gen1recomp/docs/switch-development.md

Nintendo Switch development (love-nx)

Gen1Recomp on Nintendo Switch runs on a pinned love-nx runtime. This document covers vendor layout, fetch instructions, and the Mac ↔ Switch transfer workflow.

love-nx 11.5-nx1 (pinned)

Tag: 11.5-nx1

Local layout (not committed):

.bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/
├── love.nro    # homebrew launcher binary (loose mode: copied to gen1recomp.nro)
└── love.elf    # required for fused NRO builds (devkitPro nacptool/elf2nro)

Manifest: scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256 lists expected artifact names and SHA-256 checksums. Checksums are filled when binaries are fetched (TBD_* placeholders until then).

Fetch instructions

1. Open the 11.5-nx1 release and download love.nro and love.elf.

2. Create the directory: mkdir -p .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1

3. Move both files into that directory.

4. Record checksums and update the manifest:

   shasum -a 256 .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/love.nro \
     .bazinga/love-nx/11.5-nx1/love.elf
   

5. Replace the TBD_* lines in scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256 with the real hashes.

Never commit love-nx binaries, ROM dumps, or generated cache into git. The repo .gitignore excludes .bazinga/ (vendor cache) and /dist/ (build output).

Loose-mode dist layout

Development builds place gen1recomp.nro and game.love side by side:

dist/switch/loose/
├── gen1recomp.nro
└── game.love

Assemble with:

scripts/build_switch.sh --loose

(See scripts/switch/assemble_loose.sh for the underlying copy + checksum step.)

Transfer policy (mandatory)

Mac ↔ Switch file movement uses USB/MTP only:

• Switch: DBI → Run MTP responder
• Mac: OpenMTP (Apple Silicon build)
• Destination root: 1: SD Card/switch/gen1recomp/

Forbidden for this project (do not use as workarounds):

• Removing the microSD card to mount it on the Mac (/Volumes/…, Finder copy)
• FTP / Sphaira / any network file share to the Switch
• nxlink / netloader deploy
• DBI MicroSD install, NAND install, or other virtual install folders (NSP/NSZ/XCI paths)

If MTP fails, diagnose cable, USB port, DBI state, and OpenMTP exclusivity — do not silently fall back to forbidden methods.

OpenMTP + DBI transfer (loose build)

On the Switch

1. Close Gen1Recomp if it is running.
2. Open DBI from hbmenu.
3. Select Run MTP responder (DBI documents X on the main screen).
4. Keep DBI on that screen for the entire transfer.
5. Connect the Switch to the Mac with a USB-C data cable.

On the Mac

1. Close any other MTP clients.

2. Open OpenMTP and select the DBI device.

3. In the remote pane, open 1: SD Card.

4. Navigate to switch/ and create gen1recomp/ if needed.

5. Enter 1: SD Card/switch/gen1recomp/.

6. Drag from the local pane:

   dist/switch/loose/gen1recomp.nro
   dist/switch/loose/game.love
   

7. Wait for the OpenMTP queue to finish completely.

8. Refresh the remote listing and confirm file sizes match the local files.

9. On the Switch, exit MTP responder normally in DBI before launching the app.

Expected layout on SD:

1: SD Card/
└── switch/
    └── gen1recomp/
        ├── gen1recomp.nro
        └── game.love

Round-trip SHA-256 verification

For the first deploy of each artifact type (loose pair, later fused NRO), verify MTP integrity:

1. Before send — record local hashes:

   shasum -a 256 dist/switch/loose/gen1recomp.nro \
     dist/switch/loose/game.love
   

2. After send — in OpenMTP, copy the same files from 1: SD Card/switch/gen1recomp/ back to an empty local folder, e.g. dist/switch/mtp-roundtrip/.

3. Compare round-trip hashes:

   shasum -a 256 dist/switch/mtp-roundtrip/gen1recomp.nro \
     dist/switch/mtp-roundtrip/game.love
   

4. Local pre-send and round-trip hashes must match. Record results in the test report template below.

Repeat whenever a cable glitch or interrupted transfer is suspected.

Title override launch (full memory)

Applet Mode is not the primary validation path. Use title override so hbmenu runs with full memory:

1. Confirm the OpenMTP transfer queue finished.
2. Exit MTP responder in DBI; disconnect USB if desired.
3. Hold R while launching any legitimately installed title.
4. Keep holding until hbmenu appears.
5. Confirm hbmenu does not show Applet Mode.
6. Launch gen1recomp (or the probe NRO during Phase 0).

Album / applet launches are only useful to document applet-specific limitations; P0/P1 gates use title override.

Phase 0 hardware checklist

Complete in order on OLED hardware. Operator fills evidence fields — leave blank until tested.

Step	Action	Pass	Evidence / notes
P0-0a	Fetch love-nx 11.5-nx1; record manifest SHA-256	yes	See scripts/switch/love-nx-11.5-nx1.sha256
P0-0b	Build switch-probe.love per tools/switch-probe/README.md	yes
P0-0c	Assemble loose probe (game.love = probe) to dist/switch/loose/	yes
P0-0d	MTP deploy to 1: SD Card/switch/gen1recomp/; round-trip SHA-256	yes	nro 8290ac15…5918f5; love 9f198637…fa2e34f
P0-0e	Title override → probe boots; getOS() shows NX	yes	getOS()=NX, love._os=NX
P0-0f	Probe lists 1280×720 (or documented dims), save path, gamepad/touch log	yes	save sdmc:/switch/gen1recomp/switch-probe; Joy-Con Y→#3 X→#4
P0-1a	Replace game.love with unpatched Gen1Recomp build	yes	feat/switch-nx inbox build
P0-1b	MTP replace game.love only; round-trip SHA-256	yes
P0-1c	Title override → launcher reaches import screen	yes
P0-1d	Joy-Con: can navigate launcher (no touch-only)	yes	Full report: docs/switch-hardware-evidence.md

Operator: Andrew Date: 2026-08-01 Console: Switch OLED
love-nx tag: 11.5-nx1 gen1recomp commit: df7cea4

Phase 0 test report template

Copy this block into your hardware notes or PR evidence. Do not commit ROM files or ROM hashes of private dumps.

## Switch Phase 0 — hardware report

- Operator:
- Date:
- Console model:
- Atmosphère / HOS version:
- gen1recomp commit:
- love-nx tag: 11.5-nx1
- love.nro SHA-256 (local):
- game.love SHA-256 (local, pre-send):
- MTP round-trip SHA-256 (gen1recomp.nro):
- MTP round-trip SHA-256 (game.love):
- Title override used: yes / no
- Applet Mode observed: yes / no (should be no for P0)
- Probe getOS():
- Probe dimensions:
- Probe save directory shown:
- Gamepad events logged: yes / no
- Touch events logged: yes / no
- Unpatched launcher boot: pass / fail
- Joy-Con launcher navigation: pass / fail / not tested
- Notes:

Fast dev loop (loose mode)

While iterating on Lua/assets:

1. Edit on Mac; run scripts/test.sh --quick.
2. Rebuild .bazinga/work/game.love (scripts/build.sh mac --no-notarize or project pack step).
3. Close Gen1Recomp on Switch.
4. DBI → Run MTP responder.
5. OpenMTP → 1: SD Card/switch/gen1recomp/.
6. Replace only game.love; wait for queue + refresh listing.
7. Exit MTP responder; launch via title override.
8. Keep gen1recomp.nro unchanged until the love-nx pin changes.

scripts/test.sh --quick
scripts/build.sh mac --no-notarize
scripts/build_switch.sh --loose
shasum -a 256 .bazinga/work/game.love