Thread: Controlling a usb device if I dont have the source code?

  1. #1
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    Controlling a usb device if I dont have the source code?

    hallo,

    I found usb controlled missile launcher online which looks kind off fun to play with. But it would be a lot more fun if I could control it myself from my own program.

    Would it be possible to write my own programs for it (maybe by sending commands to the default program?) without having the source code for it?

  2. #2
    and the Hat of Guessing tabstop's Avatar
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    If they wrote it, you can write it too. You just have to know how to talk to something hanging off a USB port (looks like a device driver from here, so this is the hard part) and what the device expects to be told (if you don't have any docs about this, then this is also the hard part) and figuring out what the device is trying to tell you (this is also the hard part).

    Depending on what their software looks like (I don't know), it might be easily macro-izable.

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    If they wrote it, you can write it too.
    There is probably a gap between their level of experience and mine. And im fairly sure the gap is not in my favor :P

    You just have to know how to talk to something hanging off a USB port (looks like a device driver from here, so this is the hard part) and what the device expects to be told (if you don't have any docs about this, then this is also the hard part) and figuring out what the device is trying to tell you (this is also the hard part).
    I dont know how to do any of this and im not sure this would be a good/easy exorcise for me to learn it.

    Depending on what their software looks like (I don't know), it might be easily macro-izable.
    What does that mean?

    Regards,

  4. #4
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    http://www.lvr.com/usb.htm
    Scroll down to "Protocol Analyzers"
    They're for USB like ethereal is for networking.

    Once you know the protocol, you can set about making your own.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

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