Homebrew Best guide to get into programming switch homebrew?

[PixelatedIvan]

Especially since Switch homebrew is in it's infancy stage, programming for it seems fun to do.

I already know a bit of JS and C#, is there any guide or documentation about developing Switch Homebrew apps?

 

[Quantumcat]

• You'll need C/C++.
• Look at open source apps that have already been written
• Make sure you can compile and run it on your Switch
• Make changes and see what happens
• When you understand how it works and the structure of it
• Create your own new app

 

[Enovale]

I tried to find documentation too, but it's essentially non-existent. Just think of a feature that exists in an existing app that you want it your app, and find the source code and try to implement it into your app. For some basic things, check out the Switch Examples repo and you'll learn a lot there.

Also learn C C# Ain't gonna help ya, and unless you're willing to use the new Brew.js exclusively, JS won't either.

 

[rock88]

Hi, I'm newbie in switch dev, and have few questions:

• How connect to switch over ssh/telnet/ftp/etc (on 5.0.2)
• How see switch debug log in my pc over usb
• How connect to app over gdb (or some else, for debug purpose)

Currently I builded few examples, but I can't quick upload binary to switch (each time eject sd card/mount to pc/copy binary/insert sd card to switch/enter to rcm/enter to cfm it a very long time) and see log.

 

[jimmyj]

just look at already written apps. Like I did,I will never release any of it,but it was fun doing

 

[rock88]

How connect to switch over ssh/telnet/ftp/etc (on 5.0.2)

Ok, I found ftp server - ftpd (available in the appstore) and it's perfect work on 5.0.2.

What about log and debug? Anyway I can write log into a file and read it over ftp xD

 

[AileenLumina]

Nobody pointed it out yet, so: You can also just learn Python and code Switch homebrew in Python! Should be a lot easier than C or C++, I like to think.

 

[Technicmaster0]

What about log and debug? Anyway I can write log into a file and read it over ftp xD

I think there is a way to use printf over network and you can always write stuff into a file. But you would have to figure it out on your own.

 

[cpasjuste]

Use "nxlink" to send your nro with "-s" flag, then use "nxlinkStdio" to redirect stdout/stderr (printf, ...) : https://github.com/switchbrew/libnx/blob/master/nx/include/switch/runtime/nxlink.h#L10

 

[delete12345]

1. Install devkitPro's devkitARM from Github.
2. Upon finished installation, navigate to installation folder.
3. Run msys2.
4. Type "pacman -Sl" (That's an lowercase L, not uppercase I)
5. Install all the packages you need using "pacman -Syyu [package 1 name] [package 2 name] [package 3 name] ...", with whitespaces in between each package name. All names must be fully matching the one shown in the list above.
6. Navigate to the devkitARM installation root folder.
7. Open templates folder.
8. Copy the "switch/templates/application/Makefile". You need this.
9. Paste your copied Makefile to a destination folder, the folder that you'll be working Switch homebrew apps with. We'll call this folder, [DESTINATION] for now.
10. In that same destination folder, create a new folder called "source".
11. In your "source" folder, this is where you put your C++ and C codes in.
12. Open Makefile. Use whatever text editing software you want to use. I preferably use Visual Studio 2017, because it supports a lot of things, and Linux libraries now, but all other editors are fine. Stick with it.
13. Edit the Makefile contents by following the instructions.
14. Open up a terminal / console.
15. Navigate to your modified Makefile through the terminal / console.
16. Type "make".
17. If all is successful, you should see 5 types of generated files with your destination folder as the names. You need your [DESTINATION].nro.
18. Power on your Switch.
19. Do whatever you need to do to get into Homebrew Launcher.
20. In the Homebrew Launcher, execute NXLink. It should now freeze, and is attempting to wait on you to send your NRO files over to the Switch.
21. Back to the terminal / console, run/launch "nxlink -ip [YOUR SWITCH'S IP ADDRESS, WITHOUT PORT NUMBER] [DESTINATION].nro".
22. See your NRO file booting and running.
23. Rinse and repeat. Total setup should take about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how fast you access your Homebrew Launcher.

 

[YugamiSekai]

1. Install devkitPro's devkitARM from Github.
2. Upon finished installation, navigate to installation folder.
3. Run msys2.
4. Type "pacman -Sl" (That's an lowercase L, not uppercase I)
5. Install all the packages you need using "pacman -Syyu [package 1 name] [package 2 name] [package 3 name] ...", with whitespaces in between each package name. All names must be fully matching the one shown in the list above.
6. Navigate to the devkitARM installation root folder.
7. Open templates folder.
8. Copy the "switch/templates/application/Makefile". You need this.
9. Paste your copied Makefile to a destination folder, the folder that you'll be working Switch homebrew apps with. We'll call this folder, [DESTINATION] for now.
10. In that same destination folder, create a new folder called "source".
11. In your "source" folder, this is where you put your C++ and C codes in.
12. Open Makefile. Use whatever text editing software you want to use. I preferably use Visual Studio 2017, because it supports a lot of things, and Linux libraries now, but all other editors are fine. Stick with it.
13. Edit the Makefile contents by following the instructions.
14. Open up a terminal / console.
15. Navigate to your modified Makefile through the terminal / console.
16. Type "make".
17. If all is successful, you should see 5 types of generated files with your destination folder as the names. You need your [DESTINATION].nro.
18. Power on your Switch.
19. Do whatever you need to do to get into Homebrew Launcher.
20. In the Homebrew Launcher, execute NXLink. It should now freeze, and is attempting to wait on you to send your NRO files over to the Switch.
21. Back to the terminal / console, run/launch "nxlink -ip [YOUR SWITCH'S IP ADDRESS, WITHOUT PORT NUMBER] [DESTINATION].nro".
22. See your NRO file booting and running.
23. Rinse and repeat. Total setup should take about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how fast you access your Homebrew Launcher.

Where do I find the nxlink nro for Switch?

 

[rock88]

nxlink nro for Switch?

Just open a hbmenu and press Y button, after this you can upload *.nro over nxlink (located at devkitpro/devkitA64/bin).

 

[rock88]

Use "nxlink" to send your nro with "-s" flag, then use "nxlinkStdio" to redirect stdout/stderr (printf, ...)

Thanks, also I found a new example in switchbrew/switch-examples - nxlink_stdio, in the app needs use

socketInitializeDefault();
nxlinkStdio();

after this "printf" appear in terminal.

 

[YugamiSekai]

Just open a hbmenu and press Y button, after this you can upload *.nro over nxlink (located at devkitpro/devkitA64/bin).

Doesn't seem to work, unless it's meant to stay on the hbmenu, then that's an error on my PC's end.

 

[rock88]

it's meant to stay on the hbmenu, then that's an error on my PC's end.

Maybe I use other version of hbmenu, check in the attachments.

 

[2Siralv]

Ive installed devkitpro on win10 and where is the output folder or folder to add source code and then run the make file and for the makefile do i nees to make my own or can i usw the makefile.switch and makefile.libnx