atomvm · pguyot · May 9, 2026
diff --git a/.github/workflows/esp32-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/esp32-build.yaml
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ jobs:
           idf-version: 'v5.5.3'
           usb-serial: 'ON'
           jit: false
+        - esp-idf-target: "esp32s3"
+          idf-version: 'v5.5.3'
+          usb-cdc: 'ON'
+          jit: false
         - esp-idf-target: "esp32"
           idf-version: 'v5.4.3'
           libsodium: 'ON'
@@ -104,7 +108,7 @@ jobs:
         idf.py add-dependency "espressif/libsodium^1.0.20~4"
 
     - name: Add ESP TinyUSB dependency
-      if: matrix.usb-serial == 'ON'
+      if: matrix.usb-serial == 'ON' || matrix.usb-cdc == 'ON'
       working-directory: ./src/platforms/esp32/
       run: |
         . $IDF_PATH/export.sh
@@ -115,11 +119,18 @@ jobs:
       working-directory: ./src/platforms/esp32/
       env:
         USB_SERIAL: ${{ matrix.usb-serial || 'OFF' }}
+        USB_CDC: ${{ matrix.usb-cdc || 'OFF' }}
       run: |
         . $IDF_PATH/export.sh
         if [[ "${USB_SERIAL}" == "ON" ]]; then
           echo 'CONFIG_USE_USB_SERIAL=y' >> sdkconfig.defaults.in
         fi
+        if [[ "${USB_CDC}" == "ON" ]]; then
+          printf '%s\n' \
+            'CONFIG_TINYUSB_CDC_ENABLED=y' \
+            'CONFIG_AVM_ENABLE_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER=y' \
+            >> sdkconfig.defaults.in
+        fi
         export IDF_TARGET=${{matrix.esp-idf-target}}
         if [ "${{ matrix.jit }}" = "true" ]; then
           SDKCONFIG_DEFAULTS="sdkconfig.defaults;sdkconfig.jit" idf.py set-target ${{matrix.esp-idf-target}}

diff --git a/.github/workflows/pico-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/pico-build.yaml
@@ -106,6 +106,11 @@ jobs:
             platform: "-DPICO_PLATFORM=rp2350-riscv"
             jit: "-DAVM_DISABLE_JIT=OFF"
 
+          - board: "pico"
+            platform: ""
+            jit: ""
+            usb-cdc: "ON"
+
     steps:
     - name: Checkout repo
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -172,7 +177,7 @@ jobs:
         set -euo pipefail
         mkdir build
         cd build
-        cmake .. -G Ninja -DPICO_BOARD=${{ matrix.board }} ${{ matrix.platform }} ${{ matrix.jit }}
+        cmake .. -G Ninja -DPICO_BOARD=${{ matrix.board }} ${{ matrix.platform }} ${{ matrix.jit }} ${{ matrix.usb-cdc == 'ON' && '-DAVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED=ON' || '' }}
         cmake --build . --target=AtomVM
 
     - name: "Perform CodeQL Analysis"
@@ -187,7 +192,7 @@ jobs:
         nvm install 24
 
     - name: Build tests (without SMP)
-      if: matrix.board != 'pico2' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w'
+      if: matrix.board != 'pico2' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./src/platforms/rp2/
       run: |
@@ -199,7 +204,7 @@ jobs:
         cmake --build . --target=rp2_tests
 
     - name: Run tests with rp2040js
-      if: matrix.board != 'pico2' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w'
+      if: matrix.board != 'pico2' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       shell: bash
       working-directory: ./src/platforms/rp2/tests
       run: |
@@ -210,7 +215,7 @@ jobs:
         npx tsx run-tests.ts ../build.nosmp/tests/rp2_tests.uf2 ../build.nosmp/tests/test_erl_sources/rp2_test_modules.uf2
 
     - name: Rename AtomVM and write sha256sum
-      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       shell: bash
       run: |
         pushd src/platforms/rp2/build
@@ -220,14 +225,14 @@ jobs:
         popd
 
     - name: Upload AtomVM artifact
-      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
       with:
         name: AtomVM-${{ matrix.board }}-${{env.AVM_REF_NAME}}.uf2
         path: src/platforms/rp2/build/src/AtomVM-${{ matrix.board }}-*.uf2
 
