Re:Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers
by throwaway81523 on Saturday October 25, 2025 @04:05PM
(#45706573)
I'm confused, why do you want hardware and what do you want the hardware to do? And, why not use a USB keyboard?
You could use an rpi pico. It has a usb port and there is a software hack to bit bang a second usb port, iirc.
Re:Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers
by brudgers on Saturday October 25, 2025 @04:08PM
(#45706592)
I am wondering if connecting over USB is an XY problem.
Re:Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers
by WorldDev on Saturday October 25, 2025 @05:01PM
(#45706928)
To try and clarify a bit: I am essentially trying to have a KM (KVM without the V) over USB.
To go one step higher, I am trying to control a mac mini from the keyboard of a macBook.
Re:Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers
by brudgers on Saturday October 25, 2025 @05:43PM
(#45707235)
Why not use the macs’ built in “sharing” functionality?
Re:Ask HN: Advice for creating a USB device linking 2 computers
by simondanerd on Saturday October 25, 2025 @04:04PM
(#45706564)
It usually runs a Debian based image. And you would probably just have to reboot the script, or write a wrapper around the keyboard functions.
But yes, it's overkill for an overkill solution. Buying another keyboard may be easier.
I am unfamiliar with Raspberry pi, but if my understanding is correct, it's running a real os. So I would need to send it a command to actually shut down every time I want to remove the usb device. More generally, having a general purpose OS on the little device seems overkill for that use case, no?