SparkFun Electronics has officially terminated its business relationship with Adafruit Industries, a decision that stems from alleged violations of SparkFun’s Code of Conduct during online interactions. This move has sparked controversy, particularly as Adafruit claims the decision is a retaliatory measure for its efforts to address online harassment linked to SparkFun’s founder.
Background of the Dispute
The conflict centers around the Teensy development boards, which Adafruit sources from SparkFun. In a letter dated December 8, 2025, SparkFun CEO Glenn Samala announced that the company would fulfill outstanding orders until January 15, 2026, after which any unfulfilled orders would be canceled.
Allegations of Harassment
According to Phillip Torrone, managing director of Adafruit, the fallout began after he reported multiple instances of harassment directed at Adafruit founder Limor Fried by SparkFun’s founder, Nate Seidle, and a former employee. Torrone stated in a YCombinator forum that rather than addressing the harassment claims, SparkFun opted to cut ties with Adafruit.
Adafruit’s Response and Future Plans
In light of the severed relationship, Adafruit plans to develop an open alternative to the Teensy boards, potentially named Freensy. Torrone has accused Seidle of attempting to undermine Adafruit by scraping its website and possibly withholding royalties owed after years of consistent payments.
Ongoing Tensions and Historical Context
Torrone elaborated on the long-standing tensions between the two companies, citing past incidents where SparkFun’s actions allegedly caused significant harm to Adafruit, including website interference that led to revenue loss. He also mentioned that SparkFun had previously published source code from Fried’s work without proper attribution.
While Torrone expressed concerns about SparkFun’s commitment to honoring existing royalty agreements, Samala’s response to the situation emphasized that the decision to cut ties was made after careful consideration, wishing Adafruit success in its future endeavors. Seidle did not provide any comments regarding the allegations.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
