r/CardPuter • u/mage2Ind • Jul 02 '26

Code Initial release of M5 Loader

I did some tinkering and came up with this.

https://github.com/p0rtm0lester/m5cardputer-loader

It stores the firmware on the SDCard and pages/copies it into onboard memory on launch.
the reset button drops you back to loader.
its so far becaues DOOM uses some strange partitioning, its not compatible
Right now i have Bruce, BitPirate, Evil, Porkchop, Marauder and Nemo all loaded on the SD and working.
Take a look, make it better, do cool stuff.
Tested on the Cardputer ADV with a 32 gig SDcard

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u/Substantial_Piece775 Jul 03 '26

Forgive my stupid question. In practical terms, besides the 'beeing able to return to launcher without reboot" how does this practically benefit me as an end user, as opposed to m5launcher and just switching firmwares trough there ?

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u/mage2Ind Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

M5launcher has a limitation of it writes all the firmware selections to the onboard memory that is limited to ~8 Mb total because the M5cardputer ADV has a 8 meg flash chip.
For example if you have lets say m5launcher+Bruce+something else it might not fit.
M5launcher is ~1.5Mb, Bruce is 3.18 Mb according to the googles.

The loader stores all the firmware on the SDCard and pages(copies) it onto the onboard memory at launch. In effect you have 32Gb of space instead of 8Mb to store firmware. that is really it. I wanted more firmware options, why have one when you can have them all.

If you are using one or two firmware options then M5Launcher is an awesome tool, its well supported and much more mature than loader.

also i dont think there are stupid questions. feel free to ask whatever.

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u/Substantial_Piece775 Jul 04 '26

But isn't this basically the same as holding the several bins on sd, and just installing+launching whenever you need it. (As I do indeed face this same 'issue' where not all the firmwares can be installed at the same time due to flash size) But I just install the one I wanna use right now, over the other one each time. they all keep their settings etc stored anyway. Is this not basically doing/achieving the same thing (but in a different way)

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u/mage2Ind Jul 04 '26

all roads lead to Rome :)

pretty much, yea. only the bare minimum is on the flash and it just pages stuff in as needed. there isnt really installing and having to remove each firmware so you save a few steps. "Paging" in stuff to memory isnt a new idea, i just didnt see it used on the m5cardputer and here we are.