libusb & hidapi bindings

[SWinxy]

libusb is an open-source, cross-platform C library that allows for communication through the USB standard. Supports:

• macOS (32 and 64 bit; PowerPC, Intel, and M1)
• Windows (32 and 64 bits)
• Linux
• Solaris & Haiku
• OpenBSD, NetBSD, and Android partially supported

hidapi is another open-source, cross-platform C library, but interacts with USB and Bluetooth human interface devices. Supports:

• Windows
• Linux
• macOS
• Linux/BSD [sic]

Motivation

While LWJGL provides GLFW, application developers may want to tinker with specialized USB devices that GLFW doesn't cover. These may be digital instruments, interfaces, or a whole host of things. Accessing them in the efficient manner that LWJGL does would give Java a leg up.

For example, if I wanted to interface with an Arduino or Raspberry Pi with a not-invented-here mindset, or I needed to get inputs from a digital knob, these libraries would allow me to access those devices directly.

Alternatives and their drawbacks

• usb4java (github) - Uses JNI
• libusb-java - Uses JNI, inactive
• hid4java - Uses JNI (inactive?)
• purejavahidapi - Pure Java, seemingly inactive

[Sciss]

Apologies for hijacking on the thread - but @SWinxy what is your recommendation for USB Java bindings that work on Raspberry Pi (4) with custom USB controllers?

[SWinxy]

what is your recommendation for USB Java bindings that work on Raspberry Pi (4) with custom USB controllers?

I don't know. My best advice would to try the alternatives?