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brew / rank 1198

Install hidapi with Homebrew, apk, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, apt, zypper

Library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices. Version 0.15.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-15. Also installable with debian: sudo apt install libhidapi-dev.

Install commandSecurity notes

install

Additional install commands

macOS

Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install hidapi

local Homebrew formula metadata

MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install hidapi

MacPorts ports tree · comms/hidapi/Portfile · source: api.github.com

Linux

Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add hidapi

Alpine Linux edge package indexes · hidapi · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org

Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install hidapi

Fedora Rawhide package metadata · hidapi · source: dl.fedoraproject.org

Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#hidapi

nixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/hi/hidapi/package.nix · source: api.github.com

Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S hidapi

Arch Linux sync databases · hidapi · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com

Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libhidapi-dev

Debian stable package indexes · libhidapi-dev · source: deb.debian.org

openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libhidapi-devel

openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libhidapi-devel · source: download.opensuse.org

overview

Package summary

Library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices

Commands and aliases

  • hidtest_hidraw
  • hidtest_libusb

history

Project history and usage

HIDAPI is a small C library for talking to USB and Bluetooth HID-class devices across Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS. Its package-manager identity is both a development library and a pair of small test binaries used to verify HID access.

The project is valued because it hides the platform split between Windows `hid.dll`, macOS IOHidManager, Linux hidraw, and libusb-backed Unix builds behind one C API.

Project history

HIDAPI was originally developed by Alan Ott of Signal 11 Software; the original license file carries a 2009 copyright notice. The tag history shows public 0.x releases beginning in 2010, with early work around test programs and platform makefiles.

The README records a major stewardship change on June 4, 2019, when the project moved to `libusb/hidapi` to merge important bug fixes and continue development. Release tags after that move include 0.9.0 in June 2019 and later work on CMake, Meson wrapping, API additions, and backend fixes.

The library kept its simple integration model across the move: applications can link a shared library or embed one platform-specific source file plus the public header. That made HIDAPI practical for hardware tools that need a low-friction C dependency.

Adoption history

HIDAPI is widely packaged because it solves a cross-platform hardware problem at the C ABI level. The input package map lists packages for Alpine, Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, MacPorts, Nix, Arch, and openSUSE-style systems.

The libusb-hosted repository also matters socially: libusb is a familiar home for USB users, and the README says the Linux/libusb backend uses libusb-1.0 while Linux/hidraw supports both USB and Bluetooth HID devices.

How it is used

Typical application usage is to initialize the library, open a device by vendor ID and product ID, exchange input/output/feature reports, and close/finalize the handle. The README includes a compact C example and points developers to `hidtest/test.c` as a starting point.

On Linux, users choose between `libhidapi-hidraw` and `libhidapi-libusb` at link time, with udev rules needed for unprivileged device access. On macOS and Windows, HIDAPI uses the native HID frameworks exposed by the operating system.

Why package nerds care

HIDAPI is a classic package-manager library: small, C ABI-friendly, cross-platform, and pulled into many higher-level device tools. It earns its slot in package sets because every downstream would rather not reinvent HID enumeration and report I/O per OS.

Its licensing is also package-relevant. The README and license files describe GPL-3.0, BSD-style, and original HIDAPI license options, letting open-source and closed-source consumers pick an appropriate licensing path.

Timeline

  • 2009: Original HIDAPI license text credits Alan Ott and Signal 11 Software.
  • 2010: hidapi-0.1.0 tag starts the public release line.
  • 2019: Project moves to libusb/hidapi for continued maintenance.
  • 2019: hidapi-0.9.0 is released after the libusb stewardship move.
  • 2023: hidapi-0.13.0 adds device-info API work and Meson wrapper support.
  • 2025: hidapi-0.15.0 adds more report/error API surface.

Related projects

  • libusb is both a related project and one of HIDAPI's Unix backends.
  • hidraw is the Linux kernel interface used by HIDAPI's Linux/hidraw backend.
  • hidapitester is a console test application recommended by the README for trying HID devices before integrating HIDAPI into an application.

Sources

  • Build documentation: https://github.com/libusb/hidapi/blob/master/BUILD.md
  • License files: https://github.com/libusb/hidapi/blob/master/LICENSE.txt
  • Public API header: https://github.com/libusb/hidapi/blob/master/hidapi/hidapi.h
  • README: https://github.com/libusb/hidapi#readme
  • Repository tags: https://github.com/libusb/hidapi/tags

security posture

Risk level: green

library-like package without higher-risk signals.

Risk classifier

green risk · low confidence · appliance

Why

  • library-like package without higher-risk signals

Signals

  • metadata:library-like

Install behavior

  • No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.

