Programming homebrew apps and games for the PlayStation Portable can be a gritty thing. Aside from having to contend with horrendous compilation times, you need to allocate a lot of hard disk space just to get these programs up and running. Fortunately, developer jsharrad was able to compile a homebrew SDK which puts together all the important tools and toolchains for developing programs for the PSP.

Download: Premade PSPSDK and toolchain Linux VM
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development forum

Many PlayStation Portable owners, at one time or another, have thought of coming up with our own homebrew games and applications. While the others have been been successfully churning out creations left and right, some others are still afraid to even begin, for various reasons.

Well fret not. Homebrew developer Zx-81 just came up with a software development kit that will allow users to do just that without spending hours on installing cygwin and compiling the toolchain. This SDK was made possible with the help of x86 hardware general-purpose full virtualizer VirtualBox.

One you've obtained the software and other files needed through a connecting link on our readlink below, you must do the following as instructed by Zx-81 himself:

• You have to unrar the rar archive in disk1.vdi (you need at least 4Gb of free space on your hard disk)
• Then create a new virtual host, Linux 2.6 with 256 Mb of memory, and use the disk1.vdi as a disk image!
• This disk image contains a full install of xubuntu 7.4, where the PSP SDK has been already compiled, and several other software added (such as the famous IDE Kdevelop, gcc, SDL etc ...).
• After virtually booting Xubuntu, the login name is psp, and the password is psp.
• I've written a small PSP project (hello world) for Kdevelop, ready to use.
• The source code of PSPWrite is also given as an example, with a linux version and a PSP version (but with makefile only, without project file for Kdevelop).

That being said, we wish you all the best in developing your own apps. Enjoy the application!

Developing dedicated or multiplatform software through a virtually-emulated machine environment is not new in the coding world, but it's not exactly commonplace either. Coder MK2k (known for Sleep'n'Wake) decided it was high time to share such an experience with other homebrew developers.

So the developer created a custom, but variably open Gentoo Linux environment emulated through VMware coupled with pre-installed modules, Samba file sharing support, PSP toolchain, and PS2 toolchain. MK2k did this to provide an alternative to the Cygwin/PSP toolchain combo, which the coder had a bit of tiresome wrestling with.

What is this exactly, you ask? It's relatively simple in a sense. You run a localized version of a virtual machine emulator for your respective operating system, be it Mac OS X, other compatible flavors and kernels of Linux, or Microsoft Windows. VMware Player is compatible with all three. Virtual machine (VM) emulation then runs by setting up your host machine (the computer running the VM) to load up a virtual machine (the VM using your computer's hardware to run another "computer").

With the virtual machine set up, you can then do everything you would do to a newly assembled computer. Defining your hard drive setup (limited by how much space you actually have on your real hard disk) would provide you with a virtual hard drive, which can be further configured for partitions or operating system (OS) installation. Coders often use VM emulation to load OSes of a totally different kernel. Windows XP "VMing" Windows 95, Linux "VMing" Windows 98 or vice versa, for example.

MK2k provides a virtual hard drive for your use - much thanks to PSPUAE member FOL's hosting - which comes preloaded with Gentoo and tools to start you off. Of course, you are free to install your own Linux-compatible tools for your development preference, plus helper utilities for special testing or connectivity. The download runs a little under 1 GB in total, but the entire virtual hard drive has been divided further into files generally around the 100 MB range for short, dedicated download bursts.

A readme sits ready with the multiple file download list, and this is where you should start for more specific information on installation and running VMware Player. MK2k advises you to course through it while downloading the files, and if you're a particular about data integrity, you're even provided a checksum file reference to weed out defective archives.

Oh, and we suggest you also grab the Browser Appliance from VMware to browse the Internet from within the virtual machine emulation. It could help loads if you have more questions for MK2k or other devs who tried this contribution. Happy coding!

Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forum

Visit the download site via the read link below. Also thanks to bobtentpeg for the tip!

