linux libusb support

[Julusian]

It has been a while since the problems in #242 were found, so I have had a play to see if libusb is still blocked on the same problems.

With some minimal mods to build HID-libusb.node, it appears to just work for me. Am I missing something in what is really wrong, or does this mean it now works?

The steps followed:

1. git checkout v0.7.8
2. npm install
3. Add to bindings.gyp (probably breaks other platforms)

   {
     'target_name': 'HID-libusb',
     'sources': [ 'src/HID.cc' ],
     'dependencies': ['hidapi-libusb'],
     'defines': [
       '_LARGEFILE_SOURCE',
       '_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64',
     ],
     'conditions': [
       [ 'OS=="linux"', {
         'libraries': [
           '-lusb-1.0'
         ]
       }]
     ],
     'cflags!': ['-ansi', '-fno-exceptions' ],
     'cflags_cc!': [ '-fno-exceptions' ],
     'cflags': ['-g', '-exceptions'],
     'cflags_cc': ['-g', '-exceptions']
   },
   {
     'target_name': 'hidapi-libusb',
     'type': 'static_library',
     'conditions': [
       [ 'OS=="linux"', {
         'sources': [ 'hidapi/libusb/hid.c' ],
         'include_dirs+': [
           '/usr/include/libusb-1.0/'
         ]
       }]
     ],
     'direct_dependent_settings': {
       'include_dirs': [
         'hidapi/hidapi',
         "<!(node -e \"require('nan')\")"
       ]
     },
     'include_dirs': [
       'hidapi/hidapi'
     ],
     'defines': [
       '_LARGEFILE_SOURCE',
       '_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64',
     ],
     'cflags': ['-g'],
     'cflags!': [
       '-ansi'
     ]
   }
   

4. ./node_modules/.bin/prebuild -t 8.16.0
5. cp prebuilds/node-hid-v0.7.8-node-v57-linux-x64.tar.gz ~/.npm/_prebuilds/c457b7-node-hid-v0.7.8-node-v57-linux-x64.tar.gz to inject into the npm prebuild cache
6. In a test project npm install and modify node_modules/node-hid/nodehid.js with the following

   function loadBinding() {
       if( !binding ) {
           if( os.platform() === 'linux' ) {
               // Linux defaults to hidraw
               if( !driverType || driverType === 'hidraw' ) {
                   binding = require('bindings')('HID.node');
               } else {
                   binding = require('bindings')('HID-libusb.node');
               }
           }
           else {
               binding = require('bindings')('HID.node');
           }
       }
   }
   

[todbot]

The problem as it stood back when I last looked was that prebuild had no support for multiple native files per platform. So we could either distribute Linux prebuilds with the hidraw driver or the libusb driver but not both.

[todbot]

Oh, looks like there was further movement on prebuild/prebuild#169 and it may be fixed. Looking into it now...

[Julusian]

OK, from my test I think that it does now work. As far as I can tell I followed the flow the files would have gone exactly, except for the http transfers but that wouldnt affect the file contents.

Thanks, it would be great to have this fixed :)

[todbot]

Testing it now and yes it appears both prebuild can p)ut in multiple .node files now and prebuild-install will pull them both down.

What does libusb give you that hidraw doesn't? (Just curious. There was a big push to move HID stuff to hidraw because of the deficiencies of libusb

[Julusian]

Thats great to hear

I am trying to use https://github.com/Lange/node-elgato-stream-deck
It has already been mentioned here a while ago #249

[todbot]

Oh right, that hidraw report size limit! I mean they're not wrong that it's not what HID is for, but still :)
Hopefully I'll have node-hid@0.7.9 up later tonight. Thanks for the help!

[Julusian]

I can confirm that the 0.7.9 release done works well.
Thanks for the rapid response on resolving this