Microfirmwares for the Firmware V2.0
v2.0.6beta
Table of contents
Microfirmwares
What is a microfirmware?
A Microfirmware app is a small, self-contained program that runs on a standalone RP2040 or RP235x chip, along with a companion firmware on your computer that talks to it. Together, they provide the features of the device.
Available Microfirmware Apps
📀 ROM Emulator
An emulator for ROM files. Run games and apps from microSD or a remote server.
⏰ Real Time Clock Emulator
Provides RTC functionality, syncs with NTP servers, and emulates a DS1307 chip.
💾 Drives Emulator
Emulates hard and floppy drives with microSD-stored images. Includes RTC emulator.
🧪 Multi-device Test ROM
A diagnostic tool to validate functionality and performance of your device.
🌐 File & Download Manager
Browse and download from the public floppy DB. Manage files on your microSD card.
🎨 GPU Demo
Showcases RP2040 graphics: real-time sprites and tiles in Atari ST/STE modes.
How it works:
Microfirmware App Core
This is the main program running on the RP2040 chip. It manages things like reading the microSD card, talking to the computer, and (if needed) providing a web interface.
Global Settings
These are settings for the whole device, stored in flash memory. The Microfirmware app reads them to know how the device is configured, but does not change them.
Local Settings
Each Microfirmware app can have its own settings, also stored in flash. These are used just by that app, so one app’s settings won’t affect another.
Computer Firmware
On the computer side, there is a small program (called the Booster app) that acts as a terminal and communicates with the Microfirmware app. Because this runs in the computer’s ROM, it’s harder to update and debug. Most testing and debugging happens on the Microfirmware app side.
The Booster App is designed to manage the Microfirmware apps on the device, allowing users to download, install, update, and launch them easily. It also provides a web interface for managing the apps.
The available Microfirmware apps are listed in a public repository, which the Booster app connects to. Users can browse and install apps from this repository, or upload their own apps to the device. They can also install their own repository for themselves or others to use.
Developing Microfirmware Apps
To develop your own Microfirmware apps, there is a template repository and follow the instructions in the Programming Guide.
Each Microfirmware app should be a self-contained program that can run on the RP2040 or RP235x chip. It should include the necessary code to read the microSD card, communicate with the computer, and provide any additional features you want.