     - name: Rename atomvmlib-rp2 and write sha256sum
-      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       shell: bash
       run: |
         pushd build/libs
@@ -237,7 +242,7 @@ jobs:
         popd
 
     - name: Combine uf2 using uf2tool
-      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       shell: bash
       run: |
         ATOMVM_COMBINED_FILE=AtomVM-${{ matrix.board }}-combined-${{env.AVM_REF_NAME}}.uf2
@@ -246,15 +251,15 @@ jobs:
         echo "ATOMVM_COMBINED_FILE=${ATOMVM_COMBINED_FILE}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
     - name: Upload combined AtomVM artifact
-      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
       with:
         name: ${{ env.ATOMVM_COMBINED_FILE }}
         path: ${{ env.ATOMVM_COMBINED_FILE }}
 
     - name: Release (Pico & Pico2)
       uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3.0.0
-      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && matrix.board != 'pico_w' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w' && matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && matrix.board != 'pico_w' && matrix.board != 'pico2_w' && matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       with:
         draft: true
         fail_on_unmatched_files: true
@@ -268,7 +273,7 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Release (PicoW & Pico2W)
       uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v3.0.0
-      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && (matrix.board == 'pico_w' || matrix.board == 'pico2_w') && matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == ''
+      if: startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/') && (matrix.board == 'pico_w' || matrix.board == 'pico2_w') && matrix.platform == '' && matrix.jit == '' && matrix.usb-cdc != 'ON'
       with:
         draft: true
         fail_on_unmatched_files: true

diff --git a/.github/workflows/stm32-build.yaml b/.github/workflows/stm32-build.yaml
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ jobs:
             max_size: 524288
           - device: stm32h562rgt6
             max_size: 524288
+            usb-cdc: "OFF"
+          - device: stm32h562rgt6
+            max_size: 524288
+            usb-cdc: "ON"
           - device: stm32f746zgt6
             max_size: 524288
             renode_platform: stm32f746.repl
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ jobs:
         set -euo pipefail
         mkdir build
         cd build
-        cmake .. -G Ninja -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=cmake/arm-toolchain.cmake -DDEVICE=${{ matrix.device }}
+        cmake .. -G Ninja -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=cmake/arm-toolchain.cmake -DDEVICE=${{ matrix.device }} ${{ matrix.usb-cdc == 'ON' && '-DAVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED=ON' || '' }}
         cmake --build .
 
     - name: "Perform CodeQL Analysis"

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Added support for the `safe` option in `erlang:binary_to_term/2`
 - Added xtensa JIT backend for esp32 platform
 - Added support for configuring pins and width for sdmmc on ESP32
+- Added USB CDC port drivers for ESP32, RP2, and STM32 platforms
 
 ### Changed
 - Updated network type db() to dbm() to reflect the actual representation of the type

diff --git a/doc/src/distributed-erlang.md b/doc/src/distributed-erlang.md
@@ -18,11 +18,16 @@ Distribution over serial (UART) is also available for point-to-point
 connections between any two nodes, including microcontrollers without
 networking (e.g. STM32). See [Serial distribution](#serial-distribution).
 
-Three examples are provided:
+Distribution over USB CDC is also supported on ESP32-S2/S3, RP2040/RP2350,
+and STM32, using the same `serial_dist` protocol. On Unix hosts, USB CDC
+devices appear as standard serial ports. See [USB distribution](#usb-distribution).
+
+Four examples are provided:
 
 - disterl in `examples/erlang/disterl.erl`: distribution on Unix systems
 - epmd\_disterl in `examples/erlang/esp32/epmd_disterl.erl`: distribution on ESP32 devices
 - serial\_disterl in `examples/erlang/serial_disterl.erl`: distribution over serial (ESP32 and Unix)
+- usb\_disterl in `examples/erlang/usb_disterl.erl`: distribution over USB CDC (all platforms)
 
