> It’s possible someone could come up with something like that for WebUSB, something that constrains it to something safe.
That sounds like WebSerial and WebHID to me, which don't require similar shenanigans with Zadig on Windows or Linux permission changes, because they allow access to a limited subset of USB device functions.
But that will never cover all the use-cases for USB apps. For those the only choices are not to do anything at all and let closed native executables to continue dominate this space (which gives them unlimited access without even those simplest permission prompts), or to work on WebUSB and encourage devs who do need to interact with such devices over USB to switch to that instead. I don't see 3rd option or how it would be possible in our non-ideal world, and among those two WebUSB still seems like a better idea.
That sounds like WebSerial and WebHID to me, which don't require similar shenanigans with Zadig on Windows or Linux permission changes, because they allow access to a limited subset of USB device functions.
But that will never cover all the use-cases for USB apps. For those the only choices are not to do anything at all and let closed native executables to continue dominate this space (which gives them unlimited access without even those simplest permission prompts), or to work on WebUSB and encourage devs who do need to interact with such devices over USB to switch to that instead. I don't see 3rd option or how it would be possible in our non-ideal world, and among those two WebUSB still seems like a better idea.