarefs that you won be able to search in the bridge.

i also update the app every few hours. still a lot of debugging and new features being added.

[drifting venture]

I did enable UDP but still not connecting

[steep epoch]

try downloading the new release there were some issues with that when i packaged it into an exe file

if that doesnt work, make sure that your network setting on xplane is this. and on the app is this

when i have the time, ill make a sample FFB yoke soon using these datarefs
vy_acf → Roll resistance (lateral force creates roll torque)
vx_acf → Pitch resistance (longitudinal force affects pitch)
vz_acf → Vertical load (can simulate G-forces or stall buffeting)

[drifting venture]

Ok I’ll try it again tonight, I’ll keep you posted , thanks

[steep epoch]

If that doesnt work, download the most recent release. I remember updating it to integrate with xp12

[drifting venture]

Tried again last night with latest release and didnt work…

[steep epoch]

explain your set up to me. ill help you set it up

i had a friend use it on his xp12 to test his encoders and it worked for him. let's see how we can set it up on yours

[drifting venture]

Hello my friend!
Where are you from?
To check timing to try to connect the bridge, I’m in Canada now 1:24 afternoon, I’ll be on my pc later, about 8 pm…

[steep epoch]

Im from PH. Its 8 am here now i just woke up hehehe

[drifting venture]

Just arrived home from work I’ll have same dinner and I’ll be in my computer soon, for at least 3-4 hours, so let me know when and if you’re going to be able to help me…

Thanks

[steep epoch]

Alright perfect

Imma help u set it up

Im on now till 5 hrs

[steep epoch]

You can direct msg me if u want

[granite tree]

@steep epoch will this work with opencockpits cards?

[steep epoch]

At the moment, no. But i can try to reverse engineer how OCs send commands

[granite tree]

They run on sioc however there is currently ocusbmapper can be used.