EZ-Flash USA Forum

Moonshell is not needed... but, changes similar to how the bootloader has been split in 2 from flash in EZV could also be done to improve binary size and thus resources. It was already started in moonshell to externalize plugins for using various file types, data and launchers and sakura takes that one step further with the cheat engine and gba/nds patcher/booter completely external - I have no idea the reason to integrate all nds/gba functions directly in moonshell code though.

I for one definitely do not envy anyone who has to graft stuff directly into the moonshell code and keep everything working as-is, but I definitely don't see a bug free kernel (thinking of EZ4 now) if the work is restarted from next to nothing, either.

I was happy when I read your post.
You are asking for suggestion and support, and I am sure that we are eager to help you with ideas and testing time, so that you can make a new software, which can compete with the likes of SCDS1 featureset, Acekard2 GUI and sakura multimedia

One idea would be to use a system like ysmenu.
Where NDS and GBC files are executable, and the OS simply loads an emulator + the actual rom to the slo2 card.
Maybe such a scheme is also possible with moonshell 1.71??

anyways ... wathever way the EZ team will take - good luck with it!

Yeah, cory is right in some ways.
To add, if you are going to make a new OS I suggest you NEVER ALLOW critical bugs related to saves and files.
I never used EZ4, but none of the users liked it.

So, to make a new OS, which I agree, please make it so that it does not mess with current functions or others.

And, your official releases are really late. I mean, personally what I think of your "open beta" is just to avoid any responsibilities when the kernel makes users suffer any ways. Please don't forget that some users are afraid of your bugs and not using it.

Somehow, I think cheat engine (ARDS) and download play function makes kernel version more than 1.72, but that's none of my concern so I'll pass that.

Personally I really like the EZ4 (my two are my main cards to this day) and am not entirely sure where the dislike came from.

As for moonshell. I say keep it on but as a shortcut or like the others occasionally use GBA code emulators. Should you decide to add a simple MP3 player and picture viewer or something into the new kernel then you are likely to satisfy both camps.

As for where to go it seems most of the EZteam/EZgroup fans like things that work fairly simply but should the situation come up that something will not work they are happy to fiddle with something if it means they can get it to work without having to rely on you guys (the early EZ5 save list was the perfect example of this and the choice between clean and hybrid mode/speed setting another good example).
Following on from that and looking around here and the ezflash.cn forums a fair amount of the people who use your products (both in China and in the rest of the world) are competent coders and/or very technically capable. For example you guys have used some fairly odd formats for naming lists, save lists, cheats, skins..... over the years and most of them have been reverse engineered and updated and even had tools created to do it. Others have taken to making extensive documentation which is no simple feat either and others still have changed the existing code or implemented it for their own applications to use with EZFlash stuff (see the many skinning tools the exist for all the carts you have made, modulo's EZ4 loaders, chuckstudio's EZ3 loaders, moleDJ's EZ4client+, all the cheat code makers/editors and the recent work on GBA sleep mode).
I should also mention the 3 in 1, I doubt it would have been half the success it has been if not for the third party tools which can definitely be traced back to the release of the code.
Having followed the GBA/DS flash cart scene (and even computers/engineering in general) for several years now that is a very rare and valuable thing indeed. While it would not be nice to expect them to do all the work I would certainly encourage you to let them help (anybody that is willing to spend time looking at disassembled code or reverse engineering could do wonders with a bit of help from you guys).
This being said during all this time I have yet to encounter a widespread problem with clones of EZflash stuff anywhere (aside from some of the older EZ1/2 stuff I guess) so I can see why you want to protect your property/name.

Actually that would be perfect for myself. I really like that idea actually. Sometimes I just boot my EzV to read some ebooks in bed, or just have it play music till I sleep. I don't mind the quality. It's pretty much fact that a pmp has bad sound quality compared to an overall home entertainment system, so I can careless about sound quality, since on the DS it's still at a bearable level. I also noticed, in the 4th point on windirt's list, the plugins, maybe a multimedia plugin could also be developed? If that's the case, I wouldn't mind ditching moonshell in the kernel, if a multimedia plugin could be developed, or a plugin that enabled a keycombination on boot to boot moonshell, or even, just a plugin that does the opposite, and boots moonshell, but the key combo would instead make it boot to the loader, or something. Sounds good if its possible.

I'm all for a new kernel without moonshell, now I like moonshell but I don't like it as the kernel, it limits it both as a kernel and a multimedia app. I particularly like the comment about a full customizable interface, as I find the current one quite constricting. I see no disadvantage about abandoning moonshell other than the development time we'll have to go through; but if it means a faster, stabler and prettier kernel then I say go for it.

Indeed, my EZ4 rarely leaves my DSL, too. But you have to agree, if it wasn't for the unofficial patches the GBA stuff in the DS menu would be somewhat useless, and as far as I have experimented it is a bug that can be easily corrected but never was... and IIRC there are still some bugs between the two kernels, the NOR and save file names or something similar (it's been a while since I've gone outside of what I know works without using a PC to correct later on EZ4.)

Any rate, the thread is about EZV - I think if they have the dedication to create a fully new kernel that isn't based on moonshell instead of releasing a new product of the month based on identical hardware with basically different region locks, to abandon later (like M3 seem to be doing) I'm definitely all for it. Though, at the same time it'd be nice to see a stable, relatively bug free build of the current work before going that route, too.

I for one would like to see a kernel again that doesn't take 30MiB, 5-10 of which is slack due to multiple tiny files

edit:/
most won't know what I'm getting at, but...

windirt: does this mean there is still a chance all EZ will agree to go the idea we discussed last year? Or, is RVDS going to be used if something new is made, meaning definitely not?

I vote yes. I prefer the modular kernel. This modularity may come in any possible way: trough plugins or external applications. I prefer this option above the all-in-one option for 2 reasons:

• It would be more safe: if the kernel is stable, to override a problem with a function (coming it from a plugin or homebrew) we just need to avoid loading it. This way is harder to break something (saves, for example) while repairing some other (mp3 playback, for example).
• Updating the system will be easier. If only a file inside the filesystem must be updated or created, even we don't need to shutdown the console or even reflash the EZV, only for kernel updates.

The GPL'd kernel is a good idea to allow users to develop plugins or kernel tweaks, but I hope that it doesn't mean that EZ-Flash will leave all the plugin development to users.

who keeps voting to keep moonshell
somebody should edit it and tell these people:=
YOU CAN STILL HAVE MOONSHELL
all it means is you launch NDS separately and takes extra seconds
thats all

I think that RTS save and slowmotion could be the next step.

Then, the EZV will be....Perfect? may be.


Good work with last kernel (Download play, direct save, AR Codes, etc).


Tom

I know this is an old thread, but I am of the opinion (which many others here share) that Moonshell should be separate from the kernel. I would vastly prefer a faster-booting kernel, which can still load multimedia as needed. Modular design for the win.
Since the stable kernel is fine, I can survive waiting for a new stable kernel (as long as it has some of the shiny new features that are being developed in the OpenBetas )

Sakura is based on Moonshell but it's fast !

anything as long as you dont discontinue exv support

but i'm getting bored w/ moonshell.
ezkernel 1.86 is stable, and i wouldn't mind living w/ it till a new kernel...

How about intergrating LMP-ng into the new kernel for music playback?? Maybe you could use beta 2 w/ a custom ezv skin.

I could care less if moonshell is ditched. I only use the kernal to launch games, so a kernal devoted to stuff for games would be very nice. I use sakura anyways for my music enjoyment (yay for being able to be run on the ezV!)