It's sad to say, but another homebrew developer is leaving the homebrew scene. ManiacX is quitting after the release of CSP Development Studio version 3.0. Among his reasons for leaving were school obligations, acquiring a new 360 with plans to make developments there, Fanjita's retirement, and the lack of appreciation for all the hard work from ungrateful people.

ManiacX will be leaving something behind for the homebrew community though. The app CSP Development Studio is a Window-based IDE for PSP homebrew developers looking for an easy-to-use application.

Like the previous CSP v2.2 release, a readme file isn't available, which means you'll have to find out what's new and what's been fixed in this latest version. What the dev tells us about the app though, is that a version of Cygwin is integrated with support for libraries.

Apparently, you'll need 500MB of free disk space and 512MB RAM to run this version of CSP at minimum. Further updates in the future will be provided by a different homebrew developer called Blade Hunter.

Download: CSP Development Studio v3.0
Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forums

Homebrew developer MániácX dropped by the QJ.NET PSP Development Forum and announced a new build for his project, the CSP Development Studio. Actually, we've been covering this application for a while now.

For those not familiar with it, the program is basically a Windows-based IDE geared to help intermediate and beginner PSP coders in creating programs.

CSP Development Studio is currently on version 2.0 and MániácX mentioned that this needs to be installed as a "fresh install." This means that you have to take down all your previous CSP programs first before trying out this one. As for the current release's changelog:

• Compiler updated to latest release (Thanks Xpack and Mr305!)
• 100% Works with Windows Vista (Even compiling!)
• Re-designed compiling mechanism (Now sets up the env. variables, then executes make.exe = NO MORE BAT FILES!)
• Ability to use cygwin instead of built in compiler
• Added Snippet Explorer (Drag and drop)
• Output now works properly on all operating systems (Including Vista)
• Faster Intellisense Response
• Deleted unnecessary code
• Faster startup time
• Added donation button

Lastly, CSP Development Studio v2.0 in such a way that you won't have to download anything.

Clicking on our Read link below will automatically install the program to your system. So, before you do that, it's probably a good idea to go the QJ.NET Forums to see what others are saying about this application.

Visit: QJ.NET PSP Development Forum thread

ShugenDo, to those not familiar with it, is a 2D fighting engine for the PC. Homebrew developer Sakirsoft just announced on his website that he was finally able to port the engine to the PlayStation Portable. While the coder mentioned that the bin is not yet ready to be released in public, he uploaded a video clip as proof of concept.

According to Sakirsoft, he was able to compile the PSP Toolchain on the PC via cygwin. All samples are ready to be compiled and working but problems were encountered when he tried compiling the PSP-SDL lib on the PC. The developer assured the community as well that the main engine is working pretty fine and certain work needs to be done in the main menu.

No release date has been mentioned yet by Sakirsoft but we promised to give you an update regarding this WIP homebrew as soon as something develops. In the meanwhile, just check out the proof-of-concept video below.

To those of you who want to learn or are trying to learn C++, this next one is going to be a big help. Homebrew coder and QJ.Net Forums member pspballer07 dropped by today and released PSP C++ IDE v1.0. The application, for those who missed our last report, is basically a PC-based Development Environment designed to help make coding in C++ easier.

Just like most PC-based PlayStation Portable (PSP) homebrew applications, C++ IDE requires Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0 to work properly. Anyway, that wouldn't be a problem as we've also provided that file below. Here are the many changes and improvements implemented by pspballer07 for this release:

• Editor Options in the Tools Menu now works
• Added Save All Feature
• New Project now creates a PSPFOLDER.path which allows you to copy your compiled EBOOT to the PSP with the click of button.
• The following tools in the Tool Menu has been added:
• "Editor Options" now works
• "Cygwin Path" to choose your cygwin.bat for easy opening.
• "Show Path" to see the path you set for cygwin.bat
• "Compile" ...it opens your cygwin.bat and a window pops up telling you what to type into the bash to compile it.
• "Copy Project EBOOT.PBP to PSP" to copy your EBOOT.PBP to your PSP with ease.
• You have to set the path of the folder in your PSP for the EBOOT.PBP to copy through your PSPFOLDER.path but make sure you keep the backslash at the end.

