USB pedal program

[wolftune]

Yes, I'm on Ubuntu. Not just plain Ubuntu, but KXStudio from the KXStudio DVD, meaning KDE

[j_e_f_f_g]

From a root terminal, do the following:

gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/99-usbpedal.rules

Change every ATTRS to ATTR (without the 'S'). Save the file. Plug your pedal in, and retry the utility.

[wolftune]

not gedit, KATE; KXStudio is KDE.

Anyway, I did exactly what you said, but no improvement.
I even logged out and back in to check, and I opened the file again to double-check the changes.

[j_e_f_f_g]

My final idea:

chmod a+rx /etc/udev/rules.d/99-usbpedal.rules

If that doesn't do it, you'll have to get in touch with the folks who make your distro, and find out what the hell they did to break compatibility with Debian. Ubuntu and deriviatives are bad news. Too many hacks that are out of sync with upstream. I recommend Debian. It's faster, leaner, and a lot more stable than Ubuntu stuff. Linux Mint Debian Edition is an easy way to get into Debian. I got rid of Ubuntu years ago when Upstart wrecked the MidiSport drivers.

[wolftune]

no luck, but it DOES work by running the program as sudo. So it is definitely just a permissions problem.
Since I don't think I'd change the pedal often, it isn't crazy to me to actually run it as sudo (despite the security concerns some people brought up).
I've been running Back In Time as sudo also because it somehow doesn't otherwise have permissions to backup one or two random files.

On a side note, my single pedal is considered pedal 2 according to the three-pedal setup.

I am no expert, but here's a random thought: could it be that there's some permissions issue with the program itself? Like the program needs to be given permissions to access plugdev? It still would be nice to figure this out.

I do want to say a big thanks for your work and help! The situation is already very helpful, much better than having to use Windows.

[j_e_f_f_g]

It's definitely a problem with Ubuntu undoing the pedal permissions my rules file makes. This is a problem with udev's design. When I first tested my rules file on debian, I named it 50-usbpedal.rules, and I just couldn't get it to work even though everything "looked right". Finally, it occured to me that maybe a later-run rule was changing the permission. I renamed it 99-usbpedal.rules, and it immediately worked. My theory was right.

I've given you all the potential "fixes" I can think to make to the upstream (my) code. The deb works on Debian, and Linux Mint debian edition. This is now a downstream (Ubuntu config) issue. You're going to need your distro maintainer to tell you who/what/when is setting the permissions on your pedal, whether it's some later udev rule (doubtful), some daemon, an upstart script, canonical's hacks to the XServer's input handling, or whatever. Only the distro maintainer can tell you how he has modified Debian's base such that a particular debian udev rule doesn't work on his distro.

[wolftune]

Thanks, falk, but still no luck.
seems there ought to be a way to get some verbose output and know what permission is being denied…

But anyway, anybody care to really discourage me from continuing to use sudo for this? Otherwise, I could just use that other guy's command line thing (incidentally, if that works, couldn't we identify a difference there which might solve the problem?)

I won't be changing this pedal that often, of course. And the fact that Linux tools for this are at least available at all makes me consider getting the other 3-pedal version and/or the pedal options from those other makers.

Obviously, for the sake of the community, it would be ideal if everything worked perfectly, but life isn't perfect… It would be nice if other people could get this cheap pedal and test it too. It's certainly worth having anyway for all sorts of reasons…

[j_e_f_f_g]

I could just use that other guy's command line thing

Wait, what?? Does rado's utility not give you an access error when run from the normal terminal (not root terminal, nor using sudo)? That would be bizarre.

My recommendation is that folks who want a deb-package system use a distro that stays in sync with debian's repositories, not ubuntu's. You just can't beat debian when it comes to a large, well-tested repository. Ubuntu devs make far too many changes to upstream code, without having the needed manpower to test/debug those changes. Debian devs make less changes to upstream, while also having much more, better organized manpower to test/debug the distro. I gave up on Ubuntu after encountering one too many package problems. I found debian to be faster, leaner, more stable, more compatible with upstream, and ultimately easier to configure because it doesn't deviate too far on its own path.

