diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e131173..bbb7439 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -63,17 +63,31 @@ Flags:
 ## Python bridge (recommended)
 Works on macOS, Windows, Linux. Uses SDL2 + pyserial.
 
-### Install dependencies with uv (or pip)
+### Install dependencies (pyproject-enabled)
+The repository now includes a `pyproject.toml`, so you can install the bridge and helper scripts as an editable package:
+
 ```sh
 # from repo root
 uv venv .venv
-uv pip install pyserial pysdl2
+source .venv/bin/activate  # or .venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
+uv pip install -e .
 ```
+
+Prefer stock pip?
+
+```sh
+python -m venv .venv
+source .venv/bin/activate  # or .venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
+pip install -e .
+```
+
 - SDL2 runtime: install via your OS package manager (macOS: `brew install sdl2`; Windows: place `SDL2.dll` on PATH or next to the script; Linux: `sudo apt install libsdl2-2.0-0` or equivalent).
 
 ### Run
 ```sh
 source .venv/bin/activate  # or .venv\Scripts\activate on Windows
+controller-uart-bridge --interactive
+# or, equivalently
 python controller_uart_bridge.py --interactive
 ```
 Options:
@@ -88,6 +102,8 @@ Options:
 - `--deadzone 0.08` to change stick deadzone (0.0-1.0).
 - `--zero-sticks` to sample the current stick positions on connect and treat them as neutral (cancel drift).
 - `--zero-hotkey z` to choose the terminal hotkey that re-zeroes all connected controllers on demand (press `z` by default; pass an empty string to disable).
+- `--update-controller-db` to download the latest SDL GameController database before launching (defaults to the copy in `controller_db/` if present).
+- `--controller-db-url URL` to override the source URL when updating the controller database (defaults to the official mdqinc repo).
 - `--trigger-threshold 0.35` to change analog trigger press threshold (0.0-1.0).
 - `--swap-abxy` to flip AB/XY globally.
 - `--swap-abxy-index N` (repeatable) to flip AB/XY for controllers first seen at index N (auto-converts to a stable GUID).
@@ -101,6 +117,11 @@ Options:
 - Hotkeys work only when the bridge is started from a TTY/console that currently has focus. Pass an empty string to either flag to disable that shortcut (useful when running unattended).
 - If you launch the bridge with `--swap-abxy` (global swap), the per-controller toggle hotkey will show that the layout is enforced globally and will not override it.
 
+### Updating SDL controller mappings
+- The bridge ships with a pinned `controller_db/gamecontrollerdb.txt`. Run `controller-uart-bridge --update-controller-db ...` to download the latest database from the official upstream (`mdqinc/SDL_GameControllerDB`).
+- The download only touches `controller_db/gamecontrollerdb.txt`; add `--controller-db-url https://.../custom.txt` if you maintain your own fork.
+- If the file is missing, the bridge will automatically attempt a download on startup.
+
 Hot-plugging: controllers and UARTs can be plugged/unplugged while running; the bridge will auto reconnect when possible.
 
 ### Using the lightweight UART helper (no SDL needed)
diff --git a/controller_uart_bridge.py b/controller_uart_bridge.py
index 881ed2d..2e07a58 100644
--- a/controller_uart_bridge.py
+++ b/controller_uart_bridge.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import argparse
 import os
 import sys
 import time
+import urllib.request
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from ctypes import create_string_buffer
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -50,6 +51,9 @@ RUMBLE_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 0.25  # seconds without packets before forcing rumble off
 RUMBLE_STUCK_TIMEOUT = 0.60  # continuous same-energy rumble will be stopped after this
 RUMBLE_MIN_ACTIVE = 0.50  # below this, rumble is treated as off/noise
 RUMBLE_SCALE = 0.8
+CONTROLLER_DB_URL_DEFAULT = (
+    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mdqinc/SDL_GameControllerDB/refs/heads/master/gamecontrollerdb.txt"
+)
 
 
 def parse_mapping(value: str) -> Tuple[int, str]:
@@ -66,6 +70,28 @@ def parse_mapping(value: str) -> Tuple[int, str]:
     return idx, port.strip()
 
 
+def download_controller_db(console: Console, destination: Path, url: str) -> bool:
+    """Download the latest SDL controller DB to the local controller_db directory."""
+    console.print(f"[cyan]Fetching SDL controller database from {url}...[/cyan]")
+    try:
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(url, timeout=20) as response:
+            status = getattr(response, "status", 200)
+            if status != 200:
+                raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {status}")
+            data = response.read()
+    except Exception as exc:
+        console.print(f"[red]Failed to download controller database: {exc}[/red]")
+        return False
+    destination.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    try:
+        destination.write_bytes(data)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        console.print(f"[red]Failed to write controller database to {destination}: {exc}[/red]")
+        return False
+    console.print(f"[green]Updated controller database ({len(data)} bytes) at {destination}[/green]")
+    return True
+
+
 def parse_hotkey(value: str) -> str:
     """Validate a single-character hotkey (empty string disables)."""
     if value is None:
@@ -578,6 +604,16 @@ def build_arg_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
         metavar="KEY",
         help="Press this key in the terminal to re-zero sticks at runtime (default: 'z', empty string disables).",
     )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--update-controller-db",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Download the latest SDL GameController database before loading mappings.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--controller-db-url",
+        default=CONTROLLER_DB_URL_DEFAULT,
+        help="Override the URL used to download the SDL GameController database.",
+    )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--swap-hotkey",
         type=parse_hotkey,
@@ -704,6 +740,8 @@ class PairingState:
 def load_button_maps(console: Console, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Tuple[Dict[int, SwitchButton], Dict[int, SwitchButton], set[int]]:
     """Load SDL controller mappings and return button map variants."""
     default_mapping = Path(__file__).parent / "controller_db" / "gamecontrollerdb.txt"
+    if args.update_controller_db or not default_mapping.exists():
+        download_controller_db(console, default_mapping, args.controller_db_url)
     mappings_to_load: List[str] = []
     if default_mapping.exists():
         mappings_to_load.append(str(default_mapping))
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85f8a54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=65"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "switch-pico-bridge"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "SDL2-to-UART host bridge and helpers for the switch-pico firmware."
+readme = "README.md"
+requires-python = ">=3.9"
+authors = [{ name = "Switch Pico Maintainers" }]
+dependencies = [
+    "pyserial",
+    "pysdl2",
+    "rich",
+]
+
+[project.scripts]
+controller-uart-bridge = "controller_uart_bridge:main"
+host-uart-logger = "host_uart_logger:main"
+
+[tool.setuptools]
+py-modules = [
+    "controller_uart_bridge",
+    "host_uart_logger",
+    "switch_pico_uart",
+]