diff --git a/src/lob_hlpr/__init__.py b/src/lob_hlpr/__init__.py
index d8ec8af..94b6cf7 100644
--- a/src/lob_hlpr/__init__.py
+++ b/src/lob_hlpr/__init__.py
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 """
 
 from lob_hlpr.cli import DeprecatedAliasAction, add_renamed_argument
+from lob_hlpr.driver_cfg import DriverCfg
 from lob_hlpr.hlpr import LobHlpr
 from lob_hlpr.lib_types import FirmwareID, FirmwareVersion
 
 __all__ = [
     "LobHlpr",
+    "DriverCfg",
     "FirmwareID",
     "FirmwareVersion",
     "add_renamed_argument",
diff --git a/src/lob_hlpr/driver_cfg.py b/src/lob_hlpr/driver_cfg.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad76eb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lob_hlpr/driver_cfg.py
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+"""Base for driver configuration sections."""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field, fields
+from typing import Any
+
+
+@dataclass
+class DriverCfg:
+    """Configuration of a single tool, forwardable to its constructor.
+
+    The fields are exactly the driver's constructor keyword arguments. If a
+    value does not fit the constructor, the constructor is what changes, so a
+    section can never drift away from the tool it describes.
+
+    Deliberately independent of any configuration file format. A config class
+    picks these up as nested sections, but a section is equally usable alone::
+
+        >>> @dataclass
+        ... class PpkCfg(DriverCfg):
+        ...     port: str | None = None
+        ...     voltage: float | None = None
+        >>> PpkCfg(port="/dev/ttyUSB0").as_kwargs()
+        {'port': '/dev/ttyUSB0'}
+    """
+
+    extra: dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict, kw_only=True)
+    """Undocumented keyword arguments passed straight to the driver.
+
+    Escape hatch for a driver option this configuration has not been taught
+    yet, and for one-off debugging sessions. Nothing here is validated: an
+    unknown key raises ``TypeError`` from the driver constructor, which is the
+    intended feedback.
+
+    Keyword only, so a subclass can still declare a driver argument that has
+    no default.
+    """
+
+    def as_kwargs(self, **overrides: Any) -> dict[str, Any]:
+        """Returns the constructor keyword arguments for this tool.
+
+        Precedence, lowest first: the declared fields, then :attr:`extra`,
+        then *overrides*. ``None`` is dropped at every layer so the driver's
+        own default or autodiscovery applies, keeping the "None means use the
+        known default" contract.
+
+        Args:
+            **overrides: Values that win over the declared fields and
+                :attr:`extra`, e.g. a command line argument.
+
+        Returns:
+            The keyword arguments to build the driver with.
+
+        Example:
+            >>> @dataclass
+            ... class LaserCfg(DriverCfg):
+            ...     host: str = "127.0.0.1"
+            ...     port: int = 3000
+            >>> cfg = LaserCfg(extra={"timeout": 2.0})
+            >>> cfg.as_kwargs(port=4000)
+            {'host': '127.0.0.1', 'port': 4000, 'timeout': 2.0}
+        """
+        kwargs = {
+            f.name: getattr(self, f.name) for f in fields(self) if f.name != "extra"
+        }
+        kwargs = {k: v for k, v in kwargs.items() if v is not None}
+        kwargs.update({k: v for k, v in self.extra.items() if v is not None})
+        kwargs.update({k: v for k, v in overrides.items() if v is not None})
+        return kwargs
diff --git a/tests/test_driver_cfg.py b/tests/test_driver_cfg.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6e0db4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_driver_cfg.py
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+"""Tests for the DriverCfg base."""
+
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+import pytest
+
+from lob_hlpr import DriverCfg
+
+
+@dataclass
+class _ExampleCfg(DriverCfg):
+    """A tool with one optional and one defaulted argument."""
+
+    port: str | None = None
+    baudrate: int = 115200
+    verbose: bool = False
+
+
+def test_defaults_drop_none():
+    """None means "use the driver default" and is not passed on."""
