[TUT]Quick Start Guide to PSP Programming

[mattyyey]

Hi there. I wrote this quick starter for 3001 on request, thats why it may seem a little short and references other sites alot, but i promise if you intend to start programming properly then you will have alot to read anyways..

Heres some information in no order what so ever that you need to know when you start out :
-you can program the psp with c++ then compile it to an eboot.pbp for the psp
-you can use lua or the sdk
-lua is a homebrew based in c but has special features to aid programming for psp
-lua is good if u dnt want to do anything special
-you can compile the using premade sdk or making one with cgywin for windows (latter not recommended)
-lua scripts dont get compiled, u use lua to launch it
-you probably want to read the module tutorial first to get the understanding to go further than making a hello world script see below.
PS2DEV.ORG: Playstation Programming - Tutorials
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so to get started with lua you will want a txt editor. preferably you want a script editor with highlighting functions for C/C++. Also you will want a lua player. this comes in many variations. but thats for when you have made the script. then head over to psp-programming.com to make a hello world script...
File Details-LuaPlayer-Euphoria-v7.3-PSP-Homebrew-Applications -
Lesson 01 - Hello World

Lua keeps it simple, and if u understand the use of C then it should be no problem to learn.but does have quite a few disadvantages, no plugins, and some more advantageous stuff wont work, but on the other hand you have alot less to worry about.
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now making a dev environment is kinda similar to what you would do with lua once its setup. with lua you just write the script and its done, it could link to other scripts/files but thats basically it, so the functions you use must all be written out by yourself, or be part of the lua construct. however with the sdk you can install/use librarys to simply call a function (save function perhaps) and it does it, some librarys comes with the sdk some you will want like oslib do not, but again there are plenty of installers to do this for you.

the main difference with lua and the sdk is that the sdk can compile eboots to run without lua on other psps. of course if u make a lua app, u can just give out a lua eboot with it to compile your scripts

now making a working a working SDK can be done in 2 ways:
1)using cgywin and the true psp sdk as it was leaked.
Lesson 01 - Setting Up the Development Environment.

2)PSPdev32 a pre-made sdk for windows
File Details-pspdev-for-win32-development-utilities-psp-development -

now you will need to add librarys but get a working hello world first. and that about covers it. if you have read the module tutorial and and made a lua hello world and a sdk helloworld then I'm done here the rest is upto you! O and can i repeat myself and say that this is only a quick guide to get a m8 started, NOT a full tutorial.

[3001]

Greatly appreciated... This is enough to keep me busy for a while Many thanks.. cheers

[skyend]

@mattyyey :
So how can I use pspdev for win32 to build apps ??

[mattyyey]

its all done in command instead of a linux console yea?

All the above options set up the same environment variables, these are:
PSPDEV=InstallDir
PATH=%PATH%;%PSPDEV%/bin

from readme, thats how to setup the batch file.. just type in the path as you installed it, then run said batch file to launch cmd

then make you program, navigate to the directory and type make watch for errors and you have an eboot.pbp please read all attached documents and all the tutorials i placed up, i know it doesnt really say but on the lua lessons, theres a normal lesson set, but it says use cgywin, but im sure u can understand enough to use, dir instead of ls but meh

[skyend]

Originally Posted by mattyyey

its all done in command instead of a linux console yea?
from readme, thats how to setup the batch file.. just type in the path as you installed it, then run said batch file to launch cmd

then make you program, navigate to the directory and type make watch for errors and you have an eboot.pbp please read all attached documents and all the tutorials i placed up, i know it doesnt really say but on the lua lessons, theres a normal lesson set, but it says use cgywin, but im sure u can understand enough to use, dir instead of ls but meh

I tried using cygwin but without success.( could not get the toolchain to work )
I know programming in C++, but not in lua.
Can you please list the steps of building an app ( if I have the source code in C++) ?

