[New Project] PicoTag – QR Code–based Stringing Record System (Looking for Feedback)

[206cc]

[Release] PicoTag – QR Code–based Stringing Record System (Now Open Source, Looking for Feedback)

Hi everyone,

I’m happy to share that PicoTag is now officially released (v1.0.2) and the source code is publicly available.

PicoTag is a lightweight tool that uses QR codes to record racket stringing information—designed to replace handwritten stickers or notes that can fade, fall off, or get lost.

For each stringing job, PicoTag generates a unique Tag ID + QR code label that can be attached to the racket (or kept as a reference). By scanning the QR code (or opening the URL), players and stringers can quickly review the tension, string, notes, and other details, and easily share the record with others.

With this release, you have two ways to use PicoTag:

• Self-host your own PicoTag site (recommended if you want full control, custom branding, and your own data), or
• Use the public instance directly if you don’t want to set up hosting yourself.

Public live site (ready for real use):
https://picotag.cc

GitHub repository (source code + documentation):
https://github.com/206cc/PicoTag/

If you use the public site, records won’t be removed casually (unless there’s clear misuse or personal data concerns), so feel free to use it for real testing and daily workflows.

Any feedback, suggestions, or even criticism are very welcome and would be extremely helpful.

Thanks for reading, and I hope PicoTag can become a useful companion project alongside PicoBETH.

— KuoKuo

[CarlosOnline]

My main interests are capturing the string name and the tension used, followed by the date and, of course, the racket name. Since I typically do my own stringing, I wouldn’t list my name.

Having a notes field is also important. I’d like to document my thought process—especially why I chose a particular string combination when experimenting with something new. It would also be helpful to have a separate field where I can later record my impressions and on-court experience with the setup.

For tennis, I usually use a hybrid setup, where the mains are strung at one tension and the crosses at a slightly different tension. In some cases, I also use different strings for the mains and crosses. Being able to record all of this detail would be ideal.

Finally, it would be great if a small text sticker could be generated to affix to the frame below the racket head. This is especially useful since stringing setups often come up in conversation while at the court.

Thanks for spinning up a new project like this—I really appreciate it.

[206cc]

Thank you very much for your suggestions — they are extremely helpful.

I actually spent some time today adding a new Remarks (notes) feature based on this feedback.
If a password is set when creating the ID, the record can later be updated using the Remarks field, allowing users to add any additional notes after stringing.

I think this fits very well with the way many of us experiment, reflect, and refine our setups over time. Your detailed use case helped shape this feature in a very practical way.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and ideas — they add real value to the project and help make it more useful for everyone.

[herbyderby]

Cool!

Yes, it is fairly common for tennis rackets to use separate main and crosses, sometimes with different string types. The tensions are usually denoted as main/cross, and the cross is usually a couple of lbs less, for example "50/48". The stringing patters are always(?) dictated by the racket manufacturer and are not customized by the stringer.

I'd say the only required info is { date, string type(s), tension(s) }

One other random potential issue is that in tennis matches you usually "flip a coin" to see who servers first. In my area at least this is done by spinning the racket and seeing which way is up, which is determined by the logo on the butt cap. So that is not a great place for a sticker. An oblong version that could go on the inside of the throat might be better.

[206cc]

Thanks for the feedback — much appreciated.
You’re right about tennis setups, especially the mains/crosses notation and the butt-cap logo issue during coin flips. That’s a good practical consideration.
For the next major update, I’m planning to focus more on tennis-specific use cases. One of the planned changes is adding a new oblong label format intended to be placed on the inside of the throat, rather than on the butt cap.
This kind of input is very helpful for guiding future updates.

[206cc]

I actually spent some time today and implemented a tennis-specific label format in PicoTag:

Badminton uses a compact square label (butt cap style).

Tennis uses a slim rectangular label designed for the throat area, so it won’t interfere with the coin-flip/racket-spin logo on the butt cap.

I’m also keeping the tennis tension field flexible so formats like “50/48” work naturally. Appreciate the helpful feedback!