Feature Request: Cross-Platform GUI Support

[DanyHenriquez]

This opened issue is more to get some clarity from the repo owner and pitch ideas.

Many users prefer GUI-based applications, but I noticed that the current GUI is only available for Windows.

Would you consider implementing a cross-platform GUI to help adoption and accessibility of the tool?

There are several frameworks that support Windows, macOS, and Linux, and I’d be happy to help with implementation. Some options include:

• Uno Platform
• Avalonia UI
• Blazor

This will require extracting the code into more organised classes with clear separation of concerns to support this.

Let me know your what you think.

[PurelyAndy]

#18 implements this.

[DanyHenriquez]

#18 implements this.

So it has been verified that that specific GUI tool kit will be used with the repo owner or someone who manages this?

Don't get me wrong it's great to see many people on board, but I stopped my contributions until the roadmap is cleared up and there is some direction for the project.

As it stands now many people do duplicate work and their own thing. Implementing their own vision which might not be the code owner's vision.

[PurelyAndy]

So it has been verified that that specific GUI tool kit will be used with the repo owner or someone who manages this?

Nope. I'm not sure if anybody knows when they're going to go over the pull requests, either.

[damysteryman]

After seeing Louis Rossmann's video regarding the situation and his call to arms, during the weekend I started cooking up a .NET Blazor-based multiplatform GUi implementation... only to just now notice PurelyAndy's Avalonia GUI implementation.

I believe that both GUI implementations should work fine side-by-side, once TheCod3r and all us 3rd party contributors converge on a single Core logic implementation, but yeah I definitely agree, the current pull request situation is a rather interesting mess right now lol

Main reason I chose .NET Blazor is to not only get a pretty Web GUI, but for that exact same GUI to run on just about anything.

FYI my current WIP is visible over here: https://github.com/damysteryman/PS5NorModifier/tree/multigui
No pull request yet as it is obviously unfinished, but I figured I'd mention it here so that everyone involved is aware that it is being worked on.

@PurelyAndy I'm curious, do you know if Avalonia supports Blazor in a similar fashion as MAUI Blazor Hybrid?
Right now I'm using a Photino project to target Windows + Linux, and a MAUI Blazor project to Target Windows/Mac/Android/iOS... but if something like "Avalonia Blazor Hybrid" is possible, then perhaps I could try to scrap my MAUI Hybrid Project in favour of that?

[DanyHenriquez]

This opened issue is more to get some clarity from the repo owner and pitch ideas.

Those two GUI frameworks are just an example.

It's great everyone donates their time and skills and I love seeing everyone trying make something amazing.

It's clear every contributor really needs some guidance from the owner on where he wants to take this so we can focus our efforts together.

[PurelyAndy]

@PurelyAndy I'm curious, do you know if Avalonia supports Blazor in a similar fashion as MAUI Blazor Hybrid? Right now I'm using a Photino project to target Windows + Linux, and a MAUI Blazor project to Target Windows/Mac/Android/iOS... but if something like "Avalonia Blazor Hybrid" is possible, then perhaps I could try to scrap my MAUI Hybrid Project in favour of that?

I see precisely zero reason to use a webview. Avalonia supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS natively.

[RJohnsonPGH]

Figured I'd give this a shot as a web app instead of a local app:

https://xxbiohazrdxx.github.io/PS5NorModifier/

uart/serial communication isn't in there yet, I'll need to see if it can be done with WebUSB APIs but currently the only Blazor implementation of WebAPI is from .netstandard 2.0 so it's going to take me a while to get that updated to work with modern .NET.

Edit: Looks like WebUSB wont work, but I've made good progress with the WebSerial APIs (only supported on Edge and Chrome, however).

[RJohnsonPGH]

Alright, I've got a web interface working using the WebSerial API (requires Chrome/Edge). I don't have a PS5 with the UART soldered however, so I had to rely on a simulator I wrote for testing. Having someone with an actual console wired up for some testing would be helpful.

Url is the same as above.

[DanyHenriquez]

@TheCod3rYouTube Can we ask what your view is on this issue?

Do you want a cross platform GUI implemented?

[damysteryman]

@xxbiohazrdxx Damn, nice work, are you a mind reader? You've created basically what I had hoped to create, but way faster than me lol

If there was a vote for whether this should become the official GUI at e.g. https://uart.codes/PS5NorModifier or https://consolefix.shop/PS5NorModifier, then you've got my +1

But yes, @TheCod3rYouTube you're the boss, what's your take on this issue?

[RJohnsonPGH]

@xxbiohazrdxx Damn, nice work, are you a mind reader? You've created basically what I had hoped to create, but way faster than me lol

If there was a vote for whether this should become the official GUI at e.g. https://uart.codes/PS5NorModifier or https://consolefix.shop/PS5NorModifier, then you've got my +1

Thanks. It helps when you do C#/.NET dev professionally. I'm extremely familiar and comfortable with the stack.

[DanyHenriquez]

Web interfaces for a local app are rarely a good idea. Especially when there are multiple good cross platform GUI options available.

Just my 2 cents.

[RJohnsonPGH]

Eh, I'm 50/50. The big advantage is that you can remove the need for the user to download anything that they may only need to use once and for a few minutes. Asking someone to spend half an hour to download and install the .NET runtime is a big ask when a web app just opens by clicking a link.

[DanyHenriquez]

Eh, I'm 50/50. The big advantage is that you can remove the need for the user to download anything that they may only need to use once and for a few minutes. Asking someone to spend half an hour to download and install the .NET runtime is a big ask when a web app just opens by clicking a link.

End users do not have to download the runtime. That is a false statement. With single file compilation and native AOT compilation user do not need the runtime. A simple runtime download also does not take 30 minutes.

Nonetheless. What we both think isnt important at this time since we need confirmation from the repo owner.

[PurelyAndy]

I despise bloated web UIs. This application does not need to take up a full 1080p screen, and then have a scrollbar on top of that, for 6 inputs and a dozen table rows. With that said, a web version that's reasonably designed, perhaps with a similar layout to the desktop app, could be nice to have as well if TheCod3r wants.