Recommended review

Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.

executables

Installed executables

CommandKindExposureNote
hidtest_hidrawexecutableindexed executableDiscovered from the local executable index.
hidtest_libusbexecutableindexed executableDiscovered from the local executable index.

freshness

Version and freshness

These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.

page generated2026-08-03
manager version0.15.0
manager updated2026-06-15
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
  • okNo freshness warnings were generated.

install metadata

Package metadata

Package keybrew:hidapi
Version0.15.0
Package managerHomebrew
Homepagehttps://libusb.info/hidapi/
Repositoryhttps://github.com/libusb/hidapi
Last updated2026-06-15T10:20:18-04:00
Pulseupdated
Bottlenot recorded
Servicenone declared

source database matches

Other package-manager records

Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.

Debian apt95%

libhidapi-dev 0.14.0-1+b2

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (development files)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-dev
  • Section: libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libhidapi-dev from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libhidapi-hidraw0 0.14.0-1+b2

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (hidraw backend)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-hidraw0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libhidapi-hidraw0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Debian apt95%

libhidapi-libusb0 0.14.0-1+b2

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (libusb backend)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-libusb0
  • Section: libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Debian stable package indexes · deb.debian.org · Debian stable package indexes: libhidapi-libusb0 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz
Nix95%

hidapi

nix profile install nixpkgs#hidapi
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
nixpkgs package indexes · api.github.com · nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/hi/hidapi/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1
Ubuntu apt95%

libhidapi-dev 0.14.0-1build1

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (development files)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-dev
  • Section: universe/libdevel
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libhidapi-dev from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libhidapi-hidraw0 0.14.0-1build1

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (hidraw backend)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-hidraw0
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libhidapi-hidraw0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
Ubuntu apt95%

libhidapi-libusb0 0.14.0-1build1

Multi-Platform library for communication with HID devices (libusb backend)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apt install libhidapi-libusb0
  • Section: universe/libs
  • Architecture: amd64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 2 dependencies
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes · archive.ubuntu.com · Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: libhidapi-libusb0 from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz
apk95%

hidapi 0.15.0-r0

Simple library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apk add hidapi
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: hidapi from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
apk95%

hidapi-dev 0.15.0-r0

Simple library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices (development files)

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo apk add hidapi-dev
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 1 dependencies
  • 1 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Alpine Linux edge package indexes · dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org · Alpine Linux edge package indexes: hidapi-dev from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz
dnf95%

hidapi 0.15.0-4.fc45

Library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo dnf install hidapi
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 5 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: hidapi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

hidapi-devel 0.15.0-4.fc45

Development files for hidapi

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo dnf install hidapi-devel
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: i686
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 5 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: hidapi-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

mingw32-hidapi 0.15.0-4.fc45

Development files for hidapi

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo dnf install mingw32-hidapi
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 4 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mingw32-hidapi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst
dnf95%

mingw64-hidapi 0.15.0-4.fc45

Development files for hidapi

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo dnf install mingw64-hidapi
  • License: GPL-3.0-only OR BSD-3-Clause
  • Category: Unspecified
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 4 dependencies
  • 3 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Fedora Rawhide package metadata · dl.fedoraproject.org · Fedora Rawhide package metadata: mingw64-hidapi from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/07190dc5ae9f35ae73866675fed6d95fe6e8d9fe22c9d7cdf85862cb2ed24a4c-primary.xml.zst
pacman95%

hidapi 0.15.0-1

Simple library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo pacman -S hidapi
  • License: GPL3 AND BSD AND custom
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • 1 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • 1 optional deps
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
Arch Linux sync databases · geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com · Arch Linux sync databases: hidapi from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz
zypper95%

libhidapi-devel 0.14.0-1.9

Development libraries and header files for hidapi

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo zypper install libhidapi-devel
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Category: Development/Libraries/C and C++
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 6 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libhidapi-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst
zypper95%

libhidapi-hidraw0 0.14.0-1.9

Simple library for communicating with USB and Bluetooth HID devices

https://github.com/libusb/hidapi

sudo zypper install libhidapi-hidraw0
  • License: BSD-3-Clause OR GPL-3.0-or-later
  • Category: System/Libraries
  • Architecture: x86_64
  • Source Package: hidapi
  • 3 dependencies
  • 2 provides
  • normalized package name match
  • Matched by: Hidapi
openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · download.opensuse.org · openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libhidapi-hidraw0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/50b07339cb64c8ed4091bdbabddadc1ff5737b090e478818a195b40d8a3292861a879139b4a3987c31109699fde9fbf4a716367ddf4eef77da75f96e3193d6ed-primary.xml.zst

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