Architecture Overview
Ledger Live login uses a local transport to communicate with the device. On web platforms, this often involves a small helper service (Bridge) that proxies messages from the browser to the USB subsystem. On desktop, native USB APIs are used.
Key Components
- Device Secure Element: stores private keys and enforces signing policies.
- Transport Layer (Bridge): manages message serialization and secure channel establishment.
- Ledger Live App: user interface for account management and transaction composition.
Permissions & OS Concerns
On Linux, USB permission rules may need udev entries. On macOS and Windows, user elevation or driver permissions can affect detection. Desktop apps usually provide fallback flows for firmware updates and detection.
Sample Trace (Conceptual)
Host (Ledger Live) -> Bridge -> USB -> Ledger device
Host requests device list
Device presents identity -> Host requests connection
User confirms on device -> PIN entered on device
Session established -> ephemeral authenticated channel
Interactive Demo (Simulated)
Status: Disconnected
This demo is a non-networked simulation to illustrate the typical login steps: connect → authenticate → session established.
Developer Tips
- Monitor the Bridge logs during development to observe transport frames.
- Use testnets for transaction signing trials.
- Never transmit recovery material in development logs; sanitize traces.
Resources
Official docs and downloads: ledger.com/ledger-live • ledger.com/bridge • support.ledger.com