Properties3
| Type | Practice |
| Note created | Mar 28, 2026 |
| Last updated | Mar 31, 2026 |
When you have too many USB devices connected and need to identify a specific one, you can use Bash process substitution with diff to spot the new device:
diff <(lsusb) <(sleep 3; lsusb)This snapshots the current device list, waits 3 seconds for you to plug in the device, then diffs the two lists. The new entry is your device. Adjust the sleep duration according to your level of clumsiness and/or the average number of rotations of the connector needed.