A Python script that builds/refreshes a Nintendo Switch homebrew SD payload from a json config file. For each app it grabs the latest GitHub release, picks the right asset, downloads it, extracts archives while merging folders and keeping the newest copy of any duplicated file, and writes a manifest of titles and versions. Note: this is my attempt to replace the HATS pack by Sthetix with a known working pack (should always be up to date since you grab the packages your- self with a few working config files thrown in) that doesn't have a boatload of forked vanity projects. I completely understand forking projects to add/remove features and make (what you may feel) are necessary adjustments, but I do not agree with: A.) forking a project just so you can slap your own name on it and B.) forking a project and taking away user's choice. Streamline if you want to (I have considered making a 'hekate lite', but who asked for that?) but removing choice is where I draw a line in the sand.
switchpack.py— the scriptsoftware.json— editable list of apps, repos, and which asset to grabMANIFEST.md/manifest.txt— written into your output root after a run_extra/atmosphere/config/system_settings.ini— starter config for Atmosphere_extra/bootloader/hekate_ipl.ini— basic setup to get you booting right away, can be edited as needed. Not a standard by any means, just a starting point._extra/bootloader/res— icons for boot options._extra/switch/DBI/dbi.config— basic DBI config to set basic defaults so screen is not turned off during FTP/MTP connection.
- DBI indicates USB 2.0 speeds regardless of whether or not 3.0 is enabled; it appears that it is utilizing 3.0 speeds (I observed 30-50mbps transfers, whereas during 2.0 transfers I was getting low 20's). However, this is below the max I've seen on previous versions (~70mbps). Will investigate.
- Python 3.8+ (uses only the standard library for
.zipand.tar*) - Optional, only if a release ships these formats:
.7z→pip install py7zror the7zcommand (p7zip-full).rar→unar,unrar, or7zon your PATH
A token lifts GitHub's 60-requests/hour anonymous limit. Not absolutely necessary, given the number of packages here, but if you have to re-run the package in a short time period, it will assist.
python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot # build everything into ./sdroot
GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_inserttoken python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot # utilize github token to download packages.
python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot --dry-run # resolve + report, download nothing
python3 switchpack.py --out ./sdroot --only Atmosphere "DBI English" # download only Atmosphere and DBI English.
Re-running against an existing --out folder updates it in place (newest file wins),
so this doubles as an updater.
Each app has one or more downloads, each with a match rule:
{"first": true}— top asset under the release ("top link under assets"){"index": N}— the Nth asset, 0-based{"name": "x.zip", "ext_fallback": true}— exact filename (case-insensitive);``` withext_fallback, if that exact name is gone it falls back to the first asset with the same extension (survives version-number renames){"regex": "..."}— regex against the asset name (used for the Hekate Nyx zip, etc.)
Other per-download options:
"dest_subdir"— where a non-archive file is placed (e.g.switch/.overlays). Archives always extract+merge into the root and ignore this."strip_prefix"— if a zip file extracts to any other folder than what is present on the root (i.e. it bundles all the folders needed in a parent folder called "SdOut"), this will strip the root folder name and dump the resultant folders out at the root. Supports / for multi- layer folders should they be an issue."rename"— rename a non-archive file (used for DBI'stranslation_en.bin→translation.bin)."rename-extracted"— rename the result of a zip extraction, i.e. : "rename_extracted": [ ["hekate_ctcaer_*.bin", "payload.bin"] ]
- Placement defaults are conventional, not gospel. Loose
.nrofiles go toswitch/,.ovloverlays toswitch/.overlays/, DBI-EN toswitch/DBI/as specified in software.json. - "Keep newest" uses each file's stored modification time inside the archive. That's the best per-file signal available; a few projects set odd build timestamps, so if a specific file ever loses out unexpectedly, that's why.
- If an asset name has drifted, the script prints the available asset names in the
error so you can fix that one line in
software.jsonquickly.
- Possible GUI wrapper for less technically inclined users. Will simply have an output field, a github token field, and a dry-run optional check box. Nothing flashy, and will remain platform agnostic.
"SciresM"- creation of Atmosphere and carrying it for many years, tons HB spanning many years."CTCaer"- creation of Hekate, constant updates and general reliability, reverse engineering efforts."borntohonk"- many improvements and extensions of necessary software, preferred fork of Atmosphere."rashevsky"- release and translations of DBI."ppkantorski"- many, many updates and rebuilds to utilize libultra, biggest contributor to this project. Many thanks for ct_nx as well."ITotalJustice"- Sphaira, tons of notes and general HB assistance."impeeza"- sys-patch/linkalho, tons of other HB contributions, many repos."DefenderOfHyrule"- usk (not linked here, but used every day!) and modchip toolbox."proferabg"- EdiZon."XorTroll"- Emuiibo, uLauncher (not used here, but very ambitious and awesome)."masagrator"- SaltyNX, many repos."J-D-K"- JKSV."luketanti"- AeroFoil, CyberFoil, resurrecting the shop idea when TinFoil was abandoned."exelix11"- SwitchThemeInjector, patches, porting mono to switch (cool!)."ndeadly"- Mission Control, patches, many forks."Horizon-OC"- Horizon-OC replaces Sys-clk and sysmon overlay."GBATemp"- for fostering a (mostly) welcome place to dish and talk Switch HB."Github"- for hosting all my (few) attempts at relevance."sthetix"- for showing me what to not do (fork ALL THE THINGS!). Also many payloads.