+    assert _ExampleCfg().as_kwargs() == {"baudrate": 115200, "verbose": False}
+
+
+def test_false_is_kept():
+    """Only None is dropped, a falsy value is a real setting."""
+    assert _ExampleCfg(verbose=False).as_kwargs()["verbose"] is False
+
+
+def test_declared_fields_are_passed():
+    """Every declared field reaches the driver."""
+    assert _ExampleCfg(port="/dev/ttyUSB0").as_kwargs() == {
+        "port": "/dev/ttyUSB0",
+        "baudrate": 115200,
+        "verbose": False,
+    }
+
+
+def test_extra_is_merged_but_not_itself_a_kwarg():
+    """Extra is forwarded key by key, never as an ``extra=`` argument."""
+    kwargs = _ExampleCfg(extra={"parity": "N"}).as_kwargs()
+    assert kwargs["parity"] == "N"
+    assert "extra" not in kwargs
+
+
+def test_extra_wins_over_declared_fields():
+    """A debugging session can override a documented value."""
+    assert (
+        _ExampleCfg(baudrate=9600, extra={"baudrate": 921600}).as_kwargs()["baudrate"]
+        == 921600
+    )
+
+
+def test_overrides_win_over_extra():
+    """An explicit argument beats both the field and extra."""
+    cfg = _ExampleCfg(baudrate=9600, extra={"baudrate": 921600})
+    assert cfg.as_kwargs(baudrate=4800)["baudrate"] == 4800
+
+
+def test_none_override_does_not_clear_a_field():
+    """An unset optional argument must not wipe a configured value."""
+    cfg = _ExampleCfg(port="/dev/ttyUSB0")
+    assert cfg.as_kwargs(port=None)["port"] == "/dev/ttyUSB0"
+
+
+def test_extra_defaults_are_independent():
+    """Each instance gets its own extra dict."""
+    first, second = _ExampleCfg(), _ExampleCfg()
+    first.extra["parity"] = "N"
+    assert second.extra == {}
+
+
+def test_kwargs_build_the_driver():
+    """The whole point: the result is directly usable as **kwargs."""
+
+    class _Driver:
+        def __init__(self, port=None, baudrate=9600, verbose=False, parity="E"):
+            self.port, self.baudrate = port, baudrate
+            self.verbose, self.parity = verbose, parity
+
+    cfg = _ExampleCfg(port="/dev/ttyUSB0", extra={"parity": "N"})
+    driver = _Driver(**cfg.as_kwargs())
+    assert (driver.port, driver.baudrate, driver.parity) == (
+        "/dev/ttyUSB0",
+        115200,
+        "N",
+    )
+
+
+def test_unknown_extra_key_raises_from_the_driver():
+    """An unknown extra is not swallowed, it fails where it is used."""
+
+    class _Driver:
+        def __init__(self, port=None, baudrate=9600, verbose=False):
+            pass
+
+    cfg = _ExampleCfg(extra={"nonsense": 1})
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError):
+        _Driver(**cfg.as_kwargs())
+
+
+def test_none_in_extra_is_dropped():
+    """Extra follows the same contract, a None there is not a setting."""
+    assert "timeout" not in _ExampleCfg(extra={"timeout": None}).as_kwargs()
+
+
+def test_extra_none_does_not_unset_a_field():
+    """A None in extra leaves the declared value alone."""
+    cfg = _ExampleCfg(baudrate=9600, extra={"baudrate": None})
+    assert cfg.as_kwargs()["baudrate"] == 9600
+
+
+def test_subclass_may_declare_a_required_argument():
+    """Extra is keyword only, so it does not block a required field."""
+
+    @dataclass
+    class _RequiredCfg(DriverCfg):
+        port: str
+
+    assert _RequiredCfg("/dev/ttyUSB0").as_kwargs() == {"port": "/dev/ttyUSB0"}