 ## Starting and stopping distribution
 
@@ -240,6 +245,73 @@ This creates two pseudo-terminal devices (e.g. `/dev/ttys003` and
 {some_registered_name, 'a@serial.local'} ! {self(), hello}.
 ```
 
+## USB distribution
+
+AtomVM supports distribution over USB CDC (Communications Device Class)
+connections. USB CDC makes the device appear as a virtual serial port,
+so it reuses the `serial_dist` module with a USB-specific HAL module.
+
+See the [USB CDC](./programmers-guide.md#usb-cdc) section of the Programmer's
+Guide for how to enable the port driver on each platform
+
+### Platform support
+
+| Platform | Module | Notes |
+|----------|--------|-------|
+| ESP32 (S2/S3) | `usb_cdc` | Requires TinyUSB CDC (`CONFIG_AVM_ENABLE_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER`) |
+| RP2040/RP2350 | `usb_cdc` | Requires `AVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED`; disable `pico_enable_stdio_usb` |
+| STM32 | `usb_cdc` | Requires TinyUSB integration and `AVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED` |
+| Unix | `uart` | USB CDC devices appear as `/dev/ttyACMx` (Linux) or `/dev/cu.usbmodemXXXX` (macOS) |
+
+### Quick start, MCU side (ESP32-S3 example)
+
+```erlang
+{ok, _} = net_kernel:start('sensor@serial.local', #{
+    name_domain => longnames,
+    proto_dist => serial_dist,
+    avm_dist_opts => #{
+        uart_opts => [{peripheral, "CDC0"}],
+        uart_module => usb_cdc
+    }
+}).
+```
+
+### Quick start, Unix host side
+
+On Unix, USB CDC devices are standard serial ports. Use the regular
+`uart` module:
+
+```erlang
+{ok, _} = net_kernel:start('host@serial.local', #{
+    name_domain => longnames,
+    proto_dist => serial_dist,
+    avm_dist_opts => #{
+        uart_opts => [{peripheral, "/dev/ttyACM0"}, {speed, 115200}],
+        uart_module => uart
+    }
+}).
+```
+
+### Multi-device topology
+
+USB uses a star topology: one host connects to multiple devices through
+a USB hub. Each device appears as a separate `/dev/ttyACMx` on the host.
+Use `uart_ports` (list of proplists) to connect to multiple devices:
+
+```erlang
+{ok, _} = net_kernel:start('host@serial.local', #{
+    name_domain => longnames,
+    proto_dist => serial_dist,
+    avm_dist_opts => #{
+        uart_ports => [
+            [{peripheral, "/dev/ttyACM0"}, {speed, 115200}],
+            [{peripheral, "/dev/ttyACM1"}, {speed, 115200}]
+        ],
+        uart_module => uart
+    }
+}).
+```
+
 ## Distribution features
 
 Distribution implementation is (very) partial. The most basic features are available:

diff --git a/doc/src/programmers-guide.md b/doc/src/programmers-guide.md
@@ -2012,6 +2012,38 @@ ok = uart:close(UART)
 
 Once the UART driver is closed, any calls to `uart` functions using a reference to the UART driver instance should return with the value `{error, noproc}`.
 
+### USB CDC
+
+On platforms with a USB device controller, AtomVM can expose a USB CDC (Communications Device Class) ACM interface, which appears on the host as a virtual serial port (`/dev/ttyACMx` on Linux, `/dev/cu.usbmodemXXXX` on macOS, a COM port on Windows). The same byte-stream interface can be used as a UART replacement (logs, REPLs, custom serial protocols) or as the transport for [distribution over USB CDC](./distributed-erlang.md#usb-distribution).
+
+The Erlang-side API is the platform-specific `usb_cdc` module ([`libs/avm_esp32/src/usb_cdc.erl`](https://github.com/atomvm/AtomVM/blob/main/libs/avm_esp32/src/usb_cdc.erl), [`libs/avm_rp2/src/usb_cdc.erl`](https://github.com/atomvm/AtomVM/blob/main/libs/avm_rp2/src/usb_cdc.erl), [`libs/avm_stm32/src/usb_cdc.erl`](https://github.com/atomvm/AtomVM/blob/main/libs/avm_stm32/src/usb_cdc.erl)). It mirrors the `uart` API: `open/1,2`, `read/1,2`, `write/2`, `close/1`.
+
+#### Platform support and build configuration
+
+| Platform | Notes |
+|----------|-------|
+| ESP32 | Enable `CONFIG_USE_USB_SERIAL` and `CONFIG_AVM_ENABLE_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER` in `menuconfig`. The ESP-IDF `esp_tinyusb` component must be installed. |
