diff --git a/micropython/usb/usb-device/usb/device/core.py b/micropython/usb/usb-device/usb/device/core.py
index 7be09ee46..a3e603d73 100644
--- a/micropython/usb/usb-device/usb/device/core.py
+++ b/micropython/usb/usb-device/usb/device/core.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@
 # These contain the classes and utilities that are needed to
 # implement a USB device, not any complete USB drivers.
 #
-# MIT license; Copyright (c) 2022-2024 Angus Gratton
+# MIT license; Copyright (c) 2022-2024 Angus Gratton, 2025 Harm Lammers
 from micropython import const
 import machine
 import struct
+import time
 
 try:
     from _thread import get_ident
@@ -108,7 +109,6 @@ def config(  # noqa: PLR0913
         device_class=0,
         device_subclass=0,
         device_protocol=0,
-        config_str=None,
         max_power_ma=None,
         remote_wakeup=False,
     ):
@@ -166,7 +166,11 @@ def maybe_set(value, idx):
         # Keep track of the interface and endpoint indexes
         itf_num = builtin_driver.itf_max
         ep_num = max(builtin_driver.ep_max, 1)  # Endpoint 0 always reserved for control
-        while len(strs) < builtin_driver.str_max:
+        while (
+            len(strs) < builtin_driver.str_max - 1
+        ):  # This is possibly unnecessary or wrong because
+            # https://docs.micropython.org/en/latest/library/machine.USBDevice.html
+            # states all string values except index 0 should be plain ASCII
             strs.append(None)  # Reserve other string indexes used by builtin drivers
         initial_cfg = builtin_driver.desc_cfg or (b"\x00" * _STD_DESC_CONFIG_LEN)
 
@@ -204,10 +208,11 @@ def maybe_set(value, idx):
         )
 
         # Configuration string is optional but supported
-        iConfiguration = 0
         if configuration_str:
             iConfiguration = len(strs)
             strs.append(configuration_str)
+        else:
+            iConfiguration = 0
 
         if max_power_ma is not None:
             # Convert from mA to the units used in the descriptor
@@ -665,6 +670,7 @@ def interface(
         bInterfaceSubClass=_INTERFACE_SUBCLASS_NONE,
         bInterfaceProtocol=_PROTOCOL_NONE,
         iInterface=0,
+        bAlternateSetting=0,
     ):
         # Utility function to append a standard Interface descriptor, with
         # the properties specified in the parameter list.
@@ -680,7 +686,7 @@ def interface(
             _STD_DESC_INTERFACE_LEN,  # bLength
             _STD_DESC_INTERFACE_TYPE,  # bDescriptorType
             bInterfaceNumber,
-            0,  # bAlternateSetting, not currently supported
+            bAlternateSetting,
             bNumEndpoints,
             bInterfaceClass,
             bInterfaceSubClass,
@@ -791,17 +797,18 @@ class Buffer:
     # approximate a Python-based single byte ringbuffer.
     #
     def __init__(self, length):
+        self._l = length
         self._b = memoryview(bytearray(length))
-        # number of bytes in buffer read to read, starting at index 0. Updated
+        # number of bytes in buffer ready to read, starting at index 0. Updated
         # by both producer & consumer.
         self._n = 0
-        # start index of a pending write into the buffer, if any. equals
+        # start index of a pending write into the buffer, if any. Equals
         # len(self._b) if no write is pending. Updated by producer only.
         self._w = length
 
     def writable(self):
         # Number of writable bytes in the buffer. Assumes no pending write is outstanding.
-        return len(self._b) - self._n
+        return self._l - self._n
 
     def readable(self):
         # Number of readable bytes in the buffer. Assumes no pending read is outstanding.
@@ -815,15 +822,15 @@ def pend_write(self, wmax=None):
         # this many bytes long.
         #
         # (No critical section needed as self._w is only updated by the producer.)
-        self._w = self._n
-        end = (self._w + wmax) if wmax else len(self._b)
-        return self._b[self._w : end]
+        self._w = (_w := self._n)
+        end = (_w + wmax) if wmax else self._l
+        return self._b[_w:end]
 
     def finish_write(self, nbytes):
         # Called by the producer to indicate it wrote nbytes into the buffer.
         ist = machine.disable_irq()
         try:
-            assert nbytes <= len(self._b) - self._w  # can't say we wrote more than was pended
+            assert nbytes <= self._l - self._w  # can't say we wrote more than was pended
             if self._n == self._w:
                 # no data was read while the write was happening, so the buffer is already in place
                 # (this is the fast path)
@@ -834,13 +841,14 @@ def finish_write(self, nbytes):
                 #
                 # As this updates self._n we have to do it in the critical
                 # section, so do it byte by byte to avoid allocating.
+                _b = self._b
                 while nbytes > 0:
-                    self._b[self._n] = self._b[self._w]
+                    _b[self._n] = _b[self._w]
                     self._n += 1
                     self._w += 1
                     nbytes -= 1
 
-            self._w = len(self._b)
+            self._w = self._l
         finally:
             machine.enable_irq(ist)
 
@@ -866,10 +874,11 @@ def finish_read(self, nbytes):
             assert nbytes <= self._n  # can't say we read more than was available
             i = 0
             self._n -= nbytes
+            _b = self._b
             while i < self._n:
                 # consumer only read part of the buffer, so shuffle remaining
                 # read data back towards index 0 to avoid fragmentation
-                self._b[i] = self._b[i + nbytes]
+                _b[i] = _b[i + nbytes]
                 i += 1
         finally:
             machine.enable_irq(ist)