libusb ☆
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Description:
Library for USB device access
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: System utilities
Tags: usb library hardware driver cross-platform
Install: brew install libusb
About:
Libusb is a cross-platform user-space library that provides generic access to USB devices. It enables developers to communicate with hardware without needing kernel-level drivers, offering a simple API for device enumeration, data transfer, and control. Its main value is abstracting platform-specific complexities, allowing portable applications to interact with USB peripherals on Linux, macOS, Windows, and more.
Key Features:
  • Cross-platform API for USB device communication
  • Asynchronous and synchronous transfer modes
  • No kernel driver requirement for user-space operation
  • Supports isochronous, bulk, control, and interrupt transfers
Use Cases:
  • Developing user-space drivers for custom USB hardware
  • Implementing firmware uploaders or configuration tools
  • Communicating with USB peripherals like microcontrollers or test equipment
Alternatives:
  • libusb-compat – Provides a libusb-0.1 compatibility layer for legacy applications
  • OS-native APIs (Win32, libusbK) – Platform-specific, less portable but can offer deeper OS integration
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 10, 2024 5:54am 0 VERSION_BUMP 1a669da3
Feb 3, 2024 6:06pm 0 VERSION_BUMP d662f88a
Sep 13, 2023 10:57am 0 VERSION_BUMP 088f4de6
Jan 2, 2023 9:05am 0 VERSION_BUMP 907d1a4f
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