[Gpsbabel-misc] Garmin Communicator Plugin replacement / Chrome USB API

[Tom G. <cav...@gm...>]

Hello - we're trying to develop a replacement for Garmin Communicator
Plugin which is basically at end-of-life due to the web browser NPAPI
plugin end-of-life.

We've tried several things and are most interested in making a Chrome
extension using the Chrome USB API.  On Mac it connects just fine to a
Garmin 60 CSx, but, on Windows, it won't open the connection until you
replace the grmnusb driver with the WinUSB driver, using a program like
zadig. On linux, the similar problem is documented here:
https://www.gpsbabel.org/os/Linux_Hotplug.html

Question: how does gpsbabel on Windows talk with the Garmin even though the
grmnusb driver is in place?  Did the gpsbabel developers find out the right
code to talk with the grmnusb driver itself?  Or, are there some
permissions or such to change to allow gpsbabel to talk directly to the
Garmin device, over the native USB, bypassing the grmnusb driver?

Or, bringing the question back to a broader level, what would folks
recommend as a replacement for GCP?  It seems Garmin just plain does not
want to make one.

Thanks