Download: PSP C++ IDE v1.0
Download: Microsoft .Net Framework 3.0
View: QJ PSP Development Forum

Yeah, it's a LuaPlayer, and this one's from Shine at the PS2Dev forums. What's different about this one is that it's been re-written with the SCons build management and is based on OpenGL for all graphics output. Check Wiki, OpenGL "is a standard specification defining a cross-language cross-platform API" for computer graphics, which leads to the other thing that's different. It's been released for the PSP, the PS3 (Linux), and Windows.

We shall henceforth and heretofore call this the One LuaPlayer to Rule Them All/And In The Darkness Bind Them. Until Sauron Shine comes up with the next version, or someone else comes up with something else like it. Here are the details for each LuaPlayer platform:

• PSP: uses PSPGL (old hat, old friend), tested on 1.0 and 1.5, but doesn't run on kernel, so theoretically should work with other versions, too (that's unconfirmed, though). 3D rendering on the PSP is slow, though - Shine's hoping someone would step up with an idea to fix it.
• PS3: should work on every 64-bit PS3 Linux. Screenshot is from the PS3 version.
• Windows: compiled with VisualStudio.Net, so it won't need Cygwin or any other library apart from the system and OpenGL libs

Weirdly enough, there's a folder for "Mac OS X", but neither the forum post nor anything in the text files in the package indicate anything about Mac functionality. Looks like a work in progress since Shine and another member of the forum are talking about the Mac OS X "port." Anyway, the download link below contains both the application/s and the source codes for LuaPlayer OpenGL. Instructions are provided in build.txt, while actual apps are in the "release" folder.

Thank you, Bronx, for the tip!

Download: [LuaPlayer OpenGL]

Aserto from our forums has just released a little application for use on your Windows PC to help organize your PSX EBOOTs on your memory stick into a naming format you wish to give it, rather than the default title. If you don't want all your games to be called "hot shots golf" then this may be just the right application for you. Being able to change the GameID of a PSP compatible PSX game has always been present, but until now required the use of a hex editor which not only requires expert knowledge but a reasonable amount of time. With this application you can change the GameID of your PSX titles quickly and with little fuss.

Over the holiday period we have seen many Popstation Gui's materialize, culminating in the release of PSX2PSP v0.7 today which is supposed to be easier and faster to use than most Popstation GUI's, circumventing the need for cygwin.dll, base.pbp and popstation.exe on your computer. Using a PSX2PSP tool in combination with aserto's PSX GameID Changer will certainly save you time and make your PSP much more organised - all in a 6KB download! What more could you ask for?

Download: [PSX GameID Changer]
View: [Forum release thread]

PopStation is the name for one of those fake PSP-looking gadgets that play bad versions of Tetris, but the PopStation that talks about PSX game emulation is something we definitely love. Hot on the heels of the danny_kay1710 and Quake's PopStation GUIs is another application that seeks to make PSX emulation a lot easier.

Except it's not a GUI.

Zalbard has released PSX2PSP, an alternative program for converting PSX iso files from their normal format into the PSP eboot.pbp format. Zalbard says it works "without cygwin.dll, base.pbp and popstation.exe," so it may be something fellows with slower computers might want to try using if your conversions take a lot longer than expected. This is version 0.7, and he hopes to add additional features in future releases.

Now for some actual info on the app. We've noticed that it runs just as fast as the PopStation in converting files, and sometimes goes faster than the PopStation depending on the game you're converting. PSX2PSP v0.7 has a problem with saves though, as he mentioned in his tip to us, so be forewarned.

All in all, it's impressive, and you may want to try it out for yourself if you're feeling the need for a change. Enjoy the download, and have fun satisfying your RPG fix.

Note: The PSX2PSP download contained files of an illegal nature, it has since been removed. If you are determined to find this all in one PSX to PSP converter best of luck finding it on the interwebs.