Homebrew [POC] 3DS Websocket server demo for homebrew utilities

[TheCruel]

Testers needed. This is mainly a proof of concept for developers, but I would like others to test it too so I can better refine it with more browser/system support. Let me know if you have difficulties/bugs.

This technology can allow developers to make applications in web browsers that can interface with the 3DS console. A lot of possibilities.

Demo: http://ws3ds.cruels.net/

Server source: https://github.com/Cruel/websock3ds/
Web source: https://github.com/Cruel/websock3ds/tree/gh-pages



@MarcusD and @zaksabeast I would've pinged you guys about this in discord server, but I think some moralfag banned me.

 

[iAqua]

very nice, great work!

 

[adrifcastr]

Isn't Pokémon Showdown a Websocket based Client or something like that?.............

 

[Deleted User]

WOW great! can this run in background on 3ds?

 

[Exavold]

That is very interesting.

 

[TheCruel]

WOW great! can this run in background on 3ds?

Not exactly, not without homemenu hacks. Currently it's up to the homebrew itself to supply code to connect to browser. This demo app should serve as an example for devs.

 

[umbjolt]

This. is. AWESOME!!!

 

[umbjolt]

BTW, @TheCruel pressing Start gives me:

"read: No more processes
Websocket handshake failed!"

Using the console IP works fine

 

[TheCruel]

BTW, @TheCruel pressing Start gives me:

"read: No more processes
Websocket handshake failed!"

Using the console IP works fine

Does it just keep giving that over and over or does it eventually work? Because it will occasionally fail, but should keep retrying.

 

[umbjolt]

Does it just keep giving that over and over or does it eventually work? Because it will occasionally fail, but should keep retrying.

I left it try about 2-3 minutes but suddenly 3ds "console" stopped writing (I don't mean freeze, just it stopped printing new text), and after that, using the IP it works at first try. I've tested about 3 times. The two first times were like that. The third time, it only wrote that "error" text 4 times and stopped printing new text.

 

[TheCruel]

I left it try about 2-3 minutes but suddenly 3ds "console" stopped writing (I don't mean freeze, just it stopped printing new text), and after that, using the IP it works at first try. I've tested about 3 times. The two first times were like that. The third time, it only wrote that "error" text 4 times and stopped printing new text.

Thanks, that gives me a better idea of what's going on. I think I might know what it is.

 

[umbjolt]

Thanks, that gives me a better idea of what's going on. I think I might know what it is.

Your welcome. I'm glad that helped you

 

[shutterbug2000]

Can this interface with other websocket-based applications? Like, say I wanted to make a 3DS client for, idk, slither.io(just as an example). Would this work for that?

 

[TheCruel]

Can this interface with other websocket-based applications? Like, say I wanted to make a 3DS client for, idk, slither.io(just as an example). Would this work for that?

It currently runs as a websocket server and not a client, but yeah you could use it as a websocket client too with slight changes. I was thinking about making a agar.io client for 3ds, but have other things to do atm.

 

[Quantumcat]

If you send text/pictures does it send it to every console that has installed the app? Or is it a unique installation per console somehow?

Edit: After seeing the code, I get it, it runs locally.

Would there be any chance of demonstrating uploading files from the 3DS to the server, and downloading files and saving them to the console's SD card?

 

[TheCruel]

If you send text/pictures does it send it to every console that has installed the app? Or is it a unique installation per console somehow?

This is only communication between your browser and the 3DS, nothing more. So nothing is stored on another server or going through any other server. The 3DS console is the websocket server and the browser is connecting to it.

My demo is hosted via github pages, so anyone can make their own too. Only problem is that it currently doesn't have SSL support. Or rather, most popular browsers reject self-signed certs over secured websocket, so I didn't bother figuring it out.

 

[Quantumcat]

This is only communication between your browser and the 3DS, nothing more. So nothing is stored on another server or going through any other server. The 3DS console is the websocket server and the browser is connecting to it.

My demo is hosted via github pages, so anyone can make their own too. Only problem is that it currently doesn't have SSL support.

Thanks, I was looking at the code, edited my post at the same time you replied :-)

Another edit, I realise no download/upload is possible, because it's javascript, not PHP. Is that right?

 

[TheCruel]

Thanks, I was looking at the code, edited my post at the same time you replied :-)

Another edit, I realise no download/upload is possible, because it's javascript, not PHP. Is that right?

Sure, the code is already there for transferring images. Instead of just copying it to the framebuffer, you could save it to file. Likewise simple for sending from 3DS to browser.

At the moment, any binary data of the right size is considered an image to copy to framebuffer:
https://github.com/Cruel/websock3ds/blob/dcdb2036acb661fe55f13aeb50f92302576fc788/src/main.c#L97

But currently the browser client doesn't do anything with binary data sent to it since the title data the 3DS sends to it atm is a JSON string:
https://github.com/Cruel/websock3ds/blob/aec054c3c08a02d49fb6ad2da6e2122e6f1cd4ac/js/main.js#L33

EDIT: there are some security issues with browsers saving to disk, but it's possible you just need to add a button or something to trigger the saving. Guess it could be useful to show how to do that if anyone wants it.

 

[Quantumcat]

Thanks Cruel :-)

I made it into a sort of incredibly crappy chat room just for fun: http://quantumc.at/websoc/
It saves the text sent to a file and displays it in the browser and also sends it to the 3DS. I haven't actually tested it on my 3DS yet as I am in the library with wifi, that requires a sign-on page, so can't connect my 3DS to download the app. If it is broken I'll fix it in a couple of hours when home.

 

[DutchyDutch]

Could something like Pokemon Showdown work with this?