+| RP2040/RP2350 | Set `-DAVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED=ON` in CMake. You must also disable stdio over USB (`pico_enable_stdio_usb(AtomVM 0)`) so that the CDC interface is available for the port driver. |
+| STM32 | Set `-DAVM_USB_CDC_PORT_DRIVER_ENABLED=ON` in CMake. TinyUSB is fetched automatically by default; set the `TINYUSB_PATH` environment variable to use a local checkout. |
+
+#### USB VID/PID and string descriptors
+
+USB CDC ACM is a standard device class, so on chip vendors that ship their own VID with a blessed "standard CDC" PID arrangement, AtomVM uses that pair by default and no override is required for the device class to be correctly identified by the host:
+
+- **RP2**: `0x2E8A:0x0009` Raspberry Pi's registered "Pico SDK CDC UART" PID, chip-agnostic (covers RP2040 and RP2350), per the [raspberrypi/usb-pid registry](https://github.com/raspberrypi/usb-pid). The same pair is used by pico-sdk's `stdio_usb` and by any other firmware exposing standard CDC under Pi's VID, so host-side tooling cannot distinguish AtomVM-Pico from other CDC firmwares on this pair. Note that bootrom PIDs (`0x0003` on RP2040, `0x000F` on RP2350) must NOT be reused.
+- **ESP32**: `0x303A` (Espressif VID) + TinyUSB-derived class-encoded PID, via the `esp_tinyusb` defaults (`CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_USE_ESPRESSIF_VID=y`, `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_USE_DEFAULT_PID=y`). [Espressif's USB VID/PID guidance](https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-iot-solution/en/latest/usb/usb_overview/usb_vid_pid.html) explicitly states that USB standard-class devices built on TinyUSB do not need a separate PID under Espressif's VID.
+- **STM32**: `0xCAFE:0x4001` TinyUSB example placeholder, **not** a vendor-issued identity. Production firmware should override this with a real VID/PID. It is possible to apply to ST for a PID.
+
+If you want AtomVM to be distinguishable from other standard-CDC firmwares on the same chip (so host-side udev rules, drivers, or tooling can target it specifically), override the defaults:
+
+- **RP2 / STM32**: `-DAVM_USB_CDC_VID=0xXXXX -DAVM_USB_CDC_PID=0xXXXX` in CMake. RP2 builds may register a project-specific PID for free under Pi's VID via the [usb-pid registry](https://github.com/raspberrypi/usb-pid).
+- **ESP32**: set `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_USE_ESPRESSIF_VID=n` / `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_USE_DEFAULT_PID=n` and provide `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_CUSTOM_VID` / `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_CUSTOM_PID` in `menuconfig`.
+
+The string descriptors can be overridden the same way:
+
+- **RP2 / STM32** (CMake): `-DAVM_USB_CDC_MANUFACTURER="Your Company"`, `-DAVM_USB_CDC_PRODUCT="Your Product"`, `-DAVM_USB_CDC_INTERFACE_NAME="Your Product CDC ACM"`.
+- **ESP32** (sdkconfig): `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_MANUFACTURER_STRING`, `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_PRODUCT_STRING`, `CONFIG_TINYUSB_DESC_CDC_STRING`.
+
 ### LED Control
 
 The LED Control API can be used to drive LEDs, as well as generate PWM signals on GPIO pins.

diff --git a/examples/erlang/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/erlang/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ pack_runnable(logging_example logging_example estdlib eavmlib)
 pack_runnable(http_client http_client estdlib eavmlib avm_network)
 pack_runnable(disterl disterl estdlib)
 pack_runnable(serial_disterl serial_disterl eavmlib estdlib DIALYZE_AGAINST avm_esp32 avm_unix)
+pack_runnable(usb_disterl usb_disterl eavmlib estdlib DIALYZE_AGAINST avm_esp32 avm_rp2 avm_stm32 avm_unix)
 pack_runnable(i2c_scanner i2c_scanner eavmlib estdlib DIALYZE_AGAINST avm_esp32 avm_rp2 avm_stm32)
 pack_runnable(i2c_lis3dh i2c_lis3dh eavmlib estdlib DIALYZE_AGAINST avm_esp32 avm_rp2 avm_stm32)
 pack_runnable(spi_flash spi_flash eavmlib estdlib DIALYZE_AGAINST avm_esp32 avm_rp2 avm_stm32)