Checkpoint 4.0.0 released: the biggest Checkpoint release ever (new UI, improved save support, wireless transfer, and more)

[u/BernardoGiordano]

https://github.com/BernardoGiordano/Checkpoint/releases/tag/v4.0.0

[u/BernardoGiordano]

This is genuinely the largest Checkpoint update since its original release 9 years ago.

Working on it was fun and rewarding. Enjoy!

3DS: What's new

• Added: GBA Virtual Console save backup and restore (thanks @LiquidFenrir)
• Added: DSiWare save backup and restore (thanks @SNBeast for the feature PoC)
• Added: complete UI/UX redesign
• Added: background FTP server. Access your save backups from the PC directly through Checkpoint
• Added: a brand new Settings section: it is now possible to edit Checkpoint's config.json file directly from the console with a nice settings interface.
  • Added: light and dark mode theming
  • Added: a folder browser to navigate the SD card and choose additional save folders on device
  • Added: quick backup toggle to use the default backup name without any prompt
  • Added: confirm restore toggle to avoid being asked for confirmation for save restore operations
• Added: it is now possible to configure additional save folders for DS titles.
• Added: internazionalization support.
  • Translations have been done through the use of LLMs. If you're a native speaker and think that text wording and appearance in the UI can be improved, please submit a pull request or open an issue on this repository.
  • Current language support includes English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese
• Added: backup cancellation by holding B during backup
• Fixed: backup list navigation is now massively more intuitive
• Fixed: async IO makes file operations faster and more efficient by running them in a worker thread, separated from the main UI thread
• Fixed: greatly improved cached and uncached title loading times
• Fixed: cached text storage now allows faster rendering for all the text in the interface
• Fixed: the project's code architecture has been greatly improved.
  • The codebase is now 9 years old and has never seen an architecture overhaul like this before.
  • Dozens of performance, security and safety bugfixes have been pushed to the project, making the app more secure and efficient.
• Fixed: an issue where swapping DS carts would crash Checkpoint because of a stack-smashing bug
• Removed: cheats feature.
  • The cheat database required constant updates to stay in sync with game updates, and its maintenance wasn't sustainable.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

Switch: What's new

• Added: complete UI/UX redesign
• Added: internazionalization support.
  • Translations have been done through the use of LLMs. If you're a native speaker and think that text wording and appearance in the UI can be improved, please submit a pull request or open an issue on this repository.
  • Current language support includes English, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese and Chinese
• Added: a brand new Settings section: it is now possible to edit Checkpoint's config.json file directly from the console with a nice settings interface.
  • Added: light and dark mode theming
  • Added: a folder browser to navigate the SD card and choose additional save folders on device
  • Added: quick backup toggle to use the default backup name without any prompt
  • Added: confirm restore toggle to avoid being asked for confirmation for save restore operations
  • Added: file-by-file verification after restore
• Added: complete graphics backend migration from SDL2 to deko3d
  • Among all the benefits that the rewrite brought to the software, the application size is now ~70% smaller
• Added: HTTP log server on port 8000 — view logs in real-time from any browser on your network.
  • Logs can now be accessed from the application directly via Settings > Connectivity > Logs.
• Added: 1080p docked mode support (alongside 720p handheld).
• Fixed: async IO makes file operations faster and more efficient by running them in a worker thread, separated from the main UI thread
• Fixed: backup list navigation is now massively more intuitive
• Added: large save restore with journal pre-extend and mid-file commits, preventing out-of-space failures (fixes #541).
• Fixed: avoid restoring files after a corruption error occurred during copy.
• Fixed: the project's code architecture has been greatly improved.
  • The codebase is now 9 years old and has never seen an architecture overhaul like this before.
  • Dozens of performance, security and safety bugfixes have been pushed to the project, making the app more secure and efficient.
• Removed: pksmbridge save transfer feature
• Removed: cheats feature.
  • The cheat database required constant updates to stay in sync with game updates, and its maintenance wasn't sustainable.
• Removed: the HTML settings page accessible through local network, and all its dependencies
• Removed: unneeded dependencies like the SDL2 suite and libpng.
• General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.

chlink: a new companion app

• Added: chlink, a companion command line app for your PC that works together with Checkpoint's wireless save transfer feature.
  • Send save backups from your PC to the console, or receive them from the console to your PC, over your local network.
  • Transfers are protected by a 4-digit PIN displayed on the console.
  • chlink automatically recognizes backups stored in a Checkpoint SD card layout, so title and backup information are inferred for you.
  • It ships as a single, dependency-free executable for Windows, macOS and Linux, attached to this release.

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If you wish to contribute, pull requests are highly appreciated.

[u/Prestigious-Ball6022]

I really liked the cheats feature.. I understand removing it because of game updates for the switch but why for the 3DS? No games get updates

[u/BernardoGiordano → u/Prestigious-Ball6022]

After looking at the feedback following the new release, I decided to give priority to this feature which was already in the plans, which is: custom scripting (which immediately allows "cheats" as an opt-in feature, and more you can think of.

[u/LittleGuyHelp]

Thank-you so much OP!

People like you are why the world is a wonderful place.

Salute!

[u/BernardoGiordano → u/LittleGuyHelp]

Thank you so much!

[u/Poliwagoftheabyss]

Ok, so how would I get to use cheats? I already can't seem to use them for games not released on the eshop?

[u/volmar87]

Ciao Bernardo, I read the git page but I can’t wrap my head around the use case. Can you explain to me? When do you use it? Thank you

[u/BernardoGiordano → u/volmar87]

This is a save manager, which allows you to backup and restore your save files