Question 1

How to fix LIBUSB_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED in node-usb on Windows?

Accepted Answer

This error usually means the device lacks a WinUSB driver. Install one using Zadig or call usb.useUsbDkBackend() to switch to the UsbDk backend, but note that drivers grant exclusive access, so you may need to uninstall others.

Question 2

node-usb vs serialport: which should I use for USB communication?

Accepted Answer

Use node-usb for low-level USB device control and WebUSB compliance, ideal for custom hardware. Use serialport for simple serial communication over USB-CDC, as it abstracts away USB complexities and is easier for basic tasks.

Question 3

How to handle USB device hotplug events in node-usb?

Accepted Answer

In the legacy API, use usb.on('attach', callback) and usb.on('detach', callback). For WebUSB, events are handled via the standard WebUSB event model, but both APIs support dynamic device monitoring as shown in the examples.

Question 4

Can I use node-usb in a web browser?

Accepted Answer

No, node-usb is a Node.js library and requires a Node.js or Electron environment. For browser-based USB access, use the native WebUSB API if the browser supports it, but note that node-usb implements the same API server-side.

Question 5

How to migrate from node-usb-detection to node-usb?

Accepted Answer

Replace usbDetect methods with node-usb equivalents: use usb.getDeviceList() for device enumeration, and switch from 'add'/'remove' events to 'attach'/'detach'. The README includes a detailed migration guide to ease the transition.

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