Open by default
Our work is centred on open-source software and communities, and we thrive in an open by default environment. Alongside client work, we contribute to open source and give back where we can.
About
We are engineers who build the software soul of hardware, specialising in open source and embedded software.
Small team, deep stack
We work with our clients to find suitable solutions built on community-driven free and open-source projects. Before founding Machine Soul, Bhushan worked extensively with free and open-source communities for over 13 years, and consulted for clients ranging from consumer electronics to automotive.
Our team includes long-time open-source enthusiasts and contributors.
Where the name comes from
Tracy Kidder’s Pulitzer-winning book follows a small team at Data General racing to build a new 32-bit computer, codenamed Eagle. The Hardy Boys built the hardware. The Microkids wrote the microcode that brought it to life. To join, you had to sign up: commit, completely, to making the machine work.
The machines are smaller now and the code is open, but the job hasn’t changed. When we take on your hardware, we sign up.
What we care about
Upstream first
Instead of adapting to vendor forks and BSP trees and getting stuck with old, outdated software, we help you run your hardware product on mainline U-Boot and kernel trees.
Part of your team
We like to work as part of your team, so you’re empowered to do the work we do too. Sharing knowledge and empowering your team is our top priority.
We sign up
Once we take on a machine, making it work is our job. We stay with the problem until it boots, ships and stays shipped.
Free Software
We rely heavily on free and open-source software for both our daily operations and professional work. With long-term experience contributing to Free Software initiatives, our team members have spent their careers actively involved in free software communities such as, KDE, Nura and UBports. We are recongized in KDE e.V. Trusted IT Consulting Firms as a firm trusted by KDE community.
The team
Bhushan Shah
Founder
Involved with KDE for about 13 years, as a volunteer and through work at KDE-adjacent companies. Started Machine Soul in September 2025.
Bharadwaj Raju
Engineer
Interested in systems programming, computer modelling, procedural generation and human-computer interaction. KDE contributor since early 2020.
Chinmoy Pradhan
Engineer
Likes building open software that is accessible and positively impacts our society. KDE contributor and developer.
Siddharth Menon
Junior Software Engineer
Started out as a backend developer, then moved to the kernel and systems engineering.