libusbx-based user-mode driver for MCP2200
This project aims to provide an easy-to-use and simple install-less driver for MCP2200 an USB-to-UART serial converter produced by Microchip . Basically, it is a cross-platform C library using libusbx, providing simple API which can access the functions of the device.
On top of that, there is a JNI library providing the same for JAVA applications: https://github.com/balazsgrill/mcp2200-jni To make it complete, Eclipse developers can make use of the Eclipse wrapper plug-ins (along with the OS-specific binaries as fragments) in RCP applications: https://github.com/balazsgrill/mcp2200-eclipse
Getting started: https://gist.github.com/3754350
Why to write a new driver when Microchip provides an official driver?
Microchip provides a windows-only driver. On linux, the kernel identifies the device, but it is hard to extract exactly which one is mounted to which point under /dev. I wanted a truly cross-platform solution which provides exactly the same interface accessing the device on any platform. Plus it is more flexible, as a user-mode driver the end user does not need to install a driver (s)he can simply plug-in the device and the software suddenly recognizes it. It is simple and lightweight.
No, it's not. All of the device functions has been implemented, but it needs extended testing. You are encuraged to try and play with it (and provide feedback) but don't expect a production-stable quality.
The source code of the mcp2200 library and all content of this repository is licensed under the Eclipse Public License version 1.0 (http://www.eclipse.org/legal/epl-v10.html)
Note #1: mcp2200 is using libusbx (http://libusbx.org), which is licensed under LGPL 2.1 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.html). According to this license a "Library that uses an LGPL Library" is not a derivative work, but the compiled/linked object code is. Any distributions in object format must apply the terms of LGPL 2.1 (see section 7.) for parts incorporating libusbx.
Note #2: This library does NOT use or incorporate any code or other intellectual property of Microchip Technology Inc. (http://www.microchip.com/). The implementation is based entirely on the MCP2200 user documentation provided by Microchip.