Hacking [WIP] KARL3DS - Kernel access on N3DS via Ninjhax + Loadcode

[Rokkubro]

Team: Dazzozo, shinyquagsire23, WulfyStylez, Relys, and StapleButter.

Special Thanks: Myria and everyone who's contributed to our ARM11 bootstrap development. (Also lots of people we'll add later!)



Hello everyone! Welcome to KARL3DS(an acronym originally standing for Kernel Anti-piracy Region-free Loader 3DS) project. Our goal is to open the 3DS and New 3DS platforms to developers, as well as give users quite a few useful tools. This is currently more or less split into three main parts.

1. ARM11 Kernel bootstrap
This library will allow developers to leverage ARM11 with kernel-level permissions from Cubic Ninja.
Released! Github here.

2. ARM9 Kernel bootstrap
This branch of bootstrap (arm9-kernel) allows developers to hook into ARM9 and perform system functions at a higher level than ARM11 kernel.
Released! Github here and hello world example here.

3. The rest of it:
We'll allow rebooting into a modified firmware with a handful of things modified:
-Redirected NAND to allow for current updates
-Region checks patched out
-Service checks removed to allow any services to run (including CSND on New 3DS!)

Eventually, we want to support a Home Menu-based homebrew channel app which will allow much more control (i.e. as much as any retail title!) than current Cubic Ninja-based homebrew has access to.

Additionally, our menu will allow a few useful things including NAND dumping from software on all systems, including New 3DS.

Entrypoint support currently includes mset and Cubic Ninja, though support for spider should be ready by launch. We're also considering a port to OOT3D.

On top of the above, reinstallation of the mset hack will be supported on New 3DS, allowing users to boot without requiring a game.



KARL3DS is a byproduct of our own personal research into the 3DS platform. We're constantly trying and testing new things, many of which won't actually end up in the finished product. Because of how our development cycle works, there is presently no predetermined release date or guarantee of release. We do have a set list of features we wish to have in the final release, and we'll be sure to update when we reach milestones with those. It'll be out when it's done.

We are not currently looking for any more members, or testers, or anything like that. Our team is static for a good handful of reasons.

Spoiler: Why won't you support piracy?

See Relys' explanation here. It's a personal choice of the developers', and this is not up for discussion.

 

[yifan_lu]

Uh oh, you said the "p" word *waits for the angry kids to come in*

Also, you don't need to touch skater. Just trigger memchunkhax from your 3dsx homebrew. Then you can port over firmlaunchhax for arm9. I would do it myself if I had a N3DS. It's not that hard.

 

[boomie0123]

the ability to launch a CFW that allows for the bypassing of region lock.

This is beautiful. Please make this happen.

I'm by no means a programmer, but I have a JPN N3DS (FW 8.1) that I'd love to try this out for.

 

[CyKoDeLiC]

No Piracy? Nobody cares.

 

[zoogie]

So what is this, some application for hacker employment? Is it, "hey I'll start a haxx club and organize and administrate the talent! Just follow my lead!"

Just a hint: the community here has seen a lot of these type of proposals (pokemon romhax, 3ds hax etc. ). They always receive harsh criticism/lack of enthusiasm because they always, ALWAYS end in no results. If you know what you want to do, just go do it and cut out the pomp and circumstance. Learn ARM assembly, read 3dbrew, release a cool tool or open source contribution and then maybe people will take you seriously and collaborate with you.

 

[Venseer]

Wouldn't this only work only on 9.2 and below, the same as ninjahax?

 

[Rokkubro]

Uh oh, you said the "p" word *waits for the angry kids to come in*

Also, you don't need to touch skater. Just trigger memchunkhax from your 3dsx homebrew. Then you can port over firmlaunchhax for arm9. I would do it myself if I had a N3DS. It's not that hard.

! *Scurries away to look at 3dbrew* Suddenly everything seems so much easier, thank you for letting me know! I feel so dense now, I thought I had gone through everything... I can't thank you enough for telling us. I'll edit the OP when I can be bothered (too busy playing around with it now). BTW, did I detect a subtle hint that a 'friend' should buy you a N3DS?

Wouldn't this only work only on 9.2 and below, the same as ninjahax?

Yes, unfortunately. However check out the flying pig thing, we might be able to make CFW for higher system software versions.