[wolftune]

Hi Jeff,

I meant, I could try the other thing and see if it is any different. I didn't bother yet.
But I just looked at his thing at GitHub, and he actually wrote:
"Note: you may need to run footswitch as root on some systems"

So maybe it isn't even worth trying. It's probably just like your thing.
And you know what? running as root in this case is no problem. I trust you not to have put some crazy thing in your program, and it doesn't run all the time, it's a once-in-a-blue-moon app.

So, as far as I'm concerned, I'm good, THANKS! Although if there had been a way to solve the permissions thing it would be nice, not just for my sake but for the best experience for all. But I sincerely appreciate your support and your work on this, and I wasn't trying all this stuff just to complain, I was hoping to be helpful to fix the issue. Oh well.

As far as Debian goes, I have the distinct feeling that there's a spectrum where Windows is buggy and insecure and not-privacy or freedom-respecting, and Ubuntu is 90% the opposite toward the most stable and Free, and Debian is 98% that way. My friends who are most caring about the politics of FLOSS and structural quality over broader user experience suggest Debian as the best option. However, I have the feeling also, having tried a Debian install once, that Ubuntu is better as a total package for lay users, like my computer-illiterate parents. And for me, I admire and trust falktx and his KXStudio stuff, which I think is the best system for getting the general public actually functioning for Linux audio. I used to use Mint, but I decided that Ubuntu (well, just going with KXStudio in my case) was a little better politically. Ubuntu isn't dogmatic, but they actually care about emphasizing FLOSS. Mint has a policy of not giving a crap about FLOSS especially. Debian is obviously the best for FLOSS, better than Ubuntu, even if the FSF doesn't like that Debian allows users to install proprietary software. I respect your choice of Debian, but I'm going to stick with KXStudio, and that means Ubuntu. Anyway, you may be right about some of the structural benefits of Debian over Ubuntu, but Ubuntu does have some advantages as well…

[rgerganov]

Hi guys,

I just want to let you know that I updated my footswitch program which is available on github. I have merged several contributions including support for 3-pedal devices and running the program as non-root user. Comments and feedback are welcome.

[wolftune]

Great!
Jeff, maybe you can incorporate these updates into your GUI program?

Thank you so much to both of you for your generous contributions to the community!

[j_e_f_f_g]

maybe you can incorporate these updates into your GUI program?

My version already incorporated support for the 3 pedal units. The Scythe 3 pedal definitely works since that's what I use. The Stritch 3 pedal should work since it's the same usb chip. The PCsensor 3 pedal is unit is untested since I don't own one. Maybe rger has one, and will test my utility for you. The Delcom support is totally untested, and after the trouble I had with the PCsensor, I'm thinking the delcom may not work.

As to root access, um, does rger's support work on your system? Because if it doesn't... well mine already does that. I still say the proper way to solve it is to go to... what is that Kubuntu?... Canonical's forums then... and ask them what boot-launched entity is restricting permissions on your USB HID mouse. Tell them whatever it is, it isn't running on debian, so it's definitely been added by some Kubuntu dev. They should know what it is, and how to tame it.

And now for something completely different:

Anyone into well-made, admittedly pricey, but cool and wonderfully useful form factor USB controllers? With working linux support? Bookmark this page:

http://piengineering.com/xkeys.php

Look at that XK-80. Anyone thinking "the hardware bedrock for Maschine For Linux"? Or maybe "My little linux Tennori"?

Right now i've got a Stick in front of me, and I;m pushing buttons to select rhythm patterns on my custom linux "drum box" app. Oh happy disposable income combined with severe impulse-spending sprees!

[j_e_f_f_g]

lsusb -v -d 0c45:7403
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing

Uh oh. If your OS is preventing lsusb from opening your pedal, then it's going to do the same with my utility. Are you using some Ubuntu-based distro? Ubuntu is notorious for setting/configuring hardware in non-standard ways. Sometimes, you can't even write udev rules to change file permissions. The distro is very intrusive and uncustomizable in that way. I recommend Debian instead.