~EDIT~
Or maybe you can provide some links ?
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It would be very helpful.
Thanks.

[mattyyey]

Originally Posted by skyend

I tried using cygwin but without success.( could not get the toolchain to work )
I know programming in C++, but not in lua.
Can you please list the steps of building an app ( if I have the source code in C++) ?

~EDIT~
Or maybe you can provide some links ?
----------------------------------------
It would be very helpful.
Thanks.

ugg i already provided the link, i just said its on the lua 1...
PSP Tutorials
now lua very almost identical to C so why not start there. and i know the tutorial talks about using cgywin, but just skip that bit if u get the pre-made 1 to work.

steps:
1)setup sdk or lua
2)write script (and a make file if u use sdk)
3)use sdk to compile the make files and so making your program. or use lua to test script.

seriously I was not writing a tutorial and have no intent to. all i did was give some resources for you to READ! and it would appear you have jumped the gun and just wanna start coding, well thats not right! you need the module tutorial to understand the psp better even if its out of date. readmes say it themselves lol XD so yea, go do some more reading, there is alot of tutorials and info on it around, this is just a quick starter guide to get you on the right tracks. ok? sorry just i dnt have the time to explain it all when u can just read it. plus i would have just made the tut longer if that was my intent. sorry again but it took me awhile to get working, but i learnt on the way, i cnt rob u of that

[skyend]

Originally Posted by mattyyey

ugg i already provided the link, i just said its on the lua 1...
PSP Tutorials
now lua very almost identical to C so why not start there. and i know the tutorial talks about using cgywin, but just skip that bit if u get the pre-made 1 to work.

steps:
1)setup sdk or lua
2)write script (and a make file if u use sdk)
3)use sdk to compile the make files and so making your program. or use lua to test script.

seriously I was not writing a tutorial and have no intent to. all i did was give some resources for you to READ! and it would appear you have jumped the gun and just wanna start coding, well thats not right! you need the module tutorial to understand the psp better even if its out of date. readmes say it themselves lol XD so yea, go do some more reading, there is alot of tutorials and info on it around, this is just a quick starter guide to get you on the right tracks. ok? sorry just i dnt have the time to explain it all when u can just read it. plus i would have just made the tut longer if that was my intent. sorry again but it took me awhile to get working, but i learnt on the way, i cnt rob u of that

Its not like that.
I wanted to develop programs for the psp right from the beginning.
I've already read all those tuts by yeldarb almost an year ago.
But seriously, I lost all my hopes getting cygwin to work.
When I saw this thread, I thought I can try my luck once again.
Nevermind.
Its ok, I understand.

[mattyyey]

sorry but i got the inpression you haddnt even read the thing. heres a quick tut to ensure psp dev is working

1)download pspdev32 for windows see above

2)install to c:\pspdev

3) run cmd.exe as admin

4)navigate using cd dir and cd ... to get to c:\pspdev

5)type pspdev to run .bat

6) now navigate to c:\pspdev\psp\sdk\samples\controller\basic

7) type dir to ensure files are there
8) type make
expect an error or 2 because these samples are very flawed and dont do much but dispite the error you should now have an eboot.pbp in that folder,
9) copy to your psp, psp/game/test/eboot.pbp (it must be in a folder to appear)
10)run you new app.

thats its m8, yes cgywin is a bugger, since its linux on windows what do u expect? if want info on what to do next then i cnt help you, you have a way to compile, and a few samples of code and a few sample makefiles so the rest is upto you!

EDIT:skyend do u have a working environment then? since u thankd me....

[skyend]

skyend do u have a working environment then? since u thankd me....

Yeah, got it.
BTW I am learning lua now.Looks pretty much similar to c (but not c++).

[mattyyey]

glad to hear your sorted now, isnt it alot easier than cgywin? lmao are you gona code in lua or use the sdk? ether way I wanna know when both you (3001 and skyend) make your first program, I'm willing to test! good luck m8s