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by gertop 82 days ago
WebUSB is incredibly useful to flash firmware and update configuration on random devices.

The alternative is to install random software on your computer for every device (or, if you're a Linux user, you'll likely simply be excluded and whine about it).
1 comments
kalleboo 82 days ago
Making device companion utilities WebUSB means that when the hardware maker goes belly-up and their site goes down, or just decides to stop supporting a device, it's now a brick. When they are native software programs, someone can preserve them.

Just look at all the old hardware like CNC machines still running just fine on old computers, and imagine if they were connected via WebUSB instead.

WebUSB is just a terrible idea if you're not an ad company.

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fennecfoxy 82 days ago
WebUSB/Bluetooth/NFC/PWAs are an excellent idea.

Not if it's an Open Source project made by a bunch of people for the love of the game. Install a PWA and you have it even when the site is down, if not code available on GH. It's possible to do on a computer (write code and distribute an app not via an app store)...but not in the magical protected-profits land of mobile devices.

Your way of thinking is the reason why we now have a half dozen trillion dollar companies controlling the world.

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