 

[Rokkubro]

So what is this, some application for hacker employment? Is it, "hey I'll start a haxx club and organize and administrate the talent! Just follow my lead!"

Just a hint: the community here has seen a lot of these type of proposals (pokemon romhax, 3ds hax etc. ). They always receive harsh criticism/lack of enthusiasm because they always, ALWAYS end in no results. If you know what you want to do, just go do it and cut out the pomp and circumstance. Learn ARM assembly, read 3dbrew, release a cool tool or open source contribution and then maybe people will take you seriously and collaborate with you.

That's cool, I'm fine to work on this even if nobody else is. As I said, I'm just doing this for fun, as a little project to get into the scene. Whether or not it ends in success or other people join doesn't really matter. I only created this thread because of the positive response in the other thread by bsod, so I wondered if others were interested. I'd thought I was the only one working on this!

 

[kelroy]

I got some knowledge but dont know if i am usefull for your proyect.

What you want exactly?. I am interesting on help.

 

[Rokkubro]

I got some knowledge but dont know if i am usefull for your proyect.

What you want exactly?. I am interesting on help.

Do you have much experiencing developing for the 3DS? Or do you have any other experience coding/REing? If not that's OK, one thing that would be helpful would be if someone could deobfuscate gateway's laucher and make some notes on it (and Yifan's write-up) on on how it applies to N3DS, to make it easier when we get to that stage. Is that something you'd be interested in doing? Anyhow, thanks for you help!

 

[mordorer]

Great Project! But with or without cubic ninja?

 

[ody81]

I don;t wanna be that guy, but if you're gonna work on a way to open up a system for the masses don't push personal morals on them.

Yep. Now I'm <that> guy.

My personal input/critisism here is: If you wanna offer people an alternative to the current solutions, offer EVERYONE an alternative. From pirates to homebrewers to inbetweeners.
The people will love you for it. If you can't do that, don't bother. You'll only get flamed, hated and bitched about.

Dark_Alex was well loved, from the pirates to the haters. The 3ds scene needs <that> guy.

 

[Rokkubro]

Great Project! But with or without cubic ninja?

With, there is no other known initial exploit at this time.

 

[Tokiopop]

So this is like, what, the second or third 'project' or 'team' working off Yifan Lu's stuff?

It'll be about as fruitful as those attempts too, no doubt.

 

[Rokkubro]

Double post

 

[Rokkubro]

I don;t wanna be that guy, but if you're gonna work on a way to open up a system for the masses don't push personal morals on them.

Yep. Now I'm <that> guy.

My personal input/critisism here is: If you wanna offer people an alternative to the current solutions, offer EVERYONE an alternative. From pirates to homebrewers to inbetweeners.
The people will love you for it. If you can't do that, don't bother. You'll only get flamed, hated and bitched about.

Oh, if you mean the Anti-piracy thing, it was just a word so we could have the 'a' in KARL. In all seriousness though, ROM loading or Amy such thing will not be supported, mainly because I can't be bothered to code it, but also because there's no real excitement in doing it. On the fly game patching(patches on unmodded games) is a bit of a pipe dream of mine, but I'd have a lot more fun trying to do that than I would trying to allow for ROM loading or CIA installs.

 

[Deleted member 333767]

-snip-

Keep up the good work guys! :-)

 

[Rokkubro]

Misleading thread title is misleading.......

What's misleading about it?

 

[ody81]

Oh, if you mean the Anti-piracy thing, it was just a word so we could have the 'a' in KARL. In all seriousness though, ROM loading or Amy such thing will not be supported, mainly because I can't be bothered to code it, but also because there's no real excitement in doing it. On the fly game patching(patches on unmodded games) is a bit of a pipe dream of mine, but I'd have a lot more fun trying to do that than I would trying to allow for ROM loading or CIA installs.

Since the K is for Kernal then the A could have been for Access lol

Anyhow, I understand but anti-piracy does sound a bit harsh yeah?
If you could code a rom loader in ten seconds I'm sure you probably would though. Good work anyhows man, maybe do the name change to avoid the inevitable crap XD

Edit: If you're looking for a team to do this with you might want to include your skillset on the first post. So people understand what you can personally contribute.

 

[Rokkubro]

So this is like, what, the second or third 'project' or 'team' working off Yifan Lu's stuff?

It'll be about as fruitful as those attempts too, no doubt.

